H2H SWAP

38 heart blocks arrived from the DJ Alternate group Heart To Heart Swap. They aren't trimmed yet, and many have their maker's tagss tacked on the front, but you get the idea. They will be joining my earlier heart blocks in a quilt top, when I'm able.

APPLIQUE CAFE SECRET SISTER GIFT

In order to get to know each other better, my Applique Cafe group decided to hold a secret sister swap. Pictured is my gift from Sally, which consists of this lovely panel, six fat quarters, milliner large eye needles, and a homemade flower petal tower pin cushion. Not only was it fun, both to give and receive, but we really are getting to know one another better.

WOMEN OF THE BIBLE BLOCKS, GARDEN OF EDEN, EVE

Last year I started the Women of the Bible, on-line bible study and quilt block project with Carol Honderich. Each week we study a different woman from the bible and make a quilt block to represent her. I got part way through, and life interrupted. This past week it just started up again, with Eve, so I've embarked on my second journey through this project. I have the first blocks already made from last year, which is super, because I can't do patchwork just now, until my shoulder mends more.



I chose red for the center of my Garden of Eden block, as for me it represents the strong emotions of childbirth, and Eve being the mother of all humankind. Red also stands for the forbidden fruit. The greens are for the lush foliage in the garden, and yellow represents the light of God shining through. This study has put a new light on Eve for me. I always thought of her as the one who caved in and ate the forbidden fruit. But especially the book "The Lost Women of the Bible" has put a whole new perspective on Eve, and what she must have been going through. She was indeed a strong woman. Our on-line discussion this week has been lively. Even going through the study a second time, there are so many ways to look at things.

This on-line bible study can be found at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WomenoftheBibleQuilt/

or click on the title of this post.

THE LOST QUILTER

I've had plenty of reading time while my arm heals. My favorite author's newest novel just came out this month. It is a page turner, and in my favorite genre, historic fiction.

This book is about Joanna, and what happened to her following her brief stay at Elm Creek, which at that time was a station on the Underground Railroad.

This novel is about the best and worst of human nature. It is a tribute to the human spirit, even in the bleakest of times in history.

I highly recommend it.

HEARTS ARRIVE

My hearts have arrived from the Friendship Block Swap group. I received 10 hearts in the swap from this small group. I love them all.

The DJ Alternate group also had a heart swap with identical rules (block size, color, etc.). My 38 blocks from that swap are in the mail back to me now.

I plan to use all of them in a D9P quilt, with the hearts for the 4 uncut corners. I got the idea from a blog while blog hopping. I have the fabrics all together. Just will wait for my arm to mend so I can rotary cut again.

DJSP GIFT

My secret pal from Dear Jane sent me a quilter's sayings panel this month. I think it would make a really nice tote bag. I plan to cut it apart and alternate the sayings with black and red prints.




She also sent this gift card with the tiny 9-patch and bitty clothes pins. Isn't it cute?

NEW SYLVIA'S BRIDAL SAMPLER BOOK

I had pre-ordered the new SBS book from Amazon, and was thrilled when it arrived. Although I already had the patterns downloaded from when they were available on-line, the book is wonderful. I love the photos of finished quilts, especially those made by quilters I know. Also several of my on-line groups are mentioned. Jennifer Chiaverini really knows how to connect with her readers.

HAPPY EASTER

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL MY PEEPS!

EASTER 'BASKET'

I was so fortunate to receive this Easter 'Basket' from Susan in our swap. I love the little batik purse she made for me. It has neat slots inside for id, credit cards, etc. She also included other small gifties -- decorative tin of pins, scissor leash, stickers, little bunny. Lucky me! This was a very fun Easter swap. Hop, hop...........

MENDING

I'm on the mend this month from breaking my not so humorous humerus! Mending is never fun, but this.................

they can't cast this break (it's way high, just below the ball of this bone), so after a week in just a sling, my brace arrived and is now safely on. it does feel much more secure this way. i guess this will be my fashion statement for about the next 4 weeks. i think i need a large 'i'd rather be quilting' pin for it, don't you?

EASTER SWAP

This is the swap basket I sent for my small group Easter swap. It is a crocheted basket made from fabric strips. I included a 'chocolate' bunny, and a couple sewing notions. I love these little swaps. It makes the holidays so special.

OUCH!

Last Thursday evening, I tripped on a carpet, fell on tile, and broke my not so humerous humerus bone! I'm at the painful beginning of a several month recovery.

My FL grands brought over cards. Bri, 9, made the pop-out puppy kisses, Ali, 6, drew her signature rainbows, Devon,3, did a handprint, as did Cori, 11 months. These wonderful get well cards from my grandchildren have warmed my heart.

SYLVIA'S BRIDAL SAMPLER BLOCK

This afternoon I finished the current BOW on the SBS site, M-6 Providence. There are 33 pieces in that little 6" block! I partially foundation pieced, and partially just machine pieced. Whew! A good one to have done.

REALLY OLD UFO

I learned to make cathedral windows long, long, ago (30 years?) and this was my first project! It was put away, just as you see it on the left. It's a beginner's job for sure -- don't look closely at the windows! The fabric is horrible, and was cut with scissors -- not especially straight. This must have been started before rotary cutters came into style. Evidently, once I learned the technique and had the border half on, I grew tired of the project and stuffed it away. Anyhow, I can't throw away anything I've worked on, so I finished it into a pillow. The back side of my work is so awful that it had to be hidden and as a pillow top it is. This sad little project is now done. Perhaps one of my granddaughters will like it as a tuffet for their dolls.

SIGGY SEASON

This is my second year to make siggies. They are small squares that quilters love to swap and collect. There's a large Siggy Swap on the Dear Jane list every year. There's also an International Siggy Swap that goes on too (DJ is international too though). I added a link to the international swap on the side of my blog.

Pictured is the Siggy block I've been using on the International Swap in 2009. My DJ swap blocks will be similar, but I have selected a cherry fabric to represent Michigan, and oranges to represent Florida. I'll have two corners of each.

If you are interested in swapping siggies one-on-one with me, please email me at: Nana.Quilts@gmail.com

Here's the directions for making them.

SIGGY BLOCKS

FABRIC:
Use only quilt shop quality, pre-washed, 100% cotton fabric.

CUT:
Center: Cut one 3.5 inch square of light. This may be white, off-white, or any light color. Quality muslin works well. Do not use white-on-white, as ink doesn’t adhere to it well.

4 Corners: Cut two 4.0 inch squares of a fabric of your choice and cut each once on the diagonal.

SEW and PRESS:
Center and sew two triangles on opposite sides of the center square.
Press seam toward triangles. Trim off the extra ‘wings’.
Center and sew the other two triangles on the remaining sides of the center square. Press.

DO NOT TRIM:
Receivers like to trim their own blocks. Different people do this differently, so even though they may look a tad ‘sloppy’ not trimmed up, resist the temptation and send them as is.

SIGN:
Use a Pigma® pen, or any waterproof, permanent, pen that is intended for fabric to sign your block. The color is your choice. Please include your name, state and country. It’s easier to sign your blocks if you put them on sandpaper or press a piece of freezer paper to the back first. Press to set the ink. You may choose to embroider your information if you want to. If you use a rubber stamp, be sure your stamp pad is waterproof, permanent, intended for fabric ink (like VersaCraft).

EMBELLISH:
You may add any washable embellishments you want to. Plain Janes are welcome too.


SEND:
Most of all, have fun trading Siggies with others around the world!

TIPPED HAPPY HOUSES

 

My happy houses are all set, uphill and downhill, and ready to fly. They will get a final trim to square them up by the hostess of the swap, so they all are trimmed the same. How nice is that?

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

 

What's happening to the neighborhood? Everything from rose cottages, cowgirl ranches, and psychedelic homes are here, and only 2 are identical! 12 of these are going to the swap. Two I'll keep. They just need their uphill downhill borders before they fly off to Texas.

HOUSES SWAP

This morning I made two houses for the houses swap (link on down, lower left). They will be tilted left and right with a tilty border. These are so fun and so much remind me of one of my children's favorite books when they were little, "The Big Orange Splot". In the story, Mr. Plumbeam lives on a 'neat street' where all the homes are just alike. But one by one the neighbors start transforming their homes and yards to represent all their dreams. It is a wonderful story about being yourself.

This is a great way to use up small 2" scraps and strips. Any Bonnie Hunter (link on down, lower left) fans out there?

NEW FABRIC

 

New fabric arrived at my house via Fed Ex today! On the left is a piece that I will use for the backing of my Vintage Valentine quilt. I love the soft petals with the rose edges. It reminds me of the wool petals with rose buttonhole stitch on my blocks. It is from the Elm Creek Winding Ways line. In the middle is another Winding Ways fabric. Love those curves! And on the right is another piece of neutral. All of these were in the $5 'ish per yard category on the Quilt In a Day Fabric Frenzy and Boutique on-line. Too good to resist!

DRESDEN PLATE

The block of the week on Sylvia's Bridal Sampler is Dresden Plate. These are 6" blocks and there are 20 curved petals on this one. I think this may be one of the ones in the "finished is better than perfect" category!

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

Since so many folks are planning on cutting back, and making more homemade gifts this Christmas, I decided to add a Christmas Countdown to my blog. It's there for me, as much as anyone.

In our family, we try to keep the focus on Baby Jesus' Birthday, rather than a big gift extravaganza. The adults do a gift exchange, so we each receive one gift. But everyone, of course, gives to the kids. The years that there are more home-made gifts under the tree are the best, for sure.

HERE A CLUCK, THERE A CLUCK EVERYWHERE A CLUCK, CLUCK...

I've been busy making 12" chicken blocks this week, for the FatCats swap. I have four of each of these guys/gals all done, but will probably make a few more. I can send in 20, and I'll want to keep some of these. I think it will make a fun, whimsical quilt!

BAKE SHOP

I added a new link on my blog today. It will take you directly to Moda's Bake Shop. I generally don't advertise on my blog for any company, but this link has many free recipes (patterns) for jelly rolls, layer cakes, etc. There are some great ideas at the Bake Shop!

Scroll down and look on the left for the link.

Have a sewing day!

TWO MORE SYLVIA/'S BRIDAL SAMPLER BLOCKS

Yesterday I made two more SBS blocks M-1, Spinning Hourgrlass, and H-3, Sarah's Choice. That's 5 for March, which meets the SBS Offline Quilter's group challenge this month, so now I'll probably go back to other projects for a while. I'll still try to keep up with the BOW on the big list.

Over the weekend, I finished 3 more 6" Syliva's Bridal Sampler blocks, K-3, Churn Dash, M-5, Ohio Star, and M-10, Key West Beauty. Feels like progress! Slow, but sure..............