Unfinished Business

When Randy apologized for taking more "grandma time", which would make the next Barrister's Sow-Along blocks late, I breathed a sigh of relief. How about you? I was not caught up on the last three. But I am now! I have filled the design board I have been using to keep these displayed, so it is a good thing we are nearing the end of our "Sowing". This is what it looks like.

The three blocks on the bottom right are the newest. I'm not finished with Fall colors yet, so I chose some fall-ish plaid shirts for these blocks. Maybe I could have used more contrast (that seems to be a reoccurring theme with me), but I still like them. Here they are at a closer view.

And speaking of low contrast--I played with border options on my "Mountain Trail" from Lori's QAL and this was what finally clicked for me.

I bordered it with the same dull red (it seems to appear brighter in this photo than in real life), but I have tucked a little blue around the edge to show that I am going to bind it with that when I have it quilted. For some reason an inner border didn't do it for me on this quilt, but I felt it needed something more than red binding.

And finally, I have gone back to the bay--Orca Bay. I didn't start it last year until it was no longer a mystery. I don't know how so many of you can keep up with Bonnie's mystery during the holidays. I just watched in fascination and then decided to do it after it had been revealed. It got put on the back burner months ago. I have everything cut and have pieced a little on it now and then, but recently decided I would use it as my leader/enders while I work on Christmas projects.                                                  You may recall that mine is named "Sunset Over The Men's Department" because I'm making it from men's thrift store shirts--yes, even the peach and purple were men's shirts. I cheated and didn't use string blocks (not my favorite to make, but I love the look). I subbed stripes and plaids instead. Mine won't be as large as Bonnie's and I don't have enough of the solid cream and black shirts to make her border. But I think it captures the feel of Bonnie's design and I love it, even though it is so outside my normal comfort zone. Hopefully it will be a flimsy by the end of the year.                       I am binding another little project and will be starting the quilting on another. I will share those soon.                                   Until next time,                                      Janet O.                                                              

                                           

Caught up--well, I was for a few hours!

It felt good to go to bed last night all caught up on my Barrister's Blocks, even though I knew as of today I would no longer be caught up. This is what I have "Sow" far in what I am calling "Barrister's Day Off".

I'm excited to be able to include some of the shirts that I picked up at the thrift store yesterday in future blocks. Oh, such wonderful colors!

My second set of blocks, made in Christmas fabrics, does not include every block. I started this set on the second group of blocks Randy posted and rather than go back I just decided to go from where we were. I also omitted making the block with the little flying geese from the recent set. I am not stressing over the Christmas set--just making what I want and being happy to have it when it is finished.

And sure enough, this morning there were four new patterns waiting for us on Randy's blog.

Something very exciting came in the mail Monday! A flying scarecrow arrived all the way from Nova Scotia! I know there were many of you who saw that I won Kaaren's giveaway--I couldn't believe it! I was the first to comment in over 100 entries and RNG chose #1!! He is so cute. Just look at him.

I told Kaaren I couldn't bear to put him away with the fall decor yet--we needed bonding time. So he will sit here, where he will be each fall, until I bring out the patriotic decor in June. If you know of Kaaren you know she does exceptional work. The detail on this is meticulous. I am honored to have him! "Thank you" seems inadequate, Kaaren!

I did get the baby quilt I was quilting finished in time for the shower--I bound it on the machine. I really enjoyed quilting this. Though it was nothing fancy, it turned out well enough, I thought. The link for this quick quilt is in my last post, if you need something in a hurry, it works up fast, but looks good.

I want to share something I did that may interest some of you FMQers. I had been told of Patsy Thompson's DVDs and free pattern downloads by more than one quilter. I purchased a couple of her DVDs and downloaded all of her free patterns. I slipped all of the pages into plastic sleeves and it filled a large looseleaf binder. It was great when I just wanted to flip through designs, but when actually quilting, it was very cumbersome and I found it hard to place it anywhere to refer to that it wasn't just in the way. My "Anne Bright" and "Leah Day" design books are spiral bound and so handy. Well, I took some of the images from Patsy's website and printed them out on coverstock, which I then had laminated (along with a blank page of coverstock for the back). I took all of the pages out of their sleeves and slipped them between the laminated covers and had them spiral bound. I am very pleased with the resulting book and have already used it.

I did the same thing with the small booklet of free designs you can print from Melody Johnson.



I did get the basket top assembled with the tiny baskets in the corners. I like it. Amazing what you can do with the leftover triangles and scraps from someone else's quilt!

I don't know how I want to quilt this, so it will have to wait until I get inspiration. Maybe that will come next month when I attend the Home Machine Quilting Show in Salt Lake City. I am so excited. I have never done anything like this before and if it weren't for the help of DH and two of his cousins, who are good friends to me, it wouldn't be happening now. I am registered for classes from Karen McTavish, Sally Terry and Pam Clarke. Can't wait!!
You still have a couple of days to get in on Doniene's Fabulous Fifteenth Fabric Freebie! She has some fresh looking red and yellow prints this time around. Good luck!
I actually get to stay home and sew this rainy Wednesday and I am excited to dig into my CW prints and get going on some gifts that are overdue, and one that soon will be. : )
Happy stitching,
Janet O.