I Haven't Forgotten My DJ

Even though other projects and activities are calling my name, I want to keep going with my Dear Jane blocks.


This is "I-11, Coyote Chase", an intermediate-level block. I used the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch method.

Ami Simms Would Be Proud

I spent a good part of yesterday with several of my quilting friends dyeing fabric. Actually, the others dyed fabric...I skipped that part and only dyed undies a la Ami Simms. This is what my friend's hedge looked like when we hung our work out to dry...the neighbor got quite a kick out of the view! I think he thought we were a bunch of hippies re-living our youth and if I remember correctly, he said something like..."I've never heard of making quilts with fabric like that..."

We all had a blast! And definitely agree to do it again sometime...I think I'll be tempted to actually dye fabric next time...

Check out this quick video from Ami...

Tall Glass of Lemonade, Anyone?

This past weekend, I quickly loaded this quilt on my HQ16 and quilted it with an overall meandering design. My friend Susan blogged about the making of the quilt here and here. Now it goes back to her to finish up with a binding.
P.S. You'll have to read Susan's posts about the quilt to get the lemonade connection...

Finishing Touches

The pop-up book is wrapped in the pillowcase and ready to go to the post office.

On the inside of the pillowcase cuff, I sewed on a

label (look for the union label, when you are buying a coat, dress, or blouse... -- hmmm, I think those lyrics show my age...)

Several months ago, I had won a blog giveaway of a roll of labels from Namemaker. My 20-yard roll should last for quite a number of projects...

Happy Birthday!

Another Birthday

My husband's granddaughter will be having a birthday in a couple of weeks, so I made a pillowcase to use as wrapping for her gift, an absolutely wonderful pop-up book. We usually give books as gifts to his grandchildren and we especially like the pop-up books by Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda. The pop-ups are absolutely amazing. If you've never seen these books, you must take a look the next time you're in a Barnes and Noble. The artwork is exquisite.

Some of the titles that we've given are The Wizard of Oz (the tornado pop-up leaps right off the page), Alice in Wonderland (the cards fly up in the air), Cinderella, Star Wars, Dinosaurs...

These books are not for toddlers to play with...they are very delicate, so they should be given to children who will take care of them. Or at least to parents who will take care of them...

Did You Miss Me?

My Dear Jane, were you feeling ignored this month?

It's been almost four weeks since I last posted a photo of a finished DJ block. Too much was going on in June around here. Things have settled down a bit, but I suspect there will be other projects that will delay things once in a while yet again. As a matter of fact, there are two quilts waiting to be quilted on my HQ16, both of which have a short deadline. And I need to make a couple of fabric postcards...and a pillowcase...and a bag...and...

Anyway, this is "I-4, Stability", an intermediate-level block that I paper pieced and then used the raw-edge machine buttonhole-stitch to applique the center. Not perfect, but it will do.

Lucky Me

Look what showed up in my mailbox yesterday. A yard of this lovely fabric that I won in Quilt Taffy's recent giveaway. It's called Stripey in the Farmers' Market line by Sandi Henderson. This goes into my stash for use as a future bias binding...and the selvage is quite usable, too...Thank you, Quilt Taffy!

Check out Quilt Taffy's blog and shop sometime... lots of good stuff there...

Relaxing Work

This is how I spent some of my time this past weekend. The friend that I've blogged about many times before gave me yet another quilt to play with. All I did was an all-over meander of loops and hearts using Rainbows thread by Superior. Compared to the Irish Chain that I did a few weeks ago, this was a piece of cake!

P.S. Thanks to all who offered encouragement on yesterday's post. Nick called in the afternoon and still seems to be enjoying himself...

Keeping Busy

This is the third batch of nine-patch blocks that I've made up for the online swap I blogged about here. The purples are really much prettier in person.

I've now made it through one week without having our son around the house...why doesn't he call more often?

A Very Soulful Place

What's a college town without a used bookstore?

My family discovered this place outside of Ithaca, NY when we dropped off our son at Cornell for the summer.

All I could say was "Wow!" All three of us could spend hours and hours in a place like this. Books on all sorts of subjects lined bookcase after bookcase in every nook and cranny of this old barn (see the stone wall peeking through the shelves in one of the photos further down?)


Sorry about the poor quality of some of the photos, but I took them without a flash. I didn't want to disturb anything that might be living in there...

As they say...A room without books is like a body without a soul. This place must certainly have quite a soul...

You've Got Mail!

These lovely nine-patch blocks recently arrived in my mailbox from Anina of Twiddletails. She is hosting an international nine-patch swap and I was lucky enough to get a spot. I blogged about my first and second month's contribution here and here. Anina says that there is enough interest for a third month, so I better get cracking on making another 16 blocks.

He Knows How To Warm My Heart

My favorite quote from "college boy" so far -- "The food is good. Much better than high school, but not as good as home cooking."

What's a Mother To Do...

...while waiting for a phone call from her only child away at Summer College?...






Start yet another project!

I suspect my house will be spotless and I'll have oodles of quilting projects finished by the time the next 6 weeks are over...it's either that or watch soap operas and gain 75 pounds from depression.