I want to sew...

We transitioned from Guatemala to the states for our maternity leave. We were sick for weeks after the transition (upper respiratory stuff). We are staying with relatives. I do not have a sewing space set up... yet! I want to sew. LOL

I am glad to finally post and 'be back' with you all... It's been too long!!!

*hugs*
Jackie

Still here and a fan of Quilter Blogs

Hello Quilting World!

Where have I been?
Here, gestating, LOL I am a stay at home mom of three and it's busy! We are also in a transition to go to the states for maternity leave, and I'm both excited and bummed. So it's been an emotional push/pull for me. But mainly, my sewing machine is packed, and I won't see it probably for about a year or so. I will be using my MILs early-80's JCPenney machine while stateside, yeah! So, it's not like I won't be sewing! I NEED Sewing! I discovered it keeps my BP down during the final months of the pregnacy!

I've been watching you, well maybe, not you, but the Quilting posts!
I Love keeping up with the quilting community in many ways online. One fav is through Quilter Blogs. I subscribe to the RSS FEED , and so I don't actually get the Quilter Blogs webpage, just the text and photos from the blog posts. I hit page down and get through them fast.

In May, there was an online quilter festival. I Bookmarked EVERY single entry in my RSS Feed folder. I have not had a chance to visit them much but admit, if it doesn't talk mostly about quilting/sewing, i take it off my list.

Enough Text, where's the Photos, projects, UFOs?
As I say, this is a Quilt Blog, so It needs to talk about Quilting and have PHOTOS! LOL
  • Tshirt Quilt for Hubby - WIP
    • I have been purging our whole house and was finally able to get hubby to go through old clothes. I have a stack of Tshirts (see above), I have cut off the sleeves and blank backs in prep for his ongoing Tshirt Quilt.
    • Have you Made a Tshirt quilt?
    • I've made several small ones and love doing them!
  • Denim, something...
    • Hubby even gave my a stack of old jeans (above and there's more), I have on my to-do list to do a denim quilt/blanket/something. Not too sure what to do. I've collected different patterns and instructions of the year.
    • Have you made a denim quilt and any pointers????
  • Other TO-DOs, WIPs/UFOs
    • In the USA:
      • I made my sister's daughter a butterfly quilt top (year and a half ago or so). I told her when I get stateside to send it to me (with batting and backing or the money for them) and I will finish it
      • I told my brother to gather his old Ts and I'll make him a T-quilt
      • My MIL wants a Music themed quilt, I'm still trying to design in my head!
        • Anyone have ideas or Music fabric to donate or I'll SWAP!
    • In GUA:
      • The polyester quilt is packed away for after I return to GUA after having the baby.
      • My own T-shirt quilt site awaiting for the purchase of something cool for sashing. I cut these years ago, they are already stablized and ready for assembly!
      • Two "quick quilts" the baby size of cheater fabric. They never were finished because I didnt have batting.
The Quilting Group
I am still with a quilting group here in Guatemala and it is a huge blessing to be part of it. I have been able to help much when I go but it sure is mental therapy for me!

some photos of show and tell









*hugs*
Jackie


Disclaimer: Life happens :)

Maxine Fabric is coming to my house!

Thanks to this site/blog/shop:


I'm "Lucky Number 13" and WON!!!!
original giveaway post is here

"Maxine" the funny comic is on fabric and coming to my house!


See the post here at "We Love Quilting" of my win! YEAH!

I KEEP telling you... you cannot win if you do not ENTER!

But then to those of you who HAVE entered and NEVER won, DO NOT give up!!!! Pssst I enter a lot of giveaways mainly for fabirc :) There are a number of sites that giveaway "things" daily, weekly, or monthly. Depends on your time and will/effort to try to win! :)

I am SEW excited and Grateful to Chris and Gary Wheeler for this FUN WIN!!!

We Love Quilting is owned by Chris Epps Wheeler & Gary Wheeler, their studio located in Locust Fork, Alabama. They are also online at http://www.chriswheelerquilts.com/


*hugs*
Jackie

Disclaimer: I don't believe in 'luck' - used to be very superstitious... it was REALLY bad, but then I met Jesus and believe much more in being blessed and gifted unconditionally through God because HE loves us. So was this win from God? I don't know, just know I am excited to get this Maxine Fabric!!! YEAH!!!!

Comfort Stitching By Aneela Hoey Giveaway!


*hugs*
Jackie

Disclaimer: yes by posting this i get another entry! Why NOT! You would if you like scraps and have a projects for scrap quilts; aticker tape quilt and a crumb quilt! :)

Pets on Quilts Show: I won a beautiful pattern!



My Window Cats quilt was one of them! YEAH!


