Finished A Tisket A Tasket

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 I managed to take a fair picture of the whole quilt with DH's assistance.  Now back to the quilting on my last "for fun" quilt.
I'll be away for a few days, travelling for my Mother-in-law's funeral.  I'll miss Design Wall Monday this week......

A Tisket A Tasket Quilt

I finally finished the quilting!  I had fun doing the fill in around the applique in each of the blocks.  I did a stitch in the ditch around the appliques first.

Then I continued by stitching the sashing with a variegated blue thread.  The fabric has a bit of shading in it, and I wanted it to blend in, but show a bit....

I finished by doing feathered hooks in the background of the final border.  I also added a small feathered wreath in each of the corners, and finished by adding a yellow button to each of the bows.  I wanted to continue the embellishment of buttons that was in most of the blocks.

Now all I need to do is take a final picture of the whole quilt, as soon as one of my photo assistants arrives home!

Sad News Today

My sweet Mother-in-law passed away at 2 this morning.  We spent most of Tuesday with her, and my DH's sister was with her.  She had heart surgery almost 7 years ago, and had complications.  After many months in ICU, she was moved to a nursing home and we were told that she might have 3 months.  Up until the last two years, her quality of life has been pretty good, going on outings, enjoying visits from her great-grandchildren etc.  The past two years we have watched her mind and body suffer, so we are happy that she is finally at peace.

Design Wall Monday

I was quietly quilting along, minding my own business when as suggestion was made to check out a blog.  I loved the free pattern offered there, and had to stop everything and start making some blocks!
Jamie's blog offers a free pattern called Kristy's Dream to download.  I discovered that it is made with 2 inch strips, so I had to immediately check out my bin.  Next thing I knew I was making new blocks!   In today's post she has a picture of a scrappy batik version, with links to two others.  Thanks Jamie.
Check out what everyone else is making at Judy's blog.

Garden run-in

Spent some time cleaning up the garden after lunch today.  Suddenly, I could feel something stinging my arm!  By the time I ran out of the garden, I had 4 wasp or hornet stings - two on my right arm, one on the back of my right leg and one on my right eyebrow!  Fortunately, I'm not allergic, but they still hurt, and my right eyelid is a bit swollen.  No pictures......
DH found a next under some landscape timbers, and I guess I just bumped it enough for they to defend their home!  He's off picking up some spray, as it is in our front garden, next to the driveway, and I don't want anyone else to be stung.
This is the first time I've ever had a serious sting while gardening, so I guess I can't complain too much.  The ice took the swelling down, and now it is only a dull ache...
Back to quilting.....

"Instructions for Life" quilt

I decided to use the remaining "instructions" 4patch blocks in the backing of the quilt.  I kept the quilting simple on this quilt, as it is very busy.  I enjoyed remembering all the projects I had made with the fabrics that are included in this quilt - it is like walking down memory lane while quilting.

Design Wall Monday

My wall is empty........
But I am machine quilting this 

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So far I have done some "stitch in the ditch" to stabilize the top, then I'll go on to do some decorative stitching in each block and in the borders.
Check out Judy's blog to see what everyone else is doing.

Quilt Top Finished

I managed to get the borders sewn onto my orphan block quilt top.  I haven't decided what to use for the binding.....

I spent some time with my friend yesterday, doing the same for her quilt.  I gave her some of the similar blocks.  She is looking for backing for hers, then she'll be over to quilt using my Juki.  She has an old Kenmore machine that works wonderfully, but she hasn't been able to find a walking foot to fit - it is a super high shank, I think.

I delivered the 5 baby quilts from panels to the organizer of the community quilts program for my guild, and I added the three flannel scrap rail fence quilts that I had made from leftover flannel.  I'm sure they will be appreciated by whoever receives them!

I finished piecing the backing for a couple of quilt tops that have been hanging around my sewing room, so I'll be pin-basting today, then quilting for the next couple of days.....

Design Wall Monday

I finished all five of the baby quilts for my guild.  Then on Friday, my good friend came over for the morning to machine quilt a project she has been making.  She has been unable to find a walking foot to fit her machine, so I suggested she use mine.  She was making a "prayer quilt" for her church.  She managed to finish it, except for stitching the binding, and did that before taking it to church on Sunday.

While she was here, she mentioned that they like to have a "kid friendly" quilt available, just in case, so I found some blocks I had made a couple of years ago.  We played with a layout, pinned them in rows, and I even sent her home with some fabric to use for sashing.  That left me with 5 remaining blocks.  I decided to put them in the "orphan block basket", but while doing so, I found a few more that were hidden away, so I was able to begin this quilt......
I added a couple of rows of pinwheel blocks, also from the orphan basket.  Now I need to finishing sewing on the outside borders, then I think I'll add one more to make it a good cosy size....
Check out Judy's blog for more links to Design Wall Monday...

Design Wall Monday

Nothing on my wall this week - I'm still fighting my cold......  See how everyone else is doing a Judy's blog..

BUT - I have finished quilting four of the five baby quilts for my guild's community quilts program.  I'll be finishing up the fifth one today, then it is trying to decide on binding for each one.

Had a lovely day yesterday - my son's pavlova was delicious.  He was concerned that it wouldn't turn out, as he has had varying success with new recipes, but it was a success as there is only a tiny piece left for my lunch today!  Had a great dinner at our friends' home, and picked red currants to make some jam.  Finished the evening with a big band concert at the Lions' Club garden located behind the public library.  There was a good turnout for the first concert of the summer season.  It was lovely to sit in the breeze, watching the sun get lower and listening to some wonderful music and vocals.

Happy 4th!

Happy days to all my US friends!  Today is also my birthday, and my son is making a pavlova for dessert.  It is his first, so he also baked a sour cream coffee cake just in case!  We are heading out to friends' for a BBQ dinner, then off to the first of the summer concerts in the park. 

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

We are enjoying sunny clear weather in Kingston this Canada Day.  The air is clear and a bit cool, but none of the dreaded humidity!
This is a tiny quilt that I made when we were living in Florida, while DH was posted to Tyndall AFB.  I used mini Christmas garland and sequins to make the fireworks.  I hang it on my front door every Canada Day!
I had a productive day yesterday.  I began by making 6 jars of strawberry jam.  I make mine in the microwave.  You can only make 2 jars at a time, but it is easy, and I can do other things while it is cooking.  We are not big consumers of jam, so this method works really well.

Then I headed to my studio and pin basted all 5 baby quilts!  I managed to do it with the queen size batting, that was provided by the guild, even though I had to piece it for the final quilt!  All the backing fabrics come from donations, so the two ladies do a great job of matching them to the tops.  I'll begin quilting today.