That Long List of Projects? FINISHED!!

In this long overdue post, I have photos of family members who visited us this summer.  And, there are photos of the rest of the summer projects I was able to complete.  Most of the projects on my list were for others.  But.  First thing I am going to show you is a pillow I finished for myself.  

Sister Julie did the stitchery work and I simply made a pillow insert and put borders, a zipper and backing together to finish it off.  I love this!! 

                     

Sister Joyce wanted a case for her notary stamp.  So, I made this little pouch, using fabrics from the Lilac Hill line (seen first here).  

Joyce came for a 5 day visit with her granddaughter, Ashley (center of photo).  Michelle (my godchild/niece and lives here now) is the smiling face on the right.  

Because Joyce was coming for a visit, I thought I should have kleenex cozies to send home with her.  So, I made some.  11 of them.

Joyce's daughter, Jody - also my godchild/niece - lives about 4.5 hours from here and came for a 2 day visit while her Mom was here.  I was able to - finally - finish Jody's t-shirt quilt.  

My nephew, Tony - with Sabrina - came to visit.  That's me Mum and Michelle (same smiling face shown above/sister to Tony) with them.

So, moving on more projects completed...

I made a pencil case for my granddaughter, aka Princess Kaylynn. Just because.

I made this backing for my HST string quilt (seen here).  I do love pieced backings!

I will give more detail on this later...I have several quilts that will be quilted and ready to bind within the next little while.  Here are the bindings...ready to go.  

I stumbled across a gorgeous pineapple quilt that I absolutely love! But, you know, I have no need for another quilt.  What I did to satisfy the urge to make one was to make one block and make it into a very mini quilt.  (Who am I kidding!  I still want to make that as at least a lap quilt!!!)

Here's the second pillow cover I made for sister Julie's stitchery piece.  It goes with the one I showed in the previous post.

And, I made a small pouch with a pocket on the outside of it for Joyce's friend.

Well, I think that's about it for what I have made this summer.  

New adventures are to begin soon.  

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Tattoos.  I never ever thought I would want to get a tattoo.  I mean, truly.  It never even entered my head.  Not for one small moment! Until 4 months ago.  I saw a tattoo that really spoke to me...involving sisters.  I thought it would be a great idea for the 4 of us, the 4 J's as we were once (and sometimes still) called, would have matching tattoos.  With Joyce coming for a visit this summer, Jill and I thought it would be perfect timing.  So, we booked an appointment at the local tattoo parlor.  The Dungeon, Inc.  However, Joyce and Julie chickened out.  Jill and I went ahead and kept the appointment...and while there, asked if there was time for one more tattoo for each of us...and there was! 

The first...there's no better friend than a sister.   

sideways on inside of lower right arm

The second...Just Breathe....  

inside of lower left arm near wrist

I am actually wanting a third one...we shall see.  ~grin~

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One more thing...me Mum has not been well, but is recovering nicely.  For the present time, she is in a rehab care center, working on regaining some strength.  She is looking good and we are happy with her progress.  I am so very thankful that she is here where I can spend time with her.  

Next time you hear from me, I should have some gorgeous quilts to show you.  Keep your fingers crossed.




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Family and More...

It has been a busy week.  Me Mum and sister arrived in Canon City on Tuesday!  We are so excited!  Jill and I had found a very nice duplex for them and we had the truck unloaded when they arrived. It all worked out so well.  Less stress than it could have been, for sure.    

Not sure if you knew, but me Mum - who is 85 years old - has Parkinson's Disease. She does very well with it, but does require help and cannot live alone.  Julie has lived with Mum for almost 4 years...Jill and I are very happy that they live here so that we will be able to help with Mum.  

Tomorrow is Mother's Day!  It has been several years since Mum has had more than one or two (of the 4 of us) with her on that special day.  We are looking forward to celebrating together.  

I have not had much time with Naomi Janome, but I did manage to make what I had originally planned to be a mini quilt into a pillow cover.  Cuz, you know how much I love pillows!  It's the envelope pattern by Carolyn Friedlander.  I rather enjoy paper piecing, and need to do more of it.  The fabric is Doglandia by Peter Horjus.  I have made other pillow covers and cloth napkins with this fabric...seen here and here.

Speaking of paper-piecing.  I have not done anything with my wonderful little hexies.  Trying to decide what to do with them...several options are available.  

I have been slowly working on a t-shirt quilt for my niece, Jody. She is a very patient woman...I say that because this should have been done a year ago.  But, with the move and all...well, it just wasn't happening. BUT...I now have all of the t-shirts interfaced and cut to size and I am beginning to cut/sew the filler strips.  It's going to take concentration and planning...which I am not in huge supply of. However, my plan is to have it done in time for Jody when she comes for a visit in late July. 

In other news...I am still putting my apartment together.  I got some barn siding boards a few months ago.  I needed to sand them down somewhat, otherwise the paint would flake off and they would be difficult to dust.  So, I sanded them down and put 2 coats of sealer on them.  I found the perfect iron brackets and got the long shelves put up this past week.  

Here is what I have on the living room shelf thus far...it will primarily be for family photos.  The shelf is 6.5 ft. long...  

So far, the 4 ft. long dining area shelf looks like this...    

Well, I think that is about all that is going on with me.  

Have a great weekend.  






"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

How to...

I've been asked to explain how I made the t-shirt quilt shown here.  Sorry, I have no photos, because I wasn't planning to do a tutorial.  

A few resources can be found here and here. 

The t-shirt blocks came to me already cut into 9 1/2 inch and 4 1/2 inch squares and already had the interfacing ironed on.  My first step, then, was to decide on the arrangement.  I laid the blocks out on my bed and played with them until I had the look I wanted.  To add inches to the quilt, I decided to add a narrow sashing between each block, so I cut 1 1/2 inch X 9 1/2 inch strips and sewed a strip to the right side of each of the t-shirt blocks...all but the ones that ran along the right side of the quilt.  I used Kona solid in Navy for the sashing and border.

After sewing the sashing to the blocks, I needed strips to go between the rows, so I cut several 1 1/2 inch strips times the width of the fabric .  I sewed all the strips together, took the average measurement of the rows and then cut them that length.  When sewing rows together, instead of sewing row 1 to 2, then add row 3, then add row 4, etc., I sew rows 1 & 2 together, then sew rows 3 & 4 together, then sew rows 5 & 6 together...etc.  Then, I join each section of 2 rows together, then each section of 4 rows together...you get the idea, right?  Course, I didn't mark the rows, so the quilt ended up with the bottom half on top, but it worked out okay.  Once the rows were attached, I added a 3 1/2 inch border all the way around.

ohyeah, now I had several 4 1/2 inch blocks to use.  I had originally intended to put 4 of them together with sashing to form blocks, but decided that a row of them across the top would be more fun.  After I did that, I still had blocks to use, so I made a strip to put into the backing.  You know how I love pieced backings!

I used denim for the backing and, as stated above, I added in a strip of the smaller blocks. I used the 'reverse bag' method of putting this quilt together...I put the right sides together with the batting on top and machine stitched all the way around, leaving about 2/3's of the bottom open so that I could turn the quilt right side out.  After turning it, I hand-stitched the opening and then top-stitched 1/2" from the outside edge all the way around.  I also did a row of top-stitching next to the seam of where the border attached to the t-shirt blocks.  I basted the quilt with safety pins.       

Susan wanted it kept simple, so I tied the quilt, instead of machine quilting it.  I used Navy perle cotton.  Double strand twice for each tie.  The ties were placed on every junction of the inner sashing and then in between each of those.  I did not tie the center of the blocks.

The quilt measures 75 x 90 inches.  If I ever make another one, I won't use denim for the backing.  I liked the look and it was perfect for a young man, but it was very heavy.  Also, I will cut at least 12 1/2 inch squares.  There were several squares that, once the seams were made, didn't show the entire design.

*I used my walking foot throughout the construction of this quilt.  

*I used a ballpoint needle because my Naomi Janome skipped stitches if I used a regular needle on the knit fabric of the t-shirts. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.  The links I added at the top of the post have additional information that you might want to check out if you are considering making a t-shirt quilt.  

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

T-Shirt Quilt Done!

Well, I did it.

I finished the big bad t-shirt quilt!

My first commissioned quilt.

Here are the stats:

56 9" t-shirt blocks.

24 4" t-shirt blocks.

Sashing & border of Kona solid in Navy.

Denim backing.

Warm n' Natural batting.

Tied with perle cotton (~ 170 ties).

75 x 90 inches.

 

I apologize for this next photo being blurry.

But, you can see it well enough to see

that I did a pieced backing.

Now that I crossed this off my list,

I can move forward.

On to the next batch of projects.

Mother's Day is coming.

A special little girl's birthday is coming.

 Totes are waiting to be made.
Charity blocks are waiting to be made.

I am itching to start a quilt.

Just you wait and see.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

T-Shirt Quilt...

I gotta tell ya,

this is looking better

and better all the time.

I have the back and front pieced.

Yes, a pieced back...how could I not?

front sneak peek...

 back sneak peek...

Now to sew it all together.

Then on to pinning and tying. 

I may not use batting.

Waiting on word from the commissioner.
edited to add:  yes, she wants batting, so batting it is.

Is that what one who commissions the quilt is called???

Then, would that make me the commissionee???

Yes?  No?

{grin}

The back is denim,

which is a lot heavier to work with

than what I'm used to handling.

It's hard on my neck and shoulders,

so I'm having to take a few

more breaks than normal.

It's a dreary, dismal day.

Perfect for spending time

with my Naomi Janome.

Though, gotta tell ya,

she was acting a bit

temperamental earlier.

Breaking thread every 3-4 inches.

huh?

Once I changed the needle,

she was back to her sweet sewing self.

I'm anxious to get the quilt done.

Some fun projects waiting.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

DQS10 Fabrics and...For Hire!

My first commission!
YAY!

I've been asked to finish a quilt

by a friend of a friend.

It's a t-shirt quilt for her son.

Susan cut squares from her son's t-shirts

and ironed the interfacing on.

Then, decided she didn't want to finish it herself.
So, here we are.

There are 63 squares cut at 9 1/2 inches

and 24 squares cut at 4 1/2 inches.

I can make a nice quilt for her.

Deadline...mid-April.

My only wish is that I had gotten

my hands on these before she cut them out.

But, it is what it is.

We talked about what she wanted
and what I could do 
and I have a plan.

Sashing and border and binding with Kona solid.

Backing of denim.

It'll be a fun quilt for her son to have.

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I finally put together some fabrics for DQS10.
Yes, I know...the batiks are for that swap.
This is an additional doll quilt.
Yup, for the same person.
I had 4 meadowsweet fabrics and I
found 3 other fabrics that work well with it.

 

Now to decide what to do with them.

Right now, I have no ideas!
Hope inspiration hits soon...
the deadline is April 15.

hmmmm...guessin' I'll be busy between now and then.

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Maureen and I ran a few errands

together this morning.

We stopped at the lqs and visited my quilt.

Ohman, it looks so nice hanging there...
I felt like a proud mama!

The girls at the shop were very pleased with it.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10