New curtains...

I bought these panels from Target for $6 and change.  Tara www.thetinyhummingbird.blogspot.com gave me her fabric scraps and I used some of them for the tie-backs.  (January 21, our first real snowfall this winter, can be seen through the window, and today it reached 58 degrees, January 24!)

Aren't they pretty?  I almost didn't buy them, thinking that I can make curtains, but, yeah, okay, I've been "thinking" that for well over a year!  So, thank you, Target, and/or whoever your buyer is.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
~ Jodi ~

lending help or hair?

Can you see Lacey there?  She's showing up very dark in this picture, although she's gray, not black.  Every time I step away from FMQing this quilt she hops up and snuggles in.  Good thing I wash my quilts when they're complete; otherwise, it would be pretty hairy.  I'm almost done with the quilting, then I can put the binding and label on and give it to Kim, finally.  It was supposed to be a Christmas gift, but as you know, my Brother went kaflooey (sp?) shortly before Christmas, so that went out the window.  And I've been so enamored of paper piecing the little houses, that I must admit I've been neglectful of my "obligations."  (Sorry, Kate)  I will get to my sister's quilt, too, after Kim's is done.  And then there's Kathy's blue and white quilt...

another Christmas gift that wasn't.  I gave the top to Kathy to make sure it is big enough for her king-size bed.  She says yes.  I'm not so sure.  The above pic is showing it on my bed while I was laying the blocks out for placement.  And Lacy was helping there, also.  Now I need to get it back from Kathy so I can finish it.  

I hope you all have recovered from the holidays and are back in the swing of things, keeping any resolutions you made, and sewing at least 15 minutes a day!  (Hello, Mary - how that FMQing coming along?)

May you all bless and be blessed!

~ Jodi ~

I've succumbed!

I know I'm not the only one, right, Pokey?  Making these little 3-inch scrappy houses is so much fun.  If you are interested, visit here:  http://buildinghousesfromscraps.blogspot.com/.  Jeanneke from the Netherlands has got us going.   

I've made five so far, but I need to catch up.  The idea is to make 366, one each day this year (a leap year).  Then sew sashing and cornerstones for, a quilt, of course!

Next time I post I hope to have lots more done, along with some quilt finishes and progress on my sister's.

Till then, thanks for tarrying with me a bit!

~ Jodi ~

Is this pretty, or what?  

Or at least these pics, which are better:

 I never realized how nice browns, pinks and reds go together.

My Brother broke at THE worst possible time, four weeks before Christmas.  So plans of giving two people quilts as gifts were foiled.  But I HAD to sew (I'm using a borrowed machine which just does basic stitching).  I used up these scraps and have decided to make a table runner which I will keep for myself.  The strip at the bottom of the above pic is part of a border that I'm still working on.  This pic below is showing my leaders and enders quilt growing.  I just love how bright and cheery it is.  

Thanks for looking!  You know those times when you are so excited and in love with what you're working on that you just HAVE to show someone?  This was one of those times!  My hubs is outside working on his junk antique car(s), so not only is he filthy, but he's not so interested either.  

Take care, everyone - I hope your second day of 2012 is going well.  

~ Jodi ~

Another year almost gone, another one fast approaching.  In 2011 you looked at my photos, read my complaints, answered my questions for help, encouraged and inspired me in all sorts of ways, and for all that, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I'm looking forward to a great year in quilting, but most of all, I'm looking forward to what God has in store for me as I begin the year with a new Bible study and commit myself to opening my heart and mind even further to his teaching and leading.
One very important goal for my physical health is to lose a few (ahem) pounds, and for my emotional health, to be content where I am no matter my circumstances, to lower my expectations of others and raise my own, and to find the true joy that I know is in my heart that the Holy Spirit keeps trying to show me, to have less of a poor me attitude, and more of finding my true happiness in the Lord and not looking for other people or material things to make me happy.  
So, my friends, thanks once again for "listening" and Happy New Year to you!

Mug rugs and Christmas Yankee swap quilt

Bonnie from http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2011/12/mug-rug-in-hurry-free-from-me.html posted free paper-piecing patterns for these little darlings!  Thanks, Bonnie! 

My brother and his wife went home with this lap quilt:

I had trouble saying good-bye!  It was fun to slowly add fabrics to it over time.  I was inspired by Victoria at http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/2011/12/collaborations.html.

  I pieced the top a while ago and then finished it up last week for our family Christmas party.  I think he likes it! 

Those flower pots (on their sides!) were feed sacks!  Soft as butter!

and the back:

My sweet sister "won" it but graciously gave it to him because she knew he really wanted it.  I am blessed with some wonderful siblings!

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend!  May you bless and be blessed!

~ Jodi ~

I'm back so soon,

to show you some of what I HAVE been doing while neglecting my blog.  Here's a peak of a lap quilt I made and gave at our family Christmas yankee swap:

  My bro took it home, now I need to get it back to wash it, sign it, and take more pics.
And I have been working on my sister's anniversary quilt, with many interruptions, though:

Thanks to all who gave me advice and instructions!  Very helpful, and I was able to figure it out thanks to my blogging friends!
I also am making a quilt for my friend, Kim.  Big 8" blocks with some sashing and I'll be finished:

And one more (like I NEED another project?) a mystery quilt my Monday night quilt class is starting:

So not a lot of finishes, but I have been very busy. But guess what?  My sewing machine took the worst possible time to take a sabbatical!  She's in the shop for repair - ugh!  A great friend lent me her sewing machine so I'm still making SOME progress.  No FM or darning feet, though!  Anthony better hurry fixing  my Brother!

Have a marvelous day!

~ Jodi ~