My Best Customer!

I come from a very close-knit family.
One that has always been
there for each other...
one that is very supportive.
Of whatever we each pursue.
(Well, mostly.) 

It's no big surprise to me, then, that
my family has been very encouraging
about my quilting/sewing.

(and, just so ya know, me Mum told me when I was 18 that I should sew for a living.)

My friends are also very encouraging
and quick to compliment my work.

Thank you all!

But, this post is really about my big sister.

She has gone above and beyond her 'duty' as my sister...
ya know, where she really 'must' like everything I make!

She has become my best customer.

Seriously!

Over the last 17 months,

she has ordered/purchased the following items:

5 quilts (none larger than lap-sized)

2 quilted tote bags

2 carrycots (with mattresses, pillows and doll quilts)

3 doll quilts

1 child tote bag (fabric only-not quilted) 

(I am so glad she has grandchildren!)

And, she has now ordered a mini version

of the purple tote I just completed for her!

What a wonderful big sister she is!

Thank you so very much, Joyce.

I appreciate you more than words can express!

Love,
Jacque.

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

Purple People Eater...

What exactly is a purple people eater, anyway?

"I said Mr Purple People Eater, what's your line?

He said eating purple people, and it sure is fine

But that's not the reason that I came to land

I wanna get a job in a rock 'n roll band!"

If you want to know more, click here.

For your viewing pleasure,

here's the purple tote.

That's all I got done this weekend.

It was a weekend full of ups & downs.

Started off with Kaylynn calling me.

That girl sure makes my heart sing!

Chatted with son Paul for a good bit, too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A dear, dear friend of mine has lung cancer.

It was caught early on, so she tells me

that it's treatable and curable.

I talked with her yesterday.

 She's going through chemotherapy
and radiation treatments right now.

Feeling good and is healthy in all other respects.

I will be praying for her health and comfort.

I love her so.

Guess what else I'll be doing for her?

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

Workin...

 I haven't gotten too much done.

But, I did get my doll quilt quilted.

 

 I tried something different...

swirly thingies instead of meandering.

By the time I was half done,

I had hit my groove.

I also made my second star block for

the Moda Challenge, Just One Star.

 

That's all I have for now...

am working on the tote bags.

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

Next!

On my never-ending list...

I have a few tote bags to make.

Gotta have me some Iced Mocha...

I never tire of these fabrics!

(and I'm not even a huge fan of blues!)

Gotta love these purples.

(well, I don't gotta, but the recipient best love them!)

I should have the finished totes

to show you in a few days.

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

Fabric Stash

How do you organize your fabric stash?

In my blog-hopping, 

I have often read about

organizing fabric stashes.

Many quilters organize by color,

 some by quantity

(fat quarters, half-yards, yardage),

and others by project.

I rarely purchase fabric

just because I like it.

My fabric purchases are usually

for a specific project.

So, I guess I am most comfortable

organizing it by keeping the 

fabric collection together.

But, what to do with the odd pieces

that I receive from others

(gifts, giveaways, etc.)?
(not odd, as in 'odd', but as in 'doesn't belong with any
specific project or fabric collection presently in my possession')

And, once I'm done with a project,

what should I do with the scraps?

Sometimes there are a lot of scraps...

sometimes there are larger pieces left.

These fabrics could easily be worked

into another quilt, or used for smaller projects.

So...how do I organize them?

That's what I need to be working on.

Organizing my fabrics.

I got a bit of a start on it today.

Right now, I have the fabrics that aren't for anything specific in containers labeled 'neutrals', 'flannels', 'Kona solids', 'Christmas', etc..

Interesting how the beginning

of a project can create

an even bigger mess.

(those big totes are full of wool.)

(Now I ask you...what kind of organization is this?)

 

And, by the way, the wire storage thingie

over there in the corner is NOT large

enough to hold all of my containers.

Perhaps I need to empty the top of it

and stack containers to the ceiling, hey?

Speaking of fabrics & organization...

Nicole over at Sister's Choice Quilts

wrote about how she stores her fabric.

Read about it here.

And, Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts
wrote about 'scrap management' here.

I'd love to hear how

you organize your fabrics.

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

DQS10 Quilt Top Done!

Okay, so I went from no idea

of what I wanted to do

to this...

Quilt top all done.

Will bind it with one or both

of the solids.

Pieced backing yet to be put together.

Now that this part is done, 

I have scads of time before the deadline.

I am pretty happy with it.

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

DQS10 blocks

Last night, I fell when I was
coming into the house.

Not sure if I tripped,

slipped, stumbled or what.

I fell on both of my (bad) knees.

OUCH!

Must have wrenched my back when 

I was trying to not land on my knees

because it sure was bothering me.

I didn't sleep more than an hour or two last night

and I could barely walk when I got up this a.m.

So, I stayed home and didn't do much of anything.

Until tonight, when I am finally more comfortable.

I did a bit of sewing...

several short spurts

got these blocks cut out & sewn together.

They are for the dqs10 quilt.

(do you like my makeshift design wall??...it's batting pinned to my window curtains)

The half-square triangles along the right side

measure 4 1/2 inches.

The churn dash, friendship star & monkey wrench

blocks measure 6 1/2 inches.

The rest of the blocks 

measure 4 1/2 inches.

I will find a pleasing layout for these

and will fill in with a variety

of 2 1/2 inch half-square triangles.

My swap partner likes traditional blocks
made with modern fabrics.

I think I got it right.

The finished quilt will
measure about 24 inches square.

Have a great weekend!

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

Inspiration From An Unexpected Source...

Not too long ago, I was catching up on my blog reading. A major feat, let me tell you.  Or so it seems most days.

