A Few of My Favorite Things Quilt

I finished up Rocco's quilt today.  This is A Few of My Favorite Things by Heidi Pridemore.  This is one of the kits I won from Quiltmaker.  The fabric is designed by Heidi too.  The sashing strips are leashes.  The borders have leashes, bowls, slippers and other doggy favorites.

I did fusible applique and button hole stitch by machine.  The embroidery is back stitch by hand.

Oops,  there's a string to pick off on the fire hydrant.  I wanted the quilt to be soft for Rocco, so I just stitched in the ditch around the blocks and echo quilted the appliques.

In the outside border I machine quilted Rocco's name and hearts.

Roc was a good sport about posing.  He knows what sit and stay mean--even tho he is kind of camera shy.  Sorry about the red eyes--note to Santa:  I could use photo shop software.  : )

I put navy blue minkee on the back. It is so nice and soft.  It also matches his new bed.  He's so spoiled getting his presents before Christmas.  lol

You may be wondering where my Christmas decorations are---they are still in their boxes.  Today is Jennifer's birthday.  She and I both have December birthdays.  I have always waited until after our birthdays to decorate for Christmas  So I better start looking in that dreaded closet--that may be another reason I have waited. 

We don't make much ado about Christmas in our family.  Jesus is the reason for the season and family time is the biggest gift we give to each other.  Some of that tradition comes from my having worked at the Post Office for 30 years.  Even tho I have more time since retirement, simple celebrations are the way we do our thing.   I'm not knocking the way other people do theirs.  I enjoy all the lights, music and commotion I see other people doing, but self imposed stress doesn't make anyone happier at our house. 

I'm off to start a little surprise Christmas project.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Overwhelmed

I was definitely a "little" overwhelmed last week when I received this box from "Quiltmaker".  I didn't realize that being a "Big Bundle" prize winner in the 100 Blocks Giveaway would be such a generous box of wonderful prizes.  Michelle was home and she just laughed at me, as I kept say "Oh, my", "Oh, My" and "OH, MY" as I took each new and wonderful thing out of the box.

The prizes included:  40 fq bundle of Moda French General-- Petite Ecole, 20 fq bundle of P & B Textiles-- Safari So Good and 16 fq bundle of Clothworks-- Dinos on Parade, Antique Sampler pattern by Sue Daley, 3 Modkid patterns (pillows, purses and a wall hanging),  Marsha McCloskey's Feathered-Star Quilt Blocks II book, Tidbits from Triangles by Kari Ramsay book, Tidings book by Nancy Halvorsen, Rotary Cutting Revolution by Anita Grossman Solomon book, Treasures from the '30's by Nancy Mahoney book, Suzn Quilts by Susan Marth, Fireworks! and Lynda's Sunflowers by Possibilities,  Fit to be Geese pattern and template by Open Gate, Decadence, Reflections and Bloomington by toadsew, Peppermint Candy and In A Snap patterns by Susan Guzman AND of course, Quiltmaker's new 100 Blocks magazine.

This wonderful kit "Eye Candy" from Planted Seeds Designs that was published in "Quick Quilts" .  This will be so much fun to sew.  I love all the bright colors.

 Even Rocco will benefit from my winning.  A quilt kit by Heidi Pridemore called "A Few of My Favorite Things.  Don't you just love the bones on these blocks!

And last but not least--thread from Sulky and floss from Presencia.

 I can't believe all the wonderful items I received.  Thank you so much "Quiltmaker".    So many choices of projects to make!   I've had so much fun looking at all the books and patterns.  The French General fabric is outside my "box".  I'll need to find a special project to use it.   I think I'll start Rocco's quilt--his Christmas present.  : )