STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  135 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  97.875 yards

Net used 2015  37.125 yards

 

I feel like I've been spinning my tires!  I've been sewing every day, but the call of the lovely weather has other ideas.  We bike ride every day, and lots of our friends have arrived, so we've been catching up on all the summer happenings.  I'm not complaining, but I really would like to finish a quilt before the end of the year!

 

Yesterday I cut two lengths of muslin to back a quilt.  I serged the raw edges and put the fabric in the washer and dryer.  I was shocked to find that the pieces I cut 68 inches long, shrunk in length to 61 1/4 inches!  This is why I always pre-wash all my fabric!  I knew that I had to add some fabric between the two widths of fabric, but now I have to add another strip lengthwise.  I've been using some 9-patch blocks, made from leftovers, so it will blend with the scrappy quilt top.

 

Tomorrow we are heading to Epcot to see the Candlelight Procession - listening to the Christmas songs and hearing the huge choir and the full orchestra is one of our holiday rituals.  It always gets me in the Christmas mood.  We also want to start decorating inside and out.  We'll do what we can on Tuesday, then I'm off to my quilting group on Wednesday, and DH's cousins arrive in time for dinner.  I'll probably wait to decorate the tree until after they leave.  Our house is tiny, and the extra decorations make it feel smaller.......just right for two!

 

Check out others' progress this week at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

ON THE NEEDLES

I've been busy making a second sweater for my grandson.  My biggest difficulty is finding fingering weight yarn with no wool content.  I'm allergic to wool, and my grandson has a condition that makes it difficult to regulate his body temperature, and his doctor has said no wool products!  I was able to buy some acrylic baby yarn before we left home, but I wanted some non-pastel colours.  I found some cotton/acrylic mixed yarn to make the latest sweater, but with a little one, it is so much easier if the finished product can go in the washer and dryer, especially when Mom goes back to work.
I don't usually knit with variegated yarns, but I loved the colours in this one, and the surprise pooling that occurred only in the chest area!

THANKSGIVING BONUS

As a Canadian, we celebrate Thankgsiving in mid-October.  DH and I had our turkey dinner with all the fixings, although we didn't have pumpkin pie this year.
Now that we are in the sunny south for the winter, our newest neighbours, who live across the street, invited us to share their Thanksgiving feast.  They had their daughter and her family visiting, and 3 other couples as well.  
We all brought something - I made crusty dinner rolls, and we had lovely appetizers first.  When they were cleaning up from dinner, with lots of hands making it go quickly, they asked if anyone made turkey soup, as they could have the turkey rack.  Of course, DH volunteered me, so it was all place in a large plastic bag, and DH brought it home right away.
Imagine my surprise to find that the only meat they had served from the whole turkey was the 2 large breasts!  I had noticed that there was no dark meat on the platter at our table, but since we were at 2 tables, I just though that it must have been served over there.  The leftovers included the wings and both legs and thighs!  I quickly carved off some of the meat to have for another dinner, and in sandwiches, and I think the result is going to be more like turkey stew.  I'll send over some of the finished product to our host and hostess, so they can enjoy it too!
 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY - WEEK 47

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  135 yards

Fabric added this week 4 yards

Fabric added year to date  97.875 yards

Net used 2015  37.125 yards

 

I better get going - my numbers are heading the wrong way!  I received 4 yards of fabric this week - to back the heart quilt.

 

Meanwhile, I've been slowly putting the braid and 9-patch quilt top together.  One more border, (another neutral),  to measure and add, and then I'll have to put together a back for it as well.  I plan to use scrapping binding for this one as well.  Hopefully, I'll get some pin-basting and quilting done this week.

 

Our daughter-in-law's sister came for a short visit this week - great to get to know her better.  She left Friday morning, to spend the weekend with friends, then was heading to her in-law's home in Ft. Myers.  We suggested that she stop and meet us for lunch as she passed by, so we had a great soup and salad lunch at Olive Garden, then gave her a hug and sent her on her way. 

 

 Shortly after we arrived back home, our son let us know that they were ready to Skype, so we had a good time chatting and watching our grandson zoom around their living room!  He sure is a busy boy!  I showed them the hood that I made, and DH has it packed to be mailed tomorrow.  Just in time - they have a light dusting on snow on the ground, but the streets and sidewalks are just wet - no need to shovel yet! 

I'm linking with Patchwork Times and Quilting is More Fun than Housework today.

ON THE NEEDLES

My daughter-in-law asked if I had a pattern for a "hood" for our grandson.  With the weather getting colder, she is having trouble keeping a hat on his head and keeping his ears warm.  
I hunted for a pattern, and made one with leftover baby yarn.

Please excuse the blurry picture - took it late at night before putting it in a padded envelope and mailing it north.  I've always called this a balaclava.  If it fits, I'll make another one in slightly heavier yarn for more warmth in the colder weather that I know will be coming.

Our grandson starts daycare on December 1, and our daughter-in-law returns to work in January.  She thought it would be easier on both of them to get him used to daycare before it is necessary, and she needs some time to get her wardrobe in order, and finish some final sorting around the house, to make the transition easier for the all!

Check out the link up at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times

STASH REPORT SUNDAY - WEEK 46

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  135 yards

Fabric added this week 2.625 yards

Fabric added year to date  93.875 yards

Net used 2015  41.125 yards

My numbers aren't looking good, especially since I picked up all the fabric for my son and daughter-in-law's new king size quilt!  I've finished one quilt top, but it is waiting on the backing fabric that should arrive next week....

 
I also started a new scrappy quilt that will use the braid strips, made from a box of pre-cut pieces that a friend gave me, along with some 9-patch blocks made from "leader and ender" scrap 2 inch squares.  I have 2 rows stitched, and I'm working on the 3rd, now that the weather is back to more normal temperatures. 

We've been dog-sitting this week for friends who travelled north to attend their granddaughter's college graduation.  She's been good company, but is getting anxious for their return later today.  We take more walks when she is here, and fortunately, we had no rain to deal with, as she hates getting wet!

Check out all the stash reports shared and Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, and all the scrappy quilt projects at Quilting is more fun than Housework.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've been working in short spurts - my sewing room only has a ceiling fan, and with the extra hot and humid weather we've been having, I have to stop and re-hydrate regularly.

I've been working on a simple quilt that I saw somewhere on the internet.  It uses a focal fabric, and 3 co-ordinates.  I'm planning on donating this one to the charity that supports some orphanages in the Chernobyl area.  They request that no really light or white fabrics be used, as they have little ability to launder the quilts there.

The heart fabric has been in my stash for so long, I can't even remember buying it!  This is a great, easy block, and can be made any size.  Mine finish at 12 inches.  Hopefully I'll be able to get the top completed, and go look for some backing fabric.  I might be able to find some on sale, or in the clearance areas.  Darn, now I have  to go fabric shopping!

Check out all the creativity shared at Patchwork Times, Love Laugh Quilt,  and Quilting is More Fun than Housework

STASH REPORT SUNDAY WEEK 45

 Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  135 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  91.25 yards

Net used 2015  43.75 yards

Nothing added or used this week.  We're still adjusting to the hot steamy weather, but I have managed to begin my first project of the season, using some of the fabric that I picked up on our trip south.

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

ON THE NEEDLES

I started making a sweater for my grandson, just a day or so before our travels south.  He'll be 1 in January, and the request was for a couple of pullover sweaters - light weight, for winter days.

I  looked through my Mom's knitting books, and found a couple of  cute sweaters, size 1 with enough texture to keep me interested.  My problem finding yarn is that I'm allergic to wool, and there is very little synthetic yarn in fingering weight.  My local yarn shop up north only had baby colours, so the first sweater is light blue.

I didn't knit much on our trip down, but I've completed the front and two sleeves, and I'm part-way up the back.  The pattern is easy, just 4 rows, so easy to remember.

I'll be heading out to search for more yarn for another sweater soon.  

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

IT'S HOT, HOT, HOT!

I'm not complaining, but Florida is in a heat wave with high humidity - quite a shock after leaving the frosty north.  According to friends, they've had some lovely warm days for the past week too!
I picked up my machine yesterday - set to work, after its beauty treatment.  Today it was time to set up my sewing room, working in short spurts, with cooling time indoors.  (My sewing room is a sun-room built under our carport - the only cooling is provided by a ceiling fan, and a breeze when there is one.)

My cutting table is ready for work.  The red case underneath is for my machine, and the bin holds various sewing projects in bags.  The small duffel bag on top holds the pre-cut pillowcases for our sewing day in February.  The binder on the left holds my current project notes, and the one on the right has clear sleeves to hold specialty rulers and templates.

My machine is set up, with my small bins holding 2 inch squares for "leaders and enders".  There are some thread casses on the floor, as well as 2 sets of plastic drawers.  The TV is pushed into the corner - I don't watch it much - prefer audio books.  The shelves hold some of my fabric - mostly collections that I hope will return north in the spring as finished quilts!

The white drawers on the left contain sewing supplies that stay here all year, while the black drawers on the right are full of extra tools, cones of thread, tins of basting pins etc., that travel north and south each year.
On top, there is a large bin of 1 1/2 inch strips, and 2 smaller ones of 2 inch strips on top.  The largest bin holds 2 1/2 inch strips, as well as 5 inch charm squares.  Since this side of the room gets lots of sun, I have a table cloth that hangs over the back, and pulls down over the strip bins on the front.  I also use one to hang in front of the fabric storage on the shelves.  It also keeps the dust from settling on the fabrics when the windows are open, which is almost every day!

My final preparation is to look through the drawers in the guest room to see what I have stashed in there - probably more stuff that needs to live in my sewing room!

I just posted the next 2 months' patterns for the BOM on my guild's website, so I'll probably start with that!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY - WEEK 44

 Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  135 yards

Fabric added this week  27.5 yards

Fabric added year to date  91.25 yards

Net used 2015  43.75 yards

Our first day on the road was rainy and windy - with gusts strong enough to help us change lanes!  We made a stop at Sauder's Fabrics, only to find that the shop is closing soon, so the stock was lower than normal, and everything was 20% off!   They are moving the fabric to Zook's Fabric in Intercourse PA, but I think they will continue to use the website.

I had been asked to watch for baby quilt  panels for my community quilts group, and I found lots of the 36 inch wide panels, with the average price at $3.47!  I'm sure the convener will be please!  BTW, I'm not counting these, as they don't really belong to me!

The rest of the trip was great, with only a few traffic bottlenecks.  We also stopped at Mary Jo's Fabrics in Gastonia, NC.  I shopped for a variety of fabrics, mostly for the new quilt for DS2 and his wife, for their new king-size bed.  I also picked up some coordinating fabrics to help use a piece of fabric that has been in my stash for too long.  I found a cute panel for a growth chart, something the DS2 asked for for our grandson.

I took my sewing machine in on Saturday for its annual spa treatment, and DH dropped off a couple of speakers that have an intermittent problem, but are still under warranty.  

We did a huge grocery shopping today, finding most of the basics to stock our kitchen. 

DH began cleaning my sewing room.  It has vinyl windows, and they need cleaning after the summer heat and rain.  He has been busy, and I only need to wash the floor before unloading all my stuff, and getting organized, ready to sew.  I've been cleaning inside, and as usual, we keep finding items that we need to continue our work, so they go on the list.  I dislike shopping, and it seems that we shop every day for the first week or so......

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see how others have progressed this week!

READY TO TRAVEL

My sewing room looks too tidy!  I've packed my bags of projects, threads, tools, sewing machine, and everything but the kitchen sink according to DH!

He blames the full van on me, but it also holds golf clubs, 2 guitars, speakers, monitors, music stand, microphone, etc., for his hobby too!

We Skyped yesterday with DS2 and family. The made their first Jack'o'lantern yesterday too!  We'll call DS1 and family tonight.

I picked up some yarn yesteday, so I could knit on the trip, in between enjoying the scenery, reading, and maybe even some shopping along the way.  I had a call from a guild member asking me to watch for some specific items for the Community Quilts group too - darn......more shopping!

We still have to do our final load of laundry and clean out the refrigerator after dinner tonight, then off to bed for an early start in the morning...... 

SORTING AND PACKING

Next week we'll be making our annual trek south to warmer weather.  This requires lots of packing - a quilter needs her stuff!

Of course, this requires a lot of guess-work, as I'm never quite sure what I want to work on for the next few months.  The pile of fabric at the back right consists of 20 pillowcase pieces, along with the coordinating border for each piece.  The heart print has been in my stash for a long time, and I think it needs to be made into a bright, happy kid's quilt.  The neutrals are for a project using scrap 9-patch blocks and a scrappy braid.

The right hand pile is made up of some panels for baby quilts, along with some flannel backing, and fabric for binding and scraps for extra blocks.  
The pastel pile is set aside to make some little girl quilts.  I usually make the bright quilts and "boy" prints to donate to my guild, but this fabric was calling my name.

Finally, there is my collection of blue fabrics.  I'm using them to use for my guild's BOM project for this season.

There are 2 different projects, one is a "modern quilt", but I'm doing the traditional one!

 This is the 3rd block that I have completed so far.  October there were 2 to complete, to leave time in the guild's year to make all the blocks.

I think it is time to pack up my machine, so I won't be doing any sewing for over a week!  I'm looking forward to seeing old friends, and new, including members of my southern quilt group.  The bad news is that I have to buy fabric for my son & daughter-in-law's king size quilt, ''Storm at Sea'', so my numbers will take a hit very soon!  I also have to get the publicity out about our pillowcase workshop day, once I confirm dates to use the clubhouse - my group often shares the space for part of each quilting day, but I'd like to have it reserved in the hope that more of the residents join us for the day.

Off to choose some books and patterns to pack.......

BUSY FEW DAYS......

Since we are quickly approaching our semi-annual relocation, we've been keeping busy, checking our lists and making preparations.

This week we completed our Christmas shopping for our immediate family members, and birthday shopping for our grandson.  We are visiting both households this weekend, for final hugs before heading south, and dropping off gifts!  I'm glad that we can skype with our grandson, and we'll be able to see his growth over the next few months!  Hopefully, he'll remember us when we return next spring.....

I've begun pulling fabric for winter projects.  I have a large collection of blue fabric, so I decided to make my guild's BOM quilt in all the various shades!

This is block number 1 from September.

Here is block number 2 from October.  There is another block to complete this month, but I'll see if I can fit it in next week!

This time, I'll have to remember to enter the finished quilt in the next quilt show.  We made one a few years ago, but I didn't even think to enter mine.  It was an interesting display, showing all the different fabric choices, and how different each quilt was - all beautiful!

Next week we have to get are Christmas cards organized, and complete the shopping for our "take south" list.  DH has been busy working through the list of jobs that need to be done before we close the house - thank heavens for good friends, who check on our place daily, and for good neighbours, who keep watch over the neighbourhood!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

After completing the top, using donated "stack n whack" blocks, I discovered one narrow strip of 8 repeats of the focal fabric in the bottom of the bag!  I straightened it into a 2 inch strip, then cut 60 degree triangles, each stack having 8 pieces.

Since 60 degree triangle only require 6 pieces to form a shape, I set the remaining 2 pieces of each design aside.  I also found  a couple of 2 inch strips of the background cream fabric, used in the original quilt blocks, so that was cut into 60 degree triangles also.

 I had to cheat and make two hexagon shapes with 3 different pairs of fabric, but I think the small runner turned out just fine.  It finishes at 20 1/4 inches x 12 inches.  I think I'll give the finished runner to the guild member that made the original blocks!

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  .5 yards

Fabric used year to date  135 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  63.75 yards

Net used 2015  71.25 yards

 

Another 4 days visiting our grandson and family was great, but takes away from my quilting productivity!

My only accomplishment was to piece a quilt top, using some completed blocks from a guild member.  They were donated to community quilts, as she is trying to reduce her UFO's!  I added 1/2 yard for sashing strips, and completed the top.  It will be delivered to the group's monthly work day on Tuesday.

This weekend in Thanksgiving, so I have a turkey in the oven, and a pumpkin pie cooling on the counter.  It is just DH and I for dinner, so we'll have lots of leftovers to enjoy in our final few weeks before the bi-annual relocation!

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

It doesn't look much different from last week, but I've appliqued all the diamonds and circles on the ring, and attached it along the inside edge.  (The outer edge is still free, until I get the appliques stitched on the four corners - I prepared some of the pieces this morning.)

I still have to stitch the interior parts of the two large leaves, but everything else is completed so far.  Now to make the fabric choices for the next layer of flowers......

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  134.5 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  63.75 yards

Net used 2015  70.75 yards

Once again, nothing used or added.  I machine quilted 3 quilts for my guild's community quilts program, and just finished a large quilt for a friend's church, made to commemorate their anniversary.

The inner red border was quilted with swirls - I love continuous stitching on borders.
 The final blue border was stitched with an undulating line, and hooked feathers - another continuous line of stitching.
 

 The quilt had muslin panels with sentiments written by members.  There was a large blue rectangle at alternate ends of each row, so I stitched a hooked feather swirl in each.

There was a large statement panel at the top of the quilt, with a large space on each end, so I filled it with flowers.

Each of the sentiment panels was surrounded by scrappy strips, and I stitched alternating leaf and blossom designs around each one.

Now I have to get busy making some placemats and a BOM for my guild project.  DH and I are off to a matinee at the theatre and dinner following with friends.

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I spent a few days last week prepping some of the applique parts for my next project.  It doesn't look like much yet, but with so many little pieces, I'm working from the bottom layer to the top.  This is part of a pattern by Esther Aliu, that she has been sharing on her Yahoo Group.
I'm trying to decide how large I'll make this quilt.  My original plan was just to work on the centre and make a small wall hanging that I can enjoy.  My guild has begun another BOM quilt project, and I'm thinking I might like to use my collection of blues and whites for that. 
What to do, what to do????

I'm also trying to complete the quilting on 3 community quilts, and a quilt for a friend's church to celebrate the church's anniversary. 

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  134.5 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  63.75 yards

Net used 2015  70.75 yards

I spent most of the past week preparing some appliques for a blue and white wallhanging.  I also spent a day at my guild's community quilt workshop, and have started the quilting on one of the three quilts I brought home.  I have another one being delivered tomorrow!

Today, DH and I headed to Upper Canada Village in the Morrisburg Ontario area.  This weekend was their celebration of an 1860's fall fair!  They had a tent with exhibits, farm animals being shown, entertainment, including a beard contest!  There was also a quilt display, with quilts from 4 or 5 area guilds (mine included).  The had snacks for $0.50 - whole wheat bread, and cheddar cheese made in the village, along with fudge, lemonade, apple cider, etc.

We have visited this living historic site many times over the years, and it was fun to stop in at our favourite places - the schoolhouse, the broom maker, and the tinsmith.  I found out that they have summer camp for kids there in the summer.  They dress in period clothing, and attend school for 1 hour each day, then do chores in their "home" or at their "farm", sleeping in dormitories at night. I think I'll keep this in mind for our grandson in 9 or 10 years!

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