my FIRST DEAR JANE block

WOW--two posts in one day! I couldnt resist! above is my very first DEAR JANE block!!
I am delighted with it's outcome! HOWEVER, I am ROTFLMAO because with this very one block--hand piecing went out the window! In the book of the blocks, Jane's looks pretty good for being hand-pieced! I say--more power to her! she did a wonderful job..I really wanted to hand-piece--but the seams would NOT cooperate! the very last seam will be pressed open... this one is finger-pressed for now--till tomorrow! I was so excited I couldnt wait till tomorrow for you to see! My background, sashings, possibly back, will be unbleached muslin (looks white in the pic)...I do intend to hand quilt! I am very far from that point--who knows--might change my mind! hehehehehehe night night--tomorrow--maybe I will make another?!?!?!?

CQ Geronimo block is done and more chatter

and he will be on his way home tomorrow!! I had a blast working this block...wasnt sure i could stop but sure needed to!



now I move on to another project! This, too, will be a cq project! I made a Spring block for the season to season swap--I have a green block to embellish a little bit and I know the theme of the block for the food fight swap--just gotta get the right stuff together! I have it, so no shopping for anything! LOL That is it for the CQ projects!!!!

You will never guess what I am taking the plunge to do?!?!? well, some of you know, so rather than putting your brains to work--I am going to tell you! I drove 52 miles to a quilt shop on the northwest side of town to buy some shirtings and civil war reproduction fabrics! YES, I am going to do a sampler quilt of common blocks from the civil war era--I am also going to do a Dear Jane Quilt. You can read about it here---http://www.dearjane.com/ ---I have what I need now to get started, including more fabrics! LOL Maybe I can get one block done today!?!?! I am going to do this by hand! I want it to look like the one at the DJ website! Others have done it, and started another, some are doing it now, and others are starting out just like I am! I am very excited about this. I wont be in a hurry---and have given myself a minimum of two years to finish! So, if you see me referring to DJ, you will know what I am talking about! more soon

THIMBLEBERRIES 08

The first meeting has finally taken place--and i have made the first four of 8 blocks! LOL--I am going to make the wall hanging and need to make four more of these for the big quilt!! either way--I am moving along now!
That is all for today *~*CAROLE*~*

CRAZY QUILTING FUN!!

I am participating in a "create your own theme" crazy quilting swap--I happen to have GERONIMO in my possession-This belongs to gal named JANE that lives way up north. I wanted to surprise her with something special. so i begna getting my ideas together last summer. I wasnt going to show anyone till after I had completed this special project, but showing all got the better of me!!
I have played more since this picture was taken but you can see where my ideas are going! I am really enjoying this and I hope the owner likes it as well...no surprises now! hehehehehe



Another gal on this list began a color study swap with the first color being greens! oh how wonderful for me! (below)

I also sent out another block to a gal in Colorado because I wish to do a good sized quilt with two blocks of each color. I have enough wall hangings for now if I get them all completed!
And this one is for the Spring swap--these blocks will all be embellished by others as well as myself...this is part of the fun!!


creativity abounds in this type of quilting--in fact, I have also crocheted items to be placed on green blocks that will be coming my direction for embellishments! I can have the best of both crafts this way! LOL.. *~*CAROLE*~*

THE YEAR SO FAR

has been going very quickly. I have been helping at the quilt shop since the 3rd and will be there next week, also--doesnt matter--more $ to spend on TB club again this year. The fabrics are much more to my liking and yes--still getting out of my comfort zone!! I have been assembling tops for a gal that is doing some quilting for me. I have been trying to come up with a border for the green one--this is the one I took apart a couple months back as it didnt come out right--so far so good this time around...the blue one is my first attempt at the keyboard border--THIS I like! wasnt near as difficult as I thought it would be!

LAST Sunday (the 13th) I managed to take my "boss" (quilt shop owner) into Tucson for the QUILT SHOW! we arrived at 9:45 and left at 3:30--good thing i didnt have other plans--I wou,ld have, but hubby wasnt feeling great so i stayed away from him! LOL----OH WOW!!! I didnt want to lug around our camera, so i decided that I was going to buy a cd with pics of all the quilts on it--well--THAT went by the wayside--i forgot! So, that part of this catching up will have to wait! I did have a private hands on needle turned appliqué lesson from Jeane Kimball and got an autograph in a pattern book I purchased. Another highlight was the scrap-busters demo..lots of wonderful ideas!!

these pics are of a tote I received from a gal in England . We participate in a Thimbleberries list and i couldt resist doing a XMAS swap!


Last August I submitted my very first (all mine) afghan design to a publishing company and it was accepted and published. Last week, I received my original afghan back along with the publication that also has several designs that I have tested for the publisher! Wow was this ever a thrill for me! I have another pattern that I co-designed with a gal that came out in 06...I am also designing a doily for a contest later on this year. I will mention it from time to time but probably no pics--at least for now--there is always that possibility that i would submit it also, for publication!

THAT is all for this post! there will be more tonight or tomorrow so please check back!
*~*CAROLE*~*

I HAVE BEEN TAGGED

guess it is about time I posted this year! LOL




The Rules are to "Give up to 10 people whose blog brings you happiness & inspiration and makes you feel happy about Blogland." Beware! You may get the Award several times! Let them know by posting a note on their blog so they can pass it on. Here is my list of Blogs that make me happy and make my day!

FRANIE in ALASKA
Sharon
SUSAN
ROBIN
GAIL
INGRID
JANE
Gabrielle
JULIE
REE

and since I am here for the moment--here are some pics of last night's sunset--Jan 05 08