I Did it TWICE... in February!

Did what?

Tervetuloa (WELCOME) -stitchery is done!

Oh, I'M so PROUD of myself...

I finished both of my OPAM projects which I promised to do ;) ;) in this month.

In March I have planned to finish some larger project.... There is atleast one secret project on my list (Easter Swap gift to my secret pal - I can't show you it before the end of March).

MY 'REAL' OPAM will be

Noah's Ark quilt

Still I try to keep my aims of the finished projects low... because I'm going to start some new project too... My fingers are itching... The Baltimore Bliss block 1 is waiting for me... and the pattern of the block 2 is already available here!

It seems to me... we all have a lot of bliss in March;)

Hungry Soldiers

Feb. 26, 1863 Rachel Young King Anderson wrote in her diary:

... a company of soldiers with over 100 horses fed off of us today. They robbed all my hens nests, boiled the eggs in my milk bucket, stole my milk cups and plundered into things generally. (quote from CDW book written by R. Youngs)

And her diary notes continued with the writings of hungry soldiers, who disturbed Rachel's and her family nights searching for food and lodging. I can only imagine how terrified she must have been...

So the block of the day is called...

Block 8. Hungry Soldiers

Fabrics are: green is from Quilt Gate's Mary Rose Collection, light brown is one fabric from Bonnie Blue Basics by P. Barnes for Marcus Fabrics and cream is Farmyard Toile by C. Carpin for Benartex Fabrics. With my fabrics I tried to find atmosphere of the farmyard and the poultryhouse, yet I wanted it to be sensitive, perhaps a little bit sophisticated too.

I'm soon back with my next block... since then... the diamonds are for ever...

I Did It...

... the first OPAM in February!

It's not a big achievement... but it always feel so good to finish even a small project;)))

CUTE as a BUTTON -pincushion is the design by Grabapple Hill Studio and it's the Pin Cushion of the Month -pattern. Exactly it was the second month's delivery. Now I have received six pin cushion kits. Other five are still filling my "I'll do on some day" -drawer;)

During the last week (despite hard week at the work and flu -again!:( Now I got some antibiotics from the doctor) I have continued sewing blocks to my WISP's:

1. I stitched the final block from Lynette's Noah's Ark. I'm pondering over colours of the stripe fabrics... Hmm... perhaps cream, brown and red...


2. I have sewed six super EASY blocks for my Dear /Blue Jane...

Blocks are
I2 Kaye's Courtyard
F3 Snowball
J7 Chicken Tracks

Tomorrow I'll sew the next ones and one triangle... if the medicine will work...


3. Today I had enough strength to finish this week's BOW from Sylvia's Bridal Sampler.

Luckily it was easy one too... E6 Jack in the Pulpit (bottom right). On the left is M9 King David's Crown - with it I spent much more time... and nearly lost my nerves. I had problems with measurements... Somehow I survived;)))

The third block is E5 Handy Andy. I'm not quite satisfied with my choice of the fabrics... It looks little bit too pale... But atleast now I'm not going to redo it...

So here was the latest tales from my sewing corner...

I'm happy that you joined me...

Ps. Some time ago I found (by the aid of Simone, THANK YOU, Simone!!!) a new free BOM called Baltimore Bliss. I have dreamed of Baltimore quilts for a long... Lately my applique skills are improved and I'll think it's time to try this one. I have already ordered some suitable fabrics from Kimberly. And the pattern is sooo tempting... Now I 'm leaving the computer and starting to watch WM -competitions... second round in skijumping...

United No Longer

...I promised to sew this block today

Block 112. United No Longer

Feb. 16, 1861. Sarah Lois Wadley wrote in her diary:

Father brought us some newspapers from which we learned that Jeff. Davis of Mississippi and Alexander Stephens of Georgia have been elected President and vice president of the Southern confederacy, formed of all the seceding states. I had almost written the United States, how sad to think that we are united no longer, that we are no more natives of one common country, necessary as is the separation how can we think of it without grief. (quote from the book The Civil War Diary Quilt written by R. Youngs)

Sarah's father returned to Vicksburg as to being present at the meeting. It gave me idea to use this blue fabric in my block. It's from Vicksburg collection by Judie Rothermel. Unfortunately I wasn't careful enough with the middle part's seams... and I should have done this block as mirror image...

... the next block is... the date Feb. 26, 1863

Love is in the Air...

Love is in the air
Everywhere I look around
Love is in the air
Every sight and every sound

And I don't know if I'm being foolish
Don't know if I'm being wise
But it's something that I must believe in
And it's there when I look in your eyes

Love is in the air
In the whisper of the trees
Love is in the air
In the thunder of the sea

And I don't know if I'm just dreaming
Don't know if I feel sane
But it's something that I must believe in
And it's there when you call out my name

A Tisket A Tasket block of the February... Anne exposed her second BOM block last Thursday...
and there is so much feelings reminding Valentine's Day.

In my version of this block I like especially that blue birdboy with his shining feathers. (fabric is from Holly Holderman's Rose Bud Vine coll.) It's obvious he has something in his mind... offering those heartflowers... So sweet!

I'm already waiting for the next month...

I don't know what's problem with these two pictures...
I tried to turn them several times with several programs but they decided to stay in this position...? Maybe I have to take some computer lessons;))

Anyway I WANT TO SHOW THEM...

I have thought over my February OPAMs...
Bunny looks also quite thoughtful, don't you agree? ;)))

My life of needleworks is now SO full of blocks and BOMs (you may have noticed), that it would be better to set my goals low enough.

One pincushion and one stitchery are my OPAM -project in this month!

REMEMBER: There is a A Tisket, A Tasket - group in FLICKR... It's worth of visiting... you'll find many, many beautiful blocks...

Love is in the air
In the rising of the sun
Love is in the air
When the day is nearly done

And I don't know if you're an illusion
Don't know if I see it true
But you're something that I must believe in
And you're there when I reach out for you

Love is in the air
Everywhere I look around
Love is in the air
Every sight and every sound
And I don't know if I'm being foolish
Don't know if I'm being wise

But it's something that I must believe in
And it's there when I look in your eyes

Grammar Class

Feb. 7, 1863; 14 years old Cora Owens Hume wrote in her diary:

Every girl in the class is older than I am, except Lizzie... I know my lessons better than any girl in my Grammar class and I never studied English grammar before this session in my life...

She spent her spare time studying lessons for school, writing letters, sewing and practising her music lessons...(quote from the book The Ciwil War Diary Quilt by R. Youngs)

Today I spent my spare time with this block...

Block 52. Grammar Class

I tried to find some fabric with alphabets from my stash, but didn't find any proper for those little squares. So these are what I found: green is from Judie Rothermel's the Merrimack collection, light yellow paisley is one of the Meadowsweet fabrics from Need'l Love collection by Renee Nanneman and cream fabric is from Nancy Gere's Plantation 3 collection.

This time I won't use paper piecing... Lately I have sewn so many blocks with paper, that I'm not sure if I can manage to sew any block without foundation paper... After some measurements I cut 3 cm wide strips which I sewed together until I had nine 2 1/2" squares. When I pieced them together I eagerly grabbed the ruler... is my block 6 1/2"? JESH, it is;))) And my third CWD block was ready!!!!

The next block and diary note is Feb 16... Till then...

At last... the day off...

...which I was spending to catch up That Quilt -group. Anina has changed the name of the blog, it was earlier DearBabyJane... Luckily nothing else hasn't changed; she continues to give tutorials every Monday and Thursday! And luckily I wasn't much behind...




The latest BabyJanes are:

C8 Hani's Crown
J2 Picture Perfect
RS 4 Dutch Apron (the triangle)

In Picture Perfect block I had the same problems as usual when there is those narrow (1/4") stripes. Although I piece them with paper, in the end they are always a little broader than they should be...



More happy news;)))) ...quite a nice day off....


I found from Laila's blog this Girl's Day Out -quilt... and it tempted me so much that I had to order it immediately from kirkbridequilting.

And I'm not going to feel any guilt.... unless it isn't spelled with q (kju) ;))))

... and one BOM more to share the JOY to do it at the same time with the other....

SO LET'S HAVE SOME FUNTODO, GIRLS!!!!

I'm honoured

It warms in this winter weather (-10 degrees celsius)... to get award and hear that you are able to give someone inspiration!!! I got this Kreativ blogger -award from Elin. Elin is one of my favorite bloggers too and she has given me a lot support at my adventures in quilting world. There is SO MANY other creative bloggers... to whom I would like to give this award... Anina, Bloom, Simone, Lynette, Karen, Robin, Jeanette , Stina and many, many other blogging quilter, who gives me A LOT inspirations... difficult to choose...

Maybe in this time, I would like to transmit this "award" to...

Jeanette (inspiring countryspirit in her blog)
Simone (always making something new;))

Robine (interesting way to introduce her Baby Janes)



I have been at work in this weekend; picking tulips and roses... So I haven't sewed much. Only two Baby Janes and this SBS block; E 10 Hunter's Star. I made it by foundation paper piecing method, BUT somehow the middle of the star is not so perfect as it should be....(((

Just noticed it's already February... I skipped over one of my January goals... Maybe I'll have to finish it in this month...

SEE YOU ALL... SOON!!!!