DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing on my wall, except orphan blocks.  I finished all the "B" blocks yesterday, and stitched part of the first rows together before DH returned home and needed my assistance.



We are having our second day of rain this week - more than we need!  Lake Ontario is overflowing its banks, docks are under water, picnic tables are floating!  A friend went out in a boat and sailed down the St. Lawrence river a ways, taking pictures of all their normal docking places - almost all closed and underwater!  I wish we could share our abundance of water to places that are in serious drought!

My garden is green, and the irises are blooming, but they don't like the steady rain any more that I do....

The good thing about a rainy day is that it is good for quilting time.

Check out what others are working on at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 0 yards

Fabric used year to date  72.375 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  21.375 yards

 

Lots of sewing this week, but no finishes yet!  I have 2 loaves of oatmeal bread rising in pans, and 2 loaves of white bread on its first rise this morning.  We also had a nice Skype chat with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson.  They've been busy in the garden all week, and have some of their veggie garden planted.  They'll be out shopping for more plants again this afternoon, after nap-time.

They are still re-working some of the established garden beds, removing plants that they don't like, and replacing with things they do.  They love plants that provide food, so they planted an Italian prune plum tree this spring, and plan on planting some fruiting bushes in the corner that used to be taken by the large tree that nature removed.  This year, they are adding compost and nutrients to the soil in that area, so it will be ready for its new plants next spring.

We have a busy week planned, with a night at the theatre on Tuesday, and a graduation dinner for our friends' daughter on Wednesday.  She is receiving an engineering degree from Queen's University in Kingston.  DH and his friend also have 3 performances at local nursing homes this week as well, so I hope to get the alternate blocks for my quilt project completed this week.

IRISH CHAIN PROGRESS

I've been busy stitching this week.  I had a stack of 4-patch blocks completed, but had to make lots more to complete the 60 "Block A" units.







Today I cut all the "white" units to make "Block B" units.  These are much easier, but I have to stitch a dark square to both ends of 120 "white" strips.  I have my bin of dark squares, waiting to go! 


That will have to wait for later - I promised DH that I would make a dessert for dinner tonight.  I think an Apple Crisp is in our future!   I also need to bake bread tomorrow, so I'll be able to sew while waiting for the dough to rise.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

We received great news yesterday.  The eldest daughter of our dear friends is getting married on September 2nd!  We have know the bride since she was a year old, along with her middle sister who graduates with an engineering degree next week, and her brother, who is our Godson!  This will be quite the year for this family, and we're happy to be asked to share their celebrations.  Of coarse, I spent the evening coming up with a plan for a quilt for her and her husband to be!  

When looking through my orphan blocks, I found these six blocks, leftover from a double Irish chain quilt that I made a few years ago.

I also had a stack of 4-patch blocks that I made as "leaders and enders" during the winter.  Using these, along with 2-patch units with a light fabric and a centre dark square,  I'll have the blocks made in no time!  I have already pulled an assortment of light fabrics for the alternate blocks as well.  I want to have lots of time to concentrate on the quilting of this special quilt. 

I'm joining others at a new "design wall Monday" link-up today, at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

STASH REPORT

Fabric used this week 1 yard

Fabric used year to date  72.375 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  21.375 yards

I decided to keep reporting my used fabric, even though Judy has stopped hosting the weekly stash report.  I enjoy seeing how I'm doing, and keeping track of finished projects.

My "used fabric" this week was making bindings for 3 of the 4 quilts I've been machine quilting for my guild's community quilts group.  The quilts will be donated to various places in our community.

I just received news that our Godson's eldest sister will be married on September 2.  She is a lovely young woman who we've watched grow up.  Now I have to get myself in gear and decide what type of quilt to make, and get busy!

DH and I went to the garden centre yesterday, and picked up some red and white geraniums for our front planters, especially to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday this year!  We also picked up two cherry tomato plants and a  variety of herbs to grow on our patio.  We've given up planting in our small garden, as the bunnies and babies, along with the chipmunk and squirrel families eat the seedlings as fast as they break through the soil, and even dig up and eat the seeds.  We live in a garden home community, and people insist on feeding all the wildlife, so we are becoming overrun!

We skyped with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson this morning.  Our little one has become reluctant to go to bed lately, and hides.  They've been using the Paw Patrol pajamas that I made, to lure him out, and get him ready for sleep!  Now I'm going to have to look for more PJ fabric.....

 

 

MACHINE QUILTING

I attended my guild's community quilts work day last week.  There was a stack of quilt tops waiting for quilