Thursday, August 26, 2010

Focus!

Hi all: I finally had enough of skipping project to project...and buckled down, FOCUSED!, and finished the spool (klosjes) top. I loved all the variety of fabrics, and as I have said, this is a complete catalog of each reproduction fabric I have! Some of them used up all the fabric I had...and that is just fine! Joan, my blog friend, exchanged blocks with me...and I set the quilt like hers. Those blocks are precious to me. Each block is 3 inches. I counted them, then promptly forgot how many I counted...I think around 250 or so. I think I am my own worst enemy sometimes...I thought really long and hard about why I am a quilter and what I really love...and it is the hand quilting and hand work that I just really love, so this is basted now and ready to hand quilt! Yippee! Sometimes I get ahead of myself and want to have lots of production...but is that really what I want? Or is the process more important than a pile of hurriedly made quilts that may or may not be kept or appreciated? I think it is for me!!



Dear Jane: I made two blocks for your quilt today...that was quite fun, and I am almost done with row 5! There are only 13 rows, so I am making progress. How did you feel about taking all that time to hand sew all those baby blocks? Or was it a wonderful passtime in the Civil War times? I used the fabric that Lori (Humble quilts) gave me last week for one of the blocks...I love it! Jane, did you use some of your friends fabrics too?



Nine Patch Celebration!!!


Darlene, I received your blocks today...with such great joy! Each one of prettier than the next...and such a lovely variety! I love each one! Thank you for the fabric too!!
And Julie from California...Just look at what she sent too! Gorgeous!! Very pretty variety here too...in fact, each package is tremendously wonderful to open!




Back to work for me...the fun is over...for now!! I for some reason am really dreading tomorrow....sigh...


Julie

41 comments:

A Garden of Threads said...

Hi, The spools look great all put together in the quilt. Like the way they all face different directions. Nine patches are all wonderful, can't wait.

paulette said...

Your spool top is gorgeous!! Thanks for the inspiration!! Did you use a pattern? If so, what is the name? Thanks...I REALLY want to make one!!
Take care!
Paulette

Darlene said...

Love the way you set your spools, Julie.

So many beautiful nine patches - delightful quilts will be made.

Yvette said...

I adore your spool quilt. I need to put that on my To-do list. Just fabulous!

Mary Lou Casada said...

The spools are fabulous! 3" -- or my! I have made a couple of tops of 4 1/2" blocks to use up my Thimbleberries scraps (2" strips all day long! LOL!), and I've got another in the works. I think I'll put it on point like yours! Lovely!

Pat said...

LOVE your spool top!!! Setting them on point was a great idea!

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Julie your spools look fantastic...

Taryn said...

Your nine-patches look like such a treat to receive. Lucky you!

Stephanie Hughes said...

Love the spools Julie. The colors are great. Have fun getting back to work and getting a good start back. STeph

Leeanne said...

Aren't the spools great! Joan did a swap with me too, my setting is a bit different, mine is smaller and adorns our dinning room table and I LOVE it!!
Neat how you wrote to 'Dear Jane'.
happy hand quilting.

Quilts And Pieces said...

I just love those spool blocks put on point like that! What a wonderful quilt! I love it!

Lorraine said...

Loving that spool top.....looks fantastic!

ria vogelzang said...

You did a great job on focussing!! The klosjestop looks so great!
Enjoy!

KaHolly said...

Fabulous!! Now I wish I'd made a spool quilt, too. Maybe later. I hear you loud and clear about focusing on one project and not bouncing around. I'm glad I'm not the only one with that syndrome! ~karen

Anne Heidi said...

Your spool top is just so pretty!

Caron at Michigan Quilts said...

I love your spool quilt! It's beautiful, colorful, and I too love that it's all handmade. Drop by my blog and check out the start of my new quilt... as a hand sewer, I think you'll like it!

Cheryl said...

Julie, your spool quilt is wonderful. And those nine patches are yummy. Handquilting--I admire you.

Amelia said...

The spool quilt is tops!Makes me want to dig out my quilting stuff and get to work on one.

Enjoy the weekend!

Kaaren said...

I absolutely love your klosjes quilt, Julie. I want to make one sooooo badly.

Ditto for me about hand work. I can sit and stitch for hours and never get bored. As for sitting at the sewing machine...well that's a different story.

I'm lovin those 9 patches!

Carol said...

I love your spool quilt...so many wonderful fabrics. Oh these 9 patches just keep getting better and better...I've said it before..."This is going to be one awesome quilt" and it sure is!

~Joan said...

I didn't read anyone else's comments, so I'm sure to repeat...LOVE IT!! 242 spools, including the ones in the corners. I just reached the same conclusion as you last week. I. love. hand. piecing. and. hand. quilting. MUST DO MORE!!

How large is your quilt overall? The bright blue border sets it off perfectly.

Am I weird in feeling like a proud mama because I see some of my baby blocks in there?? Hahahahaha...

Terry said...

Your spools look great! I love them set on point like that! :0)

Lori said...

Fantastic spool quilt!!! What fun you will have hand quilting it and revisiting your fabric stash.
Wow, the 9 patches are terrific!!

Barb said...

Hooray for you!
Your top looks amazing. What a fun quilt.
I'll be sending my 9s on monday for sure!

Deanna said...

Beautiful quilt. Now I want to make spools, too. But mine probably won't be so small. What nice work you have done!

Vicki W said...

That is a special quilt! Scrap quilts like that are my favorites.

Angie said...

Your spool quilt is gorgeous, Julie!!

Karen said...

I really like that you put your spool blocks on point. A different look. Well done!

Nines said...

Congratulations! What a wonderful finish.

Jean Etheridge said...

The spools are an inspiration for me. I have made maybe thirty or forty or so that size. How big will your finished quilt be? Love that you cataloged your fabrics doing this,

quiltingnana said...

love the look of the spools

Sue-Anne said...

Your Klosjes quilt looks fantastic! Congratulations on finishing it. I agree with your reasons of why you are a quilter, I love the handwork the best too and enjoy the process of making a quilt.

Julie in the Barn said...

Okay, spool envy here! This one is going on my bucket list. How do you plan to quilt it?

Julia said...

Love the way you set your spools, Julie...they look fabulous!
Love the nine patches too..Handmade is the best..I'm with you!
Julia ♥

*karendianne. said...

Oh Julie you spool quilt is so wonderful and I love the creative way in which you've set this charming one. It definitely deserves the treatment of you luscious hand quilting. I'm smiling!

Stephanie D said...

Oh, the spool quilt is adorable! Nice to see it all together!

Miriam said...

Love your klosjes top!!!

Are you joining your DJ blocks as you go?

Teresa said...

Your spool quilt looks wonderful! I am with you on enjoying the process and not running the race to turn out as many quilts as possible in the least amount of time. I have been handquilting a small spool wall hanging, and really looking forward to making a full size quilt now.

Shelia said...

Julie,
Love the spools quilt, so much variety and they all play good together. Scrap quilts are always a favorite of mine.
Shelia

Unknown said...

Love your spool quilt! It's a beauty!

Helen in the UK said...

Just catching up on blog reading and saw your spool quilt. STUNNING! There's definately plenty of good things to be said about taking your time to enjoy the bits you want to savour :)

Hexies, rainbow quilts and plaids!

Good morning to all!!!  Above is a hexagon, for English paper piecing.  My kitten Lucky has discovered them, and decided that they are great...