{Post #885} Lunch Box

I don't think this is really a lunch box.  It was given to my daughter, Elisabeth, about 8-9 years ago as a secret sister gift.  She has since given it to me.  I am using it as a portable project holder for the Grandmother's Flower Garden pieces.

I have my paper hexagons, a cone of thread, small Gingher scissors, a needle nest (right front), my paper layout of colors, a thimble, and all the fabric pieces I'll need to complete this.  

Right now all the scraps cut out from the back of my hexagons after I baste them around the paper are in the lid.  I use it as a "trash can" until I get home or get close to a trash can.  This system works quite well for me.

~Joan 

{Post #884} Added More Flowers

I had two completed blossoms in my "lunch box" (which I'll show later) for this quilt, so I watched another movie and stitched some more.  The orangish red one and the white one were already put together, so that made the addition very quick.


You can see a little more of how the finished quilt is laid out now.  I am going to cut across the outer edges and add a border or two once the piecing is finished.  


This is the full length of the quilt.  The top row will be 5 blossoms across to give you an idea of the finished size.

Oy--I feel awful.


~Joan

{Post #883} Hexie Update

Saving these pictures was an eye-opener.  These are only the 2nd and 3rd quilt pictures I have saved this entire year.  I knew I hadn't been sewing much, but I didn't realize it had been this little.


Anywho...I went to the flea market with Rachel this AM and got to do a little hand sewing.  This is the progress on my hexagon project, from the front and from the back.

I have not felt well all day, so I sat and stitched a little here and there.  

You can see in the bottom picture that the paper is left on the outermost hexagon, only removed when the next one is placed beside it.

~Joan

{Post #882} Surprise for Elisabeth!

There are so many projects floating around inside my head.  I'm glad this one finally came to completion.  I had trouble finding the "E", but I persisted.  I wanted to make my dear Elisabeth a little something for her room that was really "her".  Here it is.  Maybe it will let you know what she's like:

The picture was taken outside against our house wall.  Imagine it against a lovely lavender wall (that's the color of her room).  She was so happy with it!  Me, too.  


It's about 20" across.  I was stumped about how to paint the polka dots on, but then I remembered a trick I learned in a tole painting class.  All is well!


Love you, Lizzy!!


~Mom

{Post #881} New Bulletin Board

This will be a very short post.  I hot glued buttons to my thumb tacks and this is the resulting new look for my picture bulletin board.  Better?  Suggestions for the empty spaces that don't involve more pictures??

Before, for comparison:

~Joan

{Post #880} New Sign

I mentioned that we took down our Christmas decorations a few days ago.  I left up a new Christmas sign that was in our living room.  I wanted the incentive to finish a new sign to put up in its place.  Here is the new sign from afar, closer up, then at the table where I had just finished painting it.

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I have been painting monogram signs for wedding gifts.  This is another option for that idea.  I needed this to be a bit larger than one of my monogram signs that have just one initial.


One of the girls at my church saw me painting this:

She asked me to paint her one as she is getting married this summer.  Her "new" name is very long, so I thought about turning the sign to "landscape" setting.  I played around with it to make one for my family.  I think this works!!


Yes, Julie, that is my Emily in the picture above.  Don't even think about it.


~Joan

{Post #879} Four Ornaments

So, which of these is your favorite and why?

The bottom right one is the first I made.  the top left was the second.  I like each one I make more than the last.  I have asked my kids which ones they like.  So far I have two votes for top right, one for bottom right, and one for bottom left.  Four more kids to ask.


These don't all have their outside strip on yet.  Just sayin'...


Oddly enough (or not), my husband and I both like the same one the most.


~Joan