STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  8.25 yards

Used year to date  99 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date  35.5 yards

Net used 2013  63.5 yards

I managed to make the final stitches in the binding just before bed last night!  Now my guild's BOM version 2 quilt is officially finished!!!!!

We had a nice visit with DSIL and husband on Thursday, went plant shopping on Friday, had tea with friends Friday evening, and visited with our Godson's family on Saturday, (they were bringing furniture for their daughter's room at University for next year.  She is renting a house, along with 4 friends).

My bread is doing its first rise, so I finally had time to catch up with all my email etc.  Today I plan to do some small sewing jobs that have been waiting.  DH wants some velcro wraps made for his guitar cords, and I have to make the patches that will be on his and his friend's shirts when they begin their volunteer entertaining venture this Friday.

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see everyone's progress this week.   

HEXAGON FRIDAY REPORT

I've been making steady progress on my project, stitching in the evenings while watching TV with DH.

 Two more stars to add to finish the 3rd row.  I'm working from the centre outwards toward the top and bottom.  The next two rows are the same as the first - 6 petal flowers - 16 per row.

We had a lovely drive north to deliver the quilt to my sister-in-law and had a wonderful lunch and visit.  She also does decorative painting, so I had to visit her studio to see all the projects that she had finished over the winter.

Tonight we're visiting with friends - DH plays guitar with his friend, and they are practicing to play at a senior's residence next week.  They both enjoy playing and singing, and thought they could volunteer to bring some live music for an evening's entertainment.  I'm taking along some hexies to baste while I visit!

I'm also trying to get my guild BOM version 2 quilted.  I had a problem coming up with an idea for one area, but the light bulb lit this morning, so I'm off and running,

DH and I picked up some tomato plants and herbs, along with a few annuals to tuck in between the perennials in our tiny garden area.  Hopefully we'll get everything planted in the next day or two.   

FINISHED QUILT!

That's the good news.  The bad news is that it doesn't count toward my stash usage, as it is my sister-in-law's project.

I was given some quilting templates a year or so ago, so I decided to use them on this disappearing 9 patch quilt top.  The first one is a feathered star with a cross-hatched centre.  There were so many fabrics in this scrappy quilt that it was difficult to choose a thread that would show.

The second stencil was a feathered wreath with a cross hatched centre.  I chose a bright yellow King Tut thread from Superior for the quilting.

 
I used a variegated green thread to stitched undulating feathered hooks around the final border.  This is my "go to" pattern for borders......

The quilting shows up well on the plain backing fabric.

We are heading north to Coe Hill on Thursday to deliver the quilt, and have a visit over lunch.  The quilt will be given as a wedding gift on Saturday!

Tonight I'm attending my quilt guild's executive meeting.  I have volunteered to take charge of our guild's website for the next while.  It is something I can do whether I'm home, or down south. 

 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Nothing used and nothing added this week.

Net used 2013  55.25 yards

 
I was trying to get my guild BOM version 2 quilt finished, but had to set it aside to finish a quilt for my sister-in-law.  I have 2 more blocks to quilt, then the outer border, add binding and label and get it delivered this week. 
I had a quiet Mother's Day, quilting, but both of our sons called!
Today is also DS2 and DDIL's first anniversary.  They received our card on Friday, and decided to have a weekend in Toronto, spending time together.
Check out the stash reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.  

FRIDAY HEXAGON REPORT

I decided to report my hexie progress each Friday.  DH and I catch up on our TV watching in the evenings, and I stitch the whole time.  My friends and family know that if I'm sitting, I'm stitching.

I took one of my last remaining Canadian pennies out of my wallet to show the size of each hexie - the flash made it shine!  It almost covers one hexagon.  I'm glad I like the fairy frost fabric, as I've been making tons of light blue hexagons to assemble the blocks into rows!

 This is my progress as of the morning of May 10.  The top row was assembled, then had a long join.  This time, I'm joining each unit as it is completed, and taking the papers out as I go along.  It helps to break up the different tasks.  Today, I'll be sewing more light blue hexies!

