So Sorry for Delay

I was wanting to post another entry a lot sooner than this.  I had started a new medication and it is draining all my energy - leaving me with no motivation to get anything done.  It's hard to pick up some quilting when all I want to lay down. 

But I've been using the meds for a while now and I am becoming comfortable with the fatigue.  I just had adjust my daily routine - having to keep busy, start drinking coffee again, use exercise bike earlier in the day (well, maybe not)...

I have finally put the borders on my Henrietta Whiskers quilt.  I think it finished off really cute.  I still have to place some crow and star appliques to the borders and then I can call it a completed quilt-top.

In my exhaustion, I had made a few mistakes when I was putting it together.

I had cut the top and bottom rows a little too short...

I had to match the lines to help make it look seamless (I hope it worked).

I had done the same thing to the side borders...

I matched the print so it will look like it's one piece from a distance.

I'll have to remember: NO cutting when I'm tired!

While I was being lazy this last week, I did come up with some more ideas for future posts.  So I can only hope, more posts coming soon!

Jane  <3

The Squirrels Are Together

I've watched a movie that was broadcasted on the Nickelodeon Channel named "Fred: the Movie"  with my boys.  In the movie, Fred is searching for a Pomeranian dog, which he has mistaken for a squirrel.  I don't know why, but everytime I work on this quilt, I can't help to yell out "squirrel!!"

I had pieced the first two rows together.

Now I've got a better idea of how it will look together.  And I still like it!!

The last row together, just missing the last block (September).

Now I have to get back to the Reminiscence quilt.  I've got all the appliqued pieces pinned in place and all I need to do is just sew them to the backing.  The end is almost in sight!!  Still have the applique borders ahead of me, but I may have to save that for a later time.

Jane  <3

Another Block Done!

The latest block from the Henrietta Whiskers BOM was posted on the fifth of this month.  I, on the other hand, got it early because I was wandering around on the internet very early, early in the morning (it was actually the fifth by then)!

This is Block Eight for the month of August. 

Block Eight

Just one more month to go and the borders will be next.

A quick recap of the previous blocks:

Block One from January

Block Two from February

Block Three from March

Block Four from April

Block Five from May

Block Six from June

Block Seven from July

I'm planning to piece the first two rows together tonight and will try to post them tomorrow!

Jane  <3

Getting More Done

I had gotten two more of the Henrietta Whiskers blocks finished.  Just in time.  I have two more days until Anne Sutton will be out with the next block!

 Block Six

 Block Seven

Oops!  I realized, after I had taken the photo, that I forgot to stitch the crows feet.

Crow's feet

Blocks One through Six laid out together.  Once I get the tiny red buttons and some more embroidery thread, I should be able to sew each row together.

I'm anxious in getting the Reminiscence quilt finished up.  I'm losing my quilting mojo with it.  I'm hoping that I won't set it aside to start on another UFO before all of its blocks are finished.

Jane  <3

EUREKA!

I had finally found the tiny red buttons!  It wasn't at a physical brick-and-mortar store, but at an on-line location.  Hopefully, I had ordered enough for some future blocks (if Anne decides to more necklaces).

After looking over my blocks, I had noticed that the sign at the top of Block Three had some shadowing on it (being able to see the darker fabric through the lighter fabric). 

Before

Ughhhh!  I've got to rip out the embroidery, place another layer of fabric between the background and facing fabrics, and re-embroider it again!!

After

But it does look a lot better once it's done!  Don't you agree?!

Jane <3

Bunny Hill Crazy

I have also been working on my BOM project Henrietta Whiskers.  Isn't she cute!!

Block Six

I'm still working on Block Seven and Block Eight will be available on the 5th of August.  I am hoping to have those two blocks up for viewing very soon.

On the other blocks?... Still have some issues to work out with those.  Particularly the small 1/8" red buttons that I'm suppose to use for the birds' necklaces. I haven't found them yet.  I know I had seen them somewhere but that could have been years ago.

I'm getting anxous to getting more projects into the "sandwich" phase so that I may go on to the next UFO!!

Jane

Some More Applique!

Summer seems to be the time of year that I do my applique.  It is great to take it along with me whenever there is a baseball game or practice.  But I usually take it with me when I sit at the back porch.

Here lately, I've been working on Henrietta Whiskers. 

Block One - Finished

Block Two - I am planning on changing the color of the star at the top right.  The floss I had gotten for the purple star, on the left, doesn't quite match, so I'll has to try another color.  There will also be a necklace of teeny red buttons around the bird's neck.

Block Three - A button still needs to be placed on the scarf that is on the squirrel's neck and there's another issue of the purple on the acorns.

Block Four - A necklace of teeny red buttons still needs to be added for the bottom bird.

Block Five - Another issue with the purple on the acorn.

Block Six were just introduced alittle over a week ago and I am also working on that one.  Hopefully, I'll have it to a point to show soon.  Once the blocks are entirely completed, I'll be piecing them together into rows.  I'll have two rows completed!!

I've been also working on the applique blocks from my Reminiscence quilt.  I'm about done with the first row and I'm curious on how good it will look with the pieced sashing I had just finished.

I feel pretty good for myself.  I feel as if I gotten a lot accomplished so far with the applique.  Just have to keep at it and finish all the blocks without being distracted by another new quilt!!  I know that will be difficult!

Jane

Diving Into Applique

I'm feeling pretty good today!  I would love to be able to sit outside and do a little sewing today, but the temperatures here in southern Indiana have turned morbidly hot.  It is as if someone had flipped the switch on for August.  It has practically skipped over my favorite parts of Spring.  I am not looking forward to the watching to my boys' baseball games in the humid 90 degree  heat.  I'm hoping soon it will pass and be back to the 70-80 degrees that are normal for this time of year.

If I was able to stand the heat outside on my back porch, I'd be working on Henrietta Whiskers BOM for Bunny Hill Designs.

Block One - finished

Block Two - still needing hand embroidery and whip stitching around the stars

After working on machine-quilting for the past few weeks, I needed a little indulgence.  I just adore Anne Sutton's designs.  They are so cute that I could just eat them up.  And I'm still going to need A LOT more practice with the long-arm machine before I'm going to be the proficient machine quilter I want to be, so I needed to work on a "feel-good" project to get my spirits back up. And Henrietta Squirrel makes me smile!!

I have Blocks Three, Four, and Five basted, pinned, and ready to take along with me, whether it's at baseball practice, library with the boys, or at the playground.  Block Six should be ready by the 5th of the month and I can't wait to see what she has next!!  I'll post photos of them once they are ready.

Jane

Block of the Month Obsession

I just can't resist a good Block of the Month pattern... especially when it's free. What could be better, a new block every month!

It's only the first of January and I had already found two that I just fell in love with!

The first one is from Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs (bunnyhilldesigns.com). She has done other BOM's in the past: 2010's Snowbound (great for fans of snowmen) and 2009's A Tisket A Tasket (just for basket lovers). This year's BOM is named Henrietta Whiskers.

It features a cute little squirrel. I just love Anne's design style and her applique work. This is her third free BOM that I have printed out and I'm sure this year will surely be equally impressive.

The next one is from the The Quilt Show (thequiltshow.com). Now, I apologize. The Quilt Show is a membership site. You have to pay a fee to access special aeras in the site (such as this BOM) but there is still a lot to see even if your not a member (I love their Daily Blog!).

2011's Ruffled Roses is The Quilt Show's fifth BOM. Sue Garman has been the designer for each one (looovvve her work!). I've printed out their 2008's Bouquets for a New Day and 2009's Stars for a New Day and I even I even attempted to start Stars for a New Day. I have most of the fabric purchased but there is just one fabric that I cannot locate. I didn't start this quilt right away, so a lot of the fabrics that were used in the quilt has vanished by that time.

I'm not sure when I'll start either one of these quilts. I love the start of a new quilt project (the fabric searching, fabric cutting, the piecing...) but I've got to get those UFO's out of the way!!!! For now, I'll just print out the patterns each month and stash them away for later- maybe get some fabric from time to time ;p!

Jane