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August 2, 2007

My Cup Runneth Over...



Baptist Fan quilting on Applecore Quilt, originally uploaded by Cathi O'Neill.

First thing, let me show you the baptist fan quilting I've been doing on my applecore doll quilt. I decided on natural thread (thanks for your opinions!) and I am doing the freehand baptist fans I learned about in Tonya's tutorial on Bonnie's Quiltville site. I love the textured look it is getting. Doll quilts are great for practicing too!! It won't take me a year to finish a quilt, like with my big Dear Jane!


There is a new small quilt swap starting up, a four seasons swap, check it out here!


I have also started my second sock and am working my way down the leg now, cool!

Carrie and AlexBut let me tell you why my cup runneth over this week! My good friend Carrie (who I've only met a few times in real life, and keep in touch with mostly via Windows Messenger!), came for a visit yesterday and look what she brought me and the girls. She is the sister in law of a friend I made back in our old area near Waterford, and we bonded because we were both Americans married to Irishmen, and both liked crafting, lol. Carrie, her husband, and her two gorgeous kids came for a quick visit on their way back to Maine yesterday and look what she brought me! Some Heather Bailey, Joel Dewberry, and Amy Butler fabrics, some wool for felting, some dishcloth cotton, a gorgeous felted bag, a magazine, a pattern, a crewel embroidery project...and some great stuff for the kids too!! So wonderful!
My Cup Runneth Over - Gifties for me and girls from Carrie!

Lovely Fabrics from MonicaI am very lucky to have made such wonderful friends both in real life and online. I have sent out some Dear Jane starter packages for a few online friends in the last few weeks, and got a lovely thank you packet back from Monica at Quilt While You're Ahead, some lovely fabrics! Another friend just emailed me today to tell me she's sending me some batik pieces as a thank you to help with my dad's quilt. I sometimes think I get more back from the universe than I send out. Thank you everyone for your generosity!!

On another note...we are having a very wet summer here in Ireland so we've had a few days of sunshine this week and have taken advantage. The girls helped me pick lettuce from our small veg patch tonight for a nice salad. I love being able to make a meal from our own patch of earth.

Picking Lettuce for Mommy's SaladPlaying on the new lawn

Aine has started her own pink quilt. I mark little dots where she should put the needle up and down and she has sewn the square together on her own...will have to get a photo of that!! Aisling has been potty training for the last three days, so we've been staying close to home. The first day was abysmal, but something tweaked yesterday, and she has been doing great since then!! Oh the joys!

I've been contemplating Christmas gifts lately, my dad's quilt, a special thing for mom, and now all this wool yesterday has me thinking of face cloths with the cotton, felted bags...going to start going on those soon so that maybe this year I can get more done!!

18 comments:

sherry said...

Love the quilting by hand. Can't wait til Birmingham and I can see you--mind if I pick your brain and see how you do it? any thing that rubs off, I will be entirely grateful. Also thanks for the new doll quilt swap--you are a wealth of information! thanks!

ruthsplace said...

The baptist fans look great.

Sonnja said...

Hello,

I like your applecore doll quilt, Ilike the fabrics.
Kind regards,

Sonnja

gwen said...

Hello, I am taking part in the 4 seasons swap as well and I am quite excited when I see the beautiful things the swappers are making. Your Applecore quilt is just lovely. Fans are a favorite of mine too. Take care.

Kate said...

potty training - my favourite - not! hopefully by the time we come to see you she'll be sorted - and the weather will have improved somewhat...

Susan said...

What a wonderful present she brought, and I know you had a good visit with someone from "back home."

The girls are growing and changing so fast!

I love the applecore doll quilt, and the quilting looks great.

For some reason, I always imagine you out in the middle of nowhere, but it looks, from the photo, as if you live in a neighborhood with other people. =0

movinghands said...

Those apple cores are looking beautiful! Hand quilting gives something to quilt tops that cannot be quantified. Thanks for that link to the freehand fans. Will check into it...

Moving to a house on the other side of Tokyo mid-August. After that, I really want to take you up on that offer of a little fabric swap that you suggested months ago.

Your daughters are so pretty!

Tracy said...

The applecore is looking fab! And your girls seem so "grown up" all of a sudden--so big! Glad you're having a little summer there before it's over! And what a generous bunch of gifts from your friend. Glad you were able to have a nice visit! Happy weekend to you! :o)

Jeanne said...

I love how the Baptist fan is looking on your apple core quilt. Your goodie photo looks nice, too.

Beth said...

I just now found you over here at your new home. I was wondering why I wasn't getting any notification of updates! I like your new home, I need to go look around it now!

Andrea said...

The applecore quilt looks great so far. I must do a bit more on mine ! Can't wait to see pictures of Aines quilt. Lovely to grow your own vegetables too !

KVVS Pal said...

Hey there, I'm sorry I haven't commented in a while. I think you probably have a clue where you are touring but I've been very busy here in the city that had freedom of religion as part of its foundational compact. (wink wink) I'm almost finished gathering your tour package and I think you're gonna love it. Best wishes and the garden looks fabulous.

Kristin said...

The little quilt is fantastic! I love doing the free hand fans too.

mary said...

i am thinking of going to festival of quilts on the 18th early flight out late flight bk from dublin

Angela said...

That quilt is beautiful!

Megan said...

Love your quilts!!!!

Jenni said...

Your applecore quilt is gorgeous, and the fans are great too. I have a block about hand quilting - I really should have a lesson or something to get over it. You have received some fantastic gifts too. Your veges obviously grow even though you don't get much sun. I'm growing lettuce too.

tami said...

I love the applecore doll quilt. You chose great fabrics. I can't wait to see it finished.