House For Sale

My house if officially on the market. The first weekend (last weekend) I have 5 showings! That was exciting. Unfortunately, no offers. I had a showing last night and the couple like it so much they are returning tonight to see it one more time. No other scheduled showings for the weekend.

Sigh.

Keeping a house clean 24/7 is harder than I thought. it has made me realize just how much I leave laying round and I am a very neat and tidy person. I can't imagine how people with children do it when trying to sell a home. I did drag out my quilting things long enough to cut and sew binding and machine sew it to the top a quilt so I can start the hand stitching process.

And, since I don't have any showings this weekend I plan to work once again on my Underground Railroad quilt. I have 1 1/2 blocks left to go and then I can start the lattice and posts. Every other quilting project is on hold.

Please, please someone buy my house. I need to start quilting again!

A Few Words on Quilting - or My Lack of It.

I haven't quilted in weeks. Packing and organizing have consumed me (well, a couple of other issues, too, but I digress).

I have packed up a lot of my quilting paraphernalia. Six huge boxes. This includes material and patterns for future quilts and completed quits and well as other miscellaneous quilting items. I kept out several kits and projects, both on-going and waiting to complete.

I currently have 4 quilts that need to be bound and I will get 2 more back from the quilter tomorrow. So, hopefully this weekend I can get a few of them machine bound.

Jeannie's BOM quilt is still in progress as is my Underground Railroad quilt. Hopefully, within the next few weeks the Underground Railroad quilt will be sent to the quilters. My dreams of starting the Wisconsin Barn quilt that Jen is offering will probably wait until after I retire. Sigh. I really wanted to start it, but I have my nephew's Double Irish Chain quilt to start ASAP (Ha - that's funny!)

In the midst of this I have to keep my house neat and tidy for possible showings. Ha! That's funny, too!

I kept out my two rolling carts full of scraps and fat quarters for Jeannie's BOM and other small projects. The carts can be tucked into a small closet each night. Both my sewing baskets are still out, but one really should be packed up as it is not used that often. All of the rulers are hang nicely from hooks in a closet.

I've been quilting less than 2 years! Where did all of this come from?

Of all of the things I have packed, I miss my quilting stuff the most. I like having it spread all over the house. I like finding tiny pieces of snipped fabric. I like my threads on the floor. Am I nuts? I crave my rotary cutter and miss the hum of the sewing machine.

Next week I start quilting again!

Raffle Quilt for the Wisconsin Burn Camp

The handsome gentleman with me is my boss, Deputy Chief Michael Payne.

Every summer for one week children from Wisconsin who have suffered from burns are able to attend what we (members of the Milwaukee Fire Department) call Burn Camp. This wonderful camp is sponsored by fire departments throughout Wisconsin. Many MFD members dedicate several days of their own time each year volunteering at the camp. It is a wonderful week for these children and their families.

At the Wisconsin Fire Chief Association convention, held every June, a quilt is raffled off with the proceeds given to the Burn Camp. This year the Ladies Friendship group from Ye Olde Schoolhouse quickly agreed to my suggestion that we piece the quilt to be raffled this year. Each double star block was made by a different lady - some making more than one! The colors are burgundy, black and off white/tan. I think these ladies did a fabulous job. After the blocks were done, my friend, Terri and I arranged them and I added the lattice and corner stones. The quilt came together beautifully. Today I purchased the batting and backing and hopefully by next week it will be at the quilters. I will bind it with the same material as the lattice.

I'm retiring in August. This morning in our conference room at the Fire Academy, we were having coffee and the guys were discussing the sports of the world (typical morning conversation), one of the guys asked me what great legacy I would leave the Milwaukee Fire Department - what stories about me would be told over and over. After 32+ years with the City of Milwaukee I am sure there are tons of "Julie Ann" stories! LOL. However, I hope this quilt will be my legacy. I am very proud of it and especially of the ladies who so quickly volunteered to go through their stash of material and make a block.

