Whirl Into Winter Give-Away!!

The winner is BARB from American Samoa!!! If you will e-mail your address, I will get your prize out to you as soon as possible! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Thanks to everyone who entered--I enjoyed all your comments!

It's time to post the Whirl-Into-Winter-Give-Away and here is mine! A Portobello Market jelly roll and a little tin to hold it in! You need to leave a comment starting tomorrow -- the first--and not before--others will be omitted from the drawing. You need to answer this question: "What was the best present you GAVE for Christmas?" and be SURE that you leave an e-mail where I can reach you if you win if you don't have a blog. Thank you to Lucy for pointing out that I didn't put down the deadline--it will be January 15th that a name will be drawn! Short and simple!!

Have fun everyone!

Jan

Redwork Wall Hanging

This little girl and her puppy are very busy doing all kinds of things in this little redwork wall hanging. I just love that puppy dog because it reminds me so much of my little Cleo---a Bichon Friche that we lost this last summer because of a brain tumor. He was 18 years old. That's a good long life for a dog, but I still miss him terribly. We get very attached to our pets, don't we?

The weather has been nice enough for walks around the block and our little poodle loves to go, anytime he sees me putting on my shoes for any reason, he prances around and barks, and is so upset if we end up not going for a walk. I do let him outside, but a fenced in yard is just not the same, he says!!!

I'm working on the quilt that is not supposed to be, I think! First I cut the pieces wrong for the half squares trianges (too small) and didn't discover it until I had all the half squares triangles made (102 of them), so I had to go get new fabric for that. Then I cut one of the new pieces wrong, but I went stash digging for a piece that would work and lucky me, I had one that would do. Now I'm working on the half square triangles again and measuring and comparing every so often and everything seems to be right so far (knock on wood!!!) Sometimes things just go that way, don't they!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Teapot and Cup for Block 6 Polka Dot Girls

Finished another embroidery block for the Polka Dot Girls--2 more to do on this Block---#6 since it has 3 embroidered blocks this time. This one seemed to go quite quickly and I finished it in one session of Sit n Sew last Tuesday.

Did everyone have a good Christmas Day? I hope so. We had a nice visit to Austin where we saw Evan, 5 yo and Nathan 2 yo, plus their Mom and Dad, of course, and our Son-in-law's parents from Ohio, lots of laughs and a good time was had by all! My son-in-law had my name in the gift exchange and got me a book of jelly roll patterns and a jelly roll--Charisma! What a good job he did!!!!

This is the latest one I'm working on--a friend of mine gave me the panel which has the Christmas Alaphabet on it and I am making it into this quilt called Christmas X-citment. It's from Pieces From My Heart. So far I have the many, many half square triangles done for it!!!! You get a really neat tumbling block effect when it is all done which doesn't show up too well in the picture.

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Polka Dot Girls Blocks Four and Five

Finished the entire blocks of Polka Dot Girls 4 and 5 traced the embroidery blocks for block 6 and am ready to go on that. Block 6 has 3 embroidery blocks with a repeat of the teapot border from block number 1. This is so much fun to do and so relaxing to work on. I'm also starting to work on Christmas panel (just a little late for this year, ya think????!!) that my friend, Jackie gave me. It is tumbling blocks with a Christmas alphabet. It is very cute and I am anxious to get going on it---needless to say I'm getting a jump on next year!


We leave at noon to today to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with our grandsons and family in Austin. Should be lots of fun and excitement!


Merry Christmas to all of you!!!


Let quilting help you make someone smile!
(Blogger is doing funny things with my html code this morning so not sure how this is going to look when I release it--hoping it will be OK!!!!)

Jan

NASCAR and Birdhouse--What????

I finished the 5th small block for the Polka Dot Girls with birds and birdhouse. Wonder if they will all fit???!!! LOL!! Need to get Block 4 and Block 5 sewn together, ---will do that before I start on block 6--although I do need to trace block 6 so I have something to work on at Sit N Sew Frayed Edges tomorrow! Two days before Christmas and we decided we still need a break and so we are going to meet--the quilt store is open and we will be there!!!!!

