Doll Quilt Swap 12

I have been stalking checking out quilt swaps for a long time. There are quite a few of them out there. Pin cushion swaps, mug rug swaps, potholder swaps, block swaps, and doll quilt swaps. And probably lots more I don't even know about. But it has never been a right time, right place kind of thing for me.

Recently I hopped onto the Doll Quilt Swap on Flickr and it was just in time, they were starting up Doll Quilt Swap 12! I entered hoping to get a spot and I got in! I am so thrilled to finally be a part of a swap.

I got my partner and have been busy trying to come up with a cool design and fabrics that I think she'll like.

To get the swap going, they also had a little Polka Dot Piggy contest. 

This is my entry:

 I call it "This Little Piggy Went to Market". It was a fun little mini project to start and finish.

I wish I could tell you join up, but the swap is closed for this round. I can't wait to see all the wonderful mini quilts that come out of it. Keep stalking your favorite swap and you could be next!

Valentines 2012

Happy Valentines Day!

Hope you're having a fabulous day with your sweetheart!

I always hope to post pictures of the girl's valentines earlier, but they inevitably become the last minute stuff, tie, and this year sew projects!

For Maggie's we made little bottle cap zipper pulls. Got the caps and little ice cream treat stickers from Etsy. Then we added a bead charm and I designed the tag. We wrapped them up in plastic bags and added a few chocolate hearts and tied them with ribbons.

 We wrapped them up in plastic bags and added a few chocolate hearts and tied them with ribbons. She was so excited to share these with her friends.

Sophie of course, wanted to do something different. We decided to sew and stuff little hearts! I got Valentine scrapbook paper and cut them into hearts on my Cricut.

 Then I cut clear plastic vinyl and stitched around them with my sewing machine leaving a 1 1/2" hole. The girls stuffed them with valentines candy corn and then I stitched up the hole and added the tag.

The tag says "Your'e a Heartbreaker Valentine" because the only way to get into them is to break the heart!

I'll be including both the tags that you can download on the blog soon, never too early to plan for next year, right?
Tonight we will be having our annual Valentines Breakfast for dinner. It's a tradition since the kids were little. We used to have it at breakfast time until the kids started school, and then we had to switch it to dinner. But what's better than breakfast for dinner, right? :).

Happy Heart Day!

Farming Again!

 Been away from this project for a while and been itching to get back! I know that I'm WAY behind the group, but luckily it's a very forgiving group.

 Tried a couple of pink and red blocks....

 Then I can't stay away from my roses too long. Is there anything better than red & aqua?

Maybe orange? It's never been my favorite color, but I am loving this block!

But lest you think this is all I've been up to this past month, all be sharing some of the projects I've been working on soon! In the meantime it feels good to be back on the farm.

Heart Garden Quilt Tutorial

Today's the day! My Heart Garden Quilt is the featured tutorial on Moda Bake Shop today! When I first conceptualized this quilt I was going to do a tutorial and then the quilt took on new meaning.

I decided I would still put the tutorial together to share. I hope you can make it for someone special in your life. I love the concept that love will always grow and hearts are bound forever. 

If you make it, I would love to see it! Please share it in my Flickr group!

Fabric Remnant Sale!

 Not so long ago I was a Power Seller on Ebay. What did I sell? Well, fabric of course! I specialized in Children's Decorator fabric but also had a nice stash of quilting fabric. Mostly from Michael Miller, but a few others as well.

It seems like it's been a lifetime since then, actually just a lot of life has happened! But I still have a decent amount of fabric, and one of my New Year's Resolutions is to be done with it! So I wanted to let you know on Ebay right now I am having a huge de-stash SALE! Here is a link to my auctions: EllieBella Ebay Auctions . Everything is at a great Buy It Now price and a lot of it is discontinued fabric! Hope you find something you've been looking for (or something you weren't but had to have:)! I will be adding more daily, so keep checking back.
Oh and check back here on Monday, I've got one of my favorite quilts at Moda Bake Shop!

2012, Here We Go!

Happy 2012! I think it's already been a busy one. Getting Christmas put away, entertaining friends from out of the country, and a lot of projects for church. All good stuff and I think we're off to a great new year! I have a list of projects a mile long and can't wait to get going again. I'm anxious to start up with my Farmer's Wife blocks, have a new Moda Bake Shop tute in the works and at least 5 quilts I'm ready to role on.

Here is a collage of some of the projects I did for 2011. It was a fun year, with some special projects. It was also year of adjustments for us. A new home, new schools, new church congregation and jobs within. Now that we are a bit more settled I look forward to a bit more time to spend on fun projects. Here's to a productive 2012!

Holiday Wrap-up

 

Oh yes I did! We have a tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve, and that present is always a new pair of jammies. This Christmas I thought it would be too funny if we all had matching p.j.'s! I made everybody open them at the same time, then we all jumped into them. We were colorful to say the least! We drank hot chocolate and read the Christmas story from the bible. Then it was off to bed (for some of us at least).

 Cookies and milk for the big man were devoured, he must have made it!

 The kids got up nice and early, Mrs. Clause had only about 2 hours sleep (note to self-start wrapping sooner!), and the unwrapping began!

The girls were excited about their new robes, slippers and hat.

 After the unwrapping melee, it was so nice to be able to go to church. It was a lovely Christmas service and we were all in black and red.

That evening we had our "fancy" dinner. Prime rib, potatoes, North Pole broccoli, salad and homemade roles, good stuff.

 My younger brother, Andy and his lovely girlfriend, Alicia joined us.

 Another tradition we have are Christmas crackers. It's fun to find them each year and this year they matched my china perfectly! 

The best part about crackers are the goofy crowns that everybody wears.

It sure was a beautiful season. It came much too fast for me and is gone just as quickly too. I'm grateful to have time just to be with family and friends and celebrate the birth of our Savior. Perfect.
Hope your holidays were wonderful too!