Catching Up.... On Quilts!

HURRAH, HURRAY!  

I've sewn the top together for the Jan Patek Miami Valley Album Quilt!

It'll look better after it's quilted, which, BTW, I have no clue how to

quilt this, but will come up with something. 

I LOVE IT!  It just warms my heart!

Another Must Have quilt kit arrived this week from Fig Tree Quilts!

I love this line of fabric!

The Fig Tree Fabric is called "California Girl".  It's so pastel

and wonderful, it makes ME feel like a California Girl!

See the Blue colorway?  It's pretty too-- looks like the beach. 

I think that's why they called it "Boardwalk"!

Look here, Honeydews, you can buy directly from

Fig Tree Quilt Company-- Click on the word HERE

to get to their website.  They are the SWEETEST

People to work with.

Now here's what I had to cut this week.  A quilt kit that was on the

backburner.  The pattern is from Cotton Way, called "Slice of Charm".

The white background squares are only 5 inches!  Oh Man!

So guess how big the pieces are???

Tiny.  And I had to cut them by hand using a template- WHEW!

Haven't done that in a LOOOOOONNNNGGGG TIME!

Actually had to use my scissors too!

Had to cut 64 of these shapes, then cut them into four pieces,

which makes:    256 small pieces (for the pies!)

This will be the final result!  I just could not

resist this kit, which was purchased about two years

ago, from Connecting Threads.  This fabric line is

called "Canning Day", which they have a few prints

left on clearance at their website.

This is American-made cotton and I really like it.

They sell it for 4.96 a yard, but it has a nice feel to it. 

It's not as high a thread count as some other quilting fabric,

but it reminds me of stuff my Granny Lil had.

I like it!  Don't be afraid to buy some.

Also at their website, you can use their "Kit Builder",

and you can plug in fabrics into a custom quilt kit,

using their fabrics.  Go and have some fun!

~

That catches me up on the quilt front for now!

XXOO,    BB

New Ironing Board Cover and Spring

I Finally stopped sewing long enough to re-cover my ironing board! 

Sewing things I actually NEED sometimes gets on

my nerves, because they take time.

I had to take time to do this project though, as my old

cover was torn.

It was easier than I thought it would be!

I followed Joanna Figueroa's instructions in her

Fresh Vintage (TM), FTQ#FV550, Issue #19

which you can get HERE.

Oh, and by the way- it's SPRING here!  The trees are

a'bloomin' and the robins are out in force!

But it's a blustery, humid day and we are

probably in for some storms today....

I love how the cover turned out!  It only took me about 30 minutes total!!

Which only took a little time out of my day!!

The fabric is by Joel Dewberry for Westminister Fabrics, Buttercup. 

LOVE IT!!

Did I mention it's Spring here?!!  These hyacinths

are from a single bulb I planted here

two years ago.  They're multiplying!

Happy Spring!!

"How Does Your Garden Grow?" Pattern Now Available

Scenes from the latest design from Hailstorm Creek Press:

"How Does Your Garden Grow?"

These are in our series-in-progress called

"My Country Life".

First in the series was "Mama's Apron".

I also like to think of this gardener as my answer to Sunbonnet Sue.

~~

Pattern uses the following techniques:

Fusing fabrics together, machine applique, and simple hand embroidery stitches; machine piecing.

What In The WORLD Have I Been Up To Lately???

Crossed Flowers Block- Jan Patek

Moda- Basket Bounty

Basket Bounty Month 1

,

"Lill Annie"

Sometimes I feel like the rat on the wheel, just spinning round and round in circles, never getting enough creative stuff done to satisfy my soul. There's things been happening- like sickness and just busy stuff-- and OH BOY-- there was a major Computer Disaster.
Despite all that, I steal away to the Playroom whenever I can and have  been able to accomplish SOME things (as seen above).  
1.  Finished another of the Jan Patek Mystery Quilt Blocks from 2010- the Miami Valley Album Quilt.
2.  Moda's Basket Bounty- and it's using Jan Patek's Lilac Hill fabric and Moda's Dragonfly fabric.
3.  And now- my new little addition--
I'm calling her Lill Annie, after my much beloved Grandmother-- Granny Lill.  Granny Lill was the one who made me my first handmade Ann and Andy dolls which I love so much.  I still have them to this day.  Well, Granny Lill made a LOT of Raggedy Ann's in her day-- of all sizes.  
So this one is dedicated to her! 
~
It's been dog-gone HOT already here this summer--
Hope it's Cool where You are!
XXXOOO
BB

French Quarter Retreat for Mardi Gras (Idea)

Hotel Lautrec Opera
If you can't go to France or even to New Orleans, at least you can pretend!
~
This is an idea for a quilter/sew-er’s/women’s/girls retreat idea– which could be for a quilt guild, a sewing bee, or a group of friends just wanting to get together. The daytime activities listed are for the women, but you can also include your boyfriend/husband/significant other in the evening activities/dinner and breakfast.

~

It begins with you bringing one item you think is “French”. Give wrap the item. It could be anything- so the possibilities are endless. This is your “ticket” into the retreat. Anything goes!  The gifts get placed into a box for the end of the retreat.

~

Every retreat has to have projects and below are several to choose from, along with a link to where you can possibly purchase these patterns, as some are from a few years ago.  These are from my personal collection, and I have scanned in the covers of these so you can see what I'm talking about. You could also substitute your own preference for a project or pattern– have it relate to the theme.  After you see the project/patterns below, you’ll get the idea of what you could possibly substitute.
~

This is the quilt pattern that inspired this idea for me.  It can be made with a packet of Fat Quarters in a single fabric collection.  The quilt is 72" x 72".

French Quarter by Joanna Fiqueroa of Fig Tree Quilts

You have to visit their website--

Merveilleux!!

http://www.figtreequilts.com/

~

~

Next is:

"Nudes Flash Needlecase" by Elinor Peace Bailey.  Everyone needs one of these!

http://www.epbdolls.net/

                                                                               ~

How about this:   "Weekend in Paris Pillow" designed by Lyn Hosford, published in Need'l Love "French Market Threads" booklet. 

http://www.needllove.com/ 

~

Frilly Dilly Bag by Janelle Wind,  http://thejanellewindcollection.typepad.com/

~

Petite Gateau pincushion by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts, http://www.figtreequilts.com/

~

Cupcake Pincushion by Sandi Henderson, Portabellopixie Boutique Patterns, http://www.sandihendersondesign.com/product-p/sh05cp.htm

~

"Primitive Pears" by Trudi Honeycutt http://www.crowsintheatticprimitives.blogspot.com/

Also printed in the Spring 2010 issue of “Prims” magazine.

~

Anything from "Let Them Eat Cake" by Susan Maw and Sally Bell (sisters).  I love this book!  I want one of each (project)!! 

http://www.maw-belldesigns.com/Maw-BellDesigns.asp 

~

I think you get the idea, right?  Anything yummy!

~~

Play french music in the back ground.  Joanna Figueroa's blog has some nice music on her playlist.

~~~

FOOD SUGGESTIONS

Breakfast: You must have French Market coffee, which is Chickory and coffee. Just remember to use HALF of what you normally would for regular coffee, otherwise it will be way too strong.

http://www.frenchmarketcoffee.com/

~

Beignets, coffee from Café du Monde  http://www.cafedumonde.com/beignet.html 

~

Pain du Chocolate

http://dinnerwithjulie.com/2010/02/06/pain-au-chocolat/

~

Croissants

http://www.latartinegourmande.com/2006/10/19/croissants-step-by-step-la-confection-des-croissants/

Pastry chefs would groan at this suggestion:  Walmart's that have bakeries have croissants.  They'll have to do if you have no bakery in your neighborhood.

~

LUNCH

Chicken Salad on Croissants

http://southernfood.about.com/od/chickensalads/r/71214a.htm

Soup du Jour (of course)

Your choice of soup

~

DINNER

Chicken filets in Orange or Apricot Marmelade

(don't have a recipe for these- you'll have to search for one you like)

Risotto

After dinner drinks:

Hurricane

http://www.drinksmixer.com/cat/3226/

SNACKS

Chocolate Truffles

~~

EVENING ENTERTAINMENT

Movies

I picked these because they either have to do with something French, France, or New Orleans.  I like "Chocolat" because it takes place during Lent.

“French Kiss” with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline

“No Mercy” with Richard Gere and Kim Basinger

“Chocolate” with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp

~~~

Before going home, have everyone pick a going away gift from the gifts that were brought as a ticket, as mementos of the weekend.



I'm a Pastel - ly Girl!

Issue #17 of Fresh Vintage from Fig Tree and

Free Pattern: "Chantilly"

~

Look what came in the mail today! (above photo)

Minus the cotton--- it's cotton pickin' time here,

so had to include my favorite fiber!

~

Granny Lil's Bowtie Quilt, circa. 1970

~

Back around 15 year ago, or so, I was fairly new to making quilts. I was told by a friend that I was "pastel-ly", meaning all my color choices were of the pastel kind. You know, pinks, pale colors of the feminine kind. For some reason, I took that as a bad thing, and I felt I had to change. Dark country colors were (and are) popular then. I felt I had to make a concerted effort to stay away from choosing pastel colors, so I did. I still have my fabric stashes from back then-- the choices I made were all dark and subdued. These still come in handy if I'm making a certain style quilt.

