Butternut and Blue...a giveaway!

I absolutely love to hand quilt. It gives me such a measure of peace and fun in a hectic world. I hand quilted this little nine-patch quilt above, about 18x24 inches. A blue, and a brownish yellow. Butternut and Blue! If you could please ignore the shadow, that is me leaning over the quilt...it is very much yellower in the picture than in real life.

So! I wanted to do a giveaway for my hundredth post. And missed it, so to honor my 118th post, I would love to give away this little quilt! But this is the catch...won't you please share a quilting legend that you have heard in the past? Or some romance about quilts? Some old family story about quilts? Please share!! And be entered in the drawing! Next Friday, November 21st, at noon, I will draw a name from those who tell me a quilting legend to win this quilt. This should be so fun!! For example, one legend I have heard is the a girl who is the first to sleep under a new quilt will dream of her husband to be. Please tell me your folklore!!

JulieK

Leaves, leaves everywhere!

OK, please help me with the above. This is what I have been doing with the strings. This is a busy, busy, BUSY quilt! Is it OK, or should I put sashing and cornerstones to calm it down a little bit? Please tell me what you think!!

I have been raking leaves, exactly 1,582,496 leaves. It has taken me a really long time! It would probably take less time if I did not stop and count each leaf! Hee!! No, seriously, a lot of leaves. I enjoy it, though! There are many more to come, I just have to take it slower now since my back surgery last February. No bending, I actually have to sit down on the lawn and put them in bags. Takes longer, but hurts much less than bending over, and I still get to experience the pretty outside. It rained lots of inches last night, and everything is washed clean and fresh.

Above are chocolate Cherry nine patches for my friend Sharon at work. She is making a nine patch quilt with all pinks and browns. I call them Chocolate Cherries!

And some more nine patches! We quilters at work exchanged these about 2 years ago, and mine are still aging to be just the right vintage to put in a quilt. You know what I mean, right? About 50 nine patches here, 6x6 inches.

Back to work tomarrow for a few days...sigh, I hope it just the right amount of busy!! Please, all have a wonderful good day!

JulieK

Falling Leaves!

While I was in New Mexico recently, I saw the beauty of a flock of geese, flying south for the winter. My geese are lost, apparently they only fly clockwise, around and around, not south. This is my quilt, Tobacco Rose, patterned (kind of) from Bonnie of Quiltville fame's Tobacco Road. Without the pinwheels! I liked it better without the border, but it is done, and I am glad! My borders even lie straight, which is an amazing feat for me!

The pinks are pinker and show up more in real life than the picture.

OK, these are my strings! A BIG, GIGANTIC tub of strings. And boy, am I ever having fun with them. What a treasure trove of possibilities...isn't it funny that I enjoy the littlest of scraps ever as much as brand new, quilt shop yardage.

I have blisters on both hands, due to raking leaves. We have lots of trees, therefore lots of leaves. I hope to get them all up this evening, if it does not rain on me. At least for this week! There are still lots more on the trees.

Hope everyone is happy and quilting a little!

JulieK

A mini quilt retreat

Good morning! I had a day off yesterday, and thought I would finish up a few things! Actually, I got a lot done. Above is a table runner I have had cut out for ages, and put it together yesterday. The charms squares came in a package, and I set them together with the stars making up the sashing and cornerstones..

The best news is right above! I received my t-shirt from Vicki Welsh...it is wonderful! Just exactly perfect! Thank you Vicki, it is wonderful. How in the world does she do that!!!?

Since I talked about pillows in my last post, here is an old one above, almost worn out, made of templates and hand sewn.

And a newer one! I really just made it to preserve the pattern...I saw such a beautiful quilt in Pueblo Colorado on one visit, and just took a picture since the shop was closed, then drafted the pattern. Does anyone know the name of the pattern? I would love to make a quilt using many of this star!

On the brown and pink theme, I made a little needle book from the leftovers of other projects. I have never had one before, and it is already in use.

I made ties to tie the needle book shut, but think I will do Velcro or a snap, or something else.

Baskets! I have made three baskets between yesterday and today for friends! This pattern is from the Patchwork Penguin. It is so fun and easy to do, and I love how the baskets came out. I am going to make a bigger one also. Thank you for the pattern!!

All three baskets together...

Ok, off to do useful things....

Have a wonderful day!!

Julie

Pillow talk...

Ok, I almost never post twice in a day, but I had to show y'all what else I got done today. We have plain brown sofas...brown, you know? I am going to make some pretty pillows for these. This one is made from leftover 1/2 square triangles, arranging into flying geese. It is 12 x 17...and the bag of polyfill just fit in it! Stay tuned for more patchwork pillows...Have a most wonderful day! We are watching the election returns...are you? :)

Baby quilt almost done

Hi all! I have had a productive day, if not on the housekeeping front. I really needed to complete this little baby quilt for a co-worker...it seems at any one time, several of the girls are expecting, and the one that is due soonest is a little boy. Hope this is OK!I quilted it myself on my little Brother machine, and still need to hand-stitch the binding. The girl I am making it for wanted pastel blues...so this is what she got! All the pastel blues I own! The fabric is interesting; it was given to me as some samplers from the fabric warehouses. We have fabric warehouses in the metroplex, and they are simply dangerous to go in to...dangerous for the pocketbook that is!!I think that when this little quilt is washed and dried, it will scrunch up and be fine for a baby boy.

This is my package, minus bows, to go to my Secret Santa Swap partner! I hope she loves it as much as I do...

I went to vote very early this am. We use old fashioned paper ballots. Hope you all got the chance to go too!! I got sheets changed, mirrors and microwave polished, laundry done...will work on dusting, that is my least favorite.

Hope you all have had a most wonderful day!!

JulieK

A Very Talented Lady! and an inspiration...

Hi all! I just got home from work...phewww!! 4/5 days at work...only one more to go!!



At my job, everyone knows how much I love quilts and quilting and quilters...so I occasionally find some goodies waiting for me! Scraps found in a garage sale, patterns from estates, etc. Today, I found in my box a most interesting pamphlet! It all about Diane Rose, the only known totally blind quilter and speaker. It is amazing that she is such a prolific quilter, and has no vision at all. Her website is http://www.theamazingquilter.com/. It is such a humbling thing to know that she has no sight, but is able to make beautiful quilts, and her own clothing too! Cool, huh?



Have a wonderful day! Maybe you can check her out too.! Her joyfulness sure made my day!





JulieK