Christmas BOM Progress

Heart Block

I made a little progress on the Christmas BOM project this week.  I finished all of the Heart Blocks.  These are small, about 4" finished.  I decided to fusible applique the hearts and used a tiny zig-zag stitch to finish them off.  Cute!

Memory Block

Then I started working on the Memory Block.  I think I only get to make 1 of these.  I used the quickie method to make these half-square triangle units.  I can't wait to see how it looks all put together.  Soon, I hope!

I also got lucky recently and won tickets to the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo.  I won them in a button dolly contest they had on their Facebook page, and they arrived in the mail this week.  Hooray!  I love getting fun surprises like that in the mail.  Now all I have to do is wait for the Expo to get to Raleigh in...sigh!...June.  Who else is going?  Take a look at the show at the link above.  Classes, vendors, quilts! There's even going to be an exhibit of Quiltmaker quilts at the show.  Mark your calendar!

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop, and have a super day!

Jennifer

New Etsy Shop Banner

Curlicue Creations  New Shop Banner

Have you visited the Curlicue Creations shop recently?  If you have, you've probably noticed a few changes.  How about the new shop banner, above?  I think it's stunning.  But I can't take credit for it.  My Etsy friend, Carly designed it for me.  So, so, nice.  So much more professional looking than what I had before.  I just love it!  What do you think?  I'm open to all suggestions and criticism.  I've been working on improving a few other areas of the shop, too.  Can you see the changes?

Americana Bandanna Quilted Trivet Pattern

Also, new to the shop this week, is the Americana Bandanna Quilted Trivet Pattern.  This pattern makes an approximate 14" x 10" patriotic, red, white, and blue heart trivet.  It's the perfect size for your 9" x 13" baking pans.  Order this pattern now, and you will easily have a trivet or two ready for your Fourth of July and summertime festivities.  

Until next time...have a super day!

Jennifer

Growing Collection of Crafting Books

Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs

Have you visited the Craft Books section of the Curlicue Creations Shop recently?  It's growing, slowly, but steadily, with a tempting array of devastatingly beautiful crafting books, in a variety of subjects.  The Complete Book of Crochet Designs is the most recent addition.  If you love to crochet, this is a great book to have.  With over 500 crochet patterns, you will never run out of options.  Think of how you can use a unique stitch to personalize a crochet project and really make it special and one of a kind.

If you have made a special crochet project, I would love to see it!  Please send pics!

Until next time...have a super day!

Jennifer

Ice Pellets Quilt - Winter has Arrived!

Ice Pellets Quilt

Yes!  I finally got the binding finished on the Ice Pellets Quilt this week, and just in time for the cold weather.  It's 20 degrees here today, the coldest day we've had this nice, mild, winter.  Not too much to bear, considering springtime is already showing with a few blooming daffodils in the flower bed.

Blue Batik Fabric

Other than that, I've been shopping, shopping, shopping!  Here's a heavenly half-yard cut of blue batik fabric, just waiting to be cut up into a new project that is brewing in the back of my mind.

Old Thrift Shop Quilty Magazines

I picked up a couple of old magazine issues, one of Miniature Quilt Ideas (I'm gonna need this - see the end of this post!), and one copy of McCalls Quick Quilts.  Always fun to look at!

Portable Dental Cabinet

And, my favorite find this week, a portable dental cabinet.  Wes found this for only $4.00 at the Salvation Army Thrift Shop.  I had no idea what it was, but it sure helped me to clean up my quilting table!  

Pencil Drawer

Here's a few photos of the inside of the cabinet.  Three of the drawers were meant to store the dentist's tools.  They worked great for my colored pencils, marking pencils, and pens.  I kept the little papers in them to show which tools go into which slots.

Notions Drawer

Many of the drawers have handy separated compartments, great for storing all my  supplies, a Chinese fortune, and a 1937 Buffalo Head Nickel.

Slotted Drawer

I was surprised how handy this little drawer was for storing a small rotary cutter, my seam ripper, and my favorite marking tool.

Pepper Mint's Future Bed

I also found this nifty iron bed for Pepper Mint.  I'm not sure what it's intended original use was, but it will make a great bed for Pepper Mint's home (now in renovation).  I need to make it a mattress, and of course, a quilt, or two!  

