Saturday, December 6, 2014

Progress--slow and steady.

I've been wanting to try this pattern for some time (from Crafts ‘n Things magazine, December 2007; design by Mary Ayres). Well, once I got started, my compulsive nature took over. Now there are six!
 I put my own twist on them, and I made them a little larger than the pattern (6 1/2" by 7 1/2"). Once I decide what to use for binding, they will get bound and I will hang them from little hangers using little clothespins. No, I am not keeping them all! : )
They are "big stitch" quilted--well, at least as big as I can stitch. After years of being programed to take tiny stitches, I find it hard to do big stitch, much as I like the look.










My Christmas themed Lamb For All Seasons (based on Lisa Bongean's Old Glory Gatherings pattern here) quilt is bound and hanging in its place for the holidays.


















For the first time ever I took my Mom's quilts off my quilt rack and put Christmas colored flimsies on it. The one in front is Practice What I Preach by Pam Buda. I started it at Pam's workshop last January.
The middle quilt is a log cabin star top made by the late Jill Reid. I need to get it quilted--I really love it over the back of my sofa.
The top flimsy is my Rocky Mountain Stars  based on Bonnie Hunter's Smoky Mountain Stars free pattern.
Maybe by next Christmas some of these will actually be quilted. And then again, maybe that is too much to hope. (Speaking of hope, I have Bob Hope's Lemon Drop Kid playing as I write. Love the old Christmas movies.)

The blanket stitching on my Spring LFAS is finished. I decided to add a chicken to this little piece. It has quite a beak--looks more goose-ish, if you ask me (which I know you didn't). Again, this is based on Lisa's pattern linked above.

 I'm still using the windmill blocks in red/blue/black and cream as my leader/enders. It is fun to have a project where the blocks come together quickly (and are larger than 3")! But since most of my stitching lately has been by hand, these haven't been multiplying rapidly.

I was going to try and post some Christmas decor, but it is late, I am tired and getting loopy, so maybe next time (though not a lot has changed since last year).
Until next time,
Janet O.



37 comments:

  1. All your projects look so nice. Looks like you are pretty much ready for Christmas. Even if some are just quilt tops; they look great hanging on the quilt rack.

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  2. I like the quilt rack you have yoru Flimsies on. The Navitiy minis look fun to make too. 2007 is a long time to save an idea. Happy to see what you're doing lately!

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  3. I love your Christmas Lamb for all seasons, that is just so pretty in these colors . adorable.
    Your Christmas quilts on display look wonderful nice that you have a quilt made by Jill Reid what a treasure.
    I love all 3 of those quilts. What a cute idea is to hang them with clothespins. I love seeing your progress on the windmills, keep going!!!! fun to use up bits of fabric for this quilt, I need to make another one. thanks for a great inspirational post
    Kathie

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  4. Lots of inspiration here! Love those Christmas quilts on the rack, and your nativities are so precious. As usual, the sheep are adorable with all the changes. Great post!

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  5. Oh Janet I just love all your quilts big and small. I may have to copy your red, blue and black color scheme .

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  6. You made those manger scenes LARGER? YOU? Unbelievable!!!! (Love them, Janet.)

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  7. You've been busy as always - I love how making one thing turned into 6! Would love to hear more about your big stitching - I want to give it a try but am not sure what I'm doing. Hung up on what needle to use (could be an excuse!?). I also LOVE your quilt rack - that would match my house perfectly! And the quilts on it are all just gorgeous...they would look nice in my house too - lol!

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  8. Love those compulsion projects! The manger smalls/mini are too cute.

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  9. You have been very busy too! Everything is beautiful, especially love the Manger ornaments and Spring wall hanging. Glad to Know that I am not the only Quilter that doesn't get her own quilt tops quilted.

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  10. You are in the Christmas mode. Your little Nativity pieces will make good gifts. And the quilts and tops on display will give your home a very festive look.

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  11. Janet - your Nativity blocks are wonderful!! And both of your lambs for all seasons are perfect!! One day I am going to make mine!!

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  12. You are hilarious! Love all your little manger quilts. Your Christmas quilts are beautiful!!

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  13. Love what you've been working on. But I smiled at your statement that you put your own spin on it and made it larger. That doesn't happen often that you go bigger! :0) Your Christmas quilt are perfect, quilted or not. Looks like you done a lot of decorating already. And your windmills look great together.

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  14. Love your nativity minis... they are wonderful gifts!

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  15. I love the idea of embracing and displaying quilt tops. Very pretty!!

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  16. Love the flimsy display, say will will quilt them for Christmas, just don't say which Christmas!!
    Loving the wee sheep quilts too, sheep are quite iconic to New Zealand we have so many!
    Happy creative days to you.

