Monday, January 9, 2012

Design Wall Monday

I am enjoying my extra time in the studio working with different fabrics and quilt blocks.  Our local quilt shop featured the book, "Australian Spirit" and carried many of the Australian inspired fabrics.  The blocks are colorful and bold.




Eleanor Burns "Underground Railroad" sampler book is the pattern I used for the Bow Tie Block.  I love playing with the shapes and colors.

Friday, January 6, 2012

WOW Over Six Million

Liddybug's Quilt

Finished Stitches had a wonderful 2011!  Our Longarm registers over 6.28  million stitches!  Wow...  that number even impressed the sewing machine tech who serviced "Miss Pearl" when we took her in for her annual check-up.  We met many talented quilters and had the honor of  "finishing" their beautiful projects.  We ended the year quilting Natalie's red diamond quilt, and making my sister's niece, Lydia, a little quilt featuring a ladybug print.  Little Lydia is affectionately called "Liddybug" - what fun!
Natalie's Red Diamond Quilt

Stitch pattern is Wonky Feather
 With the advent of 2012, I find myself in the studio more.  How cool is that?!?  I was Christmas "gifted" with awesome fabric, and I want to find just the right block pattern before cutting begins.  In the meantime, I am sewing blocks using up some of my stash.  For me, sewing and quilting is part of making treasured memories.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

2012, Retirement and Me

"Out with the old year and in with the new" is a saying that takes on a special meaning for me! 
December 30, 2011 is a new anniversary, "My Retirement!"  Setting goals 2012 is important but I am quickly learning that doing, doing and doing more is just that - "doing."  Enjoying family and friends and completing special projects - that is what I want to achieve this year.  I look forward to posting pictures of finished quilts and projects.  In the meantime, I am enjoying the journey one step and one stitch at a time.