Finishing!

It's hard to believe we are at the end of the year!  I wanted to quickly post and share with you the finishes that I have done the past couple of months.  I've waited quite awhile to get these quilts back from the quilter, but it was worth the wait.  I've been binding away and my fingerprint is worn off now.  (I'm not kidding...I had to use my thumbprint to get into the park at Universal Studios, because the machine could not recognize my fingerprint!)

A close up of the quilting.  This is a pattern by Quilt Soup called Sunny Disposition.  It will be a fun, bright quilt to display in the Spring and Summer.

This quilt was for my daughter for Christmas.  It has minky on the back and is so soft!  I think we may fight over this one when watching movies. 

A close up of the quilting.  Love those flowers!

This is my Amish Quilt.  This is a Sunshine and Shadow pattern of my own design based off of one I saw in Pennsylvania.  I have to say that I was a little stunned when I saw how my quilter chose to quilt this one.  It's not at all traditional, which is what I wanted...however the quilting is really beautiful and it's growing on me.  I am planning on doing some Amish stitching designs to hang next to this in my downstairs.

This is a quilt that I did during a reteat a few years ago.  A nice easy design from Pat Sloan, and it's from the book, I Can't Believe I'm Quilting. 

This is my favorite of the bunch.  I saw this in an American Patchwork magazine several years ago  It reminds me of Williamsburg.  I especially love the little star in the center of the quilt.  This one was a great addition to my holiday decorating this year.

A close up of the tiny star and the beautiful quilting.

Over the holiday break I got up the nerve to finish my Random Thoughts by Drawn Thread.  I decided to line it with some Heat and Bond light, and then add a cotton backing instead of stitching it the way the pattern suggested.  It added some weight, and it seems to hang better on the wall.  I'm happy to have this one out of the closet.

I also finished my strawberry sampler.  This is a terrible picture, but it turned out cute, and will look great with my wool strawberries that I display in June.

I finished this button sampler into a pillow today.  I'm not sure if I love the way I finished this one, but it's better done than perfect.  My daughter got the new Caroline doll for Christmas and she wanted you all to see it.  She is my favorite.  I will be sewing a lot of clothes for her this year.

I made a few Abbey Bags over the holidays.  These make wonderful gifts.  I can't decide which one I like best. 

My mom gifted me with this darling project tote, which was filled with fabric and books.  I just love it!  I'll really be styling when I take projects places now!

Here is a close up of the pincushion!  Isn't it sweet?

Another dear friend, Kathryn (no blog) made me this wonderful pincushion. I have it sitting by sewing chair. 

We have been traveling again.  My husband likes to take all of his vacations in the Fall and Winter time, so we headed off to Florida to visit my brother.  We went to Universal Studios for 3 days, and saw Mannheim Steamroller in concert and the Harry Potter park!  Wow is it ever cool.  I cannot believe the details that they put into the castle, Hogwarts and the village, Hogmeade.  We've been watching all of the Harry Potter movies over the break.  I wish I would have had time to do that before we left...I probably would have appreciated even more of the details.

Having a Butterbeer in Hogsmeade.  Yum!

My daughter and her cousins enjoying 86 degree weather.  The snow makes it look cold! 

Here is one of the amazing details of the castle.  There are tiny pinholes with fiberoptic lights in each one.  The pillar magically writes the name of the ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and then it disappears again.  It's probably something I would have missed if I hadn't been waiting for my kids to meet me.

My son got his Eagle Scout award this month.  I am so very proud of him and all of his efforts to get this award.  The man he choose to give his mentor pin to is Scott Monson, brother to Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.   He is a wonderful leader and did so much to help the boys in scouting.

Here are few things I'm working on this week.  I'm going to make these Shepherd's Bush bags into pillows for the couch.  Originally they were finished into bags to put dried flowers in, but I think they need a refresh.  Also a punch needle pattern that has been started a couple of years.  I have something fun in mind to finish this off.  I'll share next time.

I bought the wool this week to start this beautiful wool quilt.  It's called Pennies from Heaven.  I'm working on getting it cut out.  It will take a while to complete but will be well worth the effort.

I've got to find a way to finish this project.  I'm thinking of a rolling pin, like Becky did in her Fall finish. She did a fabulous job.

I joined Nicola's Scarlet Letter SAL.  I'm so thrilled to be a part of it.  I'm still trying to decide on a bigger sampler, but for now I'm stitching ABCD 1817.  It's a miniature sampler, and it is the perfect start for me. 

That's it for me for this year.  Thank you so much to all of those who helped me with my dyeing issues on the last post.  I've decided to leave my sampler the way it is, and I've already sent it to the framers.  I'll show pictures when it returns.

Thank you to all that leave comments and brighten my day.  I wish you all happy stitching and quilting in 2013!