...and it's finished!

It's time to show you my completed "Charming Chevrons" quilt!  I managed to get the binding on, and stitched it down by hand.  I originally planned to machine-stitch the binding down, but it started stretching a bit, so I undid the few inches that I'd put in, and threaded a needle (cue the "Do-Re-Me" song from The Sound of Music - So, a needle pulling thread...) .  It took me 3 days, but the stitching is done!  I love this quilt!  Now I have to find someone that loves it as much as I do - I'll consider all offers!
And here's the proof:

The original quilt was made by Christa Watson (http://christaquiltsblog.com/2012/10/18/diy-quilts-3-1-charming-chevrons-supply-list/), using Kona Cottons, and it looks great, but I love this one even more (sorry Christa!).

Now I've got a mystery quilt to finish - the final clue was released a few hours ago.  After I get the top pieced, I'll post a picture;  I'll be sharing my May "Lovely Year of Finishes" project around May 1st.

Updating...

So, we're already at the half-point of the month (how can that be?) - and I'm going to update you with my April "Lovely Year of Finishes" project.  I'm on the home stretch - the quilting is finished, and the binding is completely sewn on.  Now I have to sew the binding down on the back- I started to do that with the machine, but there were issues, so I'm working on it by hand.  That's not the most fun - I have arthritis in my hands, and handwork like hand-stitching and crocheting irritate my hands, so we'll see how this is going to work out...
Anyway, here's the picture to show my progress:

Some of the binding is stitched down in this pic - and I really like how well I managed to miter my corners!  You can see the quilting on the back side - I basically echoed the chevrons, varying the width of the spaces between the quilted lines.  I used a great variegated thread on the quilt top - and it looks like most of the colours in the quilt top also show up in the thread, so that's a bonus!  Now I'm off to link up my pic on Melissa's website...

Cards, cards, and more cards!

After making only 4 cards in the past 2 months, I went on a card-making spree last night and this afternoon!  I had seen a number of great cards on various blogs and photo-sharing sites, and just got an order of stamps and cardstock and punches, so I did what every sensible card-maker would do - I made cards!  Lots of cards!  I'll probably share a few every other day or so - don't want you to get cross-eyed from trying to take them all in at once!
The first one is probably my favourite!  I love the colours, and the fact that each of the panel strips has a different embossed pattern.   I found out this afternoon that the Just Us Girls blog (http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.ca/) has a challenge to create a project using the "ombre" technique - which is exactly what this card shows!

 I have a few friends and family members celebrating birthdays this week, so this one will be going into the mail in the morning.

The second card uses some of my newest designer paper - it goes with a variety of Stampin' Up colours, including this one (Summer Starfruit) - it makes a really bright card, which is really great for one of those "just because..." occasions.  I also just received my "Mixed Bunch" stamps and punch, so I put them to work as well.

I've had enough fun for the day, so I'm heading off to bed - I'll probably dream up some new card ideas!  I'm hoping to have a quilt project close to completion, and I just might share a sneak peak of it soon!

A card and a quilt project...

It's been quite a while since I've posted a card - mostly because it's been a long time since I've made a card.  I still really enjoy card-making, but I seem to go in spurts of card-making lately, and it just hasn't happened in a while.
So, to break that "famine" - I made a few cards this morning, pretty much exactly the same, except that the colours that I used changed from one card to the other.  I found this idea on Pinterest (honestly, where did I find inspiration before Pinterest?), and decided to give it a try.  It's a very easy, basic card, but I hope it has a big impact on someone's day.  I have 3 friends that are going through assorted medical crises; I found that getting a card in the mail made my day when I was having health issues - so, hopefully this card will help each of them get through another day.

The card

itself is really easy, just (8) 1 1/4" circles arranged in rows, with a coordinating butterfly at the end of the 3rd row.  A sentiment at the bottom finished it off (although I had some issues with this particular stamp - I had to restamp the sentiment at least twice to get the whole thing).   This card uses up a bit of the Groovy Guava paper that I still have - and even a tiny bit of GG cardstock to make the butterfly!  The other cards use Soft Sky and Old Olive - yes, I still have some Soft Sky paper and cardstock too!

