I promise I'm still here....

But much of my sewing and crafting are gifts and I can't quite show them yet. I did finish my Birdie BOM for December which means I've completed all 12 block (actually 13 as I replaced the one for June). Now it is time to sew them together. That will wait until after Christmas.

I also participated in a Christmas Little Quilt Swap and here is what I made using  this tutorial. Can you see the little covered buttons? So cute!

I also want to mention that a few days after Christmas, December 28th,  I will be featured over at Sew We Quilt as a guest on Comfort and Joy! See the button on my side bar. I hope you all will hopped over there and see my tutorial.  I may be having a little giveaway here too so come back!  I hope to see you then.

Since I can't show too much of what I've been up to...I'll leave you with a few pictures from the cutest antique store...all decked out for Christmas!

A wall of woolen blankets!

baskets of shiny ornaments

more antique quilts

picnic baskets 

beautiful displays all around

There's not much time before Christmas now! I hope you all have time to relax and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas...the gift of baby Jesus!

A reveal, some finishes, and the winners!

I have a bit to share today as it has been busy around here. 

First up is my reveal. I joined my first Flickr swap for a Little Quilt 

about 2 months ago. I found this great quote on Pinterest 

that I wanted to design my quilt around. 

I can now reveal my quilt since my swap partner has received it! 

It went all the way to Sweden!

And this is the cute Little Twister Quilt I received from Karen (also know as sewgentle.)

I don't have a twister ruler but I may just need to get one. Love the tessellation!

Next is a wedding gift quilt that has been WIP for quite a while. My nephew and wife got married in Sweden just 3 weeks after our daughter's wedding.  Since many family and friends (including us) couldn't go to Sweden, they were going to plan a reception/party here at a later date. Although the top and backs were pieced, without a date, it was easy for me to make this quilt a MUF. 

Two weeks ago we got the invite for the wedding party. Yikes! only 3 weeks to finish, all while the Wantobe Campaign was finishing up, the Ghastlie Blog Hop was just starting and I was participating in the Little Quilt Swap! 

This quilt is rather large and to sandwich it required some furniture removal from my living room. Thanks to my DH for doing the rearranging, I was able to sandwich the quilt and pin baste it in an evening. I decided to FMQ ribbon circles around the rings and then choose a design to go in the white middle. I also FMQ a ribbon along the border.

Now it is ready to go to the newlyweds. 

I also have been doing some knitting and finished a little throw but since this post is getting quite lengthy and you are probably wanting to know who won my giveaway, I'll leave that finish for another post. 

So without further delay the winner of the pincushion is:

Linda from Buzzing and Bumbling...

And the little zippered bag goes to:

Nancy from Coeur d'Alene! 

Congratulations Sistahs! I will be emailing you shortly.

Work seems to get in the way...

Once again it has been a long time since my last post.  Since school has started, my time has become sew limited.  I have been sewing some but nothing to show quite yet. Several WIP's but no finishes.

I also needed to take my beloved machine in for a cleaning and tune up.  I was aghast when they said that he (the repairman) was 12 days out in his workload.  What was I going to do? Yes, I do have another machine but nothing like my Elna! I love it sew!! My second machine is a Husqvarna...not a shabby machine but in comparison...oh how I miss my Elna!  And yes I have a third machine and a serger but...

A couple of things of note...I have joined the Ghastlies Blog Hop! Watch for some great project from this wonderfully disturbing line of fabric by Alexander Henry.  Madame Samm over at Sew I Quilt is our host. Here is my Ghastlies signature.

Secondly, this month's Friday Night Sew-In is September 16th. Won't you join us?  Hope over to Heidi's blog and sign up. It's a great excuse to stay in a sew. 

Finally, I signed up for a swap on Flickr called Little Quilt. This is round 2 and I'm joining (if they want me.) I'm new to this so hopefully will figure out all the technical things...which is not one of my fortes. 

I leave you with some pictures of wedding sewing/crafts that I have not shared. What's a post without pictures?

I spent many hours [they were kinda addicting] making these fabric flowers for the headbands/barrettes/veil for the bridesmaids, flower girls and the bride. As well as the flowers on the flower girl dresses [which I also made.] 

I also hand stitched this pearl and lace cuff for my daughter.

in progress

Last weekend, we were camping in WI for the long weekend...an annual event with friends! This weekend is a 'bees and honey' weekend. We (not I, but my DH and friends) will rob the hives today and Sunday is the day we harvest this year's honey. YUM! 

Well, I'm hoping for some quilty finishes soon! In the meantime...