a new year a new project

It's been 2017 for a while now.  I've been pretty busy but still a little stitching happened since Dec 12 of last year :0)

 

We decided to do a little renovation to our basement family room.  My sewing area is in that room so it got mostly packed up until the drywall dust settles. I just had to still sew so a small space was made in my bedroom to sew with my little Singer featherweight.  I received the Patchwork Diva's book "Treasury of Quilts" for Christmas and wanting to start something new, I pulled a few fabrics out of bins and made these 3 trees.  It was lovely to sew in my bedroom with so much natural light but it will be good to move back into my bigger space downstairs.

 

 A while before Christmas I managed to get these signature blocks together.  I have the borders cut but with my sewing area so dusty and 1/2 packed away I haven't yet designed or started the applique.  I went without appliqueing for a few weeks and then - suffering some withdrawal - I started on the fourth block of my Radical Rose and Reel.  Wow, did that feel good - I missed it so much - lol!

 

Instead of applique, over Christmas I worked on this EPP project.  It grew quite a lot. It was a good portable project to work on.

 

 This last project was a little one I started together with a friend.  I found the pattern in a magazine I have since returned to the library so I don't know who designed it or what the pattern is called.  I was intrigued by the blocks - made from 2 charm pack squares.  It's kind of small to use as a table runner so I will likely add on some applique and/or borders...

 I thought I'd show a close up of one block.

 

 Other than that, I worked a fair bit on my Bird of Paradise hand quilting.  I've nearly finished quilting the centre of the quilt but the borders will take a few months more.  I will try to get a picture of it to post next time.

Happy Quilting!!

another ufo to work on



I found myself without handwork a few evenings ago and I dug out a ufo to work on.  Whyever did I put this one away??  I love these colors together.  I did discover that reading glasses help out with EPP...  I just bought them and wearing them makes me feel old...  I was gratified that I found they made no difference with handquilting so I only have to feel old on alternate nights.  I'm sure I will get used to them.

 

 The reason I was without handwork was because I finished the 3rd block of Radical Rose and Reel.  I'm going to take a break from this project now to applique a border for my signature quilt.  I find I like the variety of flipping between a couple of projects. 

I should have more discipline and make a 4th block so I could see how they come together at the corners but - its a hobby and I feel like doing something different for now.  Here are the 3 I have so far.  I found a couple more reds and greens to add in at a new-to-me shop in Blackfalds, Alberta - Peaceful Patch Quilt Shop.  I can't wait for the next time I can stop in there :0)

The colors look so Christmassy  - I think we will put up our tree tonight.

Happy Quilting!

handquilting again

I am very happy to be handquilting again!  Other than a few stitches in the doll swap quilt I made I haven't been handquilting since May when I finished up my Crowfoot quilt.  I have really missed it.

 It's a bit warm to have all this quilt on my lap in the summertime but I open the window and let the cool evening breeze in.

 I won't mention how I basted this quilt.  I'll let the picture disclose how big of a chicken and how resistant to change I am.  Now that wretched part is done and there is nothing but fun ahead!

 I wanted to try a wide backing so there wouldn't be any seams in the back to quilt through.  I couldn't find any that suited and so I ordered this Moda muslin wide backing. I am happy with it so far but it sure shows all the wobbly stitches on the back.  Maybe this will force me to be a bit more careful!

 So far I am just outlining the applique.  I'm not sure how I'm going to quilt the rest - I hope it speaks to me as I go :0) 

My quilt patis project continues to grow. I love the colors and the pattern emerging but I am finding it a bit controlled - I usually like things to be a bit more scrappy than this.  When I run out of those aqua fabrics I will know I'm done.

Happy Quilting!!

beach sewing

Whew - summer is busy!  We've been back from visiting my parents (and the beach) in Kelowna for almost 2 weeks.  I made a good start on my new quilt patis project  :0)  

 

 I love how these colors look together. 

