Can't settle down, and a tribute to Linda

Good Morning!! Above are the prettiest broken dishes blocks! They were made by Linda, my quilting friend...you just have to see them! They are perfectly pieced, and perfectly pressed with swirled centers pressed on the back...the blocks are wonderful! And there are a ton of then, included in her scraps boxes gifted to me. I had some 3 inch squares and placed a few of them, experimentally, in between the blocks...pretty!! I would like to showcase the blocks, more, though...any ideas??

Told you there were a ton of these blocks! Linda made these blocks from the leftover triangles from making flying geese. Cool, huh!??


I cannot settle down and work on anything, restless, wandering this morning...maybe later I will settle down and concentrate on one thing, LOL!!!


Have a super great day!

Julie

Playing with four inch blocks

I saw a beautiful star quilt at the Dallas Quilt Show, 3 inch stars alternating with brown plain squares...it was gorgeous!! These blocks are 4 inch instead...thinking of what to do with this idea...
I made some more 4 inch Jewel box blocks, out of my pre-cut scrap bins...I confess...I love these blocks!! Scrappy and happy, and such a joy to make! I am also making 4 inch stars, so was playing with the two quilt ideas...just for fun. I love that quilt! Her stars were only 3 inches finished...mine are 4 inch finished, and I am having a blast making these stars...no particular time frame in which to get a quilt done out of these... The thing I loved best about her quilt is that she said "I loved making every one of these stars." I just loved that she got so much pleasure out of making her masterpiece!



Have a great day, everyone!!!


Julie K

Need to get cracking!!

HI Y'all! I have just a little bit to go on this quilt...I hung it back up in the closet about 2 years ago, not quite finished...I am finishing it this week!! The story is...I found the book at the library that had this sampler in it. Another lady (unknown), and I took turns borrowing the book back and forth...until my quilt was together!! I hope hers is done too! High time this baby is finished!!!


It is 2:41 in the morning...awake...wide awake!!! I will sure be glad when the thyroid is not raging anymore...I need my beauty sleep in a bad way, LOL!!!

Have a super weekend all!!!


Julie K

Good afternoon!!

I made a few more of these 4 inch blocks, today, my second day off in a row! whoohoo! These are such great fun...I will have to be careful not to bore you to tears with nothing but Jewel Box blocks!!

I have about 2 hours a day, on my days off , to piece...today, I used that time to cut up scraps into usable pieces. I have 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 5 inch strips and blocks. I had such fun cutting these pieces up and planning uses for them!!



There has been some angst lately in the blog world, about the "dumbing down" of quilting. My take on this is that there are tons of new quilters, who need something a little easier to get started!! And then there are those of us who really enjoy completing a simple pattern after a crazy, complex, and exhausting day at work in the CCU or where ever you work. I have made my share of Mariner's compasses, and Baltimore album blocks, but what gives me great joy is to make a quilt that can be thrown around on the couch, that my family can use, that the poodle can jump on too...and it be OK. To use my scraps and little pieces, to use what I have, to not go and buy hundreds of dollars of fabric for the perfect combination, to not angst over color. There are PLENTY of complex patterns out there to choose from!! And lots of fun simpler ones...I think that judging quilters or anyone else for that matter is just detrimental to what a lot of us bloggers are here for...FUN! A place to show our work, to get encouragement, to enjoy friendships... I love to see really complex, work intensive quilts...and I love to see squares sewn together and tied!! It is the fun, the process for me...it makes me feel like maybe people are judging my quilts, and saying they are too simple...and kind of hurts a little. Please tell me what you think, honestly and frankly...I would love to know your opinion!!! This is not againest (or for) anyone for that matter...just that I have been thinking about it for two days, and really need to get it out...thank you for that, dear quilters!! Maybe I am just too tired...no sleep again, friends...


Have a wonderful day!!

Julie

Smaller...and scrappier!!

Hi all! I have been working and my son and his wife were here for the weekend, so I have been a little nutty busy...what's new, right? We had a wonderful time!! Now, for a little quilting time. I have been really enjoying the scraps that Linda and Amy have sent to me...yum! I have cut some of the pieces into 1.5 and 2.5 inch strips, then made the little piece above. I intend for the quilt to be a bed quilt, so I have a lot of scrapping to go, LOL!! The little squares are one inch finished, and the 1/2 square triangles are 2 inch finished. Another Jewel Box! Hurrah!! Can you tell I just love scrap quilting???
I finished my cross stitch BOM...and just love it! I rarely have anything professionally framed, but I think I will have this one framed...I really like it!



Have a wonderful day, each one of you!!


Julie

Can you help Japan on National Quilting Day??

Happy Quilting Day to everyone!! Janet from Quiltsalott and Taniwa, too, are both blogging about quilts for Japan today. As I sit in my safe home, comfortable, not rich by any means but having food and shelter and safety, I was wondering what can I do to help the poor people of Japan. As I see on my TV children, wandering, looking for their parents, orphanages overflowing, shelters maxed out...what could I do? I think the donating to the Red Cross is wonderful, and check, that was done...but what more could I do? I think that the opportunity to send some quilts to Japan is wonderful!! Please visit these two blogs and see if maybe you could send a quilt too!! They both have addresses of agencies accepting quilts, a quilting magazine company.

The quilt above is hand quilted, it is for a boy...

This one is machine quilted, and is for a girl!!! I sure hope that these quilts can be of service and comfort to someone in need....



Have a great day, all!!!


Julie

The plaids are talking...again!

OK! The border had to be made out of 3.5 inch strips, because that is what I had already cut. I considered flying geese, then considered piano keys...but this is what I settled on. I like it! Not overpowering, but fun. I sewed for 15 minutes, then ran around and cleaned house for 15 minutes, then sewed 15 minutes, then cleaned...all day long. The house is sparkly, and the quilt border is done!! Yahoo! This is a great option for those ADD people...set your timer and have at it! You have to concentrate, and it is tiring...but boy, you get a lot done for the time of your day.
The border close up...do you like that stripey house slipper...hee!!!


Hey, speaking of fabrics talking to us...here are some of the things they say. Plaids say to me, "I belong in a log cabin...take me there!". Florals want to be in a Victorian home. Lines of fabric may be a little stuck up, "We don't really want any outsider... not in OUR click!". Scraps are happy and freewheeling, adaptable...they love anywhere and any quilt!!

Some fabrics...even speak the language of love! Seductive, you know..."Hey, I am beautiful...come feel me, don't I just feel so soft and silky in your hand? Hmmmmm???". You know you love running your hand over soft lovely cotton fabrics!!! And those satins, and velvets...now what would they say if they could really talk? Some fabrics even call out to you at the quilt store..."Come buy me!", they shout!


Have a great day all!! I am off to work again!!


Julie