JoQuilter's Blog

One of my old quilts - Waterwheels

2011-12-30T15:12:00.000-06:00

This quilt was finished in the year 1995. The quilt guild in Dubuque, Iowa, had a color challenge. My color was peach. My first thought when I saw the color written on the little piece of paper was, "I don't have any fabric that's peach!" Guess what? I found 20 plus pieces of fabric on the shelves that were light peach and on into some pretty rusts.

As always, I had no idea where this quilt was going nor what size it would end up. Believe it or not, the guild had put a size limitation on the challenge and I ended up being a couple of inches too long. No, they didn't disqualify me but for a minute, I thought they might!

54" x 63"

This quilt was designed on graph paper, the greens are all one fabric, it's just the peach and rust that is made up of multiple fabrics. This quilt "talked" to me more than most of my quilts. I had marked the quilting in the solid border with a water soluble pen in a completely different design. The next morning the quilt said, "No, I don't like what you have marked on me." So I got out a wet wash cloth and blotted all the lines out, waited for it to dry, and remarked this design.

Center upper left corner.

Center lower right corner.

This quilt was made back in the days when I still did the little hand stitches. Today, it just the Big Stitch for me.

This quilt had been hanging in my dining room but I did some rearranging lately and my fabric cupboard have moved into that spot. I figured it was about time the quilt got washed and while it was still flat with no wrinkles, a good time for a picture.

Shhh! It's a Christmas present so no telling!

2011-12-10T07:43:00.000-06:00

This summer I had a friend in the shop wanting Fossil Fern flannel from Benartex. She wanted it for backing fabrics and since she was taking over half the bolt I special ordered for her. Add to that, the fact that I have a grandson going to a college that has red and gold for their school colors, my mind went to work on what I could make that would be easy and fast.

Then, there is that box of denim that has been in the basement for what seems like forever and was I ever going to use it for something? Seems to me I had the necessary ingredients for that easy and fast quilt I wanted to make.

45" x 81"

This quilt is intended to be put in the trunk of his car and can be used for eating McDonald's in the park or sitting on to watch a band concert on the lawn. It's nothing special, just two pieces of fabric, one flannel 10" square and one denim 9" square sewn together. Then sew the blocks together using only the flannel pieces, press the seam open and sew down. I used the serpentine stick on my sewing machine. I made the 5 long rows first. Then sewed the rows together, pressing and stitching the flannel down as I went.

As I stated earlier, I wanted an easy and fast project. No spending hours here with scissors in hand trying to cut all those seam allowances for a rag quilt. I have better ways to spend my time.

Doll Quilts

2011-11-12T08:04:00.000-06:00

For a few or maybe some years, I have been subscribing to Benartex's Fat Quarterly magazine (club), not sure exactly what it is called but I love it. What they do is send a little 8 page magazine plus 5" squares of one of their new fabric lines that have come out. You get this 4 times a year. I love getting fabric in the mail, always have.

Most of the time I fondle the fabrics for a while and then end up setting them aside. After a while they go into (another) scappy hexagon flower quilt that I have going.

The last set of fabrics I received with my Fat Quarterly magazine were a set of batiks. Now, as a hand quilter, I don't use batiks in my quilts so these got set on the sewing desk in a stack of other things. When I came across them a few days ago I made the decision that they would work for a doll quilt.

22" x 27"

I think it worked out pretty good.

Kona Bay Scrap Bag

2011-11-01T08:01:00.000-05:00

A few months back I bought a Kona Bay scrap bag. I really enjoy buying the unknown. Also, I have come to realize that I like a challenge. (Side note: Some of my best quilts have been fabric challenges from the different guilds I belong to.) When sorting the fabrics in the bag I came across some pieces that were more like drapery fabrics so I set them aside (on my sewing desk, of course) to deal with later, meaning, trying to find somewhere else to put them.

Well, the other day I decided that the best way to deal with them was to make a baby quilt top and donate it to a guild. I had 6 different pieces of varying sizes. Mentally I was thinking of making 12" finished squares out of them and just sew them together. Right! First thing I did was to cut the first one at 12" now making the blocks finish at 11.5". Then, one of the smaller pieces wasn't big enough to cut a 12" square so I cut it at 9". Then I started doing some math and figured this wasn't going to work out well.

In the end I cut large squares and small squares out of what was left, I had the medium squares so I cut strips to make the medium squares large squares. I know, I know, I am so capable of mixing myself up but in the end I had a baby quilt, i.e., a very funky baby quilt.

33" x 39"

I really like flowers (on fabric, please note, I am not a gardener) and these large Hawaiian type prints make me smile. I hope someone will be pleased.

Yes, daughters, I can see you rolling your eyes!

2011 MAQ guild BOM

2011-10-30T06:51:00.000-05:00

I've made the decision to unclutter my life, I have too much "stuff" laying around on my sewing desk. No room left to work! So, I pulled out the box with the Maquoketa guild Block of the Month to see how far behind I was. It looked like two or maybe three months. I had the directions for two of the blocks so I decided to make one block of each to give to the guild. I didn't want to take the time to make a set for myself.

Then I started thinking, did I really want to make this quilt for myself? The answer turned out to be NO. So the decision was made to not make any more of the blocks and to give the guild the other set that I had made for myself. The guild gets 16 blocks total and I have an empty box. Wonderful!

JoQuilter Fabrics BOM

2011-10-24T08:35:00.000-05:00

Let's go back to Sunday, October 3, 2010. That was the post that I showed my JoQuilter Fabrics Block of the Month blocks laid out on the floor. One of the things I worked on this past month was how to make that quilt longer. I had an idea in my mind for a while, but the "box" it was packed into never came up on the rotation. Finally, it did and I put my idea to work.

What I am going to show you today is what I did with the scrappy blocks I used to test the patterns. The BOM was done using Pat Speth (the Nickel Quilts lady) BOM patterns. Since I had never used any of her patterns before, I figured I should "test" each block with scraps before I started in on my real quilt. I did this for 6 months and, by then, figured the lady knew what she was doing.

When I got my quilt done, I used some leftover blocks for a small quilt. Then while digging to the bottom of the box, I found the 6 scrappy blocks. I decided to put them to good use by making a charity baby quilt top.

36" x 44"

This is the result. Nothing special but a finished baby quilt top. I will be giving this to one of the guilds charity groups to finish and give away. I am trying hard to make the decision that I do not have to finish everything I've started. It's a hard concept but I think I will learn.

In a couple of days I hope to have pictures of the BOM quilt and the little quilt from the extras.

Driving in Style

2011-09-18T07:43:00.000-05:00

At the end of July I bought myself a new car. It's the first car I have ever picked out all by myself and was able to buy exactly what I wanted.

Then, with the help of my best friend Lorinda and a company called PrimoWrap in Dubuque, we decorated my new car.

