Sunday, April 8, 2012

Tryouts on the design wall, a winner, and many thanks!

This looks terrible when I look closely--threads hanging,
the inner plaid border strips are so crooked--I promise
it will look better when I sew it all together. 
The red border won hands down on the "two cents" poll for my little baskets. I auditioned it and found when it was all the way around the quilt it seemed to smother the baskets. I thought it had looked good, too, when it was just down the one side. I tried other options and the suggestion that came from my daughter's comment to use three borders ended up looking best to me. Thanks, Aimee, and thanks for everyone's input. I really feel like the brainstorming via blog is helpful to get a different perspective on something when you are stuck.
I tried colored cornerstones on those bare corners in the above photo, but didn't like that look for this quilt. I think when the center is all sewn together the quilt will end up small enough that these pieces will fit. I don't have enough of any of the other tan/gold fabrics, so I will "make do."

I did have enough HSTs left from this little quilt to make a very small piece. I adapted the idea from the Baby Basket quilt Kathie linked us to recently. I had to "make do" even more on this one--the basket is not the one in the pattern (though it is the same size), and I had to do the borders a little differently, but I wouldn't have thought of this without that pattern. Thanks, Kathie!

Another little basket quilt got a border tryout on the design wall. Of my four Temecula Blessings Baskets mini quilts, this is the only one that is all assembled--except for the borders, which are just stuck to the wall. I decided I needed a border on it that would link the center basket, since it was brighter than everything else (and more wonky, too, if you want to get technical. I lost so many points on these baskets, as others have done before me, I should name this one "Pointless"). The light border is the same fabric as the center basket, but it appears darker to me in the border strips. I think I am going to use it, unless someone has a better idea.
Finally, I did get the plaid set of the latest "Barrister's Blocks" made. I'll have to do some catching up on my Christmas set. Thanks to Randy for all the work she puts in to this!
I think I am liking the blue/green one best of this group. I just got that teal colored shirt last week. Speaking of which, have you seen Bonnie's video of taking a shirt apart. I thought I knew how to do that but I admit, she has some slick tricks to make it go even faster. It was kind of fun to watch. Thanks, Bonnie!

The winner of the pattern giveaway is Mavis, a very creative quilter. She has been contacted by email. Thanks to all who participated. We'll have to do it again sometime. 

I finally got my herbal soap made this week, so maybe I will be throwing some of it in with my next giveaway. I will have been blogging for one year come the middle of May, so there should be some kind of hoopla involved (definition of hoopla; unnecessary fuss. That sums it up.)!
Okay, enough already! Until next time,
Janet O.

20 comments:

  1. Janet your baskets are just wonderful...love them all together and the borders look great...how about some tiny baskets in the corners of the outside border? I'm lovin' those plaid blocks! You're sure having some fun there...I can almost smell that yummy soap!

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  2. I think your borders turned out perfectly on the baskets quilt! The tan calms it down and gives it a nice frame, but it did need the black and red borders too to give it definition and pull those colors out I think. I absolutely LOVE that little batik quilt! The bright inner border looks super - definitely keep it! The teal just sings in your plaids quilt, and the red star demands attention. But I am most amazed at the way the bottom block seems to glow because of the lights & darks in the fabric! That quilt is going to be really beautiful. I saw Bonnie's video - she is just amazing, no other word for her :*) And speaking of amazing - you make your own soap?! You go girl!!!

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  3. Looks great---lovely colors and prints!

    Your soap looks wonderful!

    Hugs, Carolyn :)

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  4. Great basket quilts! I love to hear input my people who read my blog. They may make a suggestion I haven't thought about.

    BTW. I love your soap. I took a new one to the shower with me yesterday and really like it. I'm not sure if it is sage or what, but it smells wonderful and fresh!! Thanks again!

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  5. Great Job! Your winner is a lucky one to get some of your soap. It is so nice and doesn't melt allover the shower. "Quilting by Committee" works for me too. Have a beautiful Easter!

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  6. The baskets look great! That teal shirt is wonderful too.

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  7. Your baskets are great eye candy and it is the perfect season for baskets, too! The trays of soap look beautiful and I bet they smell devine.

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  8. Is "wonky" a technical term in the quilting world?

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  9. I like the border suggstions for both the basket quilts. Using the red and a third border was genious on on the larger quilt (BTW - How big is it?). And yeh, that purply fabric does look darker in the border but it also ties in the lighter basket block. Will you use a black binding?

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  10. Janet, I LOVE your settings for the basket quilts. Did you make them up yourself? You are one talented lady, who obviously does NOT sleep!!! vbg
    Glad you're keeping up with the sow-a-long. I am loving your blocks!!!

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  11. Your basket quilt is coming right along - love it when the colors/fabrics all come together ;-)
    When I first saw the soap picture I thought it was baked goods - you can tell where my interests are..The soap looks great.
    Thank you for sharing!

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  12. I am drooling over your basket quilt...love the way you are finishing it out. Herbal soaps...how fun! I started and herb garden last summer, and most of it has come back. Adding two different kinds of lavendar this year...

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  13. Janet, Janet, Janet ... I *love* your batik baskets!! Seeing yours has made me want to do a set of my own in batiks on blacks! Your soaps looks pretty. I swear I can smell them from here! I also think I'm going to head to the thrift store some day in the near future and find me some plaid shirts. Gracious, girl, what you can do with a plaid shirt!! :)

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  14. It's always wonderful to see all the amazing projects you have on the go! One of these days I have to try a basket quilt. Thanks for all the inspiration.

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  15. I like the 3 border idea. It looks great. Sometimes I invite my #2 son to come up with suggestions to make something better and he's usually right. I like the matching border on the little basket quilt. I think it adds a little sparkle.

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  16. Thanks Mom. It was very kind of you to link to my blog. Everything looks fantastic as usual!

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  17. very nice work janet and the soaps look terrific, lots of work accomplished obviously.

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  18. Your sweet Aimee's 3 border suggestion is perfect and the Baby Basket is too...I just love these colors! Janet, your work often reminds me of my very talented MIL. It was almost haunting when I seen the little border around your Blessing Baskets as she did the exact same thing! The accomplishments you have shared with us this past year are more than I will ever hope for in a lifetime!

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  19. Janet,

    I saw you won a giveaway on The Painted Quilt. Congratulations! I'm so happy for you.

    I am amazed at the work you do each week. Thanks for inspiring me!

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  20. I love these kinds of chains--and I love hand quilting; these are beautiful stitches!

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