Two more Applique Tops mostly complete!

So here are my latest quilts.  I've had to order more fabric for both of these for backing and I also needed more of the teal for the Spooly birds to border the quilt and make a backing.  I will have this fabric soon.  I think I will FMQ these myself....
Any suggestions on how to quilt these?  I'd love to hear what you think.

This one is called Spooly Birds and it can be found on Craftsy.

And my favorite!

My Table topper swap entry.

Here is my entry to the Mug Rugs and Pot Holders Oh My Facebook swap group.  We are doing a table topper swap event.  I enjoyed this so much I created a tutorial on how to add the edging.  You can get it HERE on Craftsy for free.
Here is the finish project.  The flowers are colored using crayola crayons....amazingly easy and so much fun!

My Applique Case

Here it is all finished and I've even completed the pattern for this beauty.  I just know other people are like me and would like a nice case to cart their applique projects in.
You can find the pattern on Craftsy.  The case is 22x16 when zipped up with it's double zipper and a whopping 46x22 when it's opened.

It has a thread pocket

A pocket for my light box and flannel sheet to hold my project nice and wrinkle free!

and the piece de resistance is the ironing pad.  

And here is a smaller one I made.

Yoko Saito Mystery Quilt

I'm still working on the 2012 Mystery Quilt that Yoko Saito created for QuiltMania magazine. You can still get the pattern at One World Fabrics  I know, I know I'm a couple years late but it's better late than never right!  So I have 3 blocks nearly complete, just have to do the backgrounds on those and I have one all ready to start (that is the hard part)
Here are my 4 so far.  Update, One World Fabrics no longer carry this pattern.  Handywomanshop.com has some copies for sale.

And of course I can't just work on one thing at a time!  I'm working on a In Stitches Quilt Pattern called Betsy's Closet too!  Here is my progress so far.

And then I have to complete this mug rug for a swap event.  Almost done!  

Hope you have enjoyed looking at my progress....what are you working on?

My Applique / Artist Tote

I'm going on retreat soon and on this retreat I'm bringing only hand work.  I don't think I'll even tote a machine with me this time.  I might even bring some knitting.  I have several patterns to choose from to finish/start and even design.  :)  So I needed an applique project tote.  Something that had an ironing board in it and something large enough for a cutting mat as well as a place to hold my blocks nicely so they don't get wrinkled up.  :)  Then I decided to add a thread holder to hold all the threads I'll need for my projects and of course I added a couple pockets!
So this is my prototype... this one is mine.  I will be making a pattern soon but after making this I decided I'd make one smaller for the pattern.  Not everyone thinks bigger is better and I think more people would like one that is more manageable.
So here are some pictures of my applique tote.  Enjoy

Willcox & Gibbs ....OH YEAH

Here is my new baby, due to arrive in a week or so...
I am super excited!   I'm actually going to try to use it to make something...stay tuned.  :)

My Quilters Bee Bag

So I finally made this bag and the pattern.  Takes time cause there was a lot to figure out.  I hope you enjoy it! You can get the pattern here on Craftsy 

All of this fits in this bag

okay this is a random bunch of junk that I loaded this bag with,  two rulers, a cutting mat, several scissors and rotary cutter, my gloves, all my Janome attachment, pack of frixion pens and a pack of permanent pens, add a quarter, add and eighth, small ruler, a few surgical scissors, bobbins, over 100 sewing machine needles. Two rolls of wool 13 spools of thread, small embroidery scissors, thimble and a bunch of other junk. :) I can get absolutely everything I need to take with me to Bee except my sewing machine. :)

And here is the bag closed with all this stuff in it.

I finally made my new applique thread bag!

I made one of these a while back and it worked great!  but there was no room for any new thread :(.  I kept saying I would make a new one but kept putting it off for other projects.  You know what I mean don't you.  Well here it is.  It's much bigger now and I'll use my old bag for my vintage silk button hole threads (these are great for embroidery btw)  You can get the pattern here on Craftsy
Anyway here are the pictures of my new bag!

Look closely, can you see that you do not need to take the spool out to get a length of thread.  This is a super bag for hand applique projects!

Ugly Charms turned into a quilt that looks like CD's.

I'm plugging along trying to use up some fabric.  You have to use up some to have room to get more!  So the other day I decided to go through my stray charm squares and use up the ones that I didn't like.  You know, the ugly ducklings of a stack.  :)
So this is what I made with those squares.  In the end I was surprised that I LOVED this quilt.  Looks like CD's to me.  So here is what you can do with your ugly charms!  I quilted spirals on this quilt using my walking foot.  Not the best job but that's okay I got some practice doing them.  It took FOREVER.  :)

Chocolate Caramel Tart

Video on how to make this : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UplwOR1nUto
This chocolate salted caramel tart is absolutely amazing. A buttery almond crust, gooey salted caramel and bittersweet chocolate ganache, all garnished with salted crystals. Chocolaty, rich and buttery, a perfect treat for any occasion.

Ingredients:

Makes about 6-8 servings

Almond Chocolate Sweet Pastry
1 1/4 cups (160g) flour
1/4 cup (30g) ground almonds
1/4 cup (30g) unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup (50g) sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick (110 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small (1/2-inch) cubes
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1-2 tbsp ice water

Caramel
1 1/2 cups (300 g) sugar
1/2 cup (100g) water
1/2 cup (120 g) heavy cream
5 tbsp (70 g) unsalted butter
1 tsp salt

Chocolate Ganache
1/2 cup (120 g) heavy cream
4 oz (120g) bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Garnish
sea salt crystals

Directions

1. Prepare the sweet pastry. In a large bowl mix flour with ground almonds, cocoa powder, sugar and salt.

2. Incorporate butter to the flour mixture, using a pastry blender, a fork or a pastry processor, until crumbs are formed. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix them in. Add water and incorporate into the dough. Wrap it with plastic, knead slowly to form a disc and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

3. On o floured surface or over the plastic wrap roll the dough to a circle with about 1 1/2 inches larger than your tart pan. Lift up the rolled dough and place it on a greased 9 inch tart pan. Remove the edges and refrigerate for 30 minutes before baking.

4. Prick the dough with a fork, line a parchment paper over the dough. Fill with dry beans, rice or pie weights.

5. Bake for 15 minutes in preheated 350 F (180C) oven. Remove the weights and the parchment paper. Return to oven for another 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool before removing from the tart pan.

6. Prepare the caramel. Place the sugar and water in a medium heavy bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook without stirring until sugar dissolves and gets a caramel color.

7. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cream. It will bubble a little bit.

8. Cook for about 1 or 2 minutes stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until smooth. Remove from heat and add butter and salt. Stir well until smooth.

9. Let the caramel cool slightly and pour over the chocolate crust. Refrigerate for about 4-5 hours.

10. Prepare the chocolate ganache. Heat the cream in a small saucepan. When the cream just begins to boil at the edges, remove from heat and pour over the chopped chocolate. Let sit one minute, then stir until smooth.

11. Pour the chocolate ganache over the caramel. Spread it evenly and refrigerate for another 2-3 hours before serving. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes and serve.

My Hole in Won quilt

The inspiration and most of the pattern for this came from a pattern called Beyond Horizon's by RaNae Merrill.  I just changed it up some and have called it "Hole in Won" :).
I'm making this to put in the Tri County 2016 Quilt Show.  I think it will go to the modern category.  My son gets it after the show.  He said he loved it so really that is all that matters to me.
So here is my progress.  I've basted it and am now quilting it.  I did half the quilting today and will finish the quilting tomorrow and maybe put the binding on tomorrow evening while I'm watching the tube.

Here it is after I basted it.

and here is 1/2 quilted.  Quilting it every one inch...wow that takes time!