A LITTLE LAP QUILT

About a month ago I decided to make my brother a lap quilt.  A fun project, for sure.  Somehow, things didn't flow, just the way I wanted them to.  I was using fun, bright fabrics.  Thinking it would be cheerful, blah, blah, blah.  As I was sewing it, I started thinking, 'hmmm this is not turning out like the picture I had in my mind'.  But, I continued on, against my better judgement.  I spent an entire day working on it.  It was awful.  I am just going to admit it.  So, I started on project #2. 

I love a little friendship star, they are cute, perky, playful.  So, I decided to go with an old favorite.  Cute, huh?

 But, by the time I had 3 of them made, I knew the background was just, shall we say, wrong.

 So, I pulled out an old friend.  Marsha McCloskey's Staples.  White with small blue circles.

Much better.

Then I decided to add a little variety to the blue stars.

Now, I am feeling like I am on the right track.



Then I tossed in a little red (always a good idea).  Delivered it to my friend Pam's house, where she added her wonderful quilting (Bubbles) to the top.

I added the binding in one evening.



Now, I am not a regular label user.  But, I thought this little cutie could use one.



 I do think it adds a nice touch, especially if you are making a gift.  And if you can write 'Bossy Big Sister' on it!

All folded and ready to mail.  He received it last Tuesday.  He sent a text, and used the XO at the end of it.

Totally made my day.

Thanks Pam for wedging me in!  J

REMEMBER FALL MARKET?

 I was looking through my camera the other day, and saw some pictures that I am pretty sure I did not share with you from my last trip to Quilt Market.

This was one of the most amazing quilts.  An antique Yo-Yo quilt.  It belonged to the people who own Retro Clean.  A soak for vintage linens.  They used it on this quilt, and then had it on their table for a display. Retro Clean is a small, 'newish ' company.  I don't think they are quilters.  Very nice people, however.  The quilt was on the table, over a blue plastic table cover.   This is the edge of the quilt.

This is part of the quilt lying on the table.  I put a dime on the plastic, so you could see the size of those tiny yo-yo's!  Pretty amazing, don't you think?

This is what each square looked like.  Sweet little yo-yo 9 patches.  And the wonderful 'sashing'!

Someone stole something electronic from their booth.  Either their ipad or their credit card machine.  I am not sure which.  They were pretty sick about it.  I think they are super lucky it was electronics, and not this amazing piece of history! J

Blog hopping

Do you ever fall down the Blog Rabbit Hole?  You know you are checking in with some of your favorites, and before you know it you are in Tokyo?

This happened to me this morning.  I wanted to share this cute blog with you.  She has so many great tutorials for bags, place mats, organizers and more.  Plus she uses super cute Japanese fabrics.  Pink Penguin .  Go spend a little time in Tokyo, you won't regret it! 

ps, i have been sewing.  i finished a project that i am mailing today.  i will post pictures next week.  don't want to spoil the surprise!  J

No Sewing.

I haven't been sewing much the last couple of weeks.  I want to, I have been thinking about it, but it just hasn't happened. 

I took a little road trip to see my Dad and my brother.  My camera stayed in my purse the entire time.  Don't ask me why.  My brother has been working on an awesome project.  Organizing my father's slides.  When we were growing up, my Dad took a lot of pictures.  But, the only way we saw them, was during a Saturday night slide show.  Mom would make popcorn, and Dad would drag out the projector and screen.  There would be a lot of fussing with the slide trays, but eventually, we would see ourselves on the big screen.

Those slides, thousands of them, have been in boxes for many years.  Ruthie, my Dad's wife, had 2000 of them put onto a disc.  My brother went through them, and put the family ones on to a disc for me.  Now, he is organizing the rest of them.  An amazing job, little brother!

So, I thought I would share a few photos.

 My Dad took most of the pictures, so this is a rare one.  I was 3, Gene was 12 weeks old.

 This is so sweet of Mom and Gene.  He was 8 days old here.

 I was such a proud big sister!  My brother's might say I was bossy.

 I have always loved a pair of capri's.  I believe this is Mt Hood, in Oregon.  It was a frequent Sunday drive.

 

This is our Baby Brother, Rob. 

Notice how tough Gene is, holding on to a cactus!

Thanks Gene, for making this possible.  I still have thousands to look at. 

If you have family photos that you haven't seen for a while, I recommend hauling them out.

I have loved seeing pictures of family and friends.  Such wonderful memories!  J

SCHNIBBLE PARADE

Have you had a chance to look at the Parade of Quilts on Sherri's and Sinta's blogs?  OMG, the Full House quilts are so adorable!  I know I have more houses in my future, they are super, stinkin', cute!!

They announced the pattern for February. It is   i.s.t.h.

Very classic Lemoyne Star blocks.  In a non traditional setting.  I love it!

I have the patterns on order, so I haven't read them.  Are we going to be doing inset piecing?  I kind of doubt it.  I love the pieced sashing.   

What does the i.s.t.h. stand for?  I am hoping that little secret is in the pattern.  Carrie loves a good story.  And with the number of patterns she has produced, a lot of the good names are already taken!

Today is Ground Hogs Day.  Do you celebrate?  I think that little stinker saw his shadow.  Six more weeks of winter.  If all of the days could be like yesterday, brisk, sunny, beautiful sunset, rain at night.  Camelot.  I will take another six weeks!  J