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

Sneak peek for July 1st

.

I just finished this awesome wool felt candle mat from a kit by Bare roots. Super fun! If you haven't tried wool applique yet, you are in for a treat! It is so simple and quick! Almost instant gratification! I know we all love that!

This little knock-out will be available for purchase on TDIPT Thursday night, along with another piece I am quickly trying to finish up!

xx

Annie

4th of July decorating

We are feelin' patriotic around here these days

as my son Aidan, who is going to Western Illinois University in the fall,

has also signed up for ROTC.

You go Aidan!
We are so proud of him, he is such a great kid.
He has the heart of a volunteer and good christian values to back it up. I know he is going to be a force to reckon with at college! LOL!

Here is my little display on top of my antique doll cabinet.
That doll was my very first pattern called Justice. She is getting naturally old and faded now! It has been almost 10 years since I made her! She is the only model I never sold from my first line of patterns. I'm sure I will keep her always.
xox
~Annie

Rainy Day Blues

Here is my sweet puppy Carmel hanging out with me while I work. Can you guess what she would rather be doing? LOL!

How sad is this face?

Hopefully we will have sun tomorrow!
xox
~Annie

Baskets of Bloomers

I have finished block 4. I am now officially 1/4 done with this quilt!

Here are the blocks so far:

I am mostly using left over squares from various charm packs. Cotton Blossoms is one of them, designed by Bonnie and Camille. I love them! I wish I still had more of this fabric.

Lookie what I learned how to do!!

Take MUCH better product photos!

Isn't that much better? I'm super excited about this. Hey, it doesn't take much to get me going!! LOL!

Meanwhile the quilting bug is still in full force. Here is my grandmothers flower garden. This is too fun!

This photo was taken BEFORE I learned my new techniques!! LOL!

What have YOU been working on?

Basket Applique Quilt

I have finally really learned how to applique, and I am in LOVE!! I adore applique and I am picturing all of the quilts, wall hangings, table toppers, place mats, and runners I am going to make! Here is one of the pieces I am learning on. It is a quilt by Kim Diehl, from her book Simple Blessings. The quilts is called Baskets of Bloomers. 

Super Fun!!!

I already showed you the first block, but here it is again,

This is called Tulips. Here is the second block,

Gerbera Daisies

And the third block,

Pomegranates

They are all needle-turn applique. So much fun!! There are 9 blocks in all to make a square wallhanging. But I am going to make a throw for my living room, so I am going to add 3 more blocks. I am going to use the basket but put my 2 cats and my dog in them. Then it will be more of a rectangle, and a good throw size.

I'm lovin' it!