Friday, March 17, 2017

Absolutely no focus, and a Bee-utiful opportunity!

Just bouncing from project to project!
Patrick's Pinwheels was finished on St. Patrick's Day.


It spent most of the day in the clip for which it was made.
Very simple quilting for this--stitch in the ditch around the pinwheels, straight lines in the sashing, and some free motion swirls in the border, which you can almost barely see in the photo above.



I've spent a tiny bit of time hand quilting on the little Kim Diehl Porchside Garden  quilt. I am outlining the applique and crosshatching the background. Then I will be machine quilting the borders.



 You can see the slow progress much better from the back.
 






 

I made a little cake block for Temecula's Anniversary quilt. Did you make one? 
 









Four more ornaments have been made from my Dad's shirts for family members with March birthdays. Two of them were sent off before I got a photo.

A couple more blocks have been quilted on the beast. This is definitely not a rush job. (Considering that this was for my youngest son's graduation from college and that was years ago, that is an understatement!)
My shoulder is whining about  working on this, so I will only do a block or two at a time, and there are 30 blocks.

Quilters are so generous. I have been the beneficiary of the kindness of some sweet bloggers once again. I had commented on how much I loved a little quilt Sandi (kwiltnkats blog) made and when she was finished, she sent me the pattern. I am excited to make it!
Then  Wendy (theconstantquilter blog) and Cyndi (busythimble blog) collaborated and sent a book my way that I mentioned I was trying to resist buying. They were so right--it is "me". I love browsing through and have pulled out scraps to make one when my "to do" pile gets whittled down a little more.
Thank you so much, ladies! 






I don't know if you have a Jo~Ann store near you, but I picked this up with my 60% off coupon on Thursday. It was the last one at my local store. I purchased clips and adhesive magnets and made a little quilt hanger out of it. Love the rustic look.
 
















Maybe you recall that I had chosen "Be Kind" as my motto for 2017.  Well, look at this wonderful panel I bought from my friend, Kris (lavenderquilts blog). She vends at quilt shows and has an etsy shop (link on her blog). Look at the upper left corner of this panel (or the center). How perfect is that? I am going to make little wall hangings of a few of these--and I bought a second panel to make a quilt, along with some of the accompanying prints.
The panel is as tall as a full width of fabric.
This is from a Deb Strain line named "Bee Creative", that is now out of print. Deb has a new one called "Bee Inspired", but I like this one better. If you like it, too, make mention in your comment and one lucky reader will win one of these panels!
A pretty random post, but that has been  my week. : )
Until next time,
Janet O.

28 comments:

  1. That's the word that I chose too. Last advice from my MIL. Love the 'Bee Kind panel. Thanks for the reminder to get my Temecula block made.

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  2. So much eye-candy in this post! Your little green pinwheels are so cute and a perfect low-key decoration for the day. I love your new rustic quilt hanger, reminds me of my mom's old washboard of many years ago (something I hadn't thought about in a long time, recalling my blistered fingers the time I attempted to try it out). Sweet bee panel, looking forward to seeing your bee-utiful quilt creation!

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  3. Great finish and new hanger is very cute. That book is so you.....some of those would even be great as larger quilts. Your hand stitching may be slow going but take the time to do and enjoy it. I miss holding a needle. Wonderful ornaments with great sentiment. Your Be kind idea is just perfect....so love words on quilts.

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  4. Once again you have blown me away with cuteness. Wow so pretty and staged too. Love the teddy bear.

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  5. I love the Bee Creative line and have sold tons of bee pendants - just made 16 more yesterday! Is that a new postcard I see?

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  6. Your posts are always so full of goodness! I like be the little quilt hanger you made. The bee panel is perfect for you!! And I can hardly wait to see your birthday cake block in the Temecula anniversary quilt!!

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  7. Lovely finishes and progress in your quilty projects. I especially love the little quilt hanger you made with the corrugated metal! You are inspiring me to look for some metal to hang up :-) The Bee panel really is fun. I love the bees and encouragement to be kind, caring and happy :-)

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  8. So much quilty goodness! Your little pinwheels are adorable and your Kim Diego project is going to be another sweet one! I was just at Joann's and only had tunnel vision for some things I needed--I'm going to have to go back and do some browsing! I'd love to be added to the panel drawing, it's very cute!

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  9. you seem busy to me! I made a to do list at the beginning of the year and so far so good. It is keeping me a bit more focused. I did not make a block for Temecula - I did think about it. love the panel. Thx for the chance to win it.
    mary

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  10. Love the randomness! And all of your projects. The Laundry Basket book looks like it has some amazing little quilts in it. I'm making that same signature block for a couple of quilters that want a siggy quilt like that. I will finish them up today.
    Dont put me in the drawing, it is cute though! Have a wonderful weekend.

