Reporting From Frankfort Girls

Our little quilting group needs a new, more current name. Nearly 20 years ago when I first joined the four original ladies, all were Frankfort-area folks. We have expanded over the years, and now we hail from several towns in close proximity to Frankfort - Williamsport, Kingston, Chillicothe. So perhaps a new name is wise. When we refer to ourselves, we don't actually call ourselves anything. Mostly, I have used the name here on the blog for ease of identification.

But I digress! Meetings still occur every other Friday morning for handwork around someone's kitchen table. Yesterday, I hosted the entire group! All 8 of us in attendance! With the schedules we all have, this does not happen often, let me tell you.

We had a nice show and tell, so let's take a look.

Patriotism is alive and well in our little group. Several quilt tops, table toppers an minis were shared wearing their red, white and blue.

Sharon P. made a quick 3-yard quilt and enlarged it a bit by adding more onto the border. What a great way to reduce a stash! And so fast and easy! That's a win-win.

 

Terry unfurled this fantastic flag-inspired quilt top which she made at a recent retreat. Once the stars are made, putting this together would be a snap. Below, she has more stars and more stripes, but vertically placed to imitate fireworks - which is the name of the pattern, or something like that.

 

Sheryll had wool table toppers to share in keeping with the patriotic theme.

 

Those two pics with the sheep are actually just one project, but it is long and narrow, making for a difficult picture to crop. If I were better at photo editing, I probably could have joined them, but you get the idea. Sheryll's wool skills are nothing short of perfection.

Here's another she had to share.

 Sheryll also finished quilting a patriotic quilt top. It will look fabulous in her home's decor.

Jan had two quilt tops to share, both finished at the same retreat Terry attended. This first one is for her grandson, and also features the red, white and blue! She reported that making those baseballs was rather fussy business, but once completed it all went together fast. 

Jan's granddaughter will get this next quilt, a calm butterfly quilt. The picture doesn't adequately show the fabric well, but from a layer cake she has made that standard pattern several of us have been using lately.

Becky had two projects to share, one a mini quilt made from remnants in her stash. 

Becky's big accomplishment was unveiling this gorgeous quilt which she was finishing with binding. 

I should have asked someone to move the chair, but it does provide perspective for how small those blocks are. She has spent several years making the pieced blocks, and then more time constructing it. What a payoff for all that hard work. Becky is a sweet, spunky friend, with an ornery streak. See for yourself - here's Becky when I took a close-up of the blocks.

We had a lovely morning catching up with one another. We often muse that 3 hours every-other-week is never enough to allow for all the chit-chat we want.

Hope you are having a lovely Saturday! 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Hello June!

The new month snuck up on me! We had two special little people staying over at Grandpa and Grandma's over the weekend, so I definitely wasn't looking at the calendar!

The collage for May's highlights will show some of the fun we had with Cate and Reagan. All three granddaughters are such delights in our lives, we welcome every opportunity to both spend time with them and have them here for overnight visits.

TOP ROW: We babysat for Reagan and we plumb wore her out! Having a sweet girl fall asleep on your lap is one of life's special treats. Our twin nieces graduated from high school, and are shown alongside their Grandma Jeannie. Mom had a fun weekend of celebrating with them. The pillows here and in the next row are for sone-in-law Jeff. This one is made from clothing of his beloved Grandfather Glen.

MIDDLE ROW: The second pillow is made from monogrammed shirts that Jeff no longer wears. Together, the pillows will adorn his 'man cave' for a classy addition to the sofa. The central picture of May's collage is our our new family room floor. We took out the carpet, replaced it with laminate flooring and put down a large area rug for a pleasing new look. After 33+ years, we have no more carpet in our downstairs. The last picture in the middle row is our newest family member - Annie. She is filling out nicely at 6-7 weeks old. Her sweet demeanor melts my heart, and I cannot get enough of cuddling her.

BOTTOM ROW: When Cate came for her overnight, she helped Grandpa fill the baby pool in preparation for a cool swim. Cate also was very taken with her Mini Mouse costume. We took Cate home, and went straight to Reagan's to bring her for an overnight. She has such a different demeanor than Cate, and makes her preferences known in no uncertain terms. She also played in the baby pool, and had big fun with Grandma's basket of toys.

