London Square

Here is this weeks Civil War block, London Square. Hmmm, not sure if I like it or not, but I'll keep it. It looks very "southwest" to me and not my style at all. It measures right on, but it looks like I'll have to be careful when assembling the quilt not to lose a couple of points.

If you haven't made this block yet, be sure to make "scant" quarter inch seams.
Has anyone else in the world fallen in love with this quilt that was recently featured in Quiltmania?

I just adore it. The baskets are wool and they are only about 2 3/4" tall. So tiny! It is going on my "to do" list very soon. I am thinking that I'll use Luna Notte since I have a fat 1/8th bundle of that from my trip to Paducah last Fall.
Okay, it's time for a sneak peek of the quilt that I am making for my niece who is getting married this Summer. The pattern is Curlicue Crush by Chasing Cottons and my sister is the one who found the pattern and all of the fabric to make this beauty.

It's a little tedious, curved piecing and all, but it's very "vibrant". In the picture the top few rows are sewn together, but the rest of it is just placed. I've made it a bit bigger than the pattern and this is one quilt that is much easier if you have a design wall. My plan is to put some serious time into sewing on this baby today, so hopefully I'll be finished soon. Oh and the fabric is all Innocent Crush by Anna Maria Horner, just love her!
Time to get back to my machine. ranette

I'm not crazy, really I'm not!

So remember when I told you all that I had made block four, the Santa block, for the Scandinavian Christmas quilt and then I lost or misplaced it? Well guess what? I didn't lose it because I never made it, even though I really, really thought I had.
I decided to just make it over again and when I did, I realized that I had never made it, but I've remedied all of that now and here is a picture to prove it.

I guess I had just thought about which fabric I was going to use for his coat and beard that my brain was convinced that I'd done it. Anyway, all of the applique is now done and I'll be doing the embroidery over the next few weeks.
I did want to tell you about the new applique pins that I'm using now. If you are using the ones with the white heads, throw them out and run to your nearest quilt shop or your computer and get some of these.

They are Jeana Kimball's Foxglove Cottage 3/4" pins and they are amazingly sharp. I just love them! I've used her needles too and I love them too.
Anyway, now I've come clean to you all about my brain fog...lol...and I feel better!
I'll be back with a photo of the progress on my nieces quilt very soon....lots of curved piecing, but it's oh so pretty!
ranette

JanieBright update...

Poor JanieBright has been sorely neglected the last several months, but since our local Dear Jane group is now meeting twice a month, I decided to pull her out and make a block here and there. I put on Row F at the meeting last week.

And I even made two blocks.

I'm still way, way behind on Triangles, but I will try to prep a couple of those this weekend. I've got all of my DJ stuff set up in my sewing area off of the kitchen so that I can sneak in there while doing other things and make some progress.

This morning I made this weeks Civil War block, which I think is called Lincoln's Platform. I didn't follow my own advice on making those half square triangles, which is to cut big and then trim, so I had to make this block twice :)

I also pulled fabric to make Cracked Pots with Yvette and a couple of other ladies.

I am using Jo Morton fabric which I pulled from my stash. If anyone is interested in sewing along with us, just let me know and we can make a list.
Time to get busy. I'm starting a quilt for my niece who is getting married this summer. Lots of curved piecing, yikes, so I'd better brush up on those skills.
Have a terrific Saturday! ranette

Ik ben klaar met mijn Nederlandse quilt gisteren!

Translated says, I finished my Dutch quilt yesterday!

I LOVE this quilt! I know, I know, I say that about all quilts, but I really do love this one. It's different and that's why, I think. Again, a big, big thank you to my sister! Oh by the way, to my Dutch friends, if that's not the right translation, blame Google translator because I don't speak Dutch....lol...I wish I did, but I've heard that it's one of the hardest languages to learn. I just wanted a catchy blog title, which is the hardest part of blogging for me.
I also made this weeks Civil War block. I may make it again because the light fabric may be too light for me. What do you all think?

It's the block that is on the right, second row. Actually I think it looks fine with the others, but we'll see.

Here is the finished third block of the Scandinavian Christmas quilt.

It will soon be time for me to remake the fourth block, come on Santa, where are you????
I have a question for the hand embroiderer's out there. What needles do you use, brand and size? I am always looking to find new and better needles and I am very interested in what everyone else is using. I don't usually use a hoop. I've tried and with my hands, it just does not work. I end up with cramps and in pain and that's no good. Also how long do you use a needle before you throw it out? What kind of backing stabilizer is the best? See, I have lots of questions!

Oh, if haven't replied to some of your comments, it's because I lost a bunch of email. Not sure where in the world it went, but it's gone.
Have a great Sunday! ranette

Just popping in to say Hi !!!

First, Thank you so much for all of your sweet comments about my Pie's and Tart's quilt. I really appreciate you'all! If you didn't hear back from me it's either because I've been extremely scatterbrained this week or you are set to "no reply" blogger.
Here is my Civil War block #8 Cotton Boll. I should have lined my stripes up, but remember, I've been kind of scattered this week and after I'd made it I decided I kind of like the pattern it makes.

I've also been meaning to tell you about a couple of bloggy friend gifts that I have received recently. Teresa from Mama T Keeps You In Stitches made me this cute bag that I use to keep my stitching stuff in.

I love the red and I love that it has my initial on it!! I've met Teresa in person several times and she's a sweetie. She only lives about an hour and a half from me so we will be getting together more often. Thank you again Teresa!

Remember my SSCS partner Leanne? She sent me a sweet bag/purse, that I actually keep a wool project in, for the swap. Well I also received the prettiest Christmas card that my daughter fell in love with. I just couldn't part with my card because I want to frame it, so Leanne sent Kara her very own card to frame and included these very cool note cards that she made!!!

Leanne is an amazing photographer, isn't she?!!! I don't think I can use them though. I'm going to frame them as well. Thank you Leanne!

I did finish the embroidery on my third Scandinavian Christmas block and I'll put the other blocks with it this afternoon and I've been plugging away on the Dutch quilt. Only 12 more blocks to go, I think. I've got several quilts to make that I've got deadlines for, so that's always fun...lol Oh how I wish that I could sew all day everyday, but I might get tired of it, nah, I don't think so. Anyway, have a wonderful day! ranette

Pie's & Tart's Revealed

Are you ready for a picture heavy post? I had my husband take pictures outside yesterday, thank you honey. It was a gorgeous day! Not too hot and not too cold and you will see the wonderful blue Oklahoma sky in some of the pictures. Almost Spring like, almost.

Isn't the quilting great? I love this quilt! I'm not sure whether to use it or hang it.

I made this quilt as a block of the month through Patchwork With Busyfingers and I can highly recommend them to anyone who might be interested in ordering.

I started English Paper-piecing the pie's on the way to my Aunt's funeral, just over two years ago. Quilting is a huge help in working through grief. I found that if I paper-pieced the entire quilt that I would never finish it, so Janet showed me how to do the pie's and tart's by machine and that's what I did. Thanks Janet! I then hand appliqued the circles onto the background fabrics.

This is one of my top favorite quilt's that I've ever made, but I think I say that about all of them....lol
Oh, did you see that Barbara Brackman has put up another Civil War block, the Cotton Boll. It looks pretty straight forward so I should get that one made today or tomorrow. Have a wonderful weekend! ranette

Civil War block #7

This was an easy block, but I do love a pretty log cabin block, don't you?

I find myself looking forward to the Barbara Brackman Civil War blocks every week because I love looking through my fabric...lol So far the blocks haven't been hard, but I'm thinking she might have a doozie for us soon.

There's really not much more happening around here right now. Oh I did pick up my Pie's and Tart's quilt from the quilter's and it's gorgeous. Here's a sneak peek.

One more side of sewing down the binding and it's done. Thank you again Emily, Kara and Allie for this wonderful Christmas present. You are sweet and generous kids and I love you!!!
I have made a few JanieBright blocks in the last few weeks, but haven't taken a picture. When I get the next row on I'll post a picture. The local Dear Jane group is meeting two times a month now so that inspires me to keep at it on this quilt. Plus I cleaned my downstairs sewing room and I can pop in and work a little on a block as I'm cooking dinner or doing laundry. Works great for me!

I've also made a little progress on the Dutch quilt, but no picture of that either. I know, I know I'm not thinking much like a blogger these days. I'll try to remedy that. Has anyone else noticed how blogging has changed from individual quilter's showing what they are working on and talking a little about their lives, to a bunch of promotional giveaways and blog hops? I can't keep up with it all. I think I must waste a bunch of time everyday because it's all I can do to get a few stitches in every afternoon or evening.

Anyway, that's enough for today. Thank you all for stopping by and I appreciate the friendships that I've made through blogging. I think about you all often. Geez I must be in a melancholy mood today...lol and it's not even Monday!
Have a good one everybody!!! ranette