More Quilting

More variegated thread - blue for the blue flowers and pink for the pink ones.  The blue blocks were stitched with hooked feathers,

and the pink ones with large looping feathers.  I decided to leave the background fabric unquilted in this project, but I did stitch a design in the setting and corner triangles.

Back to Quilting

Finally managed to pin-baste the pinwheel flower quilt that I began here.
I began by doing some stitch-in-the-ditch quilting with monofilament (invisible) thread, stitching the plain borders, and stitching around the outline of each pinwheel.
I continued to stitch the yellow small flower pinwheels with some variegated trilobal polyester thread (nice and shiny), stitching swirls in each "petal".

Then I stitched the green pinwheels in the border, using a green variegated thread.  I stitched large leaves in each part of the small green pinwheels.....

 Then continued with smaller leaves in the large pinwheel blocks in the border.......

 

Finished quilting the problem quilt

This was one time that I wished I had a frame or long-arm machine!  This quilt really needed an all-over quilt design.  I decided to quilt the Baptist Fan pattern.  I made arcs from double layers of freezer paper, with a line drawn before cutting, showing the vertical straight of grain line.  I had to stop and pin each set before doing the free-motion stitching along the edge of the freezer paper.  It was a bit time consuming, but I did get it finished.

I then stitched my favourite "hooked on feathers" hooks on both sides of a curvy line in the plain pink border.  I used Superior King Tut thread #937 for all the stitching.

I hope this quilt finds a good owner at my friend's church Christmas lunch and sale in late November........ 

Block Sizes

For those wondering, my design wall is covered in flannel that is printed with 2 inch squares.  I bought the yardage back when everyone was making watercolour quilts, and this was recommended as a designing tool.  I still have my 7 baggies of 2 inch watercolour squares, sorted from light to dark, but have never made one yet!  I did try a project using the fusible interfacing marked with 2 inch squares.  It worked well, but seemed very stiff when finished.
My latest applique blocks will finish around 16 inches, and are destined for a queen-size quilt.

Design Wall Monday

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I finished hand stitching the last applique shape on the third block last night.  I use silk thread and a size 11 needle, stitching about 1/8th of an inch apart.  I also use extra stitches at the points and the inward points, to make sure that they will be secure when washed.  The pattern is from Fat Cat Patterns.
Check out the other design walls at Judy's blog.

New member of my extended family

My brother and his  partner, Maggie, adopted a couple of donkeys last spring.  He was there to help with the birth of the newest member.  They are kept in a shed attached to the building where he works on his hot rod.  We plan to visit in person the next time we are in the Toronto area. (His shop is in a rural area northeast of the city).

Finished Snowman Collector

I finished the simple, stitch-in-the-ditch quilting on Monday, then hand stitched the binding yesterday.  I then went back and did some outline quilting around the snowmen and trees, but I kept it simple as the fabrics and embroidery do most of the work on this quilt.  I plan to take it to Florida to freshen up my Christmas display this year!

Design Wall Monday

I'm having the worst time getting the colours to show correctly when I take a digital picture.  I think it is a combination of my old digital camera and the fluorescent lighting in my sewing room.  The dark squares in the checkerboard area are a warm brown, and there is a darker red and a great purple fabric in these as well.  I guess I'll have to start taking pictures in natural light!
These lovely Raggedy Ann and Andy blocks are from a BOM from The Painted Quilt Blog.  Kaaren adds new blocks on the 20th of the month.  Can't wait for the next one!  I have made a kit of the fabrics I'm using in the quilt, so that I can take it with me to Florida this winter, and continue making the blocks each month.
Head over to Judy's blog to see what is on everyone else's design wall today.

Adding yet another project!

My best friend called yesterday to ask a favour.  A member of her church had passed away, and her family had found an unfinished quilt - top made and matched to batting and backing piece included.  She asked if I could quilt it in time for their fall bazaar.
After it was delivered, I opened it to find this:

It is an oversized pinwheel quilt made of two blocks and a couple of odd borders.  I pressed it and starched it well.  When I unfolded the backing fabric, there wasn't enough to back the quilt, let alone make binding.  My friend had said to call if I needed anything, but I decided to use this project to help shrink my stash.
I cut the required pieces for the binding from the backing fabric, then measured what was left.  I didn't have enough of any one pink fabric to make a large enough backing, so I added one print to the sides, and another to the top and bottom.  More spray starch on the backing and I am now in the process of pin basting.
Choosing a quilting design to help this quilt will be a big decision.....

Design Wall Monday

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I seem to be jumping from project to project lately.  I began stitching these appliqued blocks so I would have some hand work to do in the evenings.  Block one is completed, doing needleturn applique, and block two has the centre stitched.
The pattern is a free BOM that has been offered for the past two years at Fat Cat Patterns, called Baltimore Bliss.  Her sample is shown in pink and green, but I am pulling colours from a lovely oriental border print for mine.
Check out what others have on their design wall at Judy's blog.

Snowman Top Complete

I managed to get the borders on before my DS1 arrived for a long weekend visit.  Lots of baking and cooking going on now, including a turkey roasting in the oven.
Here's a closeup of the border.....

And here is the finished top.....

 I added some white highlights to the snowmen and snowy areas in each block.  I also added a couple of buttons as well.

Slow Progress

I don't seem to be making my usual progress lately.  I have been preparing some pieces for hand applique.  I picked up some wonderful fabric two winters ago in Arizona, and finally began the quilt.  More about that later.....
I have the blocks of the snowman quilt stitched together.

Last two Snowman blocks

I think that my only problem with these blocks is that the white thread doesn't show up well enough on the light beige background.  The pattern suggested using pink paint on the cheeks, so I think I might add some white to the snow areas.  I'll probably use stencil paint, as it is permanent and washable once it has dried, and gives a soft finished feel.  Just hope my stencil paint hasn't dried up - can't remember the last time I used it - probably a few years ago.  Who has time for crafts when quilting takes over your life?

Two more snowman blocks finished

Each block was fun to embroider by hand.   I transferred the images to my fabric using a lightbox and a brown Micron Pigma pen.  I used a wash out marker to outline each stitching area and marked the centre to make sure the pattern was in the right position.  When I was finished the embroidery, I rinsed the whole piece of fabric in cold water to remove the marker.  When it was dry, I pressed the whole piece, using some spray starch.  Then I cut the blocks the size shown in the pattern and continued on from there.  I found it easier to hoop the pieces when working with a whole width of fabric than by cutting each one separately before stitching.

Design Wall Monday

This is one of the two star bands in the Snowman Collector quilt.  The stars are appliqued using fusible web and machine blanket stitched with dark thread.

 Here is the first finished block.  I had fun selecting the fabrics for the log cabin like blocks.  This block has three extra bands to bring it to the proper finished size.

I tried to find fabrics with snowmen and trees, bit I think the little angels are great too.  Now onto the rest of the blocks (there are only six, so I shouldn't take too long.)
Join the rest of the design wall Monday gang at Judy's blog.

Black Creek Pioneer Village Toronto ON

Yesterday, as part of our August birthday outing we spent the afternoon at Black Creek.  We had taken our kids there when they were young, but hadn't visited for many years.  It is now completely surrounded by city, but the small village area is lovely, with wonderful trees and gardens.  The farm is original, but the rest of the buildings were moved to the village.  It is based on life in the area around the 1860's.  We had lunch here at the Half-way Inn.  It was originally on Kingston Road.

 DH took some pictures of quilts in some of the bedrooms just for me!

We did get a bit damp in an afternoon shower, but had a very interesting visit.  They run lots of special programs at the village, which is open from May 1 until Dec 23 each year.  There was even a wedding there on Saturday.
We ended our afternoon by sharing some birthday cake at my son's apartment to celebrate my daughter-in-law, my younger son and my husband's August birthdays.

Embroidered Snowman Blocks

I was looking for some hand-work TV watching stitching to do, and remembered a cute Christmas quilt in an older Quiltmaker magazine.  The pattern is called Snowfriends by Lynda Howell and was found in issue 130.   I used my bag of leftover embroidery threads from finished cross stitch kits, so the colours are similar to the magazine picture, but usually chosen by lengths that were long enough for the area.
The quilt in the magazine was finished with darker country colours, but I have decided to use some of my many Christmas prints, especially those with snowmen on them......trying to use up some of the stash.  I have a love for Christmas fabric, but rarely use any, so I have put myself on a "no buy" diet for holiday fabric only!

Too Many Distractions...

I've been trying to get back to quilting this week, but haven't been very successful.  My cutting table is piled high with things that need to be finished.  My pinwheel quilt needs a backing so it can be pin-basted, my son's new trousers need to be hemmed, which requires the serger (which is stored in a cupboard), projects that need to be done for my guild meeting in two weeks.  The list goes on and on.....
Of course, I needed some hand sewing to do in the evenings, so I embroidered blocks for a Christmas quilt, and I also began preparing the applique units for another quilt ( fabrics purchased on a trip to Arizona two years ago......

I did get my fabric postcards completed for the ovarian cancer project! 

Design Wall Monday

I managed to get the green block borders stitched to the quilt centre.  I didn't have enough of the background fabric, so found a pretty flower and butterfly fabric to use as a spacer to make the blocks fit the centre.  I like a more rectangular shaped quilt, so I stitched another strip of butterfly fabric on top and bottom, followed by a row of small pinwheel blocks, made from the cut-offs of all the blocks.  Then I added more butterfly fabric all around the outside.

 Join the rest of the design wall Monday quilters at Judy's blog.

I baked this wonderful fresh peach cake on Friday morning, and this is what is left!  Thanks to Judy for the great recipe.  Our friends that helped in the indulging asked for the recipe!  You can find it here.

 I've been scanning our large collection of slides into the computer, and ran across this picture today.  I made this smocked peasant blouse for my niece in 1977!  Hopefully, I'll find a picture of her wearing it!  I have been trying to scan a group of about 20 slides  every day, before I get busy with other things.  The slides were not in any order, as DH culled them before I began two years ago.  We are trying to reduce the amount of "stuff" in our home.  When I finish with the slides, I'll begin on all the old photos.  That should take another 3 or 4 years!