Sunday, November 4, 2012

Just a bunch of stuff.

Mountain Trail is all quilted and bound!

You can see the quilting pattern better from the back.
I'm going to link this up with Lori at Humble Quilts. I had just checked her blog to make sure I wasn't too late to link and I was surprised there weren't more links. I have seen so many of these around blogland. If you have made one and haven't linked yet, please join in. It is fun to see the unique qualities of each quilt, working from the same pattern.

I decided to get my "Random Roses in Jamestown" block done early this month. One more block to go and then I will make some kind of setting squares. I am thinking chain blocks instead of the log cabin blocks in the pattern. I love chains for tying sampler blocks together. I am so proud of myself for keeping up with this, since I am doing it on my own and there is no group, or link to keep me motivated and on track.

I also got another mini quilt finished. When Cheri posted her "labor of love" directions on Labor Day I made two and gave one to each daughter. But I just kept making 4-patches as leader/enders and finally decided I'd better stop and make something out of them. So I made another, larger "labor of love". As is my recent trend, I made the setting HSTs out of rather similar value fabrics--not much contrast there. The 4-patches save it from being too drab. I also bound it with something rather nondescript. I was determined to make this entirely from the scrap basket, and nothing else worked for me any better than this did.

I continue to plug along on Orca Bay (aka SOTMD). I have 32 more of those rectangle unit thingies to make and then I can stitch it all together and figure out how I want to border it. It will only be about a twin size. That is as far as I could stretch the peach and purple shirts. Even after a year, I still love the movement the string blocks (faux, in my case) give this quilt.

 Next up in the quilting cue are these two minis. Both are gifts and the recipients know who they are. I started marking the basket quilt this evening.
My main project for November will be to piece the quilts for my grandsons for Christmas. I have all of the fabric, but have barely begun to cut and stitch. Speaking of grandkids, some have asked to see the costumes I made for two of them for Halloween. 
Abby was a black cat. I made her skirt, tail, and faux fur collar and ankle and wrist cuffs. The ears were purchased. Can you hear her meow?

Ben was The Cat in the Hat. I made his hat and tail, and stitched a white tummy to his shirt. He was thrilled to be "Go-go", as he calls him, because of something on the PBS Kids Cat in the Hat show.
And lest one of the other two grandchildren feel left out, here they are. Matt's Ninja costume was purchased (and can you tell he took his role seriously?) and Josh's Mr. F. costume came mainly from the thrift store, but my clever daughter created his headgear.

That's enough for now. I'm going to go reset clocks and get ready for bed.
Until next time,
Janet O.

36 comments:

  1. I have a half hour to re-set my clocks. I spent the extra time sewing as usual. The costumes look very creative. I'm glad I didn't have to make any this year. Way to go on the Finishes!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, you've been so busy! I just love your Mountain Trails - I'm still itching to do this one - the linky will be well gone by the time I get one done though...! And your Labour of Love is great too - I don't think the colours are drab at all. Love the costumes!! Looks like the kids had heaps of fun!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Janet, i love the quilting on your mountain trail quilt..beautiful!! and i love those two minis..you've been very busy indeed!! it was a fun QAL..thanks to Lori :))
    cheers...Marian

    ReplyDelete
  4. Look at all that! Wow!! Your plaid Orca Bay is looking fabulous -- I think your way looks as good, if not better, than any other version of it I saw. Seriously. The Labor of Love piece is darling! I saved that one for a future doll swap quilt. And your Mountain Trail is wonderful! I think the red in it is just perfect...and using it for the border, too, really popped it out!

    All your grands look like they had a fabulous time, all turned out for the Halloween festivities!! What a cute group!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. great quilts! and I still don't have the border on the ORCA quilt attached, might omit it. did you get the yardage for the easy street mystery quilt?? I really don't have TIME but I'm a sucker for these mystery quilts, so.... might join- need to dig into my stash anyways and I love her color choices, just missing grey.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You make the most wonderful little quilts, girl---and your g-kids are just cute as buttons. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful!!! I thought about doing the quilting on my Mountain Trail similar! Looks great - so maybe I'll get to it soon!!

