More than Satisfied!

Nov12

I am so very glad that I went forward with my changes on my Forget Me Not quilt.  I was able to finish it up last night and it turned out just like I had hoped.  I now, truly feel that I have finished it.  Here are the new and improved pictures.  I brought the quilt to work today since it was dark outside last night by the time I finished it and I knew I wouldn’t have a chance to take any before I left home this morning.

Close up of improved borders.  I top stitch appliqued the stems, leaves and center Forget-Me-Not flower.  I hand appliqued the yo-yos as flower buds.  I started off top stitching around the edge of the yo-yos (I did 5 of them), and it was not a good look at all.  Ripped out those threads and I love how these pop up now!  I even have some ‘scrappy’ yo-yos, trying to finish off every last bit of the original fabrics.

Edge flipped over to show the backing fabric.

And I found the absolute PERFECT wooden buttons at JoAnns this weekend.  PERFECT!  Love the fussy cutting of the Forget Me Not flowers from the fabric to be the petals.

Much better – yes?  Just need to make a quick label and stitch it to the back!

No BOM Rehab today, but I feel good that I sacrificed that time to finish up this quilt.  I’ll see you next week Sinta!

Have a great Monday!

Jennifer

Not Satisfied

Nov9

Well, poo.  I just am NOT happy with how my end borders are on that Forget Me Not quilt.  It needs something.  I worked too long on it not to be happy.  But – I think I have a solution!  In my mind’s eye, I have some applique flowers and leaves/stems that I think will really make it much better.  In fact, I searched online for pictures of a Forget Me Not flower, and the shape is such a good one for an easy applique, that it really seems like a no brainer.

I have precious little left of the backing fabric that will be perfect for the flowers and I can easily accent with a variety of the pinks and greens to make it all come together.  I hope it turns out as well as it looks in my head.

My other surprise find this week was through the blog ‘Pretty by Hand’.  It’s a great blog and I love Kristyne’s writing style.  Anyway, she attended the International Quilt Market festival in Houston a couple of weeks ago and shared her pictures of the different booths on her blog.  Lots of eye candy to see – check it out!  One of the pictures was from a shop in Australia.  They had a quilt called “Robin’s Nest”, designed by Karen Styles.  Shop name is Somerset Patchwork and Quilting.  Lovely, lovely quilts.  Lots of hard work going into those treasures!  Here’s the quilt that I have added to my Bucket List.  The patterns (which come with acrylic templates) and a fabric BOM is available through Homestead Hearth.  Somerset Patchwork also has the patterns and templates, but their fabric BOM is full now.  And they are in Australia.

Isn’t this georgeous?  It is currently my desktop background on my work computer.  It is making it hard to concentrate on work though.

I hope everyone finds time to quilt this weekend!  Have fun! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Jennifer

An early finish and generous gift

Nov8

I got up a little extra, extra early this morning and decided that I was awake enough to navigate needle and thread.  All I had left was the binding on my Forget Me Not quilt and I had about 2 hours to get it done.  Once those kids are awake, there’s no sittin’ still.

So… I DID IT!  So happy!  So glad!  An actual finish to a project!!  Are you ready for the pictures?

If you recall, this started as a sew a-long blog party from Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts.  The future quilt name was Forget Me Not, and I had elected to get the fabric kit for the ‘miniature’ quilt from Pam that included her new collection of fabric called Heart of the Prairie.  Each week, for 8 weeks, we received the instructions to complete up to 2 of the blocks for a total of 12 unique 5″ unfinished blocks and 12 half-square triangle blocks to go between them.  How we finished the quilt after that was up to us.  You can find earlier posts on this quilt project from my tag “Forget Me Not”.

My goal was to try and use up every bit of the fabric that I received in Pam’s kit (which there was still a LOT left over luckily) and end up with a table runner as a birthday gift for my mom.

Here’s the finished center portion of the quilt, which is how far the sew a-long got us (minus the dark blue border that you see in the picture):

And below is my completed quilt.

I did add on those extra pieced end borders of the mossy green and neutral fabrics, thinking that it would blend better.  I had enough backing fabric to do it and I wanted it longer to emulate a table runner.  I should have included some blue fabrics into that design element, because I think it just kind of sticks out now. 

Additional note:  I had to supplement with a charm pack from Cinnamon Spice (those mossy greens) and Everlastings (some of the neutrals) to get it all done, but I would say that 90% of the fabric is from Pam’s collection.

Here are a few closeup shots.

This picture shows two of my favorite sampler blocks, along with part of the postage stamp border which I think turned out well…

 

Detail from the other side, with opposing flying geese units.   

 

 

Tried to fit the selvage writing all into that block, … a little short.  The blue floral fabric in that corner block is also the same fabric I used on the back of the quilt:

I should have made this selvage piece a bit taller so it didn’t cut it off so bad…

So – there it is!  Just need to create a quick quilt label and stitch it to the back and it will be delivered to my mom the next time I see her.  Happy Birthday Mom!

Finally, another show-n-tell courtesy of my very nice neighbor, Carol.  She stopped by a couple of weeks ago to pass along this star quilt.  She doesn’t remember exactly where she got it.  Her best guess was an estate sale at some point.  I have no idea how to age quilts, but it is very soft, and does obviously show wear.  But it is quite stunning in the workmanship and I was honored to receive it from Carol.  She didn’t have a good use for it and thought I would like to have it since she knew I was a quilter.  Thank you Carol!!

This is the quilt laid out on our queen size guest bed:

Jealous – yes?

Have a wonderful day!!

Jennifer

Let the holiday season begin!

Nov5

I don’t know about everyone else, but since I have started working in offices, the period of time just after Halloween and until the first week of January is officially unproductive.  And if you have to be productive, then it is really a pain.  Plus you have to try and avoid all the treats that start flowing in from kitchens and bake shops so you don’t gain 10 pounds by the end of the year.  Unfortunately, I tend to contribute to this problem and will probably be making my pumpkin crunch cake soon.  The recipe includes 2 sticks of butter and a yellow cake mix, along with canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, at least a cup of chopped pecans and a few other ingredients.  It is soooo good and soooo bad for you!

This past week I did get done with my SECOND block of the Away From Home BOM that I got from Suzanne’s Quilt Shop.  This was a much faster turnaround time than the first block!  I’m linking up to Sinta’s blog … Pink Pincushion BOM Rehab:

AFH Block 2

I finally decided on an area in my sewing/guest room for a design wall and got some inexpensive felt from the store.  It does ok, but I put a few pins in the blocks to keep them in place, just in case little hands touch.
 

AFH Block 1 & 2

So, I should get Block 3 this week, which will be two tall oak trees that stand on either side of these two blocks.  Then I can move into some pieced blocks instead, which will be nice.
 
I’ll leave you with the remnants of our pumpkins from Halloween.  They are moving into the trash bins today.  I’m amazed at how quickly the mold and mildew get started on them after they are carved.  Much spookier this way though!  The first one is Nora’s pumpkin which she wanted a princess face and long hair.  I left it up to Daddy to make that happen with his power drill.  She was happy with it (she’s 4).
 

Nora’s pumpkin (our best effort at a Princess Pumpkin)

Oliver’s Pumpkin – traditional cut

Yay for November!  Cold weather, you can come back now!!

All the best,

Jennifer

I’m at work and it feels like a VACATION!

Oct29

My 5 year old had fever and a sore throat on Thursday morning, so I kept him and his 4 year old sister home.  He convinced me that he was still not feeling perky enough for kindergarten on Friday, so we took another ‘sick’ day.  And then there was the full weekend of a kid’s birthday party on Saturday and pumpkin painting/carving on Sunday.  I am finally back at work today and it feels like a wonderful vacation!  I can sit alone with my own thoughts for stretches of time, drink my Coke in peace, type on a computer that hasn’t been converted against my knowledge to Windows 8 (another story for another day), and basically be myself again.  I love my kids and would do anything for them, but I do NOT know how moms who stay at home with theirs do it.  I didn’t even have time to quilt on those two days.  I did, however, get back into a groove during the weekend and made some progress.

We finally, FINALLY, got a cold front to move through this weekend as well.  Cold being a low in the 40s in the morning hours.  So, to celebrate I enjoyed my first cup of hot chocolate of the season (I took the pic after I had drank most of it :))

First Hot Chocolate

I like to make mine with as many mini-marshmallows as hot chocolate and it is super yummy and satisfying!

I was also able to finally finish my first block of the Away From Home BOM, using the Mill Girls fabric collection by Judie Rothermel.

Away From Home Block 1 – Done!!

Honestly, I am so glad to get this block done so I can move on to the next one.  I’m so excited to work with this fabric and I am ready to have a chance to cut up some more and play with other selections.  I did have a problem with getting the hair just right on the second mill girl in the picture (on the right).  I don’t know how anyone is suppose to do those tight little curves and cut-outs, but my first attempt ended with my trying to use a Sharpie marker to color in some areas, but then it smeared onto the face fabric.  Blech!  So, I tried again, this time cutting out the top hair section in one piece, instead of two and top-stitching it down by machine instead of by hand.  It is good enough to leave in – I’m moving on!  But not before I link up to Sinta’s BOM Rehab!

Hair Trouble

I did get started on Block 2, which amazes me.  I have about another week before Block 3 shows up in my mailbox.

AFH Block 2 Fabric

I really love these bright colors with the reproduction fabric feel.  Everything as of this morning is cut out except for the large scroll heart.  I have the freezer paper template made, but I’m still trimming it down before I press it to the fabric.  That one will take awhile to starch outline, but I should get it done this week.

AFH Block 2 Diagram – Birds

Well, it has been too long since my last post.  I actually finished and then started FMQ my Forget Me Not quilt, done using the blocks from Pam Buda’s sew along.  I added my own pieced inner border and a solid outer border from my left over scraps in her kit.  I was trying to get it completed for my mom’s birthday last week, but I couldn’t quite get it finished.  I just have the outer ‘solid’ border to quilt and then bind it up.  I’ll share my results in another post this week when it is done.

Thinking hard about going to the Quilt Show in Houston this weekend.  Perhaps talking my mom into going with me.  I only live 10 minutes from the convention center, so it would be ridiculous if I didn’t go – right?  Really wish I could have sneaked into the Quilt Market days with all of the wonderful designers and fabric companies.  It would be a real thrill to meet some of them, like Kristyne!

Hope all have a wonderful, wonderful day!

Jennifer

Weight Loss through Quilting!

Oct10

Or, at least offset some of the weight I’m likely to gain by sitting at a machine for too long!

I gathered up my Yo Yo supplies and found a neat stackable set of bins that was perfect.  I can fit my full size scissors and lay my charm squares flat inside.  Got this during Joann’s sale last week at almost no cost given the discount and coupons I had for the sale!

Stacker Trays

So, my weight loss tip is to pack a lunch and eat at my desk instead of going out for fast food or really anything that would be obtained in a restaurant.  Come to think of it … Quilting helps me save MONEY too!!  You can NOT beat that!

Here’s my progress on the Yo Yos in Tapestry that I’m making for the Yoyoville quilt (pattern by Bunny Hill Designs).

Yo Yo Progress 10-10-2012

I love these colors!!  And finally, a shot of the trays all stacked and snapped together:

Cute, huh?  Will be perfect for any hexagon project I may want to tackle later, after the Yo Yos are done.

Also wanted to show a few gratuitous pictures of the kids from last weekend when we went to a combination pumpkin patch, petting farm, etc… ranch here in Houston (Halter, Inc.).  They are open each weekend during October.  They also have a playground area for kids, haunted trail, pony rides, pony cart rides, face painting available and sell home made goods along with snacks, drinks and hot dogs/hamburgers.

Oliver with Goat

Nora with Goat

You can really tell better from this picture in the pumpkin patch that is was quite warm on this Saturday (probably in the upper 90s).  And of course we were there in the middle of the afternoon.  Luckily, fall weater rolled through the next day and it has been really beautiful lately!

Pumpkin Patch

Also received my backing fabric yesterday for my MIL Stars and Stripes quilt.  It will be just right!  But, I think I need to finish the baby quilt I made for a friend, since the baby is now two months old!  How fast time flies when you have to work, cook, clean, bathe, take care of family, maybe sleep, commute, eat, ….

 Happy Quilting!

Jennifer

A late Friday finish and other WIP

Oct7

Lovely weekend, much better weather today than Saturday.  Perfect weather actually – about to take the kids for a walk in the neighborhood.  We enjoyed a pumpkin patch yesterday, along with a hay ride, chicken wire maze, pony ride, pony cart rides, petting animals and picking out some pumpkins.

Here’s my late Friday night finish, hence the poor photograph quality…

MIL Stars and Stripes Flimsy Finish!

I have located the perfect backing fabric, but it won’t arrive for a couple more days – so I can move on to something else!  Yippee!

I persisted on my Away From Home Block 1 and actually completed one of the two women applique figures.  It was tedious, I won’t lie.  I’m looking forward to the pieced blocks which will start on Week 4.  I just got Week 2 yesterday, which are the two birds and scrolly looking heart figure above the factory.  Week 3 will be the two trees…

Here’s my personal model, Nora, showing my progress on Block 1.

Nora holding Block 1 WIP

And a little closer image…

Hope you have a great week… I’ll link up to BOM Rehab tomorrow!  See you there!

Jennifer

Happy October and Welcome Cooler Weather!

Oct1

Beautiful day to start off October.  I left the house this morning and the car was showing 61 degrees outside.  Perfect!

Two updates … first, I cut out the pieces I needed for the corner units of the MIL Stars and Stripes quilt.  All that is left is to assemble them and add in the two borders.

Stars and Stripes Corner Units Cut Out

Second, I made a LOT of progress on my Away From Home BOM.  This is all part of Block 1.  I feel so good about it, I’m going to link up to Sinta’s BOM Rehab for today and show it off.  I realized that I am very happy with my decision to machine applique instead of needle turn these pieces.  I may do needle turn on the women figures due to their complexity, but who knows?  I really like how this turned out.

Away From Home Block 1 Applique WIP

Here’s a closeup of the different pieces and you can see where I am sewing just inside the edge of the fabric.  I think this is acceptable – yes?  It should hold fine in a wash – yes?

Block 1 Machine Applique Closeup

So, here’s the plan now.  I’m taking a break from this particular block and going to open up my Mill Girls BOM for which I have blocks 1 and 2 already.  These are pieced blocks, so I hope they go quickly.  I have been waiting a long time to start this quilt.  I think it will be beautiful!

Mill Girls Quilt by Nancy Rink

Happy quilting this week!

Jennifer

Friday Progress Report

Sep28

 I got Stewart to hold up my MIL quilt to show the center portion that is now completed.  I will probably go ahead and add the borders and try to quilt it myself before Christmas, since her birthday is this weekend and there’s no way it will happen before our next trip to see her.

MIL Stars and Stripes – Center Portion

What do you think?  It will look better with the borders.  Right now, it looks a little too much like a flag for me.

Finished up my Tapestry yo yo charm pack so I now have 38 made for the Yoyoville quilt.  I didn’t use the two cream colored squares, because that will likely be my background fabric for the quilt.

Finally, I decided to bite the bullet and face my fear of applique and get moving on my Away From Home BOM…  This is still part of Block 1.  I used the starch and freezer paper method as described in Joanna’s books and newsletters.  It is pretty easy to do, so I don’t know why I can’t remember that.  Here are some snap shots of my factory roof and chimneys.  I had collected little vintage eye bath cups for my Dad (he’s an Optometrist) and managed to keep one for myself and it turns out it is PERFECT for holding my spray starch for this method.

Starch Applique Tools with Rooftop Section done

Roof with Freezer Paper backing and pressed

Rooftop with Paper Removed

Block 1 Applique Template Layout Diagram

Fabric Only layout on Diagram

I can do this!  Of course, these are all very straight and clear cut.  I’ll do the moon and sun next and then have to tackle those two women figures with all the itty bitty pieces.  But no need to worry about it now.  Have a wonderful weekend!Jennifer

Well, hell-yo there!

Sep27

Sorry, pretty corny I know.  Not a long post right now…  I’m at work but wanted to share a picture of my growing yo yo collection.  I have around 29 made so far out of my first charm pack of Tapestry.  I’ll be cutting up my layer cake next to get the rest of them started.  I have two nagging concerns with this process… the seamingly wastefullness of the scraps that I have to cut off to make the circle from the 5″ square and the thread that isn’t quite long enough to make it around the circle again.  I’m saving the scraps for the possible use in the applique portion of the quilt (little houses on the outside border), but I haven’t decided to be frugal enough to save the thread for other projects.  Maybe I should.  I wonder if others would save series of 12″ long thread pieces…

Anyway – here is the snap of my little quilt tin with my finished yo yos and the remaining charm pack and Clover Large Yo Yo tool.

Yo Yo ‘Kit To Go’

And here is my favorite yo yo so far.  The Tapestry fabric collection is so beautiful.  I’m having a hard time deciding which fabric to use for backing because I really love looking at so many of them!  Guess I’ll just have to make a lot of quilts with the fabric so I can get them all in…

Favorite Yo Yo – Tapestry

I did finish the center portion of my MIL stars and stripes quilt.  Now I’m deciding whether to try and quilt it in sections (as described by Marti Michell in her book, Machine Quilting in Sections) or adding on the borders and doing it traditionally.  Not sure yet.  Also still thinking about the quilt design to use on it.  Whether to quilt in the negative space or quilt on the ‘flag’ sections.  I’ll post again with the picture tomorrow and see if I get any feedback.

Have a wonderful day – it’s almost Friday!!

Jennifer