Abandoned?

No, the blog is not abandoned. I can just think of a thousand other things to take my attention away from it! I participated in a siggy swap through p.s. i quilt. I made 101 blocks and will receive 100 blocks back with many signatures from around the world. Well, actually it will only be 98 because 2 people didn't fulfill their commitment. But still, it is going to be cool to get all those blocks back and make a quilt with them.

I've also been to California and enjoyed some time in San Diego, Salton City, and around the Palm Springs area. This picture is in Joshua Tree National Park. I'd love to spend more than one day there. It was so beautiful.

I've also been busy moving (to our first place that we own!!), quilting, reading and who knows what other shenanigans. I'll have to share some pictures of what I've been up to in the near future. Hopefully I can discipline myself to make this something more regular! I'm always inspired by other bloggers.

xo Nicole

Plaid Reconstructed

Wow, it's been too long since I posted something here! I was away for holidays in Egypt and am finally settling back into my normal life. I have lots of things to share with you. We'll break it down into several posts though. I don't want to overload you.

This quilt was a Christmas gift for my dad. I got the plaid fabrics at Quilt Essential Fabrics in Abbotsford for a great deal. I knew that they were perfect to use in a 'man quilt.' My dad wears lots of plaid shirts and tends towards these same colours too!

I was trying to figure out how to make the best use of them and was browsing lots of books and magazines. I finally found a pattern in a Quilts and More magazine that looked like it would be perfect for my project. I just needed to get some solids.

Well, I ordered some online and was very happy with how they worked with what I had. The nine patch blocks were a little tedious to make, but I chain stitched and somehow they all were made. The rest of the top was pretty quick to put together.

Then I had to decide what to do with the backing. I wanted to do something fun and I had lots of leftovers. I came up with this and was very happy with the results! So I pretty much made a reversible quilt.

The quilting I did is becoming my go-to for quilts. Its a meander with loops thrown in, and its fairly easy and quick. I love the crinkly look it creates after I wash and dry it. I'm so thrilled with the results from this quilt and, most importantly, my dad is too!

Come back soon and I'll share more about quilts I made for Christmas!

xo Nicole

Where Has All The Time Gone?

I can't believe that its December already! The last half of November just flew by. I've been crazy busy trying to finish several projects before the 12th of December. We're going away for Christmas and I decided to make too many things. What was I thinking? Self-inflicted stress is really crazy.
I started this table topper last November (2008) and all it needed to finish it off was some quilting and binding. I finally managed to do that a couple weekends ago. Its a Christmas gift for the teacher that I work with. I hope she likes it!
I also made three Christmas stockings for my brother and brothers in law. (Sorry, I forgot to take pictures of them before giving them away!) I've also made three small quilts (two still need the binding stitched down) for my niece and nephews. I will feature them in another post coming soon!
Here is a sneak peak of something that I can only reveal after Christmas.
And another sneak peak, also to be revealed later.

Between all that sewing I still need to pack and prepare for my holiday. I am really looking forward to relaxing and spending good time with my hubby over the break. We have a jam packed week and then a loooooooong trip, but it will all be worth it in the end.

xo Nicole

Quilting Bee

I have joined a quilting bee online which is so exciting! I will be making blocks for other people for a whole year, but they will be making blocks for me too. What a cool way to meet other quilters and improve my skills.

I am also trying to start a Canadian online bee. If you want to join me, let me know! I need 11 people if possible. It's also possible to have fewer people and do things a little differently. It would also be a smaller time commitment.

xo Nicole

Thankful Thursday

I have had an idea that's been rolling around my brain for a couple of weeks and I decided that today I will put it into action. I need to be more aware of the blessings in my life and the good things that God gives me. I want to regularly remember them, so I decided to make Thankful Thursday. Every Thursday, I will write a blog post about things that I am thankful for. There may be repeats each week, but I will try to be more aware of things during the week that are something I am thankful for. If you want to join me in this endeavor, let me know, and I can create links to those who make Thankful Thursday posts. If nobody else joins me, that's ok too, I'm doing it for my own spiritual health.

So, today, some things I am thankful for:

• having a job where people want to work together as a team and where I feel like a contributing member
• my wonderful husband who helps wash dishes and is just sweet in general
• being part of a home group that cares for and challenges each other
• having enough money to order pizza once in awhile
• being able to have a creative outlet in quilting
• having enough money and time to be able to share both with others
• my family - we all get along most of the time and can talk and do fun activities together
• my friends - you are all unique and bring something special into my life
• that God loves me and wants to have a relationship with me - really, everything else is just icing on the cake!

Thank you Lord for all the good things you have blessed me with. Apart from you, I have no good thing. My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. (Psalm 16)

I hope you can think of lots of things to be thankful for today too!

xo Nicole

Polyphonic Purple

I made this quilt for my sister, Leanne, back in 2007. It was my second quilt that I've made. I really enjoyed shopping for the fabrics and making it have a scrappy look.
The binding is just leftover pieces joined together. Love it!
It was also my first attempt at free motion quilting. I stippled in the white sashing and made up a leafy design diagonally throughout the nine-patch blocks.
Oh the crinkly goodness of quilts! It was for her birthday, although I completed it a couple months late. At least she loves it!!!
And I called it Polyphonic Purple because she loves big words and music, and, of course, it's purple! I hope Leanne will enjoy it for many years to come. Its a lap quilt and it lives on her couch in her new home. Yay!

Hope you enjoyed my quilt showcased for the quilt blogger's festival. Check back to Amy's site to see lots of other wonderful quilts.






xo Nicole

Floral Fusion

Here is the quilt that I made for my mom's birthday in September. I was only about a week late in finishing it, and then another week went by while I waited for a day to photograph it.
I gave you a sneak peak of it earlier, but here it is in all it's glory! I think it measures about 60" x 72". At least it did before quilting and washing.
I used a wide variety of pink, cream, blue and green florals. Mostly large roses, but other flowers too and a cupcake print. It was just too cute to resist. I bound it with a diagonal stripe that had pink, cream, blue and green in it. How perfect.
My inspiration was from a patchwork tablecloth in Kaffe Fasset's Glorious Color. I added a different border for a challenge. I try to learn something new for each quilt that I make. This time I made diagonal pieced squares and triangles.

My mom loves the quilt! I am so happy with the end results and am glad that she loves it too. She said the fabrics remind her of her granny and the quilts she used to make. What a fabulous compliment.

Now, on to current projects... I just finished a quilt last week (pictures to come soon), and I have to make 4 more before Christmas! Yikes, what have I gotten myself into? Its all self-imposed though. I just can't help it. I guess I better get off the computer and get sewing!!!!

xo Nicole