DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've been working on a project that I had planned to do last winter.  I had chosen all the fabrics from my stash and had them packed together with the magazine pattern.  Of course, I had too many projects planned, and didn't even look at this one until a couple of days ago!  

Of course, my project looks nothing like the one in the magazine, as I was using some of my "vintage" fabrics, trying to clear the shelves.  It went together very quickly.  There are 12 blocks in the pattern, 6 of each "centre" fabric.  I really should have read the pattern more thoroughly before decided on this one, as there was a lot of waste!  The pieced squares and rectangles in each block were made with the stitch and flip method.  I was able to salvage some of the larger triangles, but the smaller ones didn't meet my "minimum size to save" criteria.  It did make for fast assembly though....

 I'm pleased with the overall results and will make a nice quilt, finishing 62 x 78 inches.  The yellow fabric in the blocks and border have rose coloured flowers and blue butterflies.  DH kindly balanced on the sofa so I could get a picture of the whole thing.

I'll probably go on to make a couple more small projects before I get around to quilting this one.....

Check out all the creativity over a Judy's blog. 

OCTOBER QUILTATHON DAY 3

Thanks to Judy for sponsoring this quiltathon - check out all the participants here.

I managed to finish the baby quilt, including the binding by lunch today.  I also found some embellishments for my Christmas Wish project!

Sorry for the washed out picture, but the sun was coming in the patio door while it was taken.

Here is a close-up of the quilting.  I used a variegated thread from Superior King Tut line called Baby Tut.  This is a better shot of the colours in this quilt.  The blocks were donated by my guild members, almost 1500 in bright colours to be made into more quilts!

I'm spending the rest of the day planning projects to take south for the winter.  I also have some new fabric to launder.  Speaking of laundry,  I have almost 3 weeks worth on the go - since I only do laundry on the weekend because of high electricity costs, and since we have had company or been away for the past two weekends - I have huge loads of washing and drying to deal with.  Today is just clothing, and tomorrow I'll catch up with the sheets and towels.  

Ontario has "time of use" billing, with 3 different prices for different hours of the day.  Green is the lowest cost, and all weekends and holidays are green, as well as evenings and overnight.  Since I have no where to set up a clothes line outside, and our basement of our small townhouse is finished (mostly my sewing room), there is no where to hang clothing to dry, so I am forced to use the dryer - a big electricity user!

TRIANGLE TWIST IS FINISHED!

After finishing the "stitch in the ditch", I added swirls to each of the "melon" shapes in the border units.  

I also used the tiny piping accent between the quilt top and the binding.

 I decided to make a free-form fill design for the rest of the background areas.  

I stitched an undulating line first, completely circling the centre design.  I stitched into the outside area first (toward the border), as it seemed easier to figure out.  Once I began the inside space, I quickly decided how to fill all the unusual areas with quilting.  The centre twisted triangles are just stitched in the ditch. 



 I've enjoyed the challenges that this quilt has provided, but I'm ready for a simple project!!!

FINALLY BACK TO QUILTING!

Our visitors returned home on Thursday, so I spent part of the day doing laundry and sewing.

On Friday, DH and I, along with 2 quilting friends headed to the Hudson FL quilt show.  Lovely quilts and vendors, and I was tempted to pick up a cute cat fabric, destined for a lap quilt for future daughter-in-law.  Bumped into a "white glove lady", who overheard my conversation, and turned out to be a blog reader who requested a recipe!  Small world.

Following the show, one of my friends said that she had news that one of the local quilt shops was closing, so we headed to Lakeland FL to check it out.

Sadly, the Patchwork Pig on Pine Street in Lakeland will be closing soon - no official date yet, but all fabric was $5 per yard and everything else 50% off.  Needless to say there were 3 large bags of fabric in our van for the return trip home.   

 I returned this morning to find fabrics to make the quilt I have proposed to my group for the main next winter project.  Once again, I went with certain colours in mind, but the fabric had other ideas.  I saw a bolt that I just loved, and then found the perfect friends to play with!

I'll be heading into the red zone on tomorrow's stash report!!!!

I emailed my local group last night, and bumped into at least 6 members of the group at the shop today!

I've been working on my kaleidoscope project today.  I laid the blocks out on the living room rug, then DH and I spent a half hour rearranging until we liked the balance.  Then I had to add the mini kaleidoscope triangles to all the block corners to turn them from octogons to squares.  These had to be pinned, and DH assisted by numbering each block, so I can get it back together after sewing on all the corners!  My knees are sore, so that will be tomorrows' job, while I finish the laundry. 

ANOTHER SMALL FINISH

I've been concentrating on some small projects for the boutique at my guild's quilt show in the spring.  They seem to take longer than large quilts!  Lots of small, fussy cutting, no assembly line piecing, trying to use lots of fabrics - all time consuming.

 I managed to get the quilting  and binding finished on the pastel table topper.  These colours are outside my comfort zone!  I used gold variegated thread to stitch the small motifs in the flower squares and also to stitch the free-form feathers in the gold border.  Green variegated thread for the swirls in the teal/green border, and white to stitch leaves and curliques in the background areas.  The rest was done with "invisible" thread, stitching in the ditch.  
One thing about making small projects - they are great places to try out new designs in quilting and practice - no sore shoulders from manipulating a large quilt through a small machine!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  8.375 yards

Fabric used year to date  37.75 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  16.25

Net used 2012    21.5 yards

We've been looking after our neighbours' dog while they are on a cruise this week.  They returned yesterday afternoon and Sophia  was uncontrollable when she heard their voices!  She is easy to take care of, and we've been taking lots of walks.  But having her with us has shown us why we don't have a pet right now.  We've gotten used to the freedom of retirement - heading out at a moment's notice for a few hours/days, with no concerns of a little furry person waiting at home.  I'm sure I'll own another dog at some time, but not right now!

I've been busy sewing this week.   I finished the quilting on my batik cathedral windows quilt.
I did all the quilting with "glitter" mylar type metallic thread by Superior Threads.  Most of the stitching was done in gold, but I tried the red holographic thread in the red border.

I used one of my favourite leaf designs in the green border, and I love how the light makes the quilt glisten.

Then I found one more baby quilt panel that I brought south.  It was one of the panels that is only 24 inches wide, so it needed some additions.  The panel is a farm design, and I found 2 pieces of fabric in my stash with barns, cows, chickens etc.  Since I had limited fabric, I chose to add 2 plain borders - not enough for the pieced borders that I had planned....
While rummaging in the dresser, I found a stack of "boxy star" (Quiltville pattern),blocks that had been pieced by my group a couple of years ago.  At the same time, someone donated a bag of strips, all from solid fabrics.  I had cut sashing and cornerstones for each of the two sets of 12 blocks, so I took the time to stitch the tops together.  
I spent most of Saturday preparing backings and pin-basting.  I hope to get some quilting done before heading off to the neighbourhood "superbowl" party. 
Check out Judy's blog to see how others are doing this week.

FUN DAY

Yesterday I finished piecing my 3 1/2 inch drunkard's path blocks, and made a trial layout for a table runner.

Then off to my quilting group for 4 hours of instruction, chat, laughter, sewing etc.  One member was working on the layout of her sampler quilt (a project from 2 years ago - no deadlines!).  Two new members were having fun - one cutting out an autumn leaves table runner, and the other finding out how to reduce the bulk in the seam allowances.  Others were quilting, some un-sewing, but all were having a great time.
Then last night, a friend dropped over to whisk me away to her house.  Last year, she won a collection of autumn themed blocks from our guild, and had added sashing and cornerstones to the top and right side of each block.  She had tried several different layouts for the top, but wanted another opinion.  DH came along, and we spent an hour re-arranging blocks. Her husband took some pictures along the way, and we finally decided that we had a good one.  I showed her how to stack the blocks and pin and mark the rows, so she'll know where to start sewing....  She has some health issues, and can only sew in short spurts, but plans to finish the quilt to show at our guild meeting in the spring, when we both return north for the summer! 
Hope everyone has fun quilty days from time to time!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Our company headed north this morning, and DH left for the golf course at 7:30, so I headed right to my sewing room.
I managed to get the borders sorted out and attached to plaid quilt number 3.  I had to get creative, because none of my left-over yardage was long enough for the final border.  The pattern for the centre was "Smokey Mountain Stars" from Quiltville.  

I "double stitched" the corner squares and had lots of half-square triangle units left, so I sewed most of them into pinwheel blocks, then used some of the leftover strips from plaid quilt #2 to make them the right size to fill the gap in the final border.  

Since the two borders had corner squares, I used leftover strips from plaid quilt #1 to make strippy corner squares.

Now I have to get busy and make up the backs for each of these quilts.  Then I'll plan a pin-basting binge with DH - he is an awesome help!  I am determined to have NO LEFTOVER PLAID to take home in the spring!

SPINNIN' SPOOLS TOP COMPLETE

I finished the top late yesterday, and made the binding this morning.  DH held to top so I could take a quick picture.

This morning I mixed up the dough for a loaf of pumpernickel bread, headed out to do a bit of grocery shopping, along with some toys for the Toys for Tots annual drive.  When I returned home, I made a pan of cheesecake brownies, then baked the bread - company coming on Thursday!
I'm heading out to my sewing room to cut the pieces for the remaining plaid quilt.  Hopefully, this will finally use up most of the plaids.  Anything remaining will decorate the quilt backs....

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I was hoping to show the "Spinnin' Spools" top this morning, but I still have a few rows to sew and press!  I also have to see which plaids will be used for the borders - determined by which pieces are large enough....
I've been working on my Christmas hexagon in the evenings, and I have the third corner section ready to attach to the centre.



I still have the final corner and a small side unit to complete.

 Then the big decision is how to finish it!  I had though about leaving the edge irregular, and hand stitching it to the backing, but that will leave all sorts of bias edges, and won't be too stable.  I recently saw a hexagon quilt that was appliqued to straight border pieces, and I am tempted to use this finish, so the quilt will have lovely straight edges.  I still have time to decide.......
Check out everyones' design wall at Judy's blog today.

ONE TOP DOWN - TWO MORE TO GO

Here is the completed "Moth in the Window" quilt top.  I have green plaid binding prepared, and now I'm getting ready to start plaid quilt #2.

This time I'm using another of Bonnie Hunter's scrap blocks from Quiltmaker magazine.  
I'll be making "Spoolin' Around", found in the July/August issue No. 140.

Once again, I drew the block in Electric Quilt, and decided to use sashing and cornerstones between the blocks this time.  I'll also be using a single fabric for the "light" component in the block.

TIDY UP TIME

DH volunteered to help me reorganize the large storage closet under the basement stairs.  In the very back we store our Christmas stuff except for the tree which is in the garage.  We haven't had a Christmas at home for over 10 years, so it was great to pull everything out and see what we have.  DS2 and future DIL will be visiting soon, and I'll offer them some of my decorations as a start on their first Christmas together.

This is also where I store quilts - some in the large totes and others in bags to keep them dust free.  A couple of years ago I listed all the quilts and where they were stored, but since then I've added some, given some as gifts, donated some etc., so it was time to do it over again.  We measured some of the quilts that I had pictures of, but no finished size measurement, we photographed some that had missed having their picture taken, I included some seasonal ones to the pile of wall hangings, aprons, etc for DS2 & future DIL,
 and I made sure there was a quilt set aside for my family reunion next June (I give one to the youngest family member in attendance).
Now I have to download the pictures to my computer, and make a new spreadsheet to list all the quilts, runners, wall hangings, etc.  I was happy to have the help, but the sorting/organizing took until after 3pm!
I've often thought of selling some items, but since we split our year between two different homes in two different countries, it would be difficult to maintain, especially when the quilts are not available to pack and ship.....  I'll have to give this some more thought.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

 I managed to get lots of stitching on my hexagon quilt this week - a car trip to Kitchener, then back to Toronto then home provided lots of stitching time!

This is the beginning of a baby quilt for my nephew and his wife - baby is due October 20th.  You'll have to wait to see what the alternate blocks look like!

My tall sons were visiting over the weekend, so I took advantage of their height and took pictures of some quilts.

 Pushin' Up Spring

The Orient Visits Baltimore

The Baltimore quilt was made from a pattern by Fat Cat Patterns, using one called "Baltimore Bliss" that was offered as a BOM a while ago.  Pushin' Up Spring was also a BOM offered by AppleBlossom Quilts.  It was made using scraps except for the background of the blocks.

Check out what everyone is working on by visiting Judy's blog. 

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.