JemJam

Celebrate Handmade

Sigh.

That 9 pound baby that I had a few days ago turned six.  

Her birthday was during the week, so this was the skirt for her day.

She likes all colors, but, I don't do a lot of purple.

It's a Pink Fig skirt, easy, a lot of fabric was used.

 

She likes to contain things.

The first of many more drawstring bags for her.  She put an emergency journal and pencil and sunglasses in one for the ride to a birthday party.  Pattern by Jeni Baker.

 

Sometimes, she wears pants.

I thought that these pants were so cute!  I vowed to make a top to coordinate for her birthday as a gift (hey, she's getting close to where she can get clothes as gifts!).

How I only bought a yard of this fabric is beyond me, I guess I should be proud of being a moron.  I will get more immediately.  Anyhow, I had it lying around for a skirt for her, but, I know that this is a better use of the fabric.  It is the Ice Cream top, I added 2 inches to the bottom for a tunic.  I find that jeans/pants do not fit well at the waist, so, to comfort her and myself, I altered the pattern.  And what's up with the pants, people?  How are we giving people eyelash extensions and cankle liposuction and my child can't find pants to fit her waist?  Ugh!  

 

She had a party.

                            Well done, Pinkitzel.

The party room for her was decorated vividly and I wanted my munchkin to look like she was supposed to be there.

                          Jona's skirt pattern

I thought it looked pretty damn good.

 

those aren't pillows!

 

                      pinwheel, pinwheel, spinning around

Last fall, I participated in the Pillow Talk Swap on Flickr, I shared the pillow I made already.  This is the pillow that I received from a different person.  Isn't it great!  She used fabrics that I really like and colors to match my studio!  She is a real sweetie, she even sent me some extra fabric from the pillow.  I love it so much!  Thanks Debra!

 

 

                            hand-quilted, for my pleasure

A local friend, Angelina, made this pillow for me!  It was a Christmas gift, which is so unexpected (I don't do Christmas with friends, just birthdays (it gets to be too much and I talk to A LOT of people, A LOT).  I gasped when I opened this, I love dresdens, I love these colors (obviously), and I really want more pillows right now!  The white plates really make the other colors shine, it is a hit!  

Angelina also gave me a label, "made with blood, sweat, + needles," I pinned it to the pillow for now, pretty funny!  My daughter (5) misread it as "sweet + neddles" and asked what that meant...

Thanks, Angelina!

 

*confession, those are pillows

New Clothes

It has been a long time since I've made clothes for E, I think December 2011 was the last time a sewed a frock for her.  I haven't necessarily purchased more clothes for her, either, she has a lot of skirts and dresses!  One thing about her clothes that are handmade--you can make them a great size (tad bit longer, for example) and they instantly have longevity.  Nice quality fabric wears well and washes well, it just goes the distance.

 

Our daughter is in kindergarten, she has school pics in November and of course, that's a holiday in my mind.  I whipped this up for her and she loved it, as do I!  I altered a Simplicity pattern (can't recall the number).

 

That black and white fabric will be the death of me, I love it so.

 

I wanted to make another one of those dresses for Christmas time, but, I really was busy doing 17 other things, so, I made a skirt (Jona's favorite of mine) in a few hours.  

Pink woodgrain trim...

 

Well, one goal for me in 2013 is to make a few more pieces for E this year, she will need a new coat next winter for sure!

 

Seriously, how did I make 2 pieces of clothing for her in 11 months??  

Pillow Talk Swap 2012-Sent

I was adventurous enough to sign up for a large swap on Flickr this fall--The Pillow Talk {Swap}!  They had over 100 participants, their biggest one yet!  I made a pillow for a lovely lady that lives in Canada, she seemed eager and easy to please, which is the best kind of partner.

 

 

She loves blue, green, scrappy, and anything in between.

120 wedges + 6 circles = quite a bit of hand appliqué.

I was crazy enough to start with 9 dresden plates, but, the pillow was just too big, 6 plates is much better!

The pillow is approximately 22"x15", which is just right.  

I'll show you my pillow that matches my studio (yes, I have a little studio now!) next year.

 

 

Stacked

I submitted this quilt to QuiltCon's juried show, I'll be happy if it is accepted and happy if it isn't.  I had plans to make this since the spring.  My niece cut out blocks from magazine pages and I thought that it would make a groovy quilt.  

I quilted each block differently, yes, it took a long time.  Next, I quilted the the background, I feel like it grew as I quilted it, this project swallowed my entire week!  I did not have time to post about the progress because I made it in 5 days, it's now balled up in the corner of my studio, just as I was on Friday night...

 

I'll be notified at the end of this month if I am able to ship this baby to Austin!

 

I am prepping for Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar for the rest of the week, toodles!

 

Thanksgiving 2012

We are hours away from catching up with aunts, uncles, cousins, and their children.  

We are ready to eat appetizers, main course today, and dessert tomorrow.  

We are ready to drink good wine and take a hayride through the park.  

We are ready to celebrate each others existence.  

I'm ready for my quilt retreat that starts tomorrow!

We just want to be happy today and we are.  

Maybe we don't talk about those who are without loved ones today, but, we are thinking of you, too!  

We will be happy today as we don't have a lot of time to do otherwise.

 

Thanksgiving at home, 2011

 

 

Lesson Learned

In a few days, it will be 9 years ago that my cousin, Kennedy, died from meningitis. For some reason, turning on this album sparked memories of us losing him. I was in a good mood, why did I want to listen to this somber album while in the shower? Then, it hit me.

A few years ago, I told Robin about Kennedy's story and I was still a little weepy about it, I may be inaccurately stating her reaction but she seemed a little taken aback by my emotions. She said, "Find the lesson in it" and move forward. (This may all come across as harsh, but it's hard to find better words to describe our conversation, it was really good.

I thought and thought and thought some more about the lesson, I didn't know what it was. I thought about my Aunt Nancy and how awful she must have felt, hell, still does! She's a good person, why was her son taken? I thought about my cousin, Rosheeda, why did her brother/only sibling die while she was 5 months pregnant? Why did my sister have to bury her best friend?

Oh!

They are showing us that we can live through this. So can you.

Bella

I finished my Bella quilt, a local woman, Wendy quilted it for me and I love it! 

mmm, crosshatch... 

I attached the binding by machine, it can be a bit fussy, it takes a lot of practice!  I have not clocked that many hours on the skill, but, I am will keep trying.  I still like hand stitching bindings, but, sometimes, a girl has to move on to new, possibly, unfinished projects.

I do not always want a quilt with visible stitches, but, sometimes, it's fine.

 

 

I am tickled pink to share this---

my first needle-turn applique project!

I am done with this Merry Merry Snowman quilt top!  I did needle-turn appliqué on all 9 blocks--it is easily over 100 hours of work, hell, at least 150 hours.  I still cannot believe that I'm done with this part!  I sent this away for quilting, Wendy will do some custom quilting, I'm excited to get it back.  I'll talk more about this when I finish it.

 

If you are interested in reading a little about me and quilting(I know you are), I did an interview with Amanda for our guild--OKC Modern Quilt Guild, you can read it on that blog.  I welcome your comments.

 

This week, I'm headed to a nearby city's quilt guild to do 2 presentations on modern quilting with a fellow guild member.  I'm anxious today as we finish preparing our material, I might be crazy.  

 

I went to International Quilt Market in Houston a week ago, look for some posts soon!

 

I am linking to OKCMQG's "Flaunt Your Finish" feature, which I plan to do often, maybe you will, too?

 

Scatterbrains

About a month ago, I found this Process Pledge, I really liked it and I want to adopt this policy in my blog. Even though I have grown tired of taking pictures, uploading, then finding the words to blog, I want to do this.  I'm not sure how much I even like blogging, but, I do love sharing my work.  I think that there is something wrong with that part of me, why does anyone care?  Why do I think that anyone cares what I'm doing?  Well, I love seeing what people make, but, it is a struggle every time I log in to Typepad.  I guess I will continue to keep this up for a while longer, but, maybe just 2-3 times a month, I may be able to comply.  

I actually wrote a post 2 weeks ago (it took days) and my computer was giving me the business and I couldn't get my pics from the html state and I just deleted the whole thing from frustration.  Ugh, why are we so spoiled and hindered with technology?  I know it's not just me.

 

 

I'm working with Lotta Jansdotter's new line, Bella.  I found a pattern called Supper (I do not like that word) Club by Modern Quilt Relish, pretty mod.

 

Chain piecing happens as often as possible.

It went together really fast!  I was surprised!  I sent it away to be quilted by a lady that I love, I just didn't want to make the time.  I struggled with the idea of me not quilting it myself, but that's silly, I don't have to do all of the steps. Gosh, what's my problem??

 

I love it already!

 

I'll be binding it this weekend and displaying it in my local quilt shop, Oklahoma Quiltworks, I also work there once a week.  

 

While I worked on that quilt, my family was out working on a desk for me (plans from Ana White):

I'll be painting it really soon!

 

 

Can I cut into that woodgrain?

It's Kids Clothes Weekly Challenge again!  In the past, I would just make four dresses or skirts, but, I need a miracle to complete four anything (well, maybe I can handle 4 shots of of liquor)!  I had plans to make a skirt with this, but it's Friday now, so not sure that's happening this week!  Oh well, I'll have my own KCWC a different week.  Please check out the challenge, there are some talented people cranking out cute kid clothes, I especially love this guest post by Jessica Grey.

 

blurry pic, yikes! 

 A few weeks ago, I successfully hosted a meeting at our home for the OKC Modern Quilt Guild, it was fun! Amanda organized a group quilt for a pregnant member, her daughter's room is orange, blue, and pink.  We were asked to do a block that represents who we are, I made a block that took a long time and was fussy.  Also, it likes lemon cake.  The mom-to-be (maybe one today!), Robin was so surprised and happy about the quilt!  That was fun to see her reaction and be a part of that project!

Hex Yes

Phone post--I'll format this better, later, maybe.

I'm in the parent area while my kiddo is learning ballet, in my lap is this glorious combo of strawberry, stone, aqua, & cherry red...mmmm, I cannot get enough of it. Anyhow, I am paper piecing 23 2" hexagons to make a little throw pillow (after being placed in a lucite box). This is the perfect project to have at ballet, gymnastics & soccer, too bad the hexagons are big, I will not have much longer to work on it.

 

Basting stitches in place, hand piecing hexagons now.

 

DEEP THOUGHTS, by Jem Handy

I really want to make a grandmother's flower garden quilt in a queen size. I want to take my time with it. I don't know what I want to use for colors, I will use tiny prints (maybe 30s prints) and I'm leaning towards the color scheme of the hexi pillow, I don't see tiring of it on our bed in 2016 when I finish it.

I am working on about 10 things right now, a part of me wishes that was a joke.

I want to blog more about my process with pretty much everything I'm making just to chronicle it better & for anyone interested in seeing things come together. I just do not take the time on the computer to write posts anymore. I might get on my laptop once a day--might. I may just blog more from my phone, the photos are not awesome, but maybe I'll save the camera for finished projects--I can handle that!

I have become a member of the OKC Modern Quilt Guild this year after flirting with the idea for a long time. I enjoy the group and our activities and look forward to years ahead! We have a group project almost complete and I'll breathe a heavy sigh once its done!  I booked a quilt retreat for us, it is just after Thanksgiving, so, it will be a nice treat!

I signed up to do Pillow Talk Swap on Monday, very excited about that!

I am interested in the 4x5 bee, I joined that group this week!

I'll leave you with this bag that I made last week when I should have been working on my zipper bags...

 

Pattern by Jen Giddens.