A Proper Reveal - Cotton Ridge Farm

Late last month I put the last borders on Cotton Ridge Farm. Hooray!! Then I pressed it and tried to get as many ravelings off as I could. Had to get it all spruce for its photo op!

Any photograph I've taken of this quilt looks like a black and gold quilt. In fact, it is mostly navy and cheddar. It just doesn't show up correctly with any lighting I manage. No biggie, because it still looks good! 

This quilt has been in the planning stages for a long time. Perhaps over 10 years ago, I collected a little stash of navy and yellow fabrics. The yellows go from bright yellow to butternut squash to cheddar. I then waited on the inspiration pattern to come along to move me into creating mode.

 

After a few years, I saw some Pam Buda patterns, and that's when ideas began forming. I originally thought I'd make Grist Mill. But the pattern I borrowed was Cotton Ridge Farm, so I just went with it. (I still want to make Grist Mill.) I sifted through the little fabric collection, narrowing down my options. I am very pleased with the results; just moody enough to give off autumn vibes.

It finished almost to the exact size the pattern indicated - 66" x 74". I have it laid out here on a queen bed. Once I figure out what to use as a backing, I can get her on the long arm! 

A couple of thoughts I had while making this quilt. I was not a fan of her instructions to make larger HSTs than necessary, and then trimming them all to size. However, I did follow those instructions, and I love the result! I cannot think of any quilt I've ever made with this many HSTs and so many precisely matching points. I've never had such great results. There's a lesson here, right? Trimming makes a world of difference in accuracy.

I'm prepping some projects for a 4-day retreat next week. I will share the ongoing activities as I can. For about 3+ days, I'm gonna' have my grandma hat on - Reagan is coming to stay!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Hello August!

Whoa! How on earth did July slip past so fast?! It's shocking sometimes just how fast a month can come and go. I'm sure others experience this, too. Time does indeed fly.

For a lot of months now I have been making 9-patch collages that highlight the past month. I like doing them because it helps me remember all the fun, all the family, all the quilts, etc. that made the month special. This month, I couldn't narrow things down, though, to 9 images. Just impossible! So I ended up making 2 collages - one for quilting and one for family and friends. Let's review family fun in July!

TOP ROW: We had lots of FaceTime calls with Emma because Reagan learned to walk! Big milestone! Now 10  months, Reagan is toddling around and is so proud of herself! Two-year-old Cate had some of her own milestones, one of which was moving out of her baby crib and into a big-girl bed. And in the 3rd image, my 88-year-old Mom had a milestone of sorts - she watched a virtual reality presentation about a beloved high school that was razed about 15 years ago. She attended this school, all of us kids went there and several of the grandkids went there. The VR experience was awesome, and Mom loved it.

MIDDLE ROW: Cate moved to her big-girl bed in conjunction with her family's move to the suburbs. After downtown living in a condo, the time was right to move to a house with a yard. They moved to a great neighborhood that will fit their needs as a family for years to come. The center picture is the Moonrise gang - the core group of friends we hang out with in our Florida resort. We met for dinner and spent a fun evening catching up with everyone. The last picture shows our sweet Reagan with a boo-boo! She'd taken a spill and had scraped her nose, sort of like a rug burn. Baby skin heals quickly, and she was good as new in no time.

BOTTOM ROW: Cate took a ride in the wagon on a warm Sunday afternoon when the family celebrated her cousin's 3rd birthday. Reagan has step-siblings who adore her. Here she toddles to big sister Harper as big brother Kellin looks on. And Uncle Adam finally met his new niece at the reunion we held here last weekend. 

Now, let's see what transpired in the quilting room. 

TOP ROW: I returned to Grandmother's Flower Garden to tweak the outer edges. I wanted to fill in the curves to created more uniform edges for attaching a border. The first two pictures show how I am accomplishing this. The next picture features the two throw pillows I made for the screened porch.

MIDDLE ROW:  I have not shared the ideas brewing with my 2 Irish Chain quilts, but they will soon be quilted and gifted to a very special niece. As I get going on that effort, I will share more. The center picture shows my design wall with long-forgotten blocks. They'd been hidden for months under the Autumn Leaves quilt which you see in the next photo. I do have some plans for those random blocks on the design wall, so stay tuned. And, yes, I did quilt Autumn Leaves; it is fully bound and ready for the change of seasons.

