Final finish for June

I do love that you can schedule blog posts. Shhhh. It's really not Saturday. It's really Friday night, but I'm waiting for my sweetie to get home and I figured I'd get this post done.

More loopy meandering. The last of my Dream On fabric.

Of the eight quilts I wanted to finish in the 2nd quarter, this is the fifth. I would have made it to six had I quilted my massive string quilt, but I needed batting for that one. I'm getting stocked up in July, as Jo-Ann's is having a sale plus I can score an extra 20% off if I drag my husband and his student ID with me. It sometimes pays to be students.

Have a great weekend and a great 4th of July (if you're a Yank - if not, well, have a good Wednesday next week!).

Friday Finish, the Friday edition

I know, I have crazy title writing skills, right?

Okay, here is quilt two of the three I finished this week. All part of my goals for the Finish-Along.

I know I might have whined a little about piecing that quilt back, but it turned out so cute. I just might do this whole pieced back thing again. I quilted it with a meandering loop. I can't seem to do a stipple. My brain wants to loop it, so I loop it. Guess I'm loopy (not a surprise, really).

My big question is this: would this make an acceptable baby quilt? I have a friend who is having her sixth little girl. I'm pretty sure she doesn't need more baby-sized blankets, but this one she could grow up with. It would fit a toddler bed too.

Linking up this one. I'll have one more tomorrow.

And now I have to go get beautiful. My man is coming home tonight!

Friday Finish, the early edition!

I realized that each of these quilts has to have it's own post, so I'll be posting three days in a row. Because this girl got 'er done! Here is the third quilt I've finished for the 2nd quarter finish-along.

I give you the Orange Dream On Jelly-Filled quilt. This one is a birthday present for a lovely aunt. In October.

Do you like all the clover in my yard? I'd like to think we're a bee-friendly family. And while I can manage to get a few minutes here and there to sew throughout the day, I can't exactly do the same with the lawn. Oh well. The bees are happy, even if my neighbors look on the lawn with disgust. I'm over it.

 That would be my favorite block right there.

And I love the binding. Wish I had more so I could use it for my string quilt. If ya see it, clue me in because it is impossible to find!

There ya go. Tune in tomorrow for another one. And then Saturday. And then I'm on vacation, because my husband will be home and I will be one happy girl!

Make-A-List Monday: too busy to post!

No pictures (don't hate me).

Nothing particularly funny to say.

But I have two of the three quilts quilted. I'm basting the last one tonight (after bedtime) and quilting it up tomorrow/Wednesday. Binding 'em all and putting my feet up. For three seconds.

Oh, and I cut all those triangles I was talking about. So here is your one picture for the day (see, I'm a liar!):

And as a bonus, because I found this on my camera and am still in awe of these amazing storm clouds, I offer an extra picture. Seriously, look at all those greys. Or grays. Either way, those are some pretty fascinating clouds. Makes me wish I could paint.

Have a great week! I'll be reporting back once I get that last quilt finished!

Make-A-List-Monday, er, Tuesday

I read somewhere that you shouldn't make excuses on your blog for not posting.

But it's my blog and I promise to make my excuses entertaining with true stories. Or at least slightly embellished ones because those are funnier, right?

Why Jennie (that's me) did not post yesterday:

1. I was recovering from Sunday. Sunday is a day of rest for other people. For moms, it is extra work. Add in there a 2.5 year old who is mostly potty trained, but still has to be rushed to the bathroom when he says he needs to go, and if you don't you have an accident on your hands in the MIDDLE OF CHURCH. God has a great sense of humor, and by some miracle his church pants didn't get wet. But his socks and shoes did, so he was barefoot the rest of the day at church. (Note: I did not embellish this story at all!). And then we came home and watched Veggie Tales and ate spaghetti and I took a billion pictures of my kids' feet for Father's day. See the photo about as proof of my insanity. Do you know how hard it is to get five children to a) look at the camera; b) smile; and c) have their feet in the right position? Yeah, that hard. But my man loved it and that's what counts.
2. I was buried under 6 yards of yellow minky. I was piecing the back for my yellow and orange string quilt. It's done and ready for quilting (as soon as I score some batting!).
3. I was worried that the curse words in my head would make it to the blog as I was piecing the back for my strawberry pinwheel quilt. I've come to a conclusion about pieced backs - they are like marathons. You don't enjoy the process (at least I know I wouldn't/didn't), but you sure are proud of yourself when it's all done. After you've had a chocolate milkshake and a long nap.

Three is good, right? Okay, my fourth excuse is that I ate all my Ben and Jerry's Half Baked and was working out an elaborate scheme to get more. Because going to the store is too complicated - it involves five children, 10 shoes (preferably matching ones) and keys that are lost.

I don't have much to show for what I did - how boring would it be to see six yards of yellow minky? If that's your thing, right on. But I'm not taking a picture for you - use your imagination!

I lied - pictureless blogs are so very boring. You're welcome.

Here you go: blob o' yellow minky. Don't I have mad photography skills? Try not to hate me. And I made it X-Large, just so you could see all that detail. I'll do a tutorial later on how to take a picture like this. Very complicated stuff.

And a teaser photo of that quilt back. It makes me happy. It d*#$ well better make me happy, because I think it took longer to make than the quilt top!

But here is my to-do list for the week:

• Baste and quilt that pink/orange Dream On quilt. 2 weeks left for the 2nd Quarter FAL.
• Baste (at least) and quilt (maybe) the blue/green Dream On quilt. It was also on my list for the 2nd Quarter FAL.

That's it. 

What's on your list for the week?

Friday Finish, the early evening edition

Boy howdy it's been a week. Any single moms out there, I tip my hat and raise a cold Dr. Pepper in your honor, because honestly, this is impossible. I mean, it's possible, but it's hard.

Like, really, hard.

Wow, how profound was that. My English professors (yes, I have a creative writing degree) would be ashamed of my lame description. I don't care. My brain cells are frying.

Okay, but honestly, I love it and I loved today. It's been a great day, which is why this post is late.

And I do have a finish. Whoop whoop!

That's right, mark another of the ol' list. My 2nd quarter finish-along list is getting shorter! And it's such a great time to cuddle with a flannel quilt. Um, not really. I'll give it to my husband so he doesn't freeze, poor man.

Gotta say, I like this one a lot.

 'Member how I said I'm famous (in my head) for a gingham binding. Well, I'm also partial to a scrappy binding. Because, hey, I didn't have enough aqua gingham, or aqua chevrons, or aqua polka dots, so I just mixed them all together. Because I can.

 Backed in red flannel. Honestly, this is the last time I back a quilt in flannel. Well, I might try a flannel sheet, but I'm not buying anymore bleeding flannel. And no, I'm not using a British expletive. I mean this flannel bleeds. I pre-washed it. I used a truckload of Color Catchers. I washed it FIVE times. It worked, but sheesh.

Oh, and if you're feeling blue, or taking care of five kids by yourself and going a little batty, please visit Cake Wrecks. Be prepared to laugh until you cry. Don't do it while you're trying to nurse a baby to sleep. The two don't mix. Oh, good times.

Linking up with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict who has a gorgeous quilt with a great story.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Friday Finish: the one where I'm a little nuts

There are nine children, all eight and under, in my house right now. At 7:05 a.m.

I am officially crazy.

Five are mine. The other four belong to a friend who is moving and she has a boatload of last minute stuff to do before she heads out of town this morning.

Um, I kinda offered to have them over this morning. See, crazy.

Nah, they're good kids, and cartoons make zombies out of them all. Some monkey bread and milk and I'll look like Mom of the year.

Okay, on to my finish. You don't need to know how crazy I am.

I did get something finished this week. Can I get a hallelujah? C'mon, don't leave a girl hanging!

This little red and aqua barn raising quilt has been on my finished but not quilted stack (I'm not the only one with one of those stacks right) for forever. Like, I finished it in Seattle. That was a year and many boxes ago.

So it went to the top of the "Move on it Woman" list (also known as my 2nd Quarter finish-along list). I'm also trying to get as much done as possible while my husband is out of town.

Okay, blah blah blah. Time for pictures.

Just some straight line quilting, backed in aqua flannel and bound with red gingham. If you're new here, gingham binding is sorta my thing. Some people are famous for their sunglasses, others for their shoes. Me, I'm famous (in my head) for my gingham bindings.

It's soft and snuggly and, blast it all, too small. But my baby girl likes it. See:

She had a great time crawling around on it while I was trying to take pictures. See that bright light in the sky? It's sunshine. And we've been missing it!

I've got my other red/aqua quilt to baste (after I clear out the excess children) and then I'm getting to quilting that puppy.

For the record, I don't quilt puppies. So don't be calling the PETA people over that. If they want to haul me in, it can be for bacon consumption.

Have a fabulous weekend! Linking up with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Oh, and hey, you've got a few more hours to enter the giveaway. So get to it!

2nd Quarter Follow-Along Goals

I might be getting a little ambitious here, but here is what I want to finish for April-May-June:

1. This strawberry pinwheel quilt top is done. I just need to piece the back, then baste, quilt and bind it.


2. This quilt actually was basted and I started to quilt it but ran into some serious tension issues. I have to get out the seam ripper and start over with it. So frustrating.
3. I've got all these Delft blue Dutch pinwheel blocks that need to be finished and stitched together. Then the usual: baste, quilt, bind. And snuggle.
4. This one is ready to be quilted - just baste, quilt bind.
5. I need 25 (I think) more blocks for this one and then it's done. Going to back it in yellow minky and it's going on my bed. Seriously love this quilt.
6. And this one is all done as well - just needs quilting. But it will be so nice to have it off the WIP list.

7. Another Jelly Filled Dream On quilt - this is in the blues and greens. It just needs basting, binding and quilting.


8. What's the point of having an Accuquilt if I don't use it? I cut out these apple cores and started stitching them together. Just need to finish up the quilt!


So those are my eight goals, along with the stuff I'm working on right now. Linking up at Quilter in the Gap for the Follow-Along.