A NEW CHALLENGE

DH's sister and her husband came for a short visit yesterday.  She brought along a quilt top, batting, backing fabric and some for the binding.   She had made this disappearing 9-patch quilt over the winter (she takes quilting classes at her local community centre), but needs it finished quickly to be gifted as a wedding present.

This morning I cut strips and prepared the binding, then stitched the backing fabric together and pressed it well.  Now I'm in the process of pin basting.  With my small table, I have to move the quilt to baste the whole thing, and then roll it up to do the next areas.  I've found that this is a 2 person job, and DH is off helping some friends paint their dining room, living room, kitchen and bathroom today.  He spent Tuesday there as well, so I'll have to wait until he gets home tonight to roll and move the quilt so I can finish the pin-basting.
I use the time while I'm pin-basting, to think of different ways to quilt each project.  Some take more thinking than others!  I have 2 stencils that I may use in alternate blocks.  The next problem will be to find a thread that shows well against all the different colours!
I must say I enjoy each challenge.....

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've been busy beginning the quilting on my guild's BOM quilt, version 2.  I'm trying to get at much finished as possible, as I have a rush project arriving on Wednesday.

My sister-in-law called, asking me to machine quilt a top that she had finished.  She needs it for a wedding gift in a couple of weeks, and didn't feel that she could get it done in time.  They have to take their vehicle in for service nearby, so they are coming for lunch on Wednesday, and dropping off the quilt top, backing and batting.  We'll send her home with birthday gifts for 2 of her grandsons - a fair trade!

 You may remember that I was working on "A Christmas Wish", a free BOM quilt from Red Brolly last year.  I had the two main panels completed, and took the rest south to complete.  Unfortunately, I mis-read the instructions, and didn't cut enough pieces, and of course, the fabric was north in my sewing room.
I had a bit of spare time after finishing the other guild BOM quilt, and managed to finish the remaining sections.  Now all I have to do is stitch them together, add the final border and piece the backing.  This is another project to use my huge collection of Christmas fabrics.  I have banned myself from buying any more Christmas fabric until my stash is mostly used, and even then - only for a specific project!!!!!
Check out all the creativity linked to Judy's blog today! 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  7.75 yards

Fabric used year to date  90.75 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  35.5 yards

Net used 2013  55.25 yards

I finished the quilting on my guild's BOM quilt project version 1 this week!!!  The projects are due at our next meeting on 5 June, and I've heard that there will be prizes!!

Of course, I used my favourite hooked feathers for the large final border.  The stitching was done with a Sulky cotton variegated thread called Pansy, with pinks, yellows, greens and light purple - soft colours that suited the quilt.

  Fortunately for me, DH has long arms and was able to hold this quilt by himself.  The light was coming in the patio door, but it does highlight the quilting!

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see how everyone's stash usage fared this week.

FINALLY MADE IT TO MY GUILD MEETING

I miss two things when we head south each winter.  First, I miss seeing my family.  Second, I miss all the fun at my quilt guild.

Last night our guest speaker was Susan Purney Mark.  She kept us entertained with tales of her many quilting adventures.  She also brought lovely quilts and fabric for everyone to see and feel.  I had already made a quilt from one of her books, Accent on Angles,  so I didn't sign up for the full day workshop today.  Of course, I forgot my camera again!!!!
There were many quilts displayed for show and tell, and a local Brownie group attended the meeting to show the quilts made from blocks that they had designed and made.  The finished quilts were donated to our guild's community quilts program, to be given to those in need.
I enjoyed seeing all the familiar faces, and hope to spend next Tuesday at the community quilts work day and pot luck lunch!

I am busy machine quilting BOM quilt version 1.

