A December Mini Quilt - 2022

 The perfect ending to 2022,

a December monthly mini.

Making Snow Angels

18.5" x 18.5"

This little holiday quilt was made with

the leftover pieces from 

the quilt I just had finished

"I Believe in Angels".

It was nice to use up a few

of those leftovers.

Fussy cutting the snow angels

had each one standing up in the 

right direction.  

That made me very happy.

The corners looked a little plain,

but adding some embroidered snowflakes

and beads brightened them up.

Anytime I can use a directional

fabric for binding,

it's a no brainer. 

After getting bundled up

the December mini quilts were put on the fence

for one last quilt parade.

December, 2022

I'll share a fence parade, 2022 soon. 

It will be fun  revisiting

all those quilt hung out on the barbed wire

throughout the year.

But until then,

check out Wendy's blog

for other fabulous minis.

Thank you Wendy, for keeping

us all stitching along.

I hope that 2023 brings you 

love, laughter, and joy.

Happy New Year.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

One Last Quilt Before the New Year.

 This story begins with

a sale at a LQS,

impulse buying,

a layer cake,

and a friend's idea.

I really had no business going 

to a quilt shop's sale when I 

didn't NEED anything and

right after my recent big purge.

But, of course,  I went anyway.

It's like going to Target to just look around

and coming out later 

after spending $$$.

This is what I found

This layer cake from Bunny Hill,

"I Believe in Angels."

I very rarely purchase precuts and

I didn't love every fabric that was in the line,

but the shop had the fabrics on the bolt and

I could get some extra yardage for borders.

(See how I rationalized that)

A few weeks earlier a friend had shared a

pattern she had purchased for a simple 16 patch.

We had talked about how occasionally,

we feel the need to make something simple, 

easy and fun.

Well, that's what triggered my impulse buying.

I could certainly come up with a easy plan 

to use this fabric making a simple

holiday quilt.

You know what happened next.

Yes, it was fun, and easy.

I didn't have a pattern so, I was

just winging it.

I Believe in Angels

65" x 82"

The colors in this group were reds,

creams, light blue (not a favorite) and light green.

A more modern holiday color scheme.

The motifs were angle snowmen, bells,

dots, stripes, candy canes and

 florals, (which didn't seem to fit into the holiday mood).

The squares were sewn together very randomly, but

the sashing was all the same.

The green stripe was fun to use.

The pieced sashing seemed to control the 

jumble of the random squares.

My impulse purchases overall created a cute holiday quilt.

Purchasing all of the fabric, though, was quite the shock. $$$.

Something I hadn't done for quite awhile.

My only regret was

 that I didn't have enough of the snowman angle fabric

to cut the top and bottom border so that the angles weren't

running sideways.

That kind of thing drives me crazy.

Oh, well. 

I wasn't about to purchase more fabric.

Despite sideways angel snowmen

I know that someone will find this quilt

warm and comforting after it's quilted

for next year.

Whatever is beautiful,

whatever is meaningful,

whatever brings you happiness,

may it be yours this holiday season.

Happy Holidays.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

November's Monthly Mini

 November has come 

and pretty much gone.

I have though, been able to spend

a little time in my sewing room.

This month's mini

was a free download earlier in the fall

from Pam Buda

 and is now available 

 as a $5 digital download.

Autumn Along Coal Creek

21" x 28"

I took Pam's pattern 

and added more 6"  blocks.

I had several of her fabrics, 

Cheddar and Coal

and added a few others, of course.

 

The border is a very old Thimbleberries print, but

was the perfect choice.

You never know when one of those

oldies still works.

I added a flange binding which 

made the binding process go a little faster.

Besides, it added a spark of cheddar

at the end.

****

I also finished a couple of

X-stitch projects.

Boo and Whoo

Designed by Misty Pursel

Of Luminous Fiber Arts.

I mounted each piece on a

glossy black wooden block. 

I used some older Nancy Halverson 

orange fabric and

a bit of black rick rack. 

Now they'll be ready for next October. 

****

This next one was a free design

from Sheri of Colorado 

Cross Stitch.

"Thankful" is being modeled by

Turkey Jack, one of

my favorite Thanksgiving decorations. 

He was made years ago and

joins us every year.

