Sunset

Well, I wasn't going to do another post for a few more days, but there was such a gorgeous sunset here today.  I took several pictures and wanted to post a couple for you to enjoy
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Another Christmas Runner

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.  And if you're part of the Black Friday shopping frenzy, I hope you get some great bargains.  I used to be a very dedicated Black Friday shopper, but these last few years it just hasn't interested me much.  I may go out in an hour or so just to see if there are any bargains left.  The crowds should be a lot smaller at this time, especially since many of the sales began yesterday.

I've been working on another Christmas table runner.

This is a pattern from Heather at Anka's Treasures and is very easy and fun to do.  It is from her book Angles with Ease, and also uses her Triangler ruler.

I have a couple more Christmas related items to finish; then I can get started on more non-Christmas quilting.


I'm linking up with Sew Darn Crafty

Swirls and a Christmas Runner

Here are a couple of things I've been working on this week.

This unfinished wall hanging is made with a charm pack, which is all I had of that fabric, and white tone-on-tone for the background. 

However, I really like the fabric, so I just ordered a layer cake.  When that comes, I may sew a few more blocks to make this into a bigger quilt.  Not sure yet, but I did want to get more of the fabric while it's still available.


I also finished this Christmas table runner. 

It's made with a jelly roll and is meant to be put together in a random manner.  I have a lot of trouble doing random, especially when the blocks are right together with no sashing.  I'd prefer to have a bit more structure to the look.  So Mr. M laid out all the blocks for me (he's good at random), and I sewed it together just the way he laid it out.  He likes the way it turned out; I'm not sure yet if I do.

The backing is a panel that I had in my stash.

This is a special weekend coming up:  our daughter will be here for a couple of days. We have spent opening deer hunting weekend together for several years.  We always do fun things together, so I'm really looking forward to her visit.


Joining the    Sew Darn Crafty Linky Party

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Back from the Retreat

Hi there!  We're back from the retreat.  What a great time we had seeing old friends and meeting new people.  The Rochester location was wonderful, but they are already booked for next year, so the retreat will be at a new location.  Wherever it is, we'll be there; wouldn't miss it for anything.

I didn't get as much accomplished as I had hoped to, but that's okay.  It was fun anyway. 

I did get a couple of quilt tops finished, though.

This one is a wall hanging made from a Quilt in a Day pattern. 

As a side note, we were able to attend Eleanor Burns' show while we were in Paducah last April. She is just a "hoot", and such a nice person.


I also made this quick and easy quilt top using 2 charm packs and some  sashing.  It'll end up being about 45x56, so just a nice lap size.

I was also able to get the blocks for a wall hanging and also for a quilt finished, but I'll keep those pictures for another post.


I'm entering the Sew Darn Crafty post over at Sew Many Ways:

Also at Anything Blue Friday:

Crumb Catcher

Here's what I've been working on for the past couple of days.  It's called a Cookie Plate Crumb Catcher.  You can see the tutorial over at The Crafty Quilter.  She's doing a Christmas Once a Month tutorial on the 15th of each month this year, and this is the October project.

I just looked through my smaller fabric pieces and found a few that I thought would work.
This was fun to do; a quick and easy project.


Next Thursday my friend Kaci and I are going to a quilt retreat sponsored by Roseann of Rosebud's Cottage in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.  This year it's in Rochester, Minnesota.  This is our 4th year going to Roseann's retreats, and we always have such a good time. 

These are some of the charm squares I'm taking along.  They're from the line "Lovely" by Debby Beaves for RJR Fabrics.  I bought two charm square packs, and I'm going to make an easy four-patch quilt with them.  I love the purples and greens and the black background on some of the fabrics.

I have about 5 or 6 projects to take along.  I'd rather have too many to finish than too few.  Although with too few, I'd have to run out to a quilt shop and buy more fabric, etc.  Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.

I'll be back after the retreat with some pictures, hopefully of a few finished tops.