Several Projects.......

Finished the wool applique wall hanging! It was an experience, I'll say that and I don't think I am sold on working with wool--it is very soft and kind of hard to hold in place--I used a fusible, but that didn't hold, but I am happy with the way that it turned out, so all is well!!!

The red pinwheel top is from the Strips and Strings book by Evelyn Sloppy. I'm not sold on this one, but perhaps some child will like all the colors in it!

The last picture is a picture of the first 3 blocks in Aunt Bea's Parlor---baskets filled with flowers that will be joined with fabrics from the 1930's. The floss colors are just right!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Six Picture Meme

My friend Wilma in NC tagged me for a 6th picture Meme, so I had to go to the 6th folder and the 6th picture and tell about it so here it is. This is a picture of Pop-Pop (Grandpa) holding our youngest grandgirl Ilena last summer when we were visiting them in Ohio. Now about tagging 6 other bloggers--I'll just let you tag yourselves if you want to participate--it's really fun trying to remember when the picture was taken!! Try it you might like it!!!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Working on String Quilt........

This shows my progress on a string quilt that I started quite awhile back and finally decided that I should finish! The first picture shows sewing of the triangular blocks and the second picture shows them finished. When I put them together they are supposed to make a secondary design of pinwheels. then the sections that I cut off are supposed to be used in the next quilt pattern called "Starstruck" to make another quilt. Isn't that good planning on the author's part? The book is "Strips and Strings" by Evelyn Sloppy. This is the second pattern I've made from this book, so it's a good one!

After 2 days of being in with the ice storm and missing Sit N Sew, it was time to get out this afternoon, so since the ice was all gone, I made a beeline for the Quilt Mercantile. Others must have felt the same way because there were several people there shopping and a class going on. My friend Debra was making a beautiful quilted jacket in luscious batiks and was almost finished with it! What a great class that must have been!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Civil War Strippy Quilt

Finished is the Civil War Strippy quilt!!! I love the fabrics--this was a kit that my favorite quilt store Quilt Mercantile put together and I am so happy with the way it turned out. These are some of my favorite fabrics--civil war reproductions.

Also finished knitting my scarf--I'm happy with the way it turned out, too and it feels real good on these cold days we have been having lately--temps in the 40's for the high--but I'm not complaining because I know that some of you are having it much, much colder!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Project Linus Quilts Again!

Finished two more Project Linus quilts that were in the quilting pile and now have binding and are ready to go to other pile that will be taken to the drop off point soon!!!! Lots of piles!

The first one has NASCARs in the middle with checkered flags around them. This was a fun one to make with a boy in mind. Oh course, I'm sure there are girls that like NASCAR, too!!!

The second one I called "Sweet Violets," because the fabrics have tiny flowers in them that reminded me of violets and springtime.

Still working on my wool applique here and have my little scarf half-way knitted. It is the kind with the slit that lets you pull one end through. I got some black and blue yarn that has little spots of purple in it--fun stuff. I was overwhelmed when I went to the yarn store and saw all the choices---had to have the saleslady help me pick out the right kind--overchoice, for me!!!! I'm just doing knit every row, so it is very relaxing--don't have to remember a pattern at all.

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Polka Dot Girls Quilt Top Finished!

Here is the last block for the Polka Dot Girls and the completed quilt top---hurrah! What fun this quilt was! Now to figure out how to quilt it---I'm thinking of meandering in the colored part and stitch in the ditch for the embroidered blocks.

Now on to another embroidered quilt---Aunt Bea's Parlor--baskets of flowers and fabric from the 1930's--another fun one to do with lots of bright colors.

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Next to Last Block Done!

This Polka Dot Girl sitting on the settee is the next to the last block for the quilt! The end is clearly in sight. Hurrah! Although I will miss seeing these girls come to life "under the needle!" I am also coming along nicely with my wool applique--it's better once you get the hang of it, I guess, the wool is so soft that sometimes it is hard to applique, which is hard to explain, but that's the way it feels to me!!!

I have decided to try some knitting after I get the PDG quilt finished. I went to a lovely Yarn Shop and was overwhelmed with all the wonderful choices in yarn nowadays! WOW!! Luckily the owner was very helpful in picking out the right yarns for a slit scarf and a pair of slippers. (I want to try turning a heel!) crazy, aren't I?!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Lots of things going on!

I have finished four more Project Linus quilts and will be taking them to the drop-off center on Saturday. I think there are 10 of them now, ready to go to new homes.

Also there is a picture of Rosebud Lane all finished up! I have it hanging in my bedroom because the colors go so well there.

Last, but not least are the embroidered parts of Block 7 of the Polka Dot Girls!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

And the Winner is............................

...........BARB from American Samoa!!! Congratulations, Barb! If you will send me your address via e-mail, I will get your prize out to you. It has been so much fun hearing all your stories about gifts you have given--I have always thought that quilters were a generous bunch of people and these comments just prove it!!!!!


