Frog-stitchin'!!!

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!

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

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

Julie

A party, progress, pieces and parts!

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

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!

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!!

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!

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!

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!

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...

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...

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!

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!!

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!!

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...

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!

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