Friday, August 21, 2015

Digging Up the Oldies

Whilst trying to stay out of the way of workmen, I have been spending a lot of time in my secret (and quiet) space.  I’ve been having fun pulling out some of my older projects to finish off. 

I found this cute pattern, Happy Jack, about five years ago.  Each year I say I am going to make it!  Well….it is now underway.

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I have always loved Halloween and have been invited to participate in the Halloween Haunts 2015 Blog Hop so I really want to finish this happy fellow off to share.  Have you done any of these projects using the fusible grids?  I love my Santa and snowman that I have done using this technique.

I also pulled out my Little Letters that was a QAL with Temecula Quilt Company.  I needed to finish my last row of letters and get it quilted and bound.   The colors look a bit washed out here, but the letters are more distinguished looking.

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Since the colors were kind of marine-ish looking, I chose to piece the back with a whimsical sea scene.

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It’s been a busy week with family birthdays and farewell parties for college bound grandchildren.  Tuesday evening we spent at the Hollywood Bowl.  It is such a beautiful place to spend a summer evening.

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Sorry for the fuzzy cell phone picture.

The big screen was there because they showed the film 2001- A Space Oddessy while the L.A. Philharmonic played the music.  The music was incredible, but the film was rather strange - in my humble opinion. 

The  weekend is here and I am looking forward to the quiet in the house.  The remainder of the grands return to school next week so I guess that means it really is the end of the summer.  How quickly it went this year!  I’m already missing the extra daylight, but I am looking forward to the winter rains they are forecasting for us.   We just need to finish getting prepared for it – tree trimming, roof checked, drains cleared, etc.  Maybe I should get sandbags!!!  Of course, if we are all ready you know it won’t happen.  Winking smile

36 comments:

  1. Happy Jack is uber cute and I look forward to seeing your finished share. August and Summer Smiles making family memories...

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  2. I truly love your Happy Jack Quilt and think it will make a great Decoration as well. Love your ABC quilt too. The colors are like the sea. Enjoy the remainder of Summer; and hope you get the rain you need.

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  3. Happy Jack is adorable! I've never done a quilt on a fuseable grid before. I'd like to try someday. My ABC quilt is sandwiched, pinned and ready to be quilted as it has been for months! Seeing your beautiful blue version has inspired me to start thinking about quilting it :-) The summer did go by so quickly.

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  4. Happy Jack is going to be gorgeous!!! Such wonderful color and I love the design. I haven't done anything with the fusible grids, but I've been thinking I should try it sometime. Know I know I will :*)

    I am sad to see summer beginning to wave goodbye! Hoping it will not be another long, cold, bitter winter, but it's always nice to know that spring will be on the other side :*)

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  5. Love your Jack o'lantern. I've never made anything with the fusible grid. Your letter quilt has my favourite colours in it - very pretty. Must feel really good to get projects finished. I too am missing the longer daylight hours already. It just hit me this evening that it's already the 21st!!

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  6. Oh Jack is just delightful! I have never used the fuseable grid, but I love piecing all those bits of fabric. Congratulations on finishing up the Little Letters - adorable. I miss the longer days too.

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  7. Love that Happy Jack! I'm so excited to be doing the Halloween hop, too!

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  8. Jack is a great quilt! Love your fabrics! Your Little Letters turned out really cute. I have yet to finish mine. Have a great weekend.

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  9. Love seeing Jack come together. And Little Letters is adorable!

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  10. Happy Jack looks like such a fun project. And I wish you a fall and winter of gentle soaking rains, no sandbags needed. El Nino is supposed to bring us another long hard cold winter. Can't say I'm looking forward to that except for the enforced inside (quilting) time!

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  11. love your happy jack. what a fun way to use squares and hst
    beautiful temecula quilt too. that is one on my bucket list

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  12. Love Happy Jack.....It's looks a bit like the Bargello method?
    Such a sweet ABC quilt, perfect for a little and I know you have a few of them...
    Looks like a great summer evening out. Hmm like you I wouldn't be sure about the A Space Odessy...

    Do hope it does rain soon.

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  13. The remodel turns out well with your UFO projects. You will get that Halloween quilt finished well before Oct. Hugs Nat

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  14. I love Happy Jack! How big will be end up being? And your Little Letters turned out so well ... the colors remind me of the sea, too, which helps make it a winner in my book. ;-) Hoping that you get only gentle rains that restore.

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  15. Oh yes I did my share of those grid projects in the day. I must have given them away; because I've not seen them around. I love going to the Hollywood Bowl for anything.

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  16. Love that Halloween quilt. I prefer those kind of fun Halloween things over the super spooky/horror type Halloween stuff.

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  17. Mary, Happy Jack is awesome! I am not a huge Halloween person, but love this little guy! Your alphabet quilt is cute, too. Nice projects to work on while hiding in your secret place!

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  18. Ok so now i am wondering what the snowman and santa look like that you did by this method??? Love the jack-o-lantern!

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  19. Wow....Happy Jack is gorgeous....now I have to look up fusible grids....lol...The sweet Alphabet quilt is perfect with the nautical fabric on back.....This morning as I stepped out of the hospital to go home I was hit with a cool breeze that felt just like El Paso Autumn....my favorite time of year here....perfect weather...not too hot, not too cool....though short-lived I always look forward to it.

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  20. Sadly I won't be able to join the Halloween blog hop this year. Your quilt looks gorgeous already. There are so many pretty prints in that quilt. The sea scene is a great addition to your Little Letters quilt. I am sure one of your grandkids will be thrilled with this beauty.

    I read the book 2001-A Space Oddessy, but I could not like the movie. I also thought it to be very strange. I can imagine the music being incredible played live by LA Philharmonic.

    -Soma

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  21. What a great pumpkin this will be , and I love the alphabet quilt , stunning !!

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  22. super letters quilt and that Halloween quilt will be fab!

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  23. You are being very productive. I love your Happy Jack. I have two projects that are to be made with the fusible grid. I haven't attempted them yet but look forward to trying this method.

    Can't believe it is the end of summer already...time flies!

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  24. I love your Happy Jack. I have that pattern somewhere as well. Probably under several other projects....hummmmm. The Alphabet quilt it precious. Little ones love to just sit on them and repeat their ABCs over and over.
    Take care

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  25. Happy Jack looks like a fun project. I have wanted to do an alphabet quilt for so long, I love the colors you used in yours. I saved patterns on my computer but have not gotten to it. I must not get distracted though and keep finishing not starting new projects.

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  26. I love that Happy Jack--sometimes it's fun to revisit old projects and this proves it. The night at the bowl looks great, but having watched that movie twice, I completely agree. Creepy!! (Perfect for making your pumpkin?)

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  27. Your quilt is going to be fabulous! Love the colors!

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  28. Oh. My. GOSH! Your pumpkin project is too cute and right up my pumpkin-loving alley!! Glad you're able to enjoy some quiet time and space!!!! :)

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  29. Such fun I've been having looking through your posts! I guess I lost touch. I have not been coming across any of your posts in my Bloglovin feed. I need to check out why not. I love your Hot summer days quilt, and so much more! You have been very productive lately.

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  30. How nice to have somewhere to retreat to while it's a hive of activity elsewhere in the house. You seem to be making good use of your time too, the gridded pumpkin is very cute - no I haven't done anything like that before. Your letters has come up well too. We are enjoying the signs of spring around us - isn't it funny how we look forward to the change of the seasons so much?!

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  31. Looks like you are staying busy Mary. What a bunch of fun projects. Good luck with you finishes....and what a lovely evening of music! A perfect way to end the summer.

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  32. Halloween is such fun and that is a really terrific quilt. I've been thinking of you and your remodel, hoping the worst of it (noise, smell and dust) is behind you. Maybe the upcoming seasons bring CA rain and cooler temps.

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  33. Your happy Jack makes me smile. I bet the concert/movie was fabulous.

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  34. Wow! Lots of quilting and life happenings at your place. Really nice. All of it. :-D

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