This is a list of the Prizes, and if I am reading the results right, I won prize #1!
which is Java House Quilts donated a cute pattern, "Shell we Dance?"

Thank you SewCalGal for hosting and running the show!!!!

My Sister just sent me a photo of Duke & Daisy on their Quilt!!! Aren't they so cute!

*Hugs* - Jackie

Lesson in making a bag for balls


me (black shirt), mendy,
and my three blessings in Guatemala
So a friend of mine (Mendy in the above photo in the purple shirt and in the below photo) came to Guatemala to share love and Jesus with children at a home they live in because the Gov't sent them there. Her youth group in TN raised $1040 to spend on the kids. They all got a new pair of jeans, a shirt, and a tooth brush and a large set of communal toys!

Mendy shopping with the funds raised by her Youth Group in TN!

We noticed when we put the balls in the cart that they are tricky to transport without a bag. So we look for a laundry bag in laundry products aisle but nothing. So I figured I have some thick donated fabric, that I wasn't sure what  I would use it for then excited that this was the solution for both the balls and the fabric!

I set the balls on the fabric to see how much to cut.
So I cut it and then started to sew!

Then Wah-lah.. I made a bag complete with draw string/ribbon.

Sorry it's on the side, but this shows how much EXTRA fabric I have on the top! I guess the bag had width/girth that i didn't account for when estimating the amount of fabric. LOL! Oh well we just hope they have more balls to put in it.


When my friend arrived at the children's home. She said they smiled bug when they saw the big bag. That makes me smile too. 

See the bag, then my friend getting the balls out, and the kids with their new stuff!






I am glad to post this today. Because I've had an up and down day, in hormones, emotions, events and such. If you pray please add me to your list for balanced hormones and not getting so 'reactive' to small things. Pray for my family too. Donations werwe tight this month and as it nears the end of the month, we are super challenged in how to streatch what we have. I know we can with the help of God and the Body. So pray! thanks! Ok I posted on my personal blog, now off to post to our ministry site.
*hugs*
Jackie

Disclaimer: I complete 16 weeks prego this week and cannot believe how emotional I am these days. Although today is an excpetion. It's my mother's birthday. She would have been 66, but she's in Heaven hanging with Jesus! :) Miss her like crazy!

Entry: "Pets on Quilts Show" hosted by SewCalGal




Window Cats Quilt by Jackie Davis

Close view of the kitties "Duke and Daisy" my sister's cats
Click Photo for a LARGER view!


The front finished.
Click Photo for a LARGER view!

The back finished.
Click Photo for a LARGER view!

I love cats! I made it the quilt because I have desired for over a year to make one. I researched all cat quilts online I could find. This was my favorite cat, Simple yet you could do so much with hand embroidery on the face and cat! My sister Angela has two wonderful (yet aging) cats, Duke and Daisy!

I made up my own pattern and everything as I went along. I am sure this is out there somewhere, but I made it up step by step! Love to learn this craft of Quilting and want to learn all I can and improve in my craft, too! I had an online friend suggest doing the "attic window" method. I researched it too and made up how to do it. It's special because it's the first "large" quilt I have done by myself including the tricky (for me) binding. I still want to quilt in a tail for the cats, but will do it at a future time!

Photos I tried to take of Duke (L) and Daisy (R) at Xmas 2009!


Thank you SewCalGal for hosting this SHOW!

*hugs*
Jackie(at)jackiesue.com

JoJo's Gift Shoppe Sale!

I'm still around. I hosted a friend for a week here in Guatemala and it was Great! I sewed something and will post more on that later...


I just got this email and wanted to share...


One Dollar Fat Quarters and JoJo's:
http://store.jojosgiftshoppe.com/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Store_id=782&_id=17&categ_id=72&parent_ids=0

MORE from the email:


This week’s theme is quilts that incorporate embroidery/stitchery and is sponsored
by Jojo’s Quilt and Gift Shoppe who has prepared a fabulous gift basket
for the lucky winner. See more below.
To enter the weekly contest, read the rules and guidelines,
then
submit your quilt photo by Thursday evening (EDT). Voting will start on Friday and last
until Sunday night.

I'm not able to buy anything right now, trying to get flights home for maternity leave! So go a shop and have fun!!!!

*hugs*
Jackie

Disclaimer: I am not paid, compensated, or gifted by posting this here. I am a Quilter with a Desire to SHARE Resources I use for my hobby :)

Designer :: Amy Schimler :: Animal Party Panel - Welcome to Above All Fabric

Designer :: Amy Schimler :: Animal Party Panel - Welcome to Above All Fabric

This is so cute!! I am always loving safari animal fabric prints! This one is cute! I was introduced to Amy Schimler today browsing through the fabric on Above All Fabric's site today. Enjoy!

*hugs*
Jackie

Warning: Fabric Shopping online is just as bad as going to the Fabric Shop! LOL

Feature(less) Friday: WIP report instead

I didn't have anything to FEATURE today. Not that I don't have a resource to share, I just didn't type it up in advance for today. Forgive me. :)

I have had a busy week for sure! I'm a momma of three amazing kids with limitless energy ages 5, 3, and 1. I am also 3 months pregnant and counting. I do not have the option of daycare/school or taking them to a relatives house (i live in Guatemala!). So it's all me... all the time. Now do not get me wrong... I do have an AMAZING Husband who helps as soon as he gets home from work (serving in our ministry). He does the bedtime routine way better and is just a wonderful partner in this whole parenting thing (and an even better godly husband!) ! While he does that, I have been cutting my 4x4s for my 9-patch quilt, more to come on that!

Ok, no one likes a "Quilt Blog" that does not talk about Quilting or without photos more than me, so I have segwayed into quilting with my last sentence. LOL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Top projects, I am working on:
  • Cutting any more 4x4s for my Stash 9-patch, then I get the creative part of matching the squares into beautiful 9-patches (if possible, heehee) to sew!

  • Continue to work on leaders and enders while I do any other sewing! It's fun to use these 2.5 squares as my leaders and enders and before i know it I will have blocks or sashing sewn for a quilt!

  • Needs (to finish these projects):
Backing for the "Grandma Polyester Quilt" - I got great feed back on batting and backing on this quilt, so I am looking for a lightweight plaid and thin batting for this beauty.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I need a tan or beige for sashing for this Neighborhood Block Swap Quilt.
I don't have any and willing to SWAP Fabric if you want!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Batting for several quilts I have backs and fronts ready. Mainly Baby quilts for the baby dedication quilts I make. I do have a few larger sized blankets I want to make with my larger pieces of fabric for charity quilts for my Agatha Victims Project.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The rest, I guess you could call UFOs
since they have sat longer than 6-12 months! heehee

  • my daughter's butterfly quilt. Those from APQ may remember me making the blocks, I now need to put them together to complete the top!

  • my husband's t-shirt quilt. I am waiting for him to go through his t-shirts.

  • my high school track t-shirt quilt. I made two smalled t-quilts for myself and just have this one left. I was last selecting sashing but want to find Fun track-type fabric if possible out there??

  • Noah's Ark Panel, It's pinned and ready to hand or machine quilt, I don't know which to do... I think Hand is best but I don't know what to do, never done it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Then there are projects I add to my
"Want to do in my lifetime PROJECTS":
I figure If I keep busy with all this, I have less time to think about how fast the kids are growing up and will be out before I know it! Sewing will always be here for me... right!? As long as I have a Project List!

How about you? do you have a list or is sewing therapy to you as it is for me??!!

I am thankful for having 14 Followers! I hope I didn't bore you! *hugs*

*Hugs*
Jackie

Nine Patch Project: Name and Update

Sew... I started this Nine Patch (9P) project because of a stack of precut blocks I had and thought "I better do something with them NOW or they will just sit and collect dust." We cannot have beautiful fabric sit and collect dust! It calls to be displayed and admired!

We all have these beautiful stashes, and they are folded (maybe) and put on shelves, bins, and such. Also, I have heard people talk about saving a piece of fabric from all the quilts they make and give away. Well to conquer:
  1. Showing Off your stash while also seeing what you have at a glance, and
  2. keeping a piece of fabric from your stash for memento purposes
...WHY NOT Cut a piece of all your fabrics in your stash, NOW! :)

That is what this project has now become, my stash portfolio in 9-Patch form and a memory of all the fabrics (not too sure if I will ever has this amazing stash again). Some may like and some may not, but it's what I have decided on progressively - Heehee!!!

I am cutting a 4x4 out of *almost* EVERYTHING in my stash and making a "MY STASH 9 Patch!"



some Guatemalan Tipico fabric - love it!

I’m having fun and laughing at myself that these squares ended up being the inspiration to the project! and now all my beautiful fabrics have a 4x4 cut out of them!

and if this isn't bad enough... this project is spinning off other projects... with fabric that are more juvenile and kid-fun, I am saving those 4x4s to the side for an I-Spy Quilt.... hilarious huh!?



Have YOU ever had a small thing end up into a BIG project?? surely not. (is any one out there?)

I am excited to see more "followers" I guess i could take myself off the list! LOL sad huh!? oh well. [:o)
*hugs*
Jackie

Beware, your project list can grow out of control before your know it! So can your UFOs and WIPs while you make BOMs and all you want is R&R. LOL KWIM! 

Nieghborhood Block Swap Update

I got my blocks for my fellow Swappers! They are awesome in so many ways! One they looke great and two inspecting them teaches me SO much on how to do this better in the future. The stitches and the thread choice and just over all execution of the applique and block. I have MUCHO to learn. These ladies are tops!

What to do with these? Make a wall hanging? or throw? I would like to make a throw. I feel if I don't make something we'll use, then it will get packed and never seen. Or 'worse case' I could get a 12x 12 scrap book and display them there but how boring!!! heehee

So I am thinking throw and adding filler blocks to help it grow. I was thinking to also have a tan or earth tone  sashing. I am using a piece of tan i have for IDEA purposes....


It was very hard to take a photo of this and get it all in, so this is actually two photos put together so you can see it all.
As you can see in the lower right a 'empty' block that I will fill with something. I am still debating on whether i should put a tree or something on the filler blocks. any ideas???
*hugs*
Jackie

Teaching the Trade... sewing

So glad my daughter loves to sew with me :)

I gave her my scrap bag I was going to use for a Crumb quilt but she needs to practice and I thought it was perfect. She had fun making things up.






she made this 'bracelet' for her baby sister

Any ideas on how to teach the craft of sewing? I don't want her to only think quilting is all she can do with a machine :) Thanks in advance for your ideas!!!

*hugs*
Jackie

Feature Friday: Fat Cat Patterns


Have you ever been to Fat Cat Patterns? Sindy just knows what she's doing, and you can tell she loves it, too! (imo)

I love this site and mention it off and on. It was recently redone and reorganized, so stop on by and check it out! Enjoy the patterns and ideas. Sindy has Swaps too! If you missed anything you can visit her store and get a CD of all her patterns from the years previous!

My favorite Pages:
All her animal designs are the best too! I can't just pick one!

*hugs*
Jackie

Disclaimer: "Feature Friday" is solely my opinion about a webspace online that pertains to the quilting hobby. I am not paid, compensated, or gifted by any of the "Features" posted here. I am a Quilter with an Opinion and Desire to SHARE Resources I use for my hobby :)

My First 9-Patch... block!

Ok I have quilted off and on since 2006, so I am not *that* experienced, but you would think I have done a 9-patch by now! LOL! Any way, I wanted to show off my first one...

So what inspired this FIRST Nine Patch block? Last Fall, I was searching for fabric and came across... eBay and what all was sold on eBay as far as fabric in all shapes, sizes, and precuts! My favorite Search is Fabric, Free Shipping, 99 cents and under... Click the link and see the list on the Left and make your choices... "100% cotton" or "squares" and so on!! WARNING: Can be very addicting and such! I am NOT responsible for any purchases made! LOL :) I didn't buy anything with shipping fees and never spent more than 4-5 bucks a purchase and I only made 4 purchases! :)

I bought those sets of precuts, why not!? And Actually forgot about them. I looked for them a few months back and couldn't find them. My daughter and I were setting up to sew one day and I found them! YEAH!!!

One pack was a whole bunch of 4" squares of different material. I kept thinking, I cannot wait for a project to come along, what can I do with these, now!? So 9-Patch came to mind.

I may not have put them in the right orientation but that is what is fun to see, test, try, and learn. So go easy on me if you choose to comment below - I DO love comments by the way :)

So, now what? I will post more on my 9-Patch Project later, but for now, you know the inspiration for it! Getting rid of precuts and wanting to learn something NEW!!

Ok here is one more photo of my 9-patches made with that pack!


*hugs*
Jackie

Sewing is FUN! DO it! and Teach someone to!

Update on the "Grandma Polyester Quilt"





So in the box I got there was this unfinished quilt top from a friend's husband's late grandmother. She said to give it to someone to finish, yada yada. I told her *I* wanted to keep it and finish it! :)

So I got it out and mended the threads that had broken or were on the edge of the fabric and broke free. So right now there are no holes and the ends are reinforced. I even found a large piece of fabric to back it. My daughter and I measured it at roughly 60x90. I will see if my brother and his wife can bring me a nice piece of batting for it. (they are coming to visit me in Sept).

I just love this quilt and am eager to finish it! I think it's screaming for yarn ties. What do you think?

Another Question from this beginning/novice quilter with Zero schooling... I think the pieces are polyester.. they are so like my grandmother's pants! So what would you back it with? What kind of fabric? The piece I have in mind to back it with is similar in texture (so sorry I am not a fabric-ologist).

Enjoy these close ups of the quilt top!!! CLICK and make the LARGER!














Do you have a quilt like this?  What would you do to finish it? I miss my APQ pals who had the BEST ideas!!! I am sure you all have great ideas too... My WIPs are always fluid/flexible. I make it all up as I go along! :)
*hugs*
Jackie