2015 OPAM (One Project A Month) PROJECT FINISHES

• In 2015 I completed 63 Projects, including 21 placemats, clothes for my grandkids, quilted table runners, quilted table toppers, knit projects and 4 original designed quilts.
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• DECEMBER
• (5) Hand knit Scarves for the grandkiddos
• (5) Hand knit wash cloths
• (14) Special Placemats
• NOVEMBER
• (3) Personalized Placemats for Grandkiddos
• OCTOBER
• (7) Personalized Placemats for Grandkiddos
• (2) Christmas Log Cabin Table Runners
• (2) Black Batik Log Cabin Table Runners
• (1) Cathedral Windows Table Topper
• (2) Summer Twister Star Table Runners
• (1) PJ flannel shorts for Seth
• SEPTEMBER
• (1) "Summer Sunset" Wallhanging, my original design
• (2) Placemats for grandkids
• (1) Blanket sleeper for great niece
• (2) PJ flannel shorts for Brody and Micah
• AUGUST
• (1) Sundress for my granddaughter, GIgi
• (1) Small quilt for a cute boy
• (1) Button down shirt for my grandson, Brody (his request!)
• (1) Sun Dress for my granddaughter, Hallee
• (2) Summer jammies for my granddaughters
• (2) Sun Dresses for my granddaughters
• Finished embroidery on "Journey of a Quilter" quilt project! (YEA!)
• JULY
• Worked on embroidery blocks for "Journey of a Quilter" quilt project
• JUNE
• (1) "Summer Radiance" for AnnaMariaHorner Mini Quilt Swap, my original design.
• (1) Padded cover for RV Magellan GPS
• MAY
• (1) "Wonky Blocks" Original Wallhanging for AlisonGlass Mini Swap on Instagram, my original design.
• APRIL
• Worked on embroidery blocks for "Journey of a Quilter" quilt project
• MARCH
• No finishes; worked on embroidery blocks
• FEBRUARY
• (1) Happy Birthday Wallhanging, my original design
• (2) Sundresses for granddaughters made with fabric from Tahiti
• JANUARY
• (1) A "Wendy" nightgown for Gigi's Play, Peter Pan

2014 OPAM (One Project A Month) PROJECT FINISHES

During 2014 I completed 34 projects, listed by months!

NOVEMBER

• (1) Christmas Crazy Eights Table Runner
• (3) Embroidered and quilted patchwork pillows
• (1) Black and White Queen Quick Trip Quilt
• OCTOBER
• (2) "Twisting Pinwheels" Table Runners for friends
• (1) "Happy Stars" Table Runner for a dear friend
• SEPTEMBER
• No finishes! Worked on applique blocks  for "Journey of a Quilter" Quilt while traveling!
• On the road exploring northern USA in our RV
• AUGUST
• No finishes! Worked on applique blocks while traveling!
• On the road exploring northern USA in our RV
• JULY
• (1) Firefighter Lap Quilt for my hubby
• (2) Matching Batik Dresses for my grgirls!
• (1) "Remembering Heroes" Charity Lap Quilt
• (4) Pillowcases for granbabies
• JUNE
• (1) Whirlwind Baby Quilt for a friend's grandson
• (1) Baby Flannel Burp Cloth
• MAY
• (2) Patriotic Lil Twister Table Runners
• (2) "Ocean Waves: A Star for All Seasons" Table Runners
• (1) "A Sunset Over the Ocean" Minkie Lap Quilt for a friend
• APRIL
• (2) Easter Dresses for my granddaughters
• (1) "Hugs for Anna" Baby Quilt
• (1) Baby Girl Blanket Sleeper
• (1) Baby Flannel Burp Cloth
• (1) "Loving Hugs" Baby Quilt
• (1) "Horses" Lap Quilt for my grandson, Brody
• (1) Messenger Bag for Coloring for my grandson, Brody
• MARCH
• RVing in AZ for Spring Training
• FEBRUARY
• (1) "Night Watch" Bear Applique Wallhanging for RV
• (1) "Lucky Penny" Tossed 9 Patch Oversized Queen Quilt for my daughter- I long arm quilted this quilt-my first long-arm quilting project!
• (1) Friendship Prayer Lap Quilt for a friend

Glimpses of Christmas

I love decorating for Christmas. Over the years I've collected quite a few decorations, and many have special meanings! Here's a few "Glimpses of Christmas" around the Pavone home.

These little Christmas trees are probably from the late 50's. They were always on display in my parents house, growing up. My mom gifted them to me in 2002.

This beautiful white Christmas tree was made by one of my mom's best friends, Dot, in the 60's. 

It was always one of my most favorite Christmas decorations so I was thrilled when 

my mom gifted it to me in 2002. Look closely and you will see it is made of all different shapes of macaroni noodles.

Hand drawn cherished Christmas Cards made by my dad, dating back to the first year he made them, 1976-2000, and the last year he made them, 2002. He made them for everyone in my family and my sister's family each year; they are treasured by us all!

I made these stockings for our first Christmas after we were married in 1978. 

They are so big it takes a lot of stuffers to fill them. 

I made this Christmas Tree Advent Calendar for our first Christmas in our first house, 1979.

 Individually wrapped candy canes count the days until Christmas Day. I made many more of these Advent Calendars for friends and family. I also made one for each of my kids' families. Our grankids love putting the candy canes in the calendar pockets.

Another of my first Christmas decorations for our first Christmas in our first house, 1979.

My mom made this Christmas bunny family for us in 1981, the year our daughter, Nicole was born!

My very dear friend, Judie Provansal gave this treasured Christmas tree puzzle to me the year our daughters were in kindergarten together, 1986. Our daughters met taking dance lessons together, starting at age 3, and they are still friends today! Judie was a 5th grade teacher and I watched her daughter Emily during the year of kindergarten. I think of Judie with such love and am reminded how precious life is. Judie went to be with our Lord when my daughter and Emily were 11. Her two daughters, Emily and Nicole have grown into beautiful women of faith.

Another of my mom's cute handmade Christmas creations

 A new "Crazy Eights Table Runner" adorns my dining room table this year. 

(I finished quilting it before Thanksgiving.)

My newest Christmas decoration. For years I had a Santa cookie jar (in which we put doggie cookies not people cookies). The Santa was retired last year since it had a few too many chips.

A favorite of mine!

Merry Christmas!

"OPAM 2012" (One Project A Month) - 42 FINISHED PROJECTS

• I had even intention of being more timely with my blog posts. But in years past, time has flown by more quickly than I anticipate. Here we are at the end of March and it's been 3 months since I posted anything. Time to catch-up, with some recaps of projects I have made!
• I hand-crafted many projects in 2012. Not only did I sew 13 quilts, I also made a few table toppers, clothes, costumes, fabric-books for the grankiddos, a variety of baby items for gifts, and several knit items. 2012 was a productive year! Here's a look of my projects and a few pictures!
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• JANUARY (1)
• (1) Flannel Nightgown for Gigi (ankle length)
• FEBRUARY (6)
• (1) "Moose Junction"  Lap Quilt by McKenna Ryan
• (1) Moose "No Trespassing" Table Runner by McKenna Ryan (all machine applique!). This one is ised in our RV and fits nicely on our credenza.

