{Post 1,261} Out With The Old...

When I started making the Count On It quilt series, I followed all the directions.  The October one was the first one I made.  I developed my own style for them after this first one.  I am blaming or crediting (depending on how you look at it) Michelle for getting me hooked on these.  Hers are soooo cute.  Click on "count on it quilt" at the bottom to see all the ones I've made so far.  I plan on making April thru August soon.

Today I made a new OCT quilt and have listed the old one on my Etsy shop.  The differences?  New one has a lighter background.  New one is not blanket stitched but zigzagged with invisible thread.  The hanging sleeve is applied differently.  That's just for ease of construction for me.

Which one do you like better?

{Post 1,057} Calendar Quilt

I had another apprentice over tonight.  Amber helps my husband and I teach 2- and 3-year-olds in our church Sunday school program.  She is a single college student who lives about 15 minutes away.  I told her she could invite herself over any time and suggested Tuesdays as a good day for me.  So she invited herself over tonight (that only took 2 days to happen!).  We were texting the past couple days, and I asked her if she'd be interested in learning how to piece and quilt.  She said YES!! 

So tonight she picked out a pattern for a table runner (which is a great size to start and FINISH for a first project).  She got all the pieces cut out and pieced most of the blocks.  It is a relatively simple pattern, but she is soooo excited to be making it!  In the excitement of the session, I neglected to take any pictures.  Maybe next time!

I also mostly finished the September month by month quilt. I relinquished my sewing machine to Amber when she arrived.  Another 10 minutes, and I would have had it completely finished.  Here it is so far:

I just need to zigzag around the "T" and the swirl on the apple.  Cute!

~Joan

{Post #948} April "Count On It" Quilt

This month's pattern was a huge Easter egg, so I opted to make a different one.  Maybe by next April I will have designed and sewn my own pattern.  I'm envisioning 3 crosses on a layered hill.  No time for that this year.


Here is a 12" finished block I pieced some time back.  It looks fine.  These are just for my room after all!

{Post #923} March Count On It

Here is a good reason for having 29 days in February this year...I had to sew my March "Count On It" block this AM.  Cut out the pieces last night.


Check it out:

Just need to hand sew down the hanging sleeves, and I'll be finished.


~Joan

{Post #895} Finished February

...and just in the nick of time.  

Once again, I painted the eyes instead of using buttons. That is so easy for me to do.  Those can be made any size.  Love it!

{Post #894} February Count On It

I just realized that I still have tomorrow to finish my February block for the Count On It series.  


Julie was gracious enough to send me some light blues.  With all the BOLTS of fabrics I have, there were none adequate for this block.  Thanks, Julie!!  A friend in need, you know.


I still have to put on the birds' eyes and do the zigzag with invisible thread around the appliques, but here it is...

I like it.  I started in October.  To see the others, click on the "count on it" below under the labels.  Or you could just type "count on it" in the top left search box for this blog.


~Joan

{Post #862} Look Who's Smilin'...

Finally got a smile on this guy's face.  I used an old tole painting technique that I highly recommend if you are painting an item you aren't going to be washing much.  Do a practice piece first.  Dip the back of a small paintbrush handle into the paint, then dot it on the fabric.  Makes a perfectly round dot if you hold it perpendicular to the fabric.  I like it. 

Look Who else is lookin' at you...

Now for a plea (I've become more bold since the Seeds of Kindness quilt).  I want to make this one (ahead even!) for February.  I can swing all the fabrics except the blues.  My non-Thimbleberries stash is not very varied.  Is there someone who could send me 2 light blue pieces and 2 dark blue pieces that all coordinate for the birds?  I will send YOU something in return.  Email me for sizes.  Something in the light to medium blue range would be good.  The picture is fuzzy, but there are 4 different blues here.

UPDATE:  This request has been fulfilled!  Thanks to my e-friends who responded!

TTFN,
Joan

{Post #859} Replacing The Bun Picture

Can it be that January's Count On It quilt is nearly finished?  All it lacks is button or paint eyes and mouth.

Yes, yes it is true.  You who are very observant will notice I skipped right over December.  The month kind of sneaked up on me.  I will make that one (December) eventually.

Good night!

~Joan

{Post #844} November Count On It Quilt Finished!

That means I better get a jump on December's before it's 11/30!!  Has anyone "blushed" cheeks on fabric?  Did you use something other than paint?  I am going to experiment with a nativity pattern and "blush" baby Jesus's cheeks before I sew the fabric onto the quilt.

Here is my November quilt.  I like it twice as much as my October one.  Here are some things I did differently that make it more likeable to me. 

I am probably spoiled because I am usually piecing quilt blocks and just use whatever thread without worrying about it matching.  I used clear monofilament thread and zigzagged around all of the applique shapes.  On my first one, I used matching thread and a machine blanket stitch.  I don't like the stitching to show that much!  I only had to change out to coordinating thread for the veins of the leaves.

For this one, I fused the pieces on, then sewed the outside edges to finish the quilt, then did the above zigzagging.  On the first one I did what the directions said and did my applique stitching before assembling the quilt.  That meant I had to quilt it after turning it right side out and all.

I did this hanging sleeve like I do on one of my regular quilts.  The way the book tells you to do it, the sleeve is sewn down before any quilting, so you have to quilt around them, which does not look good along the top of the quilt.

The book also tells one to stitch the opening at the bottom closed by machine.  I did this one by hand, and I think the result is much nicer.

So, overall, I am much more pleased with this one than the last.

On to Baby Jesus!!

~Joan

{Post #843} Border Quilting Begun

OK, so the picture is horrible.  See the lines on the above picture in the top and right side border?  That is where I've quilted so far.  I got a lot done at Rachel's music lessons today.  I had a slow start because I could not get my gray pencil sharp.  The lead kept breaking and that was so frustrating. 

I finished the little bit of hand sewing on my November calendar quilt.  I also tied off all the starts and stops by hand.  More explanation about that later.

~Joan

{Post #842} Count On It for November

Oh, yes, this is late.  And no--it's not quilted yet.  I just did the fusible applique for tonight.  I fully intended to make this before November rolled around, but I've had a lot of unexpected problems opportunities this past week.

Three of my family members, including my husband, are leaving in the AM for Wisconsin.  cold, Cold, COLD!!  I hope to get this finished and up on my little table-top frame by Monday.  Time will tell.

This actually sports some non-Thimbleberries fabrics. 

~Joan

{Post #838} First "Count On It" Quilt Finished

I am not completely satisfied with this project, but it was a learning experience.  I will do better on the next one and likely remake this one in the future.

I will give details later...

{Post #836} More Quilts Listed on eBay

My AM was spent sewing.  Very relaxing.  I was mostly alone for several hours, and what better way to spend them?  My daughter, Rachel, pieced the inside of both of these quilts.

I added the borders and quilted and bound the top one.  They are both for sale on eBay.  I just love I Spy quilts.  Playing with them is so fun, and of course, they can be used as "covers".  They are great as well hangings, too.  So much punch and color for a wall!!

I ordered a table top quilt rack to make some little calendar quilts.  I was inspired by Michelle.  I tried to resist, but I just had to get the book and stand.  (sigh)...I'm blaming it on Michelle's too-cute-to-resist quilts.

Baking bread and home made (vegan) herb-seasoned French fries.  Might have time to make a little October quilt.  What do you think?  I'll give it my best.

~Joan