Scraps are simply lovely!!

Today, I have been sorting and culling and organizing, cleaning windows, scrubbing floors...you know how it goes!!  I found this little quilt, above...I just love it.  All tiny scraps, all of it.  I think I need to re-create it, bigger, bed sized!!!  

And that, my friends, is how startitis gets started in the first place, LOL!!!!

Have a super day!

Julie

A little piecing, or...little piecing!

 I have cut a lot of these blocks out, and since the color for February, according to the rainbow challenge is Yellow, well...that is the color I am working with.

 I have more blocks cut out, but got tired of piecing, and had to fold laundry anyway...you know about the beep beep of the dryer!!  These are little blocks...I think 3.5 inch finished.

I made some yellow wonky stars too!!  I have all the colors cut out for the year, so now I just get to have the fun of piecing them according to the colors selected for each month.





I think I have the comments thing straightened out, at least I pray I do...thank you, each of  you, so very much for helping me and commenting.  I surely appreciate every one of you, so much.  You are very special to me!!  Forgive me for not answering comments the last little while...I try to answer every comment that comes through the email.




Julie

A test post...

I am just trying to see if I can get comments back to my email.  I changed the settings, as Lori of Humble quilts suggested.


Hope each of you is having a lovely, wonderful day!!

Dearest Boy update!

So....hahaha!  I went with something a little bit different.  I tried to make the original pattern, but on my block, the circles around the little hen with her wormy breakfast was a bit distracting.  So...I put my time into doing some extra embroidery and things to make that little hen a little special!!!  This block needs a good pressing!

Please see all the quilters making this fun quilt!!!

Karen:  Log Cabin Quilter

Cathy:  Big Lake Quilter
Julie:  Juliekquilts (me)
Carole: Wheels on the Warrandyte bus
Doreen:  Aunt Reen's Place

Please help me, if you can. My comments are no longer, again, going to my email.  Why?  Please help this technically inept quilter.  boohoo!!



Julie

Old becomes new...a Valentine's quilt!

 Well, after a lot of consideration, and by the way,  THANK YOU for all your helpful comments!  I just put the blocks I had, which were the same size, together like this.  Because of the hearts, and the color, and the time of the year, I am pronouncing it a Valentine's day quilt.  I had no more of the red fabric that the setting squares were made of, so I used a red print I had for the border.

Here are the leftover, different sized blocks. I drew the primitive looking ones myself. Haha...no artist here!  I can do primitive well, because...I am a bit primitive in my drawing skills!!  This was many years ago that I drew them...maybe I could be better now.


I really appreciate all your help...thank you so much!!

Have a great day,


Julie

An old, old project

 The above blocks are red work.  I had intended to set them together like this.  I have more red work blocks, but I accidentally, way back when, cut them smaller than these.  So...I guess that is where I stalled out. Anyway, I was thinking I could maybe finish this into something....this quilt was way before the blog, so at least 12-15 years old.

I also made another block, so I am current, for Pat Sloan's Space quilt.  Hurrah!!!


I hope each of you has a wonderful night, and that you have had some fun quilting time!!!


Julie

A few blocks!

 These blocks are for the Meeting House sampler.  I added the top right block today.

 This Tiny Tuesday was yellow nine patch day, so I made these blocks...

And I am making some star blocks.


And that is all, folks!

Grocery shopping, cooking, laundry and cleaning took the bulk of the day.  And oh yes, I made some cookies to take to work.  Those kiddos (read nurses at least 30 years younger than I am) sure love home baked things...



Julie

Some progress...Ode to the 1930's!

 Lori Holt has a quilt along going on...free block patterns, featuring her own fabrics. I officially caught up today!  and then she posted another block...so on it goes!!  Go check out  Bee in my Bonnet!!

 I  like these little babies...

 Just another progress picture.

 Pretty star!!


1930's fabrics are special, aren't they?  I have a very few feed sacks from that era and will use a few precious pieces in this quilt.  My mom was a teenager in the 1930's and grew up with all the deprivation and strife that was in that era.  Frugal...yes!  and that is passed on through generations.

Speaking of that, Liz D of Gone to the Beach blog, had a very thoughtful comment, that got me to thinking.  She said there is such an emphasis on using scraps, that lovely new yardage does not get used.  I pondered that, because as you know, I love scraps!!  Love them...

But I think there is a balance to be found, with using our new pretty fabrics too.  Thus, the above blocks are not made from scraps!!  Real 1930's fabrics (reproductions)...and a few real ones.

Do you have any thoughts about this?  I just thought it was fun to think hard about this comment, and evaluate my practice!

My flowers are confused again, for they are blooming like crazy...sigh...






and it is freezing tonight, about 24 degrees, according to the weather lady.





Hugs to all from Julie

Might as well join in....IN THEM ALL!!

 Lori Holt, of Bee in my Bonnet, is having a vintage quilt along, honoring her grandmother.  Here is my first block...for of course, I think I have to join in EVERYTHING this year.  I was very, very impressed with her instructions and wit...she is really good.  This is a 12 inch block.