• (2) Toddler Bibs for my two grandsons
• (2) Toddler Knit Beanies for my grandsons
• MARCH (1)
• (1) "Strings for Spring" Lap Quilt (my original design)
• APRIL
• No Project Finishes-Made lots of Blocks for QuiltingBoard.com's Boomerang Swaps!
• MAY (1)
• (1) Pajama Shorts for Micah's Birthday!
• JUNE (4)
• (1) Hawaiian Firecracker Mystery Table Topper
• (1) "Northern Stars" Table Runner, Paper Pieced Stars

• (1) Princess Pillowcase for Gigi
• (1) Fleece Blanket Sleeper (gift for new Baby)
• JULY (1)
• (1) "Summer in California" Lap Quilt (my original design)

• AUGUST (3)
• (1) Baby Swaddle Blanket
• (1) "Beach Cottage Stars" Lap Quilt for a great friend

• SEPTEMBER (3)
• (1) "Dreaming of the Beach" Lap Quilt for Gigi
• (1) "Twice As Nice" Baby Quilt, for my Great Niece, Eva, born in Sept 2012
• (1) Baby Swaddle Blanket
• OCTOBER (6)
• (1) Cowboy Vest for my grandson Brody
• (1) Camo Bib for my furture Great Niece
• (1) Camo Burp Cloth for my future Great Niece
• (1) "Twice As Nice Baby Quilt for my Great Niece, Olivia (born Dec 2012)

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• (1) "Play Ball" Lap Quilt for Dan

• (1) Fleece Blanket Sleeper (gift for new Baby)
• NOVEMBER (3)
• (1) Pair Knit Fingerless Hand Warmers for my daughter, Nicole
• (1) Maxi Tiered Skirt for Gigi
• (1) Bright n' Cheery Memory Lap Quilt, for my cousin, in memory of her mom
• DECEMBER (13)
• (1) Doll Dress to match the Tiered Maxi Skirt for Gigi's baby doll
• (1) Christmas Apron
• (1) Quick Trip Christmas Lap Quilt (an UFO quilt top from 2008!)
• (1) "Friendship Hugs" Tossed 9 Patch Lap Quilt (an UFO quilt top from Nov 2007!), a Christmas/Birthday gift for my dear friend, Susie

• (1) Sampler Lap Quilt for my aunt
• (1) King Size QuiltStory.blogspot's BOM Sampler Coverlet for my mom
• (2) "Count by Numbers" Soft/Fabric Books
• (2) Capes for Role Play for my 2 grandsons!
• (3) PJ Bottoms for my grandkiddos.
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Onto the projects of 2013!

Pinterest to Real Life

I know I am not alone when I say I enjoy using Pinterest, and love all the inspiration I can "pin" for things to do in the future, recipes to try, crafts to make, or places to go. This past Christmas season I actually made the time to do a few things I have"pinned" on my Pinterest Boards!

I knit these Colorblock Hand Warmers, aka fingerless mittens, for my daughter, Nicole.

The pattern is found on the purl bee! I knit these using only variegated yarn rather than several colors. They were easy, well, once I figured out how to cast onto 4 double pointed size #2 needles; the figuring it out was not easy.  I must have cast-on the yarn about 20 times before I finally figured it out!(for those who aren't familiar with knitting needles, #2 are very small, which added to the difficulty of starting the project!). Thanks purlbee.com for the free pattern. They turned out very pretty and Nicole loves them!

I, also, made matching Super Hero Capes for our two grandsons. Thanks to CraftBuds for the free downloadable pattern.  Here's Brody "modeling" his cape (as well as his new "Ninja" headband.

Since he has an older sister who loves to play "dress-up" he likes to wear his cape.

Micah was a bit more reluctant about modeling his cape, but he still looks cute. He isn't quite into "dress-up" yet!!

I love this pinspiration for displaying Christmas cards using clothes pins and decorative ribbons and then hanging them on a door or the cupboards in the kitchen

and on our pantry door.

The original idea came from the Greener Grass blog. (I'll be posting a picture of mine in a couple of weeks, so check back to see then!) Thanks, Melissa, for a great idea that I plan to use for years to come!

I was hoping to make the "deadline" for  Simple Homemade's "From Pinterest to Real Life" link-up last week;  but, alas, I was traveling on the deadline. My daughter is the Editor and once a month she blogs about her "pinterest-inspired creations" and invites others to "link-up" their posts on their creations made from pinterest inspiration.  If you do love Pinterest, you can see what other creatives have made by heading over to Simple Homemade!

