And the Bead Goes On

This is the final piece of jewelry that I made a few days ago. It is Jasper, I think Leopard Jasper. Three different sizes of round beads. I have been in a round bead mood lately. Maybe because I have been seeing more pearls on people, especially worn with casual clothes. This necklace also has some subtle autumn coloration. I wonder if autumn is my favorite season because of the weather or because I like autumn colors. Mostly the red maple leaves, of course. Jerilynn

Sunflower Maze

I got the components for this necklace in a great little bead shop in Taylors Falls. MN. I think I got them all on the African Trade Bead table, but I won't swear to that. They had so many cool beads that I lost track of where I actually bought what. They give designers a good discount, which really is very helpful! That is also where I bought the trade beads for the bracelet/necklace combo I showed you a couple of days ago. Tonight I am a bit pooped. Moved my dad from the condo to an apartment today. I think I have lost track of the moves we have made so far this year. He seems happy there and I hope he won't be quite so lonely. I did manage to do a little knitting, but that was about it. Tomorrow we help him do some more settling in. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful for the move! Thank heaven for such little miracles! Jerilynn

I Spy a Cute Quilt!

I finished this I Spy quilt yesterday. It is going to be for our grandson's second birthday. The front is 6 inch squares cut from a huge variety of "conversation" prints, some of which came from old friends over the years. The back is a map of the world that I ordered from Etsy. The size of the quilt was determined by the front needing to fit the back map, so it turned out to be about 36" x 52". The map was actually a bit smaller than the front when I was done sewing all the squares together, so after quilting I just brought the front to the back, turned under the raw edges and zigzagged into place. The binding now looks "pieced" from the map side and I think this type of edge is a good, sturdy one for a toddler quilt. I think it has endless opportunities for conversations and play time. At some point I had read a poem about an I Spy quilt, but when I tried to search for it on the internet, I didn't find anything that I remembered. If you know of a good I Spy poem, let me know! Jerilynn P.S. The quilt looks crinkly because I like to wash and dry my quilts that are made from unwashed cottons after they are all done. It makes it look soft and worn in. I also turned the squares every-which-way so there is no right side up.

A Fine Mess of Buckaroo Bibs!

My daughter, Ellen, and a friends of hers and the friend's mother came up on Friday for a few days of sewing in the Studio (aka Heaven). Ellen is in a gift fair in Milwaukee in a couple of weeks and she decided to add the Buckaroo Bib to the items she will be selling. Love her colors and I thought after they were all done that she made a fine mess! You can learn how to make them here. She also took pity on my huge pile of knit dishcloths and potholders and took them along. I am sure they will be a very popular draw to Ellen's table! Jerilynn

What are These?

Not much sewing today. Record high weather, helped take one of the boats out, watched the dock taking out procedure. Endless waiting on hold on ATT to change phone service for my dad. Darned a hole in one pair of jeans. Shortened another. Didn't get the "I spy" quilt basted or quilted. But, I did get a little spot of time to do some beading. I made three necklaces and made two longer African bead necklaces that I thought I would use for glass tile pendants. On a whim, I wrapped them around my daughter's wrists and snapped a shot. She said "How Jennifer Aniston!". Hmm. Not sure if that was a compliment or not, but I like them. Necklaces or bracelets? Jerilynn

Done!

It is finished and I like it very much. A little smaller than I thought it was going to be...I know, I own a million measuring devices...you would think I would know in advance the size! Anyway, it will be a nice bit of color for the blue bedroom. It did take a very long time to get the quilting done. After doing all the rows in the middle of the quilt, I still had to do all the rows around the outside border. It is a bit hard to see but there is one row of a wavy stitch, next to the inside colors. Breaks up the lines a bit. I think I may make a pillow case to match. Tonight I have been working on an "I Spy" quilt for my grandson's second birthday. Simple and fun. Jerilynn

Jeri Sews and Sews and Sews.....

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING, JERISEW??? The last few days I have been making the quilt that I talked about back in September. I got all the pieces sewn together, and, just as I feared, those 1/2" finished strips between the blocks were a bit tricky to keep straight. The original pattern had all the blocks lined up and you could really see my slight variances. So, I got the idea to offset every other row...looks good. Well, THEN I got this idea to channel quilt it using the side of the presser foot as a guide. Turns out the rows are 3/8" apart. Soooo, I have been sewing slightly wonky straight lines (I used a very slight zig-zag so the stitching isn't so harsh) over and over and over and over....still not done. Of course I do other things when I just can't take it anymore, but mostly I have been sewing rows. I should finish this tomorrow and then it's binding time. Jerilynn