You can find the blocks, so far, here...

https://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/2018/12/grandmas-star-quilt-block-tutorialwith.html

 Pat Sloan is just happy...and she makes fun quilt-alongs, too.  So...this is my first block for her quilt along, and you can find her site along here:

https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/a-flower-bouquet.html

 Cheryl, of Teapots to quilting, tuned me in to a Bible quilt along, starting with Genesis.  I made the first two blocks of that quilt too.   The pale teal one is quite pretty, but the light floral is fragile, and I may have to do this one again.   Thank you dear Cheryl!!!  Her blog is here, and the block link is below.  Cheryl is an awesome quilter!

http://cherylsteapots2quilting.blogspot.com/

https://www.quiltersgardenonline.com/bible-studies.htm

 The rainbow color of this month is Yellow...so I tried to remember if I had made yellow birds, and I had...I like those buddies!!!

Last but not least...Temecula quilt company is also having a quilt along!!!  Every Wednesday, you are supposed to make a dozen of this block, I think...totally doable, by the way.  They are super fast!!!


https://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com/2019/01/one-block-wednesday_30.html

Whew!  I think that is it for now...really.







Julie

Green!!

 Years ago, I made this green quilt top, from a magazine pattern, I think.

 Feathered star...

 Itty bitty applique and one inch triangles; quarter inch wide borders...


I have yet to quilt it, and always thought I would have it machine quilted, but maybe I will try to hand quilt it.  It takes me a good forever, though...


Just musing here, but I am finding, looking back, that I was really after the most demanding and challenging patterns I could find, back then.  I relished it!  When I look at my work now, it is pretty dumbed down, in my opinion.  What happened?

Am I just older...or did the scraps take over?  When did I get on the track of more is better??  I find great joy in what I do, don't get me wrong...


Any thoughts?

I made more blocks for the Meeting House sampler quilt...loving these!!





Julie

Strings!!

 I finished all the blocks for my limey green string quilt!  So fun, and so fast...if you have never tried string quilts, this might be your new favorite thing, ever!

Here is how is goes together.  A comment about that very dark green strip, that almost looks black.  That little piece is one of the last pieces of an Easter dress that my momma made me, as a child.  It had a satin pinafore, and a velvet skirt...dark green velvet.  I felt like a princess on Easter, when the ladies all dressed up and wore their over-the-top Easter bonnets, way back in the day.  So...that is why it is included in this quilt...so tactile and soft.  I love it!!

 And here is all the strings that are left!!  I used almost every one, and will use these all up in the border.

Here is another row on this rainbow quilt...love this!!!!  ON we go!!

I am linking to Lori, at Humble quilts...just go and see all those lovely string quilts going on!!






www.humblequilts.blogspot.com



Have an amazing day!


Julie

Dearest Boy!!

Here is the next block, for the quilt "Dearest Boy."  I love hearts, so I love this block, and tried to follow the original color scheme, using what I have.  There is something very hypnotic and soothing about stitching these applique blocks, in the quiet of the morning.

Hurrah!  On to the next...and the cow is coming up at some point!!

Please see below, to see all the lovely blocks and bloggers making this quilt!

Karen:  Log Cabin Quilter

Cathy:  Big Lake Quilter
Julie:  Juliekquilts (me)
Carole: Wheels on the Warrandyte bus
Doreen:  Aunt Reen's Place

***********************Nurse's Notes*********************

Speaking of hypnotic...I have had the privilege of caring for a family from India, at the hospital.  So, I have been treated to Indian music and food!!  The music has many repeated chants, and I must say...they are stuck in my head, and I found myself swaying to the music and loving it!  What a dedicated family...The kids flew in from all over the country, and are so dedicated to their very ill dad...he is on life support, continuous dialysis, and so on.  His precious wife of 54 years held his face in her hands and told him how much she loved him yesterday...and I stepped out of the hospital room and just wept.  He will not make it through this...and yet?  I have been surprised in the past at some miraculous recoveries, which just goes to show you that a higher power is in charge of us!!!!!!

***************************************************

Julie

Strings and hand work

 This little wall hanging is made out of pieces and parts in the applique bucket.  I may add a butterfly.

 I am still working on this limey green string quilt!  The sun is so beautiful today, shining in, although it is quite cool outside.

And lastly, a tiny embroidery birdie coaster...




Have a great day, everyone!!




Julie

Lunacy...log cabin blocks!!

 This really was a lot of sewing...but super fun!  These strips are 1 1/4 inch wide, and 3/4 inch wide, finished.  I have made all the blocks I could, from the strips I had cut out...and I am out of brown strings, so that's it, folks!!!

Rosie, my poodle girl,  cannot wait to get on these blocks and help arrange them, so I had to snap a picture, quickly!!!!




I will not sew these together yet, but rather, let them age appropriately.   Ha!!!



Have a super day, everyone!


**************************Nurse's Notes***************************


So, on the work e-mail today, there is a notice that they are laying off 3% of all nurses at my hospital.  As a 'senior" (read old) nurse, I am on the chopping block. Corporate always goes after the oldest, most tenured staff...I sure hope my name does not come up...I need my job!!!

