FQS Cobblestone Sew Along

Today marks the beginning of the Fat Quarter Shop's Cobblestone Sew Along.  This is such a fun quilt to make and really does not take a lot of time to piece.

I used Sweetwater's Hometown Christmas Edition fabrics, which has a Christmas/holiday theme, but really doesn't read that.

FNSI and Number 23

I forgot to post my FNSI finish on Saturday and Sunday, so I thought I'd post it quickly now...

I worked on my Fat Quarter Shop BOM block.  I can't believe it is block 8 already.  Only four more to go and it will be time to put the quilt together.  I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to sign up for the next one or not.

Today's block is Puss in the Corner.  Talk about going from one extreme to the next.  Forty triangles two days in a row and now a 9-piece block.  This is a 7-1/2 inch block and is number 23 of 366.  Can you believe we are this far into January already?  I was so excited yesterday when I realized I still have another weekend this month.  I have a lot to finish and that extra couple of days should really help.

I'm linking today with Design Wall Monday, Made by You Monday, and BOMs Away.  Happy Stitching!! --Kristen

December Finishes and January Starts

I'm beginning to really look forward to the monthly finishes at Lily's Quilts.  I actually surprised myself this month.

Design wall

One of these days I will actually have my quilts on my design wall...maybe that will be my goal for 2012.

Here is my Fat Quarter Shop Designer BOM for December.  I'm so glad I finished this...I'm all caught up for the year and will have a bit of a break before the next block arrives.

I'm still working on my Birdie Stitches.  Two more finished blocks and I only have two more to go!  I'm hoping to have them all completed by the end of the year.  The last two are a bit more involved and will be more time consuming.  I'm hoping to spend an evening watching White Christmas and A Wonderful Life which will make for some great stitching time.

I'm am linking with Patchwork Times, Fabric Tuesday, and BOMs Away.  If you get a chance, check out Lyn's Dear Jane quilt...I've been so tempted to start one and her quilt is AMAZING!  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Can you hear that?

I'm pretty sure with this finished block I can hear the Hallelujah Chorus playing very loudly.  This block has been on my design wall for 2 months, 2!  I had been doing so well until I started this one.  I don't know what the deal was, but for some reason this one stopped me dead in my tracks.

It is my October Fat Quarter Shop Designer BOM block.  Now that it is finished I love it, but wow...would be fun to do a whole quilt with this block wouldn't it...king sized. HA! :)  I hope you all are enjoying your holiday season.  We've been busy, but it did help to get into my sewing room last night and work on something relaxing. :)

I'm linking today with Judy For Design Wall Monday (yes, it is Tuesday), Lyn for BOMs Away, and Heather and Megan for Fabric Tuesday.  If you get a chance, check out these sites.  It is amazing to see what other people are working on.

Stay warm, stay well, and enjoy this great time of the year.  I will be back with a blog hop on Thursday that is all about giveaways! :)  Happy Stitching!! --Kristen

Can I ask for your help? :)

I am for the most part a very shy person.  I hate to ask people for things, and I have a terrible time promoting myself.  That being said, I'm being forced to ask for votes.  I entered my Jack-O-Lantern quilt at Quilting Gallery this week, and I have to ask for votes.

If you would like to vote you can go to Fall Splendor Quilts.  My quilt is about in the middle and you need to scroll to the bottom and click in the box for Jack-O-Lanterns.  You can only vote once per computer, and to be fair, you can vote for up to four quilts.  And I sure hope you aren't offended at me asking for your vote! :)  Voting closes Sunday, October 9.

I did also finish my Fat Quarter Shop Designer BOM block last night.  I just love these fabrics, and I know I keep saying that, but I do!  I think it has something to do with the fact that I have loved strawberries since I was little.  My mom had this wonderful strawberry garden when I was little, and if she couldn't find me she would go there and I'd be sitting and eating strawberries.  I loved her garden, but I'm pretty sure I was only one who got any strawberries.

I always like to see progress on my BOMs.  I can't believe we are already a quarter of the way through.  I think the best part with these blocks is that you only do one a month and you are looking forward to the next month. 

I'm linking with Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!  Thank you so much for stopping by and for your vote (that is if you decide to vote).  :)  Happy Stitching!  --Kristen

Some progress...

I did accomplish a few things this weekend along with celebrating my wedding anniversary with my husband.  We've been married 17 years this year which sounds like such a long time, but feels like it has just flown.  Oh yes, and I should mention, we married young. :)

First off, I finished my second block for the Christmas Stitchalong.  These blocks are so much fun!  If you want to join along, the Santa pattern is still posted and available until Friday.  The Love and Kisses block is available until Friday too, so you still have time to start.  I'm anxiously awaiting the next pattern.

My 49 pieces are cut for the Fat Quarter Shop Designer BOM for this month.  I still love these fabrics, and I'm still enjoying piecing these blocks...which is a good thing because we still have a ways to go!