BOTTOM ROW: I became quite an expert at trimming HSTs (half-square triangles). The sawtooth borders on Cotton Ridge Farm required a bazillion of them, and all had to be trimmed. It is now a finished top, which you see in the final photo. The middle bottom row pic shows my quilting Good Life Tag Sale, a quilt I put on the long arm and finished off just before doing Autumn Leaves.

In a post coming soon, I will share full reveal photos of Cotton Ridge Farm. I'll tease with this one. I did finally make and attach all those sawtooth borders. I finished it right at the end of July.

After this rather exhaustive review of July, what will I do in August? Of course, I have some ideas. 

👉 I hope to quilt on the long arm quite a bit. I have several rather urgent quilts needing done. 

👉 I have a 4-day retreat coming up, and I think I want to work on Wensleydale. If I do, then I need to get my parts cut out. 

👉 Sharon and I have talked all year about making an around-the-world style quilt using Kaffe Fassett fabrics, so I could see that becoming a fun project, too.

Regardless, August will be busy. And productive. I hope.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Quickie Pillows

I found some fabric in my stash. Yeah, big surprise.

It's been there for oh, maybe 25 years. I just keep moving it around, telling myself I ought to make some pillows with that. 

It was pretty stuff. Remnant picked up over at the upholstery store over in Waynesville. They had a sister store that carried quilt fabric. I loved going over there with Grandma way back in the day.

So last week, a day or two before the family reunion, I decided that these pillows needed to be made. I had a package of 16" forms, so I got busy and made these two pillows, envelop backs, simple construction.

I tried them out on the front room sofa, then on a chair in the family room.

The fabric looks like bark cloth, but I don't think it is. The tag on the piece of remnant said 3/4 yard, and I got it for $7.49. Two pillow covers for $7.49! Gosh, why had I waited so long to make these?

In this photo, you can see the sofa in the screened porch; I have since moved these pillows to that sofa, and they seem to belong on the porch.The leafy design of the fabric seems most suited for that more casual setting.

So, I'm very happy with my new pillows, and I still need to make some new one for the family room sofa and the front room sofa. Maybe now I'm motivated.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Circleville Quilt Show

The quilt show sponsored annually by the Goodtime Quilters of Circleville, OH, was held this past weekend. It's hands down one of the best local quilt shows around and has been for a long while.

I wish I could say how many I've attended over the years - I know I'd have to go way, way back to figure it out. I can't say that I've had 25 years of consecutive attendance, but I know I've gone for over 20 years.

I want to tell you about a new vendor (new to me, anyway)  at the show this year - Ohio Barn Quilts. What a sweet lady! I had such a pleasant visit with Joan White about her company in Oregonia, OH (near Lebanon). I was so interested to learn how her business has evolved over time, and her care in insuring that her products withstand wear and tear of both the mailing process and a variety of weather conditions. 

 Joan's booth was so colorful! The variety of blocks she offers is impressive, and after studying her website a bit, I learned that she offers custom colors to match particular color schemes.

As I've shared here in previous posts, I have made 2 barn quilts - one for our house here in Ohio; one for our house in Florida. I have considered making more, so I was particularly interested in seeing her variety. If I make more, I would want to keep it super simple. Joan has some very complex designs!

If you know of anyone who'd love a barn quilt on their home or barn, Joan would be the perfect person to contact. It would be a great gift for someone, quilter or not. The barn quilt craze is not waning; we see them everywhere!

Another vendor I visit every time I attend is Sewing The Good Life with Annette and Craig. I visited with them in Daytona this past winter; I knew I'd see them again here in Ohio. They are practically neighbors! Their Jeffersonville, OH, home is only about 30 minutes from me. And, yes, I bought more Tilda fabrics while I visited! *wink*

Now here are a few pictures I took of quilts at the show. I mostly took pictures of quilts made by friends. Enjoy the pretty quilts! I wasn't as fastidious about taking pictures as I was in Daytona.

