Quilting in Branson

Quirky Quilters,

As I began planning our next travel adventure, I thought of our last journey to Branson, Missouri in December.  While we were there, we got to see the fabulous Billy Dean.  He presented a wonderful show, full of Faith, Family, Friends & Fun.  His show left us feeling uplifted and joyous.  If you ever have a chance to see him and his band, you won't be disappointed.

Another fun adventure for me while there was the recently relocated Quilts & Quilts - The Fabric Shoppe.  It was a huge shop filled with every kind of fabric imaginable, batting, patterns, quilt decorative objects, and much more.  If you are in the area, it is definitely worth a visit.  I found some batiks there that coordinated with the quilt I was making for my husband for Christmas.  It was the perfect fabric to add a star border at the top and bottom, and a solid border down the sides.

Husband enjoying Christmas quilt 2016

3500 Gretna Rd.  next to The Shoppes at Branson Meadows

Quilts & Quilts, Branson, Missouri

Quilts & Quilts painted window

Branson Mills  is another fun place to visit.  It is full of every kind of hand-crafted items from local artists and provides tasty teas, coffees, cookies and ice creams as well.

The Shoppes at Branson Meadows is nearby as well.  They offer a variety of outlet stores and a movie theater as well.  I often find discounted clothes, shoes, kitchen equipment.  My husband finds tools and items "as seen on TV" there.

If you've seen everything you want to in Branson and still have that quilting fever, you  might want to drive a little north to Springfield.  There you will find Merrily We Quilt Along offering a variety of fabrics, kits, embroidery patterns, and long arm quilting supplies.

Quilt on!

just J

Quilt Labels Made Easy

Quirky Quilters,

I've been so busy sewing the last few days that I haven't taken the time to update this blog.  I finally got the labels made for two quilts I'm gifting to a couple of retired teacher friends.  I still have to hand sew them on, but I can do that when I'm watching tv with my husband.  I forgot to take pictures of the quilt fronts so I'll have to go back and do that later today and share in my next post.

Ruby Snow label

Dragonfly Delight label

I make these labels in the Word program on my computer using fonts I like and sometimes appropriate clip art.  I print them on Printed Treasures Sew-On Inkjet Printable Fabric  sheets by Prym Consumer.  If you go to the website and type in "Inkjet Fabric Sheets" it will give you a variety of options for how many sheets you want.  I usually print 4 labels to a sheet.

More later.  I've got to go quilt.

just J

El Campo Casual Quilters

Quirky Quilters:

I had a fabulous quilty day today.  The first Wednesday of every month is the meeting of the El Campo Casual Quilters guild I joined this year.  Our project for today was a tote bag taught by Renee Beery our president.

We had homework to do before the meeting today.  Those of you who know me well, know that I procrastinated and waited until the last minute to start.  I started yesterday.  I had to sew 70 charms (5-inch squares) together, put pellon on the back.  The directions said fusible webbing so I used Heat N Bond Lite, which was all I had in my stash.  It was sticky and was difficult to move through my sewing machine so I had to put the paper back on to quilt.  It worked great, but now I have the time-consuming task of removing the papers between the quilted squares before I can put the bag together.

At the meeting I got my pockets sewed on the lining and the straps sewed on the bag.  Everyone else completed their bag except for the top stitching.  I will finish mine tomorrow.  I will read the directions more carefully.

outside of my bag - work in progress

Quilt Happy,
just J

Granddaughters are a Joy

Quirky Quilters,

We had a wonderful surprise yesterday when our two granddaughters stopped by with our daughter.  Meagan is a toddler while Rebekka is attending college.  I showed off my latest projects while waiting for Grandpa to come back with barbecue for a family dinner.  The girls and our son are my best fans.

Meagan was the first in the family to get a quilt, just the day after her birth.  The quilt started out as a Strip Club Project from Quilters Emporium.  The pattern was Picture Frames from Cozy Quilt Designs, designed by Daniela Stout.  I dutifully made all the blocks and put them on my design wall.  I hated it.  I kept rearranging them and staring at it from across the room.  I just couldn't fix it.  Three months later my friend came by and said "that is the ugliest quilt I've ever seen."  It was just too busy with the fabrics that came with it.  So I separated the two types of blocks, added sashing and borders and ended up with two beautiful baby quilts. 

