I'm baaaack!!!

I have actually been back since LAST Friday, 

but it has taken me a week to get organized,

get unpacked,

get all of the laundry done

and try to slip peacefully(not!) back into everyday life!

While on vacation I got 2 blocks from myOLDEST applique WIP, "War and Pieces" done! I worked on them in the car as we drove from Niagara Falls to Quebec City, and then from Montral to Michigan-the 2 longest driving legs of our trip. So here are my blocks so far:

I am excited to have this many done and I have started block 6!

Happy Stitching!

xx

~Annie

On Vacation!

I will be on vacation until August 5th!

Until then, have a great summer and keep on sewing!

xx

~Annie

Farme'rs Wife Quilt Along

If you haven't seen this wonderful quilt along while surfing the various quilt blogs, you are missing out! It was started by Amanda  and Angela. There is a wonderful Farmer's Wife Quilt Along Flickr group with over 2000 blocks on it now! I like to just go to the flickr group, choose the album, click on slideshow and enjoy!

So, although I am woefully behind everyone else, here are my first 2 blocks:

The top one is #26, Cut Glass Dish, and the bottom one is #20 Churn Dash.

SO...gonna join?

You just need The Farmer's Wife book by Laurie Aaron Hurd, (get it at Joann-they are 40% off right now-or use your coupon!)

If you want the nifty button like I have over there on the sidebar, click on mine and you will go to Fat Quarterly, scroll down and there are a couple of different buttons you can grab.

Come on!  Join the fun!!

If you do join leave me a comment and let me know. I want to know how many Farmer's Wives are out there!

Working on my last dolls

  

  I am finishing up a commision this week, 2 custom dolls. These are the last dolls I will be making for a while. I am so ready to move on to other projects, and I have really been bit by the quilting bug. It is awesome, I haven't felt this inspired for a long time. I have visions of applique dancing in my head! LOL!

xx

~Annie

Happy Birthday America!!

 I hope you all have a fun and safe holiday,

with lots of great grilled food, delicious salads, yummy deserts, and refreshing drinks!

xx

~Annie

How to be a quilter on the go (and TDIPT!)

Do you love to decorate your house with little seasonal displays the way I do? Well, if you do you cannot have too many little candle mats and table runners. I have quite a collection of table runners, and I love to change them out a lot. It really gets me motivated to do the housekeeping, when I can decorate a table or counter top with a pretty little handmade runner or mat. PLUS, they are super fun to make!

I really had fun with this little charmer. I call it the Prairie Table Mat.Blue and red were such popular colors in the 19th century-I think because they were dyes that actually stayed vivid for a long time, instead of fading. Anyhow, it is just 13 inches square-the perfect size to tuck into a little corner, or with your dolls or bears. I started this on Tuesday-cut and sewed all of the little half square triangles. Then Isabel and I headed to the pool to meet some friends and my BFF's and I sat around the pool chatting and tearing off the paper backs. Thanks girls! We are the queens of multi-tasking!

Then I came home, made dinner, and sewed up this cute little quilt!

On Wednesday I put the layers together and got busy hand quilting it with over dyed perle cotton(from Valdani-love that stuff!), using the "big stitch method! Really big running stitches intended to show!

All I had left was the binding, so I sewed that on and finished up the handwork at Isabel's basketball open gym! I loved this sweet and simple project! And if you love it too, hop on over to TDIPT for more details!

Also this month is the finished wool felt Bee Hive Candle Mat that I sneak peeked a few days ago. I'm telling you, if you enjoy handwork, wool is the way to go. It is so quick, easy and portable, and always turns out GREAT! 

A great place to get started is Primitive Gatherings website-they have so many kits, all the wool included and great instructions. Give it a try, you will love it!

xx
~Annie

Stars of the Prairie~stunner! (picture heavy)

I unasumingly walked into my quilt guild yesterday morning to be greeted by this  stunning quilt! It is called "Stars of the Prairie" and is being auctioned off by a neighboring guild, Pride of the Prairie Quilters in Naperville, Il. 

I took one look and began to swoon!

Not only is the piecing perfect, the colors and choice of fabric SO delightful, but the quilting is just incredible!

The center star is perfectly pieced with such fabulous color choices!

The use of batiks and small prints is just so inspirational.

And the applique is to die for. I love how every flower petal is a different fabric!

But the real icing on the cake here is the quilting. I wish I had gotten a picture of the back so you could see just how dense and perfect the quilting is.

It was quilted by Monica Troy, whom I am told won in Paducah this year. Over 75 quilters had a hand in this masterpiece. Wow! I was just in heaven gazing at this beauty!

Whoever wins it will be one super lucky person!
xx
~Annie