Baby Quilt

My nephew and his wife are expecting their first baby ....

I'm going to be a Grand Auntie!

So of course I had to whip up a quick quilt and a box of goodies

for them to open when they visited during our family vacation in Chatham!

I started with this yard of Valori Wells flannel

(I actually had this in my stash!)

Added this fabric for the backing

the baby's room will be Atomic Tangerine!

and I thought this would blend in nicely

Used these color threads for the quilting

Putting it all together it looked like this....

I basted it using the Sharon Schamber's method

and just free motion quilted around each animal and flower!

lots of stops and starts...

but I'm pleased with how it came out.

I paired the quilt up with this way to cute lion found in Macy's!

I put everything into this cute box from Joann's Fabrics

Here are Michael and Nicole opening their baby gift box full of goodies!

Yup.... I think They liked it! 

This was such a fun little quilt to make....

no piecing, just fabric and free motion quilting!

Hmmmm.... I think I should whip up a few more!!! 

VACATION!

What a lovely word V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!

Two weeks in Chatham!

We saw Dolphins jumping in the Canal,

Horseshoe Crab shells

Old Shipwrecks

Seals swimming up the coast of Turo,



Seals are the tiny black spots in the water!



Whales cresting off Race Point Beach



you can barely see the water spout from the whales blow hole



Moon Rising over Turo

Sunsets!

and Fishing!

Stephen ready for fishing with rod, reel, bait and an Iced Coffee!

Matthew and Michael fishing at Race Point Beach



mom and daughter dressed alike! We did this at least 3 times during the week!



Nephew Michael and wife Nicole with Baby Quilt

my quilting corner of the cottage!

It was a wonderful two weeks spent with family

Me, daughter - Victoria, son - Matthew, nephew - Michael, Nana, sister - Karen

I even got one book read and three quilts bound while I was there!

More on those later!

Now it's time to unpack and do laundry!!



Winter Taupe Quilt Block #7

Before I left on vacation I finished block #7

This one worked up quickly!

I'm half way done with the embroidered blocks!

Dolphins in the Cape Cod Canal

While I was sitting by the canal yesterday doing a little appliqué 

and watching my husband fish (he actually caught something!) - 

we saw an unbelievable sight. 

A small pod of dolphins swimming and coming up out of the water! 

There had to have been at least 20 dolphins swimming around a huge beautiful sail boat - 

I could not believe it. 

Sorry no picture - I was so taken with watching them I forgot to take a picture!

Another top quilted!

About three years ago I had this Christmas quilt top basted!

I had grand ideas of designing a beautiful holly quilting motif

and quilting it all up on my Bernina 440.

Yeah .... so that never happened!

So off I went with my Christmas quilt

to my favorite longarm rental shop - Mad About Quilts.

I selected a holly and berry pantograph,

and a beautiful golden thread -

Mary Ann and Dora got my quilt all settled onto the machine

and in three hours the top was DONE!

This was the first time I've ever quilted on the longarm using

a pantograph - usually I just meander around!

And - OK.... the holly points are a bit rounded in places,

and my round berries look more oval - like the birds ate them!

But I am just so excited!

Another UFO almost done!

Just need to bind and label it!

Quilt Label for the T-shirt quilt

The T-Shirt Quilt Label is DONE -  and I'm loving it!

It started with these pieces

I wanted to make a book that would fit into a pocket.

Let me explain ....

All through high school my daughter was a jeans, t-shirt and flip flop girl

who loved school, sports, band and  LOVED to read!

She was probably the only kid that actually loved to read

the summer reading books!
Even in college she's still reading for fun!

So I took the back pocket off of an old pair of her jeans

and created a book as the quilt label
to slip into the pocket!

Initially I  used some June Taylor Computer printer fabric

but few my water accidentally dripped onto it...

the ink bleed everywhere.

Next I tried TransferMagic Inkjet Transfer paper

(and I remembered to flip the images before printing!)

It ironed on beautifully but leaves a shiny film

that Can NOT be ironed again!

So I worked carefully

and made the book pages using the transfer method

which will be washable!

 I created a book jacket from book fabric

and sewed in the pages

and Viola

a Book Quilt Label!

Here she is from Pre-School to High School

Middle pages

Left side are two quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt

(she dressed up as E.R. in second grade

for a school project)

The right side is my personal message to my girl!

My hubby wanted to know why I didn't include him -

I told him ....  He didn't make the quilt!

For the last page

I used a t-shirt that represents our Mom and Daughter

trip to Nantucket last year

(since it's a whale of a story)

 

I love it ...

I couldn't wait to show my daughter...

she got a little misty eyed!

I think she liked it! :)

I just love making special and interesting Quilt Labels!
Don't You?

Happy Quilting ~J:)

UFO #1 ... the T-Shirt Quilt

This is my most important UFO .... my daughter's T-shirt quilt.

It's filled with t-shirts from all of her activities since she was old enough to

run, skate jump or swim (she never walked!at least I don't remember her walking -

 I just remember chasing her all over the place!)

Each t-shirt was backed with woven interfacing and cut to size and surrounded

by fabrics that represent my daughter.

I've always called her my Athletic, Academic Band Geek -

just because she has always done so much and spread herself

out into so many areas and this quilt represents all of it!

It should be two quilts but she wanted it all in one so it's a two sided quilt ....

a no-no for t-shirt quilt - just too dang heavy ...

but she didn't care ....

so off to the longarmer's I went.

There is a fabulous place near me called M.A.Q. = Mad About Quilts

where you rent space on a longarm (after taking one of their lessons)

it's just the BEST!

You can learn the longarm skill (oh Have I got a lot to learn!)

and Mary Ann and Dora are right their to help you! I love it!

SO off I went last week to start quilting "THE" T-Shirt Quilt ....

I decided just to do a big meandering stitch -

no sense adding more weight onto this puppy!

And in Three HOURS I had it completely quilted!

Thank You Dora!!

I quilted in secret messages on some of the t-shirts

"Italy" on the t-shirt she purchased on her school trip to Italy her junior year

"Shark" on the Monetary Aquarium shirt

"Just have Fun" on one of her softball shirts

"Cookies" on the girl scout fabric

"Camping" on the camper fabric

You get the idea!

I even stitched in

"Athletics ... Academic.... Band Geek"

Oh I hope I spelt it correctly!

If not - oh well she knows I'm a terrible speller

and the longarm just doesn't have spell check -

I'm sure she'll understand!

In the bottom corner I stitched...

"Love Mum"

I've just finished putting the binding and now

I'm working on the quilt label.

Can't wait to show you that ...

it way way COOL!

But that's another post for another day!

Happy Quilting today ~J:)

RNQG Summer Challenge

One of the guilds that I belong to RNQG 

(Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild)

gave out a summer challenge that was perfect and Just In Time!!

The challenge is to finish any UFO you have and

bring it to the September meeting.

So I decided to clean out and reorganize my sewing room ....

YES .... AGAIN!

(I'll post pics of the new redo later)

  I pulled out every UFO that was in my sewing room and stacked it up.

SO this is what 17 UFO's look like!!!

Oh and here are 4 more!!

Oh found another one - This one is on my design wall
which is the kind that rolls up - so I'm
always for getting it's there!!!

 And let's not forget the appliqué borders
that need to go on this baby
but no way will this be done in time
for the summer challenge ....
well maybe for Summer 2013!

So that's 23 ... Yes! TWENTY THREE
UFO's that I have in my sewing room!
OMG - when did this get so out of control!!

I took Action and 

stacked them up into a huge plastic bin and

positioned the bin right beside my sewing chair!

THAT'S IT ...

I WILL NOT

start any new projects

 until this bin is EMPTY!!

Wish me luck!!

My fingers are itching with 3 new projects already!!

But NO not until

THIS

is GONE!!!

Block #6 of Winter Taupe Quilt

I spent the month of June working on block #6



This block whipped up much faster than #5!

I'm using two different stitches -

for the snow covered trees and roof tops

I'm using the Stem Stitch to give a fuller snowy look!

For everything else I'm using the back stitch

which just gives a nice crisp outlined look.

I wasn't sure what to do for the snowmen - but

decided to go with the back stitch.

And I think I like it!

Have a Great Quilty Day!

Block #5 of my Winter Taupe Quilt

I truly have been working!

I just haven't been blogging - so here is a catch up entry!

Here is Block #5 of my Winter Taupe Quilt

This one seemed to take forever to do!

It took all of April and May to stitch and ...

I'm happy with the results!

I am so loving the COSMO floss.

Stitches like a charm and the color change is

just perfect for the effect that I'm looking for.

Away too long ... but still quilting!

I've been an absent blogger ... well I've been reading everyone's blogs and working on my projects ... I've just been very bad at posting! Now that I'm on vacation from school I'm hoping to change that! SO over the next few days I will be catching up on all of my postings!

Block #4 of my Taupe Winter Quilt

Here is the fourth block of my Taupe Winter Quilt

only ten more to go!!

I love the Cape in the Winter!

The CAPE ....

Just the sound of those words makes me start to relax!

I'm just back from 3 days and 2 nights of blissful relaxation -

my batteries are recharged and I feel relaxed.

Hubby and I spent time in Chatham ~ Love that little town.

Here is the view from the cottage that we stayed in!

Just the idea of waking up, sitting and sipping coffee with this view ...

Spectacular!!!

(I see a pictorial quilt here!!)

I was not able to walk the beach

and hunt for shells and sea glass ...

my favorite thing to do (when I'm not quilting!)

~ the winds were whipping up around 50 - 60 mph!

So the ocean was a bit choppy and the sand was flying everywhere!

Now I'm home and  feeling energized and motivated

to tackle the many quilt projects I've started!

And the Winner is ....

I want to thank all of you how entered my first give away!

And the Winner is ...

Linda H.

I'll contact you to get your snail mail info 

 Sonoma Rose will be sent to you directly from the publisher!

ENJOY!!

Calling all Jennifer Chiaverini fans - it's a GIVE AWAY!!!

I've been asked by Liza Cassity a publicist at Dutton books to do a give away on my blog 

for Jennifer's newest novel in the Elm Creek Series ~ SONOMA ROSE !!

Jennifer has always been praised for her ability to write historical and present-day fiction with equal skill. While her last novel was set in modern times, Sonoma Rose tells the story of a young mother's heroic journey in Prohibition-era America.

Rosa Diaz Barclay is touched by the criminality surrounding Prohibition when she discovers that her husband, John, has given over the duties of their Southern California rye farm in favor of bootlegging. Fearing the safety of her four children, Rosa flees, carrying only a case of John’s ill-begotten cash and her mother’s two quilts. Lars Jorgensen, her true love and the father of two of her children, aids in her escape, and together the six travel north to San Francisco. Under assumed names, they are hired to work at a Sonoma vineyard, where Rosa creates a personal and professional identity that she would never have dared imagine at the opening of her tale, and one that brings great honor-and beauty-to all who surround her.

I am so excited to host this give away ... my first give way!! 

I LOVE Jennifer's novels ... I am not an avid reader, 

but her novels and style of writting give me the feeling that I'm right there in the story

 I can actually see the characters - it's amazing! 

SO if you are as excited about Jennifer's new book as I am 

Please leave me a comment with your name and contact information. 

Liza has requested the give away be limited to US and Canada - 

sorry for those of you outside that zone. 

I will select a random winner and your information will be forwarded to Liza 

she will send out the book to you directly from Dutton Publishing.

The drawing will be done Sunday 2/26/2012 at 8pm EST.

Good Luck!

Finished block #3

I've finished block #3 of my Taupe Winter Quilt 

The stitching is definitely coming along a lot faster than I thought it would -

but then again I am just working on this one project at the moment!

My other 3 projects are in a holding pattern -

waiting for me to prep for the next phase in each!

I can give a sneak peek at one of them....

My version of Piece O'Cake's Aunt Millie's Garden

I just put the blocks together with sashings and intersections last weekend

at the Silver City Quilt Retreat. (That was a great time!!)

Now it's time to plan out the applique borders ... like I said ... Holding Pattern!!

This project just might circle the sewing room for a while!

Can you tell I have a son that is a pilot!!!

Block #2 completed

Snow Days Quilt

Block #2 is completed!

I am loving this variegated floss Cosmo #8049 Seasons by Lecien

Here is the pattern by Crabapple Hill.

My fingers are itching to start in on the pieced blocks...

but I have a few UFO's to complete...

First on the list is my daughter's high school t-shirt quilt

she is now a sophmore in college! and has been patiently waiting for her quilt!

It's getting there!!

Organizing to start the New Year

Wow did this year go by fast!

I can not believe that 2011 is coming to an end and tomorrow is 2012!!

My new years "Quilty" resolution is to FINISH things!

SO to get a better work space flow

I took some time to rearraign my sewing room (again!)

I think I like it now here are a few pictures of my new work space.

This is what my sewing room looks like when you walk in.

I have my cutting area separated from my sewing / computer area.

I had them together creating a big island in the middle of the room -

but it took up the entire room so I've split them up ...

I think it makes the room (11 x 13) look a bit bigger.

This is what I see when sitting at my sewing machine - the doorway and my TV!!

When I stand in front of my cutting table I now get a clear view of

the doorway, my fabric closet, the TV and my library

(I have way too many books!)

My Fabric Closet

This is just my Batiks, Kaffe, Amy Butler, Japanese and funky fabrics!!

I have more fabric in the basement stored in plastic bins!

My friends call it Janet's Quilt Shop!

They can find almost anything there!!

I created an "L" shape for my sewing/computer/printer area

so far it is working out well

This is my "Inspiration Quilt" !!

I WON this quilt in a 2010 raffle for the

Friends4Kenya / Urembo Basket Program.

I bought one ticket!

I LOVE the way the ladies are dancing - it gives off such great energy!

The quilt was made by Sharon Monahan and quilted by Celine Spada.

Now that I'm organized for 2012....

 I can work on finishing all the projects I started in 2011!!!

Happy New Quilty Year