  I've done all the straight line quilting, and I'm working on the light background areas next.  I often quilt all the areas of one colour at the same time.  I guess I find it easier than changing threads and adjust tensions.  I usually begin with the area that I already have a quilting plan for, and it gives me time to think of a design for the rest of the quilt.  I need to get both of my BOM's quilted so I can show them at the June spring dinner meeting!
I've also been working on my hexie project.  I have the units finished for the next two rows, and now I am adding background hexies, (pale blue Fairy Frost fabric), to each, then sewing them to their neighbour.  These rows have larger units, so I only have to make 8 per row.  I'm also taking out the papers to recycle them into more basted hexies. 

 I'm getting more accomplished than I thought, but that is due to my sore knee - I've been doing less stair climbing, and more sitting! (not really a good thing).    

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  14.75 yards

Fabric used year to date  83 yards

Fabric added this week   0 yards

Fabric added year to date  35.5 yards

Net used 2013  47.5 yards

As I reported earlier this week, I finished a quilt (finally) that I made totally from my stash!  Pattern was in an older Quiltmaker magazine, and was called Daisy Pops.  Mine, due to fabric choices, looks nothing like the original!  You can find the post, with pictures of the quilt here! 

My other sewing this week was finishing tote bags for "Every Child Counts", but the only thing I contributed was thread and sewing time!

I gave my daughter-in-law a sewing machine this weekend, so we spent most of this morning giving her a "tour", trying all the features etc.  Her previous experience sewing was done on a hand crank machine.  Her family came from Russia when she was a young teen, and these were common for home sewing.  Her mother ordered a new one, made by Singer shortly after they arrived  in Canada.  It has a beautiful wood case, and lovely gold decals, but she finds it hard to coordinate the right and left hands.

She tried many of the stitches, made 3 different buttonholes and even sewed on a button, just to see how the different jobs were accomplished.  The machine came with a walking and free motion quilting feet, and although she isn't a quilter, you never know.........

Since she wanted to try all the different feet, she tried both.  She managed to stitch a petalled flower, a leaf with veins, and a bee on her first try at free motion!  She reallly has to be a quilter!!!!

DH and I have enjoyed having her and our two sons for the weekend.  My guys like to play lots of different board games - the more complex the rules, the better they like it!  Its great to hear them laugh, and tease each other while they enjoy their time together.

Head over to Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see how other's have fared on their stash reports for this week.   

GOOD NEWS THURSDAY

Our two sons and one daughter-in-law are arriving tonight, and staying until Sunday!
I love when they visit.  The guys put all the leaves in my table and set up board games, laughing, and teasing each other the whole time.  I love having time to get to know my newest daughter-in-law!

I've been cooking and baking - cooked ribs yesterday, and they'll be reheated tomorrow.  Tonight I'm making pizza - one traditional and one Alfredo with chicken, along with a salad.  I also made a large snack cake, as well as stocking up on fruit - apples, oranges, grapes, bananas and blueberries.  Have to have some healthy options!

I finished the 3 remaining tote bags for "Every Child Counts", and I'm making a small purse/wallet to test the pattern.  Probably won't get much done once the gang arrives....I can hardly wait.

Check out other good news at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.   

FINALLY.....A FINISH!

I put the final quilting stitches in one of the quilts that travelled north, pin-basted.

The pattern was from a Quiltmaker magazine at least 2 or 3 years old.  Two years ago, I made a kit from my stash but ran out of time to make it.  It finally arrived at the finished mark this winter. 

I found the technique for some of the units to be easy, but very wasteful, so if I made this pattern again, I'd find alternate methods.

I inherited some stencils a couple of years ago.  This one was too large for the block, but I just omitted the last feather on four of the swirl arms, and it fit just fine.  I stitched it in a variegated rose thread on the yellow blocks, and a variegated gold thread on the dark green ones.

 The border quilting is difficult to see, but there is a rose in each corner, and zig-zag leaves in the centre of each long border.

I made a pieced back for this quilt, using leftover fabrics, and managed to add 14.75 yards of fabric to my "used from stash" report for next Sunday! 
 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Yesterday I was assembling tote bags for ECC.  The coordinator of the group had quilted two decor fabrics together, and she wanted bags made with the yellow print on the outside.  There was extra blue print for binding, handles etc.  I managed to finish one, and cut out and began the assembly of 3 more.

I've also been adding the rest of the quilting on one of the quilts that came home partly finished.  More to come on that one....

This is the first row of my hexie quilt to be finished.  It still needs the burgundy border row added to each end, but I have to press the fabric after its time in the washer and dryer.

 Some of the fabrics that I'm using came from my 1 1/2 inch strip bin, so I have limited amounts.  These petal units needed 24 hexies the same, so I made some with the limited fabrics before heading on to smaller units.

The next row is made of these star units.  I need 8 for each of the 2 rows, so I'm gradually working my way through the already basted units.  All the units in the interior of the quilt use the same mauve print in the center, and although the background looks whitish, it is really a pale blue fairy frost fabric!  There are two more background fabrics used, with one only used on the outer edges of the borders.

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

 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  68.25 yards

Fabric added this week  2.25 yards

Fabric added year to date  35.5 yards

Net used 2013  32.75 yards

I still haven't finished either of the pin-basted quilts that I brought north.  I'm working on one......but slowly.

I finished quilting my BFF's baby quilt.  She wanted simple quilting, mostly in the ditch, but I added a bow design in the final border, to mimic the bow fabric that is part of the quilt.   Most of the fabric in this quilt was donated by members of her church.

The fabric added was for my hexagon project.  I needed a large piece of a dark burgundy to form the border, and I knew that I wouldn't have any one piece that would fill the bill.  I also picked up two small prints, one in red and one in a rose colour to add to the project.  The original pattern called for 16 different coloured fabrics, along with 3 backgrounds, and one border.  I've finished assembling one row, and I'm working on the blocks for the next one.

Today I'm off to join a charity sewing group that meets once a month.  This is a new group to me,  and the local quilt shop offered their classroom, so more sewers could attend.  I'll report on the sewing and fun tomorrow! 

Check out the ups and downs of stash at Judy's blog here!

GOOD NEWS THURSDAY

My BFF came for a visit yesterday afternoon, and we basted two baby quilts!  She is finishing one, and I offered to quilt the second.   They will be gifts for a family at her church.  We finished our visit with a cup of tea, a cookie and some conversation.

I finally finished organizing my sewing room, finding homes for all the fabrics, some new and some returning, and I hope to get some sewing done today!

After months of struggling with a sore knee, I'll be seeing my doctor this afternoon.  DH called and the previous caller had cancelled their appointment, so I'll be seeing my doctor 2 weeks earlier.  My knee was manageable when we were south, as we live in a bungalow, with only 2 steps to worry about.  Our northern home is a townhouse with 3 levels, and I never realized how many times I go up and down the stairs in one day!

I'VE BEEN AWOL

We had an uneventful trip north.  We did stop in to visit Wilson's quilt shop in Hagerstown Maryland, so I'll have to report my small fabric purchases next Sunday.

We were greeted with an ice storm 2 days after our return, but we didn't have any high winds in our area, so not too many broken branches and power outages.  I took this picture through the window, and you can see the reflection of a lamp!

Last Saturday we packed up again, drove to Toronto and had lunch with DS1 & DDIL - managed to get caught up on all their news before heading north.  We checked into our motel in Orillia ON, then proceeded to Coldwater to help a dear friend celebrate his 60th birthday and retirement after 38 years in the Canadian Armed Forces!  Lots of family and friends made the celebration spectacular.  Since all the ice had melted, Mother Nature decided to add a bit of snow our way on the way back to the motel!
 
Sunday we headed to Kitchener ON to visit DS2 & DDIL, staying overnight.  They are doing some house hunting, so we checked out 3 homes that were having an open house.  They aren't ready to buy yet - still saving their down payment, but they are doing lots of research so they will be knowledgeable buyers.  They hope to find a home to last them a very long time!

Monday morning we headed back home, and we've spent today getting caught up on filing, banking, more grocery shopping, and shopping for a birthday present for a great-nephew.
  

The only quilting that has been happening is basting half-inch hexagons.  I pieced together some small medallions from the basted pieces made on the trip north, and spent the driving time during the past weekend basting more!  I think this will be continuing for a long, long, long time.  Hopefully I'll get to spend some time in my sewing room tomorrow (but only if DH doesn't decided to do our taxes, due April 30th)!    

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  12.25 yards

Fabric used year to date  68.25 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  33.25 yards

Net used 2013  35 yards

I managed to finish the quilting and binding on the 2 smallest quilts of the four that I had pin-basted.  I quilted in the morning and packed in the afternoons!  Pictures of the quilts, Noah's Ark and Paddington Bear are found by clicking the "Quilts 2013" link that is under the banner on my blog!

I also did basic stitch-in-the-ditch quilting on the next largest quilt, and added the binding, and quilted the borders on my version of Dawn & Dusk, and added the binding to it as well.  Quilts are much easier to pack when they have finished edges!

I still have one more bin to load, then decide how I'm going to pack the finished quilts.  We also have to pack clothing and our stuff for the trip north.  Our "motel" bag, my computer, my activity bag (books, sewing projects etc.,) and the cooler will be packed in the morning before we do our final walk through of the house.  DH made a "closing the house" checklist for friends and family who had used the place for vacations in years past, and it works well for us as well.  This prevents thoughts of items forgotten when we are several hours away!

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

I AM THANKFUL

for a wonderful group of women who meet with me every Wednesday from November until April to share our quilting addiction!

for my DH who takes such good care of me, and encourages me in everything I do.

for my family, who I will visit soon!

for a rainy day, so I don't mind staying inside and packing!

FINAL QUILTING DAY

Today was our final quilting day for this season.  Lots of farewells, and questions about when everyone was heading north.  Some of the group stay year round, and others go north to visit family for a month or so, then return home.

These are a few items that were finished this winter.....

There were still lots of projects being finished, and many questions asked before we all said farewell until the fall.  I keep in touch with everyone over the summer, sending interesting website links, etc., and hopefully some plans for quilts for next season.  Many have huge stashes at their northern homes, so like to choose fabric for winter projects.  I usually make up "kits" of projects that I plan to work on, and also make a shopping list of needed "go with" fabrics, so I can shop on the trip south if necessary (and it is always necessary!)

I did the basic quilting on pin-basted quilt #3 yesterday, then added the binding last night.  I'll add more quilting when I return north.  That left only my big "Dusk to Dawn" quilt, so I decided to quilt the borders and add the binding to it as well.  I was on the last round of stitching when I realized that it was time to head to quilting, and it was too hot and humid to continue when I arrived home.  I'll have to complete it tomorrow! 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I finished both quilt tops for my guild's BOM challenge.  Instead of just making blocks each month, the two conveners decided to design 2 quilt tops.  They are in the medallion style, with one having lots of paper piecing, and being a bit more difficult than the other.

Mine finished close to 70 inches square.  I chose this colourway, as part my personal challenge was to make it totally from my stash, and I had enough of all the colours.  I'm hoping to have it quilted to show at the June meeting.

This is version 2.  Once again, it had to be made completely from my stash!  The centre block is paper pieced, but I chose to use traditional piecing for the "square in a square" blocks.  The final "woven" border was also to be paper pieced, but rather than use 40 sheets of paper, I printed one copy, then made paper templates to tape on the back of my ruler for those unusual cuts.  All of the pieces were cut from strips, with the background shapes just using one template, one for the diagonal piece, and one for the small triangles.  They were irregular angles, so the paper template method worked great.

Sunday, I managed to machine quilt 2 of the smaller quilts waiting in the wings, and added the binding to both.  I also packed a small duffle bag full of leftover fabric from finished projects.  Since DH doesn't need my sewing room to store all the train buildings, bridges and accessories this year, I'm still able to sew a bit then pack a bit each day.

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times for creative inspiration from many wonderful quilters.