Also finished a quilt top that I'm calling NASCAR--when it's quilted and done some little boy ought to love it--lots of cars in the middle and flags around the outside. Fun to make!

Have one more "quilty" gift to buy for Christmas and I will pick that up at the quilt store tomorrow and then I will be finished! Whew! Somethings came up last minute, but we got that covered! Did a little baking--made "Kringla"--an old fashioned pretzel shaped, soft, sweet dough cookie--yummy! A friend of ours made them some 30 years ago and while mine never quite measure up to hers, I still try every few years to make them.

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

A Big Civil War Quilt and A Little Civil War Quilt!

The Strippy Civil War quilt is finished and ready to be quilted--I'm so happy to have the top finished. Now it will wait in line with the others to be quilted!!! It is bigger than I envisioned it and yes, as you probably noticed, it is being held upside down in the picture, but I didn't want to bother my quilt holder to stand on the chair and hold it again!!!!

Also finished is a mini (16"x21") Civil War fabric quilt. The second picture shows the front top and the third picture shows the pieced back done with the left-over fabrics. This one was fun to do, even if those were little, tiny squares!

Everyone have their Christmas shopping done and presents all made? I'm still waiting for a few things to be delivered from Amazon, but I think they are going to make it on time---sitting here on pins and needles!!! Shouldn't have let the time slip away from me like it did!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Polka Dot Girls Block Five and Laptops

Here is Block number 5 from the Polka Dot Girls. This is the big block and I have the little one to do. I will work on it tomorrow at our Sit N Sew. It has a nice saying on it--- "A good friend is like Spring blossoming in the Heart." I still need to sew together the Blocks from Number 4--maybe I can do that this afternoon.


My oldest daughter has been volunteering her time with an organization called One Laptop Per Child---I'm sure some of you have heard of it. Well, they have now written a manual to go with it and she helped write that, too. She is a technical writer, so this was a wonderful opportunity for her! I had her write a little explanation of what these programs are all about and this is what she said: "The mission of One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected laptop to every school-age child. They've created the XO laptop, which you can buy on amazon.com/xo through their Give One Get One program. There's also a manual about how to use the laptop for sale at http://www.lulu.com/content/4439260. The OLPC Laptop Guide has a simple, clean cover design and the content inside was written by a community of professional writers, editors open source experts, and OLPC staff. This book contains 240 pages of how-to information for your XO laptop and the operating system that kids love, Sugar. This book was written by a group of people in the unique wiki tool offered by FLOSS Manuals. Much of the content was written in a five-day collaborative BookSprint. In it you'll find instructions for connecting with and caring for this unique little laptop. The neat thing is, once you're done with a real book, you can pass it on to the next person who wants to learn about their XO. Get a book and pass it on."


As you can see, I am very proud of my daughter and what she has done! Hope you visit these links and see what this is all about!


Let quilting help you make someone smile!


Jan

More Civil War Blocks

King's Crown, Cake Stand, and Double Pinwheels finish up the blocks for the Civil War quilt. Now to put the setting triangles on each one and then to sew them to the strippy sashing and they will be done! This one was another fun one to do --the blocks were all familiar and you only had to do 5 of each one--I'm anxious to get it together, but I must admit sewing the setting triangles is the boring part--but there's boring parts to everything isn't there???!!!

Also there's a picture of a Project Linus quilt that I just finished putting the binding on. It is made with April Cornell's fabric called "Portugal". I love this fabric. Wish I could remember the name of the pattern to tell you that, but, alas it has left my memory bank. Sorry!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Looking for this fabric.....

We are looking for the navy/black check fabric in the pictures. It is Bound to the Prairie # 9187-25 by Moda and my friend could use at least 1/2 yard or more if she can find it. She has looked everywhere on the web and in the Dallas area and has had no luck so I said I would post it on my blog and see if anyone had seen it . One never knows!!!!! Thanks in advance for looking!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

More Blocks for Civil War Quilt!

