Progress Report on Two QAL's

This Teapot is the Sew Kitschy April block.  And here are my four blocks together.

The April block for the Quilt Doodle Doodle BOM is this row of Friendship Stars.

 I think the stars really make the tree and house blocks brighten up. 

Both of these projects are going to make charming quilts.  

God Bless You.

Sprinkles is a Traveling Quilt

These pictures tell a story.  I tested Sue Abrey's quilt design "Sprinkles", then heard about the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge running now at Confessions of a Fabric Addict and decided to donate my version of Sprinkles because it's a nice size for cozying into and with the fabric I used would be good for a young person.  As you can see, my pal Moxie liked it very much, so after doing a stipple quilting and sewing on the binding, Sprinkles got washed and dried and crinkled up beautifully.  I remembered the label, something I don't always do.

Now, Sprinkles is on it's way to the midwest.  

So, from a quilt designer in Great Britain to a quilter in Massachusetts to an organization in Ohio and then, who knows.  

Happy travels, Sprinkles.

Another version is definitely on the agenda.

Thanks, Sue. It was fun.

Quilting Sprinkles and a Nice Win

 I tested the Sprinkles pattern for Sue of Quilt Times and intend to donate the completed quilt to one of the Hands2Help charities. Truthfully, I have not been motivated for the past 2 weeks to do much sewing or quilting.  But, Sprinkles needed to be quilted so I moved my sewing machine onto the dining room table and went to work.  And guess what.  I got back my quilting mojo.  I hope I get this one completed by the weekend and move on to another project.  

If you read my blog you know I do love my Sizzix machine.  I don't have many of the quilting dies, I use the figure dies mostly, but I do watch the youtube videos because making the quilt blocks  looks so neat and accurate.  I entered one of their giveaways and won two dies, 2 FQ's and a very nice book.  This just makes me very happy.

I showed you the postcard I received from my  partner Dawn.  She has finally received the card I sent to her so I can reveal it.

  Did I use a Sizzix die?  Yes.  I had the whole card finished when I realized I hadn't quilted any of it.  See what I mean?  No mojo.

God Bless!

Beautiful Post Card and Blocks of the Month

 I love the post card I received from Dawn (no blog) in the latest post card exchange that Sheila arranged.

 The antennae have little beads.  I didn't know that beads like that would go through the postal service but now I know they will, so I'll have to try them.  Thank you, Dawn.  It is a beautiful post card.

 The March block in the From Head to Foot BOM from Denise of Justquiltin. The first block were the caps.  The socks were much easier and faster to put together. 

The March block for Quilt Doodle Doodles' 2014 BOM.  I'm going to decorate the tree, I just haven't decided what to do yet.  

The crocus we've been waiting to see.  Everyone I talk with is so happy to see their crocus blooming.  It was a tough winter.

God Bless You.

My Sew Kitschey March Block

This is from Quiet Play's Sew Kitschey BOM.

I'm enjoying the paper piecing, and the designs each month are just too cute.  

God Bless.

Caps with Pompoms

 This is the February block of the From Head to Toe BOM designed by Denise Russart of Justquiltin.  I used flannel for the pompoms so that they would show up better.  

Yes, we're still having the kind of weather where you could wear three caps at once to keep warm.  

I also made the fabric postcard for my partner who is in Canada this time, but I can't show it yet.  But it is very spring-like.  

God Bless You.

Ben Franklin Quilt Block 20

It's called the July Fourth block, and it's the 20th and last one.  So this qal is coming to a close.

I'm up to 7 Swoon blocks and am aiming for 9.  One block uses 2 fat quarters for the prints and probably another FQ for the background.  I usually don't get more than one block made in a day.  Has anyone else found that when they make this block?

Sunday was a good day for crocus hunting.  

And some daffodils.

There are more out there but we still have snow and some are still covered, but I was happy to see them coming up.  

God Bless!

FYI; Adding the Pin It to your images

First, the sun's out today, it's in the 40's and the snow is melting slowly.  I'll be doing a crocus hunt this weekend but there's still too much snow now.

Second, I found a blog, Sew Many Ways, that has the best directions for adding Pin It for Pinterest to your blog.  http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2013/08/how-to-add-pinterest-image-hover-pin-it.html?showComment=1392922533984#c1366169921009788447

Don't even bother with any other directions that have you going into your template.  It's not necessary. 

Thank you, Karen.  I notice she is in Rhode Island, so she is a neighbor. 

I am continuing with the Swoon blocks. 

I like the blocks that have the star in a dark/medium value.  

God Bless.

Swooned

One of the courses I have taken on Craftsy is Camille Roskelley's first one on using pre-cuts, and during it she shows how to make her Swoon block. I finally got around to making one and now I'm hooked.  The block measures a hefty 24" square, so I think it's the biggest single block I've ever handled.  I ended up using the Sunnyside fat quarters for this project.  Not sure why it's called that since there are lots of clouds and raindrops, but I do like it.

I'm enjoying playing with the color values.  

Spoiler Alert:  If you are totally sick of snow and wintry weather, stop here.

We were not supposed to get a blizzard last night.  The Cape and Islands were getting the blizzard.  We had a heavy snow warning only.  Lucky us.

Out my back stairs.

God bless the gentleman who used his snow blower to clear the stuff the city snow plow dumps in my driveway.  I did the rest and am now resting wondering if I should start another Swoon.  I also need some cookies, so I might do that instead.

God Bless Us Everyone!

Snow Days = Sew Days

This is the Cookie Jar Block for the February Sew Kitschy BOM. 

The word "Cookies" will be added.  I have some letter stamps that I might try out.

The February block of the Quilt Doodle Doodles' 2014 BOM.

It needs a doorknob and maybe some smoke from the chimney.

The Hour Glass blocks, which are the 19th block design for the

 Ben Franklin Mystery QAL from Erik Homemade Coffee Break ezine.

I want to join the Let's Book It group that Sharon of Vrooman's Quilts began in January.  The Christian Cross Quilt from Eleanor Burns' book Egg Money Quilts has been on my list of quilts I love for a while so that's going to be my project.  No rush on this one.  

I have a fat quarter bundle of Sunnyside with some Kona cream solids for this one.  

The problem with snow days is they are also shovel days, at least for me.  Yesterday's storm was wet and heavy snow.  I'm surprised I did anything else after clearing the snow, but I baked cookies and sewed my blocks.  Call me Wonder Woman:)

God Bless You.

My Row of Snowmen

I'm joining Quilt Doodle Doodles' 2014 BOM.  You probably have seen similar rows of snowmen on other blogs because they are so cute they are irresistible. 

They make me think of a row of clocks with their noses giving different hours.  

God Bless.

Grow Your Blog

Welcome to my blog.  My name is Joanna, I live in the Northeast of the United States and my blogging is usually about the things I make.  I have been sewing for about 52 years - YIKES!  Was I born with a needle and thread, scissors and pincushion?  Maybe.  Actually, my mother and her sisters were all sewers, as well as their mother, so the influence was there.  My sister, mother and I used to spend hours roaming about fabric stores and mill outlets, just looking and touching the fabrics.  When we learned of a new place that sold fabric, we were right on it.  At one time in my life, in my twenties, I made almost all of my clothes.  I loved it.

Now, mostly I make quilts.  It is very different from garment construction, and I know I have a lot to learn about the craft, which may be why I enjoy it so much.  Plus, I get to look at and touch fabric all over again.

The rewards of sewing are many, and sometimes unexpected.  For instance, this past Christmas I made a crayon roll for my sister's youngest granddaughter.

It was a big hit with the baby and her mother, and her oldest sister asked me to make one for her to hold her pens.  It's a simple project that made an impact.  That's why I love to sew.

I also crochet and knit, but not as often as I once did.  And, I like cross stitch.  Embroidering well is on my wish list.

A big Thank You to Vicki of 2 Bags Full for putting together this Grow Your Blog event.
I look forward to visiting many blogs in the next few days that I may never have heard of if not for this event.  So, Vicki, hugs.

Have fun visiting.

God Bless You.

Stash Buster Quilt Top and Hexagon Runner

This is the Stash Buster quilt top.  Some of the blocks look so different to me when set in the quilt, such as the second from the right on the top row.  The quilt is attractive and the qal got me to use  rulers that I owned but never used so that was a good exercise.  Thank you to Linda of Quiltmania for this qal.  It was fun.  I have the backing half put together.  I'm trying to use fabric from my stash but I may have to go shopping for some that will blend in with what I have.  Isn't that a shame:)

Back in August I posted about the new Sizzix dies I purchased, and one of them was the hexagon.  

I was using scraps to make something, just playing.

This week I decided to make a runner and this is what I came up with.

I have plans of doing a crocheted edging, if I can manage it.  

We had our second blizzard this month Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.  The snow accumulation wasn't as bad for my area as the first one, but it was dangerous driving and severely cold.  Last night I took a short walk and enjoyed the crunchy snow.  Yep, I'm a hard-core New Englander.  And I get my exercise shoveling snow in winter and cutting grass in summer.  Lucky me.

I hope you stop by on Saturday when the Grow Your Blog hop takes place.


The blogs will be of all interests, not necessarily quilting/sewing so that will be fun.

God Bless You.

January Sew Kitschy block

The January block in the Sew Kitschy qal.

I'm linking to Quiet Play.

I hope you can tell they are potholder and mitt:)

New Year, New Blocks

Happy New Year to everyone.  Hope we all know joy, good health and many good things in 2014. 

 This is block 19 in the Stash Buster QAL that is hosted by Linda's Quiltmania  http://lindasquiltmania.blogspot.com/  One more block and we put them all together.  I'm curious to see the setting for this quilt because I don't know what sashing I will use, if there is one.   

This is block 18 of the Ben Franklin Mystery Quilt.  http://erikhomemade.typepad.com/

It's called Independence Square.  It's one of my favorites so far. 

I like this crocheted pillow from Red Heart's web site and since I'm in the mood to crochet something I may take on this project. 

  I'm waiting for a local hospital to let me know if they need any lapghans.  One of my goals for 2014 is to make more things to donate.  I love to quilt, crochet and knit, but how many quilts do I need? 

Another goal this year is to use my fabric stash.  I have some beautiful fabric waiting for my attention and I want to use it.  I know that this will be the hard one to keep, but I'll try.

I'm going to join in the Sew Kitschy BOM which is a paper piecing project and looks very cute. 

I learned of it from Sunshine in the Attic's post so thank you.

I'm definitely going to make a patchwork scottie, too, from Quilting-On-The-Go.  Too cute.

I think I'll go and cut some fabric and start on one of these projects.  

God Bless You!

Moxie's snow print.  We had a blizzard a week ago, but the snow is all gone.