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.

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!

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.

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.

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.