A very special giveaway!

Hi Everyone!!  I have been so privileged to be able to share this book with you!  Jennifer Chiaverini is at it again,  writing wonderful stories, and this one is no exception.  I got an advance copy...and can share it with you!!  Please leave me a comment, and by random number drawing, perhaps this book will be winging it's way to you.

You will love this story...about the holidays...about giving and family...it just feels good!!! And of course quilting, too.  I have started a collection of all Jennifer's books.  I really enjoy each one so much, and I hope you will enter this drawing!

Hurry, though...this drawing will take place tomorrow so I can get it in the mail before the post office closes...


Have a great night, all!!!

Julie

One thing leads to another...

 Good Monday to everyone!  I finished putting the borders on my plaid churn dash quilt... I love piecing borders! It all fit together well, and  it is waiting it's turn for hand quilting.  Clock wise geese, of course.

 And a closer view.  Most, if not all these plaids are gifted scraps or pieces of shirts from the thrift store.  I wanted a lighter, airier look (don't know if airier is a word, LOL), so I am glad for the muslin sashings.  The hand quilting shows up on muslin better also.
Speaking of one thing leading to another, I had one block left over, so made this little quilt too.  Almost every quilt I make has a little quilt following it. 



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

Really darling patients lately.  Lots of cancer cases, due to a surgeon practicing with us now who does mostly cancerous lung resections.  And one of these patients has a daughter who is a quilter...big time!!  So I have enjoyed talking with her.  I am going in to do heart recovery in a few minutes, so I hope the heart is stable!!!

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Have a wonderful day, each of you!

Julie

Playing with the plaids!

Good afternoon everyone!  I have been playing with the plaid blocks...trying to figure out a border!!  I am liking the pink, it is girlie, like the hearts...just trying to figure out if I like the flying geese.  One thing is for sure, I love making them, and I get bonus half square triangles!  whoohoo!!!


Have a great day!!

Julie

Jazzed up for plaids!

 Good morning!  I went through all my strings, and pulled out all the plaids, separating them out.  I had a few strings as big as 2.5 inches wide.  I just started making plaid churn dash blocks...and am having a blast with them!!  Remember those hearts I cut out a few posts ago...they wiggled their way onto a couple blocks.  I am so excited about this quilt!  hearts, plaids, scraps...what is not to love??

 I sewed together my version of Lori's newest doll quilt. Red binding is cut...I just need to take time and hand quilt this one, and it will be together.  I also am planning a bigger version of Lori's quilt too, and am in the cutting out phase.

 Remember the nine patches from last post?  A few leftovers became this...hmmm, the jury is still out on this one!

And another reason I am all jazzed up this morning?  This book!!  If I bought one book this year...this would be way up at the top of the stack.  I love each and every quilt in here!!  The author is Linda Koenig.  It is available I am sure everywhere, but the Lone Star House of Quilts has it...that is where I got mine.





Everyone, have a great day!  I have been called in to "take a heart"...that means recover a heart patient fresh from surgery.  It is challenging sometimes, but great fun and a great opportunity to connect with families at their most frightened...when their loved one is having open heart surgery.  Nursing is good!!




Hugs to all from Julie

Nine Patch Trip!

 Hi to everyone!  I have been contemplating this nine patch quilt, and have settled on this arrangement. The nine patches are strip pieced, with some individually pieced  blocks too.  The pink is a favorite batik.  I was hoarding it...but why?  Use it up! (note to self)  Rosie the poodle was intent on rearranging these blocks, thus the ragged edges, so I took pictures quickly!

 Another view...

 Closer!

And now for some fun!  Red Brolly is offering a beautiful free Christmas stitchery pattern!  Here is my first block...it is of course different than the pattern.  Fun, fun, fun!  Thank you!



Julie

Scrappy nines!

 Good Monday morning to everyone!  I have had this ton of nine patches cut out for a long time...plus had some nine patches gifted to me.  So?  This weekend was the chosen time to Geterdun!  I think I have enough 3 inch nine patches for a full size quilt, so I just have to figure out how to arrange them and cut alternate blocks.

I have more cool colors than warm, so I will have to spread those warmer nine patches throughout the quilt.


They have just called me in to work, so off I go!!

Have a great day!

Julie

Working on it!

Good day!  It is a good day, you know, for I am sewing today!  As many of you know, I am a heart nurse, working in CVICU.  I am kind of fixated on hearts!  I have made dozens of heart quilts...lots and lots.  Above is the latest muse, a plaid heart quilt.  I am working on the applique now, and loving it!

 These are a ton of little hearts, backed with steam-a-seam, that I cut out and can add to projects as the whim descends.

 A little Log cabin!  I started these blocks a while back, and love the red running through them.  So I thought it was the coolest thing ever when Lori of Humble Quilts started a quilt along, with a very cool old quilt as her inspiration! Please go and see it...a very neat variation on the log cabin!! So...I have to do that one too!  Please click HERE...you can start it too, as Lori is at the very beginning of her quilt along!!

 Barrister's blocks...trying to keep up, and I think I actually might be caught up, LOL!!  Love this square in a square!

 And this fun block too!  Nor perfect, but fine as frog's hair for me!

And speaking of frogs...this picture was actually taken at night.  Horrible quality, but this little friend sits in the same place, on the corner, under the street light, eating mosquitoes and buggies.  He is our good friend, and my dog and I greet him every night when we take our last walk around 10 PM.  He seems to be unafraid...


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

A darling patient, with a recurrence of lung cancer was my patient this week.  So very nice...just a real gentleman of bygone years.  A Korean War vet.  Married for 57 years, with his wife right there with him after his surgery.  He complained of being constantly cold...so I brought him a string quilt.  I wish I could make for every surgery patient we get...but maybe if I could make one a month, that would be more realistic...I will try!!!

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Have a great day, all!!


Julie