Labor of Love and Memories

It's done!  It's done!  It is packed up and waiting to go to the post office.

It's big.  Way big.  I went a little crazy with the pictures.  72 blocks.  3 months to complete.  I am thrilled it is finished on time and it's off my project list.

I had fun picking pictures.  Especially those with my Grandfather.  He passed away 35 years ago.  I remember him a little.  Wish my memories of him were stronger.  I can't wait to get it back all quilted and give it to my Grandmother for Christmas.  I showed it off over the last week and everybody who saw it just loved it.  Some people asked "You MADE that?!".  I was proud to say "Yes I did!".

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

The First Four Rows

Yesterday afternoon, Amelia helped me and we laid out the memory quilt blocks for my Grandmother and figured out where the holes were in the row patterns.  I was short a total of 5 blocks and had to unsew a few and re-configure them.  Glad I took the time to lay it all out instead of going with my system of keeping track.  I would have been way off.  I was keeping track of the 4 block styles along the way and it was working but when I got to 68 blocks, I figured it was a good time to pause and see what was going on in the quilt.

We fussed a little bit with moving blocks around but to be frank, I didn't really.  I knew I could drive myself batty moving the pictures around.  It is what it is.  I've been checking the rows before I've sewn them and did a little re-shuffle that way.  Good thing too.  I had a row that had one picture of my Grandmother and the rest were of my Dad.  LOL.

So far this weekend, I got 4 rows totally pieced together, rows 5 and 6 are pieced but are separate from the group and row 7 is waiting to be pieced into a row.  I just got tired and had to quit.  I will get the last 3 rows pieces the next 3 nights and by the weekend, fingers crossed!  My goal is to have this all pieced and to Jill for some quilting NO LATER than the first week of November.  I still have to get the binding on this thing once it gets back to me.  I am so slow with binding work.  

Here are the first four rows

Some close-ups in sections

Middle

Top

Bottom

I really love how this is coming out.  And if I didn't know I would get this quilt back eventually (hopefully years and years from now), I would want to keep it for myself!

My little helper

Next time I show you, this will be one massive quilt, ready for the quilter's.  This is my biggest one so far in my sewing career.  72 memory blocks.  I think I got a bit carried away with picking pictures, don't you think?  I don't care.  I couldn't decide and just kept going.  It is going to be awesome regardless!  I don't think I will take on another one of these quilts for a while though.  My bank account needs to recover.  That printable fabric paper is expensive!  Thank goodness for Joann coupons!

Enjoy your day!

Jen :)

We have a winner!

I did it the most scientific way - I had Punk shout out a number.  She shouted out #5!

And the winner of the 5 charm packs is....

Barbara Woods who said:
Happy 40th birthday and thanks for sharing.

Barbara, I am sending you an email now.  :)

I will be giving away more.  Never fear.  The next giveaway is going to be scraps, I think.  I just need to decide.

Enjoy your day!
Jen and Punk  :)

For Sale

Slowly, I am coming to terms that I can't use it all.  It would be impossible so I'm starting to sell off a few things here and there as I go through all my totes of fabric to re-organize myself.

If you are interested, payment will be accepted via PayPal.  Payment made by Wednesday of this week and I'll get your items out to you by Friday.

First up:
8 mini charms packs from the Moda Sampler that I purchased.  I used what I wanted already but these that are left don't float my boat.  I would like to sell all 8 in one shot.  $16.00 plus shipping for all 8.- SOLD!
- Eden
- Bar Harbor
- Garden Party
- Lakeside Resort
- Martinique
- Butterfly Garden
- Collection for a Cause
- Looking Back

Layer cake and jelly roll of Hello Betty from Chloe's Closet.  $40.00 plus shipping for the pair.  I think that's a bargain.  LOL! - SOLD!

If you are interested, leave me a comment.

More to come, I'm sure.

Thanks!
Jen

Coming to Terms

**Comments for the giveaway have been closed.  Winner to be announced soon!**

My name is Jen and I'm a Fabric Hoarder.

I will never use all the fabric I have collected over the years.  Yardage, pre-cuts, bit and pieces.  Nope.  Never.

So my loss is your gain!  Who's ready for a GIVEAWAY?!

In celebration of my recent milestone.... I hit the big 4-0 this past Sunday, I have decided to thin out some of my pre-cuts and am giving away 5 charm packs!

Before I go any further, I want to add a disclaimer... I *think* the charm squares are all there in all 5 packs but I'm not 100% sure.  I could have stolen a 5" square here and there if I really liked it.  For the most part, you are getting 5 full charm packs.  All Moda.

Nouveau

American Primer

Freebird

Chez Moi

Flutterby

Giveaway deets:
- Just leave me a comment.  If you are a "No Reply" commenter, please provide your email address in the comment or you will not be counted in the giveaway.  I will close the comments on Monday, October 14th and announce the winner

Giveaway is open to US only.  Sorry.  :(  Postage is just too expensive.

I also have a layer cake and jelly roll that I found that I will never use.  I will list those for sale over the weekend.

Good luck!!
Jen :)

CT Quilt Shop Hop 2013

The local CT quilt shops host a bi-annual shop hop towards the end of September and I joined in the fun this year.  For whatever reason, I missed it in 2011.  I don't remember why.

9 shops participated this year.  In 2009, there were a lot more shops involved and they were located on the western side of the state.  This year was just concentrated in the central part of the state.  Less driving for me.  I wasn't crazy about those shops on the western side of the state anyway.

ANYwho.  I didn't finish the hop.  There were two quilt shops that I decided to skip from the start.  One is along the shoreline (only one) and it wasn't worth the drive.  They have 2 others in the area - family business and they don't have much fabric to begin with.  They specialize in custom window coverings and sewing machines.  The second one I skipped.... they don't need my money.  I loved their shop and the selection of fabrics but the employees were very rude in 2009 and I wasn't going to waste my time there.

I had fun.  My friend's Mom and I went together and split the list between two weekends.  Here are the treasures I came home with.

Every shop gave a free pattern for participating.  These are the patterns I collected plus some little notions.  2 mini seam rippers, pair of cute cat scissors, snail measure tape and a ruler.

Some FQs and yardage for a project I plan to work on over the Winter.  Since none of these color shades are in my stash, I had to stock up.  Of course, I made the decision after the fact to use the cream with black mini dot as my background fabric and all I have is a fat quarter of it.  I need to make a special trip to the shop where I bought it (I saw it on the bolt) or call them and see if they would let me make the purchase over the phone.

Some random fat quarters, a Bali Pop to make a quilt for my husband for Christmas this year (hopefully) and a layer cake.

Halloween yardage for a couple of pillowcases and Valentine yardage for a twister heart that I want to make.

Two new patterns.  That tote is next on my list to make.  There was a sample in the shop and it was awesome.  Great size.  

Lastly - SHEEPIES!!!  In 2011, I was crushing on this fabric line and now a couple of shops had the yardage in as "new".  I find it funny that the line is 2 years old but they just got it.

My sheep panel!  I will be quilting this one up to hang in my sewing room

And some yardage for pillowcases.

That's it.  Put a nice dent in my wallet but that's okay.  I don't do it often.  AND I went with a list and shopping purchase.  Few things got thrown into the mix "just because" but most of it, I have a vision for.  I have one more shopping trip in my near future.  Headed to New Hampshire this weekend and my husband is stopping at Keepsake Quilting for me.  :)

The memory quilt is coming along.  I'm up to 40 blocks finished?  I think that was my last count.  My goal is to get the entire top done and off to be quilted by the end of October.  Pedal to the metal over here!

Enjoy your day!

Jen :)