TRYING TO CATCH UP

We've both been busy since our return home.  Medical, dental and eye exams, along with various tests etc.  We've also had 2 extended visits with DS2 & family.  The last was to help them with some extra yard work, and to get their gardens ready for planting.  Our grandson (4) was a great help too!

I've attended a guild meeting, with my extra job of organizing the social group who helps at various jobs during the meeting, as well as providing snacks for the whole group.  I've also attended an executive guild meeting, bringing more snacks, and I spent the morning with the community quilt  group, and brought home 3 basted quilts to finish.  We had a new, more efficient water heater installed, and tomorrow our furnace and air conditioner are being inspected and cleaned.

The three quilts are quilted, and binding and labels are sewn on each.  I also cut out a baby dress for smocking for my granddaughter.  I have not done any for a long time, so had to stitch carefully,  so I didn't have to remove any stitches.

I also finished the top for my version of Bonnie Hunter's "Checkerboard Rails" quilt.  I also made a pieced backing.  Now I just have to clear my cutting table so I can pin-baste the quilt.

We planted 2 large pots with herbs, and picked up one tomato plant, but have to keep checking for the other variety that I like - they seem slow to arrive at the garden centre this year, but they normally arrive by May 24 (date of the last frost), and the long weekend was celebrated early this year.  We've noticed that some of our neighbours are getting the small beds in front of their homes cleaned up, new edgings, some plants etc.  The neighbourhood should look lovely when everything is blooming.  I had 4 tulips bloom that were missed by the squirrels.  They don't seem to bother the hyacinths or daffodils, and we've made a note to pick up more in the fall.

I'm off to sort all the bits and pieces on my cutting table - then I can get to work again!

MORE MACHINE QUILTING

For the past couple of years, I've been making scrap hourglass blocks.  I finally decided that I had enough fun, and called the top complete!  I  found a large enough piece of fabric to make the quilt back and binding, so spent part of a day pin-basting.
 
It is now under my needle, being machine quilted!  I am using an all over design, just to make this quilt comfortable for snuggling.

Tonight is my guild's first meeting of the season. I have several quilts to take along, as well as goodies for the snack table, and the remaining photo CD's from our June quilt show - I've had requests from some members who were away during the show.
I have 2 community quilts that I quilted and add binding, the Diamond Tiles quilt that I am donating, and two quilts for show and tell.  I'm looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces tonight!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 0 yards

Used year to date  173.875 yards

Added this week 0 yards

Added year to date  33.75 yards

Net used 2016   140.125 yards 

It seems like all I did this week was work on new projects!  Our guild meeting on Wednesday evening was lots of fun, with many members attending.  The snack table was left with crumbs following the break!

I'm still working on my redwork quilt.  I'm taking my time so that I have lots of sharp points to show after taking such care to cut and stitch all the half-square triangle units!

Check everyone's progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

SEPTEMBER GUILD MEETING LAST NIGHT

This was the first meeting for this season.  It was great to see so many familiar faces, along with some new ones as well.  We all shared the loss of one of our very active, long time members, who died in a summer boating accident.  She will be missed by everyone.
We had a great turn-out, tasty snacks, over 50 new items in our library, and a wonderful display of quilts from our community quilts group!

We played "Strip Bingo" with over 400 x 2 1/2 inch strips for prizes!
There was lots of show and tell quilts shared with the group, as well as a new block of the month project to try.  The pictures of the quilts will be shared on the guild's website over the next few days.

I've been trying to work, but a work crew is installing new storm sewer lines a block away, and the pounding noise of the drill is very distracting!  They don't call Kingston "the limestone city" for nothing! (Really it is because of all the buildings made from beautiful limestone).  As my sewing room is in the basement, the sound is the loudest here, of course.  I hope they get finished soon......

QUILT PROJECT 17 FINISHED

DH became my quilt holder this morning so I could mark this quilt as truly finished.  It is the 17th project completed this year.  The quilts are due at our final guild meeting of the year on June 5th.  They are expecting around 20 finished quilts.  There were request from some to make the patterns queen-size, so there should be some larger projects as well.  This time I have to remember to take my camera!!!!!
Our end of the season dinner is being catered by the executive again this year.  Everyone brings their own table setting - placemat, napkin, dishes and silverware.  Our guest speaker at the meeting will be talking to us about Superior Threads, and will be holding a workshop (already full), the day after the dinner.  I have to check my thread supplies and take some $ to buy more thread - thread doesn't count as stash!

I managed to get the centre parts of my Christmas Wish quilt stitched yesterday, and cut strips for the final border and binding.  Now I'm off to sew.  I plan to make a pieced backing for this quilt, so I can use more Christmas fabric!

QUILT GUILD MEETING

I attended the Limestone Quilter's Guild meeting last night.  We had wonderful guests from the Morrisburg guild, who entertained us with a trunk show of wonderful quilts from their guild members.  One after another fabulous quilts were unfolded, so many that one of their members was left at home since the quilts took up so much room in their car!
It was fun for me, meeting members that I only see 4 times a year at meetings (I'm south for the rest), and chatting with friends made at the community quilts get-togethers.

I was thanked for my donation of 5 quilts that I had made over the winter, and the 3 that I quilted this month as well.

   I brought 2 more home to quilt, and plan on attending the next get-together on the 17th.

  Our block of the month program is having another summer challenge of a simple block, made from scraps.

  Last summer over 600 were made and many have been finished into quilts. 

 We are hoping to better our numbers this summer, although I think the community  quilts chairpersons are becoming overwhelmed!