Finished Top for Tessellating Stars!

This is the finished top for Tessellating Stars. I'm very happy the way it turned out. Thanks JoAnn for the fabric!! Now just waiting for my bolt of batting to arrive so that I can quilt these quilts for Project Linus---my pile is starting to grow again, but that's all right, I'm having fun sewing up a storm of Yellow Brick Roads, too!

Want to try my hand at another project, but can't talk about it because they are for Christmas presents and someone might see!!!! Hope I can keep it a secret!!!!

Tomorrow Debi and I are meeting for breakfast and to do some shopping---getting ready for the Christmas party for the DFW gang--not too far away now and we are all abuzz with ideas! And of course, that means breakfast and shopping---right?! What fun!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Tessellating Stars--A Work in Progress

I have two rows done in a Tessellating Stars pattern quilt. It is a fun pattern to do--just the same mini block and 4 of them together for a big block! I've been chain piecing it and it is going together quite quickly! A gal at my Tuesday Sit and Sew (Frayed Edges) gave me the fabric and I think it works very well in this pattern---I really like the way it is turning out!

Today's weather surprised me when I looked at the thermometer at 7:30 this morning--it was 77 degrees---what a change that was from the 80's in the mornings and the 90's - 100's in the afternoons! So my dog and I celebrated by taking a short walk---sure felt good! I hope this is a sign that fall is near--September will be here next week already---school has started, so maybe we won't have but just a few more days of really hot weather!!!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Tranquility Log Cabin Top

Here is the first of two Log Cabin Tranquility tops. This is the setting called Sunshine and Shadows. I like the simplicity of it because the focus is on the fabrics not so much the layout. I like this Tranquility line of fabrics---thanks to Debi for the Layer Cake of these fabrics!!!! I'm really liking Log Cabin blocks now that I've figured out a great way to make them where they turn out nicely even---this is the method where you cut your logs the finished size of the side of the block you will sew them too---did I make myself as clear as mud? It never worked for me to just sew a strip of fabric on and then cut it off because the block would just keep on growing. 1/16th of an inch does make a difference LOL!!!!! Now to sew up the second quilt top---I have 42 blocks left so the next one will similar to this one. Good thing I made some extra blocks out of a piece of remnant that I found at the quilt store!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Timeless Treasures Block Four

Here is Timeless Treasures Block 4 all finished. I have traced off Block 5 embrodieries and have that ready to work on tomorrow at Sit and Sew. There are nine blocks so I'm almost half way there! The "tender moment" is "When seeing me lights up your face."

Also there's a picture of a little Pansy and Doodlebug wool pincushion that I did. Trying out wool again in small doses. I had done a small wall hanging in wools with buttonhole stitch applique and just didn't care for it too much, but decided I wanted to try it again because the girls that are working on it at Sit and Sew just love it. It certainly is easy to do and it doesn't ravel much, but I'm riding the fence on this one!!!!! I have another little pincushion to do and I'll decide after that.

Today I'm also working on sewing together a couple of Log Cabin quilts for Project Linus. They each have 42 blocks. Debi had given me a "Layer Cake" of 10" squares of "Tranquility by Moda" and I used that for the logs, plus an off white for the blocks. They turned out pretty. I'm setting it in the Sunshine and Shadows pattern, where they all lay the same way. When I get them all together I'll post a picture!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

All Caught Up on Project Linus Quilts (For Now)!

Between yesterday and today, I quilted and bound (by machine) the last 7 Project Linus quilts and now I'm all caught up until I make some more tops!!!! But things will be on hold for awhile until I can order a roll of batting! I hope I can download that many pictures!!! So far so good!

The names are: Stars and Snoballs; Blue Scuba Frog; Yellow Scuba Frog; Dad's Afternoon Nap with a closeup of the theme fabric; Robots and Gears; Sunny Day; and Shimmery Blue (the blue fabric has a shiny blue alphabet on it.)

Now I think I'll go take a nap!!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

301 Posts--Wahoo!!!

This is my 301st post--doesn't seem possible!! The time just flies by---seems to go faster every day---there's so much I want to do and the time gets away from me! But I don't want to give up my afternoon nap!!!! LOL!!!

The pictures show a little "bag" that I made for the DFW Gang for our retreat. It takes a potholder and 4 snack size zip lock baggies. You center the baggies on the plain side of the pot holder and pin in place, then sew them down---they are slippery little things so you have to sew carefully. I used a zig-zag stitch. Then you sew a button on the front that the loop of the potholder fits around and "viola"----- a little "bag"---so simple and fun to do. I used a larger pot holder---it measured 7" x 9".

Today I'm working on quilting some more Project Linus quilts and also sewing Log Cabin blocks using the Tranquility line that Debi gave me---they are turning out so pretty!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Book Signing Party and PL Quilts!

Our oldest daughter Anne has a book published and last night was the book signing party! We made the 4 hour drive to Austin so we could join in the festivities (with about 50 other people) and what a great time we had. Her book is called "Conversation and Community"and is available on Amazon. It is a technical writing book and I did read it and learned all kinds of things about technical writing, but please don't give me a test on it because so much of it is over my head! Needless to say we are very proud parents! The pictures show our daughter (in white blouse) and a picture of her book.

I forgot to add so am editing this post---my blog is in her book with a story about blogging about quilts! So I will have my 15 minutes of fame!!! Isn't that exciting?!

Today I also have pictures of 3 quilts that are ready to go to Project Linus....they are Monster Machines 1 and 2---they are exactly alike and Pink/Lavender. More for the kids!!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Back from Retreat!

What a fun time we had at our retreat at Quilt House. It's such a lovely place for a get-away! The four of us had a wonderful time and really got a lot done! I finished 4.5 quilt tops---three Yellow Brick Roads, one Twisted Rail and one-half of a blue indigo snowball and stars, plus we managed to get in some shopping at three quilt stores. Whew!!! We were tired, but feeling oh so happy---doing the happy dance!

The pictures show Debi and Sally and Marge working away and some of the things that we worked on. Debi made the beautiful Carpenter's Wheel. Sally is standing next to the YBR that she helped me make---she wanted a lesson on how to make it so we had a "class!"

The last picture shows us sitting on the swing in the front yard for a "group" picture. Starting in the front row it's Debi, and Marge, then in back row it's Sally and me.

Retreats are such a good way to get away from all the cares of home and just concentrate on sewing with no interruptions---you really feel that you are accomplishing something-----and you are!!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Ready to Retreat!

This week-end is the DFW Gang's First Annual Week-End Retreat! The picture shows how I am packing up to go---trying to fill all the spaces and not forget anything---I have a list and I'm checking it twice!!!! LOL!!! We are going to The Quilt House in Azle, TX. There will be four of us because 2 of the girls can't come and they will be missed! I have several projects that I want to finish up ----2 sewing projects and 2 hand work projects. Hope I'm not taking too much---I've done that before, but it's good to have lots to do---never a boring minute!

Will report on all the "doings" when I get back!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

One to Keep and Three for Project Linus!

This is a Log Cabin that I made using the Marti Michell ruler and Log Cabin book--it sure made it easy to do---I love that ruler (no affliation just happy customer, yada yada...)----it made cutting the "logs" so much easier! This one is a "Keeper" and hangs in my living room---had to take down another quilt, but "turn-around" is a good thing--right!?!?!!!!

The next three are Project Linus quilts. The first one is "Kitty Cats". It's done in a pattern called "Cornerposts". I got it out of an old Quiltmakers magazine.

The second one is called "Deep Purple" and is a Yellow Brick Road. These fabrics are from Japan and are called "Dawaibo." They were very nice to work with and have almost a silk look to them, but will wash up very nicely!

The third one is called "My John Deere" and is the pattern called "Speedy Baby 2", a pattern that I got off the internet---it certainly was speedy because it used charm squares that were already cut---I used some that were left over from the Baby Genius quilt that I made for my Grandson a couple of years ago.

I have 3 more PL quilts to quilt and again I will be caught up with the quilting. But I plan to make more tops this week-end and so I will be behind again!!!!! And so it goes!!!! But it sure is fun to see that stack of quilts grow!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Forever Flowers!

This quilt was two years in the making and I'm so happy that is is finally quilted and done!! Hurrah!! I want to get it hung somewhere, but it is 60"x70" and that's a bit big for some of the places where I hang quilts!!! LOL!!! It was a BOM for 2007 at Quilt Mercantile and the flowers and containers are all applique. It was quite a challenge and I glad I finished it. Several of us worked on it at the time and that helped a lot---always someone to guide me in my attempts at applique!!!!

Going to be another hot one---in the 100's---so a good day to crank up the fans and let the AC run and sit and sew---I want to work on some more Log Cabins and quilt a couple of PL tops.

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Four More to Go!!!!!

Here are four more freshly quilted and bound and ready to go to Project Linus. I hope they are loved by some boys and girls!

The first one is called Cars and Motorcycles---you probably can't see them very well but they are in there!!!!

The second is Hockey Game---that, too is hard to see the hockey sticks and pucks, but they are there in some of the blocks!!!!!!

The third is called Pinks and More Pinks---hopefully some little girl that loves pinks will love this one!

And last but not least is the mystery quilt I showed you last time, but wanted you to know where it was going!!!!

Sure seems like the summer flew by, doesn't it? I thought it was because I was getting on in years that the time was going by so fast, but even my kids say time is flying by!!!! Have to make the most of every minute!!

Today is Sit and Sew Day at the LQS and I am ready to go! TOday is Show and Tell Day, but I don't have any thing far enough along to shoW I have a few of my Log Cabin blocks done for the Indigo Blue quilt, but those are boring, I bet everyone there has made one and it is a first for me---I got the Marti Michell book and ruler and it is working pretty good, except my blocks are turning out bigger than the book says they should, can't figure out what I'm doing wrong, but since they are all the same size then maybe it won't matter, my quilt will be bigger and I'll make fewer blocks--I'm not really following a pattern!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan