Tonga All Night Long

Are you doing the Tonga?  I have found this sweet Tonga Treasures, Tonga Treats fabric this past spring.  Well, needles to say, it has been one Busy summer so far.  Wow, Our son and his fiance moved down from PA to us here in TN the end of May.  Then our niece and her beautiful little girls came to visit.  Then the garden, freezing, picnics, etc.  It is like there are so many things to do in one day.  I wish the days would last longer.  Or is it I wish the nights would be longer (to sleep more)  

Anyway, I finally got to blog and show everyone what I made this past month, in between everything else.

I got 44 -  2 1/2 inch strips and l yard of each the light, green and darker red prints for a boarder.

I then used a block called "Contrary Wife" but I did kind of modify it a bit.  For the size quilt that I am making, I needed 25 blocks and each will be 9 inches square.    Here are all the pieces after they were cut out to make all my blocks.

Here are each of the 25 blocks.  As you can see, all are the same, light on one side (with the exception of the pinwheel in the center) and dark on the other side.

I decided to set my blocks on end...so I needed 16 triangle blocks.

 I then sewed them all together.  It was machine quilted in an all over feather design.

Total size is:  62 " X 62"

So what are you doing this summer?  Hope you are having fun.

Till next time,

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE!!

To get special designed quilts or to see my gallery, check out my site at: http://janesquilting.com

June Brides

June Brides... Ahh, June seemed to be the romantic month.  Doves are flying everywhere spreading the love.  But, that is not the only month.....

In the beginning of April I was asked to make a Wedding Wall hanging for a friend of mine.  Her grandson and his fiance were getting married.  She wanted it to be in Red, White and Black.  I had the perfect fabric for the job.

 I drew my outside boarder to look like this:

Then I drew a bride and groom for in the center.  From this I made my template for my applique.

My next step was to cut my center (off white) piece and then the squares and rectangles for the boarder:

Well, to make a long story short (due to time to get this in the mail to PA) I had to concentrate mainly on my project.  

I added a bow, then with printer and cotton fabric I added a poem underneath, reading:

Two Hearts

Joined as one

Together Forever

Then the date they were married.  (or to be married)   (sorry about the blurry picture, I cropped it after the large picture was taken)

 I also added two Red Hearts with Doves holding them.  Inside each are the names of the bride and groom.  Oh, also at the last minute I was asked to add a dog.  Seems as they adopted a cute puppy together this week.  The applique was all machine appliqued with monofilament thread so not to be seen.  I did a little embroidery to show off the Bride and Groom a little.  

I machine quilted all around the applique, then did a stipple stitch in the off white back ground.  Then in the boarder I machine quilted in the ditch.  

Total size when completed was 24" X 28"

I want to apologize for this picture though.  I was in such a hurry to finish and get it mailed that I forgot to take a picture.  So my friend took it for me and sent it too me when it arrived at her house.  

My friend as been very close to my heart for a long time.  She is one that is always there when you need a shoulder to learn on.  One to lend an ear and listen.  She is the best!   

So......Are you, or were you a June Bride????  I was a May Bride myself.  We were married just before my birthday.  That way my dear hubby will not forget either days, LOL.   He never has, every anniversary (which we were married 38 years) I get a dozen Red Roses.   What a guy, so proud he is mine!  

Now, I am off and running....so much to do, so little time.  My machine is a waiting.......

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE!

To get special designed quilts or to see my gallery, check out my site at: http://janesquilting.com

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY !!

Today is the day for Picnics, where family and friends gather together and enjoy each others company.  They may play games, swim, eat real good food.  Along with many stories and perhaps watch Fireworks.....And have LOTS of fun!
                                               
                                              

DID YOU KNOW... 

July 4, 1776 -  After various changes to Jefferson's original draft, a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th.  Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favour of the Declaration; 2, Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No; Delaware was undecided and New York abstained.  John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence.  It is said that he signed his name "with a great flourish" so "King George can read that without spectacles!"

                                                  

            

On July 4, 1777 - The first Independence Day celebration took place.  It's interesting to speculate what those first 4th festivities were like.  By the early 1800's the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were firmly established as part of American Independence Day culture.  


                                                               

ON A LIGHTER NOTE:

Once, in the 1820's, a little boy called Sam was playing in the yard behind his house.  During his pretend fighting game, he knocked over the outhouse.  Now Sam was upset and worried that he would get into trouble so he ran into the woods and didn't come out until after got dark.  When he arrived back home, his pappy was waiting for him.  He asked suspiciously, "Son, did you knock over the outhouse this afternoon?"

