Log cabin blocks all trimmed, upcoming giveaway, and a rainbow...

And I have the first row sewn together.  Stayed tuned for a finished quilt top AND a giveaway to celebrate 100 plus followers!
My hubs and I saw this beautiful rainbow as we were leaving the house tonight to do an errand:

A rainbow is God's promise to us that he would never again flood the earth as he did back in Noah's day.
This picture was taken from the front steps of my home as my husband was giving me instructions on how to take the photo.  I always offer the camera to him, but he never takes it, he just likes to give helpful hints!  "Did you get the whole thing?"  "Did you get it from horizon to horizon?"  "Make sure it's not blurry!"  Etc., etc. Arghghgh!

Ironing table

 I made this today.  Found the TV tray at a yard sale for $5.  Layered two pieces of Warm and Natural

 batting, then a piece of Insulbright, and then this pretty bird fabric that I've had in my stash for ages.

My hubs helped with the staple gun which I was having lots of trouble with!  Now I can iron easily and quickly without having to get up a million times while paper piecing or making log cabin blocks, etc.
                 This weekend went by sooo very quickly.  I hope you all have a great week - the start of August already!                                            
                                                  ~ Jodi ~

Beginner's Quilt-Along

I have been seeing the "Beginner's Quilt-Along" blocks on blogs lately and thought I'd join in.  I've been "quilting" for about three years and know I have some bad habits and there's a lot I don't know.  It's being run by the Quilting Gallery (the link is on my right sidebar).  I think they're doing a block a week, and it will wrap up before Christmas.  My first six blocks are above.

  Then last night I made two more.  At the end of every week is a giveaway, too, but I've missed most of those.  No matter!  I'm having fun, and this is fabric that's been taking up room in my fabric bins.  

Hey, Julie, (http://greenquilts.blogspot.com/) this is another "Making Do" project, isn't it?  Yaaaay!

(check out Julie's post - it got me thinking about all the fabric I have and don't need more)

Have a good rest of the weekend!  May you bless and be blessed!

~ Jodi ~

More log blocks for the log cabin quilt

I started working on these blocks using scraps a while ago.  I brought them out of their hiding place and made lots more blocks.  Now I have enough for a quilt, I think.  Maybe a large lap size.  It's old-fashioned and traditional, but there's always something about this block that speaks to me.  

(black and white just for contrast)

I just noticed I now have 99 followers.  I want to welcome all my newest friends.  Someone going by the name of HoneyFieldOrchard just showed up as one of my followers.  I don't see an email address to say a proper hello, but if you are reading, thanks for becoming a follower!  It's getting close to being time for a giveaway so stay tuned.  

~ Jodi ~ 

This quilt needs a name

                                 It's in the machine, ready for the binding to be sewed on, finally!

                             It came back from the longarm quilter, Sue, of Ponagansett Quiltery.

                                                                   She's on Facebook.

It came out pretty good and I can't wait to give it to my sister!  Maybe she won't be looking at my blog before I can get over to her house for a visit.  I will be very relieved to have it off my plate.  It was a huge learning experience, from paper piecing, to putting on whole strips of blocks backwards and not realizing it until the longarm quilter emailed me with the bad news, AFTER it was already loaded on the frame!  (Some of you who do longarm quilting are probably groaning at that.)  Man, was I embarrassed and not happy with myself.  Plus it was an extra trip there and back, half hour each way, once to go retrieve the quilt to bring back home and fix it, and then another trip to deliver it for a second time.  Half an hour may not seem like a big deal to those of you who live in very large states, but I live in the littlest state in the US, AND I work full time, so every hour of every day is precious.  Okay, enough complaining from me - sorry!  I DO love the fabrics and the pattern.  It reminds me of beautiful flowers growing up on a trellis.  I will post one more picture of it when the border is on.  Hopefully you're not sick of seeing it by now.  And by the way, no one noticed (or said anything, anyway) that the strip of blocks was on backwards when I posted it here:  http://cometarrywithme.blogspot.com/2012/05/two-steps-forward.html.  In the first two pics you can see the   error on the left side.
                          I don't usually blab on and on so long - sorry!  But thanks for reading to those of you who still are!
                                                                 ~ Jodi ~

Table runner also finished

 Quilted and bound, but not washed yet.  It seems as though I didn't tape the quilt backing (ticking fabric) down tightly enough before I pin-basted. 

                       But I guess it will have to do and may look better once it's washed and dried.

I'm getting lots of use out of my labels (top pic) that my daughter and son-in-law gave me some time ago.  They come in very handy.  Now if I can just remember to sew them into the binding on TWO sides, I would have less hand sewing to do.

~ Jodi ~

Pink and Green baby quilt completed and gifted

 It's done and I gave it away on Sunday afternoon.  And, Pokey, even though the green "Dottie" fabric light-weight home dec fabric recommended dry cleaning, nothing bled, nothing frayed or faded, so thanks for the comment.  I think the mom-to-be liked it along with the pillow I posted about earlier.

                                It's actually the biggest baby quilt I've made, more like a twin size.

                                  My husband told me it was too big, but is there any such thing?

                                                                Thanks for visiting my blog!

Some pretties:

(I thought I already showed you these but couldn't find a post, so I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself.  If so, just delete!)

 I visited a fabric store in Pawtucket, RI, Artee, on a recommendation from a co-worker.  They had mostly home-dec fabric, GORGEOUS home-dec fabric, I might add.  I got a couple of samples.  The above is "hand-printed union cloth, 70% linen, 30% cotton."  And note the price:  $5.00 for almost a full yard.  The colors are vibrant and beautiful.  I'm thinking maybe a handbag.  The threads are very large spools, unwrapped, but I think they're cotton.  And only $2 a spool.

 This one above is 100% linen, a yummy mustardy gold color with vibrant greens and browns.  And it was only $2 for a 54" square.  (Linda, I WILL get a better light, soon I hope, and thanks for the advice!)

Then on the same day I visited Ryco in Cumberland, RI, and got the fabric below.  From left to right, "Couleur Vie" by Brenda Pinnick for Henry Glass; "Flutter" by Ro Gregg for Paintbrush Studio (it's a nice bright yellow).  Third is "Buggy Barn Basics", also for Henry Glass; then "Flutter" again in a pretty blue/aqua; and the fab with the aqua-colored leaves on top is "Journeys", by Kathy Davis for Free Spirit.

 And last but certainly not least:

"Garden Party" by Anna Maria Horner.  I think it will be great for a backing fabric so I bought three yards because it was on sale!  Yippee!
                                                             That's all for now!
                                                                    ~ Jodi ~