Quilt-Themed Gifts

Need to buy yourself a little something or is your significant other just clueless when it comes to buying you a gift? Just in time for the holidays, my brother Gary has created some special quilting theme items that you can find in his Redbubble shop.  

Warning: there is one item with mature content on it. (Bet you didn't think quilting items could have mature content, did you... now you have to go and see for yourself.)

Start here.

Search under "available products" to see all the different products that can be created. For example, this t-shirt was my first request.

If you don't like to wear your quilting identity on your chest, you can purchase this design as a tote bag. Gary has added this design in several different colors. There are notebooks, greeting cards, mugs, pillows, laptop sleeves, stickers and a whole lot more!

Here are a couple more designs. Meet Sew-pergirl! My brother Gary combined his love of comic books with my love of quilting to come up with this one.

I like the design below a lot too. I will probably order the printed version and hang it in my cubicle at work, in an extremely visible spot so my co-workers can see it. Especially George who keeps asking me to mend his sailboat cover. Sorry, no can do!

Hanukkah officially started this evening, but it lasts for eight days, so you still have time to get me a gift! I accept Christmas gifts as well. Or gifts for no reason at all. I don't discriminate.

Disclaimer: I don't get anything if you buy something from Gary except a warm, happy feeling that I've helped my brother. Gary, however, does make a commission (albeit a really, really tiny one) on anything that you buy from him.

Gary is happy to do a special custom design for you. You can send him a "bubble mail" through the website. If you can't figure out how to do this, just let me know.

You can also see the special Pug Hanukkah t-shirt that he designed for me. That's what started this whole thing. He's happy to do the dog breed of your choice in the Hanukkah shirt also.

Happy shopping and Happy Hanukkah to all my Jewish blogging and quilting friends!

Linking up on Friday to Confessions of a Fabric Addict and to Crazy Mom Quilts. Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

P.S. If you're on my gift list, don't be surprised if one of these fabulous items ends up in your stocking or under your menorah!

Give a Cheer for Finished Quilt Tops!

In my last post, you saw all of the beautiful things that were finished at our Cape retreat. Here are some quilt tops that were completed. Now on to layering and quilting!

This quilt below nearly made it to the other post. It is completely quilted, but it just needs a binding.

Paula's daughter made this skeleton quilt for her daughter (Paula's granddaughter). She doesn't like to do the bindings, so she asked Paula to do it. Of course, Paula agreed.

Here's a close-up. Her daughter must have had a lot of fun collecting all these different skeleton prints.

This is the fabric they chose for the quilt binding. It is called "Quiltmare (as in nightmare)." Apparently there is also a "Knitmare" version.

Here are some lovely quilt tops that were finished at the weekend.

This is a mystery quilt class that Joannie took at Homestead Quilting and Fabrics. Terri taught the class.  It took Joannie nearly a year to complete this. This quilt has a lot of pieces!!! Terri is going to quilt it for her and they are going to display it at the shop.

Here are Marion's birthday blocks from 2012.

New quilter Wendy finished another top and it is being layered in this photo.

Here is Wendy with her personal quilting teacher, Nancy D.

Here is Jo Ann E. with her birthday blocks from 2014. I love the soft pastels that she chose.

Here's a close-up of some of the fabrics. Aren't they pretty?

Nancy D. finished this beautiful Christmas wall hanging. This lovely pattern is Holiday Lights by my good friend Kate Mitchell. You can purchase this on Etsy as a pre-cut, pre-fused kit here or just purchase the pattern here.

This is a new friend, Paula (Paula #2). She finished this lovely batik top.

More importantly, Paula brought the best chocolate cake to our retreat! It has a skinny layer of raspberry filling in the middle. I could go for a piece right now! Perhaps I'll just lick my monitor screen...

This was also made by a new quilting friend at the retreat. Sorry, I can't remember her name. I think she may have been the third Paula. Marion was enchanted by the reproduction pinks and browns in this zig zag pattern.

Linking up on Friday to Richard and Tanya Quilts and to Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Thanks for visiting! In my next post you will see some of the lovely Works in Progress (WIPs).

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

I'm Back! (no pun intended...)

November was such a nasty month for me that I decided to not blog again until December and see if bad Karma was done with me. I'm not sure who I may have offended, but I hope that my bad luck has moved on.

Finally my aching back was well enough to join my Brown Bagger buddies and some new quilting friends at the Cape for a week time quilt retreat. I'm so confused that today is Friday, since normally our quilt retreats take place over a weekend. Today is supposed to be errand day, but I haven't accomplished anything yet this morning besides walking the pug boys and eating breakfast, so I thought I might as well write a blog post!

Let's start off with some finished projects!

Joannie finished this quilt for her sister. She even stopped at her sister's house on the way home and gave it to her! She quilted it herself on her Pfaff sewing machine.

Here's a close-up. Her sister wanted mauve and grey, but Joannie amped up the colors a little bit. It is even prettier in person.

Sally, Paula and Terri finished some bags!

Sally is making Schlep bags for Christmas gifts.

The small one on the left is for Sally's granddaughter, the larger one on the right is for Sally's daughter. They have handles which don't show up in this photo. Sally has several more in progress.

Paula finished this pretty batik shoulder bag. Despite Paula's smile here, there were some choice swear words involved in the bag's construction.

Terri made this gi-normous quilted bag, big enough to hold all three of the pug boys or a queen size quilt.

Paula also finished this skeleton print zippered bag for her granddaughter for Christmas. Paula's granddaughter loves skeletons! Look for Paula's skeleton quilt in a future post soon. This bag is not the infamous Boxy Pouch, this pattern is A Little Duffle Do It.

Joanne and Nancy D. finished some table runners!

Joanne is making these table runners for Christmas gifts.

One is completely finished and the other seven (!) just need binding! Joanne spent her time working exclusively on these!

This is Nancy D.'s sunflower table runner. It is bright and cheerful!

No scrap of fabric or batting went into the trash. We stuffed three more pet pillows and sent a half finished one home with Terri to take to the quilt shop in Lakeville. My friend Michelle, who owns Homestead Quilting and Fabrics in Lakeville, MA also saves scraps for me.

Pat donated these leftover decorator fabrics which made some very elegant pet beds. Thanks Pat.

More soon!

Thanks for visiting and for your well wishes! Linking up on Friday to Crazy Mom Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Richard and Tanya Quilts.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

November Cape Weekend, Virtual Quilting Style...

November Quilt Weekend, Part 2: More Virtual Quilting

Nancy D. is still making Boxy Pouches. On Friday, she sent me a photo of one.

If my friend Toni is reading this, I know she wants it! Elvis! (the legend, not the black pug!)

By Saturday, there were six!

Nancy D. sure has a lot of friends! I hope that I make it onto her Christmas list this year! Honestly, Nancy, I've been good!

Here is Joannie C. hard at work. This quilt is a gift for her sister.

Here is Joanne S. making an elephant, at least according to Kim G.

Marion assembled this star quilt top. Joannie gave her this kit as a birthday gift in January.

My favorite photo from the weekend. My empty chair at breakfast with my sad-faced quilting posse.

My delicious home-made cookies from Sue. They are all gone. Please send more.

Back Attack Update: It is late Sunday night and my back is finally starting to feel a little better. Mike and I spent our Saturday at the Urgent Care facility and then revisited the ER because I was having bad spasms again plus some dizziness. When we finally made it home, I took a nap and felt well enough to go out to dinner with him. Today I was finally able to take a hot shower and put on my socks all by myself. Recovery is near!

Monday Morning Addendum: Some additional photos have arrived from Kim P. My back is sore but I'm starting to feel human again. I'm eager to get out of the house for a ride and do some laundry, but I won't...at least not today. No heavy lifting for me, nothing heavier than a spool of thread. Perhaps I can sew for an hour or two after work.

Joanne S. has quilted the Minions!

Pat is working on her Kaffe Fasset Trees Quilt. Kim G. made one the last time we were at the Cape.

I'm resting, I'm resting, I'm resting. I promise. Today I've switched from ice to Ben Gay (boy is my back toasty) and from Aleeve to Advil. I also have some lovely muscle relaxants.

And one more thing. I have the absolute best husband in the world. He's been taking care of me all week without one word of complaint. Putting my socks on, fetching me ice packs, taking the pug boys out for their walks and keeping me company. He is one in a million and I am very lucky. Love you, Mike!

Thanks for visiting.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

The Weekend that Wasn't

Virtual Cape Cod Quilt Weekend, Part 1

Thanks to my Back Attack, I missed my November Quilt Weekend at the Cape.

The girls were good to me. Before leaving, Sue and Marion dropped by to give me some hugs and kisses, Sue also brought me a plate of home-made cookies (white chocolate chips with cranberries) and two novels. The rest of the weekend, most of the girls at the weekend made sure to reach out and call, email or text me. I felt loved, but I was in a lot of pain and I was miserable. I actually went to bed in tears on Friday night because I was so disappointed not to be there. I have never missed a Cape weekend before.

Anyways, the girls had a great time and were very productive. On Thursday, at 3:20pm, Kim P. logged in with the first photo. She did the machine quilting on this t-shirt quilt for Marion.

This is a t-shirt quilt that Marion made for her oldest granddaughter, Sydney as a college graduation gift. How long have I been friends with Marion? I remember the night that Sydney was born! Looks great, just needs binding!

Kim G. took lots and lots of photos and kept me laughing with the silly emails she would send me with funny captions.

Kim G. and her Kaffe umbrellas.

Cordula put together a Yellow Brick Road in 30s prints.

Cordula also worked on this Bento Box quilt in Kaffe Fassett prints.

Pat, at left, assembled her Dresses Quilt. Last time we were at the Cape, a drunken guest peering into our quilting room thought they were lampshades. Looks good, Pat! Also in Kaffe Fasset fabrics.

Pat also put together this quilt top.

Nancy D. put together her 2015 Birthday Blocks.

I'm particularly fond of this cute little owl.

This is one of Karen's newest patterns. Sign me up, I want one!

Kim P. worked diligently all weekend on her Judy Martin Snake River.

Here is the center of Kim's quilt all laid out and ready to sew. Amazing!

Part 2 tomorrow! Thanks for visiting.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy