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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Serving Up Some Leftovers and Other Stuff

As I was cleaning off my cutting table today (long overdue), I was putting some bonus HSTs into my "parts" bowl and decided to get a few little quilts laid out from some of the leftovers there. I pulled out three design boards and soon these were born. I only let myself work with stuff from the cutting table, in the "parts" bowl, or the scrap baskets.






They will be leader/ender projects as I work on the last few deadlined projects for this summer.

I have to admit that feathers have become a favorite for me and Gidget. After trying hyper-quilting recently, I had to do more. I selected a few more batiks and got one of them sandwiched up and quilted. I had to try Fall colors this time because when I go out to work in my garden in the mornings now, there is that nip in the air, even though the daytime highs are still in the 90s. This is in the process of being bound (obviously).
Can't decide whether to do the deep plum or bright orange next.

I wanted to share with you something DD#1 did while she was here. She liked the hexie flowers I did in that little AAQI quilt and wanted to give it a try. When it was time for her to go home she was starting to applique the flowers down and had chosen sashing and binding fabrics.


I am so excited to have a new Koala sewing chair. It is wonderful. I have had lower back trouble since I was about 10 and the lumbar support of this chair feels so good. I saved my pennies (well, dollars, really) for a few months and I have had it for a week now. I think it was money well spent.

Another new arrival is my latest AAQI purchase. When I first saw Jean's little quilts I knew I wanted the R/W/B one. I had read the description, but the size escaped me and I was unprepared for how small it is. This makes me love it even more. You know me and minis! : )  It is now proudly placed in its new home. See it in the lower right-hand corner of my small quilts wall? So cute!

I have volunteered at the county fair Home Arts building for years, and I have usually entered baked goods, or soap, or even some sewing, but I have never entered in quilting. My Mom, who enters a quilt every year, has tried to talk me into it many times, but I have always resisted. This year I decided that Black & Blooms was worth entering. You can see the top of the blue ribbon it received in the bottom of the photo.
Now that looks like a bigger deal than it really is. Everything gets a ribbon in our county fair, so a blue ribbon is good, but there are LOTS of blue ribbons given out. I do feel good about it, though, based on the judges' comments on the judging sheet. They had nothing but good to say.

Another rambling post. Wish I could bake cookies or something for everyone who sticks it out to the end.

Until next time,
Janet O.

34 comments:

  1. I always stick it out to the end - always love seeing your projects. So...if you want to send me cookies, I think you have my address! Lol!

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  2. Your posts are always filled with quilt news galore, plenty of photos, and always food for thought.
    Your feathers are absolutely stupendous. Top notch quilting, there, Miss Janet. No doubt about it.
    Congrat's on the blue ribbon. It looks like a winner to me. I believe a friend had her Black and Blooms project in our last guild show. Looks very familiar--woolen and wonderfully tiny flowers.

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  3. WOW!! What a newsy post!! I love your system of using leftovers. I love what your daughter made. I love your new chair. And I LOVE your blue ribbon. The quilt is fabulous!!!

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  4. Leftovers are such amazing things! I am on a "no buy" fast but mu stash does not seem to show it.

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  5. Another wonderful post, Janet!! And WOW!! Congrats on the ribbon!! If I knew it was there I would have gotten my back end out of my chair Saturday afternoon and come down to the fair to see it all spiffed up with it's ribbon!! And your DD#1's quilt is darling - I LOVE the sashing!! You finally got your chair!! Whoo! Hoo!!! Tell Gidget that you guys are getting to be pros at those feathers!!

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  6. So glad you entered a quilt in your Fair. Enjoy your new chair. You couldn't resist the leftovers, huh? I would take some soap, keep your cookies...lol Feathers are always my Favorite!

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  7. So do I, yum! hehe Good for you entering a quilt into the fair and getting a blue! It's really nervewracking the first time. Love your little minis and the new ones made out of parts and scraps are wonderful!

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  8. Oh yippee!!!! A blue ribbon for your quilt - that's something quite marvelous!!! Of course, it deserves it, no question about that! I just love that gorgeous fall feather project - it's absolutely perfect!!! You wall of minis is so inspiring. It never fails to make we want to start making dozens of little quilts :*D Your little "left-over" quilts will be adorable, and I know you are proud of your daughter's hexie quilt. She did a great job!!!

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  9. I must be lazy in posting as yours is always filled with lots of interesting tidbits of this and that and I enjoy reading. There is so much going on with me here that I think to blog one minute and move on without the post. Love your mini wall and how fun to have a first quilt entry! Of course they had all good things to say! It's you!

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  10. I'll take the cookies!!! LOL I agree, you always have fun things to share!! So glad that you got your chair!!! Your feathers are beautiful!!! Of course I love all your little quilts and the the little RWB one is a treasure for sure!!! Way to go Angie (you can tell her for me!) She is braver than I!! I've not tackled hexies yet - not sure if I ever will - have too many others things going around in my brain - but I do have some hexie stars that I'm hand piecing - does that count!! LOL

    Best go - gotta finish up breakfast, do chores and Mike and I are going to go work some calves before it gets too hot!!

    Blessings and hugs sent your way!

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  11. Where's my cookie?

    Question. When you are doing those feathers for the quilting, are you continuous line stitching or do you stop, cut the thread, and move the piece to start a new feather? That would be my problem. Not knowing how to get from one feather to the next.

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  12. I read EVERY word! My favorites are snickerdoodles and white chocolate macadamia nut, but just surprise me!

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  13. Rambling? I enjoy your posts ... they inspire me! However, if I could get a cookie for reading your posts, I think I'd read them an extra 2 or 3 times! ha!

    And don't downplay your blue ribbon ... they didn't give one to every quilt entered, now did they? ;-) Your Black & Blooms is gorgeous and quite deserving of that blue ribbon.

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  14. Don't minimize your blue ribbon, Janet! Well-deserved! And your gallery of little quilts is delightful . . .

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  15. Everything looks great! I love your little quilts and congratulations on your blue ribbon! :0)

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  16. Lovely projects, as always! And congratulations on your blue ribbon! Next year the state fair?!

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  17. wow! chock filled blog entry! adorable scrappy stuff, gorgeous feathers....and your DD's little quilt is beautiful...and congrats on the ribbon! autumn is coming....

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  18. You are making me want to make little quilt - soon, after we take DD back to college and get the fabric unpacked. Until then I can enjoy yours.
    Your wall looks great!
    what a great looking sewing chair - enjoy

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  19. It's amazing what you can make with your scraps Mom :)
    Ang's little quilt is so sweet.
    I didn't know you got a new chair!
    I'm glad you entered B&B in the fair :)

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  20. Your feathers are fantastic, Janet!! I'm wondering if you could get Gidget to give my Lulu a call and tell her how it's done :) Love what you're doing with your scraps. I do the same thing...pull all the scraps off the table and out of the basket and viola`, another quilt is born. I keep telling people that scraps have to be from the old Testament....scraps begat scrap projects which begat scraps which begat scrap projects.............. And I'll take some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies if you're baking.

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  21. Wow Janet - Your quilt wall is filling up nicely! DD's hexie quilt looks great - love your feather quilting - the chair looks comfy - congrats on your ribbon!

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  22. You are one busy girl...Loved seeing the mini quilt at the fair in person. I was proud to know it was you that sewed it and it was beautiful. Your feathers are just breath taking...I think you have it down now. Feather away I say...
    Mary

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  23. Congratulations on your blue ribbon Janet.
    Oh my..your feathers are amazing, Like Lulu above, I think my Susie needs to talk to your Gidget.
    Love your wall of mini's.
    Julia♥

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  24. The fall feather is fabulous. Pretty pretty. .
    Congratulations on the blue ribbon, that quilt deserves some recognition.

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  25. Love, love, love the mini's!!! Congrats on your BLUE RIBBON!!! I hope you display it with the winning quilt forever!
    I keep hearing the news reports about the fires in Utah. I hope you and your family are far, far away from the threat of these devastating fires.

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  26. Your minis are wonderful, as always! My cutting table would never deliver that kind of good stuff for leftovers, I daresay! Congrats on winning the little quilt you wanted, and of course for the blue ribbon--so glad you went for it and got the props you deserved for your amazing first wool applique project! Fantastic fun :)

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  27. hehe cookies for me please :-) It is always great to see what you are up to. Well done on the blue ribbon and more importantl, the positive feedback on your quilt. Amazing to see what you can make up from your spare parts, awesome L&E projects! I like the look of your chair. My sewing one is only half a chair really after the back came off a few years ago...it really does need replacing! And of course I am drooling over your feathers... you are inspiring me to get going on them again!!

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  28. I love reading your blog, it is so full of love and happiness. I can read it in every line. Heard so much about your soaps, I will exchange my cookies for soap, lol. Love your new RWB mini. Recieving a blue ribbon at the fair is a big plus, just be proud of it. I am thinking about entering a quilt in our county fair. Your chair is great and I hope it helps with your back problems. Have a great weekend.

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  29. Receiving a blue ribbon at the fair is pretty awesome in my opinion. Dh and I went to the county fair, and my goal for next year is to enter a quilt in the fair.

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  30. I do love your rambling posts ... so much quilty goodness happening! What better things to write/read about, right? LOL! Your DD's hexi quilt is precious -- great job to her!! I love the new chair -- it looks awesome! I'm shopping for one -- I need one that sits me up higher and I'm having a tough time finding exactly what I want! CONGRATULATIONS on the blue ribbon! WOW! It totally deserved it! :)

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  31. Like your "parts" bowl projects and certainly your newest feather project. Having the courage to enter a show is a feat in itself! Cheers for your well deserved comments, Black and Blooms certainly deserved all the high praise. I love my Kola chairs. I have a belly height sewing table and the Kola chair that raised to the height was a must. I splurged and have two in wine fabric with a white base. Having two allows for a friend to sew with me on the extension side of the cabinet. I'll take peanut butter please!

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  32. A visit to your blog is always enjoyable and usually very inspirational. So glad that you new chair is offering more comfortable sewing for you. Congratulations on a very well-deserved blue ribbon at the fair! The newest little quilt-lets are dear, keep up the good work!

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  33. What kind of cookies? I'll be right over! Your feather is sooo beyond stunning - you must enter something feathered in the fair next year!

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  34. Your wall of quilts is looking fantastic!
    Congrats on the ribbon! The quilt is wonderful.

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