Pieced and hand quilted by Frankfort Girlfriend, Sheryll.

 

Pieced and hand quilted by retreat friend Lisette.

One of the winners. I'd love to make this someday.

 

 

Another of the winners. Gorgeous, but not one I will make.

The quilting on this one is amazing.

Wouldn't this look gorgeous as a wall hanging?! 

Okay, that's all. I didn't allow myself to dilly-dally, with our reunion planning in full swing last week. We had 20 here yesterday, and despite the heat, we had a wonderful day. 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Filling In Border Garden

Gardeners are often found pruning and perfecting their gardens. I have been no different with my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. A few months ago I was telling folks I'd finished it. Then while I was pondering borders options that appealed to me, I decided that this flower garden still needed some more attention. I needed to fuss just a little bit more with the quilt. I wrote about all of this here.

With the half-hexie flowers prepared, I stitched them into the quilt over the course of a couple of evenings. Now, I am adding the outer path hexies to complete my garden.

Five path hexies are all that I need to close the gap on this path. It takes very little time to complete. And just like that, my goal of softening the curves on my GFG has been achieved. *smile*

In the spaces that I have completely enclosed with paths, I am removing the last of the foundation papers. Then I've begun pressing the edges for a crisp, sharp edge preparing for the next step - appliqueing to a border. 

I'm linking up with Kathy and her Slow Sunday Stitching party. Let's hop over there to see what beauties these sewists are creating.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

I Might Be On A Roll!

As sporadically as I seem to be with using the Tin Lizzie, I know it's too soon to claim that I'm on a roll. But I like this feeling of getting quilts off the design wall and out of the closets, onto the longarm machine and QUILTED!

So maybe, just maybe, I can begin a habit of quilting the many tops hiding in this quilting room and beyond. 

Autumn Leaves is quilted as of Tuesday, and it all went very well, with no thread breakage or tension troubles. Before the next quilt goes on, I will change the needle, clean out lint, and oil the working parts. I've learned my lessons about ignoring or delaying these essential steps. 

I went straight to work on the binding. I only guesstimated that I would need 7 strips (pshaw! who measures??). I was just a tad shy of having enough. *smh*

I stitched the border on and shared it at quilting with the Frankfort Girls yesterday. 

So let's get a complete look at this quilt. She's all ready for the coming fall season, and you can bet I will use it!

Do you think my backing is perfect? It was a gift I picked up last fall from my friend Jan. She was having a massive sewing room clear-out. As a grateful recipient of her generosity, I knew it'd be perfect for this quilt and backing fabric is so easy. I love how quickly I can get a quilt loaded on when I don't have to piece a backing.

It's super-nice to have a finish. My output of finished quilts has seriously decreased in recent months, unfortunately. I hope to boost my numbers over the next several months. We'll see.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

The Next Quilt Up!

After quilting Good Life Tag Sale a week ago, this week found me loading another one on the Tin Lizzie. 

 Fall Leaves has hung on my design wall since I finished it way, way back in October of '23. I left it there intentionally because I wanted it to continue calling me to quilt it!

Hiding behind the Fall Leaves flimsy, I found these sweet reminders of ideas from over recent years. It prods me more than a little bit to see these and revisit some ideas I'd forgotten.

But first, this quilt gets my attention. I loaded it on in relatively quick order, and cleaned out the machine from lint left over from Tag Sale. 

I've quilted only just a bit; I wasn't sure what sort of free-motion design I wanted, so I have gone with loose loops. I think it sorta' looks like wind whipping the leaves along just like the real thing. What do you think?

I doubt I get much time with this quilt this week. We are preparing to host a family reunion this coming Sunday; so cleaning and cooking will take priority most days. I will sew on Tuesday with Sharon. That will be my big day, as things look now.

Hope you have a productive week! Whether sewing or preparing for guests, make it a great week!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Partial Hexie Flowers

Back in May I finished the hexies for my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. I shared the reveal in this post.

At the time I really did think I was finished. 

As time has passed and I've considered border options, I just wasn't thrilled about those deep curves along the top and bottom of the quilt. 

