Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Busy Little Bee

I've been a busy little bee. I whipped up this quilt (it's just ducky!) over the weekend. (another one down for Finn's challenge!) WHEW! The baby shower is tomorrow. A friend contacted me and wanted something in a hurry. It would have been fine, but I tried to do the ribbon-like quilting of this quilt, but this time with my darning foot and the feed dogs down. Ooh it was a disaster. I had to rip and rip and rip. Ended up doing this with my walking foot. Not really what I wanted, but it turned out fine in the end. It's a simple 4 patch made from two ducky baby sheets (which she gave me) and the back is these flower curtains. She wanted something "green" so we upcycled. It always amazes me what can be done with recycled materials. I hope she'll like it. ( I actually made a second one for another friend...those sheets go a LONG way.) I'm going to give it to her at lunch later in the week.)
















Finished up a few little things on my to do list. Love the polka dot binding. These should make nice little gifts.
































I'm most excited about these. Made a few scrappy, wonky log cabins...





















Free pieced a vase (though it looks a bit more like a lava lamp to me, or maybe a VERY funky tie!). I was inspired by Tonya's wonky bottles. I'm participating in Tonya's House, Home or Pantry quilt together. The folks in that group are so talented and definitely inspirational.





















Put them together and...a hip bouquet of flowers! This is just a sample, but there is so a whole quilt using these in my future. I just have to figure out where to go from here. This free piecing thing isn't as easy as it looks.

56 comments:

QuiltedSimple said...

You are so motivating me to get some sewing done - I love what you've accomplished!

Especially the houses, and the vase and the flowers....you get the idea!
Kris

Tine said...

well....you make it look easy! Great babyquilt!

audreypawdrey said...

You have been a busy bee! I can't believe all you have gotten done. I love the vase with the wonky flowers and the quilt is beautiful.

Regi said...

Dang... I get tired just reading your blog... LOL. What wonderful projects and I love the little houses and the quilting on the baby quilt is very sweet!

Unknown said...

I love your little house quilts!! Absolutely cute, cute, cute!! Your friend is going to love what you made. I'm sorry to hear that your ribbon like quilting didn't work out. I just hate ripping out quilting stitches!! I just love your wonky flower vase and flowers, very inspirational

Two Dogs and a Quilt said...

Your little house quilts are too cute!

Twisted Quilts said...

You are so busy this week! I really like the little house quilts. They would be wonderful in a kitchen or actually anywhere. I really like the vase too, very creative.

Sherri said...

You have been busy...love it all...but I especially love the scrappy log cabins!

Amanda Jean said...

I love all your little house quilts!

Unknown said...

Well you make it look simple! Happy Wednesday :)

Anonymous said...

I am sure it isn't easy. Praise be to you for having the patience to do it. It will be gorgeous.

Joanna said...

Oh wow that vase and the flowers in it are fabulous!! I really need to take the inspiration you give me and put it into action. Then I might have something quilty to put on my blog!

And you are becoming quite the expert in neighborhood building! The polka dot bindings are just perfect!

Karen said...

Man, are you ever on a roll...all I can say is fun fun fun. Love your little houses;)

MichelleB said...

Everything is adorable! Love the baby blanket, and the little house quilts! And your flower vase. I agree that free piecing isn't easy - but doesn't Tonya do fabulous things with it!

shellysquilts said...

Cute, cute, cute!

Shannon said...

I could tell it was a vase, but it does make a good lava lamp because of the fabric.
I so want to make a quilt out of old clothes. I really would like to get a look at Bonnie Hunter's book "Scraps and Shirttails".

KateKwiltz said...

What great stuff! The vase is adorable, but I have to say I'm in love with the little adobe house!

Unknown said...

wow wow wow and wow again - it's all so amazing. And those houses? I wish I was on your christmas list!!!

Abby and Stephanie said...

Wow Jacquie...you are amazingly talented and so creative. You have the most original ideas and you blog is always fun to visit.

ellen said...

Why am I having such a difficult time leaving a half-way coherent comment? Could it be that my brain is just brimming over with the images of your happy, cheerful and wonderfully creative work...not to mention your skills??

Browndirtcottage said...

i agree with karen...you ARE on a roll.....i kinda was...but the rain and DH not having anything to do has really messed up my MOJO!

Molly said...

Love, love, love all of it!! I always enjoy your fabric choices and the duck quilt is so adorable. I love your quilting on it--I may adapt it for my own gift-quilt as my meander skills are rusty.

Kim said...

Well that's just ducky...this baby quilt has a handed down through the family look because of the older fabric designs. :) Very charming.

You do have a talent for working with the wonkiest blocks. Fun!

Jessica said...

I love that quilt!!! You are so talented in quilt-block-making!

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

The polka dot binding is perfect! Your vase and wonky flowers idea is great. Design as you go isn't easy but it is so fulfilling.

Dana said...

I love your style. So inspiring to visit here. :)

Mama Spark said...

Your houses are adorable! You know I love them. Are they appliqued or free pieced?

One Shabby Chick said...

Oh my goodness - I can't say enough about how cute those houses are!! And the polka dot binding is so perfect.
The flowers and vase are genius - too cute!!

brown robin said...

Oooo... I love, love, love those log cabins! You've been having fun.

Nanette Merrill said...

Jacquie you are clever and always inspire me. I love the gifts you have made. THose people will love them. I love making little quilts like that too. And the vase of flowers - ingenious! and darling.

Anonymous said...

You're mini house quilts are so darn adorable they just kill me. Seriously. I want to put them in my pocket and take them home with me. SO CUTE!

calicodaisy said...

How do you get so much done? I want to make some of those funky cottages on a runner like yours - AFTER I made the Christmas cottages for Nanette.
-- Michele

Tamara said...

I was trying to pick out which piece I loved most out of all your pics...but I can't they all amazing...where do you find the time!

em's scrapbag said...

Have you been having fun or what? Love the houses. The vase/lava lamp is fabulous. This is going to be such a fun quilt.

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

You little house mini quilts are so adorable!! Love the fabrics you have used - they will make fabulous gifts (if you can bear to part with them!).

Fran said...

Wow, you really are on a roll. I just think your 'funky' vase with the flowers is just so darn cute.

I love those little squares with the polka dot borders. All you girls are so darn talented!

I look at all you make and I honestly feel like I'm way out of my league. I have so much to learn or I should say "un-learn"
it's actually scary. I've kinda stitched myself in a box where everything has to be just so and matchy,matchy.
Just goes to show ya, you can teach an old dog new tricks, because everytime I open a post like yours I'm learning "new tricks".

Thank you for inspiring me and motivating me to try harder.

~~Fran...:c)

Laurie said...

GIRL...you make me tired! LOL...super cute stuff!
laurie

Anonymous said...

Jacquie,
all of them are pretty..
You know, you're one of my blogging friends that motivated me to try sewing, thank you for this new experience I have.
Just curious.. the house series quilts, what are they used for and how tiny are they? I wondered they could used in dinning table, is it right? haha...just guessing!

Sandra Evertson said...

Just Fabulous!
Sandra

Stephanie D said...

Love the polkadot binding on those little quilts--just perfect!

I am SO uncomfortable with trying to make things wonky. I cant decide whether to pursue it to stretch myself, or if it will just push me over the edge into the wonky abyss.

Tina said...

you're always up to something fun!

Alissa said...

Love that lil' ducky quilt. You are so productive! And that free piecing is great!!

NickiLee said...

I just love your little house - they are just the cutest! Enjoyed reading through your blog. Beautiful work!

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Jacquie I don't know how many times I have said this but you totally blow me away every time I visit your blog....love it all...

Lily Boot said...

Well that last photo had been catching my breath! I love the skyline in the little house quilts, I love the quilting around the little houses and I LOVE the vase and log cabin flowers. Just gorgeous!

Rebekah said...

love your flower bouquet! Such a unique and cute idea for log cabin squares!

kat said...

oh my oh my. what can be said other than YOU ROCK! beautiful creations. love love the wonky vase and flowers. thanks for continuing to inspire me!

sewtakeahike said...

Hi Jacquie! Your flower bouquet is amazing!!! That will make the most darling quilt!

Allison said...

I love the little houses and the flowers in the vase. Very creative.

Leanne said...

You are tooo clever. I love the little houses.

Mary Johnson said...

I love the vases - if you can do these, you can do the letters. I read the first page of Tonya's tutorial before starting but didn't really follow along with the *how to* for the letters.

As someone mentioned the other day - to do these free form pieced things - you just need to think like you would in paper piecing. Each section at a time.

My letters need to be a little wonkier but they'll get there. I do keep a drawing pad by my sewing machine and I draw each one before I do it to help me visualize the order I need to piece them in.

London Mummy said...

How do you find the time to create all these amazing projects!! Love those little house quilts - adorable

Pam said...

love your little house quilts. PP

Krista Calvert said...

Well, I was planning to clean my house this afternoon while Olivia slept, but instead I have spent the afternoon viewing Jacque's quilting show and blog. Wow, and I know her as a topnotch school reformer...I am not very familiar with the quilting world, but these are like cozy modern art - all with the history and tradition of quilting. Olivia is the lucky recipient of a Ducky quilt - it just completes her baby room - such a great timeless piece and so unique and cozy! I love the houses, small quilts, Monet inspired quilt (can't wait to see it finished) and the teacups! I love the artistry in your quilting...XX00 Krista

Chookyblue...... said...

love the raw edge applique........got some plans myself just not got to the machine.....

FeatherBunkle said...

Those little house quilts are FANTASTIC!! Where did you ever come up with such a clever idea?