    The kids were darling!!! Hug them for me!! Always fun to see your progress!!

    blessings

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am looking forward to see how you set the Random Roses in Jamestown. I enjoyed seeing your Grandchildren in their costumes. They looked like they had fun.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Such cute Hallowe'eners! And your Labor of Love is wunnerful.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm loving the minis you made! They are all great! And your Orca Bay is really wonderful.....I, too, love that purple and orange 'faux' string blocks you made! They make this quilt! And I love the quilting you did on the Mountain Trail.....thanks for showing the back.....it's beautiful work! Just perfect for it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The kids costumes were great. Hope they had a good time. Love all your minis, but your Orca quilt is visually exciting.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Janet, I love your quilting on Mountain Trail! And the clamshell quilting on your mini is very nice too! There's certainly nothing wrong with going with a low contrast look :*) Every time I see an Orca Bay quilt I wish I had made one! But I have the book, so maybe I will make one of my own someday. Your peaches and purples make yours sparkle! Lucky ones who will get your gift minis! The baskets quilt is just too cute!!! And your grandchildren's costumes are almost as cute as they are :*)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the quilting on the Mtn Trail!! The 2 other little ones are lovely as well! How did you mark the clamshells? I wanted to do that on an AAQI quilt but wasn't quite sure how to tackle it.
    Your Orca bay is awesome!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wonderful quilting. Love the minis too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You've got some mighty cute trick or treaters!

    I like the way you quilted your Mountain Trails. I was surprised too to see how few people linked up to Lori's site. It's fun to see the quiltlets all together with the different interpretations.

    Cute little minis! I especially like the way you sashed the rails.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Such cute goblins! and quilts! Love Mountain Trail. I thought it was interesting that most (all?) who have linked up to Lori's post use the original red and scrappy lights and darks.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Janet - You've shared lots of fun stuff in this post - your mountain trail quilt turned out so cool - that quilting you did makes it really special! I need to learn how to do some of that! The kids costumes are so adorable - the cat's hat is perfect and I love Frankenstein's head! LOL My little guy is getting reading to move out of his crib and into a twin sized bed - his mom is making a headboard for him soon - and now I think I might need to make him a new quilt for his 'big boy bed' - that should be lots of fun!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love how you quilted your Mountain Trails! It looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you so much for that fine photo showing your lovely quilting on Mountain Trails. It is such a dear little quilt! And what fun to see all the Grands in costume, you did a great job!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Janet. I love the quilting on your quilts. It looks fantastic. I love the clamshell pattern the best. The kids looked like they were having fun.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Cute projects. Log cabin has always been a favorite of mine. Go girl.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow!! You HAVE been busy. Love all the minis...those are always my favorite! Cute kiddos in their costumes too!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I don't know how you do it all Mom! Fine work :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow - more great finishes! and such fun.
    I don't know how you do it either!?!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Just love all your minis! The rose block is beautiful. The stripe instead of string blocks was genius on Orca Bay, I think! Congrats on your finished Mountain Trails, and the nifty costumes. What fun!

    ReplyDelete
  26. loved your stuff post! The Mountain trails turned out great and I love your other little quilts too.
    Adorable costumes - isn't Halloween fun?!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Busy, busy girl! Love you Mountain Trails! Cute, cute costumes! What fun!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Goodness, you have certainly been a busy girl! So many wonderful projects coming together! I adore your Mountain Trails and your quilting is the perfect finishing touch! And your Orca Bay! Wow! Just such a great choice of colors to showcase that fun pattern!
    What a good looking bunch of Halloween characters you have there! I love their poses - such fun!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Very sweet little quilts! Esp. like the little baskets one--great colors!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hey....lots of 'stuff' here!! Good 'stuff'.....fun 'stuff....cute 'stuff'....small 'stuff'....really good clam shell quilting 'stuff' and some great kid 'stuff'!!!

    I LIKE. STUFF.

    Especially. your. stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Cute Halloween costumes. The Cat in the Hat especially.
    You did very nice quilting on "Mountain Trail". I saved the instructions but have not had time to play with fabric to make it.

    ReplyDelete
  32. You've been quite productive lately and I'm quite jealous of all you have accomplished - everything is wonderful! You know I'm partial to the basket blocks but I think that Random Roses in Jamestown block is my fav!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Love your version of Mountain Trail Janet and there is some lovely inspiration to go away with.

    ReplyDelete
  34. All of your projects are just gorgeous. You have sure been busy. I really like your Orca Bay. I have worked on mine a few times and it still isn't together. The Halloween costumes are really cute, and I know your grandchildren loved them.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Sorry, I am so far behind on blog reading. You are so productive and I just love those costumes! They are so cute!

    Have a wonderful and Blessed day
    kristie

    ReplyDelete
  36. I like the way you design your quilt superb..


    Villas in Tuscany

    ReplyDelete

I love to have your comments and feedback.