Taking a Break (not by choice)

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be away for a while. My computer is very sick and my father-in-law's magic fingers (he is a computer whiz) hasn't remedied any of its symptoms. We may have to send it to a "computer hospital"!

But just in the time since I have been away, I have been able to complete a couple of quilty things as well as some other non-quilty items. So I should have some photos when I'm able to come back.

I hope to be back real soon. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Jane

A Surprise For Me!

Well, kinda! I had mentioned before that my beloved sis is a crocheter. I love to crochet but her skills have well surpassed mine. I love the projects she can create and I can't believe how quickly she can complete them. Now, that's what I call "an accomplished crocheter!"


And even though it isn't quite my birthday, just yet, she sent me an early birthday gift. She insisted that I open it ASAP because she wanted to make sure I'd be able to use it.


She had made me a hat and a scarf to help keep me warm and toasty this winter. The winters here in Indiana are less than predictable. Just this weekend, the temperature was warmer than usual (Sunday was 50 degrees!) and sunny... forecasted for tomorrow is rain which will be cold enough to change to frozen rain overnight. With the upcoming weather, I will be putting them to good use!

It looks as if she combined two yarns (a light cream color with a variegated colors of turquoise-green-blue-purple) to help create a thicker and fluffier result (she'll correct me if I'm wrong!)
And if you notice the cupcake, she had used both yarns individually. It was a perfect accompaniment to the hat and scarf. You could call it the"icing on the cake!" ha ha ha- I know, pretty dorky!!
She has just started her own blog at fadfabulouscrochet.blogspot.com. She has posted a few projects that she has done already and I'm looking forward to what she's planning to make in the future! Please, go on over and visit her!

Thank you so much Sis. Love you so much. You are the greatest!
...now what can I make for her that would top this?! ;p

Jane

A Drunkard's Path Reviewed

My little guy was home with me today. He was running a fever last night and he had stayed home from school. Even with him home, I was still able to work on my quilts.

I've gotten some of the blocks pieces of a Drunkard's Path quilt together to give me an idea of what the quilt top would look like once it was done.

A version of another Drunkard's Path quilt.




Once I had the Spring Bloomers quilt on the floor for viewing, I wasn't satisfied with how the colors are working together.

I had purchased the fabric first and then had designed the quilt for them. I knew that I had groups of red, yellow. green, blue, and pink fabrics but I didn't realize that there was such a difference in tones (light-to-darkness) among each color. The drawing really doesn't match the quilt too well. It looks mismatched and not cohesive.

I have an option of making another quilt with colors that are more carefully picked... but really, let's be realistic. I would love to make a quilt that would match the drawing but I'll just have another unfinished quilt to add to my pile. I'll continue to finish this one and hopefully it will grow on my and I'll change my mind.

Jane

Two Drunkard's Path Quilts

Even though is seems slow going, I've been trying to get these UFO's finished and out of the way. I need to get them to a quilt-top stage. I feel that they are no longer UFO's when they are that close to being quilted.

I've been working on my Round the Block quilt and I remembered that I also had another Drunkard's Path design quilt stashed away.

Round the Block is machine-pieced and arranged in the traditional setting. It's made as a two color-way in red and white.

Spring Bloomers (it's preliminary name so far) is hand-pieced (applique) and set in a floral-like setting (or at least that was how I was wanting it to look like). It is made with Susan Branch's fabric named Tea Party.


To compare the two methods of construction, machine-pieced and hand-applique, I enjoy both.

Machine-piecing seems to go a lot faster but I can get bored with all the chain-stitching. I can't stand doing the same thing over and over and over again.

With hand-appliqueing, I like the idea that I have some hand work while I'm watching TV. Although I am still repeating the same step over and over again (applique, applique, applique...), I seem to tolerate it a lot better than sitting at the sewing machine.

If time permits, I'll have some more piecing done and some photos taken of them.

Jane

Problem Solved!

I feel so proud of myself today!

I had sat down on the couch, after taking the boys to school, to work on some hand-applique. I was working with my magnetic pin cushion and I really didn't have a place to keep my needle. I usually just stick the needle in the sticker/paper covering the top of the spool. But eventually, there are so many needle pricks that it either falls into the spool or the paper shreds to pieces.

I couldn't place my needle into my magnetic pin cushion because it would become lost with all the pins.

I had to make a needle cushion - something that can hold the needle I was using and keep it near the spool of thread.

Ta Da!! It was so easy to make!

One problem solved and it's so cute to look at, too!

I have seen these before and I have wanted to make one for a long time. It's made with a golf tee so it can fit in the spool.

I have another quilt that I'm having to applique two different colors of squares onto. I'm going to make two more for working on that quilt. Maybe I'll use some pretty ribbon for that petal for a different look.

Jane

Fabric Searching- Can You Help?

I was hoping you can help me find some fabric. I'm needing some fabric from Red Rooster's Canterbury line. I'm have started the quilt a little late and it is very hard to find the last fabrics. I'm wanting to make mine identical to the sample shown in the instructions, if possible.

I am needing:

1/2 yard of "Dark pink flower swirl" (#18176-RED1)

1/2 yard of "Light pink flower swirl" (#18176-PIN1)

1/2 yard of "Gold flower swirl" (#18176-YEL1)

example of "flower swirl"

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1/2 yard of "Dark pink lattice weave" (#18173-RED1)

example of "lattice weave"

_______________________________________________

1 1/2 yards of "Pink paisley" (#18174-PIN1)

example of "paisley"

_______________________________________________

1/2 yard of "Blue scrolls print" (#18175-BLU1)

1/2 yard of "Green scrolls print" (#18175-GRE1)

example of "scrolls print"

______________________________________________
If you can help, please email me at justplainjanequilts at frontier dot com. I would love to be able to buy it from you.

Jane

Heartache Generates Some Creativity

I'm feeling a lot better now about the tournament result. My son is taking it a lot better than my husband. Instead of grieving about it like a little baby, I had to steer my feelings into another direction.

All of the boys' families usually purchase shirts (basketball themed with school's name) to wear at the games. I had an idea a few months ago to make a jacket with the owl (school's mascot) on the back of it. I came up with this drawing.

I never got it on the back of a jacket and I soon just ran out of time. But I could make a wall hanging out of it! I thought it would be the perfect outlet to get my feelings out on!

I initially had drawn it on an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper, so I had to enlarge it.

And keeping the basketball theme, I thought I'd add a basketball in the background. I'm wanting to make it subtle. I'd like to make the background white with a beige or cream ball.

It kind of gives you an idea of what it will look like. I had thought of making another one to donate to the school. It could have the coaches and players names on it and perhaps they could sign their names on it. But that's two that I will make to make! And I'd have to make it before the end of the school year!

Not sure exactly when I'll actually get the fabric for it. Will I really make it? I may not, but I really enjoyed drawing it up.

Jane