Tag Archive | Forget Me Not

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Oct24

Special day for our family.  My mom is having a birthday and if anyone is the center of an extended family – it is her.  She does everything and has always done everything.  She’s a social butterfly and attentive wife, mother and grandmother.  Now that I’m writing this post, I wish I had a good picture of her to include…. darn.  My parents also celebrated their 50th anniversary this year.

I thought I would do a post today to accomplish two things at the same time.  1)  Honor my mom’s birthday and showcase the prior quilted items I have made in the past for her, and 2) update more items to my Quilt History page.

First up is a bed runner I made for her.  I think it was a Christmas gift for 2011.  NO LABEL!!! !@#$@#$!  I guess I can still make one and attach it.

The colors go great with her neutral toned bedding.  The fabric is Park Avenue by 3 Sisters and I got the pattern from the book “Bed Runners using Precut Fabrics” by Kathy Brown.  My mother is also a retired English teacher, so I need to comment that I know I should underline book titles, but I don’t have that option in my free WordPress application.

I gave her the coordinated fabric covered buttons as an option, but she decided to leave them off.  They would have gone in the center of each “flower” block.

Moms Bed Runner 4

This is on her actual bed. 

Moms Bed Runner 3

 

Moms Bed Runner 1

I was under a time crunch and I wasn’t confident enough to do the quilting myself yet, so I just gave her the quilt top with the backing/binding material in her gift.  She had it quilted locally and the woman selected a dove/bird motif as the pattern.

Moms Bed Runner 5

The next one to show you is a table topper I made her on July 4th, 2012.  I started this project when I got home one night from work and stayed up all night to finish it, and free motion quilt it myself!  I did the binding by hand and completed the label applique on the drive to her house that next morning.

It is called Ozark Star and the pattern is by Fons & Porter.  They did a segment on their show one day on this project and I really liked it.  Since it was 4th of July, I found some great fabrics I had in my stash by Anna Griffin called Fleur Rogue along with a random charm pack and yardage that was also patriotic looking. 

 

Ozark Star Center

Nora loves her hair clips.  Not just for hair apparently!

Ozark Star with Nora

I even threw some fast embroidery on the label to try and spice it up.  I think this backing fabric was a juvenile print called “Rescue 911” if I recall correctly.

Ozark Star label

Another table runner that I made was documented extensively on my blog already … it was the quilt along I did with Pam Buda called “Forget Me Not”.  Here’s the finished quilt runner, but you can click on my tags to the right and see all the posts relating to this quilt.

I gave this to my Mom on her birthday last year, 2012.

FMN Quilt

I still love this quilt and the details I put into it.  Like the wooden forget-me-not flower button.

FMN Border Closeup

 

Finally… I have tried and tried to remember if this was my FIRST quilt or my SECOND.  The other option is a king size Christmas log cabin quilt which I haven’t shown you yet.  But… I think this might be the second.  I didn’t label it, so there you go.  LABEL YOUR QUILTS!

Complete unknown fabrics from Hancock Fabric and WalMart.

Christmas Tree Wall Hanging 1

 

So – HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!  I reserve the right to whip up another quilted gift for you tonight… 🙂

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Jennifer

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

Busy, busy, busy!

Sep11

Lots of WIP and more started since last post.  I don’t know what I’m thinking … but I hope I’ll have this breakthrough moment when, after working a little bit on all of my projects each week, I’ll have several completed at once!

Here’s a look at what’s on my work surfaces right now:

 

1)  10 Little Things Baby Quilt – ready to pin baste and FMQ (free motion quilt)

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2)  Birdie Stitches Quilt – As of today, I have 9 blocks completed and one in progress.  I haven’t decided on the setting for this quilt yet.Image

3)  Forget Me Not Sew Along (hosted by Pam Buda).  This is where I am today.  We have the instructions for two more blocks as of last Friday, but I haven’t gotten to them yet.  Goal is to get those done before this Friday, when the last two block instructions will be provided.  I can do this!

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4)  The ever present quilt for Nora.  I finished putting on the inner border, but I need to cut out and piece the last border and get it attached.  Then it will be ready for quilting!

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5)  Away From Home BOM – just starting this in September.  The first few blocks will be all applique, which is new for me.  Going very slowly to try and make it look as good as possible.  So far, only half way through the reverse applique step of the mill factory rectangle with all the windows.

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6)  Other works in process… lots going on in this picture:

My MIL quilt – Stars and Stripes.  Almost done with the inner blocks and will piece them together, then just a couple of borders with four cornerstone star blocks.  I would say it has gone really fast, but I don’t sit down long enough at one time and work on it to get it done.  Hoping it might be possible to do it by the end of the month before we visit again.

The October Birdie Stitch block is shown here in process.

The latest Forget Me Not instructions are printed out and ready for cutting the fabric.

My nano needs to be charged and connected to speakers again that went missing (wonder who?)…

Coupon that came in the mail from Jo Ann’s Fabric.  I’m sure I’ll have a use for it soon.  Need some matching applique thread for the Away From Home BOM.

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So – that’s it!  I’ll show more details of each as they are near completion.  Have a great week!

Jennifer

Vacation week is over!

Aug27

My boss officially returned from his vacation today.  Therefore, my vacation is over as well.  Back to the grindstone!  Actually, he’s really easy to work with and is the best boss I have had in my career so far.  Not complaining a bit.

The munchkins are enjoying their last day of summer.  Tomorrow officially starts ‘school’ days and Oliver will be in Kindergarten!  I will share pictures tomorrow night or Wednesday morning for this monumentous event.  And a picture of his cracked/chipped tooth from trying to separate his Legos with his teeth.  That boy!!

I’m staying up with my sew a-long project from  Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts.  This weekend I completed blocks #5 & #6.  Here’s a picture of #4 that you missed last week and the new ones, and a group shot.  This brings me to the halfway point on the blocks for the sew a-long!

Forget Me Not Sew A-Long Block 4

Forget Me Not Sew A-Long Block Group 1-6