Thursday, February 12, 2009

getting things done

I'm feeling very far behind. In reality I'm not-I'm just suffering of a bad case of trying to do too much. (Ouch, it hurts to admit that.)

Things are wrapping up for the Virtual Quilting Bee. Somehow we ended up with 3 blocks to make this month.

This one is for Sarah. She wanted texture. It was a fun challenge.

LOTS of texture. (I wouldn't want to have to quilt this one.)
I am pleased with how it turned out. The fabrics were wonderful to work with.

This is for Grace. We did monochromatic random piecing for her, which is right up my alley. I love this one. It was nice to use up some of my little white scraps, too.

And for Eren. I used some of my grandmother's fabrics in this block. She was wanting a vintage feel for her quilt. Wouldn't a whole quilt like this be fun? I think it's going on my list. :)

And here are a few blocks that will go into a charity quilt made by members of the Virtual Quilting Bee. I must have been feeling vintage when I pieced these. (hee hee)

But wait...that's not all....

This is a block for Stefanie-for the Sew Connected group. I had a different plan for this block, but somehow it evolved into this. I love how it turned out...so much better than my original idea. It must have been dumb luck. :)

I made all these today. And I am tired. If I can muster up any energy after bedtime tonight, I hope to make a few blocks for this.

And lastly, this is what happens when my husband gets involved in making a Valentine's box for my son.
Isn't it fabulous??? I made the name label and did most of the painting, otherwise it was all him. He's a handy man. (I sure love him!) It was a big hit with my son--and all of his class, too.

56 comments:

Patty said...

Wow, I love the Valentine Box!

Adele said...

Wow, I love the textured block for Sarah (top block), it's gorgeous. The valentines postbox is fabulous - gotta love a clever hubby. x

Marie' said...

Your son is the luckiest boy, ever! I am sure it will be treasured for years to come.

Last year my son took a surfing bootie box that said "f-bomb" for his mail box. I wasn't paying attention and just handed an empty box found in the garage. Imagine my husband's horror when he saw that box on his son's desk at open house:)

Heather - Dollarstorecrafts.com said...

The blocks are great!

I love it when my husband gets crafty, too! I love to see what comes out of his mind.

heather said...

Looks Great! How very fun! I found another sight that had a grey block with the texture. Very interesting. Looks good though. I wouldn't want to quilt it either. I will see you tomorrow!:) I did finish Marilyns. :) I'm going to work on the binding tonight!:) How many smiley faces can I do? I'm overboard.:)

Two Dogs and a Quilt said...

Great blocks. I love that last one and the texture block. I bet your son got all the valentines this year!

Sarah said...

Wow...what a Valentine box!!! Very cool.

Thimbleanna said...

It's been so fun to watch the virtual quilting bee. And that valentine box is amazing!

Linda said...

LOVE the valentine mail box. I never had one that fancy as a kid, LOL. Mine were old shoeboxes with wrapping paper and stickers. :)

otterdaughter said...

OMG...that Sew Connected group quilt block totally rocks!

I have a quilt to make from some jelly rolls and this looks like the absotootely _perfect_ idea for it.

Dimensions of the strips you used? Any rules you followed for which 'middles' to pair up with which strips? Ideas on how to lay out multiple blocks like this together into a quilt?

I'm such a pest, I know. *grin* But I love your block and would love some more info/ideas about it!

--Karen

Staci K. said...

Love the blocks - especially the sew connected one! That Valentine box is so awesome! I bet he was the envy of the class. :)

Valerie said...

I love that little mailbox so much! What a great dad :)

lera said...

Oh, that mailbox is WAY cuter than I imagined. That is really adorable (reminds me of the wooden Melissa & Doug one that Sawyer got for Christmas).

Your blocks are great, too. Looks like you've been a busy lady.

G'G'ma said...

Sure looks like you have a talented husband. You two are an awsome couple!

Sarah Pead said...

I love Love LOVE the top one with the texture! How did you do that?!

Sheree said...

You have been busy! Great stuff, as usual. Love the textured block.:

I don't know how I missed your giveaway. I take a few days off from blogland and I miss everything!

Love the start of your little one's summer wardrobe. Cute, cute!

Amanda Jean said...

sarah pead,

thank you! i took a long strip of fabric (about 18" x 4.5") and did a running stitch through the top edge and bottom edge of the fabric. (this was done by hand) then i gathered the fabric together, and then knotted off the thread when i was happy with the texture. does that make any sense at all? i hope that helps!

aj

Amanda Jean said...

otterdaughter,

thank you!

the pieces i cut for the sew connected block were 2 x 2.5, 5 x 2.5 and 6.5 x 2.5.

i'm thinking of using this idea on a larger scale for a whole quilt sometime...i thought it turned out kind of fun.

aj

Kendra said...

No way! That Valentine Box is amazing! I love it. I'm jealous, I want one (I am a grown-up, sort-of)... And all the fun blocks really get my creative juices flowing. So right now I'm about to stipple a quilt... For the first time! I've machine quilted before, but not like this, I'm so scared. I'm gonna watch your tutorial one more time, and off I go. It's for my daughters birthday. I LOVE your blog.

Mushyhed said...

The valentine's box is soooo cute!! Your son's a lucky boy to have such talented parents. And I love all your blocks. You've been busy!

Roxanne said...

Whoa, go Kevin! That thing rocks!! Your quilt block are pretty cool too! ;) That looks like a lot of intense sewing for one day!

Carie @ Space for the Butterflies said...

Wow - what lovely quilt blocks - and all in one day!! I've never seen anything like the textured block before and while I agree the quilting will be interesting (!) I think the finished quilt would be stunning.

Amy Jo said...

that textured block is awesome. you've got to make sure you link to that one when it's done - I'd love to see it!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

the texture, is great! I also like how the green/brown/beige block turned out. Nice job busy lady!

Cheryl Arkison said...

That solid block is very cool. I wonder what an entire quilt would look like?

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

You have been busy. Love the mailbox. That's way cool!

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

I heard your machine humming all the way to my house, love the first block, what a neat quilt that will be.Your husband LOL, men are so funny, Moms, cover a shoebox! That is something he will have forever, way to go Dad!!!

Anonymous said...

are you kidding me? You two are one talented pair! That post office box is just incredible.

Oh and I love the textured square and all your squares. I can imagine how tired you must be by doing all of them in one day. I think I would be lucky to finish one of those squares ever! Happy Valentine's Day!

Liz said...

Very cool. Arent' handy husband's wonderful?!

Anina said...

Doesn't it feel great to have those blocks checked off the list?
Pretty blocks!

Malin said...

I love your Valentine´s box!!!
I wish my husband was that handy ;)

Katherine said...

Awesome blocks, Amandajean. I love seeing the range of fabrics and block designs you put together.

The Valentine box rocks! I'm thinking your husband will be receiving requests to make more of these.

Becky J. said...

you should keep it out all year and drop little notes to each other inside it. fun and i love the blocks too.

maggiegracecreates said...

love the textured one and i might just have to use that idea very soon myself

Anonymous said...

Wow, I love the bit of texture and the monochromatic palette. It's so striking and really pretty!

Oiyi said...

Wow, that mailbox is amazing! And I love the puckered block. Can you show us how it is done?

Renee said...

Wow, you have been busy!!

That is the most amazing Valentine box ever. :)

Renee said...

Wow, you have been busy!!

That is the most amazing Valentine box ever. :)

Karen said...

Great Valentine's box! What a lucky son!

Love the blocks. What size are they?

Unknown said...

that first block pictured is amazing. truly. i love it so much i want to marry it.

even though i am already married. and that would be polygamy.

i love how sophisticated it looks -- as tim gunn would say, it looks expensive. : )

Thriftin and Craftin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sherry said...

The Valentine's Box is fabulous. Isn't it wonderful to be married to a handyman? Mine too is so talented, it amazes me. All the blocks look great. I'm with you on falling behind. I so intended to have more quilts done for Project Linus than I do..where does the time go? Have a great week-end!

Anonymous said...

I love it all!!

pratima said...

All the blocks are fabulous!!
The Valentine box is so sweet and just lovely!

Amy said...

There's a whole lot of WOW in that post.

sulu-design said...

Each of the blocks you made for the virtual quilting bee are awesome. I love the unique quality of the first - what a great response to a call for texture.
And that mailbox for your son?!? He must be just thrilled. What a great project from father to son.

Deelee said...

I really like the monochromatic white block. One of these days I'll try that random piecing. It's on my list!

GranthamLynn said...

I love your blog. You are such an inspiration. I visit often. I was wondering how did you do the link on the sidebar where you put the quilts finished in 08? I have been trying to do that and can't figure it out. Can you help me?
thanks,
Sherry

Linda Jordan said...

Inspirational as always. I love the different types of quilts that you and your group produce. Mindboggling but truly beautiful.

rosehippo said...

I love the block for Stefanie. The colors and the way it's sewn makes it look so modern. I'd love a quilt like that.

Lina said...

Wow, what lovely goodness, and all in one day?!! I love that top one for Sarah especially. Just begs to be touched!

Anonymous said...

wow, you did get alot done! The blocks look stunning!

jessica said...

I love all these blocks :-). They all have such a different look and feel. I think my favorite is the texture one though, I love the way you interpreted the request. Maybe one of these years I will sign up for one of these ... no really, it will take me that long. Things move like molasses around here.

Em said...

I LOVE the valentines box! Kudos to your husband.
The block you did for Sew Connected group is awesome! Simple, yet so different. I love it.

Andrea said...

I really like that texture block! It's so unusual and looks wonderful with the tones and texture of fabric. I wonder if quilting in long narrow parallel meandering stipples would work with that?

Your husband did an awesome job! What a lucky little guy!

Chara Michele said...

Very pretty blocks! I really, really love that last block...