I am a follower of Natalie's Beyond the Reef blog.  In case you don't remember that name, I won a giveaway she had last summer...a yard of Paris Park fabric!  I wrote about it here. 

I put together a quilt top for Kaylynn, which I showed here. One of these days, I will finish it.

Back to Natalie.  I came across her 'Happiest New Year' post that I found to be very inspiring!  I asked permission to share what she wrote with you all.  She gave me permission to do so.  

First, a bit about Natalie, in her own words...

"I am a pattern designer, living with my McNab dog, Buddy, on the coast of California.  Beyond the reef, however, got its start on the north shore of Kauai - Hanalei Bay to be exact."  

Please take a moment to visit her blog and don't hesitate to become a follower...she has terrific giveaways!  AND, a website found here! 

Finally, here is what she wrote:

"It is never too late...let me say that differently.

It should never be too late to do what you believe you are destined to do.

To be.

It is not a function of age.

Age is a function of HOW you achieve it, but not whether you achieve it.

Lessons of history teach us

that great things have been started at many different ages.

Sam Walton started WalMart at age 44.

No, it's not enough to create it.

It's not enough to protect what you create.

You can't hide your light under a bushel - 

you must let the world know about it.

You must share it with the world.

Give it to them so they can give back to you - to the world.

Recently, I have seen some inspiring movies about overcoming adversity

AND about leadership.

History has taught us - proven to us -

that the impossible IS possible.

So.

Greet the day, stand a little taller

and find your second wind.

You've only just begun,

and the best is yet to be!"

Natalie Barnes

1/15/11

Natalie...thank you so much for allowing me to share this!

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

Stitching & Car...

My car is fixed...YAY!

Wow, two weeks without a car.

It makes one totally dependent on others.

Rides to work.

Rides home...to the

Credit Union, grocery store, church & lqs.

I so hate to be dependent on others.

But, it's all good now.

whew.

I did get quite a bit of stitching done while waiting

for my ride home to be done working.

At least one hour every day.

I finished block one and started block two.

Here's my block one...

The design is drawn on

Kona solid cotton in the color Bone

and then backed with muslin.

So easy to stitch on.

Doesn't that floss look great?

It's a variegated...

I think I showed you before.

But, here it is, again.

Once I sew the fabric blocks together,

there will be more stitching

(on the sewn fabric blocks)

to finish out the trees.

Before I get there, though,

I need to do some commission work.

Scrub tops, totes and t-shirt quilt.

One more day of work.

I think I can get through it.

Have a great Friday!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OH...and hey...be sure to check out my selling blog

(up on top of the sidebar...the chocolate puppy).

I have linen for sale and hope to list some wool soon!

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Snow Day...Again.

Not complainin', mind you.

Even went out in the freshly-fallen snow

to get additional photos to show you this...

S*U*N*K*I*S*S*E*D... 
the sample quilt for

Saving Thyme Quilt Shop.

(click on the photos to enlarge images)

And, more photos to better see 

prints/colors...so soft and sweet!

The scoop:

Sunkissed fabric by Sweetwater for Moda

(as if you didn't know)

Perfect Ten pattern by Swirly Girls

Started on February 20,

finished on March 9.

Size after laundering 57 x 68 inches.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Progress on Snow Days block one...

Trying to decide if I should

cut into my fabric, make the blocks

and piece this entire section...

or just move on with more stitching.  

In any case, I'll need to trace out

block two in the next day or so.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nothing else going on.

Car is still broken.

Hate depending on others for rides.

Hope you're having a good day!

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

Broken...

My car is broken.

Well, actually not broken.

But, I should not be driving it.

There is coolant in the oil.

YIKES!

Majorly bad!

Expensive to fix, so need to save up some money.

In the meantime,

I'll be hitching rides to/from work with friends.

 No one from this area works part-time,

so I'll be at work longer.

Bummer.

But.

I have a plan.

Take my Snow Days stitchery to work with me.

Stitch for the extra time I'll be there

waiting for my ride-giver to finish her hours.

That will help those few hours go by faster.

And, I should get a lot accomplished!

Don't you think?

It ought to be an interesting time.

I am trying to not worry...

to give all my worries to God.

To have faith and trust.

To remember that it's all up to Him

and His timetable.

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

Rugs For Sale...

I kinda have a lot to say today,

but no time to put it out here for you all to read.

So, for now, I will point you to my Etsy shop 

where I've listed a few of my hooked rugs

that are looking for a new home.

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

Just One Star!

Have you read about this?

A very awesome & worthy project,  

It's a challenge by Moda to piece, quilt,

and bind 100 quilts in 100 days

using the Flag of Valor pattern

by Minick & Simpson.

(images shamelessly swiped from the Minick & Simpson blog)

All that is needed from each of us is

Just One Star.

Read all about it here and here.

I brought this to my lqs owner's attention

and we are making plans to

get her shop customers involved.

YAY! 

I am so excited!

I'll keep you informed.

You can do this on your own.

Or with your friends, quilt shop or guild...whatever.

If every one of us made Just One Star,

the goal will be met.

The easy-to-follow instructions are found here.

I made my Just One Star block in about 45 minutes,
including cutting time.

No, it's not perfect...my sides are not even and
my tails are all hanging out.
I used photoshop to crop and square it up.
Remember, they want to trim the blocks!

I would love to see the one you make!

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

Charmed, I'm Sure...

Finished my quilt top for the

charmed whirlygig quiltalong.

It's about 55 inches square.
I am happy with it.

Now to piece a backing.

But, first I need to finish the sample quilt for the shop.

The front is done.

Need to piece the backing.

Then to baste/quilt/bind.

Right now, though?

I am gonna go snuggle with Tag
in my big easy chair.

I am very tired tonight.

I want to watch American Idol,

so here's hoping I don't fall asleep!

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