Finished up 2 more sets of 5 blocks for the Civil War quilt, moving right along on this one, it's going more quickly than I thought it would. Perhaps because these are familar blocks! The ones on top of course are Churn Dash and the others are the ever familiar Friendship Star. This quilt is another one that is like a sampler quilt, but you do 5 blocks of 9 different ones and then set them together on point. Setting on point should be interesting.

We had our DFW Gang Christmas get together on Saturday and had a wonderful time. We played games, and talked and laughed and shopped and did a little bit of sewing. I think Jackie and Debi got the most sewing done!!! Kudos go to them! I spent a lot of time talking until my voice gave out to laringitis! What a great group of gals. We met online at the Quilting Passion forum and all live in the greater Dallas area. Each time we get together we have a contest and make blocks for Project Linus--such a neat thing to do! We played Left, Right and Center--a game where roll special dice and pass around Fat Quarters and this time we were to bring ugly ones and guess who won all 72 of them---yup, you guessed it!!! So last night I worked at pairing them off into bundles of 6 to make Yellow Brick Roads for Project Linus---they don't seem so ugly when used together!!!! I'm sure there's a life lesson there somewhere!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Great Thanksgiving Time !

Aren't grandkids just the best? We have 4 of them and wouldn't trade them for anything! This is a picture of the girls age 6 and 2. We celebrated the 6 year-old's birthday while we were at their house for Thanksgiving last week. We had Grandmas from both sides and Nana, Grandpa, Uncle and Great Grandma, whew--we did it right!!!! Hello Kitty was the theme and was a big hit! What fun!!!!!!

Visits are never long enough and yet, it is good to come home---what's the deal with that double thinking?! When we left Columbus, it was 37 degrees--we came home to Northern Texas to 67 degree weather--nice change!!! That was before the cold front came through last night and left us colder temps---ahhh, the changeable weather!!! It's that way everywhere, I guess!

Now to get back into the quilting mode---I'm working on some friendship stars for the Civil War quilt this afternoon and have traced off 2 more pictures for the Polka Dot Girls blocks. Now just need to get busy!!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Block Number 4 Polka Dot Girls Finished

Polka Dot Girls Block # 4 is finished and ready to be set into the big block. Now I need to finish the little one and another set will be done! This one has a cute little verse in it...."Thank you for Flowers in Bloom, New Mown Hay, Singing Birds, Humming Bees, Butterflies and the Laughter of Friends." I was working on this yesterday at Sit N Sew and there was lots of laughter going on between friends...good times!!!! One group of ladies was making cupcake pincushions---every time they took one "out of the oven" we had to "Ohhh" and Ahhh" over it--they were so cute.

Tonight we leave on our trip to Columbus, Ohio to visit our daughter and her family--we don't get in until very late, but it will be worth it! So I won't be posting for a week. Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving Day! There is certainly a lot to be thankful for! This is my favorite holiday and I cherish it each year!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

1930's Egg Money Quilts Sampler Top

Finished the 12 blocks for the lap robe size 1930's Sampler Quilt Top from the "Egg Money Quilts" from Eleanor Burns. Set them to sashing and cornerstones and here is the quilt top. I just love the 30's fabrics and all the little prints they come in. Each block was fun to do. Didn't make a dent in my box of 1930's fabrics though--how can that be?! They seemed to grow--I guess I fluffed them up too much or something!!!

Another fun day at Sit 'n' Sew at the Quilt Mercantile--sometimes we get to laughing over the silliest things that wouldn't make any sense to anyone outside the group, but we have so much fun. They say that laughter is good for the soul and I truly believe that!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Two more Project Linus Quilts

Here are two more Project Linus quilts ready to go to the pile and ready to go to the pick up place sometime soon---after Thanksgiving is my goal. Maynard is really getting going on the quilting now! The first one is called "Mary Engelbreit Birdhouse." The pattern came with a jellyroll of her fabric, but the name of it escapes me right now (sorry!) The second one is "Star Over the Red White and Blue." It used a jelly roll also. The pattern is called "Courthouse Steps." The jelly roll was called "The Hamptons." I'm going to have to start writing all this stuff down so I can remember everything when there is such a long amount of time between the making of the top and the quilting of the top! LOL!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Last Two 1930's Sampler Blocks Finished!

The last two 1930's Sampler blocks are finished and I started putting on the sashing and cornerstones today. I'm quite pleasantly surprised at how quickly this one went together! The first picture shows the Double Axe Head block--this one is appliqued--this one is a new one to me , but wasn't hard to do with Eleanor Burns method of applique where you sew a fusible interfacing onto the fabric with right sides facing, make a slit in the back and then turn right side out. It gives you such a smooth piece to work with and then you sew them down with invisible thread with a blind hem stitch.

The Flying Geese block was also done with her technique that gives you 4 Flying Geese at one time. The book I used was Egg Money Quilts by Eleanor Burns. Her directions are just great! I was so excited to meet her in person at the Quilt Show in Houston. What a lovely lady!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

One Raffle Quilt and One Project Linus Quilt

Here is the raffle quilt all finished for the raffle at the grandboys pre-school--I showed it a little while back and thought I would show it all finished with the happy fabric binding on it--that is also what I used for the backing. Love that plaid! Also finished is the Metro Green Yellow Brick Road for Project Linus. Such pretty fabric--I hope someone will like it as much as I do--maybe an older child or teenager!

Now onto some more 1930's Sampler blocks--I made some Flying Geese this morning--she sure has a slick way of making 4 at a time. And squaring them up with her ruler is really a nice way to get wonderful looking Flying Geese. I recommend her method highly! I have to finish this Flying Geese block, then I have one more to go and I can put this Sampler together--this one seems to have gone quickly, even though I have only been working on it hit and miss!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

More Civil War Blocks

Finished 2 more sets of blocks for the Civil War quilt! It is moving along quite nicely and quicker than I thought it would. I like doing just a few blocks at a time and they are fairly simple patterns. The fabric is lovely--it was in a kit from my local quilt store, Quilt Mercantile. The first picture shows the blocks that are Card Trick and the second show the blocks that are Sawtooth Stars. I had never done Card Trick before and that was a new experience. By following the picture very, very carefully, I didn't have to do too much "frog" (rip-it, rip-it) stitching!!!!

A week from today is Thanksgiving and we will be in Ohio visiting our DD and her family--can hardly wait to see them again! I sure there will be plenty of tea parties and girly things to do. Isabel will turn 6 on December 3rd and Ilena is 3 on January 4th. So we know there will be one birthday party while we are there! What fun to look forward to!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

More blocks!

I finished Block 3 of the Polka Dot Girls and the Grandmother's Flower Garden for the 1930's Sampler from Eleanor Burns and the binding on the Raffle quilt for the grandboys Pre-School raffle that will be held in the spring. I feel like I have accomplished a lot! I am half way through a card trick block for the Civil War quilt, too--those are tricky blocks. I need to do 5 of them. The directions are very skimpy and I'm glad that I have some quilting under my belt as I'm tackling these!

We have been having lovely, cool fall weather here in North Teas and the puppy and I have been enjoying a walk every morning. He gets very excited when his leash comes out and is so happy to lead the way!! For 14 years old he can go and go and go--then he comes home and sleeps the rest of the day!!!! I guess he knows these walks are good for me, too because he starts barking and jumping for joy when I start to put on my socks!!!! Hope you can enjoy some nice weather where you are!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!!