Since I didn't highlight much quilting or sewing in that May collage, I need to establish some priorities for this month. I did continue playing and piddling with some scraps, but I should start a "real quilt." Let me interpret that for you: tackle a quilt on my goals list. We shall see what transpires...

Let's go have an awesome June, whaddya' say!? Sounds good to me!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne  

Scraps Galore

Enough is enough! Managing all the scraps from the last few years' worth of projects is daunting, for sure. The scraps are not all my own, either, as I've happened upon boxes of fabric from both my grandmother and aunt. These are precious to me, so I will make myself use these somehow.

The sheer volume of scraps, though, becomes overwhelming. It's gotten to the point that I MUST sit down at the sewing machine and actually MAKE something! Simply making blocks feels like I'm accomplishing something. All creations shown below will eventually be to be turned into a finish; consider these  building blocks.

From a lovely pile of Kaffe Fassett scraps all measuring 2.5 inches, I made two blocks that might eventually make their way into a quilt. It would be wonderful to see an entire quilt of these diagonal bits across the top of a bed. 

Other fabrics besides KF an accomplish a similar effect. The scrap tubs are full of more traditional fabrics, and this block appeals to me, as well.

I've also tried sewing little tiny bits together to make a length of fabric. Pictured below are fabrics from a 9-patch quilt I made in 2019; later that year, I made this quilt with the same fabric. After two full quilts, I didn't have much of the Lecien fabric left, but I just couldn't bring myself to toss out all those precious ends. Sewing them together yields this panel measuring roughly 10.5"x15" - the next step remains to be determined. I'm waiting for inspiration to strike. 

The panel above is just fabric sewn together, but one can also sew the fabric bits onto batting. This results in a padded panel that can be used for making a zipper bag or change purse. Here are some samples from my stash. These will surely go into something useful.

Two of these are using scraps of Tilda fabric while the blue one up top is made with Kaffe Fassett scraps. Again, inspiration for the next step awaits. 

When all else fails, my scraps are turned into 4-patches and 9-patches, as these blocks are absolutely about as versatile as it gets. Some of my recent scraps have gone into these pretties. Stored away are hordes of similar blocks made from previous scrap management efforts.

 These began as 2.5" strips sewn together in suitable pairs. I cut them down into 2.5" units, then into 4-patches. Making these 9-patches, below,  also came from the 2.5" strips. The uses for these blocks are endless, and oh, the variety!

I need to stop the scrap management work for a bit, as I should direct my attention to finishing a project for my son-in-law. I have a couple of days coming up which should see a completion on that. I'll be sewing with the Frienzies, and the s-i-l project is going along. Then, who knows...

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne
 

Slow Sunday Stitching

It's been awhile since I last checked in on the weekly slow stitching party. Since I've done a little bit of that sort of stitching recently, it seems as good a time as any to see what all the talented ladies have been working on. Kathy's Quilts hosts this party every week on her blog; I've enjoyed visiting with these seamstresses and seeing the oh-so-inspiring projects they create.

I've taken time to reacquaint myself with an embroidery project I unearthed recently while sorting and organizing in my quilting room. I was going great guns on this back a few years ago when I started. I bought the book and the fabric with every intention of diligently stitching it up in time to use for fall decorating.

The book, by Kathy Schmitz, is full of wonderful patterns both large and small, many of which I could definitely see myself making. I just lost steam on it for whatever reason, and now am trying to regain my enthusiasm and finish it. It will become a pillow when completed.

In the time I've worked on it this last week, I can tell you one reason I probably stopped stitching  - lighting! I have very poor lighting in the room I generally sit in the evening (TV room), and the effort it takes to both follow the pattern and thread the needle makes me very slow about things. 

I have several good lights that I could bring downstairs - one that wraps around my neck for focusing light toward my hands. I owe it to myself to make use of the tools at my disposal.

I hope you'll stop over at Kathy's for her little party. It will inspire you, for sure!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne  

Frankfort Girls Show and Tell

It's been awhile since I last shared quilts made by the clever ladies in my quilting group, The Frankfort Girls. The quilts shown here today are from the past 2-3 visits we've had. Since I have forgotten some essential info for these quilts, I will share as much as I can with the hope of simply inspiring you. These gals certainly do inspire me with their beautiful creations. Keeps me on my game.