Shivers!!!

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Julie

First day off, and an inservice

I started yet another quilt.  My philosophy is this!  Nothing started, nothing finished!!!  HA!  So...this is a rainbow quilt.  The colors will march diagonally across the quilt.  Orange is next.

 

I made a few birds...these were supposed to be red, but there were so many mistakes with them, I count it lucky that they made it out from the sewing machine alive!  Hahaha!!!

Speaking of that...I encourage  each of you not to let a lack of perfection in quilting, or anything else for that matter,  make you sad or feel like you are not adequate.  I love these birds above, with all their mistakes....this is all for the joy of it, after all!!

I am making a project with rick-rack.  I blithely thought that my local Walmart would have tons of it, and I didn't have to worry about a thing....

THIS WAS ALL THEY HAD, HIDDEN ON THE DISCOUNT BIN!!!

I feel lucky to have found it...does Joann's have rick-rack??


*******************Nurse's notes********************************

I was a bit aggravated today, being forced to take two hours and go to a mandatory in-service on pulling sheaths...something I have done for thirty years and never had a problem.

It really interrupts my day to get ready and dressed and drive to the hospital and sit there and watch...but woe is me if I missed this MANDATORY in-service.

So what did I do? I took my sewing and did applique!  I swear, I am going to get fired for insolence, LOL!!

*********************************************************




Have a super day, each of you!!!


Julie

Didn't I show you this??

Tada!  Completed with the string border.  I was going to make it a wider string border...but I had all this narrow string all done...so that is what happened!  Sometimes...ya just gotta be done!

Whoop!!!

Might as well start something new!

This is something new!  It is called "Miss Jump's Tea time, and it is a quilt along, on Facebook, with Lorraine Hoffman.  I am a little in love with the rickrack and the bright colors!!!

 At first, I thought the rickrack was to go right on top of the heart...but I think it looks better with a little space in between the heart and the rickrack.   This was my initial attempt.

Hearts...plaids...bright colors...flowers!!  Love, love, love!!!

 Pat Sloan is have a "Space" quilt along...so I made the first block.  I had some leftover pieces and parts, so I made pinwheels and chevrons with the leftovers.

 Meeting House quilts is have a quilt along, too!!  So...I made these blocks to start in on that one!!! Nothing like tons of starts for the new year!  These are eight inch blocks.

And Angela, at Super Scrappy, is making a fun rainbow quilt this year...all tiny blocks!  So, here are my five inch blocks.


Fun, fun, fun!!!




Julie

Strings!

I guess this is self explanatory!!  8 inch blocks...30 blocks planned, if I have enough strings!!

Onward!!

Julie

Dearest Boy update

 Good morning, everyone!  I tried and tried to make the original block for this block...it was yucky.  What I mean is...it was a pain!  I think Karen accomplished it, but I substituted this block instead.

I am thinking of putting a flower or bird inside the double handled basket.  So on we go!!!  The next block is applique...and it is prepped and ready to stitch!!




*************************Nurse's Notes*************************

I am supposed to be at work today, but they put me on call.  So...for $2.00 per hour (I know, don't be jealous), I am supposed to stay by the phone and be available for the next 12 hours, just in case they need me.  So, I will do laundry and such, keep busy for my day...and will try to sneak in a little sewing!!

The census of hospital patients,  all across the nation, according to my hospital authorities, is down.  Which is a good thing, but it means that I don't get to work each shift I am scheduled.  It makes me want to find a supplemental job!!!

Can I just be a quilter for my second job?  LOL!



I had a very sad case the other day...a lady got very depressed, and for two years, she locked herself inside her apartment.  Deliveries of food were ordered, and some trash was passed out to the drivers, and a neighbor brought her mail to her,  but for the entire time, she never bathed or washed her hair...and there were just little trails among the "stuff" in her house, for her to pass through to the bathroom and back to her recliner.  Her legs were stuck in the shape of her recliner!!!

She stayed in her apartment, suffering a heart attack, for two days...finally, finally calling for help.  Her heart is so badly damaged, she is really on the verge of not making it.  Her long hair is in one large matted ball at the top of the pillow.  I may go in today and try to detangle it for her...poor thing!

  If you have chest pain...you call 911 and get to the hospital as soon as you can!!

I see some very sad and odd things as a nurse, and I know my nursing friends can relate!








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Have a great day!

Julie

Slow Stitching

I finished hand quilting this quilt.  It was a quilt along with Cheri Payne...she would give us random basket piece patterns, and we just came up with whatever basket we imagined.  I made four of the blocks, and here is my nearly finished quilt.  I loved this project...and each stitch is in remembrance of a super fun designer; Cheri Payne.  

My fingers are fairly sore, as I did this one all on a road trip.  I still need to make binding, a hanging sleeve, and a label.

Onward!!!  I hope each of you has had some time to slow stitch...check out Kathy; I am linking up to her, for Sunday Slow Stitching.

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2019/01/slow-sunday-stitching.html

Hugs from Julie!