Missing in action, or Too busy to be believed?

Yes, I am still in the land of the living.  I told my friend Susie that I hadn’t been on the computer in about a week.

She’s said, “I think it’s been longer than that!”  Well, sure enough, it’s been almost 2 weeks!

I have been sewing sewing sewing…  Here are a few of the things I’ve been working on…

I quilted this quilt for my “Quilty Hugs” group that donates to local charities.  Emily with http://www.auntemsquilts.com/ has a group that meets with her once a month to work on these quilts…

This is Roy Quilt Guild members who have finished working on their mystery quilts.  (Okay, the 2 on the left are mine as I taught the mystery!)  I’ll post more next month as the tops come in…

And here’s my little quilt at the fair…  😉

This is Susie’s quilt that I quilted for her which she created using Emily’s pattern!  (I love that!)

I quilted this for a client!

And last, but not least is my “Going Coastal” quilty for the MQTS group on flickr.

It’s a pattern that I revamped a bit from a previous mini quilt that I designed.

I wanted something that represented Patrick’s State Park in California where we camped this summer.

Whew!

Thanks for stopping by!  I’ll try to be better next time!  😉

Ta da!!! 5 3/8ths inch square!!!

I asked myself, “Can I do it?”  The answer is, “Yes I can!”

Here is the completed Teeny Tiny quilt swap that I am making for my partner on flickr in the MQTS  (Mini QT Swap) group.  I’ve made 2 of them so I could keep one for myself…  (Although mine is different colors/layout!)

I don’t know if you remember or not, but my mini quilt “Wee Red and White Delight was made using 1.5 inch blocks finished.  This one is 1 inch finished blocks…  I don’t think I want to try it any smaller.  (Unless…)

Thanks for stopping by!

A couple of projects…

I have been working on a few things recently and thought I’d share!

In the Mini QT Swap we did the theme, “Furry Purries”…  I made this little quilt for my partner, Quilt Monster.  I used pictures of her two cats

to pick from Free Coloring Pages for my pattern.  I tweaked them to resemble hers!

Here they are from my Furry Purries!Poukie, Lexi, and Arnold.

Grey Boy (in front), Lexi, Arnold, and Milo.  Yes, mine look bored!

And last but not least, a special little project I’ve been working on for a friend…

I stuck with feathers going up and down to speed things up!  The recipient will receive this tomorrow…

Thanks for visiting!

Mini QT Swap Folk Art Birds…

How’s that for a mouthful?!  But that’s what today’s post is all about!  What I sent, and what I received!

My partner, Mumziepooh, over on the MQTS site on flickr, both received our little quilties today!  Perfect timing!

The theme was “Folk Art” and I decided to do my same little bird pincushions on the Wooden Spools but used needle turned and freezer paper applique, in addition to bias strips made with bias strip makers…  (Love those things!)  Here are some close-ups of the embroidery on the birds…

I used bullion knots to edge the wing.  Then I used a stem stitch on the hair and tail feathers, and colonial knots to accent the stem stitches.  A simple seed stitching on the belly give this one 3 dimension.  And of course a little yellow chain stitch under the chin…

I edged the blue bird’s wing with x’s separated by colonial knots.  Again, stem stitching on the hairs and tail feathers, accentuated by colonial knots.  And the belly with the little seed stitches…

I prefer a Colonial knot to a French knot  as they seem to hold their shape better.

And then today this is what I received…My partner, Mumziepooh, aka Debbie made this little gem for me!  Isn’t it fantastic?!  She did some awesome embroidery!  Plus she added beads.  It is adorable!!!  I love receiving soft mail!!!  My mail lady is a quilter and I’m sure she has soft mail envy!

Thanks for visiting!

Shhh…  My secret project is being delivered to people in power this week!  Wish me luck!!!

Look at what came in the mail yesterday!!!

I have been swapping on flickr since 2009…  There are certain people that I love getting as a partner because their work is awesome…

Mamacjt is one of them.

Yesterday, I received the sweetest little quilt in the world…  That’s right, a pink and green row of houses!

(I’m moving into the one with the striped roof.)

Carol also sent an envelope full of goodies.  She is so generous!

Thanks for swapping Carol~  You are fabulous!

Thanks for visiting!!!

MQTS House Quilt…

MQTS House Quilt…, a photo by ruthiequilts on Flickr.

I designed and made this up for Carol in the MQTS swap “Houses” theme on flickr. It’s paper pieced and measures about 9 inches square… I love these bright colors!

Thanks for visiting!!!

Mini quilt made for Sewgentle…

Mini quilt made for Sewgentle…, a photo by ruthiequilts on Flickr.

And voila! Here it is… The theme for this quilt swap in the Mini QT Swap on flickr was “Snow”. This features the little asterisk block that I spoke of in a previous blog.  Those little blocks measured 1 inch finished!  This quilt is approximately 12 inches square, give or take an inch!  (I forgot to measure it before I popped it in the mail!)

I told one of my quilt ladies that it was a snowflake, but she argued with me, even after the little quilt was finished! It IS a snowflake! LOL! I added a little bling in the form of sequins and beads to sparkle like real snow! And I used my bitty snowman block as the center and built the little quilt out like a round robin. I hope you enjoy him! I’ll post a close-up picture of the quilting and carrot nose on a separate post.

My partner received this last night in Pennsylvania, so I can finally show it! thanks for stopping by! I appreciate all of my bloggy friends! XOXO Ruth

Swap received from Sewgentle!!!

Swap received from Sewgentle!!!, a photo by ruthiequilts on Flickr.

Wow! Wow! Wow! Can you see all the embroidery on this little masterpiece?! Karen (Sewgentle) outdid herself with the little quilt she sent to me in the Mini QT Swap… Thank you Karen! I’ll try to post a better picture tomorrow!

This little quilt is just beautiful! The French knots and wording for il neige are a special touch! I am so excited to have this!!! The little appliques on the branches represent the seasons. It is just lovely! Can’t you see why I can’t help but swap?! Hi, my name is Ruthie, and I’m a swap-a-holic…

Working on a “little” something…

Once again, I’m working on a deadline!

I’ve almost completed a dozen of these little blocks today!  1 inch finished.  They aren’t paper pieced either!  LOL!  Who’d have thought it?!  These are done as an asterisk block…  I saw a tute here: http://selvageblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/quilt-along-asterisk-quilt-post-2.html a long time ago.  I’ve used the technique several times!More to come…  Thanks for stopping by!  XOXO

Mini Quilt Swap received from Ruthie

Mini Quilt Swap received from Ruthie, a photo by silort on Flickr.

Posted via flickr by Silvana!

Via Flickr:
Yeahhhhhhh! I am a really lucky girl!! I received this masterpiece created by Ruthie especially for me!!! And she made a quilted tape measure adorable too!
Dear Ruthie, today there is a happy dance here in Brasil!! Thank you sooooo much, from the bottom of my heart!!