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2016 – A Better Year Ahead

After about a month away from quilting, I started back up again this weekend.  You see, my best friend, the one I mentioned in my last post, passed away in the middle of December.  She was diagnosed with liver cancer  on October 23 and died at her home, with her family, on December 14.  It has been sad, surreal, heart breaking all at the same time.  Other than my husband, Sabrena was my best friend who I had the pleasure of seeing every day at work.  We met at work over 5 years ago and it took no time at all before we had our regular lunch dates to talk about family and work and movies and more family and all the stuff you talk about.  We had our last conversation in the hospital before she got discharged under hospice care.  I had no idea that would be the last time we would talk.  The doctors said 2 – 8 months without treatment.  She didn’t even make it 2 months with most of the time spent in the hospital.  It isn’t fair and I’m not happy about it and I’m struggling with it every day, because I go to work every day.

I started her quilt the weekend she told me her diagnosis.  I had procrastinated on her quilt in particular, waiting for the perfect fabric collection or pattern.  I jumped right in though with the beautiful romantic tones of the Rambling Rose fabrics by Sandy Gervais.  I picked out the Rose Garden pattern for Sabrena.

Rose Garden Picture

Rose Garden Quilt by Sandy Gervais

This is the last full quilt progress picture I took before I started adding on the applique items.  At this time, I have the center applique done and the large bird in the corner.  All I have left are the leaf appliques around the sides and adding a border all the way around to make it big enough for a roomy lap quilt.

 

I think she would have loved it.

But for now, it is folded up and tucked away for the moment.  I’ll complete it at some point and give it to her husband.  For me, if I make a quilt for someone in particular – it has to go to that person.  I would even feel strange keeping it for myself.

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Instead of working on this quilt over the weekend, I put together 3 more blocks on the FQS Snapshots quilt.  I have two more blocks to go and I’ll get started on the sashing.  I’ll come back soon and show you those updates.  It will be more cheerful and bright – I promise.

All my best to you.  Thank you for visiting.  Go hug your children, spouse, friends, parents, siblings, boss, cousins.  Just do it.

 

Jennifer

 

 

 

And… the holidays are here…

This year is flying by!  Much too fast for my taste at the moment.  Especially when I can actually sense when my kids have “grown up” a little since last week.

Lots since the last post, just not a lot of time to sit and type up a blog entry.  I appreciate that you stopped by – hopefully you will see something that interested you.

Since the last post, many things have gone on around here.  Long post with the pictures, but since I’m down to a single post per month – maybe you can persist with me?

My company moved their office to a completely new building – all new construction and only one other company that moved in the same weekend as we did with three other floors vacant.

Here is my new office.  Light, bright and very sterile.  I’m deciding on some custom quilt wall hanging to coordinate and decorate my space.  Not a lot of wall space (just one full wall and that narrow strip you can see in front of my desk – just perfect for a wall “runner”:

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We also had a huge yard sale, which wasn’t really worth the effort that we put into it.  And Halloween came and went.  Our cat is now as big as my daughter!

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During the same weekend, I was able to get a few hours in at the annual Quilt Festival.  My husband was a great sport about it and went along with me.  First time for Fat Quarter Shop to attend as a vendor and I was very excited to meet them in person!  Love their new t-shirts – super soft!  I also stumbled into the booth for Red Crinoline Quilts without realizing it.  But I looked around and thought … “I know these quilts!  Where am I?”  Got some great photo ops with everyone!

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I finally put the binding on this quilt and wrote on a label, using one of the neutral block squares on the front of the quilt (which I did after taking this picture).

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Then, this past weekend, I decided to buckle down and start on a quilt for a dear friend.  I thought about getting my Reach for the Stars done and gifting it to her, but I think she would really like something more colorful (but not too bright as she has told me).  Dawn – you would be proud of me … I at least put on a couple of the inside containment borders, and I left my stuff out and available to get back on this ASAP.

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So – I went back to my original plan of Sandy Gervais patterns and fabric.  I had selected the Fine China pattern with the Rambling Rose fabric collection to make for my friend.  But, the quilt would end up being a huge 102″ square.  And I need something a little faster.  You see, my friend has been diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer which has already spread to her lungs and stomach.  We are hopeful for the treatment therapy (oral chemo) to work a miracle for her.  I am devastated by the impact of such a close friend going through this.  I work with her every day and I just have no thoughts other than positive to keep her around.  So, I took my fabrics for Fine China and am now going to make them into another Sandy Gervais pattern called Rose Garden.  I think it will be a great fit for my friend’s personality and tastes.

