Slow Sunday Stitching

Okay I finished hand stitching the first seven hexagons for my Bliss quilt. I've started on the next round of twelve.  These will go slower as one of the hexagons is 6 pieces. Here's the first three that I've made: 

To keep the pieces together I'm cutting one hexagon at a time and placing the pieces in a snack bag. I don't know why the fabric in the pink and green hexies looked blurred.  Here on the right is how it really looks.   Cameras!  Ugh.

Again, Julie's videos have been invaluable in showing me how to put these together. Go here to see them.  Her ruler is great for making the curved pieces. I bought it as a birthday present to myself. My DH always wants me to get something I want and say it is from him.  I'm agreeable - lol.

Since I have them on hand I'm using Beth Ferrier's Wash Away Applique Sheets and use the 2" templates from Love Patchwork & Quilting.  They print so nicely in my inkjet printer.  When I've used them all up, I probably will buy some of Julia's or make some more.  So that's what I've been working on.  I'll have to take some time to make my WIP list (I refused to call them UFOs - that's for the ones I haven't seen in ages). Then I'll link to Judy at Patchwork Times whose hosting a UFO Challenge again this year.  Oh, and I'm all caught up with my units for En Provence - did those yesterday.

That really isn't black in there - they are just the darkest purple I had - believe called eggplant.

Take a bit of time to quilt or hand stitch today.  It will give you a few peaceful moments during this busy Christmas season to contemplate the "reason for the season".  Blessings as we start the Fourth Week of Advent.

Third December WIPs Be Gone

I finished a baby quilt.  These go fast because they're so small - 30" square for the NICU at the regional hospital.

 If you're interested, I'm posting the pattern for this Double Sawtooth one block quilt under my free patterns tab.

The fabric is so cute I wanted to keep it intact. I made the top way back in April when our Guild had a sew day for making baby tops.  I think the fabric is by Michael Miller.

 I free motion quilted the center from left to right,

and added freezer paper stars in the corner blocks.

I'm linking to Michelle's Let's Make Baby quilts and a few others you'll find under my linky party tab.
I hope you find a few moments to sew today during this busy season - it's so peaceful when we do.

What are you up to?  Link up and I'll come by to see.

Off the Design Wall

Off my design wall and already given away is the Nativity panel.  We had an Anointing of the Sick mass and afterwards a small reception.  Over fifty people came.  Since this is the season for giving - we had a few door prizes. This quilt was one of them.  The lady who won it was thrilled!

 I'm glad the Star of the East showed up.

The back is a reindeer motif print.

 This quilt really was quilted - just didn't show up on the back much.

Today I started on unit 3 of the En Provence mystery. Half done:

Our weather has cooled  and further colder temps are expected later this week - not as much as the rest of the country.  I went out to my patio and found a rare sighting.

 No, it wasn't crocus coming up through the snow.

One of my DH's cactus has decided to bloom.  The wonders of the plant world.