LAST TWO FINISHES

I managed to finish two small quilts - the last for this winter season.  Now I have to begin packing for our annual trek north.

 This baby quilt was made from a panel.  It seems like most of the fabric manufacturers are only making them 24 inches wide instead of a full yard.
I had some flying geese leftover from another project, then I made to new star blocks.  The quilt is machine quilted using monofilament (invisible) thread.

 I stitched the binding to the back of the quilt, then used a machine blanket stitch to sew it down to the front.  I used Superior's King Tut thread in lovely variegated pastel colours.
This is my favourite thread to use on baby quilts!

 This is my second completed quilt.  I dug deep into the fabric vaults and found this piece of "cheater quilt" yardage.  I made lots of flying geese in green, two shades of yellow and two shades of peach to encircle the yardage.  Lots of quilting in the "blocks" and around the "appliques, using invisible thread.  Then more King Tut thread for the free motion stitching in the blue borders.

I had fun stitching leaves and loops on either side of the geese, and adding some flowers in each corner.

I still have more blocks to complete for my guild's BOM quilt that we've all been working on this season.  I'll try to squeeze in some sewing time over the next couple of days, in between checking lists and sorting items for packing.

We've had a great season, but it is always hard to say good-bye to so many friends.  This year we've said a final farewell to some who won't be returning next year - always a sad time.  The happy thoughts of getting to hold my grandson again make me look forward to our return.  We also have a family reunion planned in June, and lots of other activities to keep us busy, and we hope to visit Nova  Scotia and Prince Edward Island this spring as well.  Too much to do - never enough time, but we'll try!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  92.75 yards

Fabric added this week  12 yards

Fabric added year to date 33.75 yards

Net used 2016  59 yards

We took our company to the airport very early Thursday morning.  When we returned home DH had to set up to play for a lunch-time pot luck party, and I started to do laundry.  We went to bed early and slept almost 12 hours!

This week, 2 of my local shops had sales, and I had a gift card for one, so I picked up some fabric to complete a 1 block wonder quilt.  I found the fabric for it a couple of years ago, and once I had the block halves stitched, I had to decide on a layout, so I could get the rest of the fabric for the top.  I'll wait to assemble it until we return north, as I don't have a design wall here.

Yesterday we headed to my favourite shop, and waded our way through all the quilters.  I picked up some background fabrics, several red fat quarters, that I'll use for the half-square triangle blocks needed to complete the top, and a turquoise and gold swirly fabric, "just because".

Today I'm washing fabric, and I have a quilt backing to piece.  We only have 1 1/2 weeks until we'll be heading north again.  I hope to get some quilting completed this week.

We did an inventory of meat remaining in our freezer, and made a meal plan for the rest of our time here.  We stocked up on veggies yesterday, and I have to do some prep on a dish to take to friends' home on Tuesday.  We should come out about even as long as we don't get too many more invitations.......

Check out all the progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  92.75 yards

Fabric added this week  14 yards

Fabric added year to date  21.75 yards

Net used 2016  71 yards

We've  been busy with company this week - our friends and their two granddaughters, age 6 and 8.  The weather has been great for swimming, visiting the aquarium, riding scooters, and other outings.  I've had no time for any sewing at all, and I'm beginning to feel sewing withdrawal.

My order from Connecting Threads was delivered on Saturday, but five of the yards, (the blue with flowers), will be used as backing for a quilt.  The top is complete, and the binding is waiting, so when our company departs on Thursday morning, I hope to dust off my machine and get to work.  I also have a baby quilt top, made from a 24ish inch wide panel, with some additional blocks, to make it wide enough.  I still have to prepare the binding for that one.

Our time is drawing short, and we'll soon be packing up for the trek to our  northern home.  I look forward to watching the bulbs begin to flower - that is, if the squirrels haven't eaten them all!

Check our the progress shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

After making flying geese blocks for a quilt border, I had a few remaining, so I stitched them into these 3 blocks.  Now I have to make 2 more blocks to add to another baby quilt, and it will be ready to quilt.  
I have stopped trying to save leftover bits and pieces of blocks for future projects, but use them for completed blocks.  I'm hoping to make a scrappy UFO block quilt this summer, to use as many of my leftover blocks as possible.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  92.75 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  7.75 yards

Net used 2016  85 yards

This week was spent with some sewing, a friend's birthday party and a fish fry, when DH's band entertained on Friday evening at a local church hall.  My latest project, using a piece of  "faux quilt" fabric that I've had for many years, needed borders.  I made lots of flying geese blocks and have them circling the centre of the quilt.  I made scrappy binding, using the remaining peach, yellow and green fabric, but I'm waiting for the arrival of some backing fabric.  I'll claim it when it arrives.

We've been busy preparing for our guests who arrive on Tuesday.  The sofa bed has been unfolded, and the bed made, ready for tired children.  Our small guest room had to be cleared.  I use the dresser to store fabric, and DH has adopted it to store his many guitars, amplifiers, music stands, guitar stands, monitors, etc., that are in regular use all winter.  We also took the opportunity to look at the items stored in the closet, and we will have an extra trash bag to place on the curb on Monday! 

I also tidied my sewing area.  I packed up some of the fabric that was leftover from my finished quilts, and trimmed some of the smaller pieces into strips and squares.  The top of one of my small bins finally became unusable.  It had been damaged on a trip when DH was bringing a structure south for his garden railway.  It was great to place its contents into a brand new bin, and this one has a locking lid!   I'll be lucky to have more that a few minutes to sew during the next week+.  

I just made a cocoa krispie roll for the upcoming week,(recipe found on the recipe tab).  After I formed the roll, I cut it in half, and gradually rolled each piece into a thinner and longer roll.  They are delicious, but rich, and smaller servings will make them last longer!  I'll be cooking a turkey tomorrow which will be handy for making quick salad dinners, and sandwich lunches.  We also have to pick up the last minute groceries, including some fresh strawberries.  Too bad I don't have time to go to one of the pick-your-own farms in the area.

Check out all the progress shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Here's my Scrappy Trip Around the World, completed.  The block design is a free pattern from Bonnie Hunter.  The solid borders was made from a yard of fabric that I selected for my DIL's Storm at Sea quilt, but it didn't make the final cut.  The scrappy braid border was made as a "leader and ender" project last year, made from a shoe box full of cut pieces - a garage sale find!  It is hard to see in the picture, but I also made scrappy binding, from leftover pieces.  I hate to see good fabric go to waste!
I have some "one block wonder" pieces cut out, and I also pulled some fabric out that I've had for many years - and I've been playing with designs using EQ7.  I'm determined that it will be a finished quilt to return north next month!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  21.5 yards

Fabric used year to date  92.75 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  7.75 yards

Net used 2016  85 yards

With my three baby quilt finishes earlier this week, and adding my "Scrappy Trip Around the World" quilt, gave me a big jump ahead.  Pictures to come as soon as I can get DH to be my quilt holder.  Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up the pace, and resist shopping  -  LOL.

Check out all the progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times

ANOTHER SMALL FINISH

This is the second "blue dog" baby quilt made from leftover panel parts.  I finished the binding just before bed last night.

We went out for dinner to friends' home yesterday evening.  She served a delicious salad of spinach, beets, avocado, and feta cheese, with a balsamic dressing - delicious!  

The whole meal was delicious, and we had a great time, talking, laughing, and enjoying our friendship.

TWO SMALL FINISHES

I completed two of the three baby quilts that DH and I pin-basted!  Number three has been quilted, but needs the binding stitched down before I can call it "done"

 This is a flannel panel quilt, with a flannel backing made from co-ordinating fabric.  I've had this in my stash for a long time, but its twin was stitched several years ago!

 This is the Blue Dog baby quilt, made from 4 blocks cut from a panel.  I just made 4 blocks to link it together, and then some simple quilting to complete my second baby quilt of the year.

Now to get to the hand sewing so I can complete number 3!