QUILTER JAN

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Friday, March 30, 2012

Sheep and Red Picket Fence

There are four panels like this one that go on the top for the Little Red Barns quilt.  Now I'm working on the stars and geese for the outside border.  They are done a different way.  It's called Cutting Corners and is from Sharyn Craig.  The directions in the pattern gave her credit, but also showed how to do the method without her ruler.  It's a neat way of doing geese.  You simply measure and cut off the corners and then sew the triangles on.  I sure wish I could think of some of these things that other people come up with!!!!  I'm hoping to be able to cut the stars out with my Accucut GO! cutter.  Have to see if the star template  they have will fit in the space.  Not to that point quite yet.

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Friday, March 23, 2012

Four Chickens for Little Red Barns Quilt

Finally finished the corner chickens for the Little Red Barns quilt.  Have to make sheep and picket fences next.  Thought I'd take a rest after spending three days with the chickens!!!  This quilt is turning out to have a lot of details in it---sometimes that's good and sometimes, I have to be in the mood to do that kind of work.  Sometimes, it's good to wait until you are in the mood, or else you just hurry through just to get it done.  I know I don't do my best work then.  Guess that's true of anything you do---guess there's a life lesson there to be learn while quilting!!!  LOL!    These chickens need names, don't you think---I can think of two right off the bat---------Percy for the top rooster and Maybell for the bottom hen.  They seemed to take on personalities all their own as I was putting them together.

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Two Farm Quilts and Three Project Linus Quilts

Any quilt with a barn or a farm scene just seems to "speak" to me and I gotta have it!  So it was with these two quilts that I just finished.  Both were kits and fun to do.  This first one is called "Barns and Houses."  It was so much fun putting it together.  The second one I called "Down on the Childhood Farm."  Also so much fun to do.  We visited the farm in Northern Wisconsin where I grew up several years ago.  My goodness, how things had changed.  The only thing left standing were the memories.  Quite a shock to me.  I did go to the old high school and the one room country school house that still is kept up and used for a town hall.  We also visited the small country church that has been refurished and looks so nice.  We were married in that church 43 years ago.  What fun it was to see it in such wonderful condition.  It had shrunk quite a bit though!  LOL!!!

Here is "A Grouchy Ladybug."  The ladies at Quilt Mercantile were kind enough to give me the fabric for this quilt.  I thought it was so cute.  I have (by adding a couple of fat quarters) enough for two Yellow Brick Road quilts.  Thanks to Jennifer and Vickie.
I called this one Bricks and Stones--another easy one to do.  I used reds and some patriotic fabrics.
And last, but not least is one I called Pastel Painted Pinwheels.  These fat quarters were given to me by my generous BFF Debi.  I had breakfast with Debi yesterday and she gifted me with one of her drawstring purses, made with Amy Butler fabric, it is gorgeous!  She also had more fat quarters for me and some other surprises.  Never know what she is going to come up with!  Thanks Debi!  You are the best!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan
 

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Four Quilts for Project Linus and One for Me!

This one is called Mult-Colored Polka Dots and is my favorite pattern, Yellow Brick Road.  I think I like it so much because it only takes 6 fat quarters and it is so easy to do.  It turns out differently each time.  I like to choose a "focus" fabric and then choose fabrics to go with it.

This one is called Wildflowers.  I used one charm square and a yard of fabric to make it.
This one I called School Days because there are school images on the fabric--school buses and letters and  numbers.
This quilt is one called Night Trains that I did for my Hubby who has a collection of trains.  He even has them outside.


This one I called Western Red.  The pattern is Urban Cabins.  I won the Fat Quarters when we played Fat Quarter Lotto at our last retreat.  That was fun!

I'm having trouble lining up pictures with the new blogger settings, so I hope you can see what goes with what.  Guess I'll have to play around with it some more.

We are getting some nice rain today, glad to get it.  good day to stay in and read and quilt.  I'm all caught up on my quilting now, so get to make some new tops!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Friday, March 2, 2012

One for Me and Two for Project Linus!

After about a year of embroidering 40 flowers, I have finished the Country Garden quilt---just have to sew down the binding!  I am happy to get this one done, because it has not turned out to be one of my favorite quilts.  But I can't put my finger on just what it is that is wrong with it-----------ah, well, we all have our likes and dislikes.  Have you ever had a quilt that doesn't speak to you in a kind way?!  LOL!

 Here is a closeup of the flower. 


the one below is called Countryside.
 This one is called Out West.
 So far, March has come in like a lamb---high 70's and even up to 80.  Wonder where winter went?  Guess I shouldn't wish for the storms that some of you have been getting though.  Hope you all stay safe.

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan