A Finish!

My quilt holder had a difficult time holding the quilt up today, but he did conquer the "attitude" long enough for me to get a photo. This is my "Completed" Orange Crush mystery quilt top. The rows were almost done. As usual, it was the borders that stopped my progress. Yesterday, I was determined to sew until the borders were firmly attached. Melisa at Sweet Home helped me select the border fabric. Kristie and Karin had lots of input, too. We all had to like the fabric before Melisa could cut the needed amount. Many of the fabrics for this top (except the borders) were left-over scraps from other quilt projects. It's so fun to look at the top and recognize the fabric from another quilt. I'm glad to have this one Done!

Composition Book Covers

At a quilter friend's stash reduction sale, customers were given directions to make a cover for the black marble composition books sold in school supply aisles. I've wanted to make a couple of these covers since her sale in the Fall. I love using the composition books to keep notes to myself at work, next to my bed for quick notes and in my sewing room. I have also been asked to mentor a new library media specialist this next school year (we start back to work in a week and a half). I had some Olivia the pig fabric from the Olivia books by Ian Falconer. I thought it would make a nice gift for my mentee when we met this week for lunch at a County meeting. I'm pleased with how these turned out. It was a fun, quick project. I can check another item off my list!

Christmas Lights Part One

Done. I've finished the steps to Part One of the Christmas Lights Mystery Quilt by Bonnie Hunter in Quiltmaker Magazine. I do like the color combinations so far. I worked on some of the block parts during the Stitch-In, but had put it aside. Yesterday evening, I totally enjoyed working on this project. DH was out-of-town so I stayed up late sewing. It felt good to complete a task. This morning, I finished trimming the blocks with my new Tucker Trimmer ruler. All the pieces were put in a plastic container and put away until the next steps in the mystery are revealed. Check this one off my list!!!!!!!

Enter this Give-away

My friend Brenda, who blogs as the Quilting Cowgirl is having a great give-away. I know personally that Brenda has great goodies in her give-away. I won her last one:) Brenda prepares for Christmas all year. Her give-away would make a great Christmas gift. Head over to her blog and leave a comment here. Good luck!