Besides, I'm telling all of the MFD chiefs who attend the conference this June: they better purchase lots of raffle tickets and if they win, give the quilt to me as a retirement present!! (Just kidding - kind of).

Little Quilt Girl

Isn't she lovely?

She is designed by Karen over at http://www.sewprimitive.blogspot.com/. Karen sells these great designs under http://www.folkartchildren.com/ This one is entitled Quilt Album 1870.

Check Karen's site out. She has great designs that are quick and easy to follow. And, although they call for hand turned applique, I did the blanket stitch. Slightly bulky around the face (I will use different thread next time), but it turned out fine. She was quilted by Meandering Mary, who once again did a great job. I love this wall hanging.

And, when I was in Atlanta over the Christmas holidays, Karen and I (along with my sister, Suzanne) met for lunch. We also visited a quilt store in Marietta. It was so much fun to meet her in person after becoming blogging buddies. Hopefully, we will connect again when I am down there over Easter.

She also designed, as you may remember, this little girl, entitled Portrait in Silhouette No.1. What I love about both of these is that they have a 3-D effect. Although you can't really tell from the picture above, the little girl's quilt is not sewn on, but glued to card board to give the illusion that she is holding it up while hand quilting it. It really doesn't show up this way on the pictures, but is adorable on the wall.

On this picture you can see the curtain/drapery that hangs on the side.

Now, I am waiting for a little boy to go with this girl. Karen????? After all, she is called #1? Where is #2? LOL

I just purchased Karen's Berks County 1850 girl, but it may be a long time before I start her! Got the material, too!

I need to retire soon so I have more time to quilt.

Jeannie's Quilt - BOM - Blocks 11 & 12

Cut the Corners on the left & Robbing Peter to Pay Paul on the right.

Here's January's installment of the Block of the Month we are working on at Ye Olde Schoolhouse. This month's fabric was the cheddar - best seen as the center square of the block on your right (Robbing Peter to Pay Paul).

I admit I am getting MUCH better at deciphering the patterns! And, the flying geese pieces (4 in one the right and 8 in the one on the left) are a piece of cake now that I am using Eleanor Burns' flying geese ruler and instructions. I actually find them fun!

In these two blocks I used the same two fabrics in the flying geese, just reversing them. I had fun with that and I LOVE how the black fabric came out in the block on the left (Cut the Corners). I was a little nervous about adding the black and will be sure to use it in at least 2 more blocks to balance it out. I got both blocks completed in a few hours.

Normally, since we meet once a month, I pound the blocks out right away and forget about them until our next gathering. It didn't happen that way this month, so on Thursday I will get a fat quarter of fabric and two more patterns.

Twelve down, twelve to go. We're half way there!

Knowing When to Stop?

I decided to put borders on my egg quilt.

I kept adding them and adding them and adding them.

I just love all of the fabrics so very much! I wanted a bigger quilt. Well, it's big alright!

I'm cracking up! (pun intended).

I put the quilt on the bed both the "right" way

and sideways so see how it fit.

I snapped the picture when the quilt was on sidways.

Really - my borders are directional - and correct!

But I had to stop. I wanted to add one more border of the blue, but I will bind it off in it so it will show up. So, it is done. I have enough fabric left for pillow cases and a couple of throw pillows.

I just need to get backing fabric and sent it off to be quilted. Now, I could go for a plain fabric that is 108" wide and make life easier on myself and also a lot less expensive. That would be the practical and sensible thing to do and I am a practical and sensible woman (according to an old beau who loved to tell me so).

Ahhh, but the egg fabric also comes in a very pretty, soft blue . . .

Ka-ching!

Dragonflies

Shortly after I started quilting I decided to have a small dragonfly quilted into every project. The dragonfly has a symbolic meaning to me. And, I think it is a fun thing to add. Although my first quilts do not have the dragonfly quilted in the pattern, I found quilt labels with dragonflies on them and will be adding them to these quilts.




I fell in love with the above Oriental-themed pattern while visiting a quilt store in Colorado last September and bought the pattern and material while I was there. The dragonflies are hand appliqued using the blanket stitch - the method I feel most comfortable with at this point - to the beautiful background fabric. I am thrilled with the way it turned out!


It was professionally quilted by Meandering Mary, who added a tiny dragonfly to the upper left corner, even though there are 3 dragonflies on it.


When I give quilts away to family and friends I tell them, "Look for the dragonfly!" It can be a challenge to find them, but I think it adds to the giving of the quilt. Recently I picked up 3 quilts from Meandering Mary - this one, a primitive wall hanging (which I will post when I finishing binding it) and a queen-sized Friendship Star quilt. Mary forgot exactly where the dragonfly is on the Friendship Star quilt. I tried finding it, but didn't have a whole lot of time to look. Maybe when I am hand stitching the binding on I will find it.


When I was at Ye Olde Schoolhouse quilt store last week to pick up these projects Jeannie brought back from Mary, I ran into my quilting instructor, Diane. She wanted to see what I have been doing so we looked at my projects and she and complimented me! I was so happy that my first quilting instructor admired what I have been doing. We talked about incorporating the little dragonfly into each quilt. She said, "Just think, Julie Ann, a hundred years from now someone will be talking about how this quilter from southeastern Wisconsin always had a dragonfly quilted into her quilts and now they are considered highly collectible!" That comment blew me away!


It is fun to have this little something extra in my quilts. It is like a little added blessing to the quilt.

To Add or Border or Not to Add a Border?

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this fabric. Aviary by Three Sisters for Moda. Love it.

So I made this pinwheel 4-patch quilt. Oh, it is soft and girly. And, I adore the egg material. I am using it as the backing, too. I call this the Easter Egg quilt! LOL

But, I think it needs a border. Maybe two. I'm lazy and am talking myself out of it. Then I look at it again and think it just doesn't look complete.

I have plenty of the pink and blue floral fabric to add a double border. I also have enough of a deeper pink from the same fabric line and this might "pop" the quilt. I plan on binding it with the blue floral.

What to do? What to do?

Shannon's Doll Quilt

Last Sunday little Shannon came over and we made a doll quilt out of the 1930 reproduction fabric she picked out. I had the squares pre-cut and she arranged them exactly the way she liked! She brought me each square to sew. I probably could have got it done in half the time, but she was very intent on helping!

We then went through my stash and she picked out the purple inner border and the pink outer border. No swaying this young lady's mind! She wanted pink and purple! We also decided to make the exact same quilt for her cousin, which I whipped up on Monday night.

We had a great time. She listened to what I told her and did what I asked her to do. She loved the stick pins with the large yellow tops! And, she was very careful not to prick herself or drop one on the floor in case the dogs walked on it. She stayed far away from the iron and sat on the other side of the table with her hands on her lap when I used the rotary cutter for the borders. She got to design and arrange her quilt, so I think she understood to listen when it came to being too close to the things that could really hurt her.

I think Curious George likes the quilt, too!

I decided to back it in the pick border fabric, which I was able to still find online so I am waiting for it to arrive. Then I will stitch in the ditch both little quilts.

Shannon and I decided the next doll quilt will be made with "princess" material with blues, greens and, of course, pink and purple! And, she wants triangles and diamond shapes incorporated in her next doll quilt - not just squares and rectangles. Pretty impressive for a little girl who just turned three!

It was a very fun afternoon.

Jeannie's Quilt Blocks 9 & 10

Ruins of Jerico on left, Stockyard's Star for Nebraska on right.

Feature fabric for both is easist to see on outer edges of the Star for Nebraska.

These are getting easier. However, I'm making the 12 1/2" blocks. I can't imagine making the 6" blocks! I know one day I'll get confident enough to try smaller blocks, but the time isn't here yet!

