Little Penguin Quilts

Saturday, December 3, 2022

Still slowly stitching...

Each of these little projects got some stitches this week.

The little penguin got some snow and sky.

It almost looks like he's ice skating!

These Snow Friends were a quick start this week, and will be a quick finish, too. They're meant to be made into a Christmas ornament that I'll include in the gift bag for my quilt group's gift exchange later this week.

It's not winter yet, but it felt like it for a few days this week, so this one's appropriate, too. Time to work on "winter!"

If you've read the Louise Penny Inspector Gamache series, you might like the Prime TV series, "Three Pines," which is based on the books. We watched the first two episodes on Friday when they first came out, and I thought it was very well done! The books (and show) are set in a small town in Quebec. There's lots of snow in the show, so stitching snowmen and "Welcome Winter" while watching fit the scene perfectly!

Image Source

Sharing at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.

Friday, December 2, 2022

This and That

I've apparently been jumping around from one thing to another this week, and here's my evidence:

Some Christmas patchwork squares (the start of my December table scraps, perhaps?), a gnome mini that needs a nose (and binding, too), and a bit of progress on the Arizona block that will become a gift for a friend. (Fortunately, it's not due until mid-January!)

In between, I've been cutting up a few scraps that were left on my cutting table from previous projects and using them to make a few little blocks for the Parts Department.

If I had enough of a piece for two 2.5 inch squares and two 1.5 inch squares, I decided to make 4.5 inch bowtie blocks. I've been hand-piecing these in the evenings.

If I only have enough for two inch squares, I'm making 3.5 inch four patches. They'll probably turn into double four patches at some point. These work great for leaders and enders!

And that's my stitching week - a little of this and a little of that!

Oh wait! Friday afternoon, there was some time to finish up my gnome's nose and sew on the binding. So, a little finish after all!

6.5 inches square - a cute little "Drop Everything and Make It!"

Directions for this gnome can be found HERE.

Sharing at SoScrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday and at

Quilting is More Fun than Housework for Oh Scrap!

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

I Like Thursday #312

Good morning, and happy Thursday! I'm joining in with LeeAnna and friends at Not Afraid of Color for I Like Thursday as I always do.

This was our view out the front window yesterday. We got about 4 inches of snow overnight. This was the prettiest part of the day, when the sky cleared and the sun came out.

The snowy day put me in the mood to start getting out the Christmas decorations, and I always start with my holiday mugs and quilted things.

I was in the mood to bake, too, so I found this recipe for a small batch of snickerdoodles.

They turned out yummy, even though I made a couple of changes. I didn't have any cream of tartar, but the blogger said they could be made without it, and I added extra cinnamon because Mike is a big fan of cinnamon. The recipe said it made just 6, but I got a dozen out of it.

See Rudolph on my mug up there? I love Rudolph, the song, and the TV movie that came out in the 60s. That was always a favorite of mine, and have watched it all these years. I think it sends a good message about using your gifts, and that it's okay to be different.

Mike and I were talking about favorite Christmas movies, and, of course, being a guy, he says, "Die Hard!" But we've also enjoyed "The Santa Clause" and "Christmas Vacation." On Disnry+ we've been watching the series "The Santa Clauses," just for fun. It's pretty silly, but has grown on me. Santa (still played by Tim Allen) wants to retire, but has to find a replacement Santa first.

We had a really nice Thanksgiving trip. Good weather for a road trip, and good visits with our kids. It's hard to get either of my boys to let me take any pictures of them, but I did manage to get one of older son.

At younger son's place, we went to the town's Christmas Light Parade and it was so fun and sweet! Lots of farm vehicles all lit up!

This afternoon, I'm going to visit and stitch with my friend who is still recovering from a bad knee injury. I found another free wintery embroidery design from All People Quilt that I decided to prep to take along. There are three snowman designs in the set, called Snow Buddies. Find them HERE.

Have a great day, everyone!

Monday, November 28, 2022

To-Do Tuesday #163

Begins with a "Ta-daaaa!" This week I finished my Autumn Jubilee tablerunner and I'm so happy with how it turned out. Big thanks to Carole at From My Carolina Home for the block and design ideas - I enjoyed making this one very much!

I made the back from the leftover chunks of the front, plus a little extra of an olive-y green from the stash to make it wide enough. The binding is a magenta print from the fat quarter bundle that I didn't use in the blocks, but worked nicely with the other prints.

I'm enjoying this on the table for a few days

before it's time to get out the Christmas quilts!

Since we were gone for four days for Thanksgiving, I haven't sewn much else, except for getting started on the tablerunner gift for some friends we'll be visiting in January. This is the Arizona 2 block from Quilter's Cache. I'm planning to make three of these stars for the runner.

So what's on this week's list?

I'd really like to get one of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt tops sandwiched for quilting, but I'm waiting for backing that I ordered from Connecting Threads to arrive (it doesn't seem to have moved since last Thursday)! I ordered basting spray through Amazon this morning (Monday), thinking it would be here by Wednesday (don't we get free two day shipping with our Prime membership?) but apparently not because it's not going to be delivered until next Monday... 🤨

So while I'm waiting for those items, I'll put these on the list:

Keep working on the Arizona tablerunner
Holiday gift for my quilt group's gift exchange - in progress, keep going
A little straightening up and scrap processing in the sewing room
Maybe even sew the borders on the Frosty quilt!

I'm joining in with To-Do Tuesday hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Slow Stitching on a Sunday

Earlier this week I had a chance to finish up my teacup embroidery designs from Kathy Schmitz in their wooden embroidery hoops, and hung up the correct one for the season, too!

It won't be long before I'll be hanging the winter one.

I haven't had a chance to work on the little Christmas Penguin in several days, but he does have his Christmas tree now. I think all that's left is the background and some outlining. I'm hoping I can make him into an ornament for our tree.

Mr. Penguin will be today's slow stitching project!

Sharing at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.

Thursday, November 24, 2022

November Table Scraps

This month's Table Scraps Challenge over at The Joyful Quilter included using dark neutral scraps and making something "mini." Here's where my scrappy journey took me...

Into the jar where I keep the selvage scraps!

I cut some favorites into 6 inch strips and sewed them, qayg style, to a piece of batting.

I stitched this panel to a backing made out of my favorite (dark neutral? maybe?) chrysanthemum print, leaving a few inches open on one side.

After filling it up with crushed walnut shells and stitching the opening closed, I ended up with a pretty neat pincushion.

This measures 9x5, so not a mini in the pincushion world,

but smaller than most things I make!

It fits right under the extension table of my sewing machine.

But then - I wasn't quite done with the dark neutral mini idea, so I cut some squares of the chrysanthemum print and some other scraps that went with it (how about that chocolate brown Grunge?), and hand-pieced a little mug rug mat.