Meagan's quilt

Back of Meagan's quilt

Meagan with big sister Rebekka

2nd quilt for Sydney, a friend's new baby

Sydney with her quilt

Stay tuned tomorrow for the story of Rebekka's quilt.

just J

Blocks designed for 2013 American Heart Association Quilt Raffle

Quirky Quilters,
I am back at my blog after a long time off.  I was so busy teaching school that I had little time to quilt and even less to blog.  But I retired this past Spring and now I am ready to quilt up a storm.

The above blocks I designed back in 2013 for the American Heart Association Quilt Raffle.  Both of my blocks were chosen to be included in quilts they raffled off.  I was so excited.  I hope to do more designing in the future.

I spent the this past Friday with my friend Ginni Morrow of Remnants of Tomorrow.  She quilted a signature quilt for a retired teacher friend of mine.  I worked on finishing a Yellow Brick Road quilt for another friend.  Ginni offers long-arming services at reasonable prices.

Stay tuned for more news from my quilting world.

just J

Quilting a Little, Dreaming a Lot

It's been so long since I posted to this blog.  I have been quilting,  My problem is I start a lot of projects but never seem to finish them.  I guess I'm the queen of UFO's.  I love to take classes, but if I don't finish it at the class, then I get busy with something else.  The class project sits in its special box with all the other special projects.

 I gave this quilt from the other half of the blocks from the Picture Frame quilt to our new granddaughter, Meagan Renae shortly after her birth in early July 2012.  Her big sister liked it so much, she wanted a quilt of her own.  I let her choose from all the quilt tops I had completed.  Of course, she chose the one I had already promised to one of my former students.  I ended up piecing her a quilt with very similar fabrics and the same pattern:  Split Rail Fence.  Now I have to decide whether I give it to Bekka for Christmas, her birthday, or graduation.  I guess it will depend on when I finish quilting it.

Our grandson, Vic is currently in law school in San Antonio.  His fiance has taken a job teaching in Victoria, where they will be married in January.  It seems like they'll be living apart until he finishes law school, so I decided to make them 2 wedding quilts.  When I texted to ask him their favorite colors, he said his was #382 clear.  He has a great sense of humor, but not very helpful.  Later texts provided better information so I could make a plan.  I thought a Courthouse Square pattern would be good for him, but there is also a block called the Lawyer's Block.  For her, I'm debating either a quilt made from Sarah's Block or a Friendship Album block that guests can sign at the wedding.

Frustration was Unanimous

Went to my final Swirly Girl Michael Miller Clubhouse meeting yesterday.  There were about 8 of us there and none of us had our quilt completed thus far.  We all stopped at the same point:  when Michael Miller kept sending white polka dot on off white fabric rather than the white on white we had begun our quilts with.  I chose the red, white and blue Casino version of the quilt.  I love the pattern and especially the bonus projects.  But it has been frustrating for two years, with not getting the fabric on time or Michael Miller sending the wrong fabric (usually the white).  I bought the white barb wire fabric from this year's Quilt Across Texas and I plan on substituting that for the white on white polka dot fabric.  I hope to get it done in the next month or two, because I want to put it on my guest bed.

We had a good time anyway.  Bonnie auctioned off various items that we bought with our Clubhouse dollars.  I managed to get a "Relax" pillow and 2 sets of 5 inch squares.  We also each got a Swirly Girls Design pattern, Brickworks.  It's a fabulous pattern.  I haven't made it yet, but I plan to soon.  I have made their Perfect Ten quilt and it was a breeze to put together.  I used black and white layer cakes, with pops of bright solids for sashing and borders.

Perfect Ten ~ pattern by Swirly Girls Design

 

 

 

 I still need to add the borders which will be piano keys using up the remnants of the brights.