2013 Year in Review

8 Quilts

  2 Challenges, 2 Gifts,  2 UFOs, and 2 just for fun:-)
I love all my quilts but sharing my love of quilting with the kids in Audrey's class to make Christy's Garden was definitely the high point!

104 books

62 quilts filled with love collected for Quilts for Boston

7 fun months of the Toes in the Sand BOM at Quilter's Way

4 days in quilting paradise at the BostonMQG's annual retreat to Kennebunkport Maine

4 wonderful workshops and an hour of non-stop laughs with Jay McCarroll at the MQG Philly SewDown plus bonus fabric crawl in NYC with my BQF Aimee. 

The chance to meet 3 "famous" quilters: Lizzy House, Victoria Findlay Wolfe,  AND Denyse Schmidt

1 incredible Lilly Lovin' Birthday Party

1 word to sum it all up: Community!!!
With the creation of the national Modern Quilt Guild and the incredible growth of the BostonMQG (not to mention all my friends in the SeacoastMQG), 2013 is the year I found my quilting peeps.  I certainly didn't accomplish as much as I have in years past but I definitely had more fun doing it:-)

Gifted

Every year I try to make homemade holiday gifts.  This year I made cloth napkin sets using my Self Binding Napkin tutorial.  They're perfect for fat quarters and stitch up really quickly!  Even so, I cut it pretty close and whipped up the last batch minutes before we had to leave for the airport.  

I picked up this awesome Echino bundle to make napkins for my sister-in-law at the fabulous Sew Fresh Fabrics.  I was worried the prints might be a bit juvenile but since it's handmade, Japanese, and eco-conscious it should meet all the Brooklyn hipster criteria plus she has a thing for penguins.

For Dex's teacher I made another set using these adorable Ann Kelle Jingle prints.  Maybe it's me who has a thing for penguins;-)

I almost can't bear to part with these ones.  I just LOVE this Winter's Lane collection by Kate & Birdie Paper Co.  The colors are gorgeous and the prints are just precious.  I'm so glad I still have some left... maybe something for me next Christmas;-)

Last but not least, here's Audrey modeling the apron I made for my mother-in-law.

I channeled my inner Scarlet O'Hara and made it using her old curtains from our camp after I finally redecorated this summer.

I loosely followed this awesome Classic Apron tutorial from Michael Miller.  Since I wanted to keep the ruffle I just finished the bottom edge of the reverse side and then stitched around the remaining three sides as directed.  She was thrilled and I didn't have to feel guilty about throwing away fabric.

Now I can relax and enjoy vacationing with my family this Christmastime...  with a little yarn to keep my fingers busy;-)

Hermione Hearts Ron

I finished my hat!!!  It went really quickly helped along by the fact that I only did 3 repeats of the cable and I had nothing else to do during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

I've had two knitting geeks recognize it but in case you're not a Ravelry stalker it's the Hermione Hearts Ron by Knit Me Together.  I really like the pattern though I can't quite figure out why Christy didn't just write out the rest of the pattern.  A trip to my local yarn shop would have been inconvenient, especially with only 2 rows to complete.  A huge thank you to Synryo for sharing how to finish.

It's just a tad short and now I wish I had done the full 10 rows of ribbing rather than only 8 but I was so worried it would be too big.  I have a really small head and I HATE hats that cover my eyebrows or stick up on top.

Forgive the awkward selfies... we only get about  2 hours of sunlight in New England these days and I couldn't round up a photographer.  Luckily, I'm on vacation now and this is the only hat I'll be wearing for a while;-)

Linking up to the fabulous Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

W.i.P. Wednesday: Tick, Tock

It's getting down to the wire for finishing up my handmade holiday gifts...

I've got one last set of napkins to finish.  I'm using these adorable Winter's Lane prints.

They're all cut out and ready to sew... now if I can just sneak in some time;-)  Have you finished your holiday making?

See what else is in the works at this week's W.i.P. Wednesday:-)

W.i.P. Wednesday: Can You Keep a Secret?

Sssh, don't tell anyone but I've been working on handmade holiday gifts over here...

I'm making stuff with this awesome bundle I picked up from the fabulous Sew Fresh Fabrics...

And some adorable Ann Kelle Jingle...

And these old curtains???

20 days until Christmas and counting...  With hanukkah so early this year many of you are probably already done with your gift giving.  Did you give handmade this year?

See who else is making stuff at this week's W.i.P. Wednesday:-)