****

I discovered, as I was

selecting quilts for my

November fence display, that

 this month theme was

the color,

we lovingly refer to, 

as Cheddar.

This month's lineup is one of my favorites.

Want to check out a few other monthly minis?

Head to Wendy's blog, the Constant Quilter

 and enjoy some quilting inspiration.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

October Mini Quilt Treat

The end of October

brings 

When my 3 girls were little they

loved Halloween. 

They would begin thinking about their costumes 

 for the following year on November 1st.

Over the years we had lots of fun 

making and creating their costume ideas.

Nothing ghoulish, just princesses,

pirates, Snow White, Bo Peep, and even Cleopatra.

Unfortunately, here in Colorado,

Trick or Treating usually involves

winter coats and snow boots.

Those lovely costumes 

get covered up and hidden.

My October mini is an embroidery

that, unfortunately,  

got covered up and hidden in my sewing room 

for a couple years.  Sigh....

Halloween Sampler

16" x 19"

The embroidery is designed by

Sandra Workman.

You can find it here.

The pattern includes an

iron on transfer for the stitching,

which made it very easy to get started.

It was stitched with DMC floss

on a striped grey and off white fabric.

I worked with one color at at time

rather than stitching one motif at a time.

It's an efficient way to approach it,

but maybe, not as much fun.

The finished piece worked up perfectly 

as a mini quilt for October. 

The narrow orange border with

the black ric rac sewn on top

gives the appearance of a scalloped edge.

By adding a couple of prairie points

and buttons, it adds some 3-D interest.

Halloween Sampler looks good on the fence.

Happy Halloween 🎃 

from all the Halloween Minis.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

Looking Forward

There's an old saying that if

you fall off a horse

you need to get right back on that horse.

The reason being that if you don't,

it will be very hard to get back on that horse

the longer that you wait.
 I'm guessing that you could apply 

that philosophy to many situations.

I applied it to my quilting life.

After feeling somewhat defeated or

down about my overwhelming stash,

I knew it meant no more whining.

Time to get my favorite fabrics back out,

take the rotary cutter back in my hands,

thread up the machine

and get sewing.

That's exactly what I did.

I did some spot organizing,

looked through some of my favorite books,

and found a center medallion 

that spoke to me

from Susan Smith's book

Quilts, Somewhat in the Middle.

Refreshed-Rejuvenated

32" x 32"

It took me a week 

from start to finish.

I needed to get back

to feeling the excitement 

and creativity of playing.

I drew on the colors 

from many of Di Ford's fabulous fabrics.

Appliqueing the center

was like enjoying a delicious dessert.

Add a little fussy cutting

and I was definitely feeling rejuvenated.

It really didn't take much

to feel good again.

The inner border was fun with the melon shapes.

And who doesn't love adding circles.

I loved the simple idea of making

the sashing between them piece.

The more fabrics, the better!

And oh,

it gets better.

I bought a new

Laundry Basket fabric for the backing.

I kept the quilting to a minimum,

just because that's what I felt like doing.

Needless to say,

it was a great week of creating, stitching

and rekindling the positive. 

I hope, if you find yourself in a situation

where you've "fallen off your horse",

you can dust yourself off 

and get back in the saddle

and shout, Giddy-up!

Until Next Time-

Kyle

September Mini quilts

First, of all,  I want to thank everyone

for the encouraging words that many of you shared with me.

No, I'm not hanging up my quilting needles 

and tossing out all of my fabric.

I was feeling "stash obligations" and not feeling 

the love or the creative challenge

that it brought.

It really did me in!

So, since I last wrote,

I have bundled up lots of fabric, 

approx. 150 yards,

and sent it off to a wonderful local charitable group.

I have started some new projects,

and have continued to work on the things

that I love and bring me joy.

My latest X-stitch finish.

"Be Ye Thankful"

a design by Brenda Gervais

I am thankful for everyone's positive thoughts.

*****

The end of September

means it's time to share a monthly mini quilt.

Vintage Baskets #2

24" x 24"

This little quilt began it's life as a full size 

quilt from the 1930's.

When I received it from a friend, 

it was just a top and 

the 10" blocks were well loved and 

very thin and frail. 

I took some of the blocks apart and resized them

which made them very cute.

