Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Last minute FREE project for Christmas!

Hello friends!
   I hope you all have been having fun on the Primitive Christmas Blog Hop, put together by Buttermilk Basin! Don't forget to go to Primitive Gatherings blog tomorrow!
  I found a little project yesterday that I had forgotten about! It is one that I offered for my Wool Club at the shop! It's called Gingerbread Boys!  Some of us  made napkin rings out of it, or Pillows or just a cute table mat! I hope you enjoy the pattern! Take a picture and email it to me! I love show and tell!
  Let me know if you have trouble printing it! I'm still learning my new printer and how to do these things on my blog!
   Enjoy!
      Jeni
 

if the link below doesn't work for you, right click on the image, save it (mine said, "save target") to" Documents" in your computer and print!  Sorry for my lack of computer skills! I'll figure it out soon! I'll keep working on it! Check back if you still are having trouble later today or tomorrow!  Thanks!
 
Click to download the pattern! choose to open the document to your computer, then print!
  

Monday, December 17, 2012

Primitive Christmas!

Hello Friends!  I hope this finds you all ready for Christmas! Is all your shopping and decorating done? Would you believe that I have not started shopping?  I did buy one gift for my Daughters stocking yesterday. And I did make my husband a quilt! What is the age when most people don't have stockings for grown children? Ha ha!  I thought I would tell you all about my favorite family traditions!

The first tradition is when I was growing up!  Our family went out to the woods to get a tree every year. I have four siblings, a brother and 3 sisters. We also had a dog, and it was the only time we saw Mom touch the dog! She would pick her up so someone could wipe her feet to put her in the station wagon after running through the woods! Its amazing "Tippy" never ran away at the tree farms, because anytime you opened the door at home, she was gone in a flash! We always sang in the car together, the whole family!  We put out tree up on Christmas eve.  Mom worked in the kitchen making our Ham for after Christmas eve service. After the tree was all decorated, she would come in and put her special cotton spun pear ornament on the tree! She gave me the pear a few years ago to add to my old glass ornament collection. I told her I would only take it now under one condition. That is if she puts it on my tree every year! So when our family all gets together at the next tradition I'll tell you about, she puts it on my tree! Here are a few pictures!
This is Me (on right) and Gretchen (who took this picture?) at Christmas in about 1978! How about those feetsie Pajamas! The doggie was our second pet, Sonny! He was so soft!
This picture, is us three Primitive Quilts magazine owners: Judy on left, Me in the middle, and Gretchen on the right! The baby is Leah, our office manager! She is who you usually talk to if you call the Magazine! Leah is Judy's daughter! How about that sweater I'm wearing! Ha ha! I think this picture was taken around 1985, you probably guessed that by Gretchen's hair and my sweater though!
This is Moms cotton spun pear ornament! I love it, but unfortunately Chester my dog loves it too! When we were shooting the Winter issue 2012 at my house this summer, I had it in a couple shots on the tree's in my house. I had laid it on the table after the shot, and Chester who was just a year old, jumped up and had it in his mouth! Now one side of it is a little yucky. Darn it! I was so sad.  Needless to say, it isn't out at all, until Mom puts it up high on the tree this Friday! Which leads me to the next tradition and my favorite of all now!

About 20 years ago, my sister Sally and I decided to start a tradition our kids would look forward to. Everyone in our family sings and plays an instrument. Mostly guitars! So we had our little kids at the time decorate construction paper song book covers, and Sally typed all the songs up with guitar chords, for every Christmas song we could think of! We use them every year, when everyone comes to my house for the "Annual Falcsik (my maiden name) Family, Potluck dinner, Sing-a-long Christmas party! Everyone brings an instrument, and we sing, sing and eat!  This year is our 20th annual party! Here are a few pictures! I wish they were better!

 
We sure have a lot of fun! Our party is this coming Friday night, and I am really looking forward to it! I'll take some new shots for a new post this weekend!

Okay, on to the ornament pattern for you, and the recipe!

This recipe was given to me by my sister-in-law, Kasondra. Her Mother-in-Law gave it to her! It is now my husbands favorite! The batch I made for the blog hop photo is now gone! I will have to make more this evening for our party on Friday! I hope you enjoy it, and that it becomes your favorite also!
 

YUM!!!!

Now for the ornament! I played around with this idea, and I hope you will like it! It is a cute little sheep ornament made from a Christmas carol scanned onto Cotton fabric to put through your ink jet printer! I have it all scanned and made, you just print it out on Cotton fabric, cut and sew! The song is Silent Night, from a very very old Sunday School book I found at an antique store! After I made my sheep, I aged him with some strong coffee spray!  My sheep is wearing a red wool collar with a tiny key hanging from it! The "key" to remember this season, is the Lamb of God was born Christmas night!


I have another sheep ornament pattern on the Primitive Quilts and Projects website. It is smaller in size, and made from wool. There are also other ornament patterns to download there! Remember to print this pattern out on Computer cotton fabric, and use tiny stitches on your machine, because it is pretty thin fabric, and it will make it easier to turn inside out once you sew it! Save the pattern picture to your computer documents, then print. If you just print from the blog, it will come out smaller. (if for some reason the pattern doesn't download, I'll fix it when I get to the shop today, where Gretchen, will help me!)
Have a wonderful Christmas!!!
Be sure to check out the next stop on the blog hop on Wednesday!  Lisa Bongean, Primitive Gatherings!

Have a Very Merry Christmas!!!
    Jeni
 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Secret Christmas present!

I'm making a quilt for my husband for Christmas! I'm pretty sure he won't see this post! Ha ha! The quilt is actually all sewn together as of a couple nights ago, all but the border! I hope to get it quilted on Friday! I think I can secretly get the binding on in the early mornings after he leaves for work. If not, my friend Sandy has offered to put it on. She is really fast and does a great job, so we'll see how things go! I have always wanted to make a quilt for our bed, and after almost 20 years of making mostly small quilts, I decided it was time! I think he'll be very surprised, and love it!  There will also be some tools under the tree! Somehow, now that I wrote that, it seems like I will also be benefiting from these gifts! ha ha! The tools are for furniture building, and the quilt will be on our bed! Hummm, funny how that happens! Maybe I better think of something that will be just for him too! LOL! I'll post a new picture when the quilt is done!
     Happy day to all!
          Jeni

Thursday, December 6, 2012

My little sewing machines!

Pay no attention to the angel legs in the top right hand corner of the picture! Ha ha! I never said I was a photographer! I just thought I would take a shot of my sewing machines on a shelf in my sewing room! The top left machine is electric and works! It's a Betsy Ross, given to my older sisters from our Cousins, and then handed down to Gretchen and me! The large one I got from one of our vendors in our Painted Cupboard shop within our Quilt shop! The other two you can't see as well, but there is a cute little red toy machine, called Gateway, and the little black Singer! I'll do better shots when I get done moving all my stuff in my sewing room!

Someone asked how to get the pattern or kit, of the cute Stars, Canes and Holly's quilt I made last week! Just call the Woolen Willow at 304-375-WOOL (9665) and we will take care of ya! It goes together quickly, so you can get it done in time for your Christmas decorating or gift giving! I finally got the red binding on mine, but didn't take a new picture!
   
I was up in the middle of the night last night, and watched a cute Debbie Macomber movie with Faith Ford as the main character. It was really nice. Just couldn't sleep, and I should have worked on my log cabin quilt I started last weekend, but I didn't. I have three sides of strips to put on my 30 blocks still. Wonder if I'll get it done in time for a Christmas gift?????  Tonight is Open Craft Night at the shop, so I think I better take it with me to work on this evening, because I really think I want to give it to my husband for Christmas, along with some tools! He loves tools, and is building a step back cupboard to sell in the shop. I wonder if he'll make one for me too?
    Have a wonderful day, hopefully full of sewing!
           Jeni

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Furry Friends in the sewing room!

Just sharing a cute photo of my keeper of the 2 1/2" strips! I am sewing some log cabin blocks today, for a quilt for my bed finally! I thought it was time, after almost 20 years of quilting, to make one for myself! Oh, I will share it with hubby, I guess! ha ha!  I turned around to cut another strip, (because I just fly by the seat of my pants when making quilts and didn't have enough cut) and she was laying on my fabric nice and cozy! This kitty is Grey, one of my Daughter's kitties, named after Grey's Anatomy, her favorite show! ha ha! Here is the other one, Peepers, sleeping in an empty basket I just stuck under my wool cabinet!
I just moved my sewing room into my Daughter's old room again, She moved back home a little over a year ago with her kitten's and then just moved out a few weeks ago. HMMMM, I think she forgot some things! They think this is still their room. It is nice to have my sewing room back in this space, I made some changes since the last time. I really like it, even though it is small, it is bigger than the laundry room! I will take some pictures soon, when I finish moving in. For now, I will sew. I'm home today with Pink Eye, of all things. Luckily I can work from home, and did get some designer emails taken care of! No wool club tonight, but I should be good to go for Craft night at the shop on Thursday evening! Hope to see some of you then!
     Happy Tuesday!
             Jeni

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Fun teaching class!

All done but the binding! I'm using strips of the reds left over for a scrappy red binding!  Here are a few pictures from class yesterday!  Today I taught needleturn applique, and invisible machine applique. Everyone liked the Needleturn best! Not as much to prepare! It was a very fun both day of classes! Tomorrow after church I plan to SEW!!  Or, maybe I should clean up the house and start decorating for Christmas?  If I do decorations I will do a show and tell!


Friday, November 30, 2012

I finished my little quilt last night at Open Craft night at the shop! I plan on going in early to quilt it before class, so I can just sew on the binding during class! I hope everyone does okay with the paper piecing. It sure can be tricky to get your head around it! Haha! Thanks ladies for the suggestions on finishing the quilt! I hope the light striped wool shows up in the picture that I used for the candy canes! I love that wool! I'll take some pictures during class today to share with you later!
    Have a great day!   
             Jeni

          

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Little project for class Friday!

This is a little preview of what I'm working on for my class on Friday.  I am still deciding how big and if I'll do any wool applique on it. Will it be a runner? Will it be a wall hanging? Decisions decisions!!! The blocks are 6" square, and are paper pieced. Any suggestions? I'll be working at home today on it, for the morning, and hope to have it all ready for applique if I decide to do that, and quilting this afternoon! I'll post a picture tomorrow of the class and finished project!!   Oh, does that mean I have to finish? 
     I hope you all have a wonderful day, and get to sew ALL DAY!!
           Jeni
 

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Good morning, Friends! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Our family had another great one, and for the first time in a long, long time, all my siblings were here to celebrate with our Parents!  It was really nice, and we had a lot of laughs also!!
    I wanted to tell you all about the blog hop that Stacy from Buttermilk Basin has organized! It started yesterday with Tara Darr, you can click on the button above if you missed it!  I am later on down the list, which is good, because I procrastinate! Haha!  There will be a wonderful recipe from each of the designers, and an ornament pattern! I can't wait, myself, because I love making ornaments, and will really enjoy what the other designers come up with! Gee, I better get to work on mine!  Have fun on the blog hop, and be sure to not miss a day!! 
    Jeni
Monday, Nov. 26
 *Tara Darr * Sew Unique Creations
Wed Nov 28 * Debbie Busby * Wooden Spool Designs
Friday 30 * JoAnn Mullaly * JAM – Wool Crazy
Monday Dec 3 * Lori Brechlin * Notforgotten Farm
Wed Dec 5 * Lynda Hall * Primitive Pieces by Lynda
Friday Dec 7 * Cheri Payne * Quilts By Cheri
Monday Dec 10 * Stacy Nash * Stacy Nash
Wed Dec 12 * Ali Strebel * Ali Strebel Designs
Friday Dec 14 * Kathy Schmitz * Kathy Schmitz
Monday Dec 17 * Jeni Gaston* The Woolen Willow/ Primitive Quilts and Projects Magazine
Wed Dec 19 * Lisa Bongean * Primitive Gatherings
Friday Dec 21 * Stacy West * Buttermilk Basin
 

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

wool club project for tonight!

Tonight is our October Wool Club at the shop. It was moved from last Tuesday because I was in Michigan at our printer for the press check for our magaine! It was a lot of fun, and my sister Sally went with me! I did take my camera, but I'm not very good at remembering to get it out! We stopped at a few quilt shops and missed a few also! Sure would like a trip just to hit all the quilt shops possible! What fun would that be?!!!!!  Anyway, here is our project so far for tonight! The gals last month requested a Crazy quilt type project, so I have been working on it here and there, got the instructions written yesterday afternoon, and plan to finish working on it along with the class! It can be a table mat, or a pillow! I think I'll make mine a pillow!  I hope you all have time to sew today!
     Jeni
 

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Cheryl Wall quilt!

This is the same picture I put on the Primitive Quilts magazine blog, I plan on working on it in between projects for the shop! I picked out a bit more fabric for more nine patch blocks, but haven't cut into them yet. I also picked out my next background for my appliqué quilt! I'll post a picture of the next one as soon as I get going on it! Hum, will it be a cat or a willow tree?



A picture of Chester pooped out after playing with his cousin dog, Buster! Lol! (yes, he is laying on a quilt, but how could I make him get off? He was sooooooo tired, and I got some sewing in!)


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Go to Primitive Quilts blog for a chance to win!

Today I posted on Primitivequiltsandprojects.blogspot.com! You will want to look and post a comment for a chance to win a wonderful book by Cheryl Wall!
Have a glorious day!!
Jeni


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Still working on blocks!!

I took the day off from the shop today, and have been working on my appliqué! Here is my latest block! Tomorrow I'll be posting a special give-away, so be sure to read and comment tomorrow!! I am excited about the subject for tomorrow! I'll also be posting about it on the Primitive Quilts and Projects blog!!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Another peak!


Sorry so slow! With working at the shop and family stuff, I haven't gotten in very much sewing time! Here is a portion of a block! Pardon the wrinkles, I'm still working on the right side of this block. I have another one laid out, so already can't wait to finish this block to get to it! Chester is napping, so I better get busy, while I have the time!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, September 2, 2012

A new Block of the Month!

I haven't given my quilt a name yet, but it is full of things that I like, such as flowers, which I have many of, in my yard and at the shop. I haven't done the best job of caring for them this summer with the heat, but they are still pretty, although dying off for the season. I love stars, and remember learning about them in school, and laying down in our front yard in high school with my constellation sheet, looking up in the sky trying to find them all. I love butterflies. In my flower beds, I have a beautiful plant that the butterflies just love! It's called Purple Lustrife. It was banned because it was growing in wetlands and taking over. It must have been re-propagated, because you can find them now, and they stay in one place, and just bloom and grow so full and beautiful! I would bet we get two people a day during the beginning of summer that come in the shop and ask what they are! Maybe I'll try to do a block with a purple Lustrife! I have a beeskep as a block, not that I absolutely love bees, but they are a part of what make gardens beautiful! Since I was stung a lot as a young girl, I'm not so much afraid of them, but I don't really like them swarming around me either! Lol! I love sheep of course! They give us wonderful wool to work with, and also, the lamb is a symbol of Jesus, and sheep are the symbol of his flock. I love birds, all birds! When was pregnant with my son, I had to sit with my feet up a lot. We had a huge picture window in that first house, and across the street was a huge tree! I don't remember what kind of tree it was, but I remember the wood peckers! They worked hard in that tree! Robins are


a favorite, especially when the females are so big in the spring ready to lay their eggs! We had a nest out in our pear tree this year again, and I worried about our puppy getting the baby birds when they started to fly! All was well though! There will be more blocks, but I design as I sew, so we will see how it all comes out soon! Here is a little peak! It will be offered as wool appliqué on cotton background, and as cotton appliqué also, as I'm practicing needle turn! A kitty just laid down on my block though, so it will be a real sneak peak! Lol! Maybe you can help me name the quilt!
Have a wonderful Labor Day!



Jeni


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday, August 24, 2012

Quilt assembled and stitched! Now to quilt, and maybe grunge! Also, here are some of my small quilt club gals sewing away!






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Ready to quilt!

Thursday, August 23, 2012


This is a sneak peak of my project for tomorrow's small quilt club class! I'll post another picture when I'm done!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Small quilt club preview!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Finished!

This is a little project from the Fall 2011 issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects, by Cheri Payne! I really wanted to make it, so I volunteered to test the pattern so I knew I would get it done! Haha! I have had it hanging un-quilted on my "sewing room" wall for a year! It is quilted now, and just a few stitches from having the binding done! I love it! I will grunge it up like the original also!
Why did I single out the words sewing room, you ask????? Well, it's because my sewing room is now shared with the Washer, Dryer, and the dog crate! My fabric is mostly in there, but the sewing machine is now in the dinning room! Oh well! It could be worse!
Off to make a Mexican feast for dinner! Happy sewing!
Jeni



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday, August 10, 2012

Wool appliqué class!

This is the cute little pumpkin penny rug we made in my class today! It is addictive!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thursday, June 21, 2012

We moved the quilt shop!!!!


Okay, we still have the same address, but we completely swapped sides of the shop with our Primitive antiques and crafts shop, the Painted Cupboard on Sunday afternoon! Monday through today we have been making it look wonderful! If you live close, you need to get over here, because it looks great!!! We have a Painted Cupboard Tent Sale in the side yard Saturday, with lots of new Primitives, as well as some clearance fabrics, books and patterns to make room for all the new stuff coming in! Here is a little sneak peak!
Jeni


-






Friday, May 18, 2012

All put together and ready for the show!!


It's so fun at Market hearing the buzz and laughter in the isles!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Top done! But now what?

I brought so many unfinished little projects with me to the retreat. I was overwhelmed, didn't know which one to finish first, so I started this new one! Do I start hand quilting it? Or do I finish hand quilting one of the three or four almost done quilts first?!!!! Oh my!







Friday, April 27, 2012

At our quilt retreat!

We are at North Bend State Park, having our annual UFO quilting retreat! There are 17 of us. Some are rug hooking, some are knitting, stitching and sewing! Everyone is eating! Lol! Here is a little picture of what I'm working on. It's from a Primitive Gatherings book called Summer Gatherings. The quilt is called Gathering Baskets, and my husband bought it for me last year at Spring Festival!

I'll add more pics of the group tomorrow!
Happy sewing!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Almost home!

Ready to be in my own bed tonight!



Unhooking trailer, and unloading tomorrow! It was a nice show, we did really well, and are already planning the next one! I'm pooped!
Goodnight! Chat with you tomorrow!
Jeni