Here are flowers numbered 67 and 68 of 140 for the Vignette hexagon quilt.  Progress has slowed, and if I would just cut some fabric and baste those hexies, I'd be off and running again.  Never ever do I have a shortage of things to work on.

I'm linking today with Judy for Design Wall Monday, Made By You Monday, and BOMS Away.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Happy Stitching!  --Kristen

Where's Kristen?

I feel like that Where's Waldo game, except I'm looking for me! :)  I've had a great week of vacation, and I'm looking forward to the last few days off of work this week.  What have I been doing you ask?  Well, I have not been bored.

My Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery BOM arrived in my mailbox on Saturday, and it was all I could do to not work on it over the weekend.  I finished it late last night and I love it!  The colors in this quilt just sing happiness to me.  I guess I never realized how much I love yellow and red together.

My son and I spent part of last week participating in the Minnesota Quilt Shop Hop.  It is a statewide hop that is divided into sections.  When you visit each shop in a section you are eligible for prizes for that section.  You receive a free pattern and a free 5" inch square of the Minnesota Shop Hop fabric from each shop you visit.  When you have finished visiting all the shops in the SE Minnesota section you receive....

Fourteen half yard cuts of these moda fabrics...how cool is that?  It is like getting paid to shop!  As I was getting ready to photograph these fabrics I realized just how much I like them all.  I may have never picked them out myself, but I do really like them.

Of course I didn't just go to get all the fun free stuff, I did do some shopping too.  I found this book and could not leave it behind.  As you can see it has 70 projects all made out of felt...which I LOVE!  I keep trying to decide which fruit/veggie/tool/ornament to start first. 

I have one more project that I've been working on over the past couple of days.  It has to be finished by tomorrow at noon so hopefully I can show you then.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I'm linking today with Patchwork Times, BOMs Away, and Fabric Tuesday.  Happy Stitching!  --Kristen

Design Wall Monday

My design wall (floor, desk) has been full for quite a while.  I realized the other day that I have been working on some BOMs for some time and haven't actually seen all the blocks together.  Today I thought it might be fun to see what I have as far as "almost finished" quilts.

This is the Birdie Stitches BOM.  When I went there now, there was a new block posted.  I really do enjoy these embroideries.  As you can see, I am three behind now.

Next is Cobblestone Lane by This and That.  There are two blocks to sew together and the quilt will be finished.  I really think I'm going to like this when it is complete.

These next two quilts are from a Thangles Buck a Block BOM that I participated in last year.  I liked both colorways and at a buck a month it was certainly affordable.  Now that I look at the blocks on the floor I'm questioning one of them...I bet you can guess which one it is. It is the bottom one in the top picture. They are both put together the same way so either it was a late night or the pattern said to do it that way.  I'm thinking I'm going to have to tear some threads. 

I have three blocks to finish for both of them.

Last but not least is my Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery BOM.  I like this one best of all.  The colors are happy and the blocks are fun.  As each month is a surprise, hopefully they won't disappoint.  I 'm not worried. :)

As I look back through these I notice that I did see a finished quilt for all of them except for the last before I started.  The Thangles BOMs did not have a color picture of the block each month, they were in black and white.  The This and That patterns all had a color picture and were printed like a regular pattern you purchase.  The FQS is a colored computer print out.  Birdie Stitches is a drawing you print out each month and you pick the fabrics.  Each are different in their own way, and I honestly have enjoyed working on them all.  Do you enjoy BOMs or are you a start it and finish it type person?  Do you like to chose your own fabrics, or would you rather not bother with that and use what is chosen for you?

It was fun to lay out the blocks and see what I have.  I am also dreaming about how to quilt each one and actually getting to use these when they are finished.  I usually like to chose my own fabrics, but my life has been very hectic, and I wanted to just work on my piecing skills.  With most of the BOM kits all I had to do was cut and sew which turned out to be very relaxing, and each month I had finished something.


I'm linking today with Patchwork Times and BOMs Away.  Thanks for stopping by and Happy Stitching!  --Kristen

Friday Finishes

I did it...I finished the second block from the Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery BOM. This one is called Promise of Spring which is kind of funny as we are in the blazing hot of summer right now.

 I have to say, spring or summer, I love this block. The fabrics are so fun to work with, and I'm being challenged.  :) 

Another finished hexie flower.  This is 59 of 140.  There aren't 89 total flowers in the quilt (I misspoke last time, it must have been the sun), there are 140.  So, I only have 81 left to do.  It sounded better when I said there were 89 total flowers. :)  Doesn't matter though, they are enjoyable to sew and it is all about the journey!

I am linking here for my Friday Finish.  There are some fun girls over there so be sure to check it out.  Have a wonderful weekend and stay cool!   Happy Stitching!  --Kristen