Let quilting help you make someone smile!


Jan

I have been busy---really!!

I haven't blogged for a whole week and how the time has flown by! I haven't done much, but I have been busy with some small items. One has been this wall hanging of wool applique--it has been slow going because it is something new to me and everything seems to take longer to figure out for some reason---even though it is just like regular applique only I'm using wool fabric and button-hole stitching it to a cotton. What is my problem??!! I don't really know except for some reason it makes me nervous!!!! As you can see from the picture beside it, it is a crock with geraniums and a small flag in it.

The other thing I did was three 12.5" blocks for a Project Linus quilt that some friends and I are putting together sometime soon--don't know just when yet. We were given the black print fabric and had to make blocks from it with other colors. I like my happy, bright other colors. These were fun to do!

Thanks to everyone who has been leaving comments on my Whirl Into Winter Drawing--there are so many comments that I can't answer each and every one, but I'm glad to hear your stories . Tomorrow is the big day where I will draw a number at random and that person will be the winner. Can't wait to see who the winner is!!!! Hard to believe that it is the 15th of January already---this month is flying by, too! Good luck to all of you!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Scottie Dogs

I wanted to make a small wall hanging with Scottie Dogs and I wanted to try raw edge applique, so decided to do them together and this is what I came up with---pettable Scotties!!!!!! I "combed" them with the chenille brush to make them "raw edged." I like the way they turned out! They certainly did "shed" a lot--I had "hair" all over everywhere!

Other projects I'm working on include: getting the mystery quilt all cut out and ready to go to retreat next month; sewing the binding on the Rosebud Lane that dear hubby got quilted and now I'm working on sewing it down by hand; and completely finishing the redwork plantation girls little wall hanging that I showed you a few days back. Now I want to start on my wool applique. I think it will be fun to do, except for some reason I keep putting off the cutting out of it--maybe it's all the flower petals--it has lots of them, but I did a lilac quilt that had lots of them and that didn't stop me on that one so I don't know why it's stopping me on this one! Maybe I know what's ahead of me!!! LOL!!

The sun is shining again and yesterday the puppy and I went for a walk, but had to turn around and come back--I certainly hadn't dressed warm enough---brrr---it was a cold wind that was blowing right through me!!!!!! Have to try again today and dress warmer in layers.

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

First Project Linus Quilt for 2009!

Here is the first Project Linus Quilt for 2009--all finished up and ready to join the others ready to go and someday soon I need to take them to the drop off point! I found a new drop off point that is closer and I just need to DO IT!!! Today we have ice coating everything so I'm staying close in and have not even ventured out to get the mail--just think it is safer to stay inside where it is warm and cosy--even the dog thinks so today!!!! Poor husband had to go back to work today and drove off in the rain--hadn't started freezing when he left, maybe it wasn't too bad yet and maybe will melt before he travels home, ---we can always hope!

Working on cutting out a Mystery Quilt today--it's not really a mystery because the pattern is all there, but that's the name of it---quite a few pieces in this one--I'm cutting it out now and will take it to retreat next month when our Sit N Sew group goes to Create Away up in the Northern part of Texas. These retreats are always so much fun--not only a good chance to get away and get lots of sewing done, but also a good chance to get to know other quilters better. And if you get stuck with a problem part, well, you have lots of help!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Christmas ABC and PDG Completed Block Six

I finally finished the quilt top that was giving me sooooooo much trouble! And it turned out all right IMHO!! I am glad to have this much done and now just to wait to get it quilted! It looks neat when it is all done, but what a bugaboo to do!

Also finished the sewing up of Block number 6 of Polka Dot Girls. This one had 3 embroideries in it and 2 applique hearts. The one applique heart doesn't show up very well and I may have to do it over again.

Had such a good time with Debi yesterday at breakfast and on trip to Quilt Mercantile Shop. Congratulations to Quilt Mercantile on getting their website up and running! Found some more fat quarters for the PDG quilt top since it looks like I may run out and had fun just looking around. Some people are so much fun to be with and she is one of those people--she made me a wonderful bag like the yellow one in this picture---I just love it--it is just the right size to take along with a project.

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Polka Dot Girls Block Six

"Laughter with Friends keeps you in Stitches" is what this block says and it is so true---what would we do without our quilting friends??!! There is also a teapot border for this one just like in Block 1. Only two more blocks remaiin to be done--I'll be kind of sad to see this series end--they are so much fun!

I also finished binding on the 1930's Sampler quilt for my daughter, Amy. She loves the 1930's fabrics, so I thought she would enjoy this quilt!

Now I am on my way to meet my BFF Debi for breakfast and then we are going to our favorite quilt shop to do a little shopping--Quilt Mercantile. They will getting their website up soon so I will have a link for them---I'll be so glad for them when that happens!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan