Little finishes and some wool gathering.

The two little quilts in Kim Diehl fabrics are finished.

The larger one (No Big Diehl) is a mini version of Kim Diehl's design "All in a Row".
In my last post I asked for name suggestions for the smaller one. I received many good ideas, but still can't decide, though I think I have narrowed it down.

My Spring version of Lisa Bongean's Old Glory Gatherings pattern is now completed and hanging in my living room.

I do think there will be one more little quilt made for this series, but it will wait a few months.

Just in the nick of time I finished stitching up the March block for Miss Stacey's Mystery BOM (yes, I know--I don't do mysteries and I don't do BOMs).

I chose not to use the crown, so I added an extra bee for height, and threw in some buzzing lines. Don't you know about those? I live next door to a real life bee garden and I see those in the air all the time (well, it was still April Fool's Day when I started writing this--but I really do live next door to a bee garden).












So here are the three blocks so far for those things I don't do (mysteries, BOMs).

 

Just caught up with the last three Attic Heirlooms Ornaments of the Month. Check out the link for April's ornament. So cute! Each pattern is free through the month it is posted.

You are extremely perceptive if you caught on to the fact that I am not making these into ornaments. I am appliqueing them onto cotton from thrift store shirts and will be sashing them with red and green shirt fabrics for a little mini Christmas quilt. I think I will trim the blocks to about 4 1/2" before sashing them.

Finally, and most fun of all, almost two weeks ago (has it really been that long?) I was able to meet up with friend and fellow blogger, Gayle (The Middle Sister blog) for a nice lunch. We actually remembered to get a photo just before we parted ways.

Always such a treat to get to spend time with Gayle. They don't come any nicer!

Up next on my quilting agenda is to turn my Nabby's Dowry flimsy into a baby quilt. Picked up the backing flannel yesterday and will wash it up tomorrow. Grandchild #5 is less than 2 months away!

Until next time,
Janet O.

Progress--slow and steady.

I've been wanting to try this pattern for some time (from Crafts ‘n Things magazine, December 2007; design by Mary Ayres). Well, once I got started, my compulsive nature took over. Now there are six!

 I put my own twist on them, and I made them a little larger than the pattern (6 1/2" by 7 1/2"). Once I decide what to use for binding, they will get bound and I will hang them from little hangers using little clothespins. No, I am not keeping them all! : )
They are "big stitch" quilted--well, at least as big as I can stitch. After years of being programed to take tiny stitches, I find it hard to do big stitch, much as I like the look.

My Christmas themed Lamb For All Seasons (based on Lisa Bongean's Old Glory Gatherings pattern here) quilt is bound and hanging in its place for the holidays.


















For the first time ever I took my Mom's quilts off my quilt rack and put Christmas colored flimsies on it. The one in front is Practice What I Preach by Pam Buda. I started it at Pam's workshop last January.
The middle quilt is a log cabin star top made by the late Jill Reid. I need to get it quilted--I really love it over the back of my sofa.
The top flimsy is my Rocky Mountain Stars  based on Bonnie Hunter's Smoky Mountain Stars free pattern.

Maybe by next Christmas some of these will actually be quilted. And then again, maybe that is too much to hope. (Speaking of hope, I have Bob Hope's Lemon Drop Kid playing as I write. Love the old Christmas movies.)

The blanket stitching on my Spring LFAS is finished. I decided to add a chicken to this little piece. It has quite a beak--looks more goose-ish, if you ask me (which I know you didn't). Again, this is based on Lisa's pattern linked above.

 I'm still using the windmill blocks in red/blue/black and cream as my leader/enders. It is fun to have a project where the blocks come together quickly (and are larger than 3")! But since most of my stitching lately has been by hand, these haven't been multiplying rapidly.

I was going to try and post some Christmas decor, but it is late, I am tired and getting loopy, so maybe next time (though not a lot has changed since last year).
Until next time,
Janet O.