DESIGN WALL MONDAY

My design wall is empty!  I will not begin another project until the quilting is done on my Baltimore quilt!  I didn't get much done yesterday, as our power was "out" from 2 - 6:30 pm - wind damage from the edge of Irene.

 This is the quilt that was on my table, under the baked goodies - I finally took its picture!  It was the first hand appliqued quilt that I ever made.  I bought the pattern from a quilt shop in Orlando (now closed) that specialized in historical reproduction and wool fabric.  I can't find the pattern to give credit to the designer......  I use the quilt as a table cover during the fall and winter months, removing it when using the table!

 This quilt is used on my table during the spring/summer months.  Again - I have no idea what pattern I used.  I remember seeing the pattern in a magazine, and when I went to the fabric store, I found a great overall flowered print and a matching stripe - both required for the pattern.  The background was supposed to be a stripe, but as I couldn't find one, I used a solid blue and quilted the lines with a variegated blue thread.
I'm heading off to machine quilt all day!  Check out Judy's blog to see what others are working on this week!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

I managed to use a bit of fabric this week, even though most of my time was spent pin-basting and quilting!

Used this week 4 yards

Used year to date 153.5 yards

Added this week 0 yards

Added year to date 52.375 yards

Net used 2011  101.13 yards

Spent yesterday catching up on laundry - last weekend, there weren't full loads of anything, so this week the laundry room was buried!  I'm just washing the final load as I type.

DH was ambitious yesterday, and baked a batch of cookies - yummy! (peanut butter oatmeal) 

I tried a new recipe for a tomato soup spice layer cake with cinnamon buttercream frosting.  We'll be tasting that one tonight.

I also have the dough for 4 loaves of whole wheat bread on its first rise.  Now that there is just 2 of us at home, it should last for a while.

I just went through my quilt photo file, and I don't have a picture of the quilt on my dining room table!  I guess that has to go on the "to do" list!

Check out Judy's blog to see everyone's progress this week.

ANOTHER SMALL FINISH

I completed the Autumn Runner, using the leftover half-square triangles from a previous project.  I added narrow  green borders, and the same leaf print that formed the back of the autumn basket quilt.

 I outlined all the leaves with free motion stitching, using some gold metallic thread.  The rest of the runner was stitched with invisible (monofilament) thread, stitching in the ditch.  It finished 15.5 x 32 inches.

This will also be donated to my guild for the boutique at the quilt show next June.

A SMALL FINISH

Since I was machine quilting today, I thought I'd take some time from my big project to complete a small item or two. 

 The hot pad is layered with some "Insul-bright" batting, along with a layer of cotton batting, to protect the table from heat.

 With the fabric I had available, I was only able to make 3 place mats!  Two will go to DS2 & future DIL, and the third will be donated to my guild's boutique at next June's quilt show.
I outlined the daisy motifs with free motion stitching.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I'm still pin-basting the monster quilt, but I did do a bit of sewing this week.  

 The piece on the left is made from the corner cut-offs from the Autumn Basket quilt.  Still trying to work out borders, and I want to incorporate some of the autumn leaf print as well.
On the right is two 60 degree placemats and a hexagon piece that will be a hot pad to match.  I'm sure many of you recognize this fabric.  I only had a small piece in my stash, and decided that it was time to use it!
Check out everyone else's progress this week, at Judy's blog.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 3.75 yards

Used year to date 149.5 yards

Added this week 0 yards

Added year to date 52.375 yards

Net used 2011  97.125 yards

I finished the autumn basket table centrepiece in time to add it to a housewarming gift for DS2 and future DIL on Saturday.

We had a lovely drive to Kitchener, and finally met future DIL's mother.  We managed to chat, but mostly using her older daughter as interpreter.  Her English is limited, and my Russian is non-existant!  We still managed to share lots of information - we're both moms and want the best for our youngest children - what else matters!

Head over to Judy's blog to see how others' are doing this week.

PIN BASTING PLUS!