"No, pappy," Sam lied.

                                            

"Well, let me tell you a story," said the father. "Once, not that long ago, Mr Lincoln received a shiny new axe from his father.  Excited, he tried it out on a tree, swiftly cutting it down.  But as he looked at the tree, with dismay he realized it was his mother's favorite cherry tree," his pappy paused." just like you, he ran into the woods. When he returned, his pappy asked, 'Abraham, did you cut down the cherry tree?'  Abraham answered with, 'Father, I cannot tell a lie. I did indeed chop down the tree.' Then his father said, 'Well, since you were honest with me, you are spared from punishment. I hope you have learned your lesson, though.' So," the Sam's father asked again," did you knock down the outhouse?"

"Pappy, I cannot tell a lie any more." said the little boy. "I did indeed knock down the outhouse."

Then his pappy father spanked Sam boy red, white, and blue. The boy whimpered, "Pappy, I told you the truth! Why did you spank me?"

Pappy answered, "That's because Abraham Lincoln's father wasn't in the tree when he chopped it down!"

                                                                    

I want to give a BIG thank you to Madame Samm and Thearica Burroughs for all their hard work on the "Put Your Stamp on it" Blog Hop.  It was a blast...All those talented quilters, such beautiful stamps.  I was in total AWWW every day. 

I also want to announce my winner to my giveaway.  The book:  "Wonderfully Whimsical Quilts" Written by Carol Burniston

I went to Random.org and the winner is:

             KRIS

CONGRATULATIONS!!!     I will be emailing you shortly for verification.

I want to also thank everyone that left me a comment and to help me decide on a printer.  I have purchased a HP and love it.  I cannot believe how clear my copies are.  I am now a printing fool.  LOL  


HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE!

To get special designed quilts or to see my gallery, check out my site at: http://janesquilting.com

Put your Stamp on it!

It is my day to show my stamp.  I am not sure my stamp will hold up to all the other beautiful stamps I have seen.  I have been so busy, my mind kept coming up with blank ideas.  But before I show you my stamp,  I want to thank Madame Samm and  Thearica Burroughs  for all their hard work.  There is a lot of hard work and time goes into a blog hop.  And I know WE all appreciate all that you do.

Now it is time to show you what I did. (or should I say, tried to do)   I had a tough time deciding what I wanted to put onto a stamp.  My first thought was to make a Photo type quilt for our son and his fiance.  I wanted to make something special for their new home, and thought perhaps, I could incorporate it in.  It almost worked. I took lots of pictures of them from moving to playing with their dogs in their new yard.   I took some really good pictures. My thought was to make a collage type and have two stamps so it looks like it was mailed to them.  Here are the two pictures that I wanted for my stamps:

Delia

Morgan

After I downloaded all the pictures I did some fancy photo adjusting, and got my fabric sheets ready for the printer.  First, I cut my white fabric,

Then, carefully, I glued it to my paper for printing. 

I know....I am cheap, I always use quality white fabric and heavy paper so it will glide through my printer with ease.  But you can always buy your fabric sheets.  Here are some that I have purchased a while back.  I didn't want to use these for they were an off white fabric and would not match what I had in mind.

.  

Well, to my surprise....my printer DIED!!!  Of all times!  I tried everything.  I cannot copy, nor print.  (But, I did find out that it will scan pictures into my lap top yet.  Wow, that is no good to me.)  Guess I need to do some research and find out what is a good printer, I definitely need to get one.  Any ideas as to which one is best?  

OK...Plan B.....I need to re-think my stamp....So I drew the truck that my husband is dreaming of buying some day.  He would love to purchase a 1930 Chevy, one that needs a lot of work, for he wants to restore it his way.  I could not draw exactly what he wanted.  So I drew this:

I decided to make it RED.  Now when my husband gets his truck, he wants to make a Street Rod out of it.  To make it all original is time consuming and VERY costly.  Trying to find all the original parts and all.  He says he wants to get it up, running and looking good, so we can go cruising together in it!  I know it is not quite what he is thinking of but this is what my drawing turned out to be.

He seen it and just laughed.  He said it won't look quite like this but he would take this.  LOL

OK, next I appliqued it on very carefully with tiny stitches on the machine.   Then I cut it a little larger then the size that I wanted my stamp.  I added the lines on the truck to show the hood, door, wheels, etc.

I made it larger for I wanted to cut it with my Pinking Shears.   Gee, I didn't use these for a long time.  My mother got these before I was born.  But surprisingly they are still very sharp.   

Now that I got them squared and cut, I found a fabric that I liked for a background.  I wanted to make it look framed on a board.  I layered and quilted it along the pinking cut edges then around the truck.  I also did the binding different.  I turned it under and to the back and hand stitched it down.  I painted the 12 cents on and then carefully drew the postage seal on.    

OK, so it ain't perfect...but I tried.  

 Thank you for stopping by and seeing my stamp, now, lets go see what everyone else made.  After seeing all the beautiful stamps yesterday, I can't wait to see today's.  Ready?  Grab your coffee and lets go:

Life @ Ruffhaven 

Englating

Charlottes Creations

Moments

Feathered Nest Studio 

Moose Stash Quilting

Hillvalleyquilter

BUT don't stop today.....here is the rest of the schedule.......

You will not want to miss a one, believe me!

June 28

Robin's Fabric Nest

In The Sewing Basket

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Just Quilt It

AnnieOak Designs

Buzzing and Bumbling

krislovesfabric

CherrysPrairiePrimitives

Hanging On By A Thread

July 1

Quilt Matters

Sew Many Yarns

Scrapbook-ChickADoodle 

Patchouli Moon

The Slow Quilter

A Loose Thread

Janes Fabrics and Quilts

Selina Quilts

Debby Kratovil Quilts

Dancing Thru Threads

July 2

Sew and Sow Farm  

fishkopp

Scraps of Life

Meadowbrook

Katie and Kwilts  

Em's Scrap Bag   

GrammieQ's

How ART you?

BumbleberryStitches

A Stitch in Time

July 3

More Stars in Comanche

Dachsies With Moxie

NotionNanny

13 Woodhouse Road

Heikesquilt’

Traveling Quilter

Jackie’s Art Quilts

What About Rheema?

From This to That

Sew We Quilt

After you have seen todays Stamps....come on back....I have a great Giveaway that you will want to check out.

I am so proud to be able to give this away to one lucky winner.  It was given to me by a special person that wants to be kept anonymous.  I can do that.  Anyway, It is a great quilt book called:  "Wonderfully Whimsical Quilts".

Written by Carol Burniston, you will get 10 adorable projects to make.  Enlarge them, shrink them, it has great patterns and directions with each project.  They are all  color-splashed quilts with a sense of humor.  Come on....We all love that, right??

All you need to do is be a follower and leave me a comment.  What kind of printer do you have?  Which one would you recommend to buy?   (I truly need one bad!)

The last day to enter will be the last day of this hop, July 3rd.  I will post who won on July 4th.   Also, please make sure I can contact you.   

Till then........

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE!


To get special designed quilts or to see my gallery, check out my site at: http://janesquilting.com

Ready for the Beach???

Summer is finally here and vacations are on their way.  One of my favorite places to go was on the lake.  (I am definitely a water bug, love the water)  When our son was young we had an open-bow boat called "Sorry Charlie".  Then we traded it in for an 8 cylinder closed bow.  Named this one "Lady Jane"

This one we stored in a friends yard near Raystown lake in PA.  Oh, every Friday night when we got home from work....we headed for the boat for a weekend on the water.  My husband and I slept on the boat and the kids in tents on land.  Then we would tow them all over that lake, on ski's or the tube.

BUT, when our vacation came......We headed to the beach, Chincoteague Island, VA.    My husband would tow the boat down along with us.  We would fish, swim, etc.  So much fun, made lots of memories.

That seems so long ago.  We since, sold the boat and moved to TN.  But the memories are close to us!

Well, I was given this cute pattern:

Bountiful Beauties designed by Amy Bradley.  Oh what fun it was to make.  I just love digging into my stash bin and hunting for just the right pieces.

Then taking my time to put them just where I want them.  I then appliqued them by machine using my manofillment thread.  When all was done, I did some embrodering for the faces, etc.

Then I quilted it.  I made circles and lines in the sky to represent a sun shining.  Then the bottom half I did ripples.  I wanted it to resemble sand.  

When I was finished, I added glitter paint to two of the sunglasses, and a red button in the one's hat.

I also added reddish buttons on the flip flops, and little pearls on the shoes of another.

It was a lot of fun to make and it was nice to change things up a little.  I am always doing piece quilts and every now and then I like to have fun.   Total size is:  26" X 26 1/2"  (as usual, I customized the pattern to me)

Hay, I also want to remind everyone of the next hop, starts June 26th.  

I sure hope to see you all there. 

 I am making something special for this one.  Talk about thinking out of the box...........I need to find mine,  LOL    

Till then,

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE!

To get special designed quilts or to see my gallery, check out my site at: http://janesquilting.com

Learning to Quilt

I was never so proud as I was this past week.  Our niece and her family came to visit with us.  She has 3 beautiful girls.  The oldest is Noel and she wanted to learn to quilt.   Well, when I heard that, I got her this beautiful fabric:

Her favorite color is purple and she loves butterflies.  When I found this I knew it was perfect for her.

Her mother, father and great-grand mother, great-aunt and 2 little sisters were also coming.   I knew that they were only going to be here a week and that she would want to go sight seeing, swimming, etc. with the family.  That means not much time to sew.   So I pre cut all the fabric to 5 1/2 inch squares.

I cut equal amounts of each so she could lay them out in whatever design that she wanted.  Then I rearranged my room so that I could be right there with her working on my quilt at the same time.

What fun we had sewing together.  She was so proud and tried to hard to get all the seams perfect.

After her rows were made....time for Dinner and we all went fishing in our pond.  Here are her two sisters:

We had soooo much fun with these girls.  Noel even caught the biggest Bass. 

The next day was another busy one.  Then that night after dinner our son set up his Karaoke machine.  Those little ones just did not want to let go of the mic.  Tooooo Cute!!

The next day, we had a  little more time to work together.  

She tried hard to get it done.  But I kept telling her to take her time.  She got all 10 rows finished.  Then laid them out and marked them as to which goes where.  She did a GREAT job.  She got all but the last 2 rows on.  

 Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to finish.  I cut her backing and batting and wrote notes for her to remind her how to finish it.  She is going to tie her blocks together instead of quilting it.  I am soooo proud of her.  She did GREAT, and was soooo careful to make perfect 1/4 inch seams.  She sure was the perfect student.  Who knows....maybe her quilts will be "Famous" someday!

What a good summer project.  We were sorry to see them all head home.  We are going to miss those girls. They take after their mother, beautiful, smart,  nothing gets in their way of what they want to do.   We will always be there for them all.

Well, off to my next project...

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE!


.
To get special designed quilts or to see my gallery, check out my site at: http://janesquilting.com

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY...Summer is Here!!

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, That is what I am anyway.  Our son has moved from Hershey, PA down here close to us in TN this weekend.  YEAH!!  Oh, I forgot what a mess, confusion, boxes, etc.

He rented the largest truck he could, loaded it in one day, then the next morning headed down.  He and his fiance drove 22 hours striaght to get here.  They came straight to our house, ate and had to meet the realtor for settlement.  Then fell asleep till the next day.  

I was told that  their 2 dogs, Deliah (a St. Bernard) and Morgan (a Pit Bull) rode in the back seat of his fiance car.  She said they were no problem at all, stayed laying down as long as the car was moving.  They stopped regular to let them out, run, give them water and eat.    I thought they looked so cute...this is when they got back in to go to their house.  They just sat so patiently till we were all ready to go.

What a weekend.  Monday, I went with to take the truck back to Jackson, then to put the electiric in their name, post office, etc.  

Yesterday I got caught up on the "Say it with Flowers" Blog hop.  WOW, did you see all those beautiful flowers??  I was total amazed at all the beautiful projects everyone had.  The creations and ideas, well, I was truly amazed and I enjoyed reading each and every blog.  

A  GREAT BIG thank you to CAROL at Just Let Me Quilt  and MADAME SAMM  at Sew We Quilt  for all their hard work and for making another great hop for all of us.  

Well, unfortunaltely I did not get any quilting done this past week and half...but I got this great pattern from a friend and I can't wait to start it.

Before I do...

I want to announce my winner for the 

CD  from Electric Quilt company...."Quilt Designs".  

Here I go to Random.com and it says..........

BONNIE,   

CONGRATULATIONS....

I will be e-mailing you shortly to verify your winnings. 

AND

As soon as I do.....I am off to my quilt room digging into my scraps and starting "Bountiful Beauties".

Till next time..........

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE!!!!

To get special designed quilts or to see my gallery, check out my site at: http://janesquilting.com