Orange Central Park Quilt is Done

The binding is being stitched down, so for the most part, the orange quilt is finished. I did an allover meander on most of the top and then changed to a flower and leaf design on the border. The batting is the thinnest 100 percent cotton batting that I could find. It's nice... not too heavy.


Here's the back of the quilt. I used up all the leftover pieces by cutting them to a 12-1/2" length and attaching one to the other. Then I cut two long pieces of white, 12-1/2"wide, to add to the top and bottom of my colorful strip. I like this splash of color on the otherwise all white back. OH, almost forgot... got to add a label!

This quilt will be at the shop as a sample but after they are done with it, it goes to daughter Lisa. She claimed it... it's her colors. Click here for the free pattern: (Orange Slices) .

Decorating with and around quilts

As I was quilting the orange braid strip quilt (still don't have a name for it..any suggestions?), I was thinking about all the quilts and quilted projects I have around the house.




I was trying to figure what I'd like to make next... what I needed... and this is in addition to the things that MUST get done. I HAVE to make a wedding quilt for Jenn, which will be fun. It's going to be pretty colors and an easy pattern.


I also NEED to make a quilt for my neice... and that will be another fun project. It'll be purple OF COURSE... not sure what pattern yet or what shades purple.





But besides that I also like to have a few small projects thrown in... things that can get done quickly... completed in a couple of days. ANYWAYS, as I was thinking about my next little project, I went around the house see what was needed and then had a thought. A lot of us show pictures of our quilts and pillows etc but not always where they end up... what our rooms look like with our quilted projects in them. SO, today I'm showing some of my rooms and some of my past projects along with some of the "art" pieces my family members have made. Jenn is quite an artist and has done some paintings for the house, Lisa makes beautiful quilts and has taken some wonderful pictures, my brother Larry is amazing at bronze and baking, my mom is an excellent oil painter, my brother Rick makes beautiful jewlery out of gold and silver, my father-in-law was an artist in his own way.... he could draw very well,.... the list could go on and on... so here's a few things that I've made..my family has made and my friends have given me.










This is Lisa's bedroom and her built-in-bed. She made the quilt that is at the foot of it and the little pillows. I upholstered the headboard and footboard and made a pillowcase for it.






This is our great room with two quilts over the couch. The one is a kit from Hearts to Holly in flannel that I made a couple of years ago.. VERY WARM! and the other one is a "fish" quilt. It was a wall sized quilt that I blew up to full size for Al. I use it sometimes but if he catches me he takes it away.


It's HIS!





Below is a picture that Jenn painted in college. I love it. I lay on the couch and stare at it... what it is changes from time to time... don't you love that about contempory art? The bench under it was made by my father-in-law and the quilt in the basket I made for Lisa years ago.



This bronze doorstop was made by my brother for Jenn's 16th birthday. I've stubbed my toe on it more times than you'ld believe but I love it. Comes in handy when the windows are open and the doors are all slamming.





Here's my laundry sink in my sewing room. I have a glass jar full of old wooden threads and another jar full of empty spools (from my sister). Also on the back ledge are quilted postcards from friends and daughter Lisa. There are two "mug rugs"... one hold the soaps and one is for setting my iron on. The vintage blue canning jar is stuffed full of old buttons (I have two more just like this one) and finally my little quilt that I entered into the last quilt show up here a year ago. My first and only entry into a show.


Now this picture is a photo my daughter Lisa took... I wanted to know what she was thinking going into this area of Detroit!?! but I love it. Her and I both love architecture... on it's way up or down :)


This is a table in my sewing room with a few of my favorites on it. The little "man" next to the lamp is made out of sewing machine parts. My father in law worked at Fords for years... they have a sewing area.. doing seats, headrests, etc. One of the guys there took old parts and made this for him. I just love it. Another gift someone made him is the set of bookends from an old singer sewing machine. It's on the bottom shelf holding up my sewing books... weighs a TON! I have my pincushion on top... have quite a few pincushions now.. but can you really have too many? :)... Also have my two bins of solid fabrics and a half quilted quilt. This is my Americana quilt... I'm probably 2/3rds of the way done on it but just haven't been motivated to finish it up.


OK, here's a chair in Al's movie room. Lisa made him a quilt with all of his favorite things on it... cars, dots candy, tools, route 66 signs, coke... plus she embroidered and paper pieced some designs on the corners. Lots of work in this one but he knows that and loves it.



Here's Jenns old bedroom. I made the quilt for summer use... a picnic quilt. The one on the little rocker is for my "someday" grandchild... I call it JJ's quilt... as in Jon Junior... not sure if there's going to be a jj or a jane or another little someone but for now that's the name I use. I remember when I was carrying Jenn and I called her "little zander"... thinking she would be a boy. I ended up with two girls and couldn't be happier about it. You just never know...





Here's an oldie... my mom painted a bunch of paintings for my bridal shower over 30 years ago! I think I'd like to find it a little frame and hang it on the wall. The owl in front of it is made out of a gourd... mom bought it for me at an art show a few years back.







And here's my bedroom. That's grandma's 100th birthday quilt on the end of our bed... she's in a nursing home... still doing great at 103! The pillowcases are from a swap on Block Central... sure miss that forum. The mug rugs on each side of the bed are from my friend Pat... another swap but this one at The Quilt and Needle forum. They have Charlevoix fabric as the tea cups! There's another quilt in the basket under my nightstand (which is an old singer sewing machine). This is one I grab for picnics, beach.. it's getting worn but I still like it.






Back to Lisa's old room. That's her Gumby holding a ball pillow I made. The pretty quilt above was made by my friend Rebecca a couple of Christmases ago.

Thank you all for going on my tour... I hope others will do the same... I'd love a peek at where everyone has their quilts and other goodies.

Congrats, Jenell!!

Some of us ladies that have been friends through Block Central Forum, The Quilt and Needle Forum and Facebook got together to make a quilt for Jenell's newest grandbaby. We all did different parts from making a block or two, doing borders, putting the top together, quilting, binding, supplying the backing, batting, making a label, etc....

Since I did the quilting, I got to see the finished product before sending it off to Jenell. It sure turned out pretty. I've been waiting to post it on my blog but wanted to make sure Jenell got it first and posted it on facebook. Here's a picture of the finished quilt.

Funny thing, this was a new quilt pattern to me... hadn't seen it done up before and I really liked it. When I went to guild this past week, another lady brought in the same quilt, a little larger and different colors... loved that one also. I think I might have to make one in my colors.

Pin Basting my ORANGE braid quilt

The final border is on my orange braid quilt that I call Orange Slices and now it's basting time. Here's my usual place to do it... the kitchen floor.
I move the table and chairs up against the doorwall and take over the eating area for a couple of days. Al doesn't mind... he likes to eat at the island most of the time now that the kids don't live at home.
Tomorrow I'll start quilting this one... hope to be done by the middle of next week.
 
Update:
Click below for a link to a printable pattern for Orange Slices braid...
Finished Quilt and PATTERN!

FANTASTIC sale coming up at my fav quilt shop

Just thought I would tell anyone that is close to Charlevoix about Hearts To Holly's BIG SALE. Tomorrow and Monday they are having a birthday sale .... daughter Em's 29th birthday (well actually the 9th aniversary of that birthday). SO to celebrate they are having 29% off of yardage and GET THIS.. buy 9 FQs and GET 9 FQs FREE (pre-cut fats only).

Now I know lots of you don't live in northern Mi but if there is a certain fabric you're looking for it wouldn't hurt to email them or call. They can always pack up a flat rate shipping box and send it off to you. They have MODA's Circa 1934 (which I love), Central Park, lots of civil war, lots of 1930's, Hometown, American Banner Rose, Charlevoix (of course), Fig Tree fabrics, LOADS of blenders and solids, Amy Butler, Kaffe, soooooo much more. You wouldn't believe the fabric stuffed into this store.

Hearts to Holly Quilt Shop has a blog: www.heartstoholly.blogspot.com
Phone is: 1-231-547-2729
More info: http://www.heartstoholly.com/Cart/contact-us.php

Just had to let all of you know ... I know I love a good sale so I'm sure plenty of you do to.

I'm out having breakfast right now with Al. It took us half the morning to get out of our driveway... YES, the snow did come. It's blowing around and drifting. Was over 18" in one spot of the driveway. Al ran out of gas for the snowblower but thankfully our friend Larry was driving by in his plow. He quickly finished up the job for us.
Well, time to get home and do some more stitching.. I'll be quilting a couple of quilts the next couple of days. Posting a pic soon :)

A Sunny Quilt for a sunny January day

Here's my sewing room and the yard beyond... doesn't look like a normal January day in Michigan out there, does it? The sun is shining and the grass almost looks green. It was so warm out I ALMOST didn't need a jacket... BEAUTIFUL! So when I wasn't outside I worked on a sunny braid quilt that I'm doing for a shop sample. It uses a really nice trapezoid strip ruler. This is the first time I've tried using it and I'm hooked. GREAT TOOL! I'm going to demo it at Hearts to Holly ...at the end of January. This is the quilt I'm working on using the tool.

The fabric is mostly Central Park ...on of my favorites.. Kits will be available at Hearts to Holly if anyone wants to make one.
I made 6 braids then added a yellow border to each... then added a spacer between each of the braids.



It gets a final border after all the strips are done. There are two fabrics I brought home with me to try out... one is an olive print and one is an orange daisy floral that is in the braid.... leaning towards using the orange.


With some of the leftover braid pieces I made one more braid and used it on the cuff of a pillowcase. I didn't take a picture of that but it was quick and easy. It would be a good use of leftover strips and scraps to make a matching pillowcase for more of my quilts.

Ahhh... the holidays are over!

Don't you just January?! The winter holidays, ALTHOUGH FUN, are over... no more major shopping to worry about... no more cookie baking marathons... the decorations are down and put away... the house is clean and clutter free... well almost all of the house.. NOW I can spend lots of time back in my sewing room and that's a whole new mess... but a good one :) I love Christmas time and I love all the decorations and the parties and the eating but it feels so good now that it's done for another year.

Lisa and Jenn were home for a bit along with Jenn's HUBBY-to-be, Jon. We had a couple of sewing hours tucked into our regularly scheduled holiday doings. Jenn made a cute set of chair cushions for her Grandma-in-law-to-be (boy, that's a mouthful) and a couple of other goodies for friends and family. Lisa worked on some BEAUTIFUL window hangings (Lisa, do those things have a name?). They're kind of like stained glass in fabric. She used some really pretty shot cottons (Kaffe) that she bought downstate. I wish I had gotten a picture of the finished product...darn... but I DO plan to make my own so I'll post a pic when I do. I did get a few pictures of us hanging out in my sewing room just before Xmas and on Xmas eve.

Grocery / Travel Tote Pattern GIVEAWAY!

This week I'm doing another giveaway. It's to introduce my new pattern:

The GO GREEN Grocery Tote!

This stitches up VERY quick... just over an hour and you'll have both the tote and the storage pouch.

The two can be made using only a 1/2 yard of fabric.

I sometimes add an extra strip of a coordinating color to accent the top facing.

Fold the tote into quarters then roll it up and put it into the pouch.

Nice and convenient. Pack it into your luggage when you go on a trip... you know... for all that fabric you buy ;) Keep a few in your car or purse for unexpected trips to get groceries... you know you want to be GREEN!

And what a great extra something to tuck into a gift for someone.

Leave me a comment on my blog and you'll be entered into the random draw. I'll have the internets RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR do the drawing.

If anyone wants to purchase the pattern, Hearts to Holly Quilt Shop has it or email me at northerndeb@ymail.com.

So what am I giving away? The pattern of course... a half yard of fabric to make the bag... the interfacing needed... the drawstring AND the locking device.

You'll get a complete kit! Drawing will be next SUNDAY... December 18th... GOOD LUCK!

New happennings up here in northern Michigan...

OHHHH.... where to begin this time?....

MY OLDEST DAUGHTER IS ENGAGED!!!!!

Yup, daughter Jenn and soon to be son-in-law Jon, went on a cruise to Greece, Italy, Turkey...and a bunch of islands.. and they came back engaged! Her sweetheart of a guy suprised her with a proposal on the Greece island of Santorini. They rented a smart car and cruised around the island seeing the sights. They stopped by one picturesque cliff overlooking a church, he set the camera to video (she didn't know this) and proposed to her. I haven't had a chance to see the video but she said she was surprised, confused and well... SAID YES :D Before they left on the trip he asked us permission to marry her and we gave our blessing. Of course, it goes without saying that we love him.

So the plans are for a fall wedding.. August/Sept of 2012. I have to get stitching! I promised her a wedding quilt of her choice. She picked a pattern from Quiltmania using Moda Martinque.

I'm collecting as much as I can for it. If I need more to add to it, I'll use some of Moda's Etchings. This is a line that came into the shop, Hearts To Holly, a few weeks ago that will work well with it. It has some of the same aquas and grays. Okay, so another new addition to our family was Charlie Boy. Daughter Lisa has adopted a sweet kitty and named him Charlie. His formal name is Charles Eames (can you tell she's a fan of his?) We bought him a catnip mouse for Thanksgiving that he seems to enjoy. I'm allergic to cats so I can't pet him or I'll be itching and scratching for forever. Sure wish I could, he looks so soft and cuddly.

Well, that's all of the news for now... I'm WAY behind on Xmas sewing. I have a dozen projects I'd like to finish up and hardly any time to do it. I can see some late nights in the sewing room coming up.

AND then there's the baking. I do a cookie trade with my brothers that live in CA. We swap cookies for seafood. Got to get making those.

Still have some Xmas decorating to do... Xmas cards and letters to write out...Still have some presents to shop for... ahhhh....

Don't you just LOVE this time of year!?!

Farmer's Wife Blocks from class

Here's some of my finished blocks from my Farmer's Wife class at Hearts to Holly Quilt shop. We've been working on these for over a year now doing about 4 or 5 a month. I think I have 50 done so this is just a small sample of my blocks. I'm doing the first 55 or so in 30's repro prints and then I'm going to change to civil war repros for the second 55.
This is Wrench #2: And here is Weathervane #100:Morning #57: Maple Leaf #56: Linoleum #55:Friendship Star#41:Contrary Wife #21: Churn Dash #20: and finally Calico Puzzle #16: Now that the quilt blocks for the first quilt are just about done, I'm thinking about settings. I may put them on point since there are a few basket blocks. Those look best on point to me. I suppose every other block will be plain... maybe a sashing between? Not sure. Whatever I pick, I'll probably do the second set (the civil war colored blocks) with the same setting. I want two very similar quilts when I'm done. Maybe two twin sizes? I might have to get creative in my borders if they're not large enough.
If anyone is considering doing Farmer's Wife and wants an easy way to make them, give Sue at Hearts to Holly a call... or email her. She still has packets for making all the blocks. You can get them through the mail... you'll get the instructions for about 5 blocks a month... It's about $10 per month plus shipping cost. This program has paper piecing, pieced applique, regular piecing... well, it has it all... the creator of the program has you making each block in the easiest way. We're really having fun with these. And if you live in the Traverse City/Charlevoix area, give the shop a call and join our class.

Garden Party Quilt Sample

I thought I would post a picture of the sample I finished up a while back. This is a block of the month we are just starting through Hearts To Holly called Aunt Grace's Garden Party. If you want to get in on this, contact Sue at http://www.heartstoholly.com/. The sample was a fun project to work on... I love doing english paper piecing (the hexagon flowers are made that way) and I like applique. The flowers in the center are appliqued by hand but then I did some of the leaves by machine using invisible thread. It's had to tell the difference... you have to really get up close. Don't you just love the scalloped border? I sure do. So now that this sample is done, I'm starting another block of the month. This one isn't for the store... just for myself (well, it'll probably end up being for someone in my family). It's The General's Wives quilt.... beautiful civil war fabrics in that one.
I'm also working on about 3 other projects at the same time... can you tell I get bored easily :)
Sue ordered some SPOOL paper pieces for me and I'm using those (along with my collection of civil war fabrics) to make a large spool quilt. The blocks are 4" and the quilt will need 144 of these. They're all hand stitched (english paper piecing again). I have about 20 blocks done. If I get a chance I'll take a picture of it.

Now for an update on how Mom is doing. Her last surgery went well... she has to work on getting her voice back but it was the same problem last time. It took a month or so and I'm sure this time will be at least as long. Doc said he didn't cut any nerves so it'll just take some work. Her eyesight in the left eye is back!!! The bypass took care of that problem. There are still things that mom has to work on... lung power, talking, swallowing... but I'm sure she'll do it. She's a strong woman... anyone who has gone through what she has and is still here to talk about has to be. I have to give LOADS of credit to her doctor too. He's wonderful... amazing really. So this Thanksgiving our family has lots to be thankful for. And as long as I'm talking about thanks... Thank you to all you who prayed and sent good wishes for her. I think it's all good from here on out.