DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I spent the day yesterday, glued to the computer.  I had banking to do, bills to pay, then I spent lots of time looking at potential patterns to use with the alpaca yarn from our cousins.  I also got caught up on laundry, and recuperated from 2 family reunions with too much good food!

Today I found fabric for the borders for my hydrangea project.  The narrow border has gold metallic, white and gray squares on black, and the outer border is black with a dark gray swirl.  I mitered the corners, and hope it will look like a picture frame when it is completed.  I decided to add a layer of thin batting behind the flowers and vase, to add a trapunto area to the wall hanging.  Now I have to dig through my thread bins to find as many shades of pink and green for the machine quilting/embellishment.

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  143.25 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  36 yards

Net used 2014   107.25 yards

I don't know where the past two weeks have gone!  Of course, preparing food and attending 2 family reunions does take its toll.

My family met in Brampton ON last weekend, and DH's family met in Tweed yesterday - both were great fun, meeting new family members, including some tiny ones, and getting caught up with everyone, plus the added bonus of 2 wonderful meals with tons of fantastic homemade food!

The cousins who hosted the Tweed reunion, raise alpacas.  The happened to mention that they have difficulty finding knitters to make up small projects using their yarn, so, of course, DH offered my services!  I came home with 9 hanks of wonderful alpaca yarn, so I'll be digging out my knitting needles and spending some time on Ravelry looking for interesting hat, shawl, and other patterns that use single hanks to make!  Now my next applique project will be postponed until the fall - but I don't mind.  I love to keep all the skills my Mother taught me in good practice, and knitting is one I don't often do - I seldom wear shawls, hats, sweaters, as I'm always to warm - I think my personal thermostat is always turned towards the "high" side!

My report is going to continue to have very little progress, (although I do intend to complete my latest paper pieced hexagon project soon), as I brought home 4 more community quilts to machine quilt.  Lots of my guild members donate their time to complete tops, but few enjoy the machine quilting challenge.  I was asked not to sew on the binding, as we do have some members who will do that, and some who love to hand sew the binding down, and add the label.  I think I'm going to be well practiced in machine quilting by the end of the summer!

Head over to Patchwork Times to see how others' stash is shrinking/growing.....

TOP COMPLETED....

Minus the borders! 

 Now I'm looking forward to some fun machine quilting, to add a bit more definition to the flowers and leaves!

I made some changes in the colour placements as I went along.  I spent much of this morning carefully removing 4 hexagons and replacing them with slightly different colours of fabric, mostly in the "table" area, due to a lack of choice in my stash.
The pattern is found at The Inbox Jaunt.  It was challenging, but fun to make!  Thanks Lori and Peggy - your great photography and interesting interpretation are much appreciated!

GETTING THERE.......

Good progress yesterday.  DH was out all day, so I just stitched!

When I first began this project, it just looked like blobs of colour, but now I can see the picture appearing.

Today is provincial election day in Ontario, so I hope everyone takes time to vote.  DH and I headed to the polls this morning, followed by a trip to the bank, then the grocery store, and my morning is over already!

Hopefully I'll get back to stitching this afternoon!  Thanks to Lori at The Inbox Jaunt, the link to the pattern is here.  

A BIT MORE PROGRESS

I'm working on the machine pieced hexagon project today.  I can't believe how long it takes.....