Jan

Several Blocks Finished

Finished another block for the 1930's Sampler from the Eleanor Burns book "Egg Money Quilts." This one is called Peony. Some piecing and some applique. I used Eleanor's method of applique and it was quite different--I had not done any that way before. She has you sew fusible interfacing to the right side and turn it inside out and then iron it on so you get a nice smooth edge. Then you can either blind hem stitch it using invisible thread or hand applique it. I chose to do this one with hand applique. The next one I'm doing is a Grandmother's Flower Garden and I think I will applique that one by machine. I'm using Quiltsmart for that one. That's a new process to me, too. Learning all kinds of new things these days!!! Keeps me young!!!!

The second picture shows my next set of blocks for the Civil War quilt--they are called railroad blocks. They were fun and easy to do---I hope all the rest of the blocks are as easy. The next ones are called "Card Trick"-- I've never done those before--something new and another learning experience!!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Red, White and Black Quilt Top Finished

Here is a picture of my red, white and black quilt top that I finished a couple of days ago. My "holder" was available to hold last night so I was finally able to take a picture (sorry it is so dark!) I have to say that this is not one of my most favorite quilts--I think the red is too red or something, since it seems to jump at you and you don't really "see" the rest of the reds, blacks and whites---I'm sure a color theorist could use all the correct terms and tell me the right way, but it just seems "off" somehow! Any thoughts on the subject?

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Civil War Quilt

Now I'm working on my Civil War Quilt since I finished the Red, White and Black quilt top--hope to have a picture for you soon, since I forgot to have my "holder" hold it last night!!!! The fabrics in this quilt are wonderful and so enjoyable to work with---the fabric line is called Yorktown by Jo Morton and is put out by Andover Fabrics. The pattern is available at their website for free!!! That's the price I like!! I got the kit at my favorite quilt store Quilt Mercantile--I'm anxiously awaiting their website so I can link you to it!!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Busy Day at Sit N Sew

We had a little mini class at Sit N Sew today when 4 of us started our Mystery Quilt. The fabrics are shown in the first picture. Mine will be a lap size quilt---55x70. Some of the others are working on queen size quilts. The first thing we did was make a little pincushion that taught us how to do the flying geese that we will need to do in this first part of the quilt. The second picture shows mine--isn't it cute? The method we used made 4 flying geese at one time--it is somewhat like the Eleanor Burns method, but was a little different, although we used her rulers to line them up and square them up at the end. Then we were to cut out our fabric, but I chose to wait and cut mine at home where it is quiet---I couldn't concentrate too well on what I was doing with all the "fun," ie. talking going on around me!!!! We definitely have a lot of things to talk about at Sit N Sew and I wouldn't miss it for anything!!!!!

The third picture is of the flower basket that goes in the third block of the Polka Dot Girls quilt. Now I'm working on the big square that goes in that block.

I also started on the Civil War quilt that I got for my birthday and have done a couple of nine-patch blocks for that---I'll take pictures when I have done a few more.

Two rows are sewn together for my red,white and black quilt, but that got tedious, so that's why I started the Civil War fabric one---now I will probably have too many irons in the fire, but that's half the fun---right?!!!!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Block 2 Polka Dot Girls Finished

Here is a closeup of "Count Your Blessings" and the final finished block 2 of the Polka Dot Girls. This is such a fun quilt to work on! Now on to block 3! I also finished putting together all the blocks for my red, white and black quilt and now have to lay them out--think I will get out my design board for that job--there are 3 kinds of blocks: corner blocks, side blocks and island blocks. Have to concentrate on this one to get everything in the right spot! Like a lot of things--easy to do, but you have to keep your wits about you as you do them! LOL!!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Houston Quilt Show

Just got back today from the big Internation Quilt Show in Houston! WOW, what a great show! My husband, Maynard went with me and we had a ball! It was like a mini vacation. We spent 2 days there and still didn't see everything. I do think we might have seen all 850+ vendors---at least that's what these old legs and feet say to me! We just took our time and ambled along. Maynard tried out every long machine there was (what better place to do so!) and had fun comparing them all. I don't think he's thinking of buying one, but who knows?!! I really don't know where we would put it, but maybe he has plans I don't know about yet!!!!