 

What's not to love about a Grandmother's Flower Garden?? Becky found this UFO in her sewing room, and decided it would be a good idea to finish it. Wow! Good idea! These 30s-inspired fabrics really make this shine. I said I was done with hexies after finishing this quilt, but seeing Becky's sure makes me consider doing more. So eye-catching!

Everywhere I look lately, I'm seeing patriotic quilts. This 250th anniversary of America has inpired lots of beauties. Sheryll made this wall-hanging and had questions for us regarding border options. Of course, we all had opinions. 

 

And to continue the theme of patriotic quilts, how great is this Log Cabin quilt?! What a labor of love this is! Lots of cutting and stitches; lots of seams and measuring. Log cabin quilts are gorgeous, but they require a whole lot of work. This one is a thing of beauty.

This quilt epitomizes spring-blooming flowers, and Helen will use this in her master bedroom. The quilt was a jelly roll kit with additional yardage for background. Such a lovely creation.

Do you want to get straight to work after seeing such inspiring quilts? I sure do. 

If you are not in a sewing group, you are denying yourself a wonderful opportunity for inspiration, not to mention some amazing friendships!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Front Burner Items

Long ago I learned that a quaint, more gentle way of describing my tendency to procrastinate is to say I've put things on the 'back burner.' It sound ever so much more agreeable and less accusatory. Today's post will address some projects I'm putting on the front burner because I am really chomping at the bit to work on them. (And, yes, this naturally means that some few things are likely being relegated to 'back burner' status, at least for awhile.)

First, from the 2026 Goals List, I have decided at long last on a pattern and am ready to cut into that Winnemucca fabric. I have wanted to use this fabric since buying it in Winnemucca, NV, in 2020. I've hemmed and hawed over what pattern to use ever since, so consequently it's still hanging around here, waiting to be used.

I'm  going to make a weather-vane quilt using the fabrics in all different places in each block. For example, some blocks will have a floral center, others a dark blue center, and others peach and blue. The same 4 fabrics will be placed in varying positions in the blocks, in what I hope will provide interest while maintaning a bit of order.

 

The pattern I will use is from an old book I've had for a long time, Mulberry Lane by Teri Christopherson.

 

The pattern is called Lavender Fields, but it's a straight-up weather-vane, and I know it will be easy. I made it in 2019 and whizzed right through it. 

So that's one plan for the immediate future. A second plan is to work on a Trip Around the World quilt. I bought the fabric while in Florida this past winter, and the shop owner's daughter sent me pictures of a pattern she'd had for years. I have my fabrics laid out here in a likely order I will be "traveling" in.

It's hard to get so many fabrics to show up in a decent picture, so you'll have to use your imagination a bit. I still may tweak the order of some of these fabrics, but I really don't want to overthink the quilt. I know it's going to look good in whatever order I go.

Here's a pic of the fabric I bought at Quilted Twins; I have added a few pieces from my stash to the mix as the quilt requires quite a few more than I bought.

And here's the pattern the shop worker sent me.

The third quilt I've given "front burner" status is a 9-patch quilt that will imitate the colors in the Kitty Corn quilt that was popular a few years ago for Halloween. I don't want the kitty or the Halloween vibes, but I do like the colors used in the 9-patch, so I've pulled some fabrics from my stash to use for my version.  

The Kitty Corn quilt pattern might still available, and I do refer to this picture occasionally. 

(Taken from Instagram.)

Yet another quilt I want to make involves using a substantial amount of batik fabric I have recently gathered together. I had a small-ish tub of batiks from various projects over the years. As some of my friends in The Frankfort Girls group have been "destashing" and purging, I've acquired a little bit more. (ahem...I oughtn't be continuing to collect fabric!)

I'd love to make a bright, cheery quilt with all of these batiks. Good friend Becky handed off one of her batik patterns called Jewel Box - more than likely I will make it.

Okay, I must stop. I have to also devote time to actual quilting on the long arm machine. Got to. That's all there is to it. S

Oh, isn't it lovely to dream about making quilts!?!? *smile*

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Bits and Pieces

Since I've not focused my energies on any one project in the last 5-6 weeks, I seem to have bits of news on several fronts. It makes perfect sense, then, to catch up on some of those items, then perhaps I will turn my attention to more focused objectives.