I have gotten loads of great comments from people, including being told my car was "sexy".

Pictures were taken by Joan T. on a fun trip to Galena.

And, yes, the quilts are actual quilts that I have made/own.

Pineapple Chunks

2011-09-13T08:18:00.000-05:00

I have been feeling very overwhelmed lately, so I did what I do best, I started another project!

A couple of months ago I saw an ad for Gyleen Fitzgerald's book, "Trash to Treasure Pineapple quilts". It sounded intriguing and it had a scrappy pineapple block on the front. So I bought the book and the special ruler.

Now you must understand that I already own 10-12 specialty rulers that I have never used, so I am asking myself, "why am I buying another one!"

Then I joined Gyleen's facebook page. Then she said she was having a Pineapple Chunk Challenge.

Here are my first 9 blocks. And it may be the last 9 blocks.

Hexagon Black Diamond Quilt

2011-09-13T07:55:00.000-05:00

For those of you going to the AQS Show in Des Moines, Iowa. Stop by and say "Hi" to my Hexagon quilt. The show opens on Wednesday, September 28 and closes on Saturday, October 1.

Each full diamond is made with 49 scrappy hexagons, all just leftovers from other projects or cut from my stash. The exact number of hexagons are written on the quilt label, as I recall it is in the vicinity of 4,900 and some. When I started this, I didn't think that it would ever get finished, it was just something to work on when I was visiting my mother in the nursing home, or at guild meetings, or waiting at the doctors office. Start to finish, the hand piecing took about 7 years, then it got set aside for a while. The hand quilting took about 10 months. I named the quilt, "Why do people think I'm crazy?" Do you agree?

New Roof

2011-09-13T07:30:00.000-05:00

I was thoroughly entertained for a couple of weeks by watching a new roof being put on the gazebo across the street. They were putting on wooden shingles, that's what had been on it before. And yes, you could see there feet slipping at times as they walked across it. Mostly they were careful.

What I was really looking forward to was watching them put the tin and wooden topper back on.

Then I got distracted for 15 minutes. Next time I looked the topper was on and the guys were packing up to leave.

The tale of the tiger!

2011-08-20T15:06:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time there were two ladies and they both had little boys that were 4 years old. These two ladies met because they were both quilters and became very good friends. During the course of their lives, one of the friends moved away to many and various places but they still remained very good friends and would continue to visit each other almost every year. One year they both needed warm robes for the long cold winters of Iowa and Montana. During one of the visits in Montana they decided that they would make nice warm fleece robes so they went on a visit to JoAnne's.

But . . . they only had one coupon! What to do, what to do?

Being the very smart woman they were, they decided to buy the same fabric and make matching fleece robes. They had so much fun wearing their robes when the went to visit each other and at quilt retreats. With a quick glance at their backs it was hard for people to figure out which was who and who from which! That was fun!

Finally, the robes wore out so on a trip to Iowa in 2010 they bought more fabric to make another set of matching robes. The friend from Montana got hers made and wore it that winter but the friend in Iowa was too busy and her robe fabric sat in a basket under the writing desk, totally neglected until her 2nd daughter took pity and cleaned the dining room table, laid the new fleece out and pinned on the pattern - THEN LEFT IT!

When the lady from Iowa came home from her shopping trip that day, the fabric with the pattern pieces was still on the table so there was nothing to do but the cut the robe out! She then folded it up and put it back in the basket under the writing desk. Where it sat again. Finally, she made a promise that it would be the next item she sewed. And she did!

Did I mention that those little boys are now 32 year old men with wives. Paul and Lindsay have 2 little girls and a new baby boy born in April. Hank and Mandy are expecting their first baby in September.

2011 MAQ guild BOM

2011-08-01T12:14:00.000-05:00

When I looked back at the last post I was so surprised at the date. July 13th seems like so long ago, but then again I wonder what have I accomplished during that time?

Well, I did get two things done. I accomplished my BOM blocks for the Maquoketa, IA, guild. I am turning in two blocks as I did not get the July block done on time. After making those blocks I immediately set out to make the August blocks. I took the pictures and set them aside, thinking I would post them on the blog right away. Guess what? I've already forgotten which were July's blocks and which were for August. Ugh! I guess it doesn't matter anyway, so here they are in no particular order.

I don't remember anything special about the flying geese block. Except for the fact that I cut the red fabric too small the first time round. Where does my brain go some days? Must have been on a mini vacation when I went to cut that fabric.

Now, as for these blocks!

The story goes like this. I decided to see if I could straighten out the drunk! And I will admit it was a challenge. I probably didn't do right by him but I tried, I suppose he will go back to his drinking and wandering around but guess I can't do much about that.

Have a good day! Jo

Purple & Friends

2011-07-13T19:29:00.000-05:00

A finished quilt for you to view. I named it Purple and Friends. Why you ask? Because I couldn't figure out if the second color was pink or coral. No, I am not color blind. Yes, my Grandpa was, in fact they wouldn't let him pick the strawberries because he was always picking all the green ones. Grandma got so mad when he would try to help.

Yes, I do have one son and two grandson that are color blind. No, not in the same family. My understanding is, the women are the carriers but it's the guys that get it.

Back to the quilt. I pieced the quilt approximately 15 years ago. Then it just hung in the closet and got dusty. This must truly be my year to finish up. This is the 3rd quilt in 2011 to get finished from something old.

62" x 85"

close-up of quilting motifs

Tie-Dye Table Runner

2011-07-09T18:51:00.000-05:00

A good friend of mine stopped in the shop a couple of weeks ago and volunteered to make something out of the new fabric that I had gotten for the shop. She took home 3 of the new fabrics and solid black. After making two blocks she decided the black wasn't quite what she wanted.

So, what do you do with two blocks, why of course, you make a table runner. That she did, then brought it to me and I hand quilted it, big stitch style. It was fun using all four colors of thread.

15" x 28"

Doll Quilts

2011-06-29T08:32:00.000-05:00

And another doll quilt! This was made many days (or was it weeks) ago but I just got around to binding it.

22" x 22"

This little quilt was made with leftovers from a few different projects. I'm slowly getting rid of the little pile of little pieces that were sitting on the sewing table. The rest of the little pieces were sewn together but were not big enough for another quilt so they have gone into a "box". I think I am done with doll quilts for the time being.

Doll Quilts

2011-06-12T13:42:00.000-05:00

23" x 23"

Yesterday, I pieced a flannel back for this doll quilt made out of the scraps from Luke's baby quilt. Then I machine quilted and bound it. It seems to have taken me all day to do this. And, evidently wore we out. I am exhausted today!

I now have the center and sashings all quilted on my "Purple & Friends" quilt. I've spent 3 hours playing with different ideas for the borders. Not sure yet what it will be. Two borders are 4" and the other two are 3". That complicated things a little bit. I'm hoping to have a light bulb moment soon!

2011 MAQ guild BOM

2011-06-10T17:23:00.000-05:00

I only have one block to show you this time, it's mine. Why? Well, it's applique and since I don't like applique all that well, I put it off until the last minute. So Monday (6/6) I was only able to finish the block to give the guild. Then I didn't have time to take a picture of it, but it was just like mine only with the tan/beige background. I think they came out pretty good, even if I do say so myself. And no, I will never become an applique person.

MAQ Guild Library Book Challenge

2011-06-09T17:08:00.000-05:00

It's pieced! On Sunday evening, May 29th, I laid the blocks on the floor, then rearranged a few and walked away. On Monday, I started sewing the blocks into rows and the rows into double rows, then the double rows together, finally finishing it on Wednesday, June 1st.

Next I cut, washed, and sewed the backing together. It's a green leafy print. Then I finally figured out that my backing was not going to be long enough! Oh, what to do, what to do! I ended up piecing some of the 6" squares into a row, opening up the seam and inserting the row of squares. On Sunday I sent it off to a long-armer to be basted. I guess that means it will be the next quilt on my list to get hand quilted.

I'm pleased with the quilt. I love the way the black motifs stand out but more than that I like the way the softer colored motifs slowly make themselves known. It was a fun challenge.

Oh, and before you say anything I will tell you that the picture was taken before I did all the sewing an yes, I did catch the blocks that were turned the wrong way.

Have a good day! Jo

Blocks to Raffle

2011-05-20T16:30:00.000-05:00

Oh please, don't ask me why I do what I do, I just do. Yes, I bought a $1 worth (5) 5" squares of yellow fabric at the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild (Quad Cities) meeting last month. I guess the reason is that I love yellow and could not resist. You were able to add anything you wanted to make the blocks into 9 patches with yellow centers. I added scrappy, with the four corners light and the four inside squares darker. By doing this, if the winner wants to recut the blocks into 4 pieces, the rectangles would be the darker fabrics. Will I actually put my name into the drawing? Not sure!

Mostly I have been quilting.

Luke, Hexagon Doll Quilt & Scrappy Hex Flowers

2011-05-07T15:16:00.000-05:00

I just have to show you another picture of the newest grandson, Luke. I love this picture.

Just hangin' round.

This is the hexagon doll quilt I gave to the Margaret P., doll quilt chair of the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild. She was teasing me and said to the whole guild that maybe "Jo, would make a hexagon doll quilt" for them. Well, if it were anybody but her I probably would have said no, but I just had to make one and surprise her. As I recall, the quilt is approx 24" x 29". I used the 1" hexagon papers.

These are the next 7 scrappy hexagon flowers to go on my

Scrappy Hexagon Quilt.

I am also back to hand quilting a top from 15 years ago. It's approximately twin size so it will take a bit of time.

Have a good day. Jo

MAQ Guild Library Book Challenge

2011-05-02T15:19:00.000-05:00

As with most guilds, the Maquoketa guild library was not being used very much so we decided to have a library book challenge. All members were to take home a library book and make something inspired by the book. You can read all about my inspiration on the Blog Post titled "Need Help" on April 3rd.

Here is the quilt so far, this is the first 2 rows out of 4. The basic block is 8"s, four together makes a 16" block. I decided to incorporate the borders as I go (8"s each side). It was a good decision and leaves the quilt with a finished feel already. The width of the quilt is 64" the length will be 80" when finished.

This is a picture of the lower left corner.

2011 MAQ guild BOM

2011-04-29T08:50:00.000-05:00

This is the April blocks for the Maquoketa guild BOM. The one on the left is for my quilt, the one on the right will be given to the guild.

Baby Boy Fifield

2011-04-22T09:41:00.000-05:00

Baby Boy Fifield arrived yesterday at 5:06 AM (California time). He weighted in at 8 lbs. 5 ozs. Mom and Dad are doing fine, still a little tired from pulling an "all nighter". He is named

Luke Joseph.

Since he now has a name, I can show the quilt. No, it really isn't that pink. I am not a photographer and really don't want to be and it shows, badly. Please take the time to notice how well the stripes are aligned both up and down.

The quilting was Big Stitched in blue for hearts to represent kisses from Grandma. And green for the X's to represent the hugs.

It was sent a little over a week and a half ago and both his sisters tried it out to make sure it would work. I got the word from Mom that they both approved.

Proud Papa Paul and Baby Luke

Box Number 3

2011-04-10T12:41:00.000-05:00

Finally, my Box Number 3 quilt is all pieced. Also, I have the backing made and the binding strips cut. All three are now residing on a hanger in the closet. When will it get quilted? No clue, but it's ready for basting whenever. Did I make any mistakes when sewing the blocks together, of course, The blocks in the thrid row got confused and I did not discover it until after the center was all pieced. No, I did not unsew and make it right, that would have been too much work. The finished size is 63" x 88". Not bad for starting out with (24) 6" squares.

The little blue strip along the side edges is a 1/4" flippy I used in place of a 2nd side border. I didnlt want it any wider, just longer. Below is the doll quilt I made out of the leftovers. It is a 22" square.

Doll Quilts

2011-04-04T07:41:00.000-05:00

Can you believe this doll quilt took me approx 7 hours to make? And I didn't even make the blocks, they were given too me. The quilt is approx 24" square. The blocks were 6" and not all the exactly the same size. I decided it would be easiest to frame each block then square them up to 8".

I machine quilted and machine bound but it still took me, what I would consider, a long time. Yes, I do sew slow but ........

I guess that's why I like making big quilts that you know will take forever. I always think you can make something little in an hour or two and I never can, it always takes a day.

Need Help

2011-04-03T11:52:00.000-05:00

Will it work?

The story regarding this block is the fact that I am trying to do two things in the same quilt. 1). I am using my 6" squares from the 2010 Maquoketa guild exchange, by cutting them into 2.5" squares. Then I am using them as my leaders and enders as I sew whatever else. 2). The first of the year, all guild members were told to take home a book from the library and make something out of it. The something is due at the July meeting.

The book I took home was Create a Quilt by Joyce Mori. I looked and looked through the book but could not find anything. Then I decided, since I am 72 years old, I would look on page 72 and see what was there. Well, nothing took my fancy on that page but on the opposite page was a quilt named Puzzle Pieces. It inspired me.

When the blocks are put together there will be black units like the lavender one. I think what is wrong with the block is that the lavendar does not show up enough. I think I should have used a solid color rather than a tone-on-tone. Each block will have a different color in the center.

My question is this: If I quilt the lavender in black thread at 1/4 " and cross hatch the scrap squares, will the design show up enough? Remember, this is not a "show" quilt. Just a fun quilt. But I can take the time to unsew and put in a solid if the quilt demands it. Let me know what you think!

