Back to Jack...

Back to Jack
Originally uploaded by gidgetpics

I had a little time last night and tonight to get back to the Jack's Chain. This progression shows 2 complete circle 'blocks', plus one joining section. Those points are still eluding me sometimes, but all in all I don't think it looks bad. It'll be awhile before I can get back to this now; time to get cranked up on "Robin's Legacy".

New day, new fabric

Mock up with new fabric
Originally uploaded by gidgetpics

Well, I wasn't happy with the way the first January BOM turned out. There's a value problem with the fabric. So today I went on the hunt for a new fabric. OMG! Nothing looked right, this was too dark, that was too pink, this was too red. Maybe I should've just stayed home. I finally settled on a fabric that I think has the right value and it's in the right family. It's gorgeous fabric. I'm just not sure how it works in the block. The fabric has a trellis pattern to it. I think I'll wait for some feedback before I stitch it in to a new version. I'll use the first block and make a pillow that coordinates with the final quilt (if I ever get it done). It's definitely a learning experience!

Somewhere in Time - Union Square

Union Square
Originally uploaded by gidgetpics

I've decided to participate in the 2008 Block of the Month on BlockCentral.com. The January block is called "Union Square". I may rework it and change one of the colors. One of the taupe colors should have been more burgandy I think. The challenge itself I think will be fun and I expect to learn a lot and improve my accuracy skills. The block isn't perfect. There are a couple places where the points don't match perfect, but all and all it's not too bad.

Raggy Wilderness

Rag1
Originally uploaded by gidgetpics

These are blocks and partial assembly of a rag quilt in progress. This is definitely the project on the back burner, but I'm in no hurry. The blue denim will all be from old jeans no longer fit to wear, which is one reason I expect it to take awhile. Once I run out of denim, I'll have to wait for hubby to wear out some more jeans!

The black denim is also from jeans that he's worn out or grown out. The green and tan animal print is new flannel that I purchased.

The animal silhouettes are from Embroidery Library
and A Stitch Club.

The denim embroidered square will only be on the raggy side, the other side will have large blocks of the green flannel. It's a very masculine project, but I think it's going to be really warm when it's done.

Back to the Beginning

Joan's Memory Quilt
Originally uploaded by gidgetpics

This is the first real quilt I did. Before this, all I had done was one small wallhanging size to lay over the rocking chair on my front porch.

Made for my SIL for Christmas 2005, with pictures ranging from her parents while they were dating through her life until pretty recent to the making of the quilt.

There are pictures of her wedding, my wedding, her siblings and children.

I have it right now. It needs a sleeve. She won't display it until she can hang it on the wall.

A Jack of All Seasons

A Jack of All Seasons
Originally uploaded by gidgetpics

This is my first completed block of "Jacks Chain". The nine-patches each have seasonal fabric of a different holiday or season, and so I'm calling it "A Jack of All Seasons". Jacks Chain is a challenge block on the BlockCentral forum. It looked interesting so I decided to give it a shot. I think the center screams to be embroidered, especially if the nine-patches were all done identical.

I'll work on this from time to time. This first block isn't the best but I'm sure I can improve with a little more practice.

Deal Me in to Christmas

Christmas Quilt Top
Originally uploaded by gidgetpics

This is the next quilt top I am working on. I want to try free motion machine embroidery. The center block is called "Double Card Tricks".

2007: The Year in Review

So I've decided to create a blog. It seems like "the thing to do" these days. I don't really know that anybody would want to read about my day to day but at the very least, it can be an online diary just for me to keep track of my projects and accomplishments.

In 2007 I accomplished quite a few projects primarily machine embroidery projects, most of which can be seen on my flickr site:

Lana's Embroidery and Sewing Projects

My biggest sewing accomplishment of the year was the "Farmer Boy" quilt that I made for my good friend, Mary's, little boy AJ, for his 1st birthday. Dad's a farmer so it was only fitting!




Life hasn't always been as fruitful as it is now, and my husband tends to get very charity-minded from time to time. If some organization is having a canned food drive, he's quick to go and pick up some to donate. Toys for children for Christmas is something he feels strongly about. This year he decided that we should "Adopt-a-Bear", which is a program where you pull a name from the tree and provide Christmas gifts for the child. So we did. He bought toys, and I bought clothes and embroidered a fleece blanket and made a sports theme pillowcase for the child.

On a more personal note, my "baby" sister (who's 24!) met a young man, and they have set up housekeeping (doesn't that sound better than saying they shacked up!). So they moved to Virginia where he was able to get a job in the field the military trained him in, and she was able to quickly get a new job at the local hospital in the labor/delivery department.

That's all for now.