new starts

did you have a merry christmas??  we definitely did...as much as i hate to see it all end, it's also a bit of a relief.  i seem to feel like i have more time or something...

so i guess that's why i started two new quilts this week.  my house is defnitely a mess, but oh well.  it feels like i should be on vacation or something.

i was lucky enough to get some sherbet pips months ago, designed by my blogging buddy, aneela, and have been debating what to do with them.  i think i'm finally set on half square triangles. 

 I discovered a new method for half square triangles, and it's awesome.  the tutorial is here, check it out.  it's pretty genius.

I'm planning to do a value-type quilt.  I think.

and then i decided to make some more houses.  i am loving them lately. 

totally inspired by the house expert, krommama.

modern relief winners

 

our modern relief winners have been selected using random.org.  The grand total earnings is $5,852.36 USD!  

Wow!  Thanks to all who participated.

thanks again for making our first { modern } Relief a success!! If you are one of our lucky winners… please hang tight your Quilter will be contacting you soon to get your info!!  Have a wonderful holiday season!

potholders

I have been making potholders lately!  My first attempt at potholders, and they are FUN!  I used this tutorial, because they are just too cute.  I love the houses, and I love the rounded-ness of them.

These will go to friends and neighbors and teachers for Christmas, and I'm trying to convince myself that I don't have to include goodies with them.  This is enough right??  Every year I tell myself I want to give something besides sweets, there's just so much of it at this time of year, but every year it just seems so necessary!

In her tutorial, nanette suggests making dozens of them...and I am! I may be over-doing it, but I keep thinking of someone else that I want to give something to. Plus I want some left over for myself!

drawstring bags

i mentioned that my daughter's birthday party was a couple weeks ago, so i whipped up some drawstring bags for the kids to collect their pinata goodies.  I LOVE these bags--tutorial here, they are the PERFECT little size.  Try it out, you'll love them too.

here's when my little guy told me that what i had put in the bag did not belong.

i think i like them as much as my kids! 

and don't forget, you can still purchase tickets for the raffle.

and lastly, i have listed some more charm packs (fairy tales this time) in my shop.

modern relief

i mentioned a charity auction in my last post (it's actually a charity raffle, which is even better if you ask me), so here it is!  my friend heather has put this whole thing together, and i am so happy to be part of it.  i don't think i ever feel like i give as much as i could...

{ Modern } Relief is a simple concept. We are Modern Quilters uniting through the holiday season by bringing the warmth of our quilts and the warmth of your hearts together for others in need. This season, 2010, we will be supporting World Vision. We hope YOU will join us in taking a stand against hunger by participating in our fundraising raffle. Please let me introduce to you World Vision.

World Vision is leading the effort to end hunger.

In the next seven seconds, another hungry child will die.

World Vision is on the front lines of the fight against hunger. Today — and every day — we’ll distribute nearly 600 metric tons of emergency food aid, nourishing the hungry. We’ll give local farmers the seeds, tools, and training they need to grow their own food and feed their own communities. And we will plead the cause of the hungry in halls of power all over the world.

Please join us in creating a world without hunger — a world in which no child dies for want of nutritious food. This site offers in-depth information on hunger, its causes, and how it can be stopped. You can learn more about key hunger-related issues and share what you discover with friends and family. Use this link to begin your journey.
Please meet the members of this season’s event and view their donations that they have generously provided to this fundraiser raffle.
Heather from { House } of A La Mode

Amy from Amy's Creative Side

Elizabeth from Oh, Fransson!

Nettie from a quilt is nice

Aneela from Comfortstitching

Brioni from Flossyblossy

John from Quilt Dad

Kate from One Flew Over

Ashley from Film in the Fridge

Katy from i'm a ginger monkey

Tacha from Hanies

Amanda from Sasikirana Handmade

Jennifer & Jessica from Twin Fibers

Nova from a cuppa and a catch up

Ryan from I'm Just A Guy Who Quilts

Julie from Jaybird QuiltsJacquie from Tallgrass Prairie Studio
Alissa from Handmade by Alissa


The Guidelines:

- To enter this raffle please click on the PayPal button, this will bring you to the { Modern } Relief PayPal account.
- The cost to enter this Raffle is $10.00 per entry.
- Entries are unlimited, so please feel free to give till your heart’s content.
- Winners of the raffle will be chosen by a random generator on December 1st, 2010.
- Each { Modern } Relief Quilter participating in this event will post the entire list of winners for the donated quilts on their blogs during the second week of December and the grand total of our contributions to this cause.
- Additionally, they will also contact their personal winners at that time too.

We THANK you!

cornflower quilt

inspiration for this quilt here

I went ahead and finished up this quilt last night (even with several christmas projects on my to-do list).

 it will soon be available through an online charity auction.

it's baby size

backed with birds

i've also listed some little red ridinghood charm packs in my etsy shop.

horses

my daughter is a horse lover (also a pink lover), and has been begging me to make her a "horse blanket" for at least a year.  Her 6th birthday was last week, so I surprised her with this quilt. 

 She only kind of cared.  I guess a quilt is only a little exciting to a 6 year old.

I collected as many horse prints as I could find, and struggled with a design that would look good with all the prints (many different styles) and finally decided on a wonky star quilt.  I used several different pinks for the background, and think it looks okay.  Some of the busy pinks are too much, but I was using my scraps, so i'm happy with it..

I found the backing print a while ago knowing she would love it.  It's my favorite part.  

 I LOVE this print (stable mates by alexander henry).  can you tell she likes pink?

 wait, the backing isn't my favorite, the binding is.  Lately I have really been loving white striped bindings.  LOVING them so much.