I grabbed this screen capture from Sandy Gervais’s website that shows the completed quilt.  You can follow this link to see the pattern details and order directly from her site.

Rose Garden Picture

You can see I’m using the same fabrics as she did, but I am planning on finishing it a bit different with an extra border in the aqua/rain color print on the left and top sides.  I want it big enough to be a lap/couch quilt.

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So, it is a labor of love and I’m enjoying the soothing, romantic feel of the Rambling Rose fabric.  I hope you are finding inspiration today in your projects as well.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope to blog again soon!  If you want to check in more often, you can follow me on instagram at jengwyn and I hashtag my posts with #seamscrazyquilts.  I think I’m doing it right.  Not entirely sure!!

Jennifer

Did I say two weeks? I guess I meant two months…

So, I finished this baby quilt over the weekend.  I didn’t take the vacation days I expected when I planned my ‘two week challenge’.  I’m going to take some days at the end of this month instead, with the intent to spend one full day at the annual International Quilt Festival!

This baby quilt is made primarily with Urban Zoologie and Remix prints by Ann Kelle with a gray background by Riley Blake.  It will finish around 58″ square and uses the Tumbleweed block pattern by Lori Holt in her Farm Girl Vintage book.

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Here’s a little closeup.  I want to quilt it myself, but I’m just not sure.  I bought a plush minky fabric for the backing and I’m scared how hard it might be to quilt it without getting puckers and uneven results on my own.

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Since I still had some time available, and Houston Astros baseball to watch on TV… I went ahead and started cutting out fabrics for the 9th installment of the Snapshots Quiltalong, called Quilty Cat!

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I wanted to replicate the look of our black cat, Violet – without making the cat pitch black in the quilt.  I had this really pretty gray fat quarter that worked perfectly.

Once I got started, I couldn’t stop.  I had to finish it before I went to bed last night.  Isn’t she cute?

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Here’s my model, Violet, with her Quilty Cat block this morning.  (And my lonesome little Farmhouse block waiting patiently for me to get back to that project)

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Now I just have to do the Hot Air Balloon and the Bicycle block to be caught up.  The 10th installment gets released on Thursday however, so I’ll be down three by the weekend.  But, for me, I’m doing really good to stay caught up this far (7 blocks out of 9).

Hope you are all enjoying the changing of the seasons!  I’m rooting for the Astros to win their Game 4 right now!

All my best,

Jennifer

 

Cleaned Up and Ready

Oh, it was hard to pack away this project.  All my little piles neatly organized with their number count tag on top.

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I did make one, single mini block to get it started.  Love the orange prints in this collection!

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Here are some of my favorite Farmhouse prints:

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But like I mentioned yesterday, I’m going to try and get a baby quilt done in 14 days.  So I had to clean up!

IMG_0744Ready to get sewing again… after doing all the math necessary to calculate the quilt top.  Using a lot of bright colors and Mini Urban Zoology prints, along with others.

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I’ve chosen the Tumbleweed block from Lori Holts newest book, Farm Girl Vintage.  I love the dark background in her picture below.  I’m trying the same idea with this grey solid against all of these bright prints.

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Wish me luck!

Jennifer

Lots on the Want-to-Do List now…

Oh my, can there be no end of the list of quilts that we want to make?  I think not.

I have been cutting out my Farmhouse squares in preparation for the Summer Stars quilt pattern.

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I had bought one of those “Scrap Bags” that MODA puts out and was able to get a lot of good use from the strips.  Most of them had enough width to cut 2 3/4″ squares that I needed in a variety of prints.  For the rest, I certainly had no problem getting 2″ squares out of them to the rest of the length.  I found out at the end that there were a few of the prints that didn’t make it to the Scrap Bag.

I took two layer cakes and got all the 5″ squares I needed for the project and then had plenty left over to get my sampling of more 2″ squares.

I’m now moving on to cutting up the background required – using Bella White that matches really well.

BUT… I also bought the first FRIVOL to be released.  Adding to my growing stash of Hello Darling fabric precuts.

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You are paying for that cute tin and the pattern that I can figure out on my own, but I prefer it printed professionally.  I also got the finishing kit from Fat Quarter Shop.  I didn’t enroll in any monthly program.  These items are pricey.  I will pick and choose my favorite collections as we go along.

I have the perfect spot though… a recently cleared off area over my ironing board:

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It will fit PERFECTLY here.  Can’t wait to see it…  but…

I have another project I am going to start on tonight.  I’m going to see how quickly I can put together a pinwheel quilt for a new baby.  I will be attending a reception for this newborn on Sept 10th.  Let’s see if I can get it done!  I’ll show pics as I go along… stay tuned!

All the best,

Jennifer

Moving on to Ice Cream!

Well, Christmas is now back into storage for a few months.  I finished up my Little Joys/Jingle quilt top, following the vintage inspired pattern from Fat Quarter Shop for the Delectable Mountains block.

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I haven’t decided about more borders.  Although I made it to the specified “lap size”, I think my family has larger laps than the general population.  Perhaps a border of scrappy random mountain peaks and valleys all the way around?  I’m thinking….

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Looks great against our green grass!  Would love to find a matching light teal blue minky-style backing.

I was already close to finishing this quilt top when the weekend came around, so on Saturday, I was able to cut out my pieces for Block 6 of the Snapshots Quiltalong.  Last month was the Ice Cream sundae block!  I love ice cream!!

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And I pulled out one charm square from my Farmhouse charm pack and used it for the Cherry on Top.  Perfect!

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The sewing took no time at all, and soon my block was finished.   I went with milk chocolate, strawberry and whatever would be a green flavor for my sundae.  Whipped topping with sprinkles courtesy of Sunrise Studios.  Other fabric from Fog City Kitty and Modern Minis.

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Can you spot my error?  I think it is better for it.  My green/mint ice cream has the sprinkled whipped topping melting further down the right side.

Love seeing them all together here:

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Finally – a splurge purchase from Amazon.com at only $15 (tax included).  The Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt book.  I have the other one, and I haven’t done anything with it yet.  I love looking through the pictures though.

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I hope you are having a great start to the week.  Ours will finish with the kids back at school and summer officially over.

Jennifer

Around the Corner – More Granny!

I am very close to finishing my Christmas quilt top.  I haven’t decided if I will try to tackle the machine quilting of it or wait until I can pay to have it quilted by someone.  Since it is a lap size quilt, I think I should go for it.

My next, new quilt project has already been decided.  I was browsing my quilt blog list and I came up on this post from the site “A Little Bit Biased”.  Have you followed it yet?  It always has great eye candy and Amber writes her own patterns under Gigi’s Thimble.  Go browse her site!

I immediately fell for this new pattern called Summer Stars.  It combines stars with the granny square blocks.

Apparently, I must have a thing for Granny Square quilt blocks!

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I couldn’t order the pattern quick enough!

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In addition, I already know what fabric I will use for it.  Remember my recent eBay purchase of some sample spree upcoming release precuts?

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Well, there you go.

I even turned my desktop background at work into my personal daydream space… (my lighting at work isn’t the best for pictures):

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If you want to make your own, you can follow this link to her site and order from her Etsy shop.

Or copy and paste this into your browser:  http://alittlebitbiased.blogspot.com/

First up – wrap up Christmas.  Next up – finish at least one binding on another quilt.  After that – visiting with Granny again!

Have a wonderful and safe weekend!

Jennifer

Christmas Sewing continued…

Loving this quilt as it comes together.  I wanted to share a quick update on my progress as of last night.

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A little blurry.  I find that I am only really working on my quilt projects when it is dark outside.  Never really good pictures.

It’s already too big for my design wall.  There should be a total of 8 red blocks going around.  Next round will be the light green from Little Joys.  The pink on cream Swiss dot background is working out perfectly.

Have a great week!  Thanks for stopping by today!

Jennifer

 

Weekend Sewing Accomplished!

Here I am!  Back again after a long break…  Last time I checked in, I was going to put the borders on my son’s newest quilt top… Minecraft Mayhem.

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But with this one done, I was eager to move onto a little Christmas in July sewing.  I had this group of items ready to put together:

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And got started on it with some pressing, starching and sorting.

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I wanted to add in some blues from the Jingle collection to join with the Little Joys fabric bundle.

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And since the Jolly Bar was going to take some extra thought and planning and a bit of a scrappy combination – I started with those.  I wouldn’t be able to utilize the fancy Triangle Paper, so I was prepping for the old fashioned method (A squares).  “8” is my substitute for my lost “B” alphabitty.

Jingle Blue Prep

 

I was able to get 8 blocks from all of the blue/green colors (6 sets in progress shown here):

DM Blue Pieces

I will be putting 4 Little Joys pink blocks in the center (which I finished late last night and they look great!):

DM Blue Blocks

I’m really enjoying this new project – but to tell you the truth – there isn’t much wiggle room after you trim down the mountain unit to get the quarter inch allowance.  The FQS tutorial online makes it sound like you will have more to trim, but I find that I don’t.  I also found that my mountain unit can in no way match to the same size as the background “B” piece that gets cut diagonally once.  The FQS tutorial makes it look like they do come out approximately the same size, but they do not.  When Kimberly is pinning them together, she is matching up the two ends.  I have a consistent 1/2 inch difference in length along those long bias ends.  Or I am doing something wrong.

Any who…

I also couldn’t jump at the chance to buy these beauties off eBay last week.  I have no good reason to get them this early because I won’t be doing a project with them anytime soon – but I really wanted to have them in person to touch and see.

Scrap bag of Farmhouse and 2 charm packs each of Farmhouse and Hello Darling:

New Charms

Well, I must go.  Lunch hour is over… 😦

Jennifer

Who is this? Combining play at work

Hello patient follower!  I think this is the longest gap I have had since I started blogging back in the summer of 2012.

All kinds of boring stuff is going on here, because I have to go to work to make a living and afford my fabric indulgences.  Lots of work.  Too much work.  Which is a good thing for the success of our company, but also puts a lot of pressure on everyone to keep up.

This weekend, I gave my kids a treat and brought them to the office with me while I did some exciting Accounting stuff for a few hours.  They love to come to the office, so they can write on the big whiteboard in the conference room:

Kids at Work

They also like to act like they are in school (or at least Nora does – she loves to boss around her brother!)

While I was at the office, I brought in my latest quilt top that I was making for Oliver.  Something big enough to really cover his queen size bed and tuck in at the ends and corners.

I needed a large open space to lay it out so I could accurately measure the sides for cutting my borders.  I think right now it was around 76 x 84.

It kind of looks like a nuclear warning flag.

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I bought many layer cakes of the Military Max collection and an olive green dot print from Riley Blake (along with a solid black).  I started this with a split nine patch unit and then added some stitch and flip corners to create some interest in the middle.  It’s not my favorite quilt, but Oliver likes it a lot.  He is really into Nerf guns and Minecraft and playing military with friends, etc…

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I’ll post it again after I get the borders done.  It will look a bit less chaotic.  And huge.  I think it could fit a king size bed.  Finished size will be around 88 x 96.

Once this is done – I’m super excited to cut into something new.  I really loved the collection “Little Joys” when I first spotted a preview of it on this post from Pretty by Hand.  I’m waiting to see what Kristyne is going to do with her fabric.

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For me, I’m going to put it together in the “Classic and Vintage” Delectable Mountain pattern that was showcased recently by Fat Quarter Shop (they even have a YouTube tutorial).  They used the BasicGrey collection Evergreen, but I think this will do great too!  I took a chance and ordered some of the Le Creme Swiss Dots – Baby Pink on Cream Dots to coordinate with it for the background.  And a Jolly Bar of the new Jingle collection by Kate Spain to bring in some blues and make it a tiny bit scrappier.  Planning on the lap size.

Little Joys Project 1

I’m also intrigued by this pattern because it gave instructions to optionally use Triangles on a Roll paper for HSTs.  I have never used this before, and I’m eager to give it a shot:

Little Joys Triangles

So, if all goes well – likely to start on this project next week!

Do you have a Christmas in July project planned?

Finally, I have joined Instagram and started s.l.o.w.l.y posting some pics online there.  I’m not sure exactly about the proper etiquette about jumping on hashtags without being invited.  Is that ok?  I just don’t know.  I tried it out by tagging some pictures with #littlejoysfabric

I appreciate your input on that for those of you who are now experts in Instagram.  I’m going to see about setting up the IG account under this website name instead of my own.  Try to keep some sense of privacy, but who am I kidding.  It’s all out there in the cloud, right?

All the best,

Jennifer