2011 MAQ guild BOM

2011-04-02T21:35:00.000-05:00

The next meeting of the Maquoketa Town & Country Quilters is Monday night. Do I have my Block-of-the-Month blocks done? Yes! I actually got them done earlier in the week.

I am pretty much following the fabric colors in the magazine (see block on left), but when I was making the block for the guild I just happened to have four 4.5" squares of blue cut and laying there so I decided to use them. Now I like their block better than mine!

Box Number 2

2011-03-27T22:39:00.000-05:00

The quilt top I showed you on December 20th, was finally sent off to be basted the end of January and was returned to me on February 2nd. The quilt is 53" x 79". Of course I started quilting it immediately. I had the quilting done by March 3rd, it took me another 10 days to get it bound, a label made and sewn on. I named the quilt, "Did I Buy This Fabric?"

Yes, I really did buy the fabric. Way back when I started quilting I bought a couple preprint designs. I thought I could "cheat" and made quilt tops faster with them. All I wanted was to rush through the piecing so I could get to the hand quilting stage.

But I have to admit that trying to figure out what to do with this fabric so I could make it into a usable quilt was a lot of fun.

Each log cabin block has two (square) rings of quilting one red, one green. The applique hearts are quilted around the outside of each in green. The sashing is quarter inch quilted in beige. As always, I now "Big Stitch" hand quilt with size 12, Presencia perle cotton. Your can check out my website for a thread color chart.

Hope you have enjoyed!

Box Number 1

2011-03-25T15:33:00.000-05:00

In my blog of April 8, 2010, I said I wanted something to piece so I found a pink plastic shoe box filled with 5" squares. Some of which had been made into 4-patch units. After getting them all pieced into 4-patches and into a quilt that would just fit my half of the king size bed, I took them to my local long-armer to baste for me. When I got it back I decided to quilt it with diagonal rows in two colors of thread.

On January 30, 2011, I declared the quilt DONE!

The label was even on.

40" x 84"

Close-up of the "Big Stitch" hand quiltling.

Next up will be pictures of my Box Number 2 quilt. It's all done, too.

My Box Number 3 quilt is still in the piecing stage but I do have the center pieced. It is waiting for border inspiration.

The baby quilt for Baby Boy Fifield is just waiting for me to bind it.

Box Number 4 is at the long-armer waiting to get basted. That quilt story I will tell you another day. Jo

Family Visit

2011-03-08T11:16:00.000-06:00

In mid-February, our youngest son, Paul, his wife and two little girls (ages 4 & 2) came for a visit. While here the little girls wanted to "play with some fabric". I let them pick some fat quarters. They were opened up and laid on the floor for stepping stone, room dividers, etc. Toward the end of their visit, I had Haley (the 4 year old) pick out eight (8) and put then into pairs of two (2), which I made into (6") 9-patch blocks. After they left I made a doll quilt for each of the girls.

These will get shipped out to the girls today.

While I was working on the quilts, I had a customer ask me if I was planning to sign the quilts. Answer, "no, they're just doll quilts." She gave me this look! So in the end, I grabbed a permanent pen and signed the name the girls call me.

The next picture if the newest one that Paul took while in Bellevue. It's of Potter's Mill from the creek bridge on the south edge of town. Yes, it was a very gray day!

2011 MAQ guild BOM

2011-03-06T12:14:00.000-06:00

Not much to say except I do have my blocks done for the meeting on Monday night (March 7).

One block is for myself, the other block goes to the guild.

I can't say this has ever been one of my favorite blocks. Somehow I don't like the corner squares. If I ever have the unfortunate opportunity to make this block again, I will definitely do something different.

What? Not sure!

But I have just given myself a creative idea. Why not make each block a 2nd time and see if I can make it better than the original! I have never liked big quilts made with only 12 blocks, large sashing and huge borders. It would be easier if I had 24 blocks to put together into a quilt! Mmmm, now that's a possibility.

New fabric

2011-02-10T10:22:00.000-06:00

I received new fabric yesterday. Today, I am going to tease you with just one of the group.

It's so soft and pretty. Mmm!

It's a Westex Fabrics from Japan.

Pizza Box Exchange

2011-02-09T10:26:00.000-06:00

The Town & Country Quilters, one of the guilds I belong to, had a pizza box exchange in 2010. Of course I had to join in. Rule were pretty simple, you added fabrics to a pizza box with your name on it, decided on a block you wanted to make for everyone and made your block. At each meeting we passed the boxes on to someone else.

We did not include the block we had made, that's why it was so much fun at the guild meeting on Monday night, to see all of the blocks unveiled. Today, I am showing you the blocks I made. When I get the blocks that were given to me photographed, I will post them. I hope you enjoy.

Snow @#!%

2011-02-04T10:23:00.000-06:00

Snow, wonderful snow!!! Is there a song that goes like that?

Here is a picture (taken from the back door) of our cars after Tuesday night's blizzard that hit Iowa. Yes, looking straight head is my car. The only thing visible is the driver's rear veiw mirror. On the right is Andra's car. Behind the cars is snow, snow and more snow until you get to the alley.

On Wednesday afternoon, Jordan (grandson) and I shoveled the cars out. We were very tired at that point so we took a break. Today I shoveled the rest of the snow from behind my car. Andra and Jordan will have to shovel their own car out. With luck, I will be able to get to the grocery store for a few more supplies (necessities you know, like toilet paper and bread). I measured and the snow behind the cars was 16" deep and I had to shovel out about 20 feet. I guess I have gotten my exercise for the day. The worst part was where to put it all. Since the building to the south of us is not occupied, we made the decision to throw most of the snow over to them.

2011 MAQ guild BOM

2011-01-31T06:56:00.000-06:00

First, I must report to you that I have finished piecing the baby quilt for my newest grandson-to-be. Sorry, no picture because I don't want his parents to see it yet. They have to wait until it is done.

I will add that when I have no hand quilting projects going on, I can really get a lot more done at the sewing machine. I don't think I have ever put a quilt together in three days, before. Yeah, I know it was just a small quilt (36" x 48"), but still, three days is pretty good for someone that can't sit behind a machine for more that 30 minutes without getting distracted.

The Town & Country Quilters Guild, Maquoketa IA, is having a Block of the Month this year. We are a NQA Chapter and are using the NQA 2010 Block of the Month from the Quilting Quarterly. The plan is to make one block for yourself and one block to give to the guild for their charity quilt project. I decided the easiest thing to do was to make two blocks exactly alike, some days I just don't want to think too much, and since my favorite fabric is Fossil Fern from Benartex, that's the fabric I choose.