Until next time, please visit the Curlicue Creations shop, and have a super day!

Jennifer

Basket Cats Series Second Block is Here

 Square in a Square Cat Quilt Block

The second block pattern in the Basket Cat series is ready and in the Curlicue Creations shop now!  Square in a Square Cat Quilt Block pattern is a paper pieced pattern.  It makes a finished size 12" square block.  This is the second block pattern in a series of twelve.  Collect them all to make a cute kitty sampler quilt.

Vintage shopping this week netted this old quilt book from 1979, "The 7-Day Quilt" by Josephine Rogers.  I love the kitty on the cover - so cute!  It's so much fun to pick up older quilt books for my library.  You can really see how much quilting methods have evolved over time.  

I also found this cute chair made out of twigs and maybe some grapevine or something for Pepper Mint's best friend, Belinda.  Now they each have their own little chair for quilty chats and coffee.

Until next time...keep on quilting...visit the Curlicue Creations shop...and have a super day!

Jennifer

Button Dolly's Name Revealed!

Pepper Mint posing with the Lots of Love Quilted Trivet

Congratulations to Cora, the winner of the Name the Button Dolly contest I had in conjunction with The Quilting Gallery. So many wonderful names were suggested, that it was hard to choose, but Cora's Pepper Mint was unique, creative, and fit her perfectly.  Thanks so much to you all!

Wreaths 'round the year

Beautiful Bargello

Celtic Cut and Use Stencils

These three marvy crafting books have been added to the Curlicue Creations shop.  The wreath book has a H-U-G-E variety of wreath making ideas, plus some basics, if you are a beginner.  The bargello book is for needlepoint designs.  Absolutely  breathtakingly beautiful photos in this book.  The Celtic Cut and Use Stencils is full of designs suitable for many different crafts.  All three books are gorgeous!  Stop by and take a look.

Ice Pellets Quilt

I also spent some time working on the Ice Pellets quilt this week.  I finally finished the machine quilting and got half of the binding on, too!  Hooray!  I love to watch a movie when sewing binding on.  This time, Gavin and I watched the Two Towers movie, part 2 of the Lord of the Rings series.  Spellbinding.

  

Heart Blocks

I worked on these 12 heart blocks for the old Christmas Quilt Block of the Month UFO that I'm trying to do this year.  Maybe it will be finished by Christmas?  Maybe.

Blue Dollhouse Railings

I started working on the railings for the blue dollhouse, too.  Pepper Mint's best friend, Belinda lives in this home and she is afraid to sit on the balcony because there is no railing.  I really need to do this for her, so she can enjoy her morning coffee from up above.

Dollhouse Front Door

Pepper Mint has been out house-hunting, too.  She found a lovely old farmhouse in great need of repairs!  It is not in livable condition, yet, but I'm working on it for her.  Here's a lovely set of front doors for her home that I made out of a picture frame.  She is going for the storybook cottage look.

Until next time....have a super day!

Jennifer 

A Multitude of Fabric!

Lots of Love Quilted Trivet

This week I made the Lots of Love Quilted Trivet.  This should hit the Curlicue Creations shop soon!  It's the perfect size for those 8" x 8" square brownie pans.  Mmmmmm!  Get baking!

I also hit it big with the thrift store shopping this week!  I found this huge bin of quilting fabric.

 Plus all this quilting fabric that was in a large plastic bag.

Plus, these lovely fat quarters, that I just couldn't resist.  Time to get busy!

Button Dolly rocking out on her rocking chair.

Also, there's still time to enter the "Name Button Dolly" giveaway.  If you haven't yet read my guest blogger post, please visit The Quilting Gallery and check it out.  Leave a comment at The Quilting Gallery  with your name suggestion for Button Dolly for a chance to win one of my patterns.

And, please visit where-love-resides.blogspot.com.  They are hosting a quilt block contest as a fundraiser to adopt two beautiful little girls who have Down Syndrome.  Read all about their Quilt Contest, these two girls, and their future loving family.  Then, submit a block and spread the word!

Until next time, please visit the Curlicue Creations shop, and have a super day!

Jennifer