...and now for the quilt...  I'm still trying to finish at least one "pre-started" project per month, and link it up to  "A Lovely Year of Finishes".  This month, I'm going to try to finish this whole quilt - piecing, quilting and binding:  

The quilt pattern is "Charming Chevrons" from the "Christa Quilts" website.  I bookmarked it a few months ago, when Christa offered it as a quilt-along, but, apart from cutting the triangles and stitching a few blocks for it then, I really haven't had time to work on it - until now.  Christa's quilt was made using Kona Cotton's Classic palette, but I chose to use "Simply Color" by V. and Co.  I LOVE the bright colours and the patterns are interesting - but it's a bit more difficult to put together than I was thinking it would be - I'm trying to not use the same colour in any row, but trying to keep the same pattern repeats to just one or two is a lot more challenging!  So, in case you see me soon, and there's a large-ish bare spot on my head, you'll know what I've been working on!  I'm off now to link up to the "Lovely Finishes" site - and then the sewing machine and I will hopefully have a very productive afternoon!

Cutting it close!

I finally have managed to complete my March challenge for the "Lovely Year of Finishes"!  I had started a second quilt from the last MysteryQuilts4Military - code named Glint.  I planned to finish my red, white and green version of it for the Feb. finish, but mis-sewed a number of the blocks, and just ran out of time.  I hoped to finish it this month, but I found that working on my second Glint quilt was enough of a challenge.  I finally got the top finished last night, too late to take a pic (my husband assists me with the pics, and he was much too tired to stand up, leave alone hold up a quilt for photography!)
Sew, here's the teal and cream version of Glint:

In the written pattern, the suggestion was for a border made up of HSTs - and I planned to finish it that way, with a few strips of the 3 different fabrics used for the quilt.  Unfortunately I cut all of the strips at 2 1/2", and then cut the squares for the HSTs at 2 1/2" as well - and there's no way that they'll sew up to 2  1/2" squares.....and I had no cream fabric left to cut up.  SO, the border is just fabric strips, in various lengths for some interest.  It's nice to have this top done finally!  I'm starting to amass quite the pile of tops too - so, one of these months, I'll dedicate my month to quilting and binding a few quilts - but not April - I have 2 new quilts started, and one of them will be my April project - you'll have to check here to see which one I choose!

I promised you some cards...

I have to quickly share a few cards - tomorrow is National Quilting Day, and there are bound to be some quilt-themed projects occupying this space, so I thought I'd better get the cards posted while I have the chance.
I went to a card-making workshop with a friend a few weeks ago - I definitely needed a card-making "kick in the butt", and the workshop helped me in that department!  We made 4 cards, but one has already been sent out, and another one is for someone special (and they read my blog), so it has to stay under wraps for the time being.

The first one used a stamp set that is available for a very limited time - and I chose this image because I think it resembles a Tardis, and a few of my kids are Dr. Who fans.  The second card is a little more traditional - and it's fairly simple, but at the same time has a lot going on.  The card front is embossed; then 2 panels are punched with border punches.  The small ovals are added on top of the larger ones, and then the stamped butterflies are cut out.  The butterflies are stamped in one of the 3 colours already used on the card; then 3 smaller flowers are punched out and added to a butterfly of a different colour.  I didn't put a sentiment on it - that makes it easier to use for a variety of occasions.

Now that the cards are posted, I can get ready for my NQD project - check back later to see what I made!

Another Mystery Quilt...

I'm still committed to finishing a few quilting projects this year - I'm just not doing so terribly well yet.  I totally missed the deadline for posting my January challenge; I posted my Feb. challenge pic, and even posted my mid-way progress pics here on my blog (as directed)...  Unfortunately, I totally mixed up 2 VERY similar blocks, and ended up sewing 12 blocks with the wrong center blocks.  Needless to say, I didn't get my Feb. project finished!  Now it's March - and I'm once again very optimistic that I'll get a project done, and it should be fairly easy - it's a repeat of the mystery quilt that I worked so hard on for last month.  At least, this time I won't make the same block mistake!  I am planning to finish February's project too - I've taken all of the wrong squares out of the blocks, and some of them are already re-sewn.
So, here's a pic of the March blocks in progress:

And, I promise to post some card pics soon!  I haven't made very many in the past 2 months (I'm so thankful for my stash of already-made cards!) - but, I have lots of inspiration pics, and it shouldn't take me long to pull a few together!