I've been basting another large quilt.  My table is small, so I do it in sections, with DH helping to roll it up and move - it gets quite heavy.  My table is placed up against a wall - that is why I roll the already pinned parts.

 Last night I baked the three layers of the carrot cake I'm making for the August birthdays.  I have to make the orange cream cheese frosting to finish it off.  I picked up a cake carrier and I'll use it to transport the cake, then it will be part of DS2's birthday gift - he loves to bake, and is often transporting a cake etc. to share with friends and family.
My last job is to make the pasta and chick pea salad with broccoli and tomatoes (I'll be using lots of grape tomatoes from my prolific plant!)
I was reminded to take along some of the leftover apron fabric so future DIL can add pockets.  I'll add a new apron to the Christmas list - one with pockets!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

When I was helping my friend with her Christmas presents last week, I saw a pattern that someone had given her, and thought it would make a good housewarming gift for DS2 and future DIL.  Unfortunately, it was a copy of a copy of a copy, so I am unable to give credit for the pattern, other than it was called "May Baskets".
I decided to make this in fall colours, so I found a beige background with gold stars, a dark brown for the baskets, a dark green for the stems & leaves and rusts and orange colours for the flowers.

  I also found an awesome autumn leaf print to use as the back and binding - it has all the colours that I used in the front!

Check out Judy's blog to see what others are creating this week!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  3.375 yards

Fabric used year to date  145.75 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date 52.375 yards

Net used 2011  93.375 yards

A small gain this week, but at least a gain.  I used some fabric lining the 2 Christmas stockings that will be donated.  I also used fabric making handles and a bottom for the tote bag made from a leftover section of a quilt.  My small "Posies" quilt required added borders and backing as well as binding to finish.  I'm so happy to finally use the blocks that were removed from a quilt, so they can go on and live a happy life.

Check out how others' stashes have fared this week at Judy's blog.

COOKING DAY

I spent the morning chopping vegetables to add to my giant batch of minestrone soup.  Mine is a northern Italian recipe, with beans - some of which are blended to thicken the soup.  It will make a good dinner tonight, then the rest will head to the freezer.

When DH and I went to the market yesterday, they had wonderful, fresh yellow beans.  So DH cleaned and cooked the beans, and I made the sauce for the mustard bean pickles.  This is a favourite of our whole family. I managed to make 6 jars, 2 for us and 2 for each of our DS's as well.

Then we proceeded to make some "blue plum" jam, sometimes called prune plums.  I make my jam in the microwave, using a recipe I found in a library book many years ago.  It makes small batches, each using 2 cups of fruit and 1 1/2 cups of sugar.  It isn't as sweet as most jams, and we love to taste the fruit.  We ended up with 5 smaller jars of jam - lots for us for a couple of years.

ONE DOWN AND ONE TO GO

I finished the tote bag, made from the section removed from the quilt.  I was fortunate to find some of the dark green fabric - just enough to make the handles.

 I fused a double layer of "Peltex" to make a firm bottom, and covered it with a pink print.  I slip-stitched the ends inside the bag.  I decided that it would be too tall with all the "borders" exposed, so I decided to turn the large pink border inside, to form a facing.  I machine stitched the edge, then slip-stitched it to the inside of the bag.  The handles were top-stitched, with lots of reinforcing to hold them secure.
I still had 12 blocks remaining in a long strip, 2 blocks wide.  I decided to take it apart to make the centre of a baby quilt.

(Sorry for the slightly blurry picture!)  I covered the seam in the back with a folded strip of the fabric planned for a border, and stitched it down by hand, after inserting a small piece of batting.  The batting will be held in place when I re-quilt in the ditch, as well as along some of the shapes.  I had to remove some stitching so that I had access to the seam allowance to sew it together.
 I found this pink and brown print in my stash, along with a green that had the right tones for the quilt.  I plan to use the same green for binding.  Now I have to add backing and batting the perimeter of the quilt - a little tricky, but not impossible!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

 

I didn't manage to get to my sewing room for the past week while I was recuperating, but I did find some leftover yarn, so I made some mitts of various sizes.
 Since I wanted  to get back to sewing a bit yesterday, I decided to attack some items that had been hanging around the room for a long time.  Several years ago, I made a Christmas tree skirt for someone, from a pre-quilted panel.  There were stockings printed in the corners, but she didn't want them.  I had cut the stockings out and stitched them, and all they needed was a lining and a ribbon for hanging.

 10 minutes of work and the stockings are ready to donate to my guild's boutique at the next show.

Many years ago, my SIL's friend asked me to make a quilt for her Mother.  They chose the pattern and the colours, and I made a quilt to fit her double bed.  Several years later, her Mother had to move into a nursing home, and wanted to take her too large quilt with her.  It was returned to me, and I removed two rows of blocks the length of the quilt, and stitched it back together again.
These two rows, with border on each end, had been residing in my sewing room, taunting me to do something with them.  Last night I sat and removed the stitching and cut the two ends off, and I plan to re-purpose it as a tote bag.  I still have 12 blocks to play with.....
When I removed them from the quilt, they lost a bit of batting and backing, so I'll have to think of a work-around......
Check out everyone's design walls this week at Judy's blog. 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 0 yards

Used year to date 142.375 yards

Added this week 0 yards

Added year to date 52.375 yards

Net used 2011  90 yards

Still recuperating from whatever ailment hit me last week.  I did spend some time in my sewing room this morning, completing some Christmas stockings that I found partially done - they'll probably be donated to my guild's boutique for the quilt show next June.

DH and I spent an hour or so in the garden right after breakfast.  I usually do a bit every day, but after a week of neglect, it couldn't wait any longer.  Of course it was overcast and humid to the point of almost raining.  We managed to dead head all the flowers, and do some basic clean up, but the rest will have to wait for another day.

I began making a huge pot of Chicken Gumbo yesterday morning.  I have to get it back on the stove, make the roux, and get it finished in time for dinner tonight.

Had fun with my friend yesterday afternoon.  We managed to get two table runner tops completed, and they are just waiting to be basted.  Binding was also prepared for each as well.  She finished the binding on the previous runner, and we trimmed the batting and backing in preparation for the hand sewing.  DH and her better half finished installing the hardwood, and we had a lovely steak dinner, with corn on the cob, mushrooms and onions, and fresh cucumber from her garden.  After returning home, we managed to watch TV for about an hour, then DH and I crashed for the night.

No matter how anxious I am to get things done, I've learned to listen to my body, and when it tells me to sit down, or drink some water, I pay attention.

Check out Judy's blog to follow everyone's progress this week.

QUILTING WITHDRAWAL

It has been almost a week since I set foot in my sewing room, and I'm having serious withdrawal!  Still  on the comeback trail from whatever nasty bug messed with my system.

I planned to sew today, as DH got the go-ahead from his doctor to resume normal activities (his vision tested 20/20 after his cataract surgery, and he can't wait to get the other eye fixed).  He is off helping a friend install hardwood flooring in the master bedroom today, so I thought I'd head down and play for a while.

Then last night my best friend called, to ask if I'd like to come over this afternoon, after she is finished work, and do some more work on her Christmas presents, so of course, I said yes!
So I guess that will count as sewing, although just not mine!

DH and I took a trip to Watertown NY yesterday, did some shopping, had lunch out, etc.  They have a new Joann's opened since we were through in the spring, so I thought I'd browse a bit.  I found the new store bright and airy, but it seemed to be missing some of the essentials that I have come to look for at Joann's.  Checked out their Christmas fabrics, but found them expensive, and they didn't seem to be as good a quality as I'm used to......  Now I can't wait until we head south for the winter, so I can do some online shopping at some of my favourites.  Some sites don't ship to Canada, and I dislike dealing with the customs brokers, who add their fee to the usual customs fees and taxes.  Oh well, I guess this helps to keep my stash from growing even more than it has over the past few years!  

DH just applied for our medical insurance coverage for the winter months, so I guess I should begin rounding up some projects to take south - have to keep using stash whenever possible!