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  11. I saw on Aunt 'Reen's blog that she put a bee on one of her Shenandoah Botanical blocks as a statement. She is concerned about the decrease of bees in the world and what it might mean.
    The clipboard looks perfect for a small quilt. My Jo-Ann's is about 15 miles away. I do not go very often. I probably haven't been in at least two years. Wish they would put one on this end of town.

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  12. Great post!! Love everything but my fav is your Kim Diehl quilt!! You don't need to include me in your cute Bee giveaway!! :-))

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  13. The St Pat's vignette is cool! Sorry the machine quilting is giving you pain. The handing piece is very pretty! You have been given some lovely gifts.The BEE fabric IS awesome!

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  14. I love your clipboard turned quilt hanger; makes me wish we had Jo-Ann's up here! Your work is beautiful and I absolutely adore the bee fabric and can think of many places I'd add some to my work. =)

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  15. I've had a Bee Creative layer cake for awhile now and can't decide what to make with it, but I still like it - the colors and the design. I love your pineapple mini.

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  16. Love your quilt clipboard hanger. And that bee fabric is great. The blocks would be perfect for the centers of wonky logcabins ;) Pick me !

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  17. Love the quilt hanger you made...its perfect for your quilt :). That panel is perfect for you and it will fun to watch what you do with it!

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  18. I love the new quilt hanger - it is a great idea and shows off that fabulous little quilt perfectly.
    The bee fabric is the cutest! Bees seem very big right now and that's great because they need saving.
    Your little cake block turned out great. I've always like signature quilts. I haven't made one is a long long time...hmmm...
    Good luck with the machine quilting - take breaks. What machine is it?

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  19. I love the panel!! I think I have some fabric that it would "go" with perfectly. Love that thing you got at Joann's too. I have the 60% coupon, but do I want to go there today? Not really. Your Kim Diehl appliqué is gorgeous (I love all of her designs). The little scrap book looks wonderful. I'm jumping around from one thing to another also. But it makes things interesting, doesn't it?

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  20. Would love to "bee" a winner, Love that quilt hanger. I just finished a tulip quilt and it is at the L/A to be quilted. I found bee fabric for my sashing that just set it off perfectly.

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  21. Great gifts, love the little ornaments from your Dad's shirts. Good luck with the shoulder I hope it doesnt get worse.

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  22. You always post a plethora of beautiful quilty projects. The little St. Patrick's day mini is lovely and Kim D's appliqué pattern is super cute. Keep working on the beast and before you know it you'll be DONE! Great looking panel. It will be fun to see what you do with those delightful motifs.

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  23. I'm completely stumped as to which book Wendy and Cyndi sent you???
    Love the way the St. Patrick's Day little one turned out. And that Kim D's qpplique is fabulous!!
    Take your time on your son's quilt. There's obviously no reason to rush t this point!! HEHEHE...
    When's the shoulder being worked on??????

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  24. Love the idea of the Christmas ornaments. Neat idea for the quilt hanger, no Joann's near me. I love your panel and it certainly fits your theme for the year. Be kind is something we all need to concentrate on these days.

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  25. Your St. Patrick's day mini is charming! Good day for it to be finished! ;) The ornaments you're making out of your dad's shirts are wonderful -- what sweet treasures for you to be able to share! I love the hanger -- GREAT find! I may even have to wander down to JoAnn's to see if I can find one! That Kris -- she stocks the best prints! That panel is super perfect -- I love the sweet "bee" thoughts!! Yup, just perfect! :)

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  26. I wish my no-focus times were as productive as yours, Janet! I love your little bird with flowers and your little quilt hanging on the corrugated metal hanger. You've made some great purchases lately but I think the Bee panel is the best! Love it!

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  27. Patrick's Pinwheels was finished on the perfect day!!!! You've been busy as usual and everything is just gorgeous. Great idea for the metal display board from Joann's. Wish we had one closer - but then again my pocketbook is happier just where it is. If I am thinking of the right lines of fabric I picked up 3 of the coordinating prints - they are hexie fabrics after all. LOL!

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  28. I'm pleased to see I"m not the only one who bounces from project to project! I love the little quilt hanger you've just made- a great rustic look. How lovely it was for you to receive the lovely goodies from your friends - very thoughtful :-) {Little Handfuls of Scraps sounds perfect for you!!} Your wee Patrick's Pinwheels is gorgeous - so good it was fginished on time! Slow progess on The Beast will get it done in the end.

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