The guild has requested all their blocks have a cream color background, so the block on the left is for the guild, the block on the right is mine. I am following the color suggestion in the magazine which is burgundy, dark blue, medium blue, and dark green with white and tan for the background. I decided that Fossil Fern Golden Beige would have to work for both the cream that the guild wants and the tan that the pattern wants. Every quilters has to change something to make the quilt their own, right!

I still haven't gotten my Box 2 quilt from the long-armer, where it is getting basted, so I still have no hand projects except for my hexagons. Guess I will be getting a lot of piecing done on the Box 3 quilt this week.

Box Number 3

2011-01-28T11:33:00.000-06:00

Finally, I found the time to get the sashing and cornerstones cut and get the blocks laid out. They are sitting beside the machine just waiting for me to get sewing. I have them stacked in rows going across the quilt but I may change my mind and add the sashing to two (2) sides of the blocks and then sew them together, if I do that method I think I want to sew them in long rows down the length of the quilt. Decisions!

So what else have I been up too? Well, I cut and washed the fabric for my newest grandson's quilt, he will be joining us in April. I won't put any pictures up for a while. I'm going to keep it a surprise for the parents since they always keep the name of the baby a surprise until they are born.

I almost have the binding turned on my MY SIDE OF THE BED quilt (Box 1). I should get that finished today. I have desk work to do so that may be just about all I get done unless I ignore the desk, and I just may do that. I feel more in the mood to sew.

Here's hoping you get to spend the day at your sewing machine.

Blocks to Raffle

2011-01-17T13:09:00.000-06:00

Don't ask me why I did it, I just did!

I bought five (5) Blocks to Raffle at the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild meeting in January (due at the February meeting). Smarty me, decided that I would get them made up early. We were given (2) 3.5" green squares and (2) 3.5" gold squares. All I needed to do was provide (2) 6.5" squares for each packet. Really simple, right!

Well, I sewed the green and gold together and put them into four patches, all 5 sets. Then I got out my scrap box of 6.5" squares and found four sets of red, then headed to the fabric cupboard to find one more and cut the squares necessary.

Oh, I was just rolling along.

Then, when I put a four patch next to the 6.5" red square I found out I had a problem. A Big Problem!!! They were not the same size. Out came the thread ripper and what should have been a 1/2 day project turned in to a 2 day project.

Actually I do like the blocks but I am hoping I do NOT win any of them. I have seen enough of those blocks.

Box Number 3

2011-01-12T15:27:00.000-06:00

Where does the time go?

I looked back and it was January 5th when I showed you the picture of the 10 brown blocks from Box Number 3. Then, I said that maybe I would have a picture to show you of the 10 blue blocks the next day! So if you take 12 minus 5, the answer is 7, so where did the 7 days go?

I did get some quilting done on my Box Number 1 quilt. In fact, I had better get another quilt basted or I will have to go thru "quilt withdrawal" when I finish this one. And quilt withdrawal is very painful. So guess I should figure out what quilt is next, Box Number 2 or one of the other quilts hanging in the closet.

Decisions, decisions, everywhere you look there is another decision to be made. But it's fun, isn't it!

Just arrived!

2011-01-07T16:50:00.000-06:00

Years and years ago, the first quilt I ever saw using the Stack & Whack method was made with rooster pillow panel fabric. It was just wonderful. Well, when I saw these new roosters from Quilting Treasurers, I thought of that old quilt and decided these fellows would make great stack and whack blocks.

And here are three tone-on-tone coordinates.

Box Number 3

2011-01-05T17:19:00.000-06:00

So far, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week have been so busy that I have not gotten anything done at the sewing machine, nor sitting in my rocker and quilting. I am beginning to have withdrawal symptons. (Like I'm getting really grouchy!) But I did accomplish some on the Box 3 quilt over the weekend. The 10 brown 6" squares each have been incorporated into blocks. Tomorrow (with luck) I will start sewing on the blue squares in the lower left corner of the sewing table. With my table so crowded, I sometimes wonder how I get anything accomplished.

Here are the 10 finished blocks laid out on the floor.

Box Number 3

2010-12-31T23:00:00.000-06:00

I have been feeling really good about making a quilt out of the fabrics in box number 2, getting the binding made and the backing fabric picked out and washed, and hanging all of them on a hanger waiting to go to a longarm quilter for basting.

With that machine work done I went back to hand quilting on my 4 patch quilt from box number 1. That quilt is now over half quilted.

Since I am on such a roll I decided to see what else I could find in the basement. This time I came up with a box that contained twenty-two 6" squares from the Lasting Beauty Collection of fabrics by Classic Cottons. A few years back I sent some money in and, as I recall, about every three months I was send a packet from Classic Cottons that contained 6" fabric swatches from one of their new collections, plus a pattern for turning the blocks into a quilt. Well, their pattern made a quilt 37 x 41 inches. That would be way too small a quilt for me to make so I played on my EQ6 and came up with a design that would finish at 58 x 81 inches. Much more my size! I had also pulled 4 fabrics to use in the blocks.

It will be interesting to see how closely I follow my own design or if I end up making changes.

Scraps From Under the Cutting Table - And Now They Are Neat

2010-12-28T07:20:00.000-06:00

All done! Note the empty basket.

I think I stated before that I like squares much better than strips so most of the fabric was cut into squares of various sizes. I did cut some short strips (approx. 7") that I use to make 9-patch blocks. And I cut some long strips because someday I am going to make another strip pieced quilt.

The odd scraps in the lower left corner will be made into hexagons and will go into a shoe box with other basted hexagons that will (someday) be turned into another scrappy hex quilt.

The rest of the day was spent quilting and starting a new project from a box in the basement.

Scraps From Under the Cutting Table

2010-12-27T07:31:00.000-06:00

The last thing that anyone who knows me can call me, is organized. But I keep trying to keep chaos under control. To this end, I keep a small basket under my cutting table to keep project leftovers in, you know, the pieces too small to go back into my fabric cupboards.

That little basket has been full to over flowing for a few months, so yesterday I decided to dump it and begin cutting. Please note: this is not one of my favorite things to do. I get bored with it and being the old lady that I am, my knees start to ache from standing. But start I did. No, I didn't get very far but I left it on the cutting table so I will get back to it today. I spent most of yesterday avoiding it by quilting a bit and working on the computer. Well, yes, I did do a lot of eating, also, especially the leftover Christmas cookies.

Old Projects

2010-12-20T07:57:00.000-06:00

One box from the basement totally empty. Do I feel good or what! Yesterday I finished up the doll quilt and have it nicely folded and tucked away for next Christmas season. It is a 24" square with flannel on the back.

Yes, you that know me well know that I do not like applique very much but I used the Quiltsmart preprint interfacing for the hearts. On the doll quilt, I machine sewed them on with a small zigzag. That's the way the Quiltsmart people do it and it worked really well, plus I even like the look. I had better watch out or I may end up liking applique after all.

