BOM blocks 9 to 11

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.