Snow Day!

It is officially the 3rd largest blizzard in Chicago and I have lived through them all! Here are a few photos taken around this morning.

  

A snow day...sew what's a quilter to do?  Of coarse, sew! 

I started by finally cutting all the squares for Little Miss Shabby's Birdie Stitches-BOM and getting a head start on preparing the squares.  I also traced the 1st BOM...hmm...block 2 has been released.  I'm a little behind. Pictures soon!

I then got started on cutting the fabrics for block 1of Block-a-Palooza.  This pattern, Flying over Fields, is from John over at Quilt Dad.  I got that all sewn together.

Sew I moved on to the next pattern, Word Search, by Elizabeth over at Oh, Fransson. Cut and sewn!

The next pattern, Shoofly Geese, is by Amanda at sasikirana handmade.  Done!

Tomorrow the 4th pattern is released over at Cherry House Quilts.  Now I'm ready...bring it on!

I also finished my mug rugs for the secret swap.  I hope my partner likes them.  They should be in the mail soon.  Are these for you? I'm not telling!

I planned to send these to Corrie for Quilts for Queensland yesterday however Mother Nature postponed my plans by sending the blizzard.  They will be in the post soon!

A productive snow day and we have another tomorrow! 

What will I get done?

Productive or not?

Friday Night started with picking up the computer from the Apple Store.  Nothing too wrong just annoying.  Hopefully we found an answer.  Technology....

As soon as we got home, I quickly got started with stitching and finished the binding on this quilt.  

Then I made and added the label.  

Picture is blurred so to keep the secret.

I also finally made and added the label to this baby quilt.

The baby shower is tomorrow...

 I also made another block for Queensland.  I now have made 5 blocks!  I will be making a block after every finish until I have to send them off to Australia.  I better get busy...

If you would like to join in...stop over at Retromummy and visit Corrie.  She is heading up this project-Quilts for Queensland!

That was my FNSI...productive...not as much as I hoped but I'm satisfied.

Here is another something I've worked on and finished but never showed you.  

This was a Quilt Around the Block by Helen at Hugs from Helen.  It was designed for a group of 4, each doing one round.  I just followed along on my own.  I finished the center square and the first border with the hexis.  When Helen posted the 3rd round, I was a bit overwhelmed as the flowers were to go all around. I decided that was too much for me so I added a sample of the stitchery on 2 corners.  And I eliminated the 4th round of stitchery and added a cute coordinating fabric instead and made it into a pretty pillow cover.  

Taking care of business

The lace I ordered for the wedding dress makeover came in the mail the other day and I have started to hand stitch it on (in place of the large ruffle along the bottom.)  It is coming together quite nicely.

Here is a glimpse of one of the wedding quilts that I'm working on.  It's all pieced and most of the quilting is done.  The fabric is mostly Sand and Surf by Marcus Brothers with a few additional coordinating fabrics.

After reading on so many blogs about the floods in Queensland and the opportunities to help, I decided to join Retro Mummy in making 12 1/2" unfinished blocks.  The block I decided to make is a simple scrappy block.  Make a 9 patch using 2 1/2" squares.  Then add 1 1/2" border on all sides.  

Sew more 2 1/2 " blocks together and sew around the  block. Easy peasy.  A great scrap buster too!  Won't you join me?

Here are a few of the projects that I'm participating in.  

First is a BOM stitchery quilt from Little Miss Shabby.  The birdie stitchery is too cute to resist! Just trying to decide what fabric to use. I'm in love with the Sunkissed fabric but...

 I'm also thinking of following along with the Bloggers' Block-A-Palooza Waiting for Spring over at quilt dad.  Did I mention that I am in love with Moda's Sunkissed by Sweetwater?  Both of these quilts use Sunkissed but I'm not sure if I want to use it for both.  Just have to wait to find out.  

So in order for me to find the JOY in these projects, I'll just have to follow along at my own pace. 

No pressure.     

P.S. This Friday is FNSI.  Go on over to Handmade by Heidi to sign up. Won't you join the fun!