 

The side curves are fine with their gentle, soft, undulating curves. The top and bottom, though, have deep ravines. I thought I'd be okay with them and just fill in with my solid border fabric, but I've since had a change of heart. I wasn't going to be happy with curved borders so deep. To solve the issue, I have decided that partial blocks of flowers are in order. Filling in these deep ravines will result in a softer, more gentle curve for the top and bottom - a lot closer in depth to the gentle curves on the sides.

 

I played around just a bit with how big these partial flowers should be. This 5-hexie outer bit with a 2-hexie inner bit will be perfect. Once I have these all inserted into the quilt, then I will outline all with more of those low-volume shirtings that I used for my paths.

This work has been perfect for evening tv watching. Currently, we are spending most evenings watching the Tour de France on Peacock network. Thank goodness for replays! We are about 6 stages behind in our viewing. Lots of stitching time remaining.

I just know I will be much happier with the bordering results by adding these partial flowers. I'd love to move this quilt along to a total finish by year's end.

I'm linking up with Kathy and her weekly Slow Sunday Stitching party.  

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Finished and Gifted

It was a really good week of quilting for your girl over here. Whenever I can work that long arm machine I am a happy camper. I delayed trying to fix a few problems she was having, yet when I finally did address them I found that they were minor. My dithering cost me a good bit of quilting time.

Remember I explained that I put a 6-inch extra piece onto the top of the quilt so that I could practice on getting my stitches just right? Look at how close I came at the bottom - If I'd used a 7-inch strip, it would never have worked! 

I did not have a particular backing set aside for this quilt, so I used a piece of fabric that honestly does not go in any way the fabrics in the quilt. Yet now that it's done, I really don't see that it was a terrible option at all. I actually think it works rather nicely.

I made the binding from the excess that I cut away from the backing, and stitched it up pronto. The longer I worked on it, the more I liked it. I gave it to DD Emma, who is going to gift it to a special little girl. And if they decide they want to use it as a picnic quilt, then I'm good with that, too.

Because I expect this quilt to take a lot of use and washing, I machine-stitched the binding. I was so glad to be finishing it so promptly. A real feeling of accomplishment!

I hope there is some momentum in here somewhere to keep me going! I have so many loved ones that I would love to gift quilts to. Every year I think I will work really hard to make that happen, and every year I fall short of that goal.

 

To see the flimsy in full, click here. I failed to take a picture of the fully-laid out quilted version on the bed. It was cool to read that post and revisit my thinking on it back then. I remember wondering why on earth I ever wasted my time on it. Ha! And now I'm glad I did!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne
 

Newsflash!! - I Used The Long Arm!

In what appears to be a most monumental hiccup in the universe, I have actually quilted a whole quilt in the last 24 hours. If this doesn't call for some massive celebrating, then I don't know what does!

Yes, I decided to at least clean, oil, change the needle, rethread top and bottom. I then needed to see about fixing the issue I'd been having (all the way to last fall!) - upper thread breakage. 

My guess was that I needed to loosen the tension knob. I did this, and I now have a fully functioning long arm machine. Yay!

Because I knew I might have to do some experimenting with settings, I wanted to use a quilt that really wasn't that special to me. I made this Good Life Tag Sale a couple of years ago, and had sort of earmarked it as a quilt suitable for a picnic blanket. I added a 6" border at the top. I planned to use this for testing the settings. It was a good idea!

I was also glad for that extra border for another reason, too.  Because I was a bit rusty, I needed that bit of practice space for recalling my muscle memory. 

 

Tag Sale is a pattern by Carrie Nelson that I have made previously. Good Life is a fabric line by Bonnie & Camille for Moda. I added random extra fabrics in to have enough for the quilt which is roughly 80" square. This version turned out to be so very busy! I typically like a little more orderliness, so that is why I designated this quilt as a suitable picnic or beach blanket.

I am so happy that I finally have faced this problem (which wasn't as huge as I'd been thinking it was), fixed the machine and finished a quilt! Now I can load on one that I'm super-duper crazy about!  

I will take the quilt out of the machine this weekend, figure out what to use for binding, then finish her up. I am so eager to get many more done!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne