something so different even my kids noticed

This is practically the oldest ufo I have. The colors are so not me that when DD#1 and #2 wandered into the sewing room they asked me if the blocks were even mine. :0)
I made 11 blocks of a BOM offered at a LQS about 7 years ago. We had recently moved from a different city and I hadn't made any new quilting friends yet and was missing my old guild. To start it cost $5 and if you brought your completed block to the next meeting your next block materials were free (which is why I only finished 11 - there was no reward for finishing block 12 - lol)
There are some women at my church who are making quilts to send to northern India. I thought I could make a cheerful little quilt for a child using some of these blocks.

I even managed to find the perfect backing fabric 40% off. There is NOTHING in my stash that goes with these fabrics.

This pink block made me laugh. When I made it I thought it was the ugliest block of the batch and the name...Devil's Claw... was just awful. However, it is the exact same block that I am making piles of now for a large quilt. Crowfoot sounds so much better than Devil's Claw. :0)

And I want to share a picture of my foxgloves now blooming profusely in the garden. I start them from seed every March and they will bloom through the light frosts until it gets really cold. In some places they are wild flowers but not in my part of Canada.

Happy Quilting!!

summer days

The summer is slipping by so quickly. I am enjoying my garden. Earlier this summer we had a couple bad hail storms that spoiled many of the flowers. But not these :0) I love Hollyhocks!
Do you get in a panic if you are away from home and run out of handwork to do? :0) We were away for a few days last week and I took this applique project along to work on - it's border panel #3. I finished all the applique that I brought with me and had to just sit idle. My fingers were just itching to get home and sew.

I've got border panel #4 all ready to go now. After that I have the corners to figure out. Then, I have at least 2 other applique projects I want to get started on - I don't have time to sit there with idle hands!! lol

This last picture is of the lovely fabric I won in a giveaway over at Vicki and Jan's blog What a load of Scrap. The package took nearly 3 weeks to get here - I think half of Canada Post must have been on holidays. Thanks so much Vicki and Jan!

Happy Quilting!!

sewing with the kids

There has been lots of sewing going on here this week - a lot of it has not been me. There have been some wild afternoons where 3 kids are all trying to sew at the same time (with the same machine) :0) I love that they are all interested but it would be a lot easier to manage one at a time!
So here is my 6 year old son's first quilt! He chose from a pile of 2 1/2 inch squares. He just loves to run the sewing machine and takes great pride in his ironing. At first glance it might look like a potholder but...

It's a quilt for a Zumbuddy. (soft stuffed toy)

DD#2 has discovered that I have lots of little leftover triangles :0) I of course meant to use them for something... someday... :0) She has BIG plans and wants to make a lap sized quilt with these. (the hst's finish at 1 1/4 inches) She's a determined 9 year old - I'm curious to see how many of these she makes.

DD#1 continues to work on her Irish chain quilt - she does not especially enjoy sewing but wants to have her little quilt finished.

And although the summer continues to be busy I find a few minutes everyday to sew. I've got 2 more Crowfoot blocks made and a growing pile of Courthouse steps blocks.

I'm making good progress quilting on my 4 block applique quilt. I'm still outlining the applique - I love to see the block pattern emerging on the back.

Happy Quilting!!

summer reading

I finished the first 2 applique borders for my corn and beans quilt. Last night I sewed them onto the top and cut the top and bottom borders. I am not exactly sure how to go around the corners with the vine - I'm experimenting with it. Of course an organized person would likely have figured this out and drawn it out ahead of time. I guess I must like winging it :0)
My older daughters are doing a day camp at a historical park this week. Wednesday my younger 2 and I spent the day there too and I spied this quilt as we looked around. I'm not sure it's actually old - maybe a reproduction but it certainly is lovely! Handquilted too!

Then I had to acquire some summer reading :0) I'm enjoying them very much so far.

And for anyone who is interested - I added the followers gadget.

Happy Quilting!!

busy summer

Summer is going by way too fast! Last week we spent 4 lazy days on the beach in Kelowna which was wonderful. I wish it was a longer season...

Before I went away I managed to get the short sashing strips sewn onto my Crowfoot blocks. I'm liking how it looks but ... What am I going to do with a 70 inch square quilt? So I guess I need 9 more blocks to make it queen sized :0) Didn't this just happen with another quilting project? lol
They are such fun blocks to make so I'm sure it will go quickly. I will have to start repeating the fabrics in the large squares though.

I am still happily making these Courthouse steps blocks. At some point this is supposed to become a leader/ender project.

My girls and I were invited to a "Secret Garden" party. Last year's theme was "Little House on the Prairie" and my very talented friend made little quilts for all of the girls. You can see them here. This year she made these adorable aprons. There were 9 in all and no 2 alike! My girls just love them and so do I.

Happy Quilting!!

couldn't stop myself...

Not a whole lot of sewing going on around here. I've had company and we went camping. With only 1 more Crowfoot block left to make I couldn't stop myself from starting something new.
I think I was just tired of trimming flying geese and this little pile of 1 1/4 inch strips was calling my name. :0) I have no idea how many I will make - right now I'm just having fun!
Happy Quilting!!

New

I finally found time to get my 4 block applique quilt basted! Yeah! I'm so very happy to have a new hand quilting project.
I also have a new hoop. It's a composite plastic 17" no-slip hoop. So far I really like it.

There is only one more new thing(s) that I need to really get going on this project - new calluses! I wore holes in my fingers the first time I worked on it. :0) I guess it's been too long since I last quilted by hand.

I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with the quilting - for now I am going to start with outlining the applique. I just LOVE this kind of quilting - it is SO much more relaxing than free motion quilting!

Happy Quilting!!