Who? Who?

A few weeks ago, my cousin contacted me about making her granddaughter a quilt for Christmas.  We chatted some and I thought it would be a simple task. The more we chatted, the more the project evolved and I felt I wouldn't have enough time to complete it for Christmas.

My cousin's daughter likes owls and she wanted me to make an owl quilt for her granddaughter.  I've had a pattern pinned to one of my Pinterest boards for a while but never had a reason to order and make it - now I do.  I sent her the link to the pattern and she loved it.  I made one owl and turned it into a throw pillow.  The quilt will come early next year when I have more time.  

It is adorable, if I do say so myself.   :)

She didn't want super bright so I went with a gray slate colored solid; the pillow is backed in the same.  Other than purchasing the solid and the pillow form, everything is out of my stash.  I machine appliqued the whole thing, backed the block with some batting and backing so that the threads were covered.  I did a quilted outline around the owl with dark gray thread.  Could have done a bit better job with that idea but with the dark thread and dark background, you can't really see it.  

Once I send it off to Florida, I will make sure this is what she wants for a quilt and get started.  If not, there is super, super cute owl fabric at my LQS that I can get and make a simple quilt with that.  I'm sure she will love the owl though so I should probably start digging in my stash for some color combinations. 

I've been working on another pillow too.  Almost done with it.  It's my "test" pillow.  I plan on making a few for gifts so I wanted to see how it would work out for time and such.  I'll show you soon!

Enjoy your day!

Jen  :)

Quilted Finishes

I received some happy mail in the last week or so.

Snow Sparkle.  I've never showed you this quilt before.  2 years ago, I took a class to make this quilt with a friend of mine.  The quilt shop kitted up the fabric for the class and I went with it.  I don't like batiks at all.  They don't float my boat.  I made the center of the quilt and held off putting the borders on because again, the quilt just didn't do it for me.

When I brought my finish home, both my mother in law and father in law raved about it.  They both loved it.  For my FIL to praise it, he must have really liked it.  I packed it away and forgot about it.  It's been in the back of my mind to get it finished and gift it to them for Christmas.  So I did just that.  I put on the final borders and sent it off to be quilted.

Now I want to keep it for myself!  Jill quilted it in the Glace panto with snowflakes and it is gorgeous!  I'm not going to keep it.  I am going to gift it this Christmas.  Eventually, someday, it will come home to me.

I'm working on hand sewing the binding on but it's slow going.  Being on the computer all day and then trying to work a needle and thread, my hands hurt.  I made pretty good progress with it though.  It will be done for Christmas.

Full House is next.  Mary announced a quilting special on her blog a few weeks ago and I think it was a big hit.  I sent off my Reunion "Full House" Schnibbles and Mary's turn around was super quick!

Here it is hanging in its future home in my dining room when I get the binding on.  This one I'm going to try to machine on 100%.  Just to give my hands a break.  This weekend hopefully.  Mary quilted sweet daisies on it.  I love it.

Thank you ladies!  You did a wonderful job!  More quilting coming your way after the holidays.  I need to build up my quilting fund again.  :)

Enjoy your day!
Jen  :)

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 :)