I've Hit The Mother Lode

My church lady friend, Cheryl, told me recently that she had done some quilting and had a lot of quilting books she was getting rid of. Knowing that I quilted she asked if I wanted them.

YES! YES! YES!

Cheryl told me she was keeping 20 books for herself, but I was still cluelss as to how many books on quilting she had. Friday night, before our annual Winter Solstice church lady gathering, Cheryl dropped off the books. And, books. And, books.

EIGHTY QUILTING BOOKS! EIGHT-OH!

I feel like a kid in a candy store. I can't take my eyes off of them, I keep picking them up and paging through them. I'm on overload!

THANK YOU, CHERYL! What a great friend!

I have quilting books of and for every shape, design, pattern, and technique. I'm giddy! There are a few color technique books, hand quilting, machine applique and quilting, quilting clothings, paper piecing . . . you name it, I got it.

Fortunately, Phil gave me 3 wonderful quilting books for Christmas - one Eleanor Burns and two by Kathleen Tracy, which were not included. I am pouring over these books as well. Oh, I love the history Kathleen includes in her books. I enjoy following her blog, too.

What wonderful gifts as our long winter nights approach. After sewing each evening I can curl up (under one of my own quilts) and page through book after book.

Almost heaven!

A Zen Kind of Quilt

Finished quilt top spread out on a sheet placed on my basement floor!

Double click on picture for a better view of the fabric.

I remember seeing this quilt, entitled "Zen" in the February2009 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine and thinking, "Hmmm - interesting." At the Chicago Quilt Show last April I saw it hanging in a booth along with the very last bundle of fabric to make the quilt. I grabbed the bundle.

I had never worked with batiks before and wanted to try. And, despite an error in the magazine cutting instructions, and one of my own, it was easy and quickly put together. I also had fun pairing up the colors. Each fabric was prettier than the last.

Organizing on basement floor

I really needed a design wall to put it all together, but don't have the wall space. So, I spread a sheet over my basement floor, laid out the blocks and stood on the steps to get a good view. Despite a lot of rearranging, there are still a couple of blocks of the same print and/or hue too close together. Oh, well . . .

Now I need to purchase the backing and have it quilted. I'm excited about purchasing the backing. All those beautiful batiks in all those beautiful colors and patterns! Maybe I should go with more of a solid or a marble fabric. Picking out the backing may take a while!

Panel Hangings

Here a a couple of holiday panels I made in October and finished this month.

I love the Santa with the polar bear. I added a border to the panel. Of course, it is in blues, which is one reason why I love it. I love all of the animals, too.

The cat panel is a Christmas gift for my doggie sitter, Mary Sue, from Gracie and Lucy Lou. Mary Sue is really a cat person, but she loves all animals and adores my "girls." I have always given her dog themed Christmas presents, so this year I saw this cat panel and decided to go with it. I added border to this, too.

Both panels were quilted at The Patched Works.

I added crystals to both panels, which do not show up on the pictures. On the Santa panel I added over 60 clear and blue Swarovski crystals and amber Swarovski crystals to the cat panel border, trying to place them on the stars. I bought the crystals, which are flat on the bottom and have heat activated glue on them, along with this tool that heats up and affixes the crystal to the material. The tool really doesn't work as it should. You can purchase these crystals in all different sizes and the tool comes with "bits" to match the size of the crystal. The instructions say to place the crystal right side up on the material and place the heated to (with correct size bit) over the crystal for 15 seconds or so. Well, I found the crystals would stick inside the bit of the tool and it was hard to get them out. So, I placed the crystal where I wanted it and pressed the side of the bit to it and hold it in place. This works as far as heating the crystal enough to get the glue to stick, but it also moves the crystal a little. I had crystals flying all over the place!

Anyway, I am very pleased with the way they both turned out and thanks to Jen who gave me the idea to add the crystals. It adds a little something extra and special both panels.

