"Read" Library Totes

I recently finished up a few extra "Read" Library Totes --

I have 3 listed in my Etsy shop,

perfect for last minute Christmas gifts!
The gift making continues . . . 
12 days to go!

Winner!

The winner of the "Read" Library Tote Pattern 

(chosen randomly!) is comment #53, Annie, who said:

AnnieKDecember 3, 2012 3:32 PM

that tote would make a great gift for all the librarians I work with!

Congrats, Annie!  

I'll be sending you the pattern shortly!

Happy December!

Hooray!  My holiday quilt is finished!

This was such a fun quilt to make -- the pattern is Vintage Holiday by Camille.

My plan for this pattern was to make a Christmas quilt using red and green fabrics, but not necessarily Christmasy fabrics.

(the back)

(Zig Zag binding)

This quilt is listed in my Etsy Shop!
Linking up to:

Giveaway Day!

It's giveaway day at Sew Mama Sew!

I'm happy to be giving away a copy of my
Library Tote Pattern. 

This tote has been my go-to teacher gift for years -- 

here's my progress on a new one:

As you can see, this bag works with lots of different colors and patterns!

Simply leave a comment for a chance to win!

(the pattern is also available here --

if you purchase it but then win it,

I'd be happy to issue a refund!)

Works in Progress, 11.28.12

Lots of Christmas crafting going on this week . . . 

a  Matroska doll ornament

(really cute and fairly easy tutorial here)

finally doing some quilting

(stay tuned for the finished quilt later this week!)

 another Read Library Tote -- a perfect Christmas gift!

(pattern available here)

and an American Girl doll sleeping bag!
(McCall's pattern found at my local Hancock's Fabrics)

Linking up to:

We have SNOW!

It snowed here over Thanksgiving Weekend,

HOORAY!

Now it's starting to feel like the holiday season!

 The double quilt is for Holly's stuffed animal cats,
and the single quilt is for Lexi's beloved stuffed sheep.

Fabrics:  charm pack of Cheery Christmas Aneela Hoey
(much thanks to Paula,
 who included this charm pack in a swap!!!)
Quilting: straight line - easy!
Binding: zig zag machine sewn (tutorial here)

Linking up to:

Christmas Crafting

I'm starting to think about Christmas gifts . . . 

. . . and thinking that a cute little pillow might make a nice gift for a few special people!

I whipped this up in a couple of hours last week, using Kelly's paper pieced "love" pattern, found here.
I used varying shades of red and green solids from my scrap bins.

I'm not a huge fan of hand quilting, but on a small project like this, it's fairly easy.  And I love the way it looks!

Linking up to:
Fall for Solids mini quilt contest 
and

Circles of Stars

This quilt has been on my mind for a long time now . . . 

Last winter I found this Ring of Stars pattern on Angela's blog, and fell in love with it!

I made this cute little pillow,

which lived on our couch for most of the year.

When it was my month to be the quilter for the Peace Circle of do.Good Stitches, I knew I wanted to make a whole quilt from this block!

I wasn't sure that the Stitchers in my group were going to be happy about this, though.  The centers of those stars finish at 1 inch!  Luckily no one complained!

 

 I struggled with deciding on a layout for this quilt. . . .

Then eventually I decided that the only way to really make this quilt sing would be to replicate the circles of stars.

I love it!

 I quilted this in an all over FMQ meander,

avoiding the colorful stars so that they really pop!

 For the back I added the remaining 3 stars,

with bright colorful pink dots.

The binding is a scrappy assortment of bright solids,

to coordinate with the stars.

 Circle of Stars measures 48 x 48 inches,

and is super soft and crinkly after washing.

This quilt will be donated to My Very Own Blanket.

Works in Progess

Happy Wednesday!

Here are a few projects that I have in progress this week:

(bee block for do.Good Stitches,

"Date Night Quilt" from Moda Bake Shop)

(scrappy bright baby quilt,

in the process of random diagonal quilting)

 Nearly finished with my Vintage Holiday Quilt!
Can you tell which block I made up myself?

I'm trying to decide which fabric to use for the final borders.

I'm thinking the one on the bottom left corner--but let me know what you think!

Tallulah and I spent some time together yesterday basting this quilt.  What a sweet cat.  I've almost got this one done . . . hopefully I'll have some finished photos to show by the end of the week!

Linking up to WIP Wed, hosted by Svetlana this week!

Winner

I chose a winner for the Market Square Tote (using random.org) -- #9.
Congrats to Rebecca, who commented:

RebeccaOctober 23, 2012 8:10 AM

Love this bag pattern - yours is beautiful!!

I'll be emailing you soon, Rebecca!

WIP Wednesday!

I haven't posted any pictures of the kids' artwork in awhile, so here is Lexi's latest masterpiece.  She left it laying on my sewing machine the other day.  This is her latest design for a quilt -- she even offered to help me make it!

I have lots of little projects going on right now, but my biggest project is reorganizing my sewing space (which is also our office and guest room!).  Wish me luck!

I'm so happy to have another beautiful tote to take shopping!
I finished up Nikki's Market Square Tote recently:

If you'd like to enter to win a copy of her pattern, the giveaway is here!

Linking up to:

Market Square Tote Pattern Giveaway!

 Have you seen Nikki's fabulous Market Square Tote Pattern?
Isn't it fabulous?!

 I was lucky enough to be able to test out her pattern, and now she's letting me give one away!  The pattern is so well written.  It's easy to follow, and includes instructions for using laminated cotton (if you choose--I'm definitely doing this on my next bag!), and creating an interior zipper.  I had never done this before, and she makes it easy!  Woo hoo!

 This tote is a great size -- I haven't used it for going to "the Market" yet, but it's been to lots of soccer games, to the library, and on car trips!

Just leave a comment for a chance to win this pattern!
I'll draw a winner on Friday.
Linking up to:

Asterisk Quilt

My asterisk quilt is finally finished!
I packed it up last week to send it to My Very Own Blanket -- the charity our Peace Circle of do.Good Stitches has chosen for donations.  
(Tutorial for the scrappy asterisk block is here!)

This block uses tons of scraps, even small scraps - all the scraps are only 1 inch wide!

I quilted this in a loopy meander,

used my favorite Ikea houses print for the back,

and bound it in a solid green (maybe Kona grass?).

Linking up to: