Prayer Quilts

Recently, I was able to focus on finishing some prayer quilts. They are not designated for anyone just yet.

I made an X's and O's - Hugs and Kisses quilt. It was fun to make and I love the pink, purple and brown colors together!

This was started some time ago and am so happy to finish the quilt. I used leftover fabric from the X's and O's to make the scrappy border.

The back is made with scraps from my prayer quilt stash! I had pink, purple and brown that ties to the quilt top colors.

This next prayer quilt top was completed some time ago and it was nice to finally get it sandwiched and quilted.

Do you use binding clips? I love, love, love them! If you haven't tried them, pick up a pack, I really think you'll love them too!

Here is the completed top and the back. All of the fabric used in this quilt was donated to the prayer quilt ministry.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Blessings!
Gina

A Pillow!

Hello there! When I saw this pillow that Karen designed at Karen's Quilts, Crows and Cardinals I knew I had to make it! I found her blog during the Grow Your Blog Hop Party earlier this year! Her Family Tree Quilted Pillow is featured on Moda Bake Shop! You will love her Redbirds and Berries Mini Quilt, which is also featured on Moda Bake Shop. When you get a chance, please visit Karen's blog, she is sew talented, I know you will be inspired!

I made the pillow using the Little Black Dress 2 by BasicGrey by Moda Fabrics. I thought/hoped the neutral colors would really make the applique colors pop!

The amount of applique seemed to be perfect for a novice.. like me! I have machine appliqued more than hand appliqued. You'll see in another photo later I really need to work on my hand applique stitches!

A spring or summer setting came to mind for the tree, so I bought this package of wool charms and variegated thread.

The applique shapes were easy to cut out! I bought a heat and bond applique paper so there were no need for pins!

I cut out leaf shapes with felt first, in order to get an idea of the placement.  I wasn't ready to cut into that precious wool just yet.

Oh! I hate showing you a close up of my hand stitching, but it's only fair to show the good, the bad and the ugly. I did restitch some of it, my uneven stitches adds character to my pillow.. right!? (don't answer!)

Getting ready to quilt the pillow front, I knew I wanted to free motion quilt the white space around the tree! Karen's quilting is absolutely gorgeous and I'm not an experienced free motion quilter to even come close to her talents! I was happy to just get through a meandering design!

After hours of practicing on a scrap panel and ripping out 2 other tries of a meandering stitch on the pillow front, the third time was more of a success!

Oh! another close up, but here it goes... the meandering stitch of the completed pillow. I love how it turned out and how it decorates my sofa! I plan to make a log cabin companion pillow with the remaining jelly roll strips.

I hope you've enjoyed my version of Karen's pillow, if you haven't checked out her original yet please do so at her blog or at the Moda Bake Shop website.

Blessings!
Gina

Spring Break Vacation Shop Hop - Day 3

We went to Colorado for spring break this year, specifically we stayed in Salida, Colorado and skied Monarch Mountain. My family skied - I tried it the first year - didn't really like it - while they ski - I shop. I searched the web for quilt shops nearby Salida and found 5 shops! The family ski's for 3 days, therefore my schedule was to visit 5 shops in 3 days. A couple of the shops were about an hour drive away. The scenery is so beautiful, I didn't mind the drive.

Today's post is about day 3 of my vacation shop hopping. You can read about day 1 here and day 2 here.

I drove to Westcliffe, CO, which is about an hour drive south east of Salida. Westcliffe is located at the base of the Sangre De Cristos mountains which is Spanish for 'Blood of Christ'. The elevation is 7,888 ft. above sea level.

This was my view on the drive of the Sangre De Cristos mountains! Just gorgeous!

I visited one quilt shop in Westcliffe, Grammie Tammie's "The Wet Mountain Quilt Shop". They have a website, be sure to visit them when you have time.

Grammie Tammie's has a great selection of pre-cuts, rulers and sewing notions.

Lots of beautiful bolts of fabric and fat quarters too.

A lot of wall inspiration. There were many more but I didn't want to make the post too long!

Grammie Tammie's has 2 longarms, pretty pink butterflies were loaded on one of the machines.

I purchased this Glamping fabric and pattern. I'll fussy cut the novelty fabric for the center of the snowball block and use the green fabric for the light background in the pattern, the red bird fabric for the darker background, and the grey for the binding and backing. It will be a fun summer wall hanging!

Thanks for stopping by! It was a great vacation, I got to do what I like, my family enjoyed what they liked and we were still all together! You can read about day 1 here and day 2 here.

Blessings,
Gina

Spring Break Vacation Shop Hop - Day 2

We went to Colorado for spring break this year, specifically we stayed in Salida, Colorado and skied Monarch Mountain. My family skied - I tried it the first year - didn't really like it - while they ski - I shop. I searched the web for quilt shops nearby Salida and found 5 shops! The family ski's for 3 days, therefore my schedule was to visit 5 shops in 3 days. A couple of the shops were about an hour drive away. The scenery is so beautiful, I didn't mind the drive.

Today's post is about day 2 of my vacation shop hopping. Click here to read about day 1.

There are two shops that I visited in Canon City, Colorado. Canon City is a little more than an hour drive east of Salida and it's like driving through a canyon to get there. One of the attractions is the Royal Gorge Bridge and the city elevation is 5,300 feet above sea level.

The scenery driving to Canon City is quite different than driving to Buena Vista on day 1 of my shop hop. The road follows the Arkansas river on one side and there are rocky cliffs on the other side, with those signs that say watch for falling rock.

The drive to Canon City, CO from Salida. 

The Arkansas River between Canon City and Salida

My first stop was to First Stitches. They have a website, please visit them when you have time. 

They offered plenty of pretty fabric selections, sewing supplies, books, patterns and machines as well.

Look at that beautiful inspiration on the walls!

I purchased these pretty fat quarters at First Stitches.

My next stop was to The Creative Cloth Closet. They don't have a website otherwise I would link you to them.

They provide a lot of fabric selections, books and patterns, die cuts and quilt rulers. I was fortunate to visit The Creative Cloth Closet the last time we vacationed in Colorado.

Oh so much eye candy!

More inspiration on the wall!

I purchased these lovely fat quarters and the small flying geese ruler from Quilt In a Day.

Thanks for stopping by. It was a great vacation, I got to do what I like, my family enjoyed what they liked and we were still all together! You can read about day 1 here and day 3 here.

Blessings,
Gina

Spring Break Vacation Shop Hop - Day 1

We went to Colorado for spring break this year, specifically we stayed in Salida, Colorado and skied Monarch Mountain. My family skied - I tried it the first year - didn't really like it - while they ski - I shop. I searched the web for quilt shops nearby Salida and found 5 shops! The family ski's for 3 days, therefore my schedule was to visit 5 shops in 3 days. A couple of the shops were about an hour drive away. The scenery is so beautiful, I didn't mind the drive.

The first day I visited two shops. My first stop was Bev's Stitchery in Buena Vista, CO. Buena Vista is about a 30 minute drive from Salida. Buena Vista is in the upper Arkansas River Valley and at an elevation of 7,965 feet.

Bev's Stitchery doesn't have a website or I would link you to it. They are a lovely shop and I was fortunate to visit them the last time we vacationed in Colorado.

They have a great selection of books, fabric, sewing supplies, yarn, knitting and crochet tools.

A beautiful quilt sampler hanging in the store.

I was happy to purchase this book and fabric.

The view is gorgeous between Salida and Buena Vista. I'm in awe at the beauty. If you look closely at the mountain peak you can see the wind blowing the snow. 

My second stop that day I visited Fringe, in Salida, CO (the town where we were staying). They do have a website, please be sure to visit them.

Fringe is located in the historic downtown area of Salida. It is a fabric, yarn and gift shop. I was fortunate to visit them the last time we vacationed in Colorado.

Lots of excellent fabric and yarn selections to choose from, along with sewing, knitting and crochet supplies.

I love their workshop area with each machine having a name and a peg board with sewing tools.

The measuring tape zippered pouch was very unique I couldn't pass it up, and I bought this pretty bundle of fabric.

Salida, Colorado is a quaint town located in the upper Arkansas River Valley at an elevation of just over 7,000 feet.

I enjoy walking in the downtown area visiting the local shops and restaurants.

The Arkansas River runs besides Salida. It is so different than how we see the river by the time it gets to Little Rock, Arkansas.

We aren't only in awe of the Rocky Mountains but also the Arkansas River. We enjoy visiting with the local residents and meeting others who are visiting from out of town too.

Thanks for stopping by. It was a great vacation, I got to do what I like, my family enjoyed what they liked and we were still all together! You can read about day 2 here and day 3 here.

Blessings,

Gina