As Autumn Fades Away...

The cold weather is slowly approaching us. The temperature is dropping and as my younger son puts it, "I hate wearing my big fat coat!"

The leaves, that were once on the trees, are now fallen to the ground. We now have half-naked trees.

Yet, I'm still wanting to make some autumn quilts. With all my UFOs, I'm going to have to put them on my wish list.

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Jackie Robinson's "Tessellating Leaves" -

love how every leaf is the same shape and fit right next to one another

(from Keepsake Quilting catalog)

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Susan Probst's "Haunted Hill" -

love the batiks used, just three different colors

(from the front cover of Keepsake Quilting catalog-Autumn 2007)

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I don't know the name of this quilt.

It was shown in some information about the

Shipshewana Quilt Festival, advertising the

Little Helper's Quilt Shop -

love the color gradation of the leaves, they seen to shine!

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I can only hope to get more of my quilts done, so that I won't feel so guilty to start one of these!

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Jane

Diversity of M&Ms

"I have always liked M&Ms;

the most diverse, multicultural, integrated candy in the world.

You have red, yellow, orange, brown, green, and blue;

all in one package, all co-existing TOGETHER.

One color doesn't think that it is superior to the other.

All colors look different on the outside,

but have the same ingredients on the inside.

M&Ms all have the same flavor, and they all taste GOOD.

Wouldn't it be nice if all people were judged by what was

inside rather than you see on the outside?"

If we would all follow their example.

I came across this saying recently and it stuck with me. As I am teaching my younger boy about GOD had making everybody on his earth in different colors - my older boy about differences in languages, culture, and religion in our world: we are all still the same.

It should all be as simple and easy as M&Ms.

Jane

It's a Little Bit Late But...

Candy corn is typically a candy for Halloween. Unfortunately, I don't like candy corn but their colors and the shape of them make so adorable. With my love of homemade pincushions, I thought they would make a perfect pincushion or mini pillow, but I couldn't find a pattern like the one I was seeing in my head.

So I had to make my own pattern!

They were so fun to make, I made multiples.


This is usually what I do, especially with pincushions. I have to make more than one. Although Halloween has already passed, I couldn't help myself. They turned out so cute!

I hope you enjoy the photos! I hope they make you as happy as they made me! : )

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Jane

Happy Halloween!

How great would it be to be a child again. To have one night to dress-up in cool costumes and go to neighbors', friends', and families' homes (and they are expecting you!) to receive a boat load of candy!

view of my front window - I hope it isn't too dark

To have a night like that when you're grown-up! To go to other people's homes to receive, perhaps in may case: fabrics, matching threads, pins and sewing needles. Just one night isn't asking too much, is it?!

But back in reality, we try to make fun and happy memories with our children. We have the inside of the house decorated and the jack-o-lanterns placed on the front porch.

I hope you and your families have a fun and safe Halloween!

Jane

Einstein Has Arrived!

Done at last! I know I could have finished a week ago, but one thing that I hate to do is buttonholes. There is five buttons running down the lab coat. Buttonholes are fast and fairly easy to do, but the slightest mistake can make them look really funky. So, before it got too late, I got down to it and finally got the buttons and buttonholes done.

Then I added some straight-line stitching to the upper pocket so he could add a pen and a memo pad for a geeky look!

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The school was having a Halloween Walk this morning. The students, all in costume(along with the teachers who were also in costume!), were to walk up and down Main Street businesses to collect candy. The temperature this morning was a chilly 38 degrees! Quite a cold walk for all that candy!

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Next year may be the time that he decides that he is too big to go trick-or-treating! Until he realizes that might mean he doesn't get any candy!

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I can't forget my little one. He had to have the "purchased" costume. : ( But he promised that he would allow me to make his costume next year!!

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We're gonna be busy this weekend with Halloween. We've got more trick-or-treating to do as well as carve some pumpkins!

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Jane

Quilt Labels: Part Four

At last, the label is finished. I am planning to use a red and white check fabric for the backing of my Round the Block quilt. I think the bold red border on the label will stand out on the back of the quilt.



Once the quilt is quilted, I usually applique the label to the lower left hand corner.

Some other information that can be added to a quilt label is name or names of other people who helped construct the quilt, name of the quilter (if it isn't yourself), or the source of pattern of your quilt.


For example, in my Granny's Garden quilt, I had added the name of the quilter and the name of the quilt I had copied it from (I wouldn't necessarily use the word "copy." The pattern was in an issue of Quilter's Newsletter). I had embroidered that information half the size of the other letters.
I used fabrics that I had used in the quilt top to border the label. The ladybug was added because I had appliqued ladybugs to the quilt top. And the heart was added for Granny. I will miss her.

Brye Lynn, from her blog/pocast Sew Stitch Create (sewstitchcreate.com), she had mentioned adding your maiden name on the label. I had never thought of it and I think it would be a great idea. With my married name, history will not link it to my maiden name family, nor will it link it to my mother's family. So, perhaps, I might start adding my extended name on the label:
Jannie _______ Stamper (____)
That's gonna take up a lot of space on a label!
Halloween is just around the corner and I have to finish the lab coat my son will be wearing. I still have to think of a way for him to have the fuzzy eyebrows and mustache.
I'm gonna have to get back to sewing.
Jane

Quilt Labels: Part Three

Once the front-facing fabric is securely pinned to the aida cloth, I can start on the letters.
Please excuse the appearance of my hands. Once the photos were taken, I couldn't believe how my hands looked. I should have gave myself a manicure beforehand.

I may not use a hoop, but some people may feel more comfortable with a small hoop.

I can either work from the back using the marked letters as my guide.

Make sure to flip it over to the back side, to make sure there aren't gaps between the stitches.

Or, I can work from the front, This way, I can have a good view of the result. I will need to take a peek at the back to see where the stitches should be placed. *this is the method I prefer*

The holes in the aida cloth will show me exactly where to place my needle.

From the front, I make sure they are no gaps between the stitches. I'll place the needle in where the last stitch ended.

The letter "n" with gaps (what not to do).

The letter "n" without gaps.

The finished hand embroidery. I decided underline the name of the quilt to make it stand out more.

I should have the border placed in the next post.

Jane