Really? August 18? Please don't ask me where it's gone but summer's just about over! I thought I'd hop on here real quick while Madison is still napping and share some pics of what I've been up to. I see that Typepad has gone and changed everything. That always makes me nervous. Anyone have a yay or nay opinion on the new format yet?
Here's a couple of 'finishes' I can share. Boy, it's really pretty easy to crank out the quilt tops, compared to machine quilting and finally binding them. Whew! That really slows me down. So here's one I wanted to make with two lines from Sandy Gervais. I'm stockpiling it for Madison's future big girl bed in her future own room ;-)
I never use a pattern. I just kind of assess how much fabric I have to work with and sketch out some "what-if's?" until it works. This was the last quilt I took to the longarm quilter. I did everything outside the inner panel on the longarm and 'tried' to follow a pantograph pattern. HARD! I stood there for over 2 hours just berating the holy heck out of myself. SUCH negative self-talk. It was an overall horrible experience. Reminded me of when I used to golf. I'd kick my butt up one fairway and down the other, slapping that ball around 140 times (yes, I'd shoot 140, and that was on a good day) and the whole drive home I'd wonder WHAT on earth was I spending all those good waking hours doing something I felt so horrible about? Never went back to golf and don't plan on going back to the longarm. I'll pay Angie "a few dollars more" and get the darned things done right in the future. :-) Lesson learned. I machine quilted on my sewing machine the center panel. I think I stitch too much actually, but I hope to get better with practice.
Here's another one recently finished. It's an ABC quilt done with Sandy Klop/American Jane fabrics that I've shown here before (it's also in my ABC quilts gallery).
Again, I think I may have overquilted it. I mainly wanted to show you these sweet panels that are clearanced over at Hancock's now for $2.50, including that cute border across the bottom. EDITED TO ADD: I hope you realized this is the BACK of an ABC quilt! I just reread it and now see as it may have been confusing. :-)
Here's an in-progress Irish Chain quilt I've plotted out.
I ordered several half yards of this line (name's escaping me right now) a year or so ago at FatQuarterShop for no particular reason. Then when I was down south visiting my folks last month I found that pretty scallop border fabric that goes with it. I got Irish Chain in my head, so I pulled out the books for ideas and the colored pencils and got to work. I've done it like this for the 30+ years that I've been sewing quilts. Always on grid paper. Almost have to draw the whole thing out, but I used these half yards down to the very last thread! It's all cut out and I've made good progress toward sewing it all up.
Here's my good idee of the week.
Banners that I don't mind making for an affordable price. :-)
The two above fall under the category of Holidays and Custom over eleven spaces and are listed for $17 over on etsy.
The personalized name banners would be a sweet baby shower gift I think.But, really; I can see one in just about anyone's room! These are listed for $14. Here's one I made for a cute lil cowpoke we know
I think I'll have lots of fun designing these, between the different fabrics and fonts and silhouette images, too.
The one for Zayden was shot in my newly cleaned and redecorated laundry room/half bath area. Can't believe it's been over six years since we built that new addition. The cats 'live' in there and boy howdy, it needed redone for sure! I have to tell you; I got SO LUCKY with that paint color. I wanted to do this job on the CHEAP. The fabrics were leftover from the adjoining living room. I bought only one quart of an odd blue and brought it home and mixed it in a bucket with 4 different blues I had out in the garage and sheesh--I don't think I could've matched the blue in the curtain fabric any better! It's hard to get decent pics in such a small area so this will have to suffice.
I hear our girl calling from her crib so I guess this post is done. :-) Think we're heading out for a long bike ride on this nice sunny day. Cheers!
Oh that first quilt is so dreamy!!! Any little girl would be lucky to sleep under it! way to go!
Posted by: becca dulgarian | August 27, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Uh Jen! Your quilts are absolutely amazing. I can't imagine how patient you must be:)
I love the new banners too...very cute!
Tracy
Posted by: Tracy Nuskey-Dodson | August 24, 2009 at 02:14 AM
Great quilts Jen!!! Those banners......LOVE THEM !
Posted by: Cheryl | August 22, 2009 at 08:36 PM
Everything you do is always so darling. Those banners are really striking as are the panel quilts. Just lovely stuff. Machine quilting is not my forte. I do it to save money. Binding doesn't bother me but sometimes hours of quilting on my little machine gets a little old.
Posted by: nanette | August 20, 2009 at 02:56 PM
Such bright and cheery work!
I always love seeing what you're up to :)
Posted by: jo james | August 19, 2009 at 04:13 PM
As usual you're so inspiring. xo
Posted by: pam | August 19, 2009 at 09:08 AM
well first, "BOY HOWDY" made me laugh, I say that all the time and people look at me as if I were from Mars. Which shall have no further discussion.
Love the quilts, cute as pie. I too tend to overquilt the bejabbers out of my tops. I have one 90% done that I have to get finished and OFF to the mq'er as I am just not going to moan over it any longer.
LOVE the banners, aren't they the cutest??????
Lastly, yes summer is almost over and I am really just flat out pissed off about it. Let us speak of this no more for the moment!
Posted by: tina | August 19, 2009 at 08:54 AM
Hi Jen- I was just working on a fall bag for myself, and I came across the squares from the 5x5 square swap you hosted a few years ago. I am just amazed by the friendships and time that passes in this blog world, and you never stop doing amazing, quality work, thank you for sharing!
Posted by: dawn | August 19, 2009 at 05:29 AM
Oh my gosh! Is that Scottie Dog Quilts Banner the cutest thing???? And I thought you could only do "Happy Birthday" or "Welcome Home." Am I nuts or what? Thanks.
Posted by: BrendaLou | August 18, 2009 at 11:49 PM
You've been busy with so many wonderful things! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: sherri | August 18, 2009 at 08:52 PM
Jen...I love your post! I have that "Celebrate Spring" panel and a bunch of coordinating fabrics...have not made the quilt yet but am looking forward to. I love the banners, too! You always do amazing work! Thanks for inspiring me!
Posted by: dotti white | August 18, 2009 at 07:49 PM
WOW!!! Your work is totally amazing!! I am just starting my first quilt. I am anxious to see how it will come out. Not sure how much I will be doing with it, but thought it would be fun to give it a try. I am always blown away by your talents. Thanks so very much for the inspiration!!
Posted by: Barbara | August 18, 2009 at 06:39 PM
Love your big girl quilt!! It's gorgeous! I'm in awe of your ability to design and play around with it till you get what you like. I wouldn't know where to start!! Maybe one day I might try!!! BEAUTIFUL!
Posted by: Maree @ Farmyardcrafts | August 18, 2009 at 04:55 PM
You've been busy. I think both quilts look great and what cute banners! We are always so hard on ourselves and I think the only person who expects perfection from us is ourselves. Others just appreciate the effort. :) I really like that Sandy G. fabric...it has always been a favorite panel of mine.
Posted by: Dandelion Quilts | August 18, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Love the "big girl quilt" it is so nice and I really love the bed as well, what a great head and footboard.
The banners are so cute - I really have to get my butt in gear and make a Happy Birthday one.
Posted by: Heather | August 18, 2009 at 04:15 PM