Jeannie's Block of the Month

Right Hand of Friendship block on right, Army Star block on left

Dark blue print is feature fabric

I keep calling this BOM all different names, but I have decided to officially call it Jeannie's quilt. She is the owner of Ye Olde Schoolhouse where we meet once a month to get our patterns and feature fabric.

This month the pattern wasn't written in Greek, as in previous months! Well, Greek to me, that is. Slowly I am starting to figure out these patterns that come with little instruction. I still have difficultly with putting the squares together to make the larger block, but it is getting better. I finished these two blocks off on a Sunday morning.

We had fun when we met this month. It was a large group and everyone brought the blocks they completed. It was great to see the fabric choices each lady picked to go with the feature fabric Jeannie gives us each month to use in each of the two blocks. It was also a "show and tell." Some of the projects these women do are amazing. Maybe next month I will be brave enough to bring something in I have completed.

Eight blocks down, 16 more to go!

A Quilt for the Burn Camp

Every year the Wisconsin Association of Fire Chief's has a conference in June. For several years a quilt is raffled off and the proceeds are donated to the Burn Camp, which is a week-long summer camp for children, ages 7-17, who have suffered from burns. Many members of the Milwaukee Fire Department volunteer their own time each summer at the camp.

Late last spring a plea went out from the lady in charge of the quilt donation. The quilter who had been donating quilts the past few years could no longer do so. While it was too late for me to help, I told her I would ask the Friendship Ladies quilting group at Ye Olde Schoolhouse Quilt Store in Cedarburg, WI if they would like to help in this worthy cause.

I know quilters have generous spirits. This proved itself when last summer I mentioned the possibility of making a quilt to be raffled off . They all agreed it was a good idea. Well, it's now time to get down to business. Last Thursday we we met, Jeannie and I brought up the subject again. Within minutes a pattern was decided on, copies of it distributed and colors decided. Each lady will make one 12" Twin Star block using the colors of cream, black and deep red/burgundy. I asked that each lady have her block to me by February so I have time to add sashing and borders (if needed) and get it to the quilter. It should all be ready by the June conference.

I was overwhelmed how fast these ladies agreed to help. One lady ran out to her car to show us a Twin Star quilt she had pieced that she thought would work. The colors were perfect and the pattern easy enough for even me!

If any of you out in blog land would like to add a block to this very worthwhile cause, please contact me.

Help! Name this Quilt Pattern!

In September I bought this quilt at an antique store in Cedarburg, WI. It is all hand stitched and in perfect condition.

Can anyone help me name the pattern? Era? I don't think it is older than the 1930s and probably made a lot later. In fact, it almost looks new, but it's not.

When I first saw it I was taken back by the bright colors. But, once I opened it and saw the beautiful pattern, I was hooked. I find the circles and squares amazing. Now I need the name of the pattern and any other info I can find on it. Thanks for Mary Sue and Pam (hidden behind the quilt) for holding it up while I took the picture!

Also, I have several antique quilts I need repairs. Some I have purchased and two that were made by my mother and grandmother. Any recommendations on where I could take them?

October Accomplishments

Well, I quilted my little heart out in October.

I added my "to do" list to the side bar of this blog. It was really fun to "check" things off as I completed them. I can't believe I got so much done considering one weekend I didn't quilt at all and I have a home to maintain. I did a lot of yard work, too.

I wish you could see the metallic thread I used on the stems of the fern.

Underground Railroad blocks 6 & 7.

Carpenter's Wheel on the left. Bear Claw on the right.

I'm posting of a couple of wall hangings I finishing binding in October - Jars Aplenty and the small fern piece. My witch wall hanging is shown in a previous post. I also finished my two Underground Railroad blocks, and am I am on a roll with making more this week.

This month I am gone for a week to Arizona to visit a good gal pal and my sister. Both recently moved out there and, unbeknown to each other, moved within a few miles of each other! Small world. So this trip will "kill to birds with on stone" so to speak. I will be staying with Nancy and she invited my sister Linda over for Thanksgiving dinner. This way we will both be with family. I think my sister is feeling the effects of moving so far way from her son, daughter-in-law and grand kids. Even though we are not that close, it will be good for her to be with people she knows and feels comfortable with.

I am so ready for this trip to Mesa. However, my quilting accomplishments will suffer. Oh, well. . . .

On the bright side, Nancy has already located quilt shops in the area!

I'm Learning Greek

Maple Star block on the right

Federal Square block on the top

This month's feature fabric is the red, best seen in the Maple Star block and small, outer squares of the Federal Square block.

Blocks 5 and 6 of the BOMs I making as part of the Ladies Friendship group at Ye Olde Schoolhouse. I just love the fabric I used as the main squares of the Federal Square block even though it wasn't the feature fabric of the month.

Jeannie promised that these 2 blocks would be easier than the last 4 blocks from hell - and she was right - or else I am slowly learning to read ancient Greek quilt patterns! I finished one an evening. I still can't figure out where she is getting the patterns from, but that's OK.

I laid out the 6 blocks I have completed thus far. Ha! Mine should be a very interesting quilt! No rhyme or reason to it. Maybe when I get the next 18 blocks completed it will all come together. In the mean time, this month it was fun to do. Let's hope November's blocks are as easy as these two!

China Dishes

Look at little Gracie peeking out from beneath the quilt. Lucy was behind it with me! Wait! on closer inspection (double click on picture) it is Lucy Lou's head (and tail) peeking out. Silly dogs.

My china dishes quilt is completed and what an ordeal! First let me say that I do love this little quilt. The colors are fabulous. And, anyone who know me would say this is the perfect quilt for me - all the beautiful blue and white fabrics.

But, while I completely enjoyed making this quilt, I screwed up royally! Look carefully at the edge "plates" on the completed quilt. Then look carefully at the edge "plates" on the pictures below.

Notice the "plates" reversed. Yup, all 8 edge plates were sewn backwards. I didn't notice this until I took it off my dining room table and draped it over the couch so I could admire it while I made a phone call to my sister, Suzanne. Yup, I had one small border on all 4 sides and a larger border on 3 sides that had to be removed before I could reverse the plates. Rip, rip, rip, rip, rip. Actually, I surprised myself. I didn't yell or scream in frustration. Amazing - no curse words either. I actually laughed about it. I just put the quilt aside for a number of days and then tackled the job of fixing the "plate" position. And, it went very quickly.

I need a design wall!

The pieced 3rd border is another story and give me trouble and didn't come out well at all. By this time however, I was "over it" and just wanted the darn quilt done. Ahhh - the galloping horse method of quilting.

The backing is washed and and waiting to be ironed, trimmed, squared sewn together and then it is off to Mary to be quilted. Should be done tonight.

Look Familiar?

I made this lap quilt for my nephew, Patrick's, family. Pictured are Pam, Aaron, Patrick, and little Shannon. If the quilt looks familiar it is the same pattern I gave to my Aunt Virginia last month while I was in Colorado. The only difference is the backing material. This quilt was part of the mystery quilt group I participated in earlier this year. At first I thought I would make one large queen sized quilt, but then decided to make 2 lap size quilts and give them away. I had the recipients in mind already. I hope both Aunt Virginia and Patrick's family take a lot of good naps under these quilts!

And, just to show off sweet little Shannon, here she is with the holiday dress her Aunt Suzanne and I bought her. We have started a tradition of purchasing her holiday dress every year. She got it a little early this year. Truthfully, I was afraid I'd forget to give it to her as we bought it a year ago!

We tried to get Shannon to pretend she was sleeping, but she wasn't going to "nap" pretend or not! Here's the Halloween pillowcase I made for her.