"Stars on a Christmas Night"

The Christmas Star Quilt is complete. I'm going to call it, "Stars on a Christmas Night".  It was so much fun to first exchange the twelve in blocks with all the ladies from the yahoo group. 

These are the 24 blocks which I sent to Kim in Ohio. In return a few weeks later, I recieved 24 blocks in return. One of block from each of the sets of blocks that she recieved. It was so much fun to open the package and see all these beautiful Star blocks!

Then the search was on for for just the right back ground fabric and decision on how would I set the block in the quilt. It did not take me long to decided on the dark blue Moda Fabric with the gold metallic stars.  After laying out the blocks, I decided that I was a couple of blocks short for what I wanted to do so I made two additional blocks including the Lone Star in the center.

After a few nights of sewing the blocks were complete and it was time to put the top together.

Then it was time for a border or two. After much thought, I decided to add a one inch white border followed by a three inch Green border and a five inch red border. So here it is...all done.

Since I am so new at machine quilting, I'll be sending this out to be quilted. They plan to display some of these Star Quilts in the MQX West Quilt Show in Portland in the fall.

SO here it is...."Stars on a Christmas Night"

Happy Quilting. The new projects....they are brewing!

Jan



New projects a whirl......

Well, my head has been full of gold and navy fabric…I have had this pieced border in my head and I thought that it was what I needed for my Christmas Star block quilt.  So today I was making the border.  I love it but…..



It will not work for the Christmas Star block quilt! So a new project is whirling around in my head that will use this beautiful combination of fabric. I think this is the first time that I started a quilt with the border!!!



Since this border will need to be for a different project, I looked through my stash and I have found fabric which will work for the borders of the Christmas Star Quilt.  I did spend some time this weekend looking for the Navy and Gold Moda fabric which I had used in the background of the Christmas Star Quilt just incase I needed a bit more.  I found it online but I know that I had found it locally recently too and it surprised me.  I always prefer to buy locally and support our local business but I can’t find it..

In the mean time with St Patrick's day looming there is a lot of Green fabric on sale right now..so I supported the local fabric shops again…..I see some table runner projects in my near future…

And a few for spring too!

So as soon as I get the border on the Christmas Star Quilt…I’ll show it to you…I see some Cinco de Mayo projects too…

Happy sewing!

Jan

What was on my machine this week - March 11,2011

Spring is almost here and Lucy and I have had fun this winter. I thought I would show you what I had on the machine last week!  It's pink, it's black and gray?

It's Halloween?  In March? Yes…It’s a bit early for Halloween or late.. depending on how you look at it. Kind of like ying and yang or half full or half empty...  It is a project that I really enjoyed assembling last fall but have been waiting to get my machine so I could quilt it!  It will be ready for next year, that is for sure! This was adorable Halloween fabric in nontraditional Halloween colors. It reminded me of the Adams Family.  I know I am going to enjoy it hanging over the fireplace! So here's a closer look.

Another look...



I used a variegated black-gray-white thread in a large overall stippling design, nothing too fancy as I learn how to use Lucy! Hope you enjoy it! I am finishing the Christmas Stars Block swap Quilt and then I promise that my next project will be for spring!

Have  a great weekend snd I'll be back soon!

Happy sewing!

Jan



Star Peek...

I thought I would give you a peak at what I am doing.

 

I have been practicing on my long arm techniques with Lucy…I have a lot to learn… I think I need to go invest in a DVD or two and some classes but I am learning.

I am also working on piecing my Christmas star swap blocks. So maybe you will recognize your block or just enjoy this winter night’s sky!

I am trying to make some decisions on how to do it.  I have one star (Lone Star) which does not have a white back ground...I may have to  change that.  It is right in the center of the Quilt so it might be OK.  What do you think?  Remember it’s far from done. I will be adding a pieced border as well. I have the fabric for the border but I am letting the ideas stew a bit.

 
 
Enjoy,
 
Jan

Here's Lucy...

The Christmas Star Swap Quilt is coming together.. The blocks are set and I'll post a photo or in in a couple of days.  I have bought fabric for a pieced border and I am pretty excited about it.  I have a new (used) HQ -Sixteen long arm sewing machine named Lucy and I have been playing with her so much that I have not been posting in my blogs!  So sorry but I will work on that!

She fits in nicely in my home!  We play well together but I have alot to learn!

Back to Basics

I gave you a sneak peek at what I was working on a couple of weeks ago. Well, I finished the nine patch project and I’m calling it “Back to Basics” since the quilt is using basic blocks through out. I decided to use the four patch corners in each block between 4.5 inch window panes which made each block end up being a 12.5 inch block. I took a few days to try to figure out what to do for a border.

I had purchased a Jelly roll of Bali prints called “Spumoni” to use in the 4 patch blocks because I just did not have enough Bali assortments in my stash. I even bought some other Bali fabric to use for a border which I thought might work but later decided against it. I had originally purchased a fabric which featured “Tea cups” and had planned to use at first for the border but the longer I worked on the project I decide that I need to stick to Bali prints instead.

I did keep the original background fabric which I had bought soon after getting my nine patches back last fall. So I decided to a piece simple border using 2.5 inch Bali pieces and 2.5 inch background pieces sandwiched between 2.5 inch background strips for the border.

As I was putting together the border and after I had decided what to call the Quilt I realized that the background fabric that I had been using was actually an RJR fabric from 2006 called “ Back to Basics”!

I hope you enjoy it. Now to figure out how to Quilt it!



Later,



Jan

Sneak Peek

Sneak Peek…

Thought I would give you a peek at what I am working on. Do you remember the nine patch blocks that I got from my Nine Patch Swap? Well, they are coming together. I picked out a back ground fabric and I am going to town. I had picked a fabric for a large border but I am having second thoughts….I do that sometimes as the blocks come together. And now I am not too sure so I will leave that decision open for a while.
Here’s a peek…

Anybody recognize this one?  Pretty, isn't it?

  

How about this one?

They look like they are coming together!

And some pretty little 4 patch blocks!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Playing with the layout!  That is a Navy blue flannel sheet on the bed... So the blocks stay put as I play!
Stay tuned for more peeks...