I met Eleanor Burns and that was fun! She had on a witch's hat that had orange hair attached to it with 2 braids that stuck out like Pippi Longstocking's (do you remember those books from a long time ago?) She was a delight and seemed to really be enjoying herself as she greeted everyone.

The picture shows some of the things that I bought: some Fat Quarters and a couple of patterns, Claudia Plett and LeAnn Weaver's new book, Loose Change,a book about the Featherweight 221 and how to do your own maintenance on it, a kit for a small wall hanging of schoolhouses, another kit for a very small wall hanging of a flag and school house, plus some other things that I can't show because they are for gifts--tee hee!!!!!

I finished the Polka Dots Girls second block--these are so much fun to do because they all have personalities that come out while you stitch them! Sorry the block is wrinkly, but I don't usually iron embroidery until I'm ready to sew together. Sometimes I feel wrinkly like that, too!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

A little bit of this and a little bit of that----that's how I feel about what I have been doing the last several days! I've been doing some reading and working on my Polka Dots Girls, but not getting there very fast--only have part of another big block done. The girls are having daffodil tea in the block I'm working on now and they are just so cute!

Also, as shown in the picture above, I have cut out and started on a black and white and red quilt. This was fabric that I got at the Fort Worth Quilt Show. Actually my hubby found it and liked it, so we bought it and I have been looking for a pattern ever since. Finally found this one at Blue Ribbon Quilt Shoppe and started it! It's called "Archipelago" which I can't pronounce, but I knew I liked it anyway!!!! I'm using red where the little blue pieces are. The pattern is from Blue Underground Studios, Inc.

Have been enjoying the lovely fall weather here, too. The roses are taking on a second wind and blooming again--fall roses are so pretty because they are unexpected, I think!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

1930's Sampler Block--Rosebud

This is a block for the 1930's Sampler called Rosebud. This is for the Sampler in the book "Egg Money Quilts" by Eleanor Burns. I'm really enjoying doing this sampler because each block is different and I'm using up my 1930's fabric, but the storage containers are not going down any, how can that be???!!

We are enjoying the most lovely fall weather here in North Texas--it is slightly colder today than it has been, so a sweatshirt feels good while out on a walk, but that's a good thing!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Metro Blues Yellow Brick Road

This is a YBR made with FQs from the Metro Blues line of fabric. I picked these beauties up at the Fort Worth Quilt Show in the $1.00 bin--boy, was I lucky! Debi and I both found lots of great FQs there--what a deal!! That's one thing that makes quilting so much fun---running into bargains like that! I made this yesterday at our Sit N Sew Frayed Edges group--our little group has grown to 28 members and more--if we all decided to show up on the same day I don't know where we'd all sit--even with their new added on room we'd be bursting at the seams, but we sure would still have a fun time. Lots of talking and laughter goes on that's for sure! Plus we get to see all the new stuff--fabric and notions, etc. that comes in when the UPS man leaves off a bundle of boxes---now that makes us feel very special! Quilt Mercantile is the store I talk about all the time and it is in little Celeste, Texas. They don't have a website yet that I could send you to, but hope to have one in the near future. Try attending a Sit N Sew at your local quilt store sometime and see what fun it is!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Two Quilt Tops and A Block

One more block is finished for my 1930's Sampler with Eleanor Burns! This one is called Rocky Road to Kansas and has--- "shudder"--- set-in seams. Oh my! But they went quite smoothly and don't look too bad, even if I do say so myself! Eleanor Burns instructions are so detailed in her book that if you follow everything just real close you can usually get a good outcome.

I also finished two more comfort quilt tops for Project Linus, so now I'll add to the quilting pile again. We do have one on the frame, so that's good! These are both Yellow Brick Road and I made these tops both in one day at Sit N Sew last Tuesday--they sure do go quickly--I got both of them all done except for the border on one of them and that included time spent shopping for border fabric and backings---half the fun---right????!!!!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan