DESIGN WALL / STASH REPORT

I've been stitching - really I have.  I have 75% of the quilting done on my double Irish chain quilt, I've knit mitts for my grandson for next winter, and have the back and 1 1/2 fronts finished for a fall sweater for him as well.

I received a call from my guild's community quilts coordinator, asking if I'd finish a couple of pin-basted quilts.
The first one was made from large flannel squares, with a couple of borders.  I stitched swirls diagonally, using brown thread in the coloured squares, and red in the black and white ones.

I stitched green waves in the blue border, and large elm leaves in the rust border, using blue thread.




The second quilt was made with large 4-patch blocks.  The brown

and tan blocks formed an X pattern.  I stitched flowers in all the white squares, with 4 petal curves in the blue ones.  The brown and tan  was stitched with gold leaves.  A loop design was added to the sashing, and a curvy zig-zag to the white border.

 I continued to use the gold thread to stitch an open spiral leaf in the striped borders.

Many of my quilting designs are thanks to Lori Kennedy of  The Inbox Jaunt.  Her book is called "Free-Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3"  It is spiral bound and easy to set beside your machine for easy reference.


My stash report has only one change -  I used .5 yard of fabric for binding the blue quilt, and my net used for 2017 is now 21.875 yards.  I'll have more to claim once I complete the double Irish chain - soon, I hope!

Now I'm off to make gingerbread for dessert tonight, with applesauce topping! Yummmm!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 0 yards

Fabric used year to date  72.375 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  21.375 yards

 

Lots of sewing this week, but no finishes yet!  I have 2 loaves of oatmeal bread rising in pans, and 2 loaves of white bread on its first rise this morning.  We also had a nice Skype chat with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson.  They've been busy in the garden all week, and have some of their veggie garden planted.  They'll be out shopping for more plants again this afternoon, after nap-time.

They are still re-working some of the established garden beds, removing plants that they don't like, and replacing with things they do.  They love plants that provide food, so they planted an Italian prune plum tree this spring, and plan on planting some fruiting bushes in the corner that used to be taken by the large tree that nature removed.  This year, they are adding compost and nutrients to the soil in that area, so it will be ready for its new plants next spring.

We have a busy week planned, with a night at the theatre on Tuesday, and a graduation dinner for our friends' daughter on Wednesday.  She is receiving an engineering degree from Queen's University in Kingston.  DH and his friend also have 3 performances at local nursing homes this week as well, so I hope to get the alternate blocks for my quilt project completed this week.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  4 yards

Fabric used year to date  66.75 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  15.75 yards

My used fabric was for pillowcases.  Our sewing day made 223 pillowcases for area children's hospital.  The only other sewing I did was to cut the yardage for tablecloths for DS2's use at work.  I didn't add the fabric to my stash report, so I can't claim it as used.  I serged all the edges, then turned and top stitched the hems.  I was able to use the differential feed on my serger for the round cloths, just eased the fabric enough to turn and stitch with no puckers.

I've been baking this past week.  I made 4 loaves of whole wheat bread, 2 French loaves to take to a dinner party, and 4 loaves of cinnamon raisin, fruit bread.  Three of these were gifted to neighbours.  I wanted to use the fruit before packing up to head north.

Company is coming tonight.  We plan to go out for dinner, and I have made an apple crisp for dessert, to have with some vanilla frozen yogurt.

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  8.125 yards

 Fabric used year to date  21.375 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  12 yards

Net used 2017  9.375 yards

Thanks to completing my spinning spools quilt, I am well on my way this year, until my next order of backing fabric arrives!  

I pin-basted two more baby quilts this week, and have completed all the "stitch in the ditch" quilting.  Now I just have to get on with the rest of the quilting in each.

Yesterday was spent in the kitchen.  I made cranberry sauce - I have a great recipe for cranberry ginger cookies, and never have enough sauce leftover when we have a turkey, so I made this batch just for cookies!  I also made a pot of calico beans to take to our neighbours' Superbowl party today, along with some French onion bread.  I made a batch of granola bars, and some raspberry coconut bars to take along for those with a sweet tooth.  DH and I aren't great football fans, but we have fun with the gang, and enjoy watching the commercials each year, and eat lots of food that we only indulge in at Superbowl.

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I began my morning hunting through my recipes, deciding what I was going to bake for both our pleasure, and to take along to my guild meeting on Wednesday evening.  I'm in charge of this month's "social committee", and we are responsible for snacks for everyone, and generally helping where needed before, during and after the meeting.  Every member is assigned a month to do this, and it helps to get more involved in the goings on at our monthly meetings.

I spent the rest of the morning cutting squares - 140 white ones and 160 red ones.  Now I have to start up my assembly line to make half square triangles to complete my redwork quilt project.

It is difficult to photograph a quilt on my new design wall, especially when the fabric is white on the white flannel, the lighting in the area is fluorescent, and the design wall is in a narrow hallway!

I pressed all the units yesterday, and trimmed them to size. (The bottom border didn't make it into the picture!) The missing star points will be made of half square triangle units, as well as the inside and outside borders.  I can see lots of stitching and trimming in my future!

I usually make a redwork project each year, but all the others have been made for children.  I hadn't made one for the past couple of years, and this one struck a chord!  DH is always surprised at how much time I spend doing the hand embroidery, but I love to keep busy while watching TV with him in the evenings - a win-win!

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

SMALL QUILT TOP COMPLETED

I did  manage to complete the quilt top on Monday.  I would have quilted it as well, but we had a heavy downpour for most of the afternoon.  My sewing room is build under our carport, and even with a double aluminum roof, with insulation, it is still like working inside a bass drum when the rain is heavy.  

I did the best I could with limited stash available, and I refused to shop for more fabric!


Instead, DH and I watched a movie, and I baked chocolate chip cookies!

Today I've been competing with chain saws, as they are trimming trees in our community today!  My blinds are going to get more use on sunny days now.  I hope our air conditioning bill isn't higher this summer.....

BACK TO QUILTING....

I finished quilting the fourth community quilt on Tuesday morning, and then tidied up before my brother and his sweet wife arrived.  My brother has lived in China for a while, and we enjoy his short visits when he comes to Canada.

I had dinner ready - one of his favourites - meatloaf, made with one of our Mom's recipes.  Then our friends' church was celebrating their annual strawberry social, so we headed out for strawberries, ice cream and plates full of home baked goodies, along with coffee or tea!  A great addition to our day.  My sister-in-law had never been inside a church, so after we ate, our friend took us upstairs to see the interior of the church.  She asked lots of questions, and took some pictures.  She was very impressed by the simplicity of the building, with its modern stained glass windows.  Another new experience in Canada.

This visit, my sister-in-law wanted to learn how to bake bread!  Wednesday morning, as soon as the breakfast dishes were tidied up, I set out all the ingredients and began the bread making process.  I had given her a printed recipe, with the steps listed, but she also took some additional notes, and took some photos of the various steps along the way.  She even took a short video of me kneading the dough.  She got her hands in the dough, too, and finished the last several minutes of kneading.  While the dough was rising, DH took them out to a local museum, and when they returned, it was time to punch down the dough.  After the next rise, she punched the dough again, and then we turned it out and I shaped the first loaf, and she shaped the second.  By that time, it was time for lunch - some homemade Pasta Fagioli Soup that I had made over the weekend.  Dessert was another of my brother's favourites - butter tarts, again made with my mother's recipe.
She took a pic of the bread before it headed into the oven, then another when it was baked.  We waited for it to cool a bit, then enjoyed slices of fresh warm bread with butter - yum!

I headed to my computer, and made copies of all my Dad's slides - I had spent 2 summers, scanning the slides into my computer, doing some almost every day.  Since I keep my computer in my sewing room, my sister-in-law came for a visit.  Last year when she visited, we made some simple coasters for her to take home.  She asked if she could make 2 more sets, to give to special friends in China.  She spent quite a while, choosing just the right fabrics from  my stash, then I put her to work pressing the fabric before we began cutting.  I cut the squares, along with squares of batting, and she pressed some of them in half.  I place a background layer of fabric on both sides of each square of batting, and she place the folded pieces on top, and pinned them in place.  I stitched around the edges, then showed her how to clip the bulk in the corners, and turn them to the right side.  Then I showed her how to use my sewing machine, and she stitched the final two herself!  Many things are new experiences to her - many things that we take for granted.  She is always so interested in everything, and asks lots of questions.  I love her visits, as she makes me appreciate all the normal things of our life in north America, and I look at everything through her eyes!

They packed up and headed out to visit friends who live near Ottawa, and the house seems very quiet.  DH is heading out to entertain at a nursing home this afternoon, so I'll have a chance to start the quilting on my friend's quilt.  Eventually, I'll get back to my own work, but that's the joy of being retired - lots of time to do things I love to do every day!

HEXAGON PROGRESS

I managed to finish all 42 of the large motifs and have 9 of the small flowers completed.  I can't wait to get them finished, and begin appliqueing them to the final border of my hexagon quilt.  This should make it large enough to fit on our bed, so I can sleep under all the beautiful colours!

Today DH is out rehearsing - his group is playing on the pool patio Saturday from 1-3.  He has persuaded me to do 3 numbers, accompanying him with my flute.  This afternoon, we head to the grocery store to re-stock for our next visitors.  Since we have little ones coming, I'm going to stock up on healthy snack items to take along on our outings.  I plan to do some baking over the next few days - cookies and squares for desserts.

Sunday, a quilting friend and her DH are stopping by for a quick visit.  They are approaching retirement, and want to see where we spend our winters.

I hope to squeeze a bit of sewing into the time as well.  I decided to put another border on the boxy star quilt, but don't have anything that will do, and I need some backing fabric as well, so that will have to wait until I can find the time to visit my local quilt shop!

HEXAGON FRIDAY

I managed  to finish 19 of the 32 small flower units to finish the centre of the quilt.  Most of my hand-sewing time was spent on bindings for the final 3 quilts heading to Calgary.  I also attended our community quilts workshop on Tuesday, and brought another finished top home, along with some backing fabric, so I've been busy finishing that one, as well.

Today DH and I are heading to Tweed to visit our cousins, who raise alpacas.  They hardly ever leave their small farm, and we decided to make it a good visit.  DH's sister and cousin, along with their husbands are also coming, along with his long-lost cousin, so it should be a great afternoon.

Yesterday, with DH's help, we baked a tomato soup spice cake, cherry brownies (with dried cherries), and onion French bread, along with an antipasto pasta salad.  We'll probably have enough food for 100 people, as everyone is bringing something!

Off to pack up the goodies, and hit the road to scenic Tweed!

HEXAGON FRIDAY

I have two more rows of small flowers to make to complete the centre of the quilt!  Then I have to begin making the border units!

I also finished the binding on my Scrappy Split 9-patch Quilt this morning, so I'll have more fabric to count on Sunday's stash report!
Now I have to check my list to see what items need to be completed, and also to think about making my own "kits" to take south for the winter.
DH and I are off to the theatre tonight with some friends, following a pot luck dinner.  I'm making a cherry cobbler - DH's favourite.  I usually make it for his birthday, (he turned 65 yesterday),  but we postponed it a day so we could share.....

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I have nothing on the wall this week!

  I'm still recovering from the bug that attacked over a week ago, and DH is about half-way through the symptoms!  I did piece a back for a quilt, but I've been spending my energy doing some baking each day.  (I updated the recipe page...)

  Phase 1 of our company arrives next Saturday.  HS is arriving in Orlando on Friday, to attend a work related conference, but her company didn't want family or spouses along, so MS is coming to our place the following day instead.  He'll enjoy a couple of days of golf while she is "working".  Then, two days later, HS will be heading to our place for some R&R, and after a week in the sunshine, they'll be flying back home.

   I've been doing some basic meal planning, and baking bread and goodies so I don't have to do as much while they are here.  Meals will be simple - DH is great at the BBQ, and salads will be served in abundance, along with lots of fresh fruit.  Florida strawberries are in season now!

   I spent some time re-doing a basic quilt pattern to use some more fabrics that headed south in the fall.  I had to make sure that I would have enough fabric, using just what I have on hand.  I also have part 5 of my guild's BOM to complete.  Hopefully I'll be able to get some sewing done this week!

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times for some inspiration!

   

JUDY'S QUILTATHON WEEKEND DAY 2

The day isn't over yet, but I'm stopping for dinner.  I did managed to get the quilt top stitched and pressed and the first border sewn on.

I don't have a design wall, so it is difficult to show the whole top!  (This is one of the challenges of owning 2 small homes rather than one a bit larger - neither has a space for a good design wall!)
This is one quarter, and the narrow 1 inch finished first border changes colour as it travels around the edge.

The next border will be more black and white prints, and I'm planning on making it 6 inches finished width.

I still have some strip sets leftover after cutting the block quarters, so I think I'll use a block in the corners, then sew various widths of strips together to fill in between.

I baked 4 loaves of whole wheat bread today, and DH had the tree guys by to remove a large limb on the live oak tree beside our home.  It was hanging very close to the roof, and it was time to do some trimming.  I must admit that it was difficult to sew with the noise of the chain saws, and the sawdust flying everywhere....  They did a great job of cleaning up, and the house is much brighter on that side now!  

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  0 yards

Used year to date  242.125 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date  157.625 yards

Net used 2012  84.5 yards

 

No change from last week.  I've been sewing almost every day, but the black and white quilt project requires lots of sewing to make the block units.  My stack is growing, but I don't think I'll get it finished before the new year..... and I only count fabric when the whole quilt is completed!

 

I've been busy baking goodies to share with friends and neighbours, and DH has been helping so that I don't spend too much time on my feet - my knee is improving slowly, but aches if I spend too much time standing or walking.

 

Check out other's stash reports at Judy' blog, Patchwork Times.

MORE BLOCKS FINISHED

I had decided to make both version of my guild's BOM project this year, both using fabrics from my stash.  This is version 2 - with a paper pieced centre.  I decided to make this from batiks, choosing neutral, blue, green and plum for my colours.  These 4 blocks will be used in round three, and the other 4 will provide corner blocks for the final round.
Now I have to get back to a couple of projects that have deadlines!

I baked chocolate, chocolate chip, peppermint cookies this morning, and made some Cheddar sausage balls for the pot luck tomorrow.  My group has been keeping me busy with calls, questions, asking me to re-send files that mysteriously disappeared from their computer......

DH picked kumquats from our friend's tree - they are still north and the fruit is dropping on the ground.  He scrubbed the fruit, quartered each one to remove the seeds, and then had a lesson in making microwave jam.  He made a batch on Sunday, then another one today, after picking up more sugar.  He even made enough puree for 2 kumquat pies - everyone's favourite at the Kumquat Festival in Dade City.  We'll keep the puree in the freezer to give to the tree owners when they arrive.  There is still more fruit on the tree that needs to ripen, and hopefully they'll be able to pick more when they arrive in January, - that is if a hard frost doesn't damage the fruit!

Our visiting dog was happily reunited with her family yesterday afternoon.  The house is quiet today, and DH gave it a good vacuum to pick up all the tiny bits tracked in by doggie feet during the past week.   

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

My design wall is empty, except for the Christmas Wish blocks from Red Brolly - waiting for the next installment!  I hate waiting, which is why I normally collect all the parts for the project before beginning.....

I'm still trying to decide whether to begin another project, or make my kits for the winter.  For the last two years, I've packed up fabric, along with patterns, to make some of the quilts on my wish list.  Of course, I start other projects while in Florida for the winter, but it is a great feeling to use some of my stash - I have little room for storing fabric in our southern home, so if I don't bring it along, I have to go shopping.

After completing the two "space" quilts, I took some time to straighten my sewing room.  Since my "kids" are coming on Thursday night for a 3 day stay, I spent the weekend baking bread, (whole wheat, white and cinnamon fruit varieties,) and making soup, so I don't spend all the hours in the kitchen while they are visiting.

We went to our friends' place on Sunday and came home with some great green and red peppers, a bag of fresh beets and the beets tops from the rest of the beets that they were harvesting.  My family loves greens, and beet greens are no exception.  I cooked some and after draining well, I stored them in small freezer bags to have for future dinners.  I also made some pasta fagioli that calls for spinach, but tasted yummy with the sliced beet leaves.  It made a great dinner along with some fresh bread!

I hope everyone else has more interesting design walls than I do -  check it out at Judy's blog!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  7.75 yards

Used year to date  133.625 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date  108.875 yards

Net Used 2012  24.75 yards

 

 I finished my southwest tree of life quilt this week, and then I made a set of quick and easy placemats.  One of my Florida quilt group brought the "non-pattern" placemats to the group and suddenly there were placemats springing up all over.  I haven't taken pictures of the placemats, but the southwest quilt is in my "quilts 2012 page.

The hot, humid weather has been taking its toll.  All the grass in the area is brown, and the farmers' crops are withering!  We have central air conditioning, but it always seems to be several degrees warmer in the top floor where the bedrooms are located.  I'm the type that doesn't sleep well - I love it cool, so with our long spell of hot, humid weather, I'm getting more and more tired!

Of course, when we went shopping yesterday, they had some yellow beans, so I had to buy enough to make bean mustard pickle - more later.  They also had baskets of prune plums, so later today I'll be making some plum jam.  The local peaches from the Niagara region of Ontario are also in season, so there is a basket of peaches on the counter, just calling my name.  Looks like I won't be getting much sewing done today!

A friend gave me half of a large, overgrown zucchini, so I cut out all the seeds, until I hit firm flesh, then made some zucchini bread yesterday.  2 loaves of pineapple zucchini and one of lemon zucchini.  Can't wait to taste them - I like to let quick breads sit a day for the flavours to blend......

Back to quilting - check out Judy's blog to see everyone's results this week.