After sewing the top together I decided

to add embroidered flowers to each basket.

That was the "FUN" part.

When I was given this quilt top,

the original Nile Green binding was included.

It wasn't in the best shape, but I made do.

I "love" how it finished.

Vintage Baskets #2

Time for my barbed-wire fence parade.

There was a very fog morning this week.

A perfectly quiet, uncluttered background for a photo shoot.

Baskets

If you get the chance, check out Wendy's blog

the Constant Quilter to get the list of other

bloggers working on and sharing their monthly minis.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

Pigs with Lipstick

 The other day I meet with my Quilty Buddies 

And I made a confession.

I was really feeling like it was time to stop quilting!

I had lost the joy.  

I didn't feel like I had any creativity left.

I thought I was truly done.

They were shocked.

What was going on?

I shared how I had sorted through my stash

 and had lots of fabric I needed to part with.

But I felt guilty because of the money

 I had spent over the years,

 the amount of fabric I had collected....

  To justify these feelings, 

I felt like I needed to sew up some of these piles into quilts.

I had picked a pattern, cut and sewed. 

 I thought my plan would be to create

 something wonderful for someone.  

To pass on many quilts.

But I felt myself losing the excitement

 and joy I usually felt as I work on a project. 

 It was like walking through deep sticky mud.

 Agggh!  

 I was quickly sinking. 

 Maybe I was done.

  I mean,  really done. 

 That's how I was feeling.

After lots of questions, my one friend said,

Lipstick on a pig, is still a pig.

She went on to say,

if I was using fabric I didn't love anymore,

 why would the quilt I was making 

be something I loved, 

no matter what I did with it.

Was it as simple as that?

I think my friends were right in this case.  

My heart wasn't in it.

It really had made me depressed. 

Since then,

I have stopped that project,

 bundled up all the piles 

and made arrangements for a local sewing group

 to take it and do their good works with it.

*****

Let it go, let it go

Some of my fabric is tired and old.

Try as I will 

There just isn't a thrill.

Can't hold it back anymore

I need to pass it through another door. 

I don't care what others may say

I don't want to sew with it another day.

I have felt guilty long enough. 

It really is still good stuff.

Maybe someone else will find a joy.

So, the fabric is theirs to enjoy.

Let it go, let it go.

The decision has made me feel lighter

Sewing even seems brighter.

It's time to do what I love.

To dispose of, get rid of

The pieces from my overabundant stash.

That made me feel depressed and dashed.

I started a project, I really did try,

But then I started questioning why

I was unhappy and restless

I was not doing my bestess.

As time seems to be growing shorter

It was also time to stop being a hoarder.

I simply will never be able to use it all

But there are others who will be having a ball.

So, Let it go, let it go.

*****

And I have.

Until Next Time 

Kyle 

August Minis

I hope you'll agree that 

 our projects and stitching

should bring us pleasure, smiles

and even laughter.

Each month there is a group of bloggers

who have been challenged 

and, hopefully, have found joy in

creating a monthly mini and then 

sharing their creativity with others.

Our blogging friend, Wendy,

the Constant Quilter, has been the

facilitator of this diverse group.

Thank you ,Wendy.  I've appreciated your 

"constant" dedication! 

This month I only have a quilt top.

My attention had been diverted to stitching hst's!

Sunflowers and Sunshine

38" x 38"

Yellow scraps and a pattern

designed by Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique

was fun to stitch 

during the last of the summer days.

You can get the free sunflower block

pattern here from Aurifil.

Yes, there were a few more

half square triangles to make,

but that yellow fabric 

was just so happy to play with. 

The four blocks went together quickly.

The striped border fabric had been used

in my daughter's first grade classroom 

as shelf drape.

Now it was happily being 

 used once again.

My fence line-up for this month had to be called

Sunflowers and Sunshine.

Here's a closer look at the middle quilt.

From where you're looking, it doesn't seem 

to fit the theme, but

 the border fabric was its ticket

to join in on the fence parade.

****

Also wanted to give you all an update on the free

"Oh, Say Can You Sew" mystery quilt

generously designed by Lisa Bongean.

The stack of 128 blocks

is ready and waiting 

for clue #6.

Until Next Time-

Kyle