Just a guess...

...as to the possible layout of the Nabby's Dowry blocks from Pam Buda's current SAL.

I know, I know--I wasn't going to do this SAL. But recently, when I pulled out the bag of batik HSTs (from the scrap swap with Sandi) and made the little table topper to go under my new African nativity, I realized what a treasure trove of HSTs I had. So Nabby's Dowry looks a little tropical--and yes, I know I made the block in the lower left corner incorrectly. It is staying that way!

I am almost through making Christmas scrap blocks. You may recall I started these last year with Randy's Barrister's Sow-Along. I kept going with my plaid shirt version, but petered out on the Christmas one. So I picked up again with Johna'Lee's Rancher's Daughter SAL. I just completed a few more.

What is it with lower left blocks? I see my error there, too. That one will be fixed!
I already knew that I wouldn't be doing all of the blocks in this year's SAL. I was just planning on a lap quilt for this set of blocks. So I am one block away from the amount needed. Here is how they all look together.

This is not the final layout, and it is much scrappier than I am accustom to making. I usually control color schemes or undertones. On this I decided to just use scraps and come what may. I'll need to use sashing or setting squares to unify things more. There are scraps from a few blog friends in here and it makes me smile when I look at those blocks.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the sewing room. My little tree is bearing more ornaments (a couple of the ones shown were gifts from friends--they are staying put), as I get more little pineapples made for DD#2 to sell at our local Novemeberfest. I'm also making some little log cabin ornaments this year. What would you say would be a fair price to ask for either of these ornaments? What would you be willing to pay at a gift fair? Or would you just think you could go home and make them? : )

I will be making a bunch more, and DD#1 has made a bunch, too. The proceeds will be going to DD#2's fundraising efforts for Dravet Syndrome research.

I was thinking this would be such a short post today, but it is longer than anticipated. At least I am consistent. : )
Until next time,
Janet O.

Meet "The Barrister's Daughter"

That is what I have decided to name this eclectic bunch of blocks when they are finally assembled into a quilt.

When Randy was hosting her Barrister's SAL last year I was doing my first set out of shirts, and I did complete the top, which you can see here. But I had also started a second set out of Christmas fabrics. As the weeks went by I could barely keep up with the first set, so about 1/3 of the way through the year I dropped the ball on the Christmas set.

This year John'aLee is hosting the Rancher's Daughter QAL with a new block posted every Monday, along with a story from her life as a rancher's daughter. I wasn't going to join (when have my intentions ever meant anything?), but then decided I could just follow along at a slower pace, doing every other block, until I had enough blocks for the Christmas throw I had intended to create last year. I think six more blocks will give me what I need for the layout I have planned. I will be using alternating squares and currently I am thinking of red and green hourglass blocks.

This quilt finally got bound and is now winging its way across the country to its new home. I did give it a wash and it softened up nicely, as so many of you suggested.

The Crabapple blocks (a Bonnie Hunter pattern) are beginning to pile up. Almost halfway there. Still searching for the perfect sashing.

Finally, I was in the mood to do some "small" work and didn't have time to make another pineapple. When I first starting making mini ornaments I began with 2" basket blocks. After making two of them I switched to pineapples and haven't looked back. But my little sewing room tree needs some variety, and besides, I had some orphan 1" HSTs laying around in black and green. Just had to make a 1 1/2" HST for the corner and I was good to go!
This little jewel is not paper pieced, which means no papers to remove--yippee! : )

I am making progress on my Patriotic Picnic quilt and when I have it all back up on the wall I will get a photo to share. In the meantime, if you want to see a fun bunch of little Patriotic themed quilts, check out Doniene's post here. So many cute R/W/B quilts!

Happy stitching!
Janet O.

Fourth of July, Spring, Christmas, Fall

I'm a sucker for patriotic fabrics, and I love Primitive Gatherings stuff, so when Lisa came out with her "Old Glory" line of fabrics, I knew I was going to have to make a quilt from it. I also knew I would make said quilt from the first Primitive Gatherings pattern I ever bought. Here you see the beginnings of my Old Glory Picnic Quilt on my design wall.

Does it look familiar? Here are the first two I made.

 I am reversing the value placement in the red/white striped blocks to give more of a "flag" feel.
Also, I made these two bigger than the pattern indicates so that they would fit a Queen bed. I'm not sure if I'm going to make this one that large.



Well, I decided not to unpick the feathers on my Colorblind Baskets, for now. Maybe it is pure laziness, but it is now bound and hanging in my sewing room. It has a nice Springtime feel to it. I just try not to look too closely at the quilting, and then I can enjoy it.

This little pile of 6" Christmas blocks that were made while I worked on my Barrister's Sow-Along quilt is a constant reminder of my inability to "keep up." I started out making two sets of blocks, one set from shirts and one from Christmas fabrics, but I got bogged down in too many projects and after a while I set the Christmas blocks aside. This year I decided to work on completing this quilt top while sewing along with The Rancher's Daughter. I'm not making every block. John'aLee posts a block every Monday (along with a story from her life as a Rancher's Daughter). I figure if I make two blocks a month I will have a nice throw size quilt for the holidays. I had started falling behind already, so today at my monthly quilting day with my Mom (and occasionally a sister), I made a few more. Now I am only 1 block behind.

Finally, I have begun my version of Bonnie Hunter's Crabapples. Back in the Fall of 2008 DH and I went to Vermont with my parents. We drove back to Rochester, NY, to fly home and with the help of his GPS unit, DH found The Ivy Thimble along the way (what town is it in, Sarah?). Mom and I loaded up on fabrics in the colors of the season, determined to each  make a quilt to commemorate our trip. Mom chose a string pieced pattern and had her quilt made within a few months. I've only changed my mind about which pattern to use about 4 times, just recently settling on Crabapples. I'm sewing up the squares as my leader/enders, so this isn't going to happen quickly. I've got a few blocks prepped on design boards and in the queue, waiting their turn.

Next month marks two years for my blogging adventure. I'm planning a little giveaway to mark the anniversary. Stay tuned.
Until next time,
Janet O.