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  17. Wait a minute - do my eyes deceive me? Did you say you are making them a little "larger" than the pattern???? What in the world??? I'm looking over my shoulder to see if dark clouds are gathering on the horizon...... They are adorable by the way :)
    Your Christmas flimsies are beautiful! I have a ton of those too that need to be quilted. They were all listed on my UFO list this year - and only ONE of them got quilted *sigh* That red and green pineapple quilt makes me want to make another of BH's Pineapple Blossom in those colors! And I love your red and green stretched stars - yum!
    I've been watching a few of the old Christmas movies too while I sit around and bemoan having this stupid cold. At least it makes me sit still for more than 5 minutes :)
    You'll be happy to know that I am embarking on a Lisa Bongean project this year! A few of my quilting buddies want to do her Fold Art Album together and I agreed to join in. I'll feel like I'm channeling my inner Janet O. as I work on it :*) Of course, I may change the colors around a bit.....

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  18. As always, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!!! Your little lamb for all seasons are special!! And those nativity minis - so, so cute!! And you know I love your Christmas flimsys!! Perfect in every way! I agree - anytime they get quilting is just right!!

    Blessings and hugs!

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  19. Sweet Christmas hangers. I thought they were going to be placemats...
    Love all the quilt you showed. I especially like the windmill you are creating while making other things. I've gotta get organized and try that Leader/Ender thing.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs

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  20. I love your quilt rack! And how nice to have three Christmas flimsies to show off on it! :0)

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  21. Your nativity blocks are so cute, but I was amazed to find out that you actually enlarged them (instead of minimizing them). Love your quilt rack with Christmas colors.

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  22. love the windmill blocks....and the christmasy quilts are gorgeous. mine are packed away....so i might have to make another....LOL

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  23. Your Christmas LFAS looks sweet carrying the gingerbread boy!! The chicken is perfect for spring, too!! Your Christmas quilt display is festive and I like your mission style quilt rack. I'm sure your home is lovely with your nativities on display and the little nativity quilts look so special!! Merry Christmas to you and yours, Janet, and much sewing in the New Year!!!

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  24. Your Lamb For All Seasons is perfect - love the warm colors you used. What a wonderful quilt rack and those flimsies look lovely displayed just as they are!

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  25. Perfect quilt tops to display this time of year...nice! As expected when I clicked your blog, plenty of eye candy! Every year I say I'll start my gifts earlier so they would be ready...well, not ready! I've had such a busy year and still have a few client quilts to get gone. Happy Holidays!

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  26. In agreement with all your commenters. A real pearler of a post. Perhaps you could quilt those Christmas tops just during the Christmas period every year until finished. They do deserve some attention. Easier said than done, I know.

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  27. Love all of your Christmas quilting! I must say that I am absolutely in love with your tiny Nativity quilts! Small and simple but such a statement! Wow! I have a small wallhanging Nativity pattern that I have planned on making for the past couple of years and I haven't even started it. I am going to try my best to do it before next Christmas. Hunter loves to decorate with Nativities. Each year we try to find a new Nativity ornament to our tree.

    Have a wonderful and Blessed day
    Kristie

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  28. Loving those windmills! Your nativity scenes are so sweet and primitive, and the quilt rack must be proud to show off such Christmasy cheer! Last night Felix & I watched, "It's A Wonderful Life" and ate tons of popcorn, just enjoying the trip down memory lane.

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  29. The windmill blocks are so fun and twirly!
    The Nativity blocks are so cute. I too find it hard to do the big stitch!
    The lamb blanket for December is so cute with the gingerbread man.
    great collection of nice green and red quilts.
    looking forward to seeing your decorations.

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  30. HI Janet - I don't remember seeing your quilt rack before - very Arts & Craftsy - love it! And it's good that you switched the quilts out to give it a fresh look - they're lovely! Looks like you're getting lots done - I feel like a slug and have just been sitting around - need to get busy. Thanks for the photos!
    (PS - I did go to a Christmas Home Tour in Brigham on Saturday - it was awesome!)

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  31. Everything is lovely as usual Mom.
    I especially like how the windmill blocks are looking!

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  32. I just loved everything you are working as usual! Did you say you made the Nativity scene quilts larger than the pattern! I have had Bonnie Hunter's Smoky Mountain Stars quilt on my list forever. I really love your Lamb for all season quilts, such a creative idea!

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  33. LOVE those nativity scene quilts - very simple - they are the best to me.
    Your quilt rack is beautiful with those quilt tops. They will get quilted eventually.
    I think the chicken is perfect!

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  34. At first I thought you had made manger postcards. I'm sure whomever receives them will be thrilled!!!!
    Lovely Christmas flimsies on your quilt rack.

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  35. Well, here I am late to the party again! What's that? There was NO party? sigh….what a relief! I wouldn't have had a hostess gift!!! LOL

    Little nativities are Fab Janet. I like small things too! Of course, we used to raise lambs….hundreds of them….so I'm always partial to them.

    Lucky you with that great quilt rack. I was just talking the other day about ME needing one too. Yours is much nicer than I had envisioned for myself.

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  36. I love the quilt rack, and I especially like that red and green quilt on the bottom. They are beautiful hanging there quilted or not. Love what you are doing.

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