 Here you can get a glimpse of how this project will fit together.  I am eager to see it grow!

I also hosted my quilting group's summer potluck and the "luck of the pot" was very yummy!  There were SO many desserts :0)  This cake was particularly impressive and I had to photograph it. 

I hope to have more to post later this week.  (this is the week the kids go to camps)
Happy Quilting!!

new projects



 

 What is it about new projects?  So exciting :0)  This project is a result of my emergency sewing that I started back in December.  I had a mini charm pack of Potluck and I started making hexies.  Well this week the hexies became flowers and now I'm thinking about what to make with them.  (and wishing I had bought 2 mini charm packs...)

I like them with this busy grey polka dot.  I'm probably going to make a pouch or bag.

 I love the bag with handles on the cover of this book that I repeatedly take out from the library but would need twice as many hexies to make it.  (another mini charm pack...)  I will play around with them until a plan forms.

This is the fabric I am going to use in my new quilt patis project. Pretty bright for me I know but so happy.

 I got started today even though I'm not at the beach yet - I couldn't wait!

I've been studying and drawing squirrels for my Bird of Paradise border.  This was the result. Now to stitch him down before he runs away :0)

Happy Quilting!!

lots of variety



I've been loving variety lately.  Some days, like yesterday I worked on 5 different projects.  I finished handpiecing this sunflower and I appliqued the centre onto it.  It's not perfect but I did enjoy the process by the time I got to the end.  I have more handpiecing planned :0)  This block will become part of a small wallhanging once I figure the rest out.

 I pieced the last star into my Patis star project. The top isn't finished as I want to put half hexagons in along the sides and add a border all around.  The portable part of this project is now complete so I will be starting a new project with the quilt patis later this week.  I simply must have some good handwork for the beach!

 This is another new project.  I bought a big piece of the blue floral a few years ago and it's been bothering me that its still sitting in a bin.  The blocks are from the book "History Repeated". Right now I think I will use the blue floral for a zigzag setting but this may change:0)  I need a lot of these blocks so there will be lots of time to think about it. 

I was in the mood for these bright happy colors.  It's summer - Yahoo!

Happy Quilting!!

last post for a busy December

It's the last day of 2014 - wow!  It's been a very busy but wonderful December.  It looks like I won't manage to reach my goal of 52 posts for this year. Oh well,  it's a good goal to move forward to 2015.

So in amongst all the Christmas celebrating, skiing, skating, sledding, swimming and eating I did manage to do a little sewing :0)

 I've enjoyed quite a lot of handquilting.  I'm nearly done the second border of my Crowfoot quilt.  You can see the fill in diagonal line quilting I decided to use in the pieced border. It is so easy to pull this out when company is over or at the end of the day to relax when I'm tired.

 We were away visiting my husband's family for a couple days.  This was the only portable handwork I had to bring with me.  It was shortly finished and then I had to break out my emergency stitching.

 I have been carrying around this mini charm pack together with a paper hexagon template.  It's been in my EPP tin for a very long time.  I had to trace more papers and cut them out with the little scissors I had with me.  I think they look very cheerful - once assembled maybe I'll make a bag?  I was so glad I had this emergency sewing with me - sitting on the couch with nothing for my hands to do is difficult - lol!

 My DH spoiled me with some new books.  I've been really enjoying California Bound so far.  The applique quilts in it are out of this world!

 I've been thinking about this Love Entwined quilt.  I've been watching the progress of a few quilters online.  The free pattern was going to disappear from Esther's website so I printed it.  I had better put this away for awhile and finish my Bird of Paradise quilt first.  I am stuck on the embroidery again and I haven't worked on it at all.  Do the owls really need eyes? ...

 One goal that I did reach was to have my kids' pajamas sewn by Christmas Eve.  I finished the last pj top with just a few hours to spare - whew!  It's kind of a silly picture but I let them arrange themselves and they were much too excited to pose for another.  It looks like the youngest wanted to be the tallest and the oldest wanted to be the shortest - lol.  They are all very huggable in these :0)

And a little stash enhancement also occurred.  My sister's family was visiting and they wanted to drive to Canmore (about an hour away) to skate on a pond with a gorgeous mountain view.  Little did I know that the Sugar Pine Quilt Shop could also be glimpsed through the trees from the pond.  I snatched a few minutes away from skating to snag these FQ's.  I was caught completely by surprise though - I'd have come home with a bulging bag if I had known and brought my purse :0)

I hope 2015 holds many hours of happy stitching for you all!
Happy Quilting!

progress anda fab surprise

I have made good progress on my Quilt patis star project this summer.  I love that now when I fold it up it looks like it could even be a completed top :0)

 

 Not quite though...  I thought I would make it 10 stars wide in this length.  Now I'm not sure that will be wide enough.  I plan to put a fairly wide border of some kind on it.  It maybe a couple more years in the making.  Its such a great portable project.

 I  am the very, very happy winner of Dawn's giveaway on her blog Collector with a Needle.

I was watching for the book in the mail and then when it arrived the package had all this great fabric inside with it.  I was thrilled.  The book is very interesting and it has some great quilts in it.

This one is my favorite.  I'd never seen a Princess Feather quite like this one before.  I love the border on it too - happy and a little bit wonky around the corners.  I would love to start a new applique project inspired by this quilt!!  But, I will resist the temptation and keep working on the 2 current ones until I have a finished top.  Dawn's name appears in the book on the Acknowledgements page.  I feel like I've "met" someone famous :0)

Happy Quilting!!

soccer season quilting

Soccer season continues here at our house.  With 3 kids in 3 different leagues there is soccer every day but Friday.  The weather has been pretty good so far which means I've been able to do some sidelines stitching on my stars.  This is such a great take along project - my little tin of supplies fits easily into my purse.

 

 I think this will be the 3rd season for this project.  How far will I get with it this year?  :0) 

 

 I've also been spending as much time as I can machine quilting this Cheddar posies quilt.

 DD#1 wants it to be in the quiltshow the last weekend of May.  Deadlines are good for me to get things finished.  I hope I make it - there's still quite a bit of quilting to do yet. 

I dislike turning big projects with my machine so instead of going in the ditch around the flowers (my usual method of machine quilting) I am putting diagonal lines in the blue.  I still haven't decided what to quilt in the petals.  I may try to free motion quilt something if I'm feeling brave.  I'm open to suggestions if you have any :0)

Happy Quilting!!

slow progress

Every spring, soccer season arrives at our house and I get crazy busy.  This week is the first week that's not so crazy.  Finally, I have time to post.

 

Soccer season is also a good time of year to work on my hand pieced star project. I work on this at soccer practices and at the orthodontist...  everywhere.  Slowly it is growing.  I'm a bit stuck for pink at the moment.  There hasn't been much for new pretty repro pinks lately. I am always using pink so my supply is getting low.  Also, I was hoping to make all of these stars different without repeating fabrics.  Hopefully I will find some quilt shops in my summer travels :0)

 

 It's such a fun, portable project!

I have also been doing a little hand quilting.  I remembered to get out my Harmony top to finish it.  I basted it with a little scrap of wool batting I had lying around.  Maybe wool wasn't the best choice for a quilt of this size - lol.  It's a little too textured (puffy) for my liking.

 I am now going in the other direction to complete the crosshatching.  Maybe more quilting will flatten it a bit.  It sure is easy to needle and a relaxing project to work on in the evening after a busy day.

 

 I made another Solomon's Temple block.  So fun to piece!

 

 This weekend we went on our annual fishing/camping trip.  It was a bit windy, cold and wet but I did manage to take a few stitches in my favorite spot by the lake.  I am almost 1/2 way done panel 7 for my Trailing Vines quilt. 

Slow progress is still progress!!

Happy Quilting!