What a hodge-podge!

What started out as a simple leader/ender project quickly became my main focus.

Wanted to get these little log cabin blocks made and sewn together. I've only ever made small log cabin blocks using foundation paper piecing, and that's not how I did these.
So I was a bit nervous when I began squaring up the blocks, afraid I would have very wonky ones that wouldn't look good once they were trimmed. I was pleasantly surprised. To the right is all that came off as I trimmed thirty  3 1/2" finished log cabin blocks. Just a fuzz pile! Whew! That means all of my piecing of minis has paid off in more accurate sewing.

I am certainly my own worst enemy when it comes to finishing up the pile of little flimsies. I keep adding to it! The leftover 1" log cabin strips were sliced into 1" squares and now these little blocks are taking shape.




I did complete the smallest two little quilts from my last basting binge. The one on the left was a block gifted to me by Vic. Quilting on it was pretty basic--SITD and a scallop in the border.

The batik quiltlet was one of my test pieces when I reviewed Lisa Bongean's Itty Bitty Eighth rulers. I used her Pinwheel Garden pattern.

I ditch-stitched this as well, and then added some swags in the white and the border.

All of the HSTs in this were from a swap I did quite a while back with Sandi. I have made a baby quilt, ornaments, a pincushion and now this little quilt, all from those HSTs. There are still a handful left. I think I definitely got the better end of the swap!







Have finally chosen a spot for my Lori Smith Fit to Frame piece, which is still nameless. It now radiates its charm in the dining room--at least for a while, until I change my mind and move it somewhere else.

And through it all, I continue to plod along on the mammoth T-shirt quilt, which has now spilled onto the floor. My design wall accommodates a queen size quilt, but this beast exceeds the limits.

All of the blocks have been bordered to bring them to a uniform size and the fussy-cutting of the plaid sashing has begun. The shirts are not in their final layout yet. My OCD-ness will not allow the colors to have such random placement. I've just been too lazy to bring in the step stool I need in order to reach the top blocks and rearrange everything.

It is this time of year again on the farm. Twins and triplets will soon be frisking about the pasture and I will have full view from my sewing room window. I can't wait!


Until next time,
Janet O.

Two more down,

...about 18 more to go. I'm talking about little quilts that have been waiting to be quilted.

The patriotic one is the little quilt I made by slicing up a large LeMoyne Star block made by Michelle C.
The leaf quilt was made with the trimmings I begged for received from fellow class members after a demo of Carmen Geddes' fusible piecing method.

Kept the quilting simple on these two. 

The leaves got a hooked swirl and ditch stitching in the light border.

The stars were ditch stitched and then a paisley filled in the background. A simple looped border finished it off.

So now this pile of little basted quilts has become this pile of finished quilts--well, kind of. I had already gifted the snowman quilt, so I subbed the tumbler topper that I had made in the midst of the quilting frenzy. BTW, I have a bunch of those cut tumblers leftover. Anyone interested?

Now I have another pile basted and ready for quilting.

The pile includes a Temecula Summer Stars quilt, Pam Buda's Patchwork Pocket SAL, and the little r/w/b one at the bottom was a block gifted by Vic. It has taken me too long to get these quilted!

This is the state of my current little projects. Pinwheel Garden (blue and brown one) is receiving most of my attention, when I am not working on the ubiquitous T-shirt quilt. The other two projects are all cut, but haven't seen much action.

I'm not paper-piecing, as the pattern recommends, so it isn't perfect, but I am happy with it. The blocks are 4", as opposed to the 6" in the pattern. Everything seems to shrink in my hands. : )
Five out of twelve blocks made. I have all of the fabrics chosen and two more blocks are cut. The only rush on this project is my own anxiousness to see it completed.

 Took this shot from the front deck as the setting sun was sending a golden glow to the mountaintops across the valley. This is NOT the view from my sewing room window--opposite sides of the house.

Until next time,
Janet O.