The Woolen Rabbit

Block Party....

A while back I mentioned that I was getting re-acquainted with my sewing machine.  I started out with the little project bags that I have shared with you to gain a little confidence in my abilities again and it's helped. :)

I have also been playing around with machine quilting.  Years ago I did a lot of hand quilting, but this is my first foray into machine piecing and quilting and it's a whole new learning curve....but I have been having fun with it.

One of the things I am working on is a quilt for Ashley and Brian.  She had mentioned to me once a while back how much she disliked the brown quilt on her bed, so I thought that this would be a nice present. 

One of my very first pattern book purchases a few years ago was Happy Hour.  After seeing how nice Terry's quilt came out...I thought that this would be the one I would make.  Back just before Thanksgiving I took Ashley shopping to pick out fabrics and these are some of the blocks in process...

 

 

Every time I think I have made my favorite combination I love the next one even more.  They are so addicting............good thing too because I have to make 99 of these suckers for a queen sized bed. 

I have 50 completed and hope to finish the remaining 49 over the weekend so that I can send the quilt to the long arm quilter next week.

You may remember my sharing my practice quilt with you back in the early fall.  One of the things that I am going to work on next year is being a little more disciplined about finishing things.....so before I got too involved in the Happy Hour quilt, I set about finishing this disappearing 9 patch quilt top. (I have the Christmas kit too...eek)

 

It's not perfect by any means, but I am really happy with how it came out.  I learned a TON about machine piecing while I worked on this quilt. 

I am actually toying with machine quilting this one myself, but then I am afraid of destroying it, so I keep wavering.  I think I will do a few more practice pieces and then try to decide.  Most days I really do think I could do it..........but then.......... 

I'll let you know what happens. :)

Congratulations............

To Ashley and Brian on their Christmas engagement.....

It was almost 6 years ago when Ashley called me up and told me how the "hot" boy in her history class actually talked to her and I remember the hint of excitement in her voice.

This picture is from the first Thanksgiving that they shared here with our family.  Over the years we have had the opportunity to really get to know and love Brian.  We are very happy to welcome him in to our family.

Congratulations!!

Figgy Pudding.........

"Figgy Pudding"

"we won't go until we get some".....

I loved this fabric from the very first glance, but I loved it even more when I learned that the line was called Figgy Pudding.
While this is a Christmas Fabric line, I thought it would be perfect year round. :)

I had a few extra minutes today and thought I would share the colors of Oasis that I was able to photograph today.   I finally managed to get these uploaded to the store.......enjoy!

Blue Moon

Forever In Blue Jeans

Cape Cod Blues

Scottish Heather

Rib Bit

Oakmoss

Moroccan Spice

Pumpkin Patch

Chiquitita

and as always the Custom Color option is up as well.

Back to Christmas wrapping.......fa la la

Catching up.............

Tis the Season.....Fa la la la la la la la

Pattern:  Paris-Roubaix
Yarn:  Woolen Rabbit Oasis (online soon)
Colorway:  Scottish Thistle
Needles: US size 6

Whew....it's been a crazy busy couple of weeks.  Has it been like that for you?  I actually have been working on a lot of things, but in order to keep myself somewhat organized I have not really been able to spend much time on the computer.

This scarf is one of Anne's patterns from last year.  Very similar to my favorite tesserae socks, so I thought it would be a nice pattern to test a new yarn I will be carrying.

A blend of silk and camel that is lightweight, warm and very soft.  It truly was a pleasure to knit.  Tonight I think I will cast on the mitts when I finally get a chance to sit for a bit.

I hope to have this yarn listed up in the store soon.  I actually dyed and photographed a batch of it during Fryeburg Fair, but I'm afraid I may have lost the pictures when my computer crashed....I'm hoping that I managed to save them on one of my disks.

Over the last few weeks I have really suffered with a bout of sciatica as well.  I KNOW....that SO sounds like an old lady condition doesn't it?

Actually it stems from an old accident from years ago that flares up every now and then.  Of course if I would lose a bit of weight and buy a new mattress it would help.

This time though I had to bite the bullet and have the doctor prescribe some medication...and let me tell you this medication is playing havoc with my sleep patterns.  I am up all hours of the night and then dragging my sorry behind around during the day.  I really have been trying to stay on task though in spite of my aching backside and lack of restful sleep.

I have been working away on some new bags...this one really makes me smile. 

How can you not love Olivia...she is quite a pip isn't she?  When I saw this fabric in the store it just made me smile.

I have added some new batiks that I hope to sew over the weekend as well.  Of all the fabrics out there, the batiks have always been my most favorite.  There's just something so earthy about them....I love them. :)

Well, that's a little part of what's been happening here at the Woolen Rabbit.  I hope that you all are enjoying this festive time of year with wonder and peace.

Coasting.........

Come on ladies....fire up those sewing machines for a quick and easy Christmas present.  Perfect for teachers or MIL's who already have everything under the sun.

A few weeks ago Terry and I attended a machine quilting class. I won't say that either of us were bowed over by the class...that's a story for another time, but I did hang on to the fabric that I purchased to practice on at home.

You can't see my stippling very well on the fabric as I used a thread that was very close in color, but over all I was really pleased with the results.....but what the heck do you do with a 1/2 yard piece of fabric in a color that is definitely not one of your favorites?  Hmmmm............

A few weeks ago I was reading one of my favorite quilting blogs and stumbled upon this tutorial. (thanks Christina!) 

Wow........how perfect and timely for my stippled fabric that I just couldn't bear to throw away!  Now mind you, I prefer Christina's bright cheery colors against the linen, but I also knew that the pink and brown matched the living room of the potential recipient, so yay it would work!!

Basically what I did was cut 3.25 inch squares from my quilted fabric, followed by 2 4 inch squares from my other fabric.
(I differed a bit here from Christina's directions)

Using a glass for my circle template, I traced it onto the top of the brown fabric and then randomly stitched 3 times around....easy peasy.

Next a little reverse applique.  Just cut the fabric inside of the circle that you stitched and then stitch 1/4 inch around the outside of the fabric.

Extra special treat... I got to play with a toy I bought earlier this summer.  Ken will tell you that I am a sucker for gadgets and I will tell you straight up I swooned when I saw this antique singer pinking machine on a quilting blog.

A quick search on ebay and one was mine for a ridiculously inexpensive..ok...cheap amount of money.  (MUCH less than the link...so hang in there for a cheaper one...they are out there)

Works a charm on pinking edges....sooooooo much easier than my clunky pinking shears!

And there you have it.........so fast and easy and SO much fun!!  Remember that beautiful Rouenneries fabric that I shared with you?  I'm seeing some red and tan coasters happening here very soon.

Have fun coasting!!!

Frolicking.............

Sigh..................
I never tire of watching Sir Paul frolick..........