And here is a picture of the finished quilt top. It is 53" x 79". I will probably take it to a long-armer to machine baste for me, then I will set it aside until that "someday" when I have time to quilt it.

Don's ask me why but I just had to put a flower in the lower right corner. It will get a button in it's center after it's quilted.

2010-12-13T17:01:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I wonder just what kind of a quilter I am? If anyone out there has a clue, let me know.

I am having so much fun with my latest project. I was getting bored with making the log cabin blocks out of the shop fabrics that are on sale, so I sat that project aside and went to the basement to find something new to work on.

What I brought upstairs was a plastic container with 2 yards of a dark (blue) green fabric. A couple of hunks of red with spriggy leaves and some fabric that was red and green preprint log cabin blocks. The log cabin fabric had been cut into 17 squares matching the design with each square having 4 log cabin blocks. Each equaled 11 inches square. Well, I would like to say they were square but they were lopsided, of course, just like any preprinted fabric, it had been stretched funny in the printing.

I should have taken a picture at this point but I didn't.

Now, I will let the pictures I did take, speak for themselves.

But it wasn't long enough! I had a strip of blocks that had been next to the salvage. So new top and bottom borders were born!

Next came the applique, something needed to be put on those BIG RED SQUARES! I'm working on that part right now. Besides the hearts in the blocks I am going to add them in the corners of the quilt. Something to help fill up the corners.

And here is what the log cabin blocks look like close up. It really makes you wonder when and why I bought this fabric. It must have been years ago, my taste in fabric has changed.

So that brings me back to the question of what kind of a quilter am I?

I have had so much fun making something out of a little bit of nothing. Like seeing if I can make a "silk purse out of a sow's ear". No, the quilt definitely is not any kind of silk purse/show winner, but it has been a fun journey to make something that is sorta' pretty and very useful.

View from my window.

2010-12-12T08:24:00.000-06:00

This was my view, out the front window of the shop, of the snow we received yesterday (12/11/2010). We had big, beautiful snowflakes in the afternoon.

It is so much fun to sit by the front window of the shop and sew when it is snowing out! More later on the quilt I was working on.

Please note: This is not a black and white picture. It was really that gray outside!

2010-12-11T10:53:00.000-06:00

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good night!
It's up to you to pick the response that best suits the occasion!

I'm in a happy mood. Buying new fabric seems to do that to me.

I got a good deal so I am passing it on to you.

The following fabrics should be arriving in approximately a week to 10 days,

and they will be priced at $6.99 per yard.

I'm having fun thinking about how I can use these fabrics. As the main fabric and/or borders for a new quilt. Or as the inspiration to pull colors for a new scrap quilt.

Or, to use as the backing for one of my pieced tops.

Put your mind to work and I bet you can figure out a good use for them, too.

Another quilt done! Title: Hearts Together

2010-11-25T15:34:00.000-06:00

It's done! Yes, it took way longer than it should. All quilts seem to do that for me. I guess I just have too many other things I want or need to do.

Since the front of the quilt was so plain I decided to jazz it up with an interesting print on the back.

Yes, the quilting is all done big stitch.

Stencils

2010-11-23T13:41:00.000-06:00

I ordered some new quilting stencils.

This is "Simple Flower" Circa 1850. It fits an 8 inches block.

Price is $3.35

Next is "Sunwheel" it comes in both 7" and 9". I can't wait to quilt this design. In fact, I have just redesigned the scrap log cabin blocks quilt I am making. I think now I will made every other block a solid one and use this design for quilting in the plain blocks.

Price is $3.00 and $3.75.

My next big hexagon quilt.

2010-11-13T16:22:00.000-06:00

I have to tell you, when I got done with my Grandmother's Flower Garden hexagon quilt I was at a loss as to what project to have in my traveling hexagon box. Not to mention, what project to work on at home in the evenings watching TV. Well, after a couple of days of sitting around twiddling my thumbs, I decided to dig out an old project and make it work.

What I found, while digging around, were 17 diamond shapes that I had made sometime between the years 1997 and 2002. Each diamond has three small flowers with a solid yellow center. The center flower is surrounded with a white print and a neutral finishes off the diamond. Next question to ask myself was, do I have any of the white fabric? I thought I had but, where! Good news, I found the white, almost a whole bolt of it. Considering it was bought before I opened the shop I have wondered where I got it.

While looking for the diamonds I found a cigar box with precut squares in groups of six for the flowers. It's nice to have a head start with the flowers. Then I started wondering if I still had the soft yellow for the centers. The first thing I found was a small piece that would cut about 100 squares. Not enought! Last night I just happened to glance in the fabric stash cupboards and guess what I saw, yup, a great big hunk of the yellow. One more ingredient ready to go.

Then it was on to the neutrals. My original plan was to have each hexagon using a different neutral. This must have been on my mind when I've gone shop hopping with friends. I found a bunch of fat quarters in the cupboard, also. Add to that a group of 2-1/2" strips of neutrals from Blank Quilting and the 2-1/2" strips that I received in an exchange with the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild, that will give me a very good start. In fact, I think I will have enough

So now we come to the design. My original idea was to lay them next to each other. I laid out the 17 finished blocks and said, "No, I didn't like that." Then I laid them out another way, I didn't like that either.

Then I thouht about laying them out and putting a new diamond between them. That appealed to me so I went into my EQ7 and came up with the new idea.

I like this a lot. The new diamonds will have only two flowers but I will be adding three green leaves. The green will be all the same fabric. The neutral border will be made scrappy using all of the neutrals. This will be a combination of planned and scrappy. Always my favorite.

This is 1/4 of the quilt. I was too lazy to color a whole quilt!

Shade Cascade quilt

2010-11-06T22:29:00.000-05:00

I decided to show you my current quilting project.

Shade Cascade was a collection from Blank Quiting. I loved it and sold a bunch in the shop. It consisted of four shades of a one color on each bolt. Finally, Blank Quilting told me they were out of the fabric and would not be reprinting it any more. With only a few bolts left, I decided to see what I could come up with using the end of brown bolt. I ended up with a rail fence block. I used the lightest and darkest shades for the outside rails. I used the light-medium shade for the centers of half the blocks and the dark-medium for the other half of the blocks. Then, when I laid them out all the horizontal blocks had the lighter fabric centers and the vertical blocks had the darker fabric centers. What I like best is the larger area in the center of the block for some nice quilting.

A closer look.

Please note: The blue that is showing is the blue water soluable pen I used for marking. It will soon be washed out.

And, of course, I hand quilted it using the "Big Stitch" and Presencia's Size 12 Perle Cotton.

Since I did not have enough of the fabric to make the quilt as long as I wanted. I added a 2nd & 3rd border to the top and bottom. (The white is batting since I have not finished the quilting yet.)

My large hexagon quilt #2

2010-10-31T07:29:00.000-05:00

I DID IT!

Yes, my second large hexagon quilt is now completely pieced. Also, I will add, the quilt has been nicely folded and put away in a box awaiting the year 2012 when (hopefully) it will be brought out and quilted.

For those who might be wondering about how long it took me, I think it was started in the year 2005. It is made with the 1" hexagon, using approx 3,564 of them.

Since it is so big, it was very hard trying to figure out where to photograph it. Finally, I just laid it on the bed.

Corner view

End of bed view (our bedroom is very small. This was as far back as I could get. :-)

Close-up.

When I think of a traditional Grandmothers Flower Garden quilt I usually think of each flower surrounded in white. So you ask, why didn't I put my flowers totally surrounded in white? Because I figured that was just too many white hexagons to baste. I think I got by with a lot less. Then again, maybe I didn't. What do you think?

The travels of a JoQuilter Fabrics bag.

2010-10-30T06:35:00.000-05:00

Wow! This time my "shop bag" has gone to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. Wow! What a view.

Another hexagon quilt visits the shop

2010-10-25T06:59:00.000-05:00

Barb B. brought her hexagon quilt in for me to see. The quote is, "Bloom where you're trans planted." I think Barb quoted that her family has lived in 29 cities, that includes the cities where their daughters have lived. And to think that I thought the 9 places Fred & I have lived was a lot!

A close up of the flowers.

Note, the leaves on each flower are dimensional and loose (only attached on one side).

Way to go, Barb.

The mural is done.

2010-10-08T08:01:00.000-05:00

The mural in the shop entry is done. I love it! And it is definitely getting attention.

I had a husband tell me he noticed the mural and stopped so his wife could shop.

How about these details!

I just love my entry mural. You have to admit that the artist, Barb from The Cellar Urchin shop, did a great job! I love being unique and my entry is now different that any other shop in town. Have a great day!

Block of the Month

2010-10-03T23:01:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has been so long since my last conversation with you. Tonight we are going to focus on the Block of the Month for JoQuilter Fabrics. I believe my last update was to show you blocks 8 thru 11. I did get block 12 done but I did not take a picture of it alone. You will find it in row 2, second from the left. Notice the half blocks in each row. I loved making those. Someday I am going to make a whole quilt of those blocks (a four-patch in a square in a square setting), they are so much fun!

This is not the final arrangement for the quilt. I will try to get a picture taken and get it posted in a few days. In the meantime, stop back and see the final pictures on the mural. Take care, and have a good day!

BOM blocks 9 to 11

2010-09-19T09:40:00.000-05:00

Yes, I did get a little more sewing done on my Block of the Month. My goal is two a day but that hardly ever happens. Now you must remember, you will be picking the colors for your blocks. Or, I suppose, you can use the colors that I have used but my guess is you will enjoy picking your own colors. Have a good day!

Block 9

Block 10

Block 11

My Mural

2010-09-18T10:31:00.000-05:00

Barb (owner of the Cellar Urchin) was able to work on the mural for a little bit on Wednesday morning before she opened her shop. And again, last night (Thursday) after she closed her shop.

End of day three.

Close up of quilt back and stitching.

See, even my painted quilts get "big stictched".

End of day four.

My mural

2010-09-15T10:03:00.000-05:00

Last year I had out of town people telling me they had a hard time finding my shop. I guess my hanging sign wasn't noticeable enough! So, what to do?

Some have told me to paint quilt blocks on my pillars. Well, when I found out I had textured limestone pillars under all that stucco, I made the decision that I was not going to paint the pillars but I would start picking off the stucco as it became loose. That's why my pillars look so weird, but someday the old pillars will be exposed again. You have to remember that this building was build sometime in the mid 1850's.

So, back to the problem of how to make the shop more noticeable. In the spring, Barb at the Cellar Urchin, the shop on the corner, was telling how she was going to the Sioux City area to paint a mural for a friend. Light bulb time! My funny entry would be a perfect spot for a mural! After much chatter it was decided to make it a go. Following is the work as it progresses.

End of day one.

End of day two. How fun is this!

Keep watching for the final product!

New Fabrics

2010-09-07T08:08:00.000-05:00

I received two new fabrics last week that I am excited about.

This is Isadora from Blank Quilting #5924 Wine.

This is Paloma from Blank Quilting #5954 Multi

Go to Blank Quilting's website at http://www.blankquilting.com/ and check out the free patterns that go with these fabrics.

BOM blocks 3 to 8

2010-09-06T21:36:00.000-05:00

Why is it that you think you should be able to whip up 6 blocks in an afternoon, only to find that it takes you over a week? I guess I should quit complaining, at least I got 6 more done, that's better than nothing "they" say. So, here are the pictures. Quite eclectic if I do say so myself. It's so much more fun to work on that way! And remember you get to pick the colors for your blocks. Especially if you decide you don't like the colors I have used.

Block Three

Block Four

Block Five

Block Six

Block Seven

Block Eight

BOM blocks 1 & 2

2010-08-29T09:29:00.000-05:00

It seems like it has taken me forever but I have finally gotten to my new block of the month quilt. It is based on Pat Speth's (of Nickel Quilts fame) new Color Me Happy, Block of the Month. The fabric willl be the Fossil Fern Charm Squares from Benartex. See what you think of blocks 1 & 2. But first, you must remember that I am NO photographer, but you get the idea.

I have a lot of Pat Speth's books but have never tried her method until now. I must say she has it figured out very well. Especially when I use my new Bloc-Loc ruler (yes, you can buy them here in the shop) for trimming down the half-square triangles. What a breeze!

Come back soon and see the next block(s). Have a fun day! Jo

Day Dreams Collection

2010-08-28T07:45:00.000-05:00

Yeah! I finally got to do some sewing again. This time I was making a very simple block using (36) 3" squares. Since the fabric is directional I did have to pay some attention to the way I sewed the squares together.

16 Blocks

Now that I have the center done, I need to set it aside and get back to my quilting.

August 15, 2010

2010-08-15T19:12:00.000-05:00

Here are the new fabrics that will be coming from Benartex this week. The collection name is Abbey Road. I'm wondering how the print fabrics will work made up as a Four Patch Posey block.

2010-08-11T16:15:00.000-05:00

I love it when my customers bring there finished hexagon quilts in for me to see. This is using the 1" hexagons in patriot colors.

This next hexagon quilt is still "in progress". Can you believe it is using the 1/4" hexagons. No, she hasn't decided yet how big it will get, we shall have to wait and see on that.

July 19, 2010

2010-07-19T07:31:00.001-05:00

As you can see, I (the JoQuilter bag) went on a vacation in June with Lorinda but Jo has been so busy that she was unable to get the pictures posted sooner. Anyway, we traveled to state parks in Montana and North Dakota, visited an open pit mine in Minnesota, then traveled on to Duluth MN and finally our destination, a beautiful resort in Trego WI for Lorinda's family reunion. What fun we had.

The travels of a JoQuilter Fabrics bag.

2010-06-06T22:13:00.000-05:00

First, I got to go to the AQS Show in Paducah KY. What fun we had!

Then I traveled to the Green Country Quilters Guild Show in Tulsa OK. Where to you suppose I will get to go next?

New Ruler

2010-05-27T20:31:00.000-05:00

This was my great find at Spring 2010 Quilt Market in Minneapolis. This ruler has a "channel" that locks onto the seam allowance. No turntable or repositioning required. It totally eliminates ruler rock. As the advertising states, "Perfect Results Every Time!!!"

I never did like squareing up my half-square triangles. I found it easier to cut them at ?? and 7/8", sew and press. Were they always the correct size? No, but just as close as I could get using a "rocking ruler". I love these rulers. I have them on order, I will announce when they arrive in the shop.

Doll Quilts

2010-05-07T21:46:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has been 9 days since I added to the blog. I guess I have been busy! I have gotten a little quilting time in and have been big stitch hand quilting on last year Block of the Month quilt. I am working on block three. Maybe I will take some pictures of the three finished blocks and post them soon.

This is doll quilt #4 for this year. It was actually made as a doll quilt a few years back. I just didn't get it finished. But this is the year to "get 'em done".
Please note the bottom row of blocks on this quilt. No, the mistake was not intentional. I'n not sure what I did wrong, but since the border was on, I decided to just let it be. The quilt is approx 23" x 27".

I've pulled 4 bolts of fabric from the shop for a new quilt but since I have so many things going on I am trying hard not to cut into it. So who will be the winner, my "will power saying, no" or my "desire to start something new"? Your guess is as good as mine at this point.

Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23, will be the 2nd Annual Art & Culture Tour on the Grant Wood Scenic Byway, Hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. I am one of the listed stops so if you are in Bellevue either day, please stop in.

Doll quilts

2010-04-27T07:16:00.001-05:00

I found 4 extra blocks and put together another doll quilt (16" square). This seems to be the best way to rid myself of clutter. I am hoping some little girl will enjoy it for her teddy bear even though it is kind of funky. I has a pretty flannel on the back and she can always turn it over.

Fossil Fern Scrap 4-Patch (36" square)

2010-04-19T22:19:00.000-05:00

It's done. I have given it a new name. I now call it, "Leftover Oddments Numbered One". I decided it needed a nicer name that Scrap 4-Patch. I found the word oddments in the dictionary and liked the sound of the word.

I like the way my "Big Stitch" hand quilting looks in the center block.

Pink Shoebox Squares

2010-04-12T17:47:00.000-05:00

I made all the fabrc pieces in the pink box into 4-patch units, then did a rough count of how many blocks I had. I decided I had enough to make a quilt for my half of our king size bed.

You're saying "Why is she making a quilt that only covers half the bed?"

My reason is this, I am always a little colder than my husband. Now I will have the perfect quilt to put over my half the bed. I think it's a great idea. What you see in the picture is 10 rows, or about half then length.

I really enjoy watching scrap quilts grow and the way the color flow changes as the quilt grows.

I am still quilting on the fossil fern scrap quilt but I don't have very much left. Then I will need to pick out a binding color.

Moving forward

2010-04-08T23:21:00.000-05:00

I did it, I did it, I did it! I made the decision!

I love the blocks and I think a big quilt would be outstanding but I have way too many projects started so this quilt is only going to be nine squares big! I have them all sewn together and have started quilting a cable in the sashing. I can’t wait to get it done and wash out all the blue lines to see what the final result will look like.

Now, while I have a nice quilting project to work on I also like to have a piecing project. So what was it going to be? Well, in that pile of stuff in front of the closet I found a little pink plastic box. In that little pink plastic box I found a bunch of 4-patches. And also some that were not yet completed. I guess this is going to be my piecing project. Wonder what I can do with them. Mmmmmmmm!

So when do you think I acquired those fabrics? Well, to the best of my recollection it was sometime between the years 1987 and 1997. Evidently, I signed up for 5” squares to be sent to me each month. (None of them are out of any fabric that I've ever bought.)

I started making the 4-patches back then but finally just put the squares in the box each month. I think it was a year or two ago that I ran across the box again and cut the rest of the squares in half, sewed them together, cut again and made them into more 4-patches. As the picture shows, I didn’t get them all done before the box got put away once more. This time I’m going to stick with it. I will state that it was one of the worst jobs of cutting I have seen in a while. It will surprise me if I don’t have some troubles somewhere along the line.

Now that you know what I’m working on, let me know what you’re doing. Jo

Simple & Done, Number 2

2010-04-05T09:42:00.000-05:00

OK, not only do I have a closet that is talking to me, but there is a pile of “stuff” on the floor in front of the closet. I decided to see if I could make any progress on finding a “home” for this stuff. The first two items were easy, they went into the waste basket, item number 3 was a lonely quilt block.

I would like to make a complete quilt using this block (if you know me, you know I love 9 patch blocks), I also know it will never get done, so lets make another doll quilt. It is so easy to add a single border to a block, put flannel on the back, add a little machine quilting and it turns into Simple & Done, Number Two.

No, it doesn't rhyme any more but that's OK.

2010 Charity Quilt 1

2010-04-04T15:17:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, I opened a closet door and had a pile of fabric hit me on the head! Well, it was only 11 little samples of flannel but it was enough for me to understand that my closet was talking to me and saying, "Clean me, clean me, clean me!"

Well, that was a little too radical, and time consuming, but I did decide to make my first charity doll quilt for 2010. It's called, Simple and Done, Number One.

New fabric

2010-03-31T16:10:00.000-05:00

This is the newest fabric in the shop, just arrived today. It's from the collection Aubrielle from RJR Fabrics. (Bolt #1406-$9.49/yd) I've no clue what I'm going to do with it yet but the mind is definitely spinning around.

What I really need to do is get back to the desk work, darn!

What I'm doing with my Fossil Fern leftovers

2010-03-28T06:48:00.000-05:00

If you know me, you know my love for the Fossil Fern Collection from Benartex. Since I use it so much I am getting quite a collection of scraps. Combine that with a need to take a project on vacation in January and the beginning of a new quilt was born. As you can see, the block is a simple four-patch with framing. The quilting pattern is a stencil (circa 1850) that I sell here in the shop.

Dig this, I machine baste the blocks so I can hand quilt them. So far I have nine (9) blocks pieced and quilted. After laying out the blocks for the picture I am getting the "itch" to start sewing them together and quilt the framing strips. How big will this quilt be when done? I have no clue. I guess whenever I run out of scraps or I get tired of making the blocks.