Family sew-in and a celebration!

 We had a great family sewing day on Saturday. We even had some non sewers drop in to catch up and give advice!

 Deb worked on her quilt....she started it a long time ago. She's not a sewer, but wanted to try it. She worked really hard for this.....TA- DA!

Her daughter, Ashley, learned how to make a pillow case for her son.  She started a Tshirt quilt on our last sewing day and worked on it for awhile Saturday too.

 Phylicia made these cute soft cubes for little hands. Some of them had ribbon handles.

 Sharon satin stitched this fact on her boating bag.

 She also finished a couple of small bags with vinyl fronts to keep things dry on the boat.

 I worked on another Reversible Box Tote. I've been eyeing this fabric for awhile...love it!

 I also sewed the backing fabric together for the new quilt. It's an orange, pink, yellow and purple batik with swirls. I might use the same fabric for the binding, but first things first. Quilting it.

 We gathered for a family celebration in the evening...my parents' 65th anniversary. We had a houseful. I didn't get a pic of the happy couple together, but here is dad with some grandchildren...

 Mom with some grandchildren...

 and Dad again with 2 granddaughters and a great grandson.

 We had a great dinner and a great time.

After chasing each other around in circles for awhile, the great grandsons had a little chat on the phone. We were surprised they even knew what to do with it, as they were toy dial phones! 

 I spent some time Sunday prepping for a kids pillow class I'm doing for a 4-H group next weekend. I also partially loaded the new quilt on to the frame. I have classes the next two nights, so I'm not sure when I will get back to it, but it's a start in the right direction.  It still needs a name.

New quilt....Abacus?

Family Sew-In 2014

We had our annual Holiday Sew-In at my parents house on Sunday. We've been having these sew-ins for about 5 or 6 years when my sister is home for the holidays.

My sister Sharon worked on some puff pillows. She made some as gifts and now wants some for her house! She does quite a bit of sewing and is fast!

We had some new sewers join us...they wanted to learn how to make T-shirt quilts. My niece Jessie got all of her shirts prepped and cut and ready to sew together.

My niece, Ashley, got a good start on hers too, and she didn't look up long enough for me to get a good picture! She got lots done too...that's her helper in the background.

My daughter, Wendy joined the T-shirt quilt group and got all of hers prepped and ready to put together too.

Everyone was working hard and chatting too! We know how to multi-task!

My sister, Nancy, is here from Canada for the holidays. She only sews when she is home, so we kidded her a lot about her 5 year quilt...but it's coming along. Here she is cutting out sashings.

Half of her blocks laid out.

Sharon finished two pillow tops...they just needed stuffing. She sews the puffs together and then slits the backs and stuffs later. It makes it easier to put together.

Mom cooked up some chili for all of us and helped when needed. We always call Dad the supervisor...he does whatever we ask him to do.

I spent a lot of the day helping the newbies with their projects, but I did get the border cut and sewn on this chevron quilt that I made awhile back for a demo on a special ruler. I'm going to give it to my newest great-nephew, Robert. I want to get the back sewn today and get it loaded on the quilt frame tomorrow. I made the binding Sunday too, just no pic!

Wendy's T-shirt blocks. We forgot to get pictures of the other girls' blocks before they left.

Nancy has half of her quilt center finished! She laid it out with her border fabrics. That floral border print is what she loved and chose her other fabrics to coordinate with it.

We had such a good time chatting and sewing...my sister, Deb, usually joins us, but she was sick so couldn't come. She needs to tie her 5 year quilt (*smile*) and finish by binding. Maybe we'll have another sewing day soon so she can get hers finished!

Sharon's pillows stuffed and beautiful!

I want to sew the binding on the Honeycomb quilt today and get the Chevron quilt and backing ready for the quilt machine. I am also teaching a sampler group tonight, so a full day of sewing! Happy Tuesday...hope you're sewing!

Around the World Blog Tour

Lone Star, made in 2009, still one of my favorite quilts.

I was asked by Holly Elam of Fabric Mom to write a post for the Around the World Blog Tour.I have followed Holly's quilting journey for many years. She leads a busy life raising her sons and she still finds time to sew!

This sounds like a daunting tour, as my little part of the world (Council Bluffs, IA) isn't all that exciting or different. But I guess we are here to learn about other quilters, techniques and quilty stuff, so it doesn't matter.

 

Here's Mom in her Quilt! shirt

 I learned to sew from my mom when I was young. She loves to sew and started teaching me at a young age. She eventually began quilting, so when I started my first quilt I went to her for advice and help. I have also learned a lot from reading books and magazines and have taught myself many techniques. My mom and I still like to sew together. Here is one that she has been working on. 

Sometimes we have sew in days in my hometown of Earling IA and invite my sisters. 

 At our last sew in day, Sharon made my design, Fade to Pink. She has been sewing and crafting for many years.

Nancy, on the other hand, only sews when she is visiting from Canada at Christmas, so is still in the learning process. 

 Her first quilt is going to be so pretty!

My sister, Deb is the same way...only sewing when it's a family event! She is learning to string piece.

She finished her top the last time we met. It's so much fun seeing these two dip their toes in the quilting world. We have one more sister who has no interest, and hasn't been around when we have met. She is moving closer soon, so maybe this year we can work on her and get her involved!

 I worked on my first Miss Tess quilt the last time we got together (it was my newest design at the time). I have recently been working on a new version and finished the quilting last week. I hope to bind it this week.

Miss Tess quilt

 There always has to be a supervisor, and Dad does a great job of doing that. He also helps us lay out blocks, decide on colors and relaxes for us.

 I love to go on retreats with friends, too. I have gone with the same group now for about 5 years. We go twice a year and work on our own projects. The last few times we have gone to Quilter's Cottage, near Woodbine, IA. It's great fun and many things happen that can't be repeated...you know the saying....what happens on retreat, stays on retreat. Sewing with others is definitely more fun than sewing alone!

Quilters of the Corn...need I say more? 

I started teaching quilting classes about 11 years ago.  I taught a few groups the basics of piecing and finishing a quilt, then designed a sampler quilt to continue teaching them new techniques. Since then I have met lots of wonderful quilters and have designed 19 samplers, many other quilts and table runners using many techniques under the name Quiltinjeanie Designs.Three of my designs have been published in McCalls Quick Quilts magazines in the past year and a half.

Ribbon Quartz, Sampler 19

Two of my reasons for starting a blog was to have a journal of my quilting efforts and to share the quilting going on in my classes. I work a full time job as a Library Clerk in a local elementary school too, so my blogging isn't always lengthy or every day. I do have the summers off and don't teach as many classes then, so I get more sewing and quilting (and blogging) done. I have met many nice quilters through blogging and have seen many interesting tutorials and techniques. I love how the blogging world has opened up quilting to everyone! I think that is what this tour is all about.

I am challenging a few other bloggers to share their quilt journey with us on this Blog Tour. They will be posting their Around the World Blog Tour posts next week!

Cheryl of Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting has been busy working on food in a jar blocks for an exchange she is doing. They are so cute and delicious!

Rosa of Rosa Patch. The Love of Sewing is a very talented quilter from Spain. I am so impressed with the Dear Jane quilt that she has been working on.

Thanks for joining me on this blog tour....hope you enjoyed this visit to my part of the world. 

Family sewing day!

 I had a great time sewing with my sisters and Mom yesterday. We all worked on our own projects. Sharon started a new Twister quilt on Thursday,  so continued to work on it. She made the oh-so-cute pillow top using some of her leftover squares and then decided to make a border for the bottom of the quilt using them as well.

Nancy started her quilt a couple of years ago and only sews when she comes for visits about once a year. She has 1/2 of her blocks finished now, so it is coming along nicely. I am going up there tomorrow for NY dinner, so I hope to see some more progress tomorrow.

This is her first quilt. Nancy has been here since Thanksgiving, so my folks are enjoying her nice long visit. Her husband came last week, so we visited with him as well....didn't get a pic of him though....hmm...he must've been hiding from my camera!

 My sister Deb isn't a quilter either, but sure seems to love it when we are all together. She finished her lap size layout yesterday and is ready to put on some borders. This is her first quilt as well.

She chose some borders from my Mom's stash of vintage fabrics, so hopefully will have my Mom and Sharon help her get it finished now.

Mom worked on her layout, but didn't sew...she is recuperating well after finishing her chemo in Nov. but still gets tired more easily. I think all the holiday hoopla is wearing her out, though she doesn't complain.

We always need our supervisor on sewing days! Dad helps us with layouts and visits while we sew.  My niece, several nephews and brother-in-law came and ate lunch with us and stayed to visit a while too.

 These two kept us entertained as well...a year really makes a difference! They are becoming buddies!

I cut the borders for my daughter Wendy's Circle and Spin Plus quilt and got the first border sewn on. It's going to be large enough to come down past the box springs on her queen size bed.

 I want to finish quilting the Lotus Quilt today and maybe get the last border on Wendy's quilt. We'll see how much ambition I have!