~

But now, many years later, I am more comfortable in my own skin and am not afraid to say "I am a Pastel-ly girl!" Fig Tree and Moda fabrics have been making the colors I truely love in their fabric lines. They have the colors now, I wish I had back then, when "pastel" seemed to be a dirty word in the quilting world.

~

I learned a lot about value and contrast in fabric colors, so I can't say all that time was wasted while I played with those dark country colors.

~

Now I'm proud of what I choose and am confident in myself. And if anyone said to me now that I was a "pastel-ly" girl, I'd say, "Why yes, I am!" and not be afraid of anyone else's opinion of me. By the way, I love the bright colors too, such as those designed by Kaffe Fassett. I was told once, by a passerby, "Well, I guess someone has to like that stuff!" Give you two guesses who said that? Yeah, it was a person who was buying dark country colors at a quilt shop.

~

It takes all kinds to make the world go round.

~

Don't be afraid to show YOUR true colors.

~

Be true to yourself and you will be a lot happier earlier in life.

Completing a Quilt Project

When I first saw this pattern, Coney Island, by Fig Tree Quilts, it was love at first sight!

I knew I was going to make this quilt.

It really was fun and turned out to be a challenging project.

I first had to collect fabrics, which was great, because Fig Tree fabrics are my favorite. SO off to the quilt shops and online stores I go in September 2008.

I started making blocks, and discovered I was going in a wrong direction-- the contrast wasn't working for me. I began to study the pattern photo and learned a lot about why these colors work, so I then began to duplicate more closely to the pattern, and was successful.

This project occupied my mind, time and thoughts for 23 months. It was my constant companion, something I could always work on during breaks from other projects. It was my security blanket.

~~

Three nights ago, I sewed the last three blocks. I felt it was a cause for celebration!

~~

What surprised me tho, were the other emotions I felt. I was astonished I'd finally come to the end of an intensive relationship with the making of this quilt. I couldn't believe it was over! I'd been lured into racing towards the finish line, sewing three blocks in one night, so that I could see all 30 blocks together on the board.

~~

Then I realized, it was no longer going to be sitting on my worktable,

waiting for me to attend to it, like an old friend.

No longer was I going to be sewing those

dainty little squares together in precise patterns.

No longer would the pile of

carefully chosen favorite fabrics

be sitting out, waiting for me to

play with color combinations.

~~

"I am in mourning." I couldn't even go into the sewing room to see the completed blocks for three days. I didn't want to look at it. It was like the project had betrayed me.

~~

Making of the blocks was finished.

~~

Now all that'a left are the mundane tasks, cutting fabric for sashing, border and binding,

then the quilting.

~~

I know, when it is quilted and laying on my bed or hanging on my wall, that I will love it, but it's not the same as the discovery process or the challenge of the process itself.

~~

The upside is, I have many other quilt projects waiting for me. I'll find another "old friend" to hang around with for a time. And, of course, I have my adoring public cheering me on!

I wonder what else is in store for me??

~~

Peony STreet Postbox

Look What Came in the Mail!

(Not all at once, but over the summer.)

Bebe: I've been sick. Dr. said it was the swine flu - H1N1. At least I don't have to get the shot for it now, they said. It's nothing to laugh at. Down in bed for two days, extreme fatique, extreme pain in all major joints, fever, no appetite. In a word: B-A-D. And I'm one of those persons who always washes hands in public bathrooms, never touch the door handles, and uses the alcohol hand stuff after grocery shopping, etc., and avoid crowds. Was not around anyone who was sick to my knowledge. I guess that's the trick of it - you can't tell who's shedding virus! Good luck this flu season, and pray you don't get a bad case of it.

The bright spot is, however, all is better now, and I'm getting to relish what came in the postbox!

Jan Pateks books are wonderful and full of great projects. Want to make them all! http://www.janpatekquilts.com They are always having specials on patterns, books and kits.

Sew Sunny Homestyle by Tone Finnager- she's Norwegian - beautiful things to make! Find book at http://www.amazon.com and search for Tone Finnager.

And of course, my fave - Fig Tree. Oh, my heart sings when I see the colors of their fabric! I am a pastel-ly girl forever - it's closest to my heart. Find at: http://www.figtreequilts.com
If you get on autoship for the Fresh Vintage newsletter, you get a free pattern with each one, and it's shipped out four times a year!

A couple new items will be at PeonySTreet at Etsy soon!

Fig Tree Patterns Came in the Mail Last Week

My favorite fabric and patterns!

Fig Tree had a special last month, buy three get one free (of their choice). I am so happy! The third one, French Kiss, is one I wanted but didn't order. If you haven't checked out their website and blog, please do so. If you love pastels, this is the fabric for you!!! See at: http://www.figtreequilts.com/ See the blog at: http://www.figtreequilts.typepad.com/