Sunday, November 29, 2015

NOVEMBER DEAR JANE BLOCKS


Last month in this post, I indicated that I might try to finish Row F in November.  It seemed like a lot to do, but I had encouragement from some of you, so I decided to work on them extra hard.


Row F Completed

Of course, I worked on other things as well, some Christmas gifts, etc.  which I will show you when I can.  I think some of these blocks were the hardest of all the ones I've done to date.  Especially F-11 (3rd block in 3rd row).

I don't think I would be able to figure out how to do some of these without the help from this blog.
For the most part, I follow the instructions step by step and then I am able to make it.

December might be a different story, but I'll try to get at least a few blocks done.  I want to finish the quilt before I die!

Thanks to all who encouraged me - it means a lot.

Monday, November 23, 2015

BUSY WORK ON PROJECTS

I started quilting on this scrappy quilt and have about half of it quilted.  Then I stopped because there was a section that didn't turn out very well and I needed to take the stitching out, as well as turn my attention to some Christmas/birthday projects.


I made 4 of these outfits for 18" dolls.  One will be for my GD Abby for her birthday and the other 3 sets she can use a birthday gifts for friends.  I'm leaning towards giving her the one with the plaid blouse.  I really like that plaid fabric (which I got at a garage sale).

Here it is close up.



I like this polka dot blouse too.


I also made Abby a small pillow (travel size).  The cover comes off for washing.  I plan to make a couple for my 2 young GSs also.  In "boy" fabrics of course.


In the mean time, I have been working on my Dear Jane blocks and will post them soon.  In this post, I said I might try to finish Row F and that's what I'm working on!  I think I'll make it!

Friday, November 13, 2015

TREES, BOW TIES, ETC.

The trees have been beautiful this fall, but now the leaves are falling fast.  This picture was taken about a block from where I live and it's a maple variety with tiny leaves.


I participated in a Bow Tie Block Swap organized by Barb at Fun with Barb.  Here are the 4 1/2" blocks I received recently - all 82 of them plus 2 mini blocks from Barb.  I sent in 82 blocks that I made and then Barb distributed the blocks she received from everyone and we got back blocks made with a huge variety of fabrics.  Amazingly, most of them were with fabrics I had never seen before!  Now I just have to figure out how I want to make them into a quilt!





This "I Spy" quilt is a cheater cloth that I won from my guild in Texas a few years ago.  I decided it was about time to get it put together to donate.  It was very easy to quilt as I just quilted along the lines and I like the way it turned out.  I didn't even have to put a border on it.


The backing fabric is some that my GD gave me - I think she got it at Good Will - and it is perfect for this quilt!.



This is what I have on my design wall now.  I saw this pattern, Oak Leaves and Turkey Feathers  by Jan Patek several years ago, ordered the book and started it.  Then, it went into a box and sat marinating for a couple years.  I'm finally making some progress on it - I just added the pieced border and the skinny 1" inner border.  I have the final border cut and it needs to be appliquéd with a vine, oak leaves and flowers.  I was hoping to get it finished this month, but kind of doubt I'll make it, with the other things I have to do.  BTW, it will measure 78" square when finished.

Oak Leaves & Turkey Feathers
I finished the table runner that I showed you in my last post.  It is all quilted, bound and listed in my Easy shop.

In the mean time, I also quilted a queen size quilt and have been working on that.  I'll probably set it aside to work on the Oak Leaves & Turkey Feathers border.

Today, I'm going to a local craft fair and then to a quilt show and Artist tour in Willamina, OR, a town west of here.  I've never been to that town before, so it should be fun as I love seeing small towns.  I hope you have a nice weekend!  Thanks for visiting my blog.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

SOME CURRENT PROJECTS

Here are some things that I've been working on lately.

This first one is a table runner that was on my design wall a couple posts ago and this morning I sewed it together.  I have it in the "basting" department now.



Somehow, I got the urge to make some "10 minute blocks" and this is the result.  Here is a link to a tutorial on how to make them.  These aren't sewn together yet.  Each piece of fabric was cut to 8" and each block uses 5 pieces of fabric.  The black in the middle is also 8" when you begin.


This one is going to be a "quilt of valor" hopefully.  I saw it on another blog and it looked pretty good - these aren't sewn together yet either.  I will need about 70 blocks and I think I'm over half way there.  It's a leader/ender project some of the time.


This is what each block looks like and it measures 8 1/2" square unfinished.  When you put them together they form pinwheels in opposite corners.


Hope you are sewing this week too.


Monday, November 2, 2015

OCTOBER DEAR JANE BLOCKS

I am happy that I got 9 blocks completed on my Dear Jane quilt!

E-6, E-7, E-8, E-11, E-12
F-3, F-4, F-7, E-13

That means I finished Row E and while I was at it I picked a few of the easy blocks from Row F.  I'm going to try to get Row F finished this month.  Can I do it?

Don't forget to vote for your favorite quilts in the Blogger's Quilt Festival - I'm not sure how long voting is open.