(pattern available here )

These are my fabric choices.  The dark fabric at the bottom left is actually a dark green with pin dots, used in the wall area.  The left row also has the window and window frame fabric and all the floor fabric.  The middle row has the vase fabric (bottom 3), then the leaf fabrics, and of course, the rest are for use in the hydrangea petals.
I've been removing paper as I go, and usually only work on one hexagon at a time.  I considered piecing them all, but even though the pattern is very well labelled, I didn't want to make a mistake when piecing.  After looking at the original photo, I decided to mark all the "table" pieces with the wood grain going in the same direction.  I don't know if it will make a difference in the finished quilt, but I'm enjoying the challenge.  I also decided how I want to press the seam allowances so it will lay flat when completed.  I'll probably be adding some thread painting and of course machine quilting when it is complete, so I want the surface to be as smooth as possible.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

In mid-May, Lori Kennedy of The Inbox Jaunt, shared a paper piecing pattern.  Peggy Riemer had used one of Lori's wonderful photographs, and turned it into a paper piecing pattern to share.  The most intriguing thing, was that it was designed in hexagons!
I downloaded the pattern, and knew that I'd have to try this project right away.
I printed all the pages, cut out the hexagon units (some needed to be glued together, and pinned them on my design wall.
I am following the piecing sequence page carefully, and I decided to stitch all the hexagons together by machine.  Of course, I had to add each one as it is completed, and I've been removing the papers once each section is fully surrounded.
The biggest challenge was to choose fabrics.  I used the photo for colour cues, but since I have more "prints" than solids, hand-dyes or batiks in my stash, I'm anxious to see how it will look when it is finished.

This is a closer look at the back so far.  I realized very quickly, that I can't work on this at the end of the day - it needs lots of concentration to assure that the correct fabric is placed in each location, and to do the precision piecing required to sew the hexagons accurately by machine.  Good thing I love a challenge.   I decided that I won't share the front side until it is completed - right now it looks like coloured blotches!

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 13.375 yards

Fabric used year to date  143.25 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  36 yards

Net used 2014  107.25 yards

 I can't believe I broke the 100 yard mark!  I've been forcing myself to use what I have and not shop....  Lots of internet sales lately, but shipping to Canada + tax + duty makes the attraction of the sale price much less appealing.

I finished the Log Cabin for Alex this week, and was able to take it to my guild meeting on Wednesday for show and tell. 

Our June meeting was wonderful - a lovely dinner, catered by the executive, and our guest speaker, Gail Garber was wonderful.  Her slide show of her home state of New Mexico made everyone want to visit, and her quilts were spectacular!  I'm sorry I wasn't able to attend the 2 day workshop, but I'm looking forward to seeing all the projects that she inspired in those who did attend.

We're off to my family's reunion today.  My Dad was one of 11 surviving children.  All I have to say is that it is good that all of the descendants didn't follow in their ancestors' footsteps, or we'd have too many to manage a get-together!

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I'm trying to finish quilting my log cabin scrap quilt, but life keeps interrupting!

I'm using my go-to feathers, using the "Hooked on Feathers" method.  This time I filled in the wonky stem areas with circles.  Still a work in progress!

I still have to quilt the "light" areas, and the four different borders.  Have to get my thinking cap on and figure out my next steps....

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  129.875 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  36 yards

Net used 2014  93.875 yards

 

Boring, boring, boring!  My numbers just aren't changing!

I've been spending my time machine quilting, mostly for others.  I have been working on my latest log cabin quilt, so hopefully, I'll get it completed by next week and be able to start a new project or two!

Head over to Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see all the reports this week.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I have an empty design wall today!  Too much machine quilting!

I'm still working on my friend's quilt, just trying to decide what to stitch in two areas of the quilt - the final outside border, and some neutral large rectangles used as spacers between the blocks.  I'm sure something will come to me....  She doesn't want it too heavily quilted, so I'm being careful not to "over quilt".  I'm glad that I don't quilt for others, and that this is a special task for a good friend.

We finally managed to plant some of our garden - 4 tomato plants, some herbs and two large flowering planters at our front entrance.  Between the cold weather and rain, it has been hard to find time to plant.  My irises are just beginning to bloom!  Now I have to hunt for a few annuals to fill in some areas in my tiny garden.

Check out the design walls at Judy' blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  .75 yards

Fabric used year to date  129.875 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  36 yards

Net used 2014  93.875 yards

My only usage this week was for binding on a community quilt for my guild.  Hopefully I'll do better next week.

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

QUILTING, BUT NOT FROM MY STASH!

This week has been spent machine quilting 3 quilts for my guild's community quilts program.  I helped with pin-basting these, along with many others at our monthly workshop.  I did use some fabric to bind one......
The plastic bag holds all the pins from the quilts, ready to return and be used again.  Now they just need labels.

This is my next quilting project.  I don't machine quilt for others, but offered to help a friend.  She did all the stitch-in-the-ditch quilting.  The quilt is a Joann's Fabric BOM kit from 2008, called Desert Sky.  She managed to find all the block kits on sale at the end of the season, and was able to find the rest of the yardage to complete the quilt. The kit included pre-cut pieces, and since she is a beginner, this worked well, and she said she learned a lot about construction doing this project.  She wants it quilted using the suggested designs - very simple.  The colours of this quilt are wonderful, and I'm sure she and her DH will love having this on their bed soon!  I spent some time auditioning threads to use - I want them to show, but not to be too showy.  I guess I better get stitching!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing new on my design wall.  I'm machine quilting some quilts for my guild's community quilt project.  The first one is a quilt top that was donated.  I had fun quilting in the plain blocks that surround each star.

This one was made as a "thread saver" or "leader and ender" project.  The squares were sewn while stitching other projects.  Bonnie Hunter of  Quiltville has an episode on The Quilt Show about scrappy quilting.

We're having friends drop in this afternoon on their way home after visiting their daughter, so I have to get some goodies lined up to go with tea.

Head over to Judy's blog, Patchwork Times to see others' design walls this week.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  129.125 yards

Fabric added this week  7.5 yards

Fabric added year to date  36 yards

Net used 2014  93.125 yards

I did complete the log cabin top, but won't mark the fabric as "used" until the quilt is completed.

Next winter, my group in the south will be working on a mystery quilt, so my new yardage is the fabrics chosen for the project.  We need a dark and medium fabric of colour 1, a medium of colour 2, an accent colour, and a background neutral, either white or cream, depending on your other fabrics.  Since I was ordering some batting, these fabrics jumped into the box as well.

It is all washed and folded, ready to begin!

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

A BUSY WEEK

I've spent lots of time sewing log cabin blocks, hunting for strips the right colours, then finding fabric for borders - all from my stash!  While I was rummaging through my brown/rust pile, I decided to re-fold the fabrics, and I also took the time to organize them by value, from darkest at the bottom to the lightest at the top.  Since I had them all out to find pieces large enough for the borders, it seemed to make sense to reorganize it.

Tuesday was spent at the community quilts workshop.  One of the members is lucky enough to dedicate the entire basement of her bungalow to quilting, so there was lots of room for 12 quilters to work.  She also stores all our donated supplies, and her DH makes a pot of soup for each monthly work day, to add to all the pot luck goodies that everyone brings.  Three of us pin-basted 9 quilts, trying to make a dent in the many tops that are completed by our guild members.  We had a visit from the organizer of the "Hugs" program at our local hospital, and she left with a huge bag of baby quilts for the program, and some to be sold in the gift shop, with the money going to the program for other items.  I brought home 3 basted quilts to finish in time for next month's meeting. 

Wednesday there was a food bank drive, so I dropped DH off at our friend's home, and they went door-to-door, collecting donations.  Then I headed off to the monthly meeting for our next quilt show.
Quilts Kingston 2015 is next June - Friday to Sunday, 12th-14.  Our show is hosted by both guilds in Kingston, so we have a fairly large committee!  We had some lively discussions, but things are moving along nicely.  The above link will take you to our official website, and our publicity convener will also be providing updates on the Quilts Kingston 2015 blog.

 Weekends mean laundry and baking - since we are charged different rates for electricity at different times of day, most of my dryer and oven use is saved for weekend, which are charged at the lower rate.  DH started the laundry, and I'm getting some "oven" style meals planned, and I have to bake so I have some goodies for friends dropping by for tea, and to take to they guild executive meeting this week (we take turns bringing refreshments).  I've also started machine quilting the first quilt from Tuesday's outing. This one has some large, plain blocks - perfect for some quilting opportunities!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've been promising myself that I'd use some more of my scraps before beginning anything new.  I had planned to make a quilt for my DDIL2's nephew, and had asked what his favourite colour was, or what colour was in his room.  Of course, the anwer was brown and beige!

I dug into my orphan blocks and units bin, and found a collection of half-square triangle units in two shades of brown, so I decided to make some log cabin blocks, using the units as the centre of each block.  I am using scrap 1 1/2 inch strips in brown, rust, and a few green, along with light beige, tan and cream.

So far, I have completed 3 rounds, and the blocks are 8 inches unfinished.  I plan to add 2 or 3 more rounds before decided on a block setting.

 This is a closer look at four of the blocks.  I'm trying to make some creative choices that will hopefully suit a young man!

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  13.875 yards

Fabric used year to date  129.125 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  28.5 yards

Net used 2014  100.625 yards

This week I completed 2 flannel baby quilts, 2 sets of placemats and a "snap bag".

I used the "waste" cut off ends of the strip sets from the table runner that I showed here.   I stitched them into an "X" block, and used them as the main fabric in the bag.  The bag finished 6 x 8 inches.

I decided to quilt different designs in each of the plain triangles.

One side has clamshells and continuous square shapes, and the other has a large half-flower and some swirls.  I made 2 prairie point triangles to use as the pulls to open the bag.

The bag has 2 strips of steel measuring tape in the top to hold it closed.  The top border fabric also forms the lining.

I'm happy that I used the leftovers right away, as I have 2 large containers of leftover blocks, and units that seem to be growing.  Since I've tackled my flannel leftovers, my next goal is to use more of the orphan blocks and units......

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

 

A QUICK FINISH

In April, as my guild's President's challenge, the members made spring themed place mats to be give to the Victorian Order of Nurses, for delivery to their "Meals on Wheels" program.  

It was so much fun that instead of making blocks for community quilts, as has been done for the past few years, our summer project will be to make autumn themed place mats.  Since I never know what tomorrow may bring, I just finished 2 sets.....

 I'm not sure where the pattern came from, as it has been passed along between friends, but it starts with 4 coordinating fat quarters for the tops.  I kept the quilting simple and minimal, so the fabric could speak for itself.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing on my design wall - I just finished sewing the binding on two more flannel quilts, ready for donation to my guild's community quilts program!
 
Once again, I used one of Bonnie Hunter's patterns from Quiltville.com, called
Hidden Spools.
 

 It is made with "light and dark" 2 inch strips, and although the finished blocks have bias edges, it is a quick way to use leftovers.  I made several strip sets, and found out I had more than I needed for the first quilt, so I made a second smaller one.

In among the flannel scraps were some leftover pieces from previous "use it up" patterns, so I stitched them together to make the pieced borders for each quilt.  Both have a cotton backing fabric.  One of the previous ones I made was flannel on top and back, and I thought it was a bit heavy for a baby.


Head over to Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see all this week's creativity!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 0 yards

Fabric used year to date  115.25 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  28.5 yards

Net fabric used 2014  86.75 yards

Nothing completed this week, although I have 2 more scrappy flannel quilts in the works, just waiting to be quilted!

I've spent the week catching up on some chores around the house, finishing some cross-stitch Christmas ornaments for my friends' church sale in the fall (I make things when I have time), looking through some quilt books for inspiration for some up-coming projects, visiting with friends, etc.

After stitching each pattern, I "fringed" the edges, then mounted each on felt, trimming the felt with a pinking blade.  The hangers are made of a sparkly silver yarn that was leftover from a long ago knitting project.

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