Boston is My Home

Yay, I finally finished my flags for the To Boston With Love project. 

I found the pattern for the peace sign here.  It was really easy to make.    I probably should have made it into a paper-pieced pattern.  It would be easy to do.  I didn't realize it until after I finished the teal and purple one, but I forgot one of the trimming steps.  It's not the same size as the red one.  Doesn't matter.  I like them both.  I think this pattern would look really cute on a zippy pouch or maybe a baby bib.  (Hmm, did someone mention a baby?)
The patchwork heart was very easy.  Just squares and half-square triangles.

Making these flags made me feel better.  I was born in Boston and have lived just a few miles north my whole life.  My first real job was just three blocks from the finish line.  One of the victims lived 3 blocks from my home.  

Off to this month's BMQG meeting to deliver my flags.

Joyful stitching,
jane
 

WIP Wednesday

Not a whole lot of progress in the past couple of weeks.  I finished the quilting on the disappearing nine-patch. 

I also made some blocks for the Quilts For Boston project.

The photos are not the best, but that's what happens when you wait until dark to take the pictures.
I wasn't able to make the sew-in this past weekend, but based on this post, some great things were accomplished.

I also finished basting another block for my Rose Star quilt.

I decided to do this one in the Boston Marathon colors.  I'll finish stitching this while watching the next Bruins game (sorry Toronto).

I really wanted to finish so much more, but I was dragged, kicking and screaming, away from my sewing room and forced to spend a few days here....

Yup, the hubs and I took a lovely anniversary trip to Bermuda. 

Joyful stitching,

jane

WIP Wednesday

I've not been very productive this week.  I did manage to finish piecing this quilt top.

I won a charm pack of Happy Go Lucky a few months ago. The pattern is the disappearing nine patch.  I wanted to make this a decent sized baby quilt, so I used some white Kona with the charms.  It measures approx. 39" x 44".   Hopefully, I'll get it quilted next week.

I also finally finished April's Lucky Star block,  It's a good thing, since today is May.

I'm using Mod Century for this project.  I like the way it's coming together.  You can see my other blocks here.
Linking up with


Joyful stitching,
jane

A March Finish

I finished this quilt as a gift  for one of my sisters-in-law.  She's married to my husband's older brother.

This is a project I started in February that got pushed aside.  I used Jelly Roll of an April Cornell fabric called Portugal.  It's been sitting in my cabinet for a long time.  I liked the fabric when I bought it, but my tastes have since changed.  Fortunately, my SIL prefers traditional quilts and fabrics. 

I did straight line quilting on the diagonal across the main blocks and stitched in the ditch around them. It was a pretty quick process since this is just a lap size quilt.

The back is a larger print from the collection.  I didn't do anything fancy.  I had enough yardage do do the whole back out of the same print. 

The binding is another print from the same collection.  I had enough of this print as well as a coral/rose-colored print.  I decided on the yellow since the backing fabric had so much dark pink in it.
My SIL does a lot of home sewing, but very little quilting.
As an added bonus, I made her this as well.

My SIL likes her Friday night wine. (Who doesn't?) They're in the (long) process of renovating a home up on the coast in Gloucester.  She enjoys taking a walk down the street to a little liquor store to get her wine.  I made her this quick wine tote.  I've made so many bags in the past, that it didn't take long to whip this one up.  I made it larger than a normal tote since she likes to buy the bigger sized bottle.  Don't get the wrong idea - she doesn't drink it all in one night:)


Joyful stitching,
jane


Follow my blog with Bloglovin

2013 Finish-A-Long Q2

It's time to begin the 2nd quarter of Leanne's Finish-A-Long.
I have 4 quilts that I would like to finish in the next three months.
Number 1 is my quilt using Salt Water.

Most of the top is finished.  I still have to add a few rows. I really love this fabric and can't wait to finish this beauty.

2nd on the list is the double hourglass quilt using my precious Summersville collection.

All the blocks are pieced but still need to be sewn  together.

Each block is 6 1/2". The plan is to have 9 rows across and 12 rows down.  I'll keep the quilting simple.

Number 3 is a quilt that I started for my SIL.  I used a jelly roll of a collection by April Cornell called Portugal. The blocks are all pieced. This is a quick quilt.

The 4th wishful finish for this quarter is a quilt that was on the list for the 1st quarter.  I fell out of love with this fabric and have had no ambition to finish it.

 It will be an easy finish since the top is completely pieced.   I'm sure I'll feel different about it once it's all done.

Can't wait to see what everyone else has planned.

Joyful stitching,
jane

Q1 Finish-A-Long

I finally finished my Great Granny quilt.

This was one of my 1st quarter Finish-A-Long items that I blogged about here.

I really enjoyed making this quilt.  I used a set of 2 1/2" strips of Westminster fabrics that I purchased a couple of years ago at a quilt show along with some miscellaneous fabric from my stash.
My original intent was to do a very loose FMQ swirly, stippley kind of stitching.  However, since this was my first time doing FMQ on something bigger than a mug rug, it came out a bit different.

It might not be easy to see, but it's actually a much smaller stipple than planned.  However, I'm happy with the way it came out.

The back is from my stash.

The binding is a RobertKaufman print. I thought it would work better than a single color binding.  I really like the way it looks.

It's time to link up with Leanne at she can quilt for the end of the 1st quarter Finish-A-Long.

Joyful stitching,
jane

WIP Wednesday

Had a great time last weekend attending the Boston Modern Quilt Guild's retreat at the Franciscan Guest House up in Kennebunk.

I finished (almost) the top for my Salt Water quilt.

There's a bit more work to do on it.  I had some great suggestions from fellow guild members.

My other WIP is the double hourglass quilt using Summersville.

These blocks are so much easier to make than I thought they would be.  I used a tutorial I found on the web somewhere.  (I'll find it and then post on it when the quilt is done.)

The unfinished measurement of each block is 6 1/2".  I think I'm going to make the quilt 9 rows by 11 rows.  I have about 52 blocks stitched. The rest are cut and ready to go.

I was lucky enough to win one of the door prizes at the retreat.

I came home with this sweet little FQ bundle of Comma.
Of course, I may have done a little fabric shopping, too.

Laurie is always showing us the great fabric she bought at Marden's.
Since I was up in the area, it would have been unthinkable not to visit.
I made it a point to stop in York on my way up to Kennebunk.  Last summer I stumbled upon the Stonewall Kitchen  headquarters when visiting York Harbor for my son's wedding.  They have a great retail shop and cafe.  I discovered this yummy marmalade...

  It's great on whole wheat English muffins.  I stocked up.

Joyful stitching,
jane