Monday, September 26, 2011

My Memories Giveaway

Check this out…I am giving away a “My Memory Suite”.  This is a GREAT Digital Scrapbooking Software.  You can make your own Quilt Journals, Special Occasion Photo Albums (vacation, baby, school, sports, wedding, etc.)   Make your own Memory Quilt.  I made this one:





This Scrap Book software is a lot of fun and so easy to use.  Change the size and shape of your pictures.  Add a texture background, or use one of many of their templates.  Add a caption to the page or even on the picture.  Add buttons, and all kinds of different embellishments.  If you don’t quite see the design or template you want, check their site out.  They have many, many, more, at very reasonable prices including lots of FREE ones!

With the My Memory Suite digital program you can make all kinds of albums, including a Quilt Journal.  Show your finished quilt, add a close up picture, and perhaps the label.  Then describe and note what you would like (date, size, etc.)  you can even leave space to make a pocket to keep the pattern or extra material with.  Print it out, keep it in the folder in your program to add to, put on a DVD.  What ever you choose, it will keep records of each of your quilt projects forever.


 Make a photo album for that special someone, or perhaps a calendar.
All Grandparents would love to have a custom calendar with their grandchildren on each month. But don’t stop there, what about cards?  Birthday, Easter, Christmas, Anniversary, etc.  The list goes on and on.   
  
Here is a good one……Make a baby book. Wow, just think of putting grandparents on each page, brothers and sisters, even pets, add letters, shapes, etc.  Quilt the books and sew them together.  What a great gift.  Make pillows, totes, etc.

I could go on and on.  As I was designing my Memory quilt, I kept thinking of all kinds of ideas.  I bet a wall hanging with the grandchildren on would look great.  Or making a memory quilt of life for your parents.  How about a collage?  (Check out their FB page for more examples of what others are doing)




This scrap book software is so user friendly.  When I received it, I was having a lot of problems with my server.  (I found out that my 4-G card was defective).  They had to send me another one.  I could not wait to get it to watch the tutorials.  So, I just started playing with the program.  I had no problem at all learning it.  And if you don’t want to design your own…they have album templates for you.

To enter .......  Go to My Memories  "LIKE" and pick your favorite Digital Paperback or Layout then come back here and comment on it. If you wish, you can enter 4 more times.  Go to Jane's Quilting and “Like”, come back and tell me,  Also My FB  "LIKE" that counts as another, .My Memories FB  "LIKE"  and the 5th entry would be My Memories Blog "LIKE".    REMEMBER to come back and post a comment each time.   Everyone knows the more entries, the better your chances. Tell all your friends, repost, the more that enter and the more entries I get.....the better chances of another giveaway!!! 

I will be taking entries until 11:59am Central Time, on October 10th.  The winner will picked randomly and will be e-mailed that afternoon.    

Good Luck ……………Happy Quilting



Check my website gallery for more selections: http://janesquilting.com

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Giveaway coming soon

I will be having a giveaway real soon....I think it is going to be exciting!  I am giving away a  My Memory Suite digital software program.  Everyone can enjoy this program and have fun with it.  It takes your pictures and lets you show them off ANY way you want. You can make   Special Scrapbooks, Calendars, Cards, Journals,   oh, and yes,   Quilts....Memory Quilts!  From small wall hangings to large Bed size to show a period of time in someones life, quilt pillows, totes, the list just goes on and on!

Oh, and don't forget, journals, yes, I am working on that one myself.  To put a picture of your quilt, date, size, etc.  What a way to set it off!


(I will have a pocket at the bottom for extra material, and pattern.)

You can  make your pages anyway you want, add pizzazz, or just keep plain.

There are so many things to make and do with this program.  It is soooo user friendly, and there are so many different textured backgrounds and templates that come with it.  And you can get many more on their site.  Wow, just think of what you can make and do.  So check my site  Jane's Quilting and find out exactly when the giveaway will start and how long it will run.

Can't wait for my next blog..........   Till Then....

Happy Quilting.



Check my website gallery for more selections: http://janesquilting.com

Friday, September 16, 2011

Mickey Mouse

Quilts and Disney - Time to Unite!


I have been working the last few days on making a "Mickey Mouse" Quilt.





Let me explain....A family member of ours has been going to Disney World in Florida since she was a little girl.  Now she is married with a family and not only still going to Disney World but helps make Magical Memories for others by planning their Disney Vacations.



The other day she asked me if I ever made a Disney quilt.  I thought about it and remembered years ago I made a quilt for my youngest Grandson on this favorite movie at that time.  "CARS".  







I found some "Car" fabric and designed this layout.  (It was made when I fist started quilting with my machine)










With the left over fabric, I made a scrappy back, then machine quilted in the ditch, I made it completely machine washable.  For a 4 year old (at that time) it has to be washable.







This week I made a "Mickey Mouse" Quilt.  I used my Embroidery Machine and made 6 different Disney Characters:

Daisy and Daffy duck


                             





         
                   


Mickey and Minnie Mouse

Goofy and Pluto












Then I picked material from my stash that would match my thread used in the Embroiderer.  I designed my blocks and cut my material out.






I decided to go with 12 inch blocks and have the 6 characters in a circle with Mickey and Minnie dancing in the center block. I wanted to show the center block off more.






I sewed all my blocks together and  pressed carefully.    
 Then put them on my quilt frame and machine quilted
it in a semi-large stipple pattern all over.  When finished,
I made a binding of the same color as the last boarder
and had hand sewn the binding on.

Finished size is 74 1/2" X 74 1/2".  This quilt is for sale and listed on my site.





I am hoping that Jen likes my quilt....If not, guess I will have to make another.  You know, Disney World is a great place to go for a vacation.  It is a place everyone of all ages would enjoy and have a lot of fun.  Who wouldn't want to break away form the same everyday routine to make their own Disney Memories and have some fun with no worries......SOOOOO.... Let Jenny make your Magical Memories come true.  Make memories that will live forever in your heart with you and your family.
                             
                            http://www.magicaldisneymemories.com/


Jen works for a legitimate Company certified with CLIA called "Fairytale Journeys".   She works out of her house as an outside Travel Agent.  (independent contractor)  She specializes in creating memorable Disney vacations.

Jen loves working with her clients to plan their Disney vacation and she works very hard personalizing her clients vacation and goes above and beyond for them. One of the benefits of working at home. She stays with you from start to finish, always there for you.


       


Please,  visit her site, check it out....and don't forget, there are many Quilt shops in Orlando.  Make your next quilt a Memory Quilt of your Disney Vacation.



Happy Quilting, and Have a Great Day.



Check my website gallery for more selections: http://janesquilting.com

Monday, September 12, 2011

Kaleidoscopes

Did you know that the Kaleidoscope quilt pattern first came out in 1885?  That's right, this pattern was taken from a quilt made in PA in 1885.  The colors used on that first quilt were Yellow and Blue.

I have finally finished my second Kaleidoscope quilt.  I had the top done for a month but was having problems with my long arm machine.  Well, that is all fixed, knock on wood, and doing good.



The finished size of this quilt is 73" X 73" and is made of different shades of Browns with Dark Burgundy.

According to the dictionary:

KALEIDOSCOPE    -    An instrument containing little bits of colored glass, plastic, etc. reflected by mirrors so that various symmetrical patterns appear when the tube is held to the eye and rotated.  Anything that constantly changes, as in color and patterns.

The Kaleidoscope tube was invented in 1816 by Scottish Physicist, Sir David Brewster.  This device did not reach the American shores until 1818.

There are many variations to this quilt.  The 8 piece block is more of a modern version.  This is a very easy pattern to piece and one of the most versatile in any collection.  A muted monochromatic color scheme will produce a subtle elegant quilt while at the other end a scrap quilt will give you a constantly shifting design, full of movements and excitement.



My first Kaleidoscope was made of blue and white.  Its completed size is:   72" X 72".   I love the way you can look at it from a distance and see all different shapes, but yet up close looks so different.  Have some fun, and make one of all different colors,  I bet one made in assorted  Bali colors would be interesting!

Happy Quilting..........Have a Great Day!


Check my website gallery for more selections: http://janesquilting.com

Monday, September 5, 2011

Favorite Hand Sewing Spot

Everyone has a desired place where they do their hand sewing.  Such as in front of the TV, while watching a good movie.  I do that  too but.......





Most of the time I like to sit on my swing on my porch.  Here is where I sew on my appliqués on my quilts, or embroidery on them.  I can spread my quilt out beside me and prop my back with the pillow I had earlier. On my swing is my Crazy Scrappy, Reversible quilt. (Right now I am starting to sew Hexy's together)








The scenery is beautiful.  My husband put a fountain in our pond and I have flowers everywhere.  I enjoy seeing the flowers, watching the birds.







While swinging and sewing, the birds come right up to the porch and take baths, eat the sunflowers I put out for them.












I think they finally learned that I will not harm them.  They are such a joy to watch.  As long as I don’t make any sudden moves.











I have Cardinals, Finch, Wrens, Blue Jays, 3 different kinds of woodpeckers, Red Breasted Goosebeak, Doves, Hummingbirds, etc.  Maybe it is just me, but they are fascinating to watch.









One day while sitting and embroidering, a flock of geese came to visit.  It was like I wasn’t even there.  




How cool was that!  I tip toed into the house and got my camera.








My quilting partner, well, she will not come outside.  She is very scared, but she loves watching the birds, and will sit and wait patiently until I come back in.  She keeps me in her site at all times, she is buddy.






With Fall approaching, it is the perfect weather to sit out on my swing.  Hopefully I can get a lot of my Hexy's done.

So where is your favorite spot to quilt??    I would love to hear....

Happy Quilting.......and Have A Great Day!


Check my website gallery for more selections: http://janesquilting.com

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Sunflower Cafe

Fall is coming, cooler weather is coming and it won't be long that we will be seeing the leaves all turn those beautiful Autumn colors.  My mother's birthday is in the Fall, it is also her favorite time of year.  So I decided to make her a Fall table topper for her Dining Room Table.




Right now I have so much I am doing and thinking of,  I decided to go through some of my old magazines and glanced at some of the work others did to get an idea.  I found this in Quilters World, Aug. 2008.  I thought it looked so neat that I decided to make it.  I did change it a little, including the size of the topper so it would fit her table.

Back to my stash.  I still have some Sunflower material left over, and thought it would go good for a boarder due to its large print.  I made 2 inch squares for the background of two different off white materials.  Then I went into my files and used my own sunflower pattern.




Then I made Prairie Points on the top and bottom.  Since I used 2 inch squares, I needed 4 for each side.  When they were sewed on.  I added my boarders.  Then machine quilted using a grid pattern.  The topper completed size is:  20" X 40"






I dug into my button box (I am one that collects all buttons, never know when you might need one.)  and found enough black buttons for my mothers topper, plus a lot more, that is when I decided, hay, why not make a wall hanging for myself.  She does not have room for the wall hanging, and I already have a fall table topper.  So it worked out perfect.    After the buttons were on, I added eyes on the Chick-a-dees, painted the petals on the Sunflower and embroidered on the large leaves.

OK, time to make my wall hanging.  I did it just like the topper, used my patterns and added the Prairie Points, machine quilted in a grid pattern, then added the black buttons,put eyes on the Chick-a-dees,  painted on the Sunflowers and embroidered the leaves.  The wall hanging completed size ended up:  26" X 32"




Well, so much for my Sunflower material.  It is all used up, all but a 4" X 5" scrap.  I lucked out and had enough.  So now I must ether get more or use smaller fall prints that I already have.  Or do I start .......... Christmas............

hmmmm, back to the drawing board to find the next project.

Happy Quilting to all, Have a Great Day!


Check my website gallery for more selections: http://janesquilting.com