Thursday, March 10, 2011

The march of the Tartans!!

The plaid jewel box quilt is growing...here are the blocks I have completed so far. Nothing is sewn together yet. I worked the last couple days, so am catching up at home today. Laundry, cleaning, you know how it goes!! I will tell you...this quilt is a wonderful leader/ender idea...or just when you have 15 minutes, you can get an amazing amount done with this pattern!! A four patch based pattern...I like it!


By the way...do you usually buy a pattern and follow it? I almost never do...although I have quite a few patterns, I buy them for the ideas, then end up tweaking it and making it my own...what do you do? Or I see a quilt and draft the pattern for it....that is fun. I would love to know what you do, and where you get your best ideas!!!



*********************Nursing notes**************************


Nurses: I am so blessed to work with an incredible group of nurses. It is strange, I am a generation older than most, and almost two generations older than the youngest nurses coming in. I feel very motherly toward the new nurses... The vast majority are ladies, but men are present in this profession too...mostly in the ER and CCU, the guys seem to gravitate to places of high adrenaline, LOL!! One dear nursing friend is just brilliant, graduating high school at age 15, nursing school at 19... Such an incredibly smart nurse...almost done with her master's degree in her very early 20's. Another is zany, wacky, crazy...and just as brilliant. Detail oriented to the nth degree, she is my polar opposite in that way...and she is wonderful. Another? In her 60's...a heart of gold, and still working 60 hours a week like all the rest of us...a dear, dear nurse who really cares. Many years of education, experience and love comprise our staff...I love them all.

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



Have a great day!!


Julie

37 comments:

Chris said...

I love this quilt. It really looks pretty easy to make....I think I need to try one :)

Barb said...

You quilt is just wonderful!

Michelle said...

Love your jewel box blocks. I have a similar project in the works as a leader/ender.

Merilyn said...

Your plaid quilt blocks are coming along nicely!!! I know how it is trying to fit in precious sewing time around housework and shift work - frustrating at times!

How nice of you to honour your nursing colleagues the way you do, I am a senior nurse (which really means an 'old tart' LOL!) I work with a great bunch of people too, you need a good sense of humour in the area I work in!!! I also preceptor nursing students and graduates, which I find very rewarding!

As far as quilts go, I rarely work directly from patterns, except some small quilts, but like you do gain inspiration from pictures/patterns, and end up playing around on EQ to get exactly what I want in terms of size, colour, design etc.

Kristie said...

The jewel box pattern is one of my favorites! Love how it looks! Most of the time, I will start out step-by-step with a pattern and then do my own thing.
Kristie

Sharon said...

This is a great plaid quilt. I have a stack of neutral plaids that I must do something with! Your friend with the fabric is a good lesson for all, I'm trying to use up and only buying for specific projects that I am working on in the moment. Next week another 50 collections will be released, they will be beautiful, this will repeat itself. I don't think the stores will run out if I use up some of what I have right now.

Mad about Craft said...

The quilt is going to be just fab!

I work with a great bunch of nurses too! They make work so much more fun.

Yvette said...

I adore all those plaids!

KaHolly said...

Like you, a pattern generally gets me started, but then I go off on my own. I made my grandson this quilt for Christmas - minus the plaids. It came out great! I handquilted his name in block letters within one of the borders. It made a lovely gift. Yours is coming along very nicely! ~karen

Gwargedd said...

Love the plaids.

I to am a nurse and feel blessed to work with an amazing group of people. Glad to know there are other nurses out there that are not eating the young so to say and scaring them off.

Lori said...

That is so nice you like the group of nurses you work with. I'm so glad to see men in the profession too. When my dad was in the hospital he responded the best to the men nurses.
I very rarely use a pattern, unless its applique.

Quilter Kathy said...

I am the same as you... don't often buy a pattern and never end up making it as written. I bought 2 patterns this year so far and have not enjoyed either one. I do love mystery quilts and like to make quilts based on the inspiration of a quilt I've seen and loved...like your jewel box!

Lisa said...

i luv your quilt....i just saw it hanging at my quilt store today and took a picture of it with my phone so i could create the pattern! What size are your finished 4 patch and HST blocks? Can't wait to see yours finished!!

A Garden of Threads said...

I love the colors and pattern of this quilt. I am sorry if I offended in my last comment about plaids, did not mean to. Fantastic job. Have a wonderful weekend.

Leeanne said...

From one plaid fan to another, LOVE IT!!!!

Anonymous said...

I made this quilt as a quilt-along from another blogger. Usually I see a quilt I like and try to figure it out on my own. Or I'll try a free pattern that I get off the net. I like the plaids that you used. Thanks for sharing, your quilts and comments about your job.
cindy

Lorraine said...

its great to be able to add a few blocks whenever you have a "spare" minute! Nice to work with such a talented (and nice) bunch of people...makes going to work not so much of a chore! Lucky patients too!

Unknown said...

I am a lurker on many blogs and when I see a pattern or quilt that strikes my fancy, I use my EQ7 to draw the block and put it in my file marked blog patterns. I have patterns that I rarely use. I am scrap quilter through and through.

Sharon said...

This is a beauty! Most patterns, I follow the instructions because I liked it enough to buy it. Sometimes I change the way it is bordered and do my own thing.

Anonymous said...

The quilt is looking great! Yep, I change patterns too at times to suit myself.

Libby said...

Love those plaids!

I find myself using patterns less and less. I love them and buy them, but when it comes to actual quilt-making I'm more drawn to photos of vintage quilts as inspiration.

Can be a challenge - but so, so fun *s*

Nicole said...

Jewel Box was one of the first quilts I ever made, and is still one of my favorite patterns. It was just so satisfying to see that wonderful design develop. Your quilt is beautiful.

Maureen said...

Your plaid jewels looks fabulous! Interesting to read the comments. I tend not to use patterns, but use books, magazines and blogs to get ideas. Have a great weekend!

regan said...

I'm with you Julie. I never use the pattern as given, but get the inspiration from it and change it to my liking. I love drafting quilt designs on graph paper, then play with the sizing until it's just the right block size to work.

Your jewel box is looking great, and I'm so glad you are working with wonderful people. We've never had a bad experience when hospitalized, and I think the nurses made that happen!

And while we're on the subject, what do you like as 'thank you' gifts for the nursing crews....we've always done muffins or chocolates....but is there something better? I'd hate to think that they all rolled there eyes at yet another basket of muffins. Tell the truth, I can take it!

Patty Nordahl said...

I usually work from a pattern as I am a fairly new quilter. Where can I find the jewel box pattern? I love it in the plaids. TIA I read your blog often and love your nurses notes as much as your quilty news. Thanks for taking the time to chat with all of us "lurkers'.

country mouse said...

Love your quilt! I haven't worked on a quilt in a while, and I get so inspired when I see quilts like this one. I really need to try to take a break from playing with yarn to play with my poor, neglected sewing machine.

As far as patterns, sometimes I follow one, sometimes not, just depends. But I do like having lots around for inspiration.

Linda O said...

Wow, your jewel box is looking great! I'm mostly a pattern follower but am trying to do more of my own thing! Wonderful group of co-workers you have!

Denise in PA said...

Looking good! I must confess to usually following a pattern exactly - I always colored within the lines. I like following directions - LOL!

I love hearing your nursing stories!

Jeanne said...

Yup! I'm definitely putting this one on my 'to do' list (in plaids). It is marvelous!

Jan said...

YOur quilt is just wonderful! How nice that you can work with such great people! Makes you want to go to work!

Jan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Darlene said...

Love this quilt, Julie!!!

I have a tendency to follow a pattern almost to a fault. LOL Too lazy to tweak. LOL

Deanna said...

Your jewel box is beautiful. What more can I say?

Helen in the UK said...

I've never bought a single pattern, but I do love books. Rarely follow a pattern to the letter ... I almost always tweek the size to fit the donation size I like. Sometimes change the block size too! Often use a different method to get the pieces done, eg half-sq triangles. I just love seeing lots of different ideas and then I use bits from here and bits from there to make something that will work for me :)

Shari said...

Plaids are just magic in your hands! Just love this quilt! You sure have been busy.

Sometimes I follow directions and sometimes I don't. Depends on what I'm trying and the mood I'm in...

Susan said...

You are making quick work of your Jewel Box quilt..........

Michele said...

I like your quilt! Really fun!

Puffins and purples!!

I was tempted by Puffins...a squirrelly breed!!  LOL!  This fabric was shared with me, and I have been loved these bright, candy corn colors...