Wishes Quilt Along

A few posts back I listed several quilt alongs that I had found on various blogs, and mentioned that I was considering joining in on one or more of them. Yesterday, I printed off directions for the first block of some of them. Then I sat down and decided potential fabrics/colors/themes for them, if I decided to move forward.

I began with Wishes. It's the QAL offered by Jolly Jabber at Fat Quarter Shop. I decided to use some ancient Fig Tree fabrics that I had in a fat quarter pack.

This line is called A Day in the Country. It's practically vintage by now. I didn't have any plan for the fabric, so this seemed like a workable plan.

I selected these fabrics to  use for the first block. I like the yellow and brown dots, and am going to have to use that piece sparingly. It's the only piece of yellow in the pack.

And, here's my block. It went together very easily, and I am pleased with how it turned out. The block is called Flying Kite.

Feeling pretty good about this!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

A Brunch and More

The 5 Frankfort girls met yesterday for brunch at a local restaurant. It'd been ages since I'd seen these ladies, and it just felt so good to spend a leisurely morning with them. We had so much catching up to do! We planned out our get-togethers through June, and set up some extra sewing days for later this month, plus we had a gift exchange! Yes, still Christmas-ing!! We finished off 2 pots of coffee plus our meals, so we really did enjoy the time together.

 

JoAnn had a block to show us. She'd found all the fabrics on the discount table and was pleased with how well her basket block turned out. She intends to make a total of 5, and the quilt will be for her bedroom. 

 

 

One order of business we had to conduct was getting started on our UFO Challenge. Yes, back in November, we decided we needed the extra encouragement our group would offer to get a few UFOs off the shelves, so we each came with a list of 12 UFOs - one for each month. We drew a number out of a bag (1-12). Number 1 was drawn, so all of us now must finish that item on our lists.

 My item #1: I made the doll quilt known as Pink Lemonade two years ago in the quilt-along that Lori at Humble Quilts sponsored. I enjoy her first-of-the-new-year doll quilt-alongs; they contain lots of little pieces, but it's only a doll quilt, so the tedium never sets in like it would on a larger quilt. You can click here to see the finished top.

Now, according to the rules we set for ourselves, all of us will work this month on the #1 item on our lists with the plan of having them finished by our first get-together in February, at which time we will share our finishes. Sounds like lots of fun to me, and all the items on my list are doable in a 1-month time span.

After leaving the girls, I headed over to Old Town Fabric Shop for some beginning-of-the-year retail therapy. Yes, I did. I bought more Morris Apprentice fabric. If you recall, right before my surgery I was working on Tapestry, and the blocks were finished and laid out on the guest bed. Well, I was dissatisfied with the color distribution. I saw too much gold-brown, and I wanted to see more of the darker, richer colors. I bought a half yard of the 5 fabrics above, and I will replace some of the gold-browns. Click here to see the blocks as they are so far.

Half-yard cuts?? Oh, well, I won't mind having the extra to play with! Pillows to match? Various 9-patches that I love to hand-piece? Who knows?? A quilter willingly adds to her stash, right? *grin*

The other items that found their way into my shopping bag are some So Fine thread - I was running low! And then I saw the Grant Park pre-cuts by Minnick and Simpson! Whoa! If you scroll back up there to my UFO list, you will see "Use Panel-Flag Day Farm" - well, it's a Minnick and Simpson from a gazillion years ago which I loved when I bought, but haven't had a clue as to using it! I think these pre-cuts will be my inspiration for doing a quilt in the 'add-a-row' fashion.

Weather Alert!!! All the news and weather folks seem to be able to talk about is the frigid weather coming our way in the next couple of days. I plan to spend the days working on Tapestry, with the hope of getting the top sewn together, and perhaps, even getting the borders on. It's definitely do-able, but I know how I can waste time, so I'll let you know how I manage at getting this accomplished!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

What? More Mending?

Short and sweet today, Peeps! I'm meeting the Frankfort girls at Bob Evans for brunch! I will have a neat-o project to tell you about; we 5 are doing it together.

In other news, I got the go-ahead from my surgeon to sew! Yippee!

So, the first thing I do?? Mend 2 pairs of DS's shorts. Both were really badly ripped in the seat. (Sorry about the odd-looking color; night shots in dining room lighting.)

Both pairs of shorts are very, very worn and threadbare. And as you can see, I didn't take particular care in selecting my thread color. You know what? DS is a guy who just doesn't care. He will wear anything. He finds used clothes at the thrift shop and pairs the oddest things together, so I know he will have no problem whatsoever with this strange-looking job of mending.

Okay, so the next thing I work on will be a bona fide quilting project! Stay tuned!

Happy Quilting, Friends!
Jayne

Feeling Industrious

I'm feeling industrious, but I know that I still have to take my time. Daggummit. Sitting at a sewing machine or leaning over a cutting table puts too much stress on a newly fused spine, so I have to work back to that gradually. If I do misbehave, (and I have) I feel it in the very low tailbone area. Owie!

Instead, I have been reading blogs and have found in just a very short time, several quilt alongs that are starting this new year. They all look like fun, and the quilts will look spectacular. I wonder if I could keep up if I tried to join in?

Let me tell you about them. Maybe you'd like to join a quilt along. You never know.

1. The Fat Quarter Shop's blog, Jolly Jabber, has a project called Wishes Quilt Along. The blocks will be big at 14" square, and the first one is available on the blog now. A 9-minute video will walk you through all the steps in constructing your first block. It looks like lots of fun, and I'm seriously considering joining in.

2. Monique Dillard at Open Gate Quilts is offering a quilt along called Blogger Girls Block of the Month II. I watched her '13 version, and wished I'd joined in - it was so pretty. This one looks to be just as wonderful. The 13 blocks for her quilt measure 6", and the finished quilt will be 59" square. There are some very pretty setting blocks and sashings that form interesting secondary designs. Also, 5 other bloggers are doing the quilt along with her, and they will each feature their different looks on their blogs. It's so very tempting!

3. Judy at Patchwork Times has a year-long quilt along that she's calling Tell It To The Stars. The directions for the first block are online, now, and it sure is a pretty thing. Blocks for this quilt will be 12" finished. I need to read through her blog a bit more carefully. Somewhere I believe she said she'd list yardage needed, and I have not located that. Regardless, I would love to join her quilt along, too!

4. This next one is from a magazine, but a lot of bloggers are participating. American Patchwork and Quilting magazine is doing a quilt along called Tone it Down. If you get this magazine, it is introduced in the February 2014 issue. Directions are in the magazine, which is currently available. It also gives you a list of all the bloggers who are quilting along, and each one, of course, will feature a uniquely different look.

5. For several years a couple of bloggers have hosted a quilt along called A Year of Schnibbles. The second year and current activity is being called Another Year of Schnibbles. This is a nice quilt along because Schnibbles (patterns by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilts) are small-ish, and you can participate - or not - as you have time. I have made 3 with them. Remember these?? They are all from 2010. I will direct you to Pink Pincushion, where you can read up on the details, if you are interested.

Sunday Best.

Darcy.

Tagalong.

So there are a few of the quilt alongs I've come across in my perusal of various quilting blogs. I am sure there are lots more out there.

This post has been long on words and short on pictures, so I will finish off with 2 cute pet pictures. These are from Christmas morning.

Rocky, DD Erin's cat, was thrilled with the boxes and wrapping left in the aftermath of the morning's festivities. He has personality plus.

Steve is loving all over his new squeaky toy. This lumpy football-shaped toy has been tons of fun, as we have been kicking it all over the house and he's been eagerly chasing and chewing it.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Finishing Up Old Business

That month of December really did a number on me! As you know, I did very little, but I want to tell you about one of the few things I did accomplish. I think you will like this.

Let me take you back to Christmas of 2012. Instead of exchanging gifts, my sister floated the idea of each of us submitting a coupon for a service that the giver would honor at some point in the coming year. Everyone could participate - from the kids to Grandma - and anyone who opted out, well, that was fine, too.

My entry was a coupon for a bag of mending. My DH offered up a day of yard work. DD2 offered free babysitting. So, whatever talent we could offer, that went into the mix. It was lots of fun.

After all the coupons were collected and mixed up in a basket, we each drew a number. There were about 24 or so participating, so whoever had drawn #1 selected the first coupon. Then #2 drew, and could keep what he/she drew or steal the coupon from #1. So we continued drawing all the coupons, stealing along the way, until everyone was satisfied.

My sister-in-law Beth ended up with my mending coupon. She brought her bag of mending to me in September. She took it easy on me! Only 2 pairs of blue jeans - one ripped in the seat, the other ripped around a rear pocket. Also in the bag was a pillow that I had made and given them perhaps 25 years ago! It was threadbare and pulling apart at the seams.

Alas, I didn't think to take a before picture, but have a look at the after.

Back in the 80s, I was more into counted cross stitch than quilting, and I made quite a few of these initial pillows. The original had a navy and white plaid border and back, and lots of ruffles. The center panel is showing minimal wear, with most of the wear in the seams because my brother Alan had been folding it in half and using it for support of his lower back. (A family thing - these lower back issues!) So I removed everything from the center panel, added a new border and backing, and inserted a fresh new pillow form. My daughter said that ruffles were not in style anymore, so I took the easy way out, and just stitched it right up. To give additional support of that center panel, I ironed on a medium weight interfacing. It should survive another 25 years!

In an effort to keep my brother and his lower back happy, I covered the old pillow form with a sturdy cotton, and delivered it back to him.

I returned the bag of mending on Christmas Day, 2013, one year after the coupon was given. I think Beth was happy with the return. Getting 2 pillows out of one is a definite bargain, and I think I did a decent job on those jeans. Hoping they will get some use out of them in the coming year!

We did not repeat the coupon exchange this Christmas, but I think we will do it again on some future Christmas. Giving of oneself is so much more personal and rewarding than just throwing a gift into a bag. Mending is one of my least favorite things, but knowing that I was gifting for Christmas - even 12 months later - made it entirely more palatable!

Has your family ever done something similar to this? I would love to hear about it if you have.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Welcome to 2014!

Happy New Year! Are you glad to send 2013 on its way, and eager to welcome 2014? While I don't have any particular issues with all that 2013 held for me, I do welcome 2014. I relish the notion of new beginnings and starting fresh, and all that.

My recovery continues, and I must admit that I am getting a bit stir crazy. My follow-up appointment with the surgeon will be tomorrow, and I am anxious to ask questions. I do still have some pain, and walking challenges me, even small distances. My stamina is reduced, doggone it! Maybe I am impatient, but I would like to know when I can expect to have a return to normalcy.

As for sewing and quilting, I'm making lists, assessing progress on the '13 goals, and planning, planning, planning. I sure hope that my productivity increases in the new year. I spend too much time dithering over what project to work on next. Duh! Just grab something and get to it!!

I'm seeing some interesting quilt-alongs on various blogs and I would love to join in. Maybe this will be the year that I can keep up. I've also pinned a ga-zillion gorgeous quilts on Pinterest, and oh! how I would love to make a few of them! Too many ideas and too little time, right?

As far as housekeeping here on the blog goes, I need to update the tab above for 2013 Finishes. I will retire the goals for 2013 and insert the ones I've identified for 2014. 

Lots to keep me busy in this brand new year! Let's begin!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

A New Look

I'm playing around with a new look for the new year. I'm sort of a slow learner when doing stuff like this, so I hope you bear with me.

Not only did I have to replay a 4-minute video tutorial about 7 times, I had to decide on a picture to use in the header. Decisions, decisions! Here are a few I considered.

A Great Granny Square from August 2012.

9-Patch Criss-Cross from July 2012.

Jacob's Ladder from October 2012.

 

A you can see, however, I opted for the more recent triangle quilt I worked on at the 2013 Quilt Camp in June. I just love how it turned out, and looking at it again makes me think I might need to see about quilting it!

Well, for the time being, anyway, I've got a new look. Have no fear, though, the content will still be a running commentary of the projects being produced out of my quilting room!

Happy New Year's Eve, Friends!