The Grand Finale!

Can you believe it?  A whole year has gone by and we are finally ready to reveal our completed versions of Comfort and Joy by Silver Thimble Quilt Co.

To refresh your memory, this is the pattern cover.

This is Sandy's (no blog) version.   She changed up a lot of the quilt blocks and also the applique on the borders.

This one is mine.  I added a third border and didn't put any applique on them.   I decided that the quilt was busy enough and I liked the idea of having a calmer border.

 Here are some closeups of a few of my favorite blocks.

I have some cute buttons to add to the gingerbread guys which I'll do after it comes back from the quilter.  

I think this snowman is my favorite.  I might even have to do him again into a pillow or something.

This was a really fun quilt-a-long and I want to thank everyone who joined in.   It kept me on track and I'm so glad it's finished in a timely manner.   I'm so proud of myself for making the entire quilt from my stash.   (oops, sorry, that's not true...I had to buy the outer border fabric but that doesn't really count, does it?)   Once I get it quilted and sew on some embellishments, I'll be sure and show you how it turned out.  

Now go over and take a look at the finished quilts from the wonderful gals who stitched along.   It's so fun to see everyone's version of the quilt.  

Nadine, Kim, Karen, Diane and Carrie.

Thanks again ladies for playing-a-long!

Hugs, Anne

Comfort and Joy finale....well, almost

November brings us to the point of finishing up the center of the quilt.    The 12th block was a quick and easy one.  

This is Sandy's  (no blog).  As you can see, she added the snowflakes on the left and presents under the tree.  

I pretty much stuck to the pattern but replaced 2 of the nine patch blocks with churn dash blocks.   Again, all the applique is done with wool on cotton.

These are all 12 blocks.  I thought I had taken a picture after they were sewn together, but it looks like you'll have to see that next month....or whenever we all finish up with the borders and applique.  

December might be a challenge for all of us to get this finished but we're sure gonna try.

Go on over and take a look at what the rest of the gang has been doing.

Kim, Karen, Diane and Nadine.  

Hugs, Anne

Comfort and Joy #7

Moving right along here.   It's hard to believe that Christmas is only 2 months away and the quilt could possibly be hanging up for the holidays.    Only one more section to go and then it just finishing up the borders with a bit of applique on them.  

So, here's Sandy's (no blog...I know, you know that by now).  I'm think I want to swap mine out for hers.  

This one is mine.   My heart looks so light but it really seems a bit darker in real life.   (That's my story and I'm stickin to it!)

See?  It's almost finished!  Don't you wish you had joined us?  ;)

Now go visit the rest of the gang and see what they have stitched up.

Sharon
Kim
Karen
Diane
Nadine
Carrie

Living near the mountains, you can always tell when winter is coming.  When the snow is almost gone, you know that cold and snow are right around the corner.  This picture was taken on October 9th.  Even the leaves on the trees haven't turned yet.

Then, last Monday, the 22nd, we woke up to this...  Jack was actually trying to catch the snowflakes through the window. It was pretty funny.

Well, it didn't stick for very long, but the mountains got quite a bit.    I love looking at them with all that beautiful snow.  Skiers are jumping with joy!  I'm jumping with joy that it's not on the streets yet.  Not a fan of driving on the snow and ice.    Yikes!

To all our friends on the east coast....stay safe.  Sounds like a monster of a storm is headed your way!  (The name "Sandy" sounds a bit wimpy for this one).  We'll be sending good thoughts your way.

Hugs, Anne

Comfort and Joy #6

Here we go again.    How do the months go so fast.  Didn't we just post block #5?  

This has been such a fun quilt-a-long.   I really think we may have some finished quilts for the holidays.   Woo Hoo!

Here's Sandy's (no blog) block.  I really like her yellowware bowl.   Sandy has combined cotton and wool on her applique blocks. 

And here's mine.    I'm saying that my bowl is redware.   Tee Hee.    My applique blocks are all wool on a cotton background.   Anyway, I think this block is my favorite.   I got some cute buttons to go on the gingerbread men but will have to wait till after it's been quilted.

This is my progress so far.   This block was the most labor intensive so the rest of the blocks should go quickly.  

Now go take a look at the other bloggers who are madly sewing away on this.  I've been a real nag getting them ready for the post, so hopefully they all got theirs finished for this month's reveal. 

Sharon, Kim, Karen, Diane, Nadine and Carrie.

When I was editing the pictures for this post I realized I have lots of pictures to show you, so I really do plan to do some posting.   Really!  (do you believe me?   Haha)

Hugs, Anne 

More Comfort and Joy

If you saw last month's post about our progress on this darling quilt, you'll remember that when I was in San Diego visiting Fat Quarters Quilt Shop, I ran into Julie Isa who was teaching this quilt.  Her students were arriving as I was leaving the shop but they promised to send me some pictures of their creativity.

This first one was made into a table runner by Laural.     I love that she just took one block out of the quilt and made it.   So darn cute and clever. She has an online quilt shop, Simply Put Plus.  Check it out!

The gal who did this one changed the original angel to this cute flying one.

And these next ones were all done by Mary Calton.

Check out the darling glass ornament with the snowman and the figgy pudding blocks.    Some people are just so creative!

Love this Santa and especially the iced gingerbread cookie star!

 

Way to go ladies.    Keep up the good work and be sure and let us see your finished quilts and projects.

Thanks to Julie for sending me the pictures.    I'd love to take a class from you someday to be inspired like these ladies are!

Hugs, Anne

Comfort and Joy #5

I can't believe it's already the end of August.   Where is the time going?    When we started this Block of the Month project, Christmas seemed so far away.   Now we will all be scrambling to get this one finished and quilted in time for the holidays.    There are only 3 blocks remaining plus the borders, so if we get these done quicker than one per month, we can easily have it finished in time....right ladies?   :)

Here's Sandy's version.   Since she had added candy canes to the previous month's block, she switched them out in the stocking and added stars instead. And....since she had stars in the stocking, she decided to change the top block to an ornament.  Oh that Sandy...always changing things up!

And here's mine.    All of my applique is done with wool on a cotton background.  

Here are all 5 blocks put together.  I think this quilt design is so darn cute.    

Now go on over and visit all the other bloggers who have joined in on our quilt-a-long.  

Karen, Sharon, Kim, Kaaren, Karen, Diane, Nadine and Carrie.  

If you get to their blog and find they haven't posted,  it's because many of them "scheduled" their posts to show up while they are away on fun trips.   They weren't very confident that it was going to work.   Ah, technology!

I thought I'd share some pictures of our backyard.   There was no landscaping when we moved in and we are slowly adding plants.   I really wanted colorful flowers, so we've been going to the nursery every month and buying whatever is blooming at the time.  Right now we have a beautiful array of blooms.   It's going to take us awhile to get it completed but we're having fun shopping.

I promise to get those pictures of Temecula Quilt Company's shop posted really soon!

Hugs, Anne

Comfort and Joy #4

Yep, it’s that time again….time to post our progress on this darling quilt.  

Here’s Sandy’s block:

And here’s mine:

This is our progress so far:

Funny story…  We were in the San Diego area last week for a wedding.   We actually arrived a day early to do some quilt shop hopping.   (Mr. CnW is really great about driving me all over creation to visit new shops.)   

One of the shops that was high on my list was Fat Quarters Quilt Shop in Vista, Calif.   I was wandering all over the shop and happened to go in the classroom to see the quilts being taught.    Well, what did I happen to see?   This….

How fun is that?   Then….a quilter walked in and started putting her blocks on a design wall and guess what?  It was Julie Isa, the teacher of the class. The class was actually meeting that day.   I introduced myself to Julie and she told me that she has also been posting her progress on her blog, Tattered Threads and Willing Hands.  She decided to change up the look of the quilt by using “Jan Patekey” fabrics.  (as she called them).  I love the look of hers.

The ladies in the class are so lucky to have Julie for a teacher.  She was so much fun to chat with. 

Head on over to see what the other bloggers have managed to get done.

Karen, Sharon, Kim, Kaaren, Karen B, Diane, Nadine, and Carrie.

I took a lot of pictures of the shops I visited so will try to get them posted soon.  

Hugs, Anne

Comfort and Joy Block 3

Well, it’s time to show you what we’ve all been up to with our Comfort and Joy blocks.    We’ve picked up a few more blogging friends, however, a few of them aren’t quite ready so we’ll meet them next month.   

This is Sandy’s (no blog) block.  She decided to change hers up a bit and added some mittens and candy canes instead of the angel.  

 

 

And here’s mine.    I’m doing all the applique blocks in wool on a cotton background.   I think this little angel is just precious.

 

 

Now head on over to see what the other bloggers have all come up with. 

Karen P, Sharon, Kim, Diane, Kaaren, and Karen are all ready to show you their latest blocks.  

Next month we’ll have Nadine and Carrie joining us.    See you then!

 

Hugs, Anne

Comfort and Joy #2

I can’t believe that it’s been a month since we started this project.   Time does fly when you’re having fun!

We’ve had 2 more bloggers join us in making this adorable quilt.   (Actually, we’ve had 4 join but 2 aren’t quite ready to show you what they’ve done.   You’ll get to see their blocks next month)

So, go visit Karen, Sharon, Karen and Diane to see all the eye candy.
 (Karen is having computer issues so be sure to check back with her)

Sandy still doesn’t have a blog, so I'm posting her pictures here.   Come on Sandy…you’ve got so much to blog about. Feeling some pressure?  Oh good, that’s the point!  LOL

And here’s mine.

This quilt is constructed vertically, so here are my first 2 blocks sewn together. 


Again, this is the pattern and you still have time to join us.

I’ve got lots of pictures of quilt market to share with you.  I just have to get them organized.   Now if I could just quit falling asleep when I sit down, I could get them posted before next quilt market!
Hugs, Anne

Comfort and Joy

Block 1

 

A couple of months ago, Karen and I were talking about working on a quilt together and treating it like a block of the month.   We chose “Comfort and Joy” by Pat Wys and BJ Laird of Silver Thimble Quilt Co.  

Sandy (no blog) and Sharon said they wanted to join us.   Our goal is to be finished with it by October in order to get it quilted by Christmas. 

 

Being accountable to other people always helps get things done.   (one of the reasons I joined Weight Watchers and attend the meetings….but I digress!)  Anyway, we are going to do a section each month. 

 

This is Sandy’s block.

And here’s mine.

 

We’d love to have you join us with this one.  The more the merrier!  Let one of us know if you too would like to be held accountable. You can post on your blog or send a picture to one of us to post for you!  Just think, you’ll have a completed quilt in no time at all.

Hugs, Anne