BDSI update

Well, it's 9:30 p.m. here, and I've had a few hours to work on my Raven Stars quilt. I've finally assembled all of the half-square triangles that I need, and also the brown and white star points.
I was really hoping to have more of the full-size blocks assembled, but I'll have to leave that for another day. They should go together quickly now that I have all the separate units constructed. The proof:
I needed to do a bit of trimming on most of the blocks, so that slowed my progress just a bit - now that's mostly done, so I should be able to assemble a bunch of blocks before I hit the sack - have to wait for our son to get home first....

Boxing Day Sew-In

I've had a very hectic month - trying to finish up some special quilts, making 3 different sets of Christmas cards, and being available to help out wherever my parents needed me. Now, the cards are mostly sent out, the quilts have been finished and given to their recipients, mom and dad are going to have a quiet few days and I even managed to do a bit of Christmas baking to share with our neighbours!
So, now it's the day after Christmas, and all of the pressure is off - but, if you know me well, you know that I can't just sit around with my hands in my lap. I was checking out the quilting blogs I read regularly, and noticed that Amy (A Quilting Sheep) had a notice on her blog about the Boxing Day Sew-In. I wasn't sure if I was ready to get behind the sewing machine just yet, but when I looked at my UFO pile, I knew I had to sign up.
One of the quilts I really want to finish up is Raven Stars. I started it as a quilt-along, and fully intended to finish it a long time ago, but life just seemed to get in the way.
So, this is where I was with it this morning:
Check back later to see how much I've accomplished!

I've made a few cards too...

I've finally had a little bit of time to make my Christmas cards! Now, they may not make it to your mailbox by Christmas, but I did want you to know to keep an eye open - you never know what may show up! Wish I could send one to every one of my blog readers....
So, for those of you that won't be receiving your own personal card, have a look at what you're missing out on:

I used the new Stampin' Up set "The Sounding Joy" - I varied the cards a bit with various cardstock colours and a few embossing folders.

So I was wrong.....

Last week's Friday Night Sew-In wasn't the last one for the year after all - there was one more, last night. I never have to go looking for a project to do - I have at least 5 quilts at various stages of completion...
I've had blocks cut for a cute quilt for quite a while, but I decided that it would have to wait until I had some much more urgent ones completed first. I have finished piecing the tops of most of them (I'm waiting for batting to go on sale so I can finish them), so I gave myself permission to start this new one.


The pattern is called "Super Zig" and I found it online; it's FREE at the LecienUSA website! I got a lot of the blocks sewn together and trimmed, and even got a few rows started before I almost fell asleep sewing a seam - definitely NOT a good idea!
I'm going to sign off now so I can check out a few of the other blog posts - enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Last FNSI for the year!

If it's Friday night, it just may be FNSI night! (I know, it's Saturday now...) I had such wonderful plans to finish a quilt, but I did manage to get some of it done - and hopefully I'll just have the binding left to finish tonight.
My mom was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago, and she's just started undergoing some "lite" chemo - she's doing really well, but the room where the chemo is administered is quite cool. Do you think a handmade quilt would help? I sure hope so!
I used a Moda Mill House Inn jelly roll from Fig Tree Quilts that I've had for almost 2 years. I went to my favourite (and quick and easy) "Split Decision" pattern; got the top assembled last week. I used my Friday night for the border and getting the quilt layered and ready to quilt. And the quilt? - here it is:

Christmas Time is Here....

... so goes the song from one of my favourite Christmas specials - A Charlie Brown Christmas. I know that it's only Dec. 5th, but just a few days ago, it was Oct. 29th.... I blinked, and suddenly it's only 20 days till Christmas!
I really love this time of year, with all it's special sights, sounds, smells and cards.... Right! Christmas cards! Yikes - I need to make some cards!
I have a number of different recipients - quilting friends, church friends, family, special friends... and you KNOW that you can't give the same card to all of those different people, so I bookmark special cards that I find online; when it gets close to Christmas, I check out my pics, and decide which cards to make for which group of people.
I made a few green and white and snowflake cards for my quilting friends; the multi-coloured Christmas trees, and the "candle" cards are for my newspaper customers (I deliver our weekly newspaper to approx. 110 people). And those other people on my list? Hopefully I'll have enough time to make cards for them soon! Check in here in a few days to see what I've come up with!