I Couldn't Wait Any Longer! (and a GIVEAWAY!)

So recently I have had a small string of bad luck.  Car problems, family health issues, and several hits to my budget had started to get me feeling down.  I found myself longing for the sparkle and warmth of the holiday season, and so I set out my decorations early as a little pick-me-up!

A few weeks ago I got a Christmas wallhanging back from the quilter.  I LOVE IT!  She did such a fun all-over holly design, and it looks great with the fabrics in the quilt.  This is a top (and backing if I'm being honest) that I've had waiting to be finished for a couple of years now!  I love the fabric with the Cardinals and Winterberry Holly mixed with the words love, hope, peace and joy.  It is exactly the thing I needed to brighten my days!

Putting my decorations out was exactly what I needed to lift my mood, and even though it's not yet Christmas, I'd like to offer one of you something happy and fun as well!

 

So onto the giveaway details!  Up for grabs are the leftovers from my quilt!  This includes a full center panel (the panel is just larger than a fat quarter).  I also am throwing in the leftovers from the backing (most of the neutral fabric below).  There is enough here to make something fun for Christmas, and there's even time to get it done before the holidays get here!

 

There are many ways to win an entry for this giveaway!

1. One entry for following my blog and leaving a comment (you must be a follower to win).
2. Tweeting a link to this giveaway with the tag #QuiltedMittenXmas
3. Liking The Quilted Mitten on Facebook
4. Pinning a picture of my Christmas Quilt on Pinterest.

This should be a lot of fun! 

The giveaway will remain open through Friday of next week (Black Friday) and will close at midnight.  I will compile all the entries into a master list, and use a random number generator to pick the winner! 


All the best!

Cristina
The Quilted Mitten

Bloggers Quilt Festival: When In Rome

For years, I have gushed over all the beautiful quilts shared during Blogger's Quilt Festival, but I've never participated myself.  This year I thought that should change. 

When I thought about the quilts I've made and worked on in the last year, I couldn't help but choose "When in Rome" as my festival quilt.  This quilt is important to me because it's the first pattern I've ever written.  It is a testament to a lot of hard work and dedication.   This quilt sleeps with me every night, and I have been tempted to make it a few more times because it works so well with so many fabric lines.

 

Stop on by the Blogger's Quilt Festival, and check out the other beautiful quilts on display.  You won't be sorry!  Click HERE to head to the festival!

 

 

Cristina

The Quilted Mitten

 

 

Even Lovers Need a Holiday.

Don't worry, my boyfriend and I are doing great. The title to this post is in regards to a quilt that I need a break from.

Remember this post?  Well, I HAVE been working on the postcard quilt, and slow progress is being made.  However, I can't tell you how many times I've had to tear out and re-do parts.  Part of my problem is that I converted the template cutting to rotary cutting, and that left me with a lot of bias edges.  I thought I had fixed the problem, but as I started to move forward, I am ending up with wavy edges again. 

For the time being it has been put on the shelf.  Not for long I hope, but I needed a break. 
I needed something easy, and mindless, and happy to work on for a quick minute.

Since it is Autumn (my favorite time of year), I thought it was high time I made another quilt to decorate my home this time of year.  I decided to make a jumbo bowtie quilt (tutorial here by Katy Jones) with some fat quarters from my stash, and I'm really happy with how it turned out.

 

 The background was a great purple and black print from the late 90s that my grandmother gave me.  I love using up large pieces of fabric.  It makes me feel like I've accomplished something.  PLUS, I didn't have to buy any fabric for the front OR the back on this one, so I'm feeling great about using what I already have.  The colors in these pictures aren't quite right.  The oranges are much deeper, and that one green polka dot is not nearly that yellow in person.

 

We got some light snow last night, and I'm having mixed feelings about it.  I am looking forward to snuggling in quilts when the weather is cold.  I'm also looking forward to Christmas and hot chocolate.  I'm not sure I'm ready for winter yet though!   Last year was a long winter, and I'd be happy for our indian summer to last a little longer.

 

 I hope everyone has a great week!  I have more projects in the works already that I'm getting excited to share! :)

 

Cristina

The Quilted Mitten

 

Weekend Pattern Sale!

Hey everyone!  Just wanted to let you know that I am running a sale on "When in Rome"!  You can download the PDF pattern for just $4.00 this weekend!

 

Get yours HERE

Sale ends Sunday at Midnight EST.  Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Cristina

The Quilted Mitten

WIP List Update!

Well it has been a few months since I have taken a good look at my WIP list, so here goes.

Projects that are being pieced:Civil War Sampler (still needs it's last border)

Classic Strippy Quilt

Kaffe Fassett Postcard Quilt (A LOT of progress has been made on this, but we need some time apart)

Scrappy Friendship Braid

Giant Granny Panties

Autumn Bowtie Quilt


Tops awaiting quilting:
Civil War 16 Patch

1974 Quilt

Meadowsweet 2 Quilt

Amy Butler Picnic Quilt

Happy Hour Quilts (x2) (Hanging in the store)

Patches and Pinwheels (scrappy)

Stack and Whack (Parrots)

Vintage Floral Quilt

Make it You! Log Cabin

Batik Scrap Quilt

Deer Valley Girls Best Friend

Sparkle Quilt-Along

Christmas Wall Hanging

Charlevoix

DS Quilts: Pick-a-Nick Basket

Scrappy Trip Around the World

Neptune Swoon



Projects that I have not started (but have the fabric):

Parisville quilt (still not sure what pattern)

Solid flying geese

Bella Medallion Quilt

Grinchmas Quilt



Finished Quilts:

Garden Party Shadowbox


Total Projects: 27

I have been getting a little bit more sewing done lately, which has been nice, but I've also been spending as much time outside as I can

Last weekend, Russ and I went to the Apple Orchard/Pumpkin Patch with his nieces.  We had a great time, and even though the weather was unseasonably warm, it still felt like fall.  Here are some photos from the farm.  Aren't the chickens cute?

We had a great time, and I'm sure it won't be the last time we visit!  I hope everyone is enjoying the autumn weather!

Cristina

The Quilted Mitten

This Quilt Was Made for Snuggling!

I finally finished a quilt!!!  Do you remember this quilt top?  I finished the top about a year ago.  This summer I finally got the back put together, and sent it off to the local quilter.  A week ago, I got it back and immediately got to work on the binding (it's my favorite part, eek!). 

On Saturday, I took it to my moms house (she will be fostering the quilt for me), and we got some quick pictures outside before the rain came in.

The weather has started to cool here, and the trees are changing color.  This is my favorite time of year, and its the time of year that I get excited to play with fabric again.  I took another quilt in to the quilter, and hopefully I'll have that back in the next month or so.  Until then I will keep working on piecing my long list of UFOs.

 

It feels great to finish something, and even though this quilt won't be living with me, it was still nice to snuggle with it for a while.  Do you snuggle with your quilts when you finish them?  I feel like it's not really a quilt until it has kept someone warm.

 

I hope everyone is having a great week!

Cristina

The Quilted Mitten

If You Can't Quilt, at LEAST Go Sightseeing!!!

So....the last few months I've been distracted from quilting.  There has been SOME quilty things happening here, but for the most part, the weather has been too beautiful to stay inside.  Moving to Northern Michigan has been such a blessing, and although it has affected my quilting productivity, it has done a lot to recharge my creative batteries so-to-speak.

A few weekends ago I visited the Pictured Rocks National Lake shore with my boyfriend.  The scenery was breathtaking, and although we had some weather difficulties, I wouldn't have changed it for the world.

Please note: all pictures are original.  Please do not copy/reproduce without my consent.  Thanks! :)

The second night we were visiting, there was a terrible storm!  Trees fell in the campground, and we spent most of the night in the car.  However the sun was out the next day, in order to accommodate  our need to see the sights!

We also spent a day in Marquette ( it was H.O.T, and Russ graduated from Northern Michigan University).  It was a great day, and I really loved the charm of the town.  My favorite part of our visit there was seeing Presque Isle, and the black rocks.  It was fun to see people jumping into Lake Superior on the hot day, and I was SUPER jealous that I had left my swimsuit back at the campsite.

If you like the outdoors, and being one with nature, I highly suggest you visit Northern Michigan!  I have lived in Michigan my entire life, and it still manages to take my breath away. :)

On the quilting front I do have some fun projects in the works.  My main summer project has been a quilt that has been sitting on my UFO list for a long time.  I can't wait to share!!! :D

Also I have a quilt that just came back from the quilter, so hopefully I'll get it bound, and have a finish to share soon. 

I hope everyone enjoys the last few days of glorious summer.  It's nearly quilting weather here!  Only 68 degrees today. :)

Cristina
The Quilted Mitten