I almost didn't do this.

Start sewing, I mean.

And now I have been invited to be a guest blogger over at Sew We Quilt @ Stash Manicure!

I am not a seasoned quilter, but I can't say I am a newbie anymore, although I still don't have a quilt of my own...yet. But that is a story for another day!

I recently had an 'Ah-ha' moment. Something must have happened in junior high home ec class that held me back from even considering sewing. Something other than my teacher who always said, "Keep it down to a dull roar, girls".

 I didn't want to have to use the dreaded seam ripper. Now that seems so funny. But once I fell in love with these new fabrics, I had to start sewing, seam ripper or not.

Now look what has happened. I have had so much fun from such a wonderful hobby. And I have had the joy of making things for people I love. Why did I never consider that my sons might enjoy a quilt I made for them?

That quilt up there is the one T ended up with and this one is D's.

Here is G's quilt.

I didn't know which quilt would go to which boy, because I just wrapped them and put them under the tree with no names. They got 'pot luck'.

Isn't it amazing what can happen when we get past our fears, even if they are something as silly and small as a seam ripper!

Remember to head over to Stash Manicure to read about how these quilts even came to be!

Let's Go Fly A Kite

Remember this sweet boy for my sweet boy?

Well, I got to share him on Quilt Story with lots of other cute quilt story projects. Click on their link in my side bar, hop on over and see!

Blogging Etiquette & My Next Colorful Project

Kat is running a Week of good etiquette for the modern blogger. I have been looking forward to this since I first heard about it. I want to always have good manners. :)

And because I cannot post without a picture, this is on my cutting board. Wonder who it is for???

I love a party!

Hello! My name is Vickie and I live in  a small town in the gently rolling hills of Kansas. I am happy to participate in the Quilt Story Block Party. There is so much inspiration and tons of wonderful ideas on flickr. I am happy to be a part of the fun. It is always a good day to 'play', especially when it is so white outside and you love color! So...

Traditional: Flying Geese

My traditional block is made with Amy Butler's love fabric, which is significant for me as I began quilting a few years ago because I saw her fabric in a quilt. It was a "this is not your grandma's pastime" moment and I knew I wanted to work with all that wonderfully colorful and delightfully designed fabric! I don't know why flying geese have intrigued me, with their points to meet, but they have. I especially like that the dark geese in this block are actually two different fabrics in similar colors that have been pieced. I made this block for The Quilting Journey Round Robin Bee's quiltalong, so I get to keep it.

Modern: Pinwheel in a Star

My modern block also comes from The Quilting Journey Round Robin Bee. The pattern is from Hanies and is now living with Melissa who requested pinwheel blocks.  The colors of her starter block were fresh and bright, so this block was really fun to make. I love that white inner border that breaks up the star!

Creative: Cindy's Park Applique

I made this applique park for a quilt that is going to be a neighborhood, also from The Quilting Journey Round Robin Bee. Cindy requested anything that would be found in a neighborhood and sent a modern house block as her starter block. By the time I received the group of blocks, there were several houses, a dog house and some people, so I thought about adding a place for those dogs to take a walk, thus the park was 'born'. I don't know where that bird came from. He just showed up one day, so I let him stay.

Bee Block Busy-ness Business

February is my month in "The Fussy Cut Love Bee". We run from the 15th to the 15th and I have been packaging up fabric. Since Valentine's Day is soon, I am calling my quilt "Starling Love" {really it is because I love this fabric}. Each member will get 2 packages.



More fabric stacks ready to be packaged up.



Most of the bees over on flickr take December off {thankfully!!!} so the following blocks have been done in January and February.

These blocks are going to be part of a Bento Box for "Sew Bee It". Messygoat sent precut fabrics that have been in her stash for a l-o-n-g time. It is going to be bold and wild. Can't wait to see how she cuts and re-assembles the blocks.



Also for "Sew Bee It" - MeredithQuilts asked for action words on an 8x11 background with a 2.5" border, making a finished 12x15 block.



After I finished the "Hope" block, I saw that I was going to have enough fabric to do "Give" {the other word I chose}. I am not sure the"G" looks right, but it is what it is!  I didn't have enough fabric to finish the border.



These fun gifts came from Lisa - "A Quilting Journey Round Robin Bee". I received them for winning our Holiday game 4!! Thanks, Lisa!!



For "The Fussy Cut Love Bee", J.Amundsen sent out precuts and I just sewed them together - easy peasy. I love the red and grey of this line!

Rocket Dog Revisited

I loved making this quilt for Deacon. It has been hanging above his bed in his room. But it was never quite finished. The original pattern was actually for a pillow and had this wonderful free motion quilting on the background. I tried and tried to get my 1960's Singer to do it when I originally made this wall hanging, but either she couldn't or I couldn't figure it out.



Well, I got a new machine for Christmas, so I asked for Rocket Dog to come back and visit for awhile.



Yesterday I finally got the nerve to try those intriguing free motion swirls.



It was actually easy and fun. I am amazed by the differences in sewing machines.



Rocket Dog gets to go home and I am now satisfied that he is truly finished. Ahhhh....

*LOVE* and {Sew Bee It}

I sent Amy Butler "Love" fabric to my bee pals in The Sew Bee It bee over on flickr {along with some other fabrics}. I asked for flying geese and this gorgeous quilt is the result!



It is the perfect size for covering up in a comfy chair.



My dear daughter, Ashley, took the photos for me. Go visit her brand new blog, especially if you are a foodie or a fan of PW!



I absolutely *LOVE* how this quilt turned out.



Those quilters did a great job of giving me variety and charm so that I could, in turn, share with my dear mom-in-law.



And that backing fabric...sigh...



....those flowers and that scrumptious periwinkle blue background...



...really does my heart good, especially when everything is so white outside!