JulieKQuilts

It's a string thing!!!

2012-02-14T18:12:00.006-06:00

Well, you might ask why in the world is she doing a string quilt, with so many projects on the go...and I have an answer! Please see below...

I cannot close this bin anymore, it is so full of strings!! so, I decided to join so many other quilters and make a string quilt. This quilt will be given to one of my patients at the hospital. I love, love, love using these little bits of fabric up, it is great fun to see pieces of old projects and clothing we have worn.

I finished the crazy cat hand quilting! I put the binding on, and will stitch it down some quiet evening. I need to erase the blue quilting lines still too.

Before baking! Our Valentine's pie!! Hope he likes it...

Have a great day, all!!

Julie

Sheer delight!

2012-02-07T13:55:00.007-06:00

More progress is being made on the Snail's trail! These are really fun, easy blocks to make...and I am really loving making them! About half done here.

Just Take Two. I did! Red and white...and these are not so much fun, so I have changed them up a bit so I can be a little more accurate. I wish I were a perfect piecer! I made so many mistakes in the house block that I designed this one, instead, and the heart on the roof can be my signature square. If at first you can't succeed...redesign it!!

I got all the borders done on the plaid giant fun quilt! It is ready to be quilted now...wheww!!!

This is the corner...and the last remnants of husband's pajamas, used in the red corner square. Maybe you already know this, but I was looking for the perfect fabric for another quilt...and spied my husband old worn out plaid PJ's on the ironing board. I proceeded to cut holes in them all over, using the good parts!! Long story short, dear husband (who has lots of other PJ's and I thought he would never miss these) went and found his PJ's and put them on...and found holes all over them!! It was truly hilarious...he had a good sense of humor and took it all in stride. The things our husbands put up with in a quilter's home!

These...these strings blocks are just delighting me!! I do love them so much...just me and the strings and a glorious mess in the kitchen, all around the table...just delightful!!!

***************Other Commandments they did not list but maybe should have**********************

1. Though shalt not dig through the trash at retreats and pull out little pieces of fabric to hoard!

2. Though shalt not idly look around at all the plaid shirts in church and think "maybe they would all leave me their shirts as they leave and wear home choir robes"

3. Though shalt not get caught cutting up dear hubby pajamas for quilts.

4. Though shalt not quilt and forget to cook supper!

Now, you add to this list!!! Hee!!!

Have a great day,

Julie

Trying to wrap some things up...at last!

2012-01-30T14:55:00.005-06:00

Well, I kicked myself in the fannie, got straight up from bed very early this morning, went to the machine and got those last rows put together! Yippee!! I put the inner border on too...the outer border is a pieced one, and has lots more work to go...so the hard part for me is done! Yippee!!

In the spirit of finishing up some projects...here are my crazy cats from last year. I got five blocks made, and used four of them in this wall hanging. This will be a hand quilting project for on the go...I have two of them ready for the next road trip.

And lastly, I have been sewing on the Snail's Trails...these are so much fun to make!! A huge thanks to Vicki of LA Quilter, I won a giveaway from her and am using some of the fabrics in this...and loving them!! She is a wonderful quilter, go check out her blog!

********************Winner!****************

Natasha, you won the lavender fat quarters...please let me know your snail mail address!!!

Coonie update!! OUr raccoon stuck in the chimney successfully climbed up our rope ladder to safety...so hurrah for that, and hurrah for no more critters in the chimney! I think we are going to have to have a custom cover made...our cover was good, but not coon proof!!

My cold is trudging along...I am ready for it to be done with me!!

Have a great day, all!!

Julie

Coonie alert!! In the chimney again!!

2012-01-27T18:59:00.003-06:00

See those eyes glowing at you? Click on the picture, that is the inside of our chimney. OK, here is the story...

A few years back, we had a mother raccoon in our chimney... We rescued her, and she left one baby behind, which we raised to adulthood, then rehabbed the baby to the wild. This morning, Rosie the poodle alerted to our chimney and barked and barked. I thought there was no way this could happen again, because we had sealed off the chimney so it could not happen again.

Fast forward to today...the chimney cover was torn and pushed aside...and long story short, we are rescuing another coon from the chimney. I sure hope she or he is not hurt...we braid ropes together and last time the coon climbed right out. Funny that we live in a huge metroplex, yet have so many wildlife species right in our midst...bobcats, deer, coons, possums, and lots more. I will let you all know in the morning.....

Julie

The weekend is coming!

2012-01-27T14:46:00.004-06:00

Hurrah for the Snail's Trail!! These blocks are really fun to make!! The pattern I am using is in the 2006 Quilt Almanac Magazine. The designer of the pattern is Elaine McGarry; do any of you know her? I have seen other patterns, but this one is the best I have found. I was not planning to make this quilt...but while I was just perusing my old magazines, culling out ones I would never use, I found this turned down page...I liked it then, and I like it now! There are 63 blocks altogether, and the blocks are nine inches finished.

Spring is coming, I have it on good authority! If you would like these lavender pretties that remind me of spring, please leave a comment about what your focus is for 2012, quilting wise, and I will draw a name on Sunday for these. Snuck that in on you, didn't I??

Why is this like pulling teeth? I am putting the rows together...and can always find something else to occupy myself...straighten a shelf, run change the laundry...anything but concentrate on putting these long rows together!! One brilliant lady said...why don't you do it in sections, instead of these long rows? I will!! Thank you...next time, believe me, I will!!

Have a great day, everyone!!

Julie

Busy-ness!

2012-01-25T15:14:00.004-06:00

I joined the "Just Take Two" quilt along! I have taken red and white and made these blocks...there are many more to come. I love this red! I took great pains to wash the fabric, twice, with color catchers, so I would not have bleeding afterward...here's hoping for that!! I am really enjoying these blocks!

Here is the plaid quilt Jewel Box, just putting rows together...a sticking point for me, so I am taking it a step at a time. I love these plaids! Just truly love them so much!

In an old quilting magazine, I found the most fun Snail's trail quilt...so I cut a block to see how the directions were...they were perfect! I can see a scrappy snail's trail in my future.

Aurofil threads is sponsoring a stitchery BOM...I did the first month. Now, I am famous for starting these and just doing the first month...so I cut out all the background blocks in advance! Trying to trick myself...maybe it will work!

But mostly, I have been working on projects that are not really much fun to photograph.

* I cut out one billion tiny bow ties..., well, about 400 may be closer to the correct number

* I cut out a trillion 2.5 inch red strips for another quilt.. (maybe 100)

* I cut setting blocks for another quilt...about 50 of these.

I feel pretty good about all this progress!! But not so good in that I have the winter cold that is going around...I usually try to avoid this! Grrr!! So, I am making home made chicken soup for myself...yummy!

***********Nurse's notes*******************

Well, I went and got a needle stick...thank goodness it was a clean needle, but unfortunately it had insulin in it and I injected it into myself. A really big patient, and a swing of the arm at just the wrong time...sometimes no matter how careful a person is, things happen!! Just 3 units, but it did make me pretty hungry, LOL!! NO worries...it would have been quite different if it was a dirty needle!

I had a darling 95 year old lady patient...lives by herself, did her own laundry, and cooking and cleaning...and caring for her lawn!! I just am so very impressed with her, she is a true marvel!! NOW if that does not inspire us, nothing will!!

******************************************************

Another flat, same tire...I got new tires and hopefully that will take care of it once and for all!!

Have a great day, all!

Julie

winners! And more to give away...

2012-01-21T11:26:00.002-06:00

Please congratulate Leeanne and Angie...they both win a bundle of wool! I found another one in the stash...

I am cleaning out, inspiring by Mrs. Goodneedle! I love my scraps, so they won't be going, but other stuff? I will be giving more away! Stay tuned!!

Have a great day,

Julie

Orca Bay top is finished!! Applique wall quilt top finished!

2012-01-18T13:25:00.004-06:00

Donna, you were right! The borders do fit perfectly...and today was the day I took a deep breath, pinned the borders in place and went for it! Whoohoo...I am so glad this is all in one piece! Thank you, Bonnie, for a really fun mystery. I will never, ever again use paper to piece strings...I just do not have the patience to pick it all out...I am afraid there will be little pieces of paper in amongst the batting...sorry all you quilt police! I love the weight visually and physically of the pieced border...love that part the very best, and the movement of the pieces.

If you ever have wanted to try wool applique? This is a very forgiving and fun quilt by Jo Morton...I so enjoyed hand blanket stitching the flowers. And the plaid...of course, I love that! Used what I had on hand...and don't have a piece left for binding! I will have to improvise...

Speaking of wool...I have a shoebox full. That is a lot, truly, although some people have tons more...that amount is all I will need for sure. I used very little in the quilt above, and have this bundle I bought at a quilt show last year. I want someone to have this bundle! Please leave a comment on this post and I will put you in the pot to win this bundle...and send the bundle out on Friday. Good luck to all!!

Have a super great day!

Julie

A post again...truly amazing, isn't it?

2012-01-14T15:23:00.004-06:00

Well, I had a few moments in order to make the rest of the blocks...I mean prep them, I have not stitched on these blocks at all. It is funny...I followed the patterns quite closely at first, then as a suggestion, and then at the end? I was cutting pieces not related to anything in the pattern! It was fun! So, I have some fun stitching, relaxing time ahead of me to enjoy. I cut the sashing and corner stones, and think I will cut the binding and label today. That way, I will have a head start on the finish. The last flower on the bottom right...that is my idea. A happy hippy flower! Not that I am one, but I was born in the 60's and was an interested observer the whole time I was growing up.

I started a BOM at my local quilt shop. This is the first installment...I know there will be lots more variety when the final quilt is done. The sample at the shop is just spectacular! The instructions said there was enough fabric for four of each block...well, I had enough to make eight of each block and fabric left over to play with too. Fun!

OK, I am changing laundry now, and cutting up some veggies and leftover steak for stew! Off I go!!

I hope each of you has a really good day today...

Julie

A day off...

2012-01-13T15:54:00.003-06:00

Don't you just love Jo Morton? I do love her work...and above is my interpretation of one of her quilts...a work in progress, of course! I have prepared four blocks, cut out sashing and borders...just need to sew, sew, sew! I love that part...the prep? Not so much!

And the Orca Bay borders! Boy, they went really fast...under an hour to put them together. Now if the borders could teleport their way on to the quilt, that would be just peachy. This is the point that a quilt could become a UFO...I really don't enjoy putting all those long seams together. I will though, I will!

What are your sticking points?

Have a great day!

Julie

Orca Bay Dreams!

2012-01-10T14:39:00.004-06:00

HI Everyone!

Above is my Orca Bay progress. I have changed the pattern up a little bit...sounds like me huh? I really loved the red string blocks, but they were quite stretchy in the final product, and distorted...I think I stretched them when I removed the papers. So I did not cut them all, and will use them in another project. What I DID want to do was to use some of the fabulous reds that I won in the Christmas quilting party that I went to! So, I used whole pieces of red, not strings...and I like it! I think it showcased the pieces of red, and the blue brings movement diagonally to the quilt, which I just love. Here it is all laid out, but no blocks are sewn together yet...and I am really looking forward to the yummy border!! I like that so very much. Thank you, Bonnie, for this fabulous pattern...I know I would have been a bit intimidated to make this pattern...but the mystery? Makes it a piece of cake!!!

Thank you, Lyn!! Lyn sent me the most wonderful Christmas present...this quilt! Perfect for Valentines, and I already have it up on my wall.

Lyn also sent me these fabrics, which insist on not being photographed...but trust me, they are gorgeous!!!

This picture is for Jo, at Jo's Country Junction...she found her blocks like this and wanted to know what I did for the border...so this one is for you, Jo!!

Have a great day, all!!

Julie

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-01T09:52:00.000-06:00

May each of you have a wonderful, creative new year!!! Did you see Bonnie's mystery quilt finale? I can't wait for sewing time!!!

Have a great day, all!!

Julie

Frog-stitchin'!!!

2011-12-29T05:12:00.002-06:00

Alrighty then!! Thanks to all you nice ladies who very nicely told me...YOU DID YOUR BLOCKS WRONG, SILLY GIRL!! I took all the black blocks apart from last post, and am in the process of doing them correctly. I am on my THIRD attempt, having put them all together wrong...again! I have no idea, after piecing things for years and years...I am having a tough time with this! My fabrics are getting a little ragged...yet I will persevere! LOL!

Have a great day,

Julie

Thank you, and Orca bay progress!

2011-12-26T20:59:00.004-06:00

HI Y'all....Above and below is my progress on Orca Bay, Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt. You can join in! It is not too late...and it is great fun! I love these little stars, they are Step 6, I think...and I still need to catch up on the red string step too. I love strings, it is great fun to work with these little pieces!

The black and white stars together...I did not have many blacks (like three total), in my fabrics, so I had to purchase a few fat quarters. Not tons of variety, but I like the blocks anyway!

*********************Thank you*************************

You sustained me. Thank you for that. I so appreciate each prayer and good thought that helped me through this incredibly tough family time. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

**********************************************

Julie

Prayer

2011-12-13T12:09:00.000-06:00

I could sure use some prayer right now...thank you all...

Julie

A party, progress, pieces and parts!

2011-12-09T10:00:00.009-06:00

I had the good fortune of being off from work when The DFW Gang had it's Christmas party!! It was just so much fun...wonderful ladies all, and some huge talent in that group! It was a sewing party, so I worked on Bonnie's Orca Bay quilt, and finally have gotten pretty much caught up. All of the first step, all of the second step, most of third step, and some of the fourth step even done, just posted today! Yippee! I loved working with the strings...it was a blast for sure.

The beginning of Step four...more strings, this time is red...pretty, pretty! I have enough red strings, I am sure...I am glad that I save everything now.

I received the most fun gift from Teri (click on her name to see her blog)...A really fun nine patch quilt, fabric for a wrapping (my favorite) and a really neat pincushion too! Thank you dear Teri, I just really love my gift, and what a surprise!!

At the party, I won a door prize...this wonderful hand embroidered pillow by Debi. I love it! It is on my guest bed as we speak! Click on Debi's name to see her blog.

More goodies from the party...we all brought 6 fat quarters, and played a game to decide who won the whole pot...I won the red ones! Another lady won all the green ones...it was really fun. I also received from Debi a really fun bag, mug rug and armchair caddie. Debi is a very prolific quilter, and great fun. She is also (my observation), a born leader. It was fun to see her pull everyone together and organize a really lovely day for all. Naturally in the business world, she is a director, and on her way up to more and more leadership, I am sure.

*****************************************************************Nursing and the Hospital

Many, many of my friends are getting their layoff notices. Employees for 38 years are now being laid off...it is sad, right before Christmas. Tense times, I can tell you. We are stopping talking about it at work, because it upsets all of us, so we all just work on the best we can and try to keep our chins up, and put the patient first!! always....

I had such a lovely patient this week...a quadraplegic person...with such a magical, lovely personality, she was just a magnet for everyone. I can only wish to be such a lovely person under such adversity. Lots of health problems, all related to her underlying immobility...I just loved her on sight.

Know what? Christmas is not very far away! I am going now, to clean baseboards, ready the guest room, and clean, clean, clean!!

Have a wonderful day, all!!

Julie

Winter white and Orca bay

2011-11-29T05:38:00.004-06:00

HI Y'all! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We went and saw our son on the east coast...it was just so beautiful, crisp and cold and such wonderful flocks of migrating birds...just fun! Above...aren't these the cutest blocks ever? These are some of the blocks for step 2, Orca Bay...Bonnie Hunter's newest mystery quilt. I have not missed one of her mysteries yet...they are such fun! Are you doing the mystery? come on...join in!!!

While visiting my son, we went to an antique mall, and I found this amazing whole cloth quilt. Quilted about 14-16 stitches per inch, amazingly even and gorgeous stitches. I cannot get a picture, but there is a star in the middle, in medallion style. What a gorgeous quilt! I paid the princely sum of $95.00, plus 20% off that for the sale that was going on...the back is turned to the front to from about a 3/16Th's inch binding...it is so pretty! So old...I am shocked at how little it cost for such a treasure. Quilter of yore...I honor your work!!!

Have a great day, all!!

Julie

Some are done...some are half done...all are cut out!

2011-11-21T05:31:00.006-06:00

Done!!

1/2 done.....

Waiting to be done!!

Of course, these are all pieces and parts of the mystery quilt, Orca Bay, by Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville.

I will be crazy busy with work and stuff the next few days, so I probably won't post, but I wish each of you a joyous Thanksgiving! I am so grateful for all of you, as well as my many blessings in this life.

Have a great day!

Julie

Wheww! all the blocks are done!!

2011-11-17T17:22:00.005-06:00

First of all...don't mind Rosie the poodle. She is working her way through college, working as a quilt model...don't hate her 'cause she's beautiful! Actually, she just needs to be in the middle of whatever is going on, and that is just fine with me. OK! Here are all 270 jewel box quilt blocks. I see one that I need to separate, because the same plaids are touching, and a couple blocks are humility blocks...see upper right corner...but all in all, I am going to set this together and call it a day! Except...for the border. It is all cut out and mostly sewn, so you will have to suffer through one more picture of this quilt later. Here is the thing...I feel pressure to make really big, big quilts for the bed, but they make me tired! And anxious...I may have to re-think this. After all, we have plenty of covers to stay warm...so maybe my quilts don't have to all be so huge! Yes, that is the edge of a saddle on the left upper part of the picture...dear husband's saddle.

Here are all the blocks neatly (HA-HA!!) stacked on the piano bench. I love the cacophony of colors, that somehow all go together. Scraps are the best ever! And plaid scraps are heavenly!

*********************WORK at the hospital********************

I thought I would surely die yesterday. I had 17 admits roll through the door...SEVENTEEN new patients! I was in charge, not enough nurses of course, so I ended up taking patients and being in charge....really thought I may not make it. No eating...bathroom break? Forget it!!! But, I can say...everyone lived and that is a good thing!!

************************************************************

I was scared to death today...I was driving to meet my dear husband for lunch, and a motorcycle (crotch-rocket type) jetted past me, in between the lanes of cars...doing at least 100 MPH. I was just terrified for him! I have taken care of a few of these guys, post the inevitable near fatal wreck...one was 23, and had been a quadriplegic for 4 years...totally with it in his mind, but his body unable to move at all. I just gasp then hold my breath when I see these kids doing this! Is it just here, or do these kiddos ride their motorcycles like this where you live??

Everyone, I wish you a wonderful day! I have painted most of the day in the kitchen...arms sore and tired, but wow, it looks so much brighter!!

Julie

540 seams later...seems like a LONG time!

2011-11-14T12:55:00.004-06:00

Some progress!! The quarters pieces of blocks were made into half blocks, and I have finished some of the whole blocks above. Rosie is our guest model for today. I am making 270 blocks, and a border, so it is taking me quite a while, but now the sewing is easy, breezy, downhill and not a rock in the road!!

The stacks of half blocks, ready to be sewn when I have a spare minute or two. These go fast! I love that these fabrics are all plaids, and around 90% are re-purposed from old clothing from the thrift.

****************************Nurse's Notes******************************

Well, it seems that I am in charge at the hospital most of the time now. I would much rather be just in charge of myself, that is a tough enough job! I do adore getting to know the patients and families, and I miss that...but I sure am getting to know my co-workers very well, with all their needs and wants. It is hard to please everyone, but I am sure trying!! Layoffs are eminent, according to those in management...that is scary, and I just hate that this is taking place right before the holidays. We shall see what happens!!!

**********************************************************************

Something new...we are tearing apart our kitchen! Sounds fun, right? The old wall paper from 30 years ago and worn baseboards just never look clean, no matter how much I scrub...so we took it all down, and are painting fresh and new!! New floors too...out with the old linoleum...how about some pretty marble tile? Yahoo! Later...and many $$$ later...I would like to have new counter tops too. Maybe in the new year, depending on the work situation!!

Hope you have a really great day...thank you for stopping by!

Julie

Pieces and parts all finished...now on to the blocks!

2011-11-11T12:08:00.003-06:00

It always starts out very organized...counting little stacks of 10 blocks and pinning them together...but then...

The stacks become piles! I have more than enough units to make my Jewel Box plaids quilt...more than enough to make a really big quilt for dear husband!!! I love this part...now I can make all the blocks and really make some progress.

Have a great day, all!!

Julie

Many projects in the works!

2011-11-07T11:33:00.008-06:00

Alrighty then! I took out my Dear Jane...here is the state of the union. I am working on the sixth row, and putting all the blocks together as I go. I tried to do a couple blocks this morning, but our printer is not working, and I need that to work on this quilt, so I had to just sigh, admire the little blocks Jane drafted all those years ago, and put it back away. I am excited to get started on this again though! So Jane...be patient! I am raring to go to get your quilt done! You know, not one of these blocks is perfect...and somehow, that is OK, and I love it all anyway. JOY!!

More Jacob's ladder blocks...these are really fun together, and I have a lot more to do. Great fun!!

All the teeny nine patches are cut out! That took a little doing, let me tell you...and I have 20 of the little buggers done. Can you see the pin in the middle of the piles of blocks? That is how big the blocks are. Of course, any dangling threads must be your imagination! :)

Walmart used to sell fabric, then our store closed out all their fabric. I found this maroon/pink/brown paisley print on the $2.00 table, so I bought all they had, about 4 yards. It makes the perfect sashing for this quilt!! I am really enjoying stitching these blocks in odd moments too...my setting will be different than the Primitive Gatherings quilt, but I love it!!

I won this book!! I am just thrilled...I love puzzle quilts, as I call this kind, lots of blocks and miscellaneous pieces...love it! thank you, Liz!! Please go and see her blog HERE!!

Have a great day, all!!!

Julie

I think I have a plan...

2011-11-04T14:30:00.004-05:00

HI Everyone!! Have you seen old quilts like this one? Tiny nine patches...really tiny! I love these quilts each time I see them in the quilts-for-sale booths, but wow, they are too pricey...so I am going to make one. Yep, I am going to make one...I tried one inch pieces, to make a 1.5 inch nine patch...it was just ridiculously little. Then I tried 1 1/4 inch strips...and the blocks look very small, but not so small that I cannot handle them. Just this morning, I was thinking of how to use up reproduction fabrics stashed, and decided to make teeny nine patches! I am psyched about this...now ask me about my enthusiasm on nine patch number 800, LOL!! I have seen this quilt in books before finding this picture on the web...please forgive me, as I do not know where I found it, due to my computer crashing about that time!

I have a plan:

Dear Jane Quilt
Bonnie's new Mystery
Teeny nine patches
Fall Jacob's Ladder
Plaid Jewel Box.

The Dear Jane and nine patches are compulsory...the others are for pure joy! Not that I don't like working on the Dear Jane, but let's face it...some of those blocks are pretty dang hard to make, for me at least. But I love the quilt, and want to finish it, so here I go!

Now, this inquiring mind wants to know...are you doing Bonnie's mystery quilt? I got my string box out, and sorted reds and blues according to what she has planned...so I am ready, I think! November 18Th is the date...go to Quiltville and see what she has in mind!!

Have a great day, all!!

Julie

The quilt...

2011-11-01T15:26:00.003-05:00

I did get the quilt that was my neighbors wedding quilt. It was really, really under priced for what it is, in my opinion. This is the one I spoke of last post. I do love the colors and tiny stitches in the quilting...a single fold applied binding finishes it off. Pretty, huh? Someone tell me the name of the pattern!! Now I can honor this sweet lady and keep her wedding quilt...Rosie, stay off this one, pretty please!

This represents a ton of work...the next plaid quilt is well on the way. I need 540 1/2 square triangles, and I have 340 done. Just a few of the four patches done...this is taking a long time for some reason!!

Did you hear? Bonnie of Quiltville has set the date for launch of her newest mystery quilt! Cool huh? Are you in??

Have a great day, all!!

Julie

Working on it!

2011-10-30T14:26:00.007-05:00

I received the blue and white quilt back...all quilted! I love the texture, and just have to finish the binding. It is not big enough...just twin sized, about...I need to concentrate on making bigger quilts, to cover the whole bed, queen sized. I do love this quilt, it is from Bonnie Hunter's book! A big thank you to "The Bonnie" for all her inspiration!

Slow progress is being made on these blocks...they are fun, but seem to take more time than they should. I have had a medication change with the thyroid meds, and I think that is the culprit...everything is taking more time than I think it should!!

Just look at all these gorgeous fabrics! Four friends and I exchanged fat 1/8ths of fabric...what fun mail that was!! Thank you so much Joyce, Maggie, Lois and Diane...you have such generous hearts...and I can't wait to make Jacob's Ladder blocks from all these gorgeous fabrics!!

I found this stitchery on the web, and on a lark, stitched it up...single thread of red. It was such fun!!

Close up of the words.....

**************************Nurse's Notes*****************************

I had such a profound experience at work this last week...a poor patient just keep on and on going into V-tach! This is a shock able rhythm, for those non medical folks...that day I defibrillated him 14 times. Eerie....quiet in the room...then the v-tach...did not call codes, just quietly coded the patient myself. Just could not stabilize him with any meds at all!! I truly felt God's presence in the room, watching out over the patient, and for me too. Eerily peaceful in the chaos...

****************************************************************

My neighbor gave me a quilt last year, that was given to her doctor father in lieu of payment. Very old...and very lovely. This darling lady told me about all her quilts...she has since passed away, and her entire lovely house and goods are up for sale in an estate sale today. Her easel, her artists paints, all her crystal and china and silver and just everything she used everyday too. The quilt her mother made 65 years ago for her wedding...it just made my heart ache to see that no family member really wanted anything of hers...I am going to try and buy the quilt if it is not too dear. She told me the story of how her mother had pieced and hand appliqued this quilt, then hand quilted it over a whole year. She was so proud of it,and carefully and proudly displayed it on her old antique tester bed. I will show you a picture if I get it....it has never been washed, and looks just like new.

***********************************************************************

Have a great day all!!

Julie

Dizzy!!

2011-10-18T17:02:00.004-05:00

OK, I have remade two blocks. I decided to do the traditional Jacob's Ladder blocks...I really like them!! Originally, I had attempted to make the blocks kind of positive and negative, but I think I will like this better. Of course, I will have lots of fall colors! I am excited to have time to work on this!
I cut out a cheddar and blue quilt, a little different than some that are being made now out there in blog land.. Sewing time? Don't know when! but I know I will not be patient enough to do this as a leader/ender! The cheddar was in the throw away pile of a friends stash clean out...in the trash can. I asked if I could have it...there are about 3 yards in the piece. One quilter's trash is another quilter's treasure, right?

And lastly...remember this quilt? All plaids...well, since it is throw size, and I need bed sized quilts, I am making another one...bigger! About 3 times as big! So, I am working on the pieces and parts, and having a wonderful time with my plaids. Plaids are my favorites!! Seems like I cut and cut and cut...and still have plaids to spare!

Have a super day, all!!!

Julie

Fall is coming!!

2011-10-17T16:27:00.013-05:00

HI Y'all! don't know why exactly that I am having a bit of trouble with loading the pictures, but I wanted to say Hi to everyone and say that I have been having a blast sewing! Above are Jacob's ladder blocks. Now, I know nothing about the pattern, just have been seeing some of these gorgeous quilts and wanted to make the pattern, so of course I have to experiment to find out the pattern. All this great big internet, and I have to figure it out myself? Hmmmmm...This version of Jacob's Ladder is actually two different blocks ...I love just the two colors alone! This quilt, however, will be all fall time colors...these pretty fabrics were exchanged with friends in Arizona. I am really liking the way the blocks play together. The blocks are 9 inches finished. This should be so much fun!!!
Clematis...pretty huh? My friend Jennifer said that new blossoms come on new growth, so I did not mind that my darling husband cut them down to the ground earlier in the season. I love this color!

Some of our exchanged fabrics!! Thank you Diane, Maggie, Joyce and Lois...I truly love these fabrics!!! Thank you, thank you, and I hope you like yours!!

Speaking of Lois...she is an author! Lois has a wonderful blog too, please click here! She sent me one of her books, and it is just so cool. Thank you, Lois!

I have also cut out another plaid quilt....and the picture would not load. Oh well...more later when I have more to show! Also, I cut out an entire cheddar and blue bow tie quilt! I get in these moods where I just want to plan and plot and go through all my scraps and cut quilts out! How about you?

Have a super great day!

Julie

Little bits of everything...

2011-10-11T13:22:00.007-05:00

Hi Y'all! This Candy Corn boot is quilted! A stipple all over...I was really scared to have sewing over the embroidery, but it looks OK, and I am now coloring in the boot and jacks. I see now why I should have done the coloring first. But hey, I may make another version of this someday...if I can pluck the gumption to do all that embroidery again!!
Hand quilting in progress on the little circle quilt...
Lyn's quilt is done to the binding stage...I left the center empty, as that is where I am putting my candle holder, and this piece will be a table topper. Love it!
Threads (always, I cut mine all at once at the last of a project)...and hand quilting in progress on the Poodle Paw quilt...I love this a lot!
A little leftover quilt, made out of pieces of this and that...may become a bathmat!!

And scraps!! I am cutting out these blocks...have quite a few cut out and they are really fun to make!! Tyring to use every little piece of fabric up!!! These are eight inches finished.

I hope each of you has a great day today!!

Julie

My house is just not big enough for this quilt!

2011-10-05T13:19:00.004-05:00

OK, it is done! At least to the flimsy stage...and this UFO bites the dust! It is so big...very big, like king sized!! Dear hubby will like that...and I am glad to be done with circles! I gave away the last of my circles too. Rosie the poodle kept on walking back and forth on top of the quilt top, so I gave up on straightening it up for the picture...it really is pretty straight. :)
I have been stitching on the Pretty Gypsie of fall! At least that is what I think of her...look at those pretty blue eyes, and enticing smile! Isn't she cute? but really...I think we ALL need a purple and green hat with a huge purple ribbon, and a little pumpkin nestled in the brim of the hat! Don't you need a hat like that?? I goofed up a bit on this, but it doesn't bother me in the least...I kept losing count! The hearts are not the same size, and are not straight across from each other. Now these little things would have bothered me in years past, but not at all now...guess I have let go of that part, the perfectionist part...and maybe never had it at all in me, LOL!!

I have been working and such...imagine that! I did not forget the giveaway, I just did not have time to post about it! Random numbers were chosen, and Pat, and Loris! You two are the winners! Please send me your snail mail addresses and I will send you your goodies!!!

Everyone, have a super day!!!

Julie

Re-thinking this...

2011-09-28T11:11:00.003-05:00

Remember the Bullseye UFO quilt that I am trying to finish up? I was originally going to sash and cornerstone them...then I thought, I would really love to make a bigger, bed sized quilt out of these blocks. I made some quarter square triangle blocks, and just went to town!! Pretty scrappy, and all out of the stash.

Speaking of stash, I used to just sort all my fabrics into colors. Batics, reproductions, whatever, they all were sorted into colors and used that way. I have since refined the sorting into categories, and now strip sizes, but still go to the sorted stash of miscellaneous colors to use for my scrappy quilts. I have really made a dent in using that stash too!!
The corners...tada! I am so glad this will be big enough to use on the bed. Whoohoo!!

Thank you to everyone who entered the drawing for yesterday, I really appreciate you sharing your plans and reading my little blog!!!

Have a super great day!

Julie

I would like to give some things away!

2011-09-27T11:09:00.003-05:00

Well, I found the "Oldest Old Hag!" The oldest UFO ever! I cut out these triangles more than a decade ago, wanting to make a pyramid quilt...I just today put some together in the pyramids...and have decided that this is not fun for me. So....would you like to have the balance of the triangles already cut out and ready to sew??
What? You mean you do not put your cut out pieces into your largest mixing bowl...and then wonder where the bowl went to? Hmmmmm....Well, the prize is....all these pieces, already cut out, ready to sew. If you are interested, please leave a comment!

Excuse the poor picture, but this table runner kit is also up for grabs. All the wool and the pattern is included...so just leave a comment stating which project you are interested in, and I will draw for a name on the first of October.

Have a great day, all!!!

Julie

Blessings!!!

2011-09-25T20:03:00.004-05:00

HI Everyone!! Hope you are enjoying some cooler days...it at least is not over 100 degrees here, and that is great! Above is my Which Witch's boot...pattern from Crab Apple Hill. I do love this stitchery! I think I am going to call mine the Candy Corn Boot...I just really enjoyed the stitchery. Now..to me...this is not a simple pattern! I worked, and worked, and worked at that stitchery! A very nice lady at the quilt shop said, "Oh, you are going to make it for next year?" So, that was the gauntlet thrown down to finish it for this season, and I buckled down and finished it. I learned so much...satin stitch, how to improvise some of the directions...and I think I am not going to put the final borders. I like the patchwork being on the outside!!
I got fabrics for final borders...but think I am going to just leave it as is...I like it that way.
I am also working on a cross stitch for Halloween...here is what it is supposed to look like...
And here is where I am in the process. Time consuming!! But extra fun too!!

*****************************Pacemakers!************************

My dear husband got his pacemaker, that is why I have been a bit absent as of late, trying to take good care of him...I am so tickled about how fast he heals! It is very hard on him to not move his arm, to take time to heal....he wants to be on the move and working out and going to work...but he is trying to be good and just chomping at the bit to be all healed up!! What a blessing for us that we have access to this wonderful technology...and I must say, a heart rate of 60 is SOOOOooo much better than a heart rate of 30! I did not realize how gray and pale he was...now he is pink and hearty looking! Whoohoo!!! Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers...we really felt them across the miles!!

***********************************************************************

Everyone, have a great day!

Julie

Bullseye! A REALLY old UFO!

2011-09-13T17:03:00.004-05:00

Well, as I told you about a few posts ago...these bulls eye blocks are really, really, really old. So old that some of the fabrics are strangers to me! But then again, many of the fabrics are familiar friends. I have been tinkering around with several different setting...but think I am just going to sash these blocks up and call it a day. Maybe some kind of border will be added...probably so. See all those sashing pieces? They are from a very good blogging friend, Debi. She makes such wonderful quilts, and does so much quilting for charity. She had a giveaway, and I won a ton of 2.5 inch strips! So, I am using them...now then, aren't you proud? Usually I would hoard them and take them out and admire them and put them back in the cupboard...but this time, I am using them! whoohoo!! I think Debi would like that!!
What do you do with your scraps? I am trying not to put anything away...I mean, I am cutting scraps up into usable sizes and filing them in the appropriate bin, or I am trying to use the little extra blocks and pieces to make something. I made a little purse...and hey, I machine quilted it! I discovered that the Bernina is fun to machine quilt on, not nearly so hard as my old Brother machine! Another yahoo!!!

*************************Cardiology**********************

We had our doctor's appointment today...and dear husband has to have a pacemaker asap...which we already knew...I will update when it is in and done!!! Now...if I can keep him in recovery mode for more than 20 minutes, I will be a lucky woman! He is hard to keep down for long!!

***********************************************

Have a great day!

Julie

Blues again!

2011-09-12T10:08:00.002-05:00

Good morning, everyone!! I worked the weekend...so I am off today...and unfortunately, so is the water at the house. Plumbers are on the way...hopefully...on the way? ARE YOU ON THE WAY?? Hee!! Monday is my home blessing day...so no laundry or floor scrubbing (no water)...but I can vacuum and dust and organize...so that is what I will do.

Remember the quilt rows that were in a pile a couple posts ago? And I didn't like them because the quilt was going to be square?? Well...I fixed that! Now is it quilt shaped...I just need to sew a lot more, and it will be done. That means the rows are together, just need to get the borders done and it all put together. So here it is! My version of Bonnie's quilt. This is a UFO...but not an old one...not even a year old yet!! So it is a NEW UFO...NUFO!
Here is what I have so far...just a tiny bit left of the blue border fabric, I am glad it is used up, almost!!

I am working on a cross stitch for Halloween...it is darling!! Insomnia stitching, this is...I like it, but don't really have too much to show yet. I am also in love with the Witches Boot stitchery from Crab apple Hill...I have the pattern, but don't even have it started yet.

*********************************Nurse's notes**********************

I had wonderful patients the lastfew days. I love it when I am not in charge, not taking care of nurses, but rather taking care of patients. One bypass surgery and one LVAD candidate...both so nice and with sweet families too...I really enjoy working hard and using my brain a little and encouraging these people...love it!!

*******************************************************************

Have a great day!

Julie

Lyn's Retro Nine Patch BOM!!

2011-09-06T14:15:00.003-05:00

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to show you my progress on Lyn of Bluebird Quilt's Stitchery BOM...I have 4/5 blocks done, but wanted to put it together so I could show you! I am in the process of appliqueing the basket handles down as we speak (write). I am too late for her contest...my fault, I let myself get side tracked from this one project that was really important for me to get done this summer...but oh well, I really love it and will enjoy it for many years!!! Please click HERE and see all the gorgeous quilts that were submitted for the contest...just so pretty!

I wanted to take this time to especially thank Lyn for doing the BOM for everyone. Not only did she stay two steps ahead of everyone, she shared her talent and generosity and hard work with the world. Thank you, Lyn!!

Everyone, have a great day!!!

Julie

Does she save EVERYTHING!!?

2011-09-03T10:30:00.003-05:00

HI Everyone! Happy Long weekend to all!! Above....well, do you remember the bulls eye blocks from last week...I cut out the center from behind the raw applique, to reduce the bulk in the blocks. Down fluttering to the floor came all these pretty colors...about an inch of quarter circle pieces, maybe a bit more...I wasn't careful in my trimming. I was sweeping them into the trash, honestly! But then I thought...what if I sew them together in rough circles, and then cut them into pretty circles, and then applique them onto a little quilt? So, this is what I came up with! Linda, you will recognize your scraps that you sent me here...and all those pretty pieces ended up being used!! Now really....I think it never ends, LOL!!!
I still have a bunch more...so these will be appearing in future quilts, I just know it!!!

************************Nurse's Notes*************************

The patient mentioned in my last post was my dear husband...his heart rate was down to 32 on his 24 hour monitor...so I am pretty sure he is going to need a pacemaker and soon! Thank you for your prayers and kind wishes for him!

************************************************************

Have a great weekend, everyone!!

Julie

2011-08-30T13:46:00.005-05:00

HI Y'all! Thank you all so much for commenting on my Poodle Paw Plaid quilt on the previous post...I have layered it with batting and backing, and am hand quilting it in little bits of time found throughout the days..should only take a few years to finish. Hee!! Not really, but hand quilting does take me a long time...I should do more of it, I really love hand quilting a lot!! For example, I hand quilted the little quilt above, and it is going to a blog friend that has had a new diagnosis of cancer this year. Hope she likes it!!
Libby!!! Joan!!! You ladies are so inspiring to me!! I have had these bulls eye blocks cut out for the longest of times...and I decided, today is the day I get them out, sewn into squares, and decide what to do with them! Please see Libby's bulls eye quilt on her August 26th post...I am so in love with it!! And go to Joan's blog and read back...she has some wonderful bulls eye quilts on her blog too! My blocks are ragged edged...and made about 16 years ago. They are made from the fabrics I had at the time...mostly given to me, dubiously cotton, pretty colors! I had never heard of reproductions...or a quilt shop, for that matter. I was just using up little pieces that I had, and I have no idea where I even saw a Bulls eye quilt. Now...how to set these???
Above is one of my infamous UFO project boxes....rows all ready to sew, binding even done! Why, oh why, do I have so many UFO's?? My darling husband says that it is a sign of a creative mind, to start so many things...don't you just love him?? Well, I am determined to finish some up, and below is my progress so far.
The rows are all sewn together!! I will get this one together soon...I do not like it, as it is square, not rectangular (quilt shape)....so I may make it a table topper or the like.

*********************************Not quilting...nurse's notes!********************

The patient just felt awful. Tired, tired, tired...vague headache, pain in chest and shoulders, sometimes down his arms. Vital signs: 98.6 temp, BP 168/88, resp rate 16...and pulse? 32-40! NO wonder the patient felt bad...normal pulse is 60-100. So, workup in progress, and maybe a pacemaker in his future. The patient...someone very close to me!!

********************************************************************************

Have a super great day, all!!!

Julie

The poodle paw quilt!

2011-08-26T17:07:00.003-05:00

Tada!! I got the borders on today...yippee, skippee!! Just scraps of shirts only went into this quilt(except for the very light, ecru plaid)...I wonder, I have never seen a guy wear bright orange plaid shirts, or reddish/pink plaid shirts, but all these fabrics came from extra large thrift store guys shirts. Fun! This is a prototype...a small quilt, 1/2 size blocks of the bed quilt I plan to make...someday.
This is why this quilt is a poodle paw quilt, instead of a bear paw! Rosie Posie Pudding Pie will not stay off this one...at all. She has claimed it for herself...having recently discovered that she likes plaids too. After all...a girlie poodle must have what she needs, right?

Have a great day, all!!!

Julie

Off on a tangent!

2011-08-23T19:28:00.003-05:00

Plaids!! Again...these blocks are 7 inches finished. 45 pieces in each block. I don't know why, but I think these blocks are challenging!! I love them...especially the ones with high contrast. These are all from shirt plaids, even the dark bear toes. (thrift shop!)
All 12 blocks are prepped!! Yippee!! I did add some leaves to the block from last post, but not all the inside stuff...just too much for me...I may add it later if the muse descends!!!

Everyone, have a great day...hope those of you on the East coast were not too shook up by the earthquake today!!

Julie

Another Woolie block

2011-08-21T18:55:00.005-05:00

HI Y'all: I am working on the wool garden block above...and I think I am done. Would you please honor me with your opinion about this... am I done or not? Above is my block...
And this is what the block is supposed to look like. It looks pretty busy to me...what do you think? Do I keep on going and add all that stuff, or am I done prepping this block? By the way...I am finished prepping all 12 blocks!! Yahoo! Now to decide if I buy a finishing kit and make a big applique border, or just set the blocks together in some fashion of my own design. Decisions, decisions!!
It was my birthday recently! I received the most wonderful handmade gift from Lyn....She made this gorgeous basket liner!! It is a very large basket, just perfect for projects and things on the go...I love it! Thank you, Lyn!!!

******************In other news*****************

For my birthday, I decided to bike the number of miles that I have been alive. This means....47 big miles, ladies!!! Did I train for this? Nope, not really...just daily walking and a little running and riding my bike recreationally. Did I plan it out well? Nope! Just got up and told dear hubby..."Hey, this is what we are doing today!" I made it in two different sections...but dear friends, I made it! I rode my little bicycle 47 miles! Whoohooo!!! Surprisingly, I am not sore at all...don't know why, I should be dying at this point...I guess I should wait for tomorrow to judge. So there...now what in the world will I come up with next birthday???
***************************************************************************

Have a great day!

Julie

Borders are on!!!

2011-08-17T15:19:00.005-05:00

Alrighty then! I have all four borders on! Can we all jump up and scream "Yahoo!!!" At least I did...hey, I have another empty UFO bin, for this one was a true UFO! I do love to make this border, don't know why, but it is fun, fun, fun!! Poor Rosie the poodle...she has a hard life...on top of the quilts, and toy close under her paw...tisk, tisk! I showed the 2 inch strip version, completed, and the new top with 2.5 inch strips. I also made a 1.5 inch strip version, and it has flown the coop! I cannot find it anywhere!!
I thought Rosie might move if I walked around and took another shot...fat chance! She was just fine, right where she was!
Anyone for a slice of pie? It sure was good! (Notice the past tense)....

Thank you everyone so much for your encouragement and stories of your loved ones moving far away...I so appreciate your kind friendship!!!

Have a super great day!

Julie

2011-08-15T18:38:00.004-05:00

I have been working on the zig-zag borders on this quilt today, and I have two sides done. A secret for me is to have everything cut out ahead of time, and work on the border as I go, so I trick myself into thinking it is not as much work as I might think otherwise!
Another view...all four corners will fit together like this. I love scraps so much, don't you?!!!

*************************NOn -quilting stuff***********************

My son and his wife moved this weekend...1500 miles away. I am just so very sad...I miss them so much...they were just a couple hours away, now they are so very far! It is a great opportunity for them, and I am so happy for them....just wish I could get past the worrying!! Have any of you experienced this stuff?? Thanks for listening...

***********************************************************

Have a great week!!

Julie

Take me to your leader!!

2011-08-09T18:21:00.006-05:00

Isn't that what the aliens in UFO's say?? Well, I am talking about UFO's of a different kind! Above is a current project, not a UFO...I am trying to keep up...fancy that! We only have two more blocks to go, and then this woolie summer project from Primitive Gatherings will have all the blocks done. Whoohoo! These blocks have some stitching done, but need tons more...but at least they are all prepped!
Aren't these the most wonderful Cheddars? I just love them! Thank you so much, Lyn...I have them in the Dear Jane box...and I really need to get back to that quilt!!
I made another runner from the border leftovers of the plaid quilt...and I still have a little more border left, so may make one more. Just can't throw away those plaids!
The scrappy quilt middle is together...that was fun, in between cleaning and dashing around the house today, I did this. I love all the scraps together...fun for me!
And at last, two little cushions...just for fun!!

108 degrees F here today...melting, I tell you!!!

Have a super day!

Julie

A change of direction...and breaking news! A UFO sighting!!!

2011-08-08T14:42:00.006-05:00

HI Y'all! Well, the last scrappy project just wasn't pleasing me (probably because I do not have enough variety of background fabrics)...so I carefully put the pieces and parts back into the appropriately sized bins, and pulled out this UFO!! Yessirree, this is a real UFO, as reported by the Association of International UFO sightings...or it could just be me reporting... I cut all this out about a year ago, and it has been carefully waiting for it's turn to become a quilt...not shouting loudly, but murmering every once in a while..."Is it my turn yet?" I have been chain piecing all the pieces together this and last week, in spare moments, and now the blocks are all done. I will cut sashing, and the cornerstones will come from the 2.5 inch bin. This is very representation of my fabrics...scrappy Christmas, brights, reproductions, 1930's, conversational prints, childrens, etc, etc! Anyone who has been kind enough to gift me scraps will recognize some of their fabrics in this one!!
This is the same quilt, made from the 2 inch bin...hand quilted, washed, and well used already. I also made one from the 1.5 inch bin! I cannot find it, though, so I must have given it away. So, I have made a quilt of this pattern in three sizes, and that is fun, as you can make the whole quilt from one width size scraps. By the way, this is a Bonnie Hunter pattern.
Rosie...it is so tough to get a good picture of you, dear doggie!! Here she is though, my constant little companion, I just love her!
The 2.5 inch scrap bin...I thought it might empty out some, but it appears as stuffed as ever!!! Does that happen to you??
The waste triangles from the connector corners became broken dishes blocks, as inspired by my friend Linda. I have no idea what I will do with these, but hey, at least the pieces are not in the land fill!!

***************************Other stuff*****************************

The funeral for Keaton went very well, and my dear sissie is doing as well as she can...I am glad to be back at work and home...life is so precious and fleeting, isn't it...I aim to enjoy and praise each moment I am granted!!!

Work is just different...I am mostly in charge these days, which takes me away from the patients...and they are my joy. That is hard, but by taking care of the nurses who take care of the patients, maybe I can have a positive impact. A guy coded most of the day yesterday...so sad...but we did wonderful work and got him back each time.

It is too hot! Way too hot here...records set every day...Melting, I am telling you!!!

************************************************************************

Have a super good day! I hope you can have some quilting time....

Julie

Cleaning out the drawers...scrappy style!

2011-08-02T11:36:00.003-05:00

Just cleaning out the drawers, folks...since the drawers won't close, it is a good thing! I am just playing with the stars...I will make the background much more scrappy, and the star colors will fall as they may. I did not realize I had so many taupe 3.5 inch squares, so they are going to be gone, gone, gone with this quilt. I think a scrappy border is a must for this one...

*********************Some very sad news************************

My dear brother-in-law, Keaton, has passed away this weekend. He was the brightest of all of us...a brilliant electrical engineer, who had Alzheimer's at the end. His mind was gone for a long time, and his body passed away this weekend. I am going to be with my sister the next few days...He was a wonderful man, a shining light of goodness for these many years I have known him. They had been married 45 years...

*******************************************************************

Julie

Happenings here!

2011-07-29T15:05:00.003-05:00

I am trying to keep up with the BOW Woolie blocks from Primitive Gatherings...whew! I am pretty behind...I have about half of the stitching done, and most of the prepping done...and block nine will be here tomorrow! The bottom right block need lots more prepping done, but at least I am making headway, right?
Hey, I won something! Debi of www.debiquilts.blogspot.com had a giveaway of these wonderful charms...and I won a package! Wow, what a ton of fun fabrics! Thank you, Debi...my wheels are turning and I am figuring out what to make with these...thank you!!
The string quilt had just a little bit of border left over...well, maybe a lot left over! I cut off a little bit and made a different sort of mug mat, hand quilted it with big stitches...and called it good! Just another way for me to use every little bit of fabric I have left! I am making a larger one for the table too...

******************************Nurse's notes**********************

Guess what? The guy we defibrillated and got him back...three times? Sent me a big box of chocolate covered strawberries! Yum, yum!! Yes, I did share...in fact, only ate one of those...but, hey, I am on a diet anyway....so that was a bright spot in my day for sure!!

**********************************************************************

Have a great day, all!!!

Julie

A four bobbin day!!

2011-07-26T09:14:00.002-05:00

I actually sewed a lot yesterday! I usually just sew in the mornings, and then work on the house, etc in the afternoons on my days off from work, but yesterday....was different! I sewed and sewed and sewed! I finished putting together one of my oldest UFO's...this quilt! OK folks...I found out that working with really long, big blocks is hard! Hard to make all the seams match...I actually had to PIN something! Horrors!! Just joshing...I got it together and am so glad to have an empty project box, yahoo! The pink border is the width it is because that is all the fabric I had left. The problem with letting a project go this long is that the original fabrics for the project have disappeared or gotten used up...so the pink is different, and also the setting white is different. Oh well!!
And the final border is on, on the plaid string quilt along!!! I just love it....hey, does anyone know why when I cut the border plaid on grain, carefully...the plaids are crooked? I think this is a woven plaid, so it ought to follow the grain...this same fabric did the same thing in my first string plaid quilt too. Oh well...I like it so much anyway!!

Thank you all for joining me and encouraging me in this, my first quilt along...hope you all have fun with your strings!!!

Have a super day!

Julie

Borders on the plaid quilt along...

2011-07-25T11:27:00.003-05:00

OK, so here is the state of the borders...this scrappy plaid border is on!! This border is more gray/brown tone than I like, but those are the scraps I had, so they all went in! I love those pops of bright colors, don't you?? Nine patches in the corner of the borders, too...those were fun. I have some plaid bright pink lame' (spelling?) in there...I have no idea where in the world I got that fabric, but it shows up in my scrap bins from time to time like an old friend!
So here is the border. In the original quilt, there are more borders, and I am thinking about that...of course, you can do whatever you want and stray where ever your mind takes you!! That is what I love about quilting...you can just do anything at all that pleases you! NO rules here!
Except for this rule...FINISH UP YOUR UFO"S, JULIE!!!! This is just a little self imposed rule that I pay little attention too, but I need to! Now, those of you who know me, you know I have quite a few UFO's...double digit numbers for sure...but this project above is one of the oldest. I have been taking a few minutes here and there and hand appliqueing all those Dresden plates down...and I am done! I just need to set the blocks together, and an old, old UFO will almost be done!!

***********************Health************************

I have had hyperthyroidism for a while now...but now my labs are much improved. When you are hyperthyroid, you can eat just about any dang thing you want to! I thought I was just being super good on my diet, but that is magical thinking, the thinking that you can have candy bars and junk food and still lose weight...it was fine when my thyroid was in hyper drive, but now?? I have gained a few pounds back! The party is over ladies! I am back on the diet bandwagon...not really a diet, but eating better and weight watching, and walking every day. I want to catch this before I gain a bunch of weight...not going to happen if I can help it! At my age, weight gain can happen quickly...so, a few of my dear friends and I have a little wager going...whoever can lose the biggest percent of body weight by Halloween gets the prize!! I am pretty competitive...and this is wonderful! Working great...a great motivator. I am please to see the scale sailing right back down again...and I am keeping on, keeping on!

Maybe you want to start a little friendly competition with your friends!!!

Have a super day!

Julie

Plaid quilt strings...the middle is all together!

2011-07-24T21:20:00.005-05:00

Alrighty then!! Here is my finished middle...I like it! You may notice that I have made a few mistakes in the setting...and I am going to leave it. It really does not bother me at all...and will give someone in the future something to talk about. I set my string blocks together with nine patch cornerstones...you can set yours together any way you wish!!! I am loving this quilt...the cacophony of colors and plaids is so pleasing to me. Next? The borders!!!
I recently got to go with dear husband on one of his trips...and I saw this pretty fellow with his rack all in velvet...not too scared of me, and he had three of his deerest friends with him!! Hee!

Hope you are doing fantastic today!

Julie

Plaid string quilt along, part. next.!

2011-07-15T16:01:00.006-05:00

Hi everyone! Above are my cornerstone pieces for the plaid string quilt along quilt...I tried to mix it up and have some dull and some bright pieces in each nine patch. You can set your string blocks side by side, or with plain sashing and cornerstones...but I love Evelyn Sloppy's original nine patch cornerstones, so I opted for this. Suit your own fancy! Now, I just need a day to set all the pieces and parts together! Hurrah!!
Yes, these are pressed...but the edges curl a little, on some of the homespuns. Some of these are printed plaids, most are woven, some tightly woven, some quite loose...and one of part of a plaid dishrag I have had for years...hey, it was plaid and was not used, so it worked just fine!
This is all the plaid strings I have left...don't know what the safety pin is doing in there! I am going to make the border out of these...and my rule for me is that I have to use everything. If I leave two or more strings...I swear they will breed in my sewing nook and I will have a whole bunch of plaid strings again to use up!! does this happen to you...LOL?!!!

I hope you are enjoying making your own quilt...thank you so much for all your encouragement!!

***********************Off the subject*************************

A lady really got my goat today. I brought a pair of shoes to be repaired, and paid big bucks for this to her. She was very curt to me when I dropped them off about a week ago, but hey, I thought, maybe she was having a bad day. I called today to see if the shoes where ready...and she was just downright nasty!! After about 10 minutes of being put on hold over and over, and she actually raising her voice to me...I had had it. I am going to vote with my feet and never go back there!! I just am so frustrated with people thinking that they can be rude to people who are paying their bills...customers!!! Do any of you have an opinion about this...or is it just me experiencing this in our world today??

***************************************************************

Have a great day!!

Julie

A very pretty quilt!!

2011-07-15T09:53:00.006-05:00

At last! I have been trying to figure out how to get this picture from an e-mail to my blog!! Success!! Donna D, of Hemet California, sent and shared this gorgeous quilt...recognize the pattern, LOL?? Donna made her quilt from bright scrappy strings, and pretty nine patches. I love her quilt!!
Here is her border...so this all goes to show...you can do the great Plaid String quilt along...in other fabrics than plaids! I think a batic one would be just gorgeous!!! Thank you so much, Donna, for sharing your wonderful quilt!!

I am madly working on nine patches for my cornerstones, and will show some pictures later today.

Have a super day!!

Julie

Quilting along, and woolie blocks

2011-07-12T15:35:00.002-05:00

OK, I got all the plaid string blocks completed, and worked on sashings today. I had precut some of the sashing fabrics, so that went faster than it could have. I am going to work on cornerstone blocks and borders next. But...the vacuum calls...the dust need to be removed, so no more sewing today!! I will not be able to post for a few days now...if you are quilting along, please enjoy!!
Here is where I am on the BOW wool blocks from Primitive Gatherings. I do love these blocks...all in various stages of construction. I am really trying to at least get the greens down when the block first comes in...then it is great fun to add the colorful flowers. all hand blanket stitched, a few minutes each evening...wonder how long it will take to get all this done, LOL!!!

Dear Jane is weighing on my mind...I must get back to her quilt, and soon!!!

Have a great week, all!!! I just want you all to know how wonderful it is to have gotten to know you...thank you so much for your friendship!

Julie

Plaid quilt along, part two! and a ton of other stuff!

2011-07-11T10:43:00.008-05:00

Hi all you Friendlies out there!! Part two of the quilt along...just keep on making string plaid blocks!! Here is where I am...I have 14 more blocks to go to make the size quilt I want. How are you doing?? I find these block very fast to make, do you?? Fun, fun, fun!!! I am thinking about setting options and corner stones and borders...I often make part of the borders, etc, while I am making blocks. It goes so much faster if I don't have all the pieces and parts to sew in the end....less chance of a quilt becoming a UFO!!
I received a treasure in the mail....Lookie! Plaids! and purple...what could possible be better? Well, add orange hand quilting...and it is better!! Add a wonderful striped binding...whoohoo! thank you, Finn...so very much for this early Birthday gift. Finn owned her own quilt shop, and has a blog, and is the most wonderful scrappy quilter, and a wonderful friend. You can click here to see her creations.
I got this quilt back from the quilters...Starry, starry night. I love the density of the quilting, with stars of course...and have cut the binding. I am kind of daunted about sewing all that down...about 10 strips of binding.
And my plaid Jewel box came back too! I took a picture with very low light, so you could see the quilting...fabulous!!!
Here is the whole thing...my new favorite for sure. Believe it or not, I cannot find the binding I made for it, so will keep searching for a day of two...there are just not too many places it can be, now are there? Hmmmm....

ATTENTION PINK FABRIC DONATING PEOPLE!!!

Thank you so much, again, for all your generosity...you donated a ton of pink fabrics to a cancer survivor, who makes cancer quilts! Please see Sharon's blog here, and go down to her July 5th post...I think she loves what you all did...Thank you, thank you!!! Good for you!!

Have a great day, and I will try to make some more progress on our plaid string quilt along....how about you?

I have the coolest quilt picture sent by a friend...I will share it tomorrow...by then I will have figured out how to do it!!

Julie

Betsy's great celebration nine patch exchange hired man's quilt!!...something to note...and fabric too!

2011-07-05T12:09:00.005-05:00

Guess what? I got an e-mail from Betsy Chutchian!! She is the author of the quilting pattern book "Gone to Texas". This is a great book, and one of the most interesting parts is that her Great, great grandmother's diary excerpts are included! I made the above quilt, based on her quilt, but mine is different...see below!!
This is a little piece of Betsy's quilt! The cross blocks are placed differently...Betsy noticed that mine was different, and so we wanted you to be aware. I love both versions!!
And guess what else? Betsy designs fabrics!! I recently bought her newest collection, from Lone Star House of Quilts. Now some of you may know, I hardly EVER buy collections, preferring to use up my scraps...but I could not resist these gorgeous fabrics!! You can get some too...www.lonestarhouseofquilts.com.

I have been working with my husband on the back fence, all this long weekend, in between work. It is quite, quite hot...we have been drinking water and Gatorade by the gallon!! I will be so happy to have a new back fence, we are putting in a cement curb and metal poles...it will last forever! (hopefully)...

I want to work on the plaid quilt!!! Hopefully I can squeeze some time out of this week to work on it...hey guess what? I got an e-mail from the PLAID QUILT DESIGNER!!!! I had emailed Evelyn Sloppy and asked if it was OK to do a quilt along, based on her pattern...and she said yes!! She will follow along with us...so I better get crackin' on that quilt!

Y'all have a great day!

Julie

Plaid quilt along, part one!!!

2011-07-01T15:48:00.008-05:00

HI Y'all! I may not have time to post for the next few days, so wanted to post what I have been up to on the quilt along!! This is so much fun to sew along with all of you! As you gather your plaids and decide on block size and foundations (or no foundation!), here are some of my blocks I made in about 2.5 hours this morning. A pretty eclectic mix of colors...no matchy/matchy here!!! I like the contrast between the bright/pretty colors and the dull/drab colors...fun!
I know that you have seen a ton of tutorials about how to string piece, but here is what I do. Lots of different methods are out there, so pick your favorite! By the way? any strings will do if you are not a plaid fan! I start by putting a strip on the foundation in the middle...
Then place another string right sides together and sew it up! You don't have to be terribly precise...just sew it on!
Then press the piece you just sewed on out...I will tell you a secret if you don't tell anyone...I only finger press. I just don't have time to run to the laundry room and press each strip, then back to the kitchen to sew, back and forth...nope! I like to use what time I have to just go for it, LOL!
Fill up your entire foundation with strips, like this, and roughly trim off the big strips left...now is when I press it all down flat with best press or starch.
Then carefully trim to the size you want your block to be. This is the time to be careful and cut carefully...ask me how I know, LOL!!
I always have some little pieces leftover that were trimmed off...the biggest I use to fill in the corners on the next string blocks...if the pieces are under 1.5 inches...they go to the garbage, or for filling pillows or something... It has to stop somewhere, right??
So here are my blocks are about 2.5 hours later...tada!!! I am going to make 48 blocks like this...so hey, I am 25% done with the blocks already! How fast and down and dirty is that!!!

Have a great day all!!!! I will post again in a few days with my progress, and hopefully we can figure out a way to share pictures of everyone's quilts!!

Julie

Plaid quilt along...would you like to play with me??

2011-06-27T14:41:00.010-05:00

HI Everyone! I had a fun weekend...dear son and dear DIL were here to celebrate my husband's birthday, and a belated Father's day! We had such fun, did lots of fun stuff and ate lots of good things...just a yummy weekend all the way around. How is it that my dear husband looks one year younger each birthday, and I age with each birthday? Just not fair, is it!!!? Happy birthday, darling! Then....I worked all week...so there!

Above are my Wool blocks from Primitive Gatherings...as you can see, I still have lots of work to do on these, LOL!! They are so much fun, though...no needle turning edges...just fuse down and hand blanket stitch around the woolie shapes...I love doing this! The time consuming thing is the prep for me...
See my header quilt? Notice that it is quilted now...yippee!! The plaid string one...many of you have asked me about this quilt and where to get the pattern. The pattern is one by Evelyn Sloppy, in her strings book...this book is absolutely wonderful, if you get the chance to purchase it, do it! Evelyn has a website at www.littlemisssloppy.com., where her book is listed, and a lot of other fun books and patterns!
The pattern and copyright are hers...and I thank her for sharing her amazing pattern with the world, I love it!! I cannot give yardages, or specific directions for this quilt...that is in the pattern book if you would like to get it. I am just kind of thinking we could all do our own thing and have fun with our plaids and have a quilt along! I gifted this quilt to my son and his wife, along with one of my nine patch quilts...so I am making another plaid string quilt, with string piecing. It may turn out like the one above, or not...whimsy will dictate the direction of this quilt! Would you like to play along??? You know...many of you have a little collection of plaids you have sorted out from your stash and did not know what to do with these fabrics...this is a great plaid stash buster. Now, I have never done a quilt along...but maybe we could just all have fun together and have a warm plaid quilt for this fall time and winter!!

I first decided what size to make the blocks...you can make your blocks and quilt whatever size you decide!! I am making 6 inch finished blocks, so I cut 7 inch muslin foundations. You can make bigger blocks, like 8, 10, or 12 inch finished blocks too. Now, lots of people love to use tissue, or phone book pages as a foundation...please do whatever floats your boat! I use light weight muslin, because I like the addition warmth it gives my quilt. Plus I hate to take out all that paper, but some people like to do that in front of the TV at night. Again, you do it your way and have fun!
Now, here is where it gets fun! I have to confess...I had some strings left over from my first quilt...and have been hoarding them! Hee!! Now, it is time to use them up! I have lots of browns and drab plaids...but I think it is great fun to mix it up! Get some bright colored plaid shirts from the good will or thrift store ( make sure they are 100% cotton, it just works better). Look for plaids in the quilt shop...at Joann's...in the discount bins! Old pajama pants work great too. I cut them all up, not measuring the width of strip at all...but some of you may want to cut your strings all 1.5 or 2 inches...that gives a little more organized look to your blocks. Again, whatever you love...do it!! I also cut some of the strings 1.5 inches, carefully, to make nine patch corner stone blocks, if I decide to do that in the end...

Ready? Set?? Next day off...I will make some plaid blocks!!!

Have a great day!!!

Julie

Betsy's great celebration nine patch exchange hired man's quilt!!

2011-06-21T09:54:00.005-05:00

HI Y'all...

Pretty big title there, huh?? I had every intention of making this quilt a little smaller, but as I put patches together...bigger was better. These are 6 inch nine patches, exchanged last year to celebrate getting my CCRN certification, as you may recall. Betsy Chutchian made the original quilt, inspired by her great great grandmother's quilts....her quilt had no borders, and so mine won't either. This one will be quilted with baptist fans quilted in pearl cotton, as soon as I can figure out how to mark them...is there such a thing as white wash-out marker? I was thinking of using slivers of soap...pretty old fashioned, huh?

I want you to know...these nine patches mean so very much to me. Thank you to everyone who exchanged with me...these are very special.

Have a super day! I am cleaning house today, the kids are coming home to visit...yahoo!!!

Julie

Betsy's nine patch

2011-06-18T18:42:00.003-05:00

HI everyone!! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!! Remember the nine patch exchange? Well, I am really trying to finish all those nine patches into finished quilts. Betsy Chutchian recently wrote a quilting book, "Gone to Texas", featuring her quilts inspired by her Great, great grandmother's quilts. Betsy happens to work at our local quilt shop, and I have seen her original quilt...and it is gorgeous! Her fantastic quilt is a nine patch, with 6 inch blocks! Well....I just happen to have some of those, LOL!! So, I am making a very scrappy looking quilt. All the pieces are cut...just need the sewing time!!!

Have a super day!!

Julie

Lots of stuff!

2011-06-17T15:16:00.009-05:00

Hi everyone! As you may have guessed, I have been at work...a lot! Many times, the hospital calls and needs nurses...and that overtime pay is a good thing! Now I am enjoying a little time off...yahoo! Above is the current Primitive Gatherings block of the week. Working with these wools is just heavenly...I love the blocks so far! This is the second one....and still needs lots of stitching and pieces and parts added; that is the fun part!!
I have been sorting through my gifted scraps, and I made this block. I have a bunch more cut out, as you can see. I was going to make a big quilt, but now have reconsidered. I am going to make a 12 block quilt and gift it to one of our sick patients...somehow, these patients tug at my heartstrings, and I feel I must help them more than I do. Every bit of love can't hurt, can it, when a person is critically ill?
Lookie, lookie!! Lyn sent me the most gorgeous fabrics...I have been admiring them...they are so pretty, I just want to keep them just like they are!! Thank you so much, Lyn...these are going into my Dear Jane quilt!!
Another thank you...plaids!!! Thank you so very much for these...one of our lovely pink fabric quilters sent me some plaids too!! I love them...I really love them a lot!!
And blues too!! I thought I was almost finished using up all my blues...and look, here are more!! I love them, and will definitely enjoy them so much...thank you so much, and you know who you are!!
OK....so what else has been going on? I have been cutting...wait for it...batiks!! I am going to make a batik quilt!! I know, I know, this is far from what I usually use, but I could not resist the pretty pattern, and the prettier fabrics!! Stay tuned...I will show you what I am making next post.

**********A thought for the day*************************

Out neighboring nursing unit always posts a thought for the day...I loved this one!

"Fear less, hope more.
Eat less, chew more.
Whine less, sing more.
Hate less, Love more,

and all good things will be yours. "

Attributed to a Swedish Proverb.

***********************************************************

A Nurse's Note

This is a theoretical story...may or may not have actually happened, but just see if you can catch the flavor of this nursing story.

There was a Marine...from long ago, married 50+ years to his beautiful bride. Bouncing around the whole world, they made a life of love and happiness and service. This man was the nurse's patient. He had had some chest pain....wrote it off as being "heartburn". Finally, he went to his doctor's office...the office nurse placed him on the EKG machine...and promptly called an ambulance. The EKG showed an acute MI...heart attack! 5 stents later, he was doing fine...until..."Code Blue" was heard, a couple days later! He was in V-tach, a fatal dysrhythmia, if not treated stat. With in 60 seconds, the patient was shocked back into a normal rhythm, and regained consciousness...and said "What happened?" Three times this happened within a few minutes...and off to the cath lab the patient went again. NO blockage was found...so this dysrhythmia was caused from the scarring on the heat from the first heart attack. Meanwhile...a crying wife clung to the nurse...terrified. The patient got a defibillator too...and all was well with the Marine and his bride.

Meanwhile, as all this was going on, another patient's family came out and put loving arms around the wife and comforted her. Got her a drink, stayed with her, loved her...as the staff was all crazy busy saving her husband. (This is representational of 99% plus of all families)

All this is very loud, and causes a tremendous loud commotion is the nursing unit!

Contrast this to another family...whose spouse stood at the door, watching the nurses and doctors run in and out, trying desperately to save the patient...and yelled" My husband needs his lunch tray...now!!!" She very well knew what was at stake, and what was going on....(less than 1% have this kind of behaviors...)

So the point is...what makes people so different? What is the magical thing that makes one family loving...and another cold and snooty? Just askin'......

Remember this is all just a story, something to ponder, all in a day's work for a nurse...just something to think about.

********************************************************************

Have a great day!!

Julie

Think Pink project! And a woolie block...and a finished top!

2011-06-07T14:33:00.008-05:00

OK...so this is what the quilt top was asking for yesterday! I have never made a border like this...in fact, I planned something totally different. but, in between laundry and dusting, I got this border done. I like to have a pieced border on the outside of the quilt...it gives the edge some weight, both visually and physically. I guess these are square in a square blocks...I just added connector corners in white to the 3.5 inch scrappy squares. I of course save the trimmings, to make little half square triangles. Sick, isn't it, to save every little bit, LOL!!
A little closer view....

TADA!!!!

Thank you

Wilma L.
M. Gerjets
Annmarie R.
Robert and Marie B.
Jan M.

(the latest donors)

See what you all did? All of you, with your generosity, have sent a ton of pink fabrics, for our friend, who despite having had cancer herself, makes pink quilts to benefit the Cancer society!! Guess who? A friend of yours!! Sharon, of Grass roots quilting!! So, Sharon...myself and dozens of our blog friends are helping you with some pinks for your pink quilts...enjoy! Aren't you all the most wonderful, generous people! This project is also dedicated to all ladies (and some gents) who have have breast cancer...Linda who just finished her treatments...Amelia, who finished a log time ago, but still has to be so vigilant...and every one of you out there who have been touched by breast cancer...I would love to hear from you!! Sharon, these fabrics will be heading to you as soon as I can locate some packaging, LOL!

Thank you to every one who participated in this...you all did a great thing...THANK YOU!!

Last, but not least...Primitive Gatherings is having a Block of the week again this summer. The blocks are wool on primitive muslin...and I have signed up. Here is my first block, minus some little flowers...I just have a hard time concentrating on doing the prep work, you know what I mean? I love the block!!

Everyone, have a great week!!!

Julie K

Scraps rule...don't 'ya think??

2011-06-06T15:47:00.005-05:00

OK, I got the latest scrappy quilt all in one piece...I can always see that I should have placed this block here, or that block there, but all in all, I like to just let the blocks fall where they may and surprise someone, someday! So, here is the state of the union...I am working on a pieced border, and the border is quite opinionated about what it wants to become! I am merely a worker here...it is really out of my hands, when the quilt decides to speak up and say what it wants!!

I had some thoughts...you know, when I first started out quilting, I wanted to make every tough, tough pattern there was. Intricate applique, Mariner's compass quilts (no paper piecing either!)...I was doing it. I kind of fell into scrap quilting, as a results of pieces left over from trying to make masterpieces. I exhibited in several shows, and won some ribbons, and that was fun, but my heart and soul was in the simple quilts that my mother and grandmother had made and our family had used. I feel that it would be hard to be a scrap quilter when I was first starting out...a person just doesn't have as many scraps! Anyway, I am so happy to be where I am now, scrapping away and really enjoying it.

More tomorrow! Two days off in a row...woohoo!!!

********************The Hyperthyroid patient*************************

I have slept all night, two nights in a row. My thyroid TSH is high normal...I think I am swinging to hypothyroid now. I am gulping up sleep in great gulps, drinking in the rest at last...thanks be to God that I am sleeping!! I sure hope it continues!!

The down side? NO more insomnia quilting!! Hee!!!

*********************************************************

Have a great day, everyone!

Julie

Progressions...

2011-06-01T13:06:00.007-05:00

Hi Y'all! We went on a little adventure to the Four Corners area of our beautiful USA, to visit family over Memorial Day. We took some time and remembered all our wonderful service members from present and past who sacrificed so much for our freedom...we salute you all!

Above is my scrappy quilt...not sure of a name for this one, but it sure is fun to play with! All the pieces came from my scrap bins, 3.5 and 2 inch squares. Connector corners were sewn to make the shapes...you see, right? I am loving this scrappy happy quilt! Whoops, as I look at this, I need to move some of the pink blocks from the center...hmmm....
I made one of these blocks...too big. I don't know why the computer made the block bigger than it should, but ding dong here (that's me), went ahead and stitched it up...and it became a one block wonder! I love this little quilt...it will be a gift at Christmas time for someone! Iwould really like to stitch this whole quilt, and do it right this time, LOL!!
Finished another plaid kitty block...I like these babies!!
And I finished this block from Lyn's Retro Ninepatch BOM. She published the finishing instructions today! I am so excited! Except....I cut this block 8.5 inches instead of 9.5 inches!!! I will have to improvise, big time, in the finishing phase.

A blurry picture of my beloved mountains, still covered with crisp white snow....these mountains in southern Colorado embrace my heart like a mother's hug when I get close to them. I miss home!! Someday...maybe I can live there again!!

Someone had a question about the blue quilt in previous posts...it is made of five inch squares, and 2.5 x 5 inch sashing, with connector corner stars... hope this helps!!!

THANK YOU!!

Lyn V.
Annmarie R.

for sending gorgeous pink fabrics for our breast cancer survivor quilter!!!

Have a great day, everyone!!

JulieK

OK! I give up!!!

2011-05-27T19:56:00.003-05:00

OK! I am finally throwing this away...my last uniform top from nursing school, over 20 years ago. It is gray...and limp...and has the large stain on the front...OK! It is out of here! I think is is funny, though, how long I got to wear this...lace and gathered shoulders and elastic waist...definitely not the scrubs I am currently purchase! I just wore this one Thursday...it was so sad looking, but has lots of memories. Nurses used to have to wear all white, and woe be on the nurse who had a spot on their shoes...now you may ask what in the world does this post have to do about quilting? Nothing....Hee!

Thank you!!!

Carol C.
Linda O.
Merilyn F.
Robert and Marie B.
Jan M.

Thank you so much for participating in the Think Pink project...you all sent the most wonderful pink fabrics for the quilting, breast cancer beating blogger!!! I am getting the box together to send to her...

Have a great weekend, everyone! My heart is still hurting for those people effected by all the tornadoes across the country...Judy of Patchwork times is giving away a quilt to a lucky person who donates to the Red Cross! Way to go, Judy!!

Julie K

What is old...is new again! And more thank yous!

2011-05-24T14:31:00.002-05:00

More scraps...I made several of these blocks a couple years ago, then they went into a bin...but I am finishing this quilt with scraps, and a setting design I came up with myself. I am sure it is not original, but it is original to me, LOL!! This is an official UFO, everyone...so whoohoo! I am finishing a UFO!!!
So here are the blocks, and then I am piecing a sashing, to make neutral stars in the middle of the sashing...well, I can't explain it, but when the quilt is finished, you will see!

THANK YOU!!

To

Becky R.
and
Terry G.

Thank you for gorgeous pinks to add to the box for our breast cancer survivor...thank you!!!

Have a great day, everyone!!

Julie

Quilters are really the best people...and a catch-up day...again!

2011-05-23T15:33:00.006-05:00

HI All! After a marathon of work, I can get back to home and blog and housework and laundry...and quilts! You know how it goes...Above are my Civil War blocks. Most of my blocks had red and blue for some reason, so I mixed it up with some other colors too. I am only 6 blocks behind now...but I will make that up, I hope! I am now using only scraps given to me to make these...and love it!!! Thank you precious friends for those scraps!
This is the current plaid cat! She only needs her black blanket stitching and trimming to size...and a good press! My mom used to tell me "Well pressed is well dressed!"...this little lady is a bit shabby then!
And Lyn's BOM, the Retro Nine-patch! This is the third block I have completed. So, only two blocks behind... I love these blocks! Thank you, Lyn! This is a free BOM and still available...you could catch up easily!

THANK YOU!!!!!

All of you...thank you so much for sending pinks for the box for our quilting, breast cancer surviving, blogging, wonderful lady who makes quilts to raffle for breast cancer...THANK YOU!!

Julie L
Janet O
Sara H
Nancy S
Debi L
Lori D
Regan M
Pamela P

and there are more coming! We are putting together a wonderful package of pink fabrics for this special quilter...thank you for everyone who is participating!!!

Have a great day, everyone!!

Julie

Quilting with a purpose...or a vengeance?? Hee!

2011-05-17T14:51:00.005-05:00

OK, then! Take that, you blue Starry, Starry Night quilt! I have been very anxious to get this all in one piece, and only have the three borders to go. I was kind of worried and anxious about this quilt, because I was running out of blues. Seems strange, huh...I sort my fabrics into color...the fabrics that are not 1930's or 1800's reproductions, or batiks...you know...just miscellaneous blues. So, I used every little piece I had that was not spoken for or in a sorted specialized bin. I was purposefully trying to use all these fabrics up in the blue drawer...and I did! I am glad they are all being used, as some are quite old. I even have a few blue squares leftover. Now I can relax and have fun making the borders!

To make this quilt, I started with 5 inch blue charm squares, and cut more blues from my stash. I used 2.5 inch x 5 inch sashing, and then used 1.5 inch connector corners to make the star points on the sashing. This is a big quilt...big enough for dear hubby to cover up his toes AND his nose!!

Thank you to everyone who is sending some pink fabric for the breast cancer project...I have started a box, and will add to it as fabrics arrive!! Could Mariebeers and Wilma and MarilynMckinnon write me back with an e-mail address, from last post? I seemed to get "no-reply" when I tried to e-mail you back...thank you!

Have a great day, all!!

Julie K

Gifts, quilting, painting, new bloggers...life is BUSY!!

2011-05-16T15:33:00.010-05:00

I just got the best mail! Aren't these the MOST GORGEOUS reproduction prints? I love them!! Thank you so much, Lyn, these will be part of my Dear Jane Quilt. These fall into the category of almost too precious to use...do you know what I mean??
On a blog recently, a very nice lady said "one quilter's trash is another quilter's treasure!" Or something like that...I salivated over those scraps when I saw them on that blog...and guess what!? The scraps appeared at my door! I just sat down in the middle of the floor and sorted and loved each piece and planned...and you guessed, had a happy little Boo-hoo right there in the middle of the floor! I think I may be the only person in the world that is so tickled with scraps. Thank you so much, Sharon, thank you, thank you! This makes a few times lately I have been blessed with scraps...my favorite thing, more than even going to the quilt shop on sale day! Thank you to all your generous and giving hearts.

Speaking of generous hearts...I recently heard of a lady who recently had breast cancer. She was very, very ill, had surgery and all kinds of treatments. Then, bad, bad complications too. Did she get angry? Bitter? Feel sorry for herself? Nope! None of these things! You know what she is doing? She is making quilts to raffle to help the Breast Cancer foundation! The most gorgeous quilts, out of all pinks. so guess what? I am going to fill a box with pink fabrics of all kinds and send it to her! If you would like to throw a pink fat quarter in too...just let me know...we are going to inundate this precious lady with pink! I intend to send the box by the end of May, so please, if you are interested, let me know pretty soon. I will reveal the lady, who is a very popular blogger, at the time I send the box.

Speaking of cool bloggers...I recently met a new scrappy blogger!! Her name is Natasha... Please, go and see her work...I expect to see such fun things from her!!! You can visit her here!

On the home front, I have been making curtains for the laundry room...excuse the junk on the right...seems like the more I clean and organize, the more junk I manage to scare up!! I have Joyce's rose candle mat in there...I love it and want to see it every day, and it seems like I do laundry...EVERY DAY, Lol!!I am in the middle of painting this little laundry room...it was the light gray color, but will be a very light, pink, almost white...the paint color is called "antique White".
More paint prep....out with the gray! See my blue painter's tape? I am doing it for real!!

In quilting news for me...I am still working on my Starry, starry night quilt. I decided to make it bigger, to use every last little piece of my blues. Well...snort...the joke was on me! I ran out of my blues...so had to buy a couple fat quarters to finish it up! So, I am still working on it, and maybe can show you more progress tomorrow...it is a vendetta to finish it up now, LOL!

Have a super great day, everyone! Tuck a pink fat quarter in an envelope and send it when you send your bills off...you won't hardly notice the effort at all!!! Let me know and I will let you know where to send the pinks!

Julie

A little doll of a quilt...Thanks Lori!

2011-05-09T14:07:00.003-05:00

Hi Everyone!! Above is Lori of Humble Quilts doll quilt that she led many of us on...I so love it! It is hand quilted, in the hanging diamonds that Lori suggested, and it turned out really well. I am trying to make very even, small stitches, and am maybe getting a little better...hurrah! I quilted in white thread to contrast with the dark background...the picture is click-able to see the quilting. Thank you, Lori, for the quilt along!
I am putting all the pieces together for the Starry Starry night quilt...and think I will make it bigger, so it will have a nice drape on the queen sized bed. I love this quilt, it is great fun!!

********************Nurse's notes**********************

The Hospital:

Our hospital is old, as buildings go these days, in these times. It was built in the early 1950's, and was built on donated land, and all the funds came from community leaders going door to door collecting a dollar here and a dollar there, so that our little town could have a hospital. Now we are a large city...amazing what growth a few years can bring! Anyway...in the hospital where I work, there are old, dark, dungeon like corridors...green linoleum stairways descending into the darkness of the old abandoned basement where surgery was..."haunted" rooms....it is fun to work there and share all the history of births and deaths and amazing things that have happened through the years. We are a big family there, sharing triumphs and sadness...how is it where you work?

Have a great day!

Julie

I've got the blues...but they are almost all gone!

2011-05-03T14:30:00.003-05:00

Good afternoon, everyone! Some of you may remember that some friends and I exchanged nickel squares around 6 months ago...5 inch squares. I am trying to use them up, and saw this quilt on Joan's blog...so TADA! I am making a Starry, starry night quilt! This will just about finish up my blues, plus use all the blue squares I got from the swap. Stash busting!!I still need to sew all these pieces together, and that will take me a while. This is a bed size quilt...yahoo! The sashing and white cornerstone make the stars...lots of piecing in those, but the blue squares...no piecing! How fun is that!
Ignore the paint on the edges of the window, that needs to come off...but see the orchid blooming again this year! Surviving another year, and actually doing pretty well. I love this color!!

Have a great day, everyone!!

Julie

2011-05-01T16:09:00.005-05:00

Remember my four inch stars that I was feverishly working on? WELL....this quilt is not them! This quilt is another masterpiece by Joyce B., of Arizona. Isn't it just gorgeous? I love the way she chose to set her stars...just so lovely! Joyce also pieces her backs, to match the fronts, to use up her extra fabrics, and to clean up her sewing room, LOL!!!
TADA! Here is the back for her star quilt!! Can you even imagine...I would think that this is a wonderful quilt all in it's own right!!! Pretty, pretty, Joyce, and thank you so much for sharing this quilt with all of us! Joyce recently gifted me with some pieces, some extra hourglass blocks she had made...I am in the process of hoarding them. Hee!!! Now, confess...are you are hoarder too?

I have been cleaning, and cleaning, and tossing out stuff, and sorting out stuff...and I have made some progress!! Here are some empty baskets to prove my progress...and yes, it really feels good to have some space on the shelves!! My little sewing nook is only 4 feet x 6 feet, remember, so I really cannot be a huge fabric stasher...use it up, USE IT UP!! I am really trying, I am!!
Here is my hand quilting on the spool quilt that several of you mentioned...These spools are 3 inch finished, and I hand quilted around each "negative space" piece. It was truly great fun, and thank you all for the inspiration...I wonder how many spool quilts were made around the world???

Everyone, did you see the wedding of the century? I thought it was great fun, I did not watch it, but loved seeing the amazing dress and knowing that the lace was all made by hand...it was gorgeous to me!!

Have a wonderful day, everyone!!!

Julie K.

Hand quilting fun!

2011-04-26T18:43:00.002-05:00

Rosie Posie Pudding Pie, the poodle dog! She will just not get out of the middle of whatever I am doing...and I love her so...The quilt she is modeling is my spool quilt! I have been hand quilting it for about a year now, in between laundry loads and when we have traveled...and I am SO CLOSE to having the hand quilting done!! I thought I would show you...I quilted it with black thread in the negative spaces around the spools. I love the way it made the spools kind of pop out! Joan, do you see your blocks?

So I am going to call this a finish...I have about 10 minutes more to go on it...next up to hand quilt is Lori of Humble Quilts doll quilt.

Have a super day, everyone!!

Julie

Hmmm...don't know what to think!!

2011-04-25T16:02:00.006-05:00

More blue blocks!! I really enjoy making these blocks! They fit together just perfectly, and that is fun, and using up all these blues is fun too!
I am thinking of a border like this...using up the 3.5 inch blue
strips I cut for the body of the quilt. It all looks rather...bluish together!!
The first tomatoes of the season, picture courtesy of dear husband...aren't they pretty? I wonder how long these little tomatoes will last...
I received wonderful mail! Above is a candle mat, made of the most wonderful tiny stippling, and a lovely rose in the middle. Joyce, thank you!! I love this...it is on display and will never have a candle sitting on it, I am afraid!
Joyce also is making a 4 inch star quilt, and she had some pieces and parts to spare, and sent them too!! I am loving these!! I am thinking of what alternate blocks to put with these beauties!
I received my mother's day gift a little early...a new purse! A very pretty new purse...thank you dear son and dear DIL...I love you both so much!!!

What I don't know what to think about is my memory!! What on earth...am I going to totally lose it or what? Hmmmm...sleep...is very important...I need sleep!!!

Have a super day, everyone!!!

Julie

A new..well, kind of new...project!

2011-04-22T14:48:00.007-05:00

Good afternoon, everyone!! I wish a wonderful Easter to everyone who celebrates this holiday! I will be celebrating in the hospital...nursing goes on, you know!! Above is my version of Bonnie Hunter's "Blue Ridge Beauty". I am using up the last of my blues from the big blue and yellow quilt of last year. In fact, I have had this quilt cut out for quite a while, and just need to get it done. I like the fact that the units that make of these blocks are the same as the Jewel Box units...just a slightly different position in the blocks. And as you know...I am a little bit STUCK on the Jewel Box pattern right now!
This is Bonnie's quilt. Mine may not be quite as big, as I have cut out all the blues I have for it, and I have a pieced border niggling the back of my brain..."Ouch! Stop tickling in there!"...Oh...YOUR brain does not talk back to you? How unusual! Hee!
I just received the most beautiful Thimbleberries fabrics from Joan! I think we are sisters, just not born of the same family...I have a few of you I feel that way about!! Joan has thimbleberries...and I do not...and now I do!! Joan also pieced four of the cutest little 4 inch stars ever in the world...thank you so much, Joan!!! They fit right in with mine!! Please see Joan's blog here.

Please enjoy your weekend all, and have a super day today!!

*****************The story of the flat tire********************

I was out shopping for a special birthday celebration, and driving along, when...."boom, hiss!" I heard my right back tire make lots of funny noises as it went abruptly flat. God was smiling on me, as I was driving right by the Walmart tire center! I went in, and they fixed it, and while they were doing the fixin', I went for a walk for 30 minutes....so it was all OK, and only took an hour out of the day. There was a big wreck on the way home...who knows, if I had been on time to get home, maybe I would have been in the wreck! So flat tires...can be good...right?

***********************************************************

Julie

Catching up on my BOM's!!

2011-04-20T15:34:00.009-05:00

Well, I have fallen behind on my BOM's and UFO's and other such pledges I made, oh say, around the first of the year...so I am catching up!! Above are the latest blocks from Barbara's Civil War Quilts...I now have ten blocks made, out of maybe 14 or so? Not too bad for a catch up day! I love the basket block the very best. Click here to see her Civil War Quilt blog...not too late for you to join this block of the week!
Now these blocks are not to be missed!! Lyn is creating the most lovely stitchery blocks of the month...I love these blocks!! So far there are four blocks, and all four of mine are prepped, they are just waiting for stitching time. Please click here to join us and see her beautiful blog!!
Shouldn't all cats, really...be plaid! LOL!! I am making another BOM, all of funny kitty creatures, so of course I chose plaid to make my cats. Fun, huh!! Please click here to see a whole TON of BOM's, including this cat one!! This is a wonderful site!
Kitty with attitude!!!

So far today, I have...vacuumed, mopped, done laundry, gotten my hair cut, filled up the car with gas, gone to the post office, pharmacy, bank...wheww!! A house wife's day is never done...

Back to work tomorrow for some rest, LOL!!

Julie

Some finishes...almost

2011-04-18T18:54:00.005-05:00

Getting closer, at least, to some finishes!! The above quilt is my answer to nine patches done in an exchange last year...I just have to hand sew down the binding and that's it! Oh, yes, and the label...the binding is scrappy, so I can use up what I have.
I changed the border...but kept the pink of sheer obstinacy!! A little girlie is OK, right?? This one is ready to hand quilt, after sandwiching...
And my header quilt!! About time it got quilted, don't you think? I love the non-planned look...love this string thing!!!

Have a great day, everyone!!!

JulieK

1,568 pieces

2011-04-12T16:04:00.007-05:00

OK...y'all were right...this is just too many little pieces for a bed sized quilt, so I made a cuddle sized quilt instead!! I added the pink and lavender border to make it girlie and pick up some of those colors in the quilt...not sure if the lavender will stay or not. I love the Jewel Box pattern...whoever you are who came up with this...long ago quilter...I "heart" you!!
Spring is definitely here...we got a big hail/thunder storm, and these blossoms got pretty torn up.
The onions, peppers, tomatoes, and strawberries are all coming right along. I composted all last year, all the kitchen waste and whatever I could think of to go in the bin, so everything is really growing well! (even the weeds...)
I had some apples leftover from snacking, kind of a little bit soft, so I made a pie. It is gone, ahem...now...I did not eat it all!!!

Have a great day, everyone!!

Julie

Want to see something very pretty? And Thank YOU!

2011-04-08T21:33:00.003-05:00

HI everyone!! Please take a look! This quilt was done by my friend Joyce, in Arizona, her own design and execution. It is so pretty!! Joyce does not have a blog (yet...hee!), and I just had to share her quilt with you all. Joyce is a quilting superstar, designing and making her own quilts, winning huge competitions like national quilt shows...and then she took off and conquered the business world too!! We got to be friends due to this wonderful Internet thing...and I get to see beauties such as this one!! Aren't I lucky...and now you are too!!!

THANK YOU to everyone who helped me decide what fabric to use for the alternate squares from last post...I thought it would be easier with input, but I am even more conflicted, LOL!! Anyway, thank each of you so much for your help!

Have a great weekend!

Julie

Would you mind taking a look at these...pretty please?

2011-04-07T11:01:00.006-05:00

Good morning! Would y'all take a look at these fabrics, and please tell which is your favorite alternate square fabric for the half square blocks? This red.....
A cream color...probably not this one....
Blue......
Or cheddar?

I am trying to decide how to put these blocks together. Would you give me your opinion...pretty please??

I made 11 more Tiny Twinkling Star blocks this morning...now it is off to the races, to get some housekeeping done!!!

Have a super great day, everyone, and thank you so much for your visit!

Julie K

Greetings!

2011-04-05T14:36:00.009-05:00

Howdy everyone!! I have been busy at work, and off today...so I can catch up a little on what all of you are up to, and sew a little, and clean a little...the usual routine on my days off. I have been making little, bitty stars out of my 2.5 and 1.5 inch scraps and also using the beautiful scraps that Linda, Amy, and Vicki have sent to me. I love these tiny twinklers! They are 4 inch finished...the inspiration quilt I saw at the Dallas quilt show had 3 inch stars...but that involved 1/4 inch cuts, etc...and I am just so happy to use some of my little precut pieces and scraps I already had...this is great fun, folks!! This is of course not the final tally, or arrangement...but these are so much fun...maybe you want to make some tiny twinklers too!! I am also working on the jewel box quilt too...also 4 inch finished blocks...it will be some time before I have enough blocks to even think of putting them together. I am loving working with these diminutive pieces!
You just must look at these gorgeous socks that Nancy has knitted by hand...aren't they gorgeous? We came up with a swap...a barter...she made socks for me and I am making place mats for her, which I just about have finished. How fun! I do have one other pair of hand knit socks, from Kaaren at the Painted Quilt, and they have been worn until they have holes in them!! I love hand knitted socks...thank you so much, Nancy!!
And Lyn at Bluebird quilts!! Lyn totally surprised me, she has HAND stitched these gorgeous embroidery pieces...old sewing machines!! These quilts are just totally lovely, and I will treasure them forever...thank you Lyn, what a wonderful cheer-me-up!!
Can you see the poem under the stitchery? It is all about house-keeping, versus quilting...I will take the quilting any day, LOL!!!
Thank you, Lyn!!

I also received a blog winning box from Vicki in California...wow, I am just blown away....thank you to you, Vicki! I am planning some quilts for Japan from this fabric. So, I am spoiled to the bone!!

***********************Nurse Notes: A love story!**********************

A bypass patient came in, just a wonderful eldery gentleman, and the nurses were all so impressed with his spirit and calm and humor...he shared with me a wonderful story, and it went something like this: He and his wife had met when they were 13 years old...many, many years ago, and just fell madly in love. The girl's family would not let them see each other, and forced them apart...and the family prevailed. Time drifted along, and a World War happened, and the gentleman went off to fight for our country, and the girl got married. The gentleman also got married to another lady, and both of them had wonderful, full and happy lives. About 3 years ago, both spouses died...and you guessed it, the lady and gentleman happened to meet again. I have never seen a couple more fully in love, nor a couple more happy. The gentleman secretly grinned, and said to me, " God saved the very best of my life for last.". Of course, I was in tears...of joy and honored that he shared his story with me. He did so well, he has already been discharged from the hospital, with a new heart valve and bypass surgery...doing wonderfully!

************************************************************

Have a wonderful day, all!!!

Julie

Can't settle down, and a tribute to Linda

2011-03-29T10:54:00.003-05:00

Good Morning!! Above are the prettiest broken dishes blocks! They were made by Linda, my quilting friend...you just have to see them! They are perfectly pieced, and perfectly pressed with swirled centers pressed on the back...the blocks are wonderful! And there are a ton of then, included in her scraps boxes gifted to me. I had some 3 inch squares and placed a few of them, experimentally, in between the blocks...pretty!! I would like to showcase the blocks, more, though...any ideas??

Told you there were a ton of these blocks! Linda made these blocks from the leftover triangles from making flying geese. Cool, huh!??

I cannot settle down and work on anything, restless, wandering this morning...maybe later I will settle down and concentrate on one thing, LOL!!!

Have a super great day!

Julie

Playing with four inch blocks

2011-03-28T14:30:00.003-05:00

I saw a beautiful star quilt at the Dallas Quilt Show, 3 inch stars alternating with brown plain squares...it was gorgeous!! These blocks are 4 inch instead...thinking of what to do with this idea...
I made some more 4 inch Jewel box blocks, out of my pre-cut scrap bins...I confess...I love these blocks!! Scrappy and happy, and such a joy to make! I am also making 4 inch stars, so was playing with the two quilt ideas...just for fun. I love that quilt! Her stars were only 3 inches finished...mine are 4 inch finished, and I am having a blast making these stars...no particular time frame in which to get a quilt done out of these... The thing I loved best about her quilt is that she said "I loved making every one of these stars." I just loved that she got so much pleasure out of making her masterpiece!

Have a great day, everyone!!!

Julie K

Need to get cracking!!

2011-03-26T02:35:00.002-05:00

HI Y'all! I have just a little bit to go on this quilt...I hung it back up in the closet about 2 years ago, not quite finished...I am finishing it this week!! The story is...I found the book at the library that had this sampler in it. Another lady (unknown), and I took turns borrowing the book back and forth...until my quilt was together!! I hope hers is done too! High time this baby is finished!!!

It is 2:41 in the morning...awake...wide awake!!! I will sure be glad when the thyroid is not raging anymore...I need my beauty sleep in a bad way, LOL!!!

Have a super weekend all!!!

Julie K

Good afternoon!!

2011-03-25T14:47:00.005-05:00

I made a few more of these 4 inch blocks, today, my second day off in a row! whoohoo! These are such great fun...I will have to be careful not to bore you to tears with nothing but Jewel Box blocks!!

I have about 2 hours a day, on my days off , to piece...today, I used that time to cut up scraps into usable pieces. I have 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 5 inch strips and blocks. I had such fun cutting these pieces up and planning uses for them!!

There has been some angst lately in the blog world, about the "dumbing down" of quilting. My take on this is that there are tons of new quilters, who need something a little easier to get started!! And then there are those of us who really enjoy completing a simple pattern after a crazy, complex, and exhausting day at work in the CCU or where ever you work. I have made my share of Mariner's compasses, and Baltimore album blocks, but what gives me great joy is to make a quilt that can be thrown around on the couch, that my family can use, that the poodle can jump on too...and it be OK. To use my scraps and little pieces, to use what I have, to not go and buy hundreds of dollars of fabric for the perfect combination, to not angst over color. There are PLENTY of complex patterns out there to choose from!! And lots of fun simpler ones...I think that judging quilters or anyone else for that matter is just detrimental to what a lot of us bloggers are here for...FUN! A place to show our work, to get encouragement, to enjoy friendships... I love to see really complex, work intensive quilts...and I love to see squares sewn together and tied!! It is the fun, the process for me...it makes me feel like maybe people are judging my quilts, and saying they are too simple...and kind of hurts a little. Please tell me what you think, honestly and frankly...I would love to know your opinion!!! This is not againest (or for) anyone for that matter...just that I have been thinking about it for two days, and really need to get it out...thank you for that, dear quilters!! Maybe I am just too tired...no sleep again, friends...

Have a wonderful day!!

Julie

Smaller...and scrappier!!

2011-03-24T09:58:00.002-05:00

Hi all! I have been working and my son and his wife were here for the weekend, so I have been a little nutty busy...what's new, right? We had a wonderful time!! Now, for a little quilting time. I have been really enjoying the scraps that Linda and Amy have sent to me...yum! I have cut some of the pieces into 1.5 and 2.5 inch strips, then made the little piece above. I intend for the quilt to be a bed quilt, so I have a lot of scrapping to go, LOL!! The little squares are one inch finished, and the 1/2 square triangles are 2 inch finished. Another Jewel Box! Hurrah!! Can you tell I just love scrap quilting???
I finished my cross stitch BOM...and just love it! I rarely have anything professionally framed, but I think I will have this one framed...I really like it!

Have a wonderful day, each one of you!!

Julie

Can you help Japan on National Quilting Day??

2011-03-19T10:51:00.006-05:00

Happy Quilting Day to everyone!! Janet from Quiltsalott and Taniwa, too, are both blogging about quilts for Japan today. As I sit in my safe home, comfortable, not rich by any means but having food and shelter and safety, I was wondering what can I do to help the poor people of Japan. As I see on my TV children, wandering, looking for their parents, orphanages overflowing, shelters maxed out...what could I do? I think the donating to the Red Cross is wonderful, and check, that was done...but what more could I do? I think that the opportunity to send some quilts to Japan is wonderful!! Please visit these two blogs and see if maybe you could send a quilt too!! They both have addresses of agencies accepting quilts, a quilting magazine company.

The quilt above is hand quilted, it is for a boy...

This one is machine quilted, and is for a girl!!! I sure hope that these quilts can be of service and comfort to someone in need....

Have a great day, all!!!

Julie

The plaids are talking...again!

2011-03-16T18:26:00.002-05:00

OK! The border had to be made out of 3.5 inch strips, because that is what I had already cut. I considered flying geese, then considered piano keys...but this is what I settled on. I like it! Not overpowering, but fun. I sewed for 15 minutes, then ran around and cleaned house for 15 minutes, then sewed 15 minutes, then cleaned...all day long. The house is sparkly, and the quilt border is done!! Yahoo! This is a great option for those ADD people...set your timer and have at it! You have to concentrate, and it is tiring...but boy, you get a lot done for the time of your day.
The border close up...do you like that stripey house slipper...hee!!!

Hey, speaking of fabrics talking to us...here are some of the things they say. Plaids say to me, "I belong in a log cabin...take me there!". Florals want to be in a Victorian home. Lines of fabric may be a little stuck up, "We don't really want any outsider... not in OUR click!". Scraps are happy and freewheeling, adaptable...they love anywhere and any quilt!!

Some fabrics...even speak the language of love! Seductive, you know..."Hey, I am beautiful...come feel me, don't I just feel so soft and silky in your hand? Hmmmmm???". You know you love running your hand over soft lovely cotton fabrics!!! And those satins, and velvets...now what would they say if they could really talk? Some fabrics even call out to you at the quilt store..."Come buy me!", they shout!

Have a great day all!! I am off to work again!!

Julie

Do your quilts talk to you??

2011-03-16T04:53:00.004-05:00

Do your quilt blocks and fabrics you have been working with sometimes talk to you? Here is a conversation that my fabrics and I had this morning.

See above: I had gotten all the plaid blocks sewn together for my Jewel Box quilt. I had a large piece of Burgundy Big Plaid (BBP)...and was just going to sew a large border on of this and be done! Yeah!!! I would be done with the top!!! but then...I heard....from the quilt blocks and fabrics from my quilt....the fabrics started talking!! "Hey...don't you like us? After all, we as your plaids have been working with you in quilts for years...don't you, (tearfully)...like us? Why are you putting HIM (BBP) for the border...and so much of him", the fabrics said reproachfully. "He kind of takes over everything when he shows up in such large quantities!" the quilt fabrics said with a sniff...."after all, I am sure he is a nice person as a fabric, but BBP has such a huge personality...we can only take him in small quantities." OK, OK!!!, I said! All of you plaid quilt blocks stop sniffling and talking and yelling!!! I will not use the big 'Ole hunk of BBP!!!! OK?? But I think he would look nice as an accent border, what do you think, plaids?? "We agree!" said the plaids, "Small quantities of BBP are just great!!! How about you piece the rest of us plaids leftover from the middle of the quilt into a nice pieced border?" Good idea, I think...and everyone was happy this morning!!!

So....do your fabrics and quilt blocks talk to you? No?? Hmmmm....really?
I tried some other fabrics, in the spirit of using what I had...I can make quite a mess doing this, how about you??
TADA!!! All the plaid quilt blocks are happy...they are just waiting for a pieced border of their friends!!!

Have a fun day, all!!

Julie

Could you help me with something??

2011-03-13T08:58:00.007-05:00

HI Y'all!!

If you are a nurse, and a blogger, and a quilter...and I don't have you listed on my sidebar, would you do me the favor of letting me know about you? I would love to list you!! thank you!! I try to keep updated, but I think I have missed some of you...thank you again!!

Hey, did you know? MADAME SAMM of Stash Manicure is a retired nurse! Isn't that cool? I have also had the recent privelege of meeting MERILYN and GWARGEDD...both nurses and quilters!! Please see and visit my nursing friends listed to the right...they are fabulously talented!!!

Also....it makes me so sad when I cannot answer your questions or comments...Patty Nordahl, Lisa, and others from last post...let me know your e-mail addie and I can answer you!!! Sometimes we are listed as "no reply" on our blogs...you can fix that!! Thank you so much...have a great day, all!!

Julie

The march of the Tartans!!

2011-03-10T15:38:00.002-06:00

The plaid jewel box quilt is growing...here are the blocks I have completed so far. Nothing is sewn together yet. I worked the last couple days, so am catching up at home today. Laundry, cleaning, you know how it goes!! I will tell you...this quilt is a wonderful leader/ender idea...or just when you have 15 minutes, you can get an amazing amount done with this pattern!! A four patch based pattern...I like it!

By the way...do you usually buy a pattern and follow it? I almost never do...although I have quite a few patterns, I buy them for the ideas, then end up tweaking it and making it my own...what do you do? Or I see a quilt and draft the pattern for it....that is fun. I would love to know what you do, and where you get your best ideas!!!

*********************Nursing notes**************************

Nurses: I am so blessed to work with an incredible group of nurses. It is strange, I am a generation older than most, and almost two generations older than the youngest nurses coming in. I feel very motherly toward the new nurses... The vast majority are ladies, but men are present in this profession too...mostly in the ER and CCU, the guys seem to gravitate to places of high adrenaline, LOL!! One dear nursing friend is just brilliant, graduating high school at age 15, nursing school at 19... Such an incredibly smart nurse...almost done with her master's degree in her very early 20's. Another is zany, wacky, crazy...and just as brilliant. Detail oriented to the nth degree, she is my polar opposite in that way...and she is wonderful. Another? In her 60's...a heart of gold, and still working 60 hours a week like all the rest of us...a dear, dear nurse who really cares. Many years of education, experience and love comprise our staff...I love them all.

**************************************************************************

Have a great day!!

Julie

Thoughts for my day...

2011-03-07T14:27:00.004-06:00

Plaids are absolutely the best! Have you ever wondered how you are going to use up that box of plaids...you know, the box you sorted out and put in the bottom of the closet? I love my plaids, and have decided to try and use them all up, now that my reproductions are almost all gone. I decided on the jewel box pattern...and I love it so much!! I have an entire quilt cut out...just need some sewing time. It is a surprising fast pattern, all chain piecing, and I love these colors. I don't worry if the plaids are not quite straight, although I do try to cut on the straight of grain. I love to think of some of these older plaid patterns worn by Highland Warriors of old; their family plaids...how much fun!! Somehow I don't think the bright orange is quite traditional...but I could be wrong, LOL!!
A dear friend sent my some greens to help finish my Crab Apple Tree quilt, and I had some triangles left over. I paired them with some of Linda's neutral scraps, and tada! A delectable mountains table runner!! I am going to try and finish this soon...probably hand quilting in the wee hours of the night.
Cross stitching is so relaxing for me, much more than 20 years ago when I first did this craft...I am loving working on this!

I found a neighbor who knits...she offered to teach me!! Hmmm, now when will I fit that in, LOL!!

Hey , just something to think about...I recently was invited over to help organize a lady's stash and just generally play in fabric, which is always fun. She is 68 years old, and has some illnesses and health problems. We were to organize the stash into colors, and types, like reproductions, 1930's, brights, and so forth. I was just amazed...following the paths through the house, we went into a room...filled completed from floor to ceiling with tubs and bins and boxes of fabric!!! A whole room!! We worked steadily most of the day...and did not even make a dent. It made me feel so uneasy and just bad...this fabric will never, ever be used up...and more was being bought almost daily. I am not judging her, please know...I know that she must have a big empty place in her heart. A lesson for me though...don't do this!...use mine up!! Give it away...but DO NOT go to any fabric supplying place...unless I need something to finish a project!!! Thus is my lesson for me for the day!!!

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much, all of you...I somehow did not stitch down a "B" on my Beattitudes quilt from last post!! I so appreciate you noticing...and just how did I miss that, LOL!!??

Have a super week!!

Julie

Julie S---I love your beautiful quilt!!

2011-03-07T10:29:00.006-06:00

HI all!! I just wanted to share what another member of the nine patch swappers group did with her small nine patches...isn't this gorgeous?? It looks so different from my nine patch/churn dash, on point and with such lovely setting fabric...I love this quilt! Julie S has picked out an amazing border print...she has not decided which way to go yet with the border. Can you believe...this is the second nine patch/churn dash quilt she has made!! I am so happy that I finally got this picture on the blog to show you!!

Be back later to show you some brainstorms I have been having...almost tornados!! Hope you are having a super day!

Julie

What are your sticking points??

2011-03-03T16:25:00.006-06:00

HI Y'all!! Above is my revised Beattitudes Quilt...pattern by Nancy Halverson. I loved making each of these hand blanket stitched blocks...and then slapped on a border, and promptly disliked it. I then folded it carefully and hung the top on a hanger, and shoved it unceremoniously in the closet!! So in the spirit of "finishing the UFO", I very ceremoniously hauled it right back out of the closet today and changed the border!!! I found a piece of Cranston calico in my stash from the 80's, and that is the border. I like it much better...hurrah! Now I can commence with the quilting part!!! Remember I raided my husband's pajama bottoms for the fabric for the letters? Hee!!! Soooo....

What is your sticking point in quilt making? Is it the border? (that's me)!!! I dislike applying borders...is it making all those endless blocks? Is is binding? What is it that is your sticking point in finishing the quilt?

Since my sticking point is borders, I am trying to make a point to do the border first, piecing or cutting, if I can...that helps a lot!

I also put the final border on the nine patch/churn dash!!! It is not quite as wavy as it looks in the picture!!! Hmmmmm...may have to rethink that....
I have been cross stitching!! A free pattern, a BOM from the Internet...I did all the border stitching first...then the snowman block for January...
Then this cute birdie heart block for February!! I am loving this...I seem to have more patience for the stitching than I did in my youth....I can't seem to take good pictures of this project...but it is darling!

*****************Nurse's Notes*****************************

I seem to have turned a corner, maybe, with the hyperthyroidism! I have truly not slept more than 2 hours night for 8-10 months...I was tired, let me tell you! guess what? I have slept 6 hours a night for two nights in a row!! I feel sooooooo much better...Yahoo!! Next lab test is next week to see what if the thyroid levels are down...and I am putting up with the skin rashes that accompany the anti-thyroid drugs...but they itch!!! I can handle that...if the sleeping continues!!!

Have a great day, all!!

Julie

A post for the day off!!

2011-02-25T14:06:00.006-06:00

HI Y'all! Every day I have off this week, they call me into work...a lot of heart surgeries this week. And other assorted illnesses too. Today? This blissful day off...I slept until dear husband left...seems like I get my best sleep that hour in the morning when he is bustling around getting ready for work, just busy, happy sounds... I did the requisite laundry and cleaning today...and worked on my nine patch/churn dash! The border is where I am at...I have finished sashing all the blocks together, and am sewing one zillion little one inch squares together for the border. I like doing this very much...it just takes a very long time!

**************News Flash!!!!!!!!!!!*******************

Julie S, another nine patch swapper is also making a churn dash/nine patch quilt from her nine patches!! Her quilt is drop dead gorgeous, set on point as a couple of you suggested for my quilt...she sent me a picture, and when I can figure out how to put the picture on the blog, I will!!

*************************************************************
In progress pic....
I received a giant gift today. Linda, another swapper, graciously sent me a metric ton of scraps, in exchange for some primitive muslin I had...I was expecting an envelope of scraps...I received two huge boxes stuffed to the gills with gorgeous fabrics and blocks of all sizes and colors!! You can see I just got barely into the hall when I opened them all over the rug!! And then? I just sat there and bawled!! Happy tears, you know??
Here are the blocks I have found in the boxes so far...
And just look at all these broken dishes blocks!! Just so very pretty, and perfect!!! Thank you, Linda, from the bottom of my heart!!!

I am working again tomorrow..the DFW gang is meeting very near here, and I so wanted to go and play with them...quilting play!! Alas...no one could swap shifts with me...booohoooo!!!

******************Nurse's notes*************************

The patient? A dapper man, not old, not young...but very sick. He was filling his tank with gas (hey, have you seen how the gas prices just soared up in the last couple of days??)...anyway, another person was there at the service station getting gas too, and witnessed the dapper man go down...hard. He had a cardiac arrest, and hit his head, breaking his occipital arch in his head. Immediate CPR and 911 was underway...and they got him back quickly!! So, here he comes from the ER, intubated, on pressers, the whole nine yards...and we were to do hypothermia protocol (super cooling him to prevent tissue/brain damage). Quick, core probe for temperature, iced saline in his IV, wrap him in the cooling suit, central line placement, art line placement, insulin drip, more pressers, nimbex to paralyze him so he would not shiver and get warm again...and so on, and so on...and so on!!! Outcome? Unknown yet...time will tell...but this is miracle stuff the hospitals are up to these days!!!

***********************************************************************

Everyone...have a super great weekend!!

A special occasion...and some musings...and some winners!!

2011-02-20T16:55:00.005-06:00

Hi everyone!! I sure hope you had a wonderful weekend!! You may recall the tiny 4 inch star blocks I was playing with, from the 1.5 inch scrap drawer and the 2.5 inch scrap drawer. Here is what I came up with...pretty bright, huh?!!I used just what I had in there...and here it is, a new doll quilt...thanks Lori for inspiring us all with doll quilts!!
And Darcie!!! And Karen!! You both have recently made afghans...out of what you had left over...yarn on hand. I loved that idea, and had to make one too. So, when my dear husband was watching his news program in the evenings this winter, I would sit down with him and put a row or two on this scrappy afghan. I used a ton of yarn...and the afghan is quite heavy, just right for winter. It will take no prizes in a competition, but was so much fun to make!!

*************A Special Occasion*******************

Guess what? I got to go and see Bonnie Hunter...in person!! What a dynamo...she is full of life and energy , and smiles, quite slim and tall and pretty...and so much fun!! Treat yourself...if you can attend a lecture or workshop of hers, please do...you will just love it!! I got her new book Scraps and Thread tales Two...sigh...there are a dozen quilts in there that I just MUST MAKE. I only had a one day window to go...working all the days around when she was here locally...but I loved just going to see her lecture!

******************************************************

A few musings:

I am just brim full of ideas, and this lecture did not help much...I am floating in quilt ideas!! Too bad I have to work for a living...I could get a lot done if not for that, LOL!!

Ideas:

1. Another plaid quilt like my banner quilt...

2. A row by row quilt, of my own design, influenced by Forest Jane

3. All the quilts in Bonnie's new book!

4. Barters!! I have 3 yards of lovely dark heavy muslin...very dark, for primitive projects, from the quilt shop...do you have a bunch a scraps that you want out of your house? Just e-mail me! Maybe we can barter!!!

****************************Winners!*******************

I cut up all the little pieces of paper with names from all the folks who graciously commented last post...thank you so much all for participating, it is so fun to see who might be reading this!! Random slips were drawn...congratulations to Darlene and to Barb!! Please send me your addresses, and I will mail your books in the AM.

Anyway, lots on my mind lately...how about you?? What are you up to this weekend??

Have a super day!

Julie

After work play time...and a giveaway.

2011-02-15T22:03:00.004-06:00

I got home from work, and actually had a little spunk left! So, I made a few tiny stars. These are 4 inch finished, and the scraps are from my 1.5 inch bin and my 2.5 inch bin. I love using scraps like these...this is just great fun to me! A plan? I really don't have one right this second for these blocks!! Remember...any threads you see must be because your glasses are dirty, or that you have not had enough coffee...I of course would NEVER leave threads like that...........SNORT!!
Are you a Thimbleberries girl? I recently acquired this book...it is a really fun book...would you like to have it? Just leave me a comment and I will draw for it on Saturday, 2-19-11.
This one too!! These books are kind of polar opposites...just let me know which one you would like, and I will put you in the drawing.

Have a great week, everyone!!

Julie

Nine patches rule!! And Happy Valentines!!

2011-02-14T14:41:00.004-06:00

Hey everyone!! Here are all the nine patch/churn dash blocks...I have selected the sashing fabric, after a wonderful suggestion from Helen in the UK...I tried red first Annie...the red I had kind of took over the blocks...I love red, though! I did, however, want all your nine patch blocks, and a bunch I made too, to show up and shine!! I found this blue...it was from a backing fabric, very wide...leftover, and it seems to work!!
Then I found the Cheddar...is it too much? Pretty bright!! Are the blocks showcased enough?? I like it though...and have a scrappy border planned too.

I have a bunch of these blocks cut...I have to be careful, or I will have a ton of the same blocks, and will not have zig-zags!!

Have a wonderful day, each one of you...I hope you have some sewing time just for you. Happy Valentines to each of you!!

Julie

A finish...full of memories!

2011-02-11T15:42:00.007-06:00

Hurrah!!! I received my quilt back from Darcie, after she quilted it with her freehand fancy feathers...the quilting is breathtaking!! I just love it...isn't it incredible how much life is breathed into a quilt with the quilting?? This is a large, bed size quilt, and all the pieces came from my 2 inch square bin, except the white of course. I am really liking the fact that I am making progress on using up my stash, and having some finishes!
See that green polka dot square? That is from my mother...cut by her scissors around 40 years ago...I have quite a few of her squares in this quilt. Most of the yellows were in her stack...and some old dresses and aprons were cut by her for quilts...I inherited these squares. Thank you so much, Mom...this quilt is doubly precious to me. I think of each of these little pieces as old friends, remembering where they came from and what I used them for. Fun!! I have cut the binding, just need to get it on there.
I am finished with all these blocks! I am having a devil of a time figuring out how to set them...what color, I mean...so I will be thinking about that...please help if you have an inkling!
And now for something entirely different! I used to cross stitch...a lot. Not for years, however...but I found a free pattern from somewhere on the Internet, and I used to raise sheep in my youth...so I loved this, and is was fast and fun! I love that each sheep has a different pattern...it was really fun to do...except I had to use a regular needle instead of a cross stitch needle(a blunted one)...that made a little harder!
Please forgive the blurry picture...but lookee, lookee! I received a gorgeous scissor fob from Darlene at Quilting Daze...she is an amazing quilter...and she thought of me!! I am so spoiled...thank you, Darlene!!

*****************Nurse's notes********************

After prayerful consideration, I have decided to start with the anti thyroid medication to stop this hyperthyroidism. I am getting weaker...usually I sail up the stairs at work instead of the elevator...and I cannot anymore. Muscle weakness is a hallmark of this illness...and I need my strength to care for my patients and just generally live!! Very fuzzy headed and hey, I was a math minor...and cannot even add right now!! That is bad...and blurry vision, etc. Guess who I had as a patient yesterday...a patient with hyperthyroidism!! He is much sicker...because he did not get treatment...so I am starting in with this. I am frightened, because it can lead to liver damage and bone marrow suppression...and I need the immunity that my white blood cells produced in the bone marrow provide...work is an infectious place at the hospital!! But I am praying for all the best...and will do my part by eating well and drinking adequate fluids and taking my meds by the book. Thanks for listening about the hyperthyroid patient!!!

****************************************************

Our dear son's birthday is tomorrow...25 years old!! Strange...how can that be...and I am so young...LOL!!! Happiest Birthday, darling son...you are the best son anyone could ever wish and hope for!!

Have a great week, all!!!

Julie

civil war blocks, continued...and Hearts for February!

2011-02-05T17:37:00.007-06:00

Are you making these blocks? Barbara Brackman is hostessing a Civil War quilt along...one new block every Saturday this year. 52 blocks...hmmm, I need 56 for a 6x7 setting...(Edit!!! Thank you dear Cathy, my math was all screwed up...7x8 would be 56 blocks!! I appreciate you catching that goof!!) I bet I can come up with something! Anyway, I am having such a ball making these blocks!!
Hearts, hearts everywhere!! I was pretty much stuck on hearts, in about 2000...I made tons of heart quilts, large and small. This is by no means all of them...but here are a few. Each has hand quilting on them, as that is what I did then!! So, here is a Valentine's greeting for all of you out there in blog land!
I experiment with my sewing machine, and did a fancy stitch over the seam lines on this one...
I guess this was supposed to be a color wash quilt? I tried to go darkest to lightest...and these fabrics were very much what I had in 1995-2000...flowers, small prints...that is who I was at that time, I guess!
Blues!! blue hearts!!

I am off work today...yahoo! Have done little of anything effective...took a nap even!!! Time to get cracking!!!

Have a super day tomorrow...super bowl Sunday!!

Julie

More blocks done...

2011-02-03T15:39:00.004-06:00

HI Y'all....I am still working on the nine patch/churn dash blocks...I have 42 of them done, and that is all the nine patches I have from the swap. I think I will make a few more, to make the quilt a little bit bigger. I love seeing all these fun tiny nine patches from all of you...thank you so much, each one of you!!
I got my husband's quilt back from being quilted!! Millie, a local Texas lady quilted this one for me...thank you so much, Millie!! Dear Husband loved it, and he chose a bright red binding to finish it off...I applied it today, and will finish the hand stitching soon.
All the pieces are one inch finished strips...this used up almost all my reproduction stash, between these two projects.

******************Nurse's Notes*******************

The Pioneer spirit!

It has been really terrible weather here...quite cold, and with a skiff of snow and ice on the freeway's it has been tricky for some to get to work. Many nurses stayed overnight for several nights at the hospital, to ensure that there would be round the clock care for the patients. I salute these ladies!! I feel that these ladies really have gumption...you know, a can do attitude!! Due to some nurses not coming to work, this left us very short...very, very short of staff.

I love to see this spirit in people...dignity, hard work, go the extra mile, self reliance...the Pioneer Spirit!!!

********************************************************************

Have a great day, all!!

Just had to go to the quilt shop today....

2011-01-31T16:37:00.002-06:00

HI Y'all!! Above is a snapshot of Rosie Posie Pudding Pie...the best poodle in the whole house!! She is gaining weight, folks...she is a little chow hound! She like to grab a quilt block in her mouth and run like lightning to the back of the house...'round and 'round we go!! She is such fun...

Anyway! I have made some more nine patch/churn dash blocks. I love them!! I really want to thank each of you who swapped nine patches with me...thank you so very much...I treasure these blocks. Each one is so different and fun!! Julie S, one of our mavelous swappers is considering doing this style of block too...it was her idea in the first place!! Would you like to join us??
TADA!!! I finished the dolly quilt!! I decided after making sashing, etc., to see what options I had to set the blocks, that I really loved Lori's setting the best! So...poor me...sniff...I just had to go to the quilt shop for some fabric, the blue, for the setting squares...I had such a great time!! I love our local quilt shop...the ladies are so sweet there, and talk about heavenly reproductions!! They have a whole room for Jo Morton!!

Also...a word about comments. I just love to hear from you! I will answer back...but if I am delayed, it is because I am at work for several days...13-14 hour days, so I will always answer back on my day off!! I am so thankful for each of you...you are very special to me.

Julie