A Productive August!

August was a busy month and a productive one for me. I finished more projects than I expected I might! I completed my lap size "Nine Patch Party Christmas" Quilt which now hangs on display at the the Quilt in a Day store where I work part time. It was a fun quilt to make, easy and quick! I did some basic quilting through the nine patches and free motion quilting around the poinsettias in the border.

(Here's a close-up of the quilt front)

Since this is a Christmas quilt I thought it only fitting to do a special backing, one with a cross in the middle, made from fabrics used on the front.

While I didn't finish all the projects I set out to complete, as mentioned in my previous post, I made a few I hadn't anticipated doing, including a re-useable tote, new valances for my master bathroom, two small pieced baby blankets, and a summer dress for Gigi (I fashioned a pattern from one of her other dresses!).

(It's next to impossible to catch Gigi smiling
when I snap a picture of her these days!)

(Notice her quick moving in this shot?!)

I've got another one of these cute dresses cut out to make in a pink Hawaiian fabric (one of my September projects to finish).

This month I also designed, appliqued, pieced and quilted a small wallhanging (this is a surprise gift).

I got my inspiration for this wallhanging from a napkin,
shown above with the fabrics I used.

I machine appliqued this mini quilt, with a palm tree, beach umbrella, sun and a 'surfer,' and used fabric with beach umbrellas for the border. (Machine applique is so easy when you use paper backed fusible.) I shadow quilted around the pieces appliqued and stippled in the border. My daughter loves this wallhanging so much I will most likely make her one. Actually, it looks so cute on my quilt hanger in my hallway, I think I will also need to make another one for myself!!

Oh, and I almost forgot, here's a picture of one of the quilts I finished in July:

"Our Quick Trip to Novato Quilt"

for our friends Nancee and Marc

WISPs* to Complete in August

I always think I can accomplish more than time allows! When deciding on the projects I would like to finish, I usually find a project or two that I want to start as well. So in an effort to finish a few WISPs * I started to reorganize my collection of fabrics, aka "stash" I keep in the closet of my sewing room. After an hour, I did get it a bit more organized than before, but didn't find the one project I was looking for (it must still be in the special place I put it, but that place has continued to slip my mind). So I will look again another day when I get the bug to do more organization and I don't feel like sewing (ha! I always feel like sewing!), so another day when I decide to organize rather than sew (which will take some coaxing!).

By the end of August, here are the projects I plan to finish for"One Project a Month Challenge" (OPAM) and the"Charming Girls' Quilt Club" (CGQC) :

1st - I just started a Christmas lap quilt using the pattern "Nine Patch Party" from Eleanor Burns' book, Still Stripping After 25 Years. I need to finish this quilt as soon as possible since I am making it as a store sample (I work at Eleanor Burns' Quilt in a Day store). After it is on display for a few months the quilt becomes mine to keep!2nd - my All American Star Tablerunner--the stars are paper pieced, which made for perfect points--it just needs some finishing quilting and a label-very doable!3rd - another Quick Trip lap quilt made from Robin Pandolph's line of fabrics in soft reds and greens (started two summers ago!).4th - if I still have time I'd also like to finish my Tossed Nine Patch lap quilt made from Mary Englebreit fabrics. It will match the theme of my sewing room, which is decorated with Mary Englebreit fabrics, a few accessories and prints. This one just needs to be pinned, quilted and bound!Well, maybe I am being a bit ambitious! If I do happen to run out of time, I'll add this one to my September projects to finish.

* If you don't remember what a WISP is = works in slow progress!!

Charming Girls' Quilt Club-July Projects to Complete

So, I joined the Charming Girls' Quilt Club, a virtual quilting club, whose purpose is to encourage quilters to complete their projects. Many of us have several WISP's (Works In Slow Progress) in our sewing rooms. Those who don't quilt don't seem to understand how we quilters can start a new project before an old project has been completed. There are numerous reasons for this, but suffice it to say, almost all quilters do have many projects in various stages of the process, that they are working on at one time. Has something to do with the creative mind, I think!

I have two projects that I plan to complete during the month of July. One is a lap quilt in golds, oranges and dark reds from Eleanor Burns" Quick Trip Quilts book. It's actually almost finished. I am in the midst of quilting it myself. Then I have to sew the binding on and bind it by hand....
My second quilt project I haven't started as yet....but plan to start it next week. It is a gift I need finished by the first week of August, so I think my goal to cut, sew and complete it before the end of July is doable! I'm not sure of the pattern; I'm thinking of possibly doing 4 or 9 patch blocks alternating with solid blocks (that I may applique some animals on) or a crazy nine patch design. Here's a picture of my fabrics....More on this quilt as it develops!

Now I'm off to Pensacola, Florida, for the weekend with family. Going to my niece's wedding! I'm taking some hand applique (Bunny Hill's "A Tisket, A Tasket" BOM) and a good book with me!! I have two very long travel days, there and back.

Quilts for Kentucky

I have wanted to put my God given sewing talents to use by making quilts for those in need for a very long time. So when I came across the blog post about the Mountain Baby Blankets Project (see button on the right side of my blog) I decided I would do just that.

Over the weekend I make one dozen receiving blankets for the babies of the teen moms who were the focus of Diane Sawyer's special piece on 20/20 a few weeks ago, and the reason Rachel at rachelcoxdesings decided to start the Mountain Baby Blankets Project.

That may sound like a lot of work, but they weren't, really. I just took flannel fabrics, 32" x 41" and sewed a rolled hem on each.

Then I finished quilting and binding a Quick Trip with Kitties Crib/Lap size quilt that I had made last year and decided to donate it as well.
I'm mailing them all today to the Christian Appalachian Project in Kentucky today. Often we help others around the world, but forget about some of the needs of our fellow Americans who aren't as well off as we may be. I am glad to have been able to help these Americans in a small way. It just feels good! And, I plan to make a few more quilts for them in the near future.

Holidays by Hand-Quilting Gifts

I've made a few Quilted Christmas Gifts and thought I would share them with you.

First, I made two sets of Quilted Christmas Cats Placemats for two very special family members, both of whom are Cat Lovers. The center of each placemat is a different cat or kitties taken for a Christmas panel fabric. I pieced around each center block first with coordinating red strips and then with approximately 3" wide strips of the border, coordinating navy blue fabric with Christmas Kitties, to make the placemats measure 14" x 18" before I added the binding.
The backing of each placemat is also the Christmas Kitties fabric used for the borders.These placemats were very easy to make and only took about an hour to piece them all together. I used Warm and Natural cotton batting between the layers and then simply quilted them together by "Stitching in the Ditch,"using matching thread.

Another gift I made was a simple Christmas tablerunner. Now a tablerunner is another quick and easy quilted project for even the most beginner of quilters. It is usually the size of two or three placemats put together, or about 18" x 36"-54." For this tablerummer I also used a block from a Christmas panel fabric, then pieced around the center to the size I wanted the runner to be. Here is a picture of the back (the fabric is an all over Christmas fabric in traditional colors with snowmen, bells, wreaths and teddy bears) laid on top of the front (alternate strips in shades of Christmas reds and greens and off white) to see the different fabrics used. Again I layered the fabrics with batting in the middle and quilted it by "Stitching in the Ditch."

Placemats and tablerummers are great small projects to practice machine quilting on. They are easy to manuever to quilt on a domestic sewing machine. These projects would be fun to make for any season or occasion by just changing the colors or theme of the fabrics.

You can see other sewing projects and ideas at Gidget Goes Home who is hosting the Handmade for the Holidays for quilting.