First, to update the previous post, I have delivered all the dresses to their respective homes, and have one picture of a granddaughter actually wearing her new dress - Reagan, our 19-month-old middle grandchild, wanted to wear hers straight away. It fits her perfectly and her momma requests more - with one addition. Add two pockets, rather than one. Reagan was totally pumped to put things in her pocket and kept searching her other side for another one. No problem! I can put two pocket on all future dresses!

In other activities around here, I've been continuing efforts at straightening up my sewing/quilting room. I've always had the ability to work in the midst of a fair amount of clutter, however the situation had gotten too far gone for even me and my loose standards. *grin* Finding a surface to iron, to cut, to sew, and sometimes even to sit had gotten near impossible. 

Things are looking a lot better now. Below is the table top where Sharon normally has her machine when we sew. Sadly, it's been many months since I've seen the top of that table. 

Most of that has been dealt with - sorted or finished or trashed. Here's a picture of similar haphazard piles on the floor.

I'd already made progress when I took this picture; the reason I know is because carpet is showing. There was a time when you couldn't see the carpet for the debris spread around. Clockwise in this photo: Grinch Christmas fabric at the top; Ohio State novelty fabric; more Christmas fabric at the 3:00 position; miscellaneous EPP at 8:00; a pillow cover salvaged from a pillow given to us as a wedding present (1979!); a pile of batiks at 11:00. In the center is a tub of floral scraps; from these remnants, I'm making random blocks hoping for inspiration as I stitch. All in this photo now has been put away in designated, well-labeled tubs. 

I had sevearal items that simply needed very minimal attention to have them completed and out of my way. I focused heavily on those as I worked through the clutter. It has been quite successful, thankfully, and the weight of it all feels lighter. I like knowing that I've seen the last of these and now can more eagerly look forward to new projects.

This table in my front room had gone without decor all winter. I found a stack of HSTs in the sewing scraps, and rather than hide them away in a drawer or bag, I went straight to the machine and stitched them together to make this wonderful little table topper. 

The HSTs were leftovers from Cotton Ridge Farm, which I made last summer. I knew I'd made extra for the double sawtooth borders; this table topper is a perfect way to use up the excess.  

One really easy item to check off my list was to find a piece of yardage from my bin of red fabrics that would be suitable for a slip cover on my front porch wicker bench. Since our shutters and front door are deep red/burgandy, I've always used rugs and pillows in the same colorway; I needed a slip cover to add to the look and I think this works nicely. 

Lord only knows how long I've had this fabric or what I planned for using it. The selvage says its Hyde Park by Jo Gregg/Northcott. I'd say it's very well aged.

I altered a pair of shorts for DH (no picture for that!), and I replaced a hatband on this thrift store find from Florida.  

I had a stack of some long-forgotten project bits that I seemed unable to toss. I made myself sit down and figure out what I was doing, and came up with this little fabric tray.

I will finish the other 7 and have a nice little gift for participants at our next retreat. I'm glad I had the mindset to keep them and not throw them away.

I know this will be hard to believe, but I also uncovered some long forgotten (and deeply buried) projects like the embroidery above. I have no idea why I stopped working on it; I located the book straight away and have taken some stitches on it. I hope I can regain my steam and finish it.

If I can make myself stay at it, I will have a nice addition to my autumn decor. Stay tuned for updates as I progress on that journey.

Finally, I will show you one box of scrap management. I've not done this in quite awhile, so I have a couple more boxes waiting to be done. Because space was so limited in the quilting room, I brought this downstairs to the kitchen island to be cut into my standard working bits - squares and strips in 3 sizes: 1.5 inches, 2 inches, and 2.5 inches. If there were any larger pieces available, I cut 15" X 5" - the size for the little card wallets I've been making. I enjoy making them and using scraps is perfect.

That completes the summing up of my sewing-related endeavors in the past few weeks. It's not all been drudgery of sorting and straightening. We've interspersed some fun visits with friends and little trips here and there. We've got a flooring project underway here at the homestead, so we're jumping on carpet removal today. (ugh)  

I hope all you moms had a wonderful Mother's Day! I spent time with my sweet momma yesterday afternoon, and either spoke with or had texts with all three of my children. We saw both daughters on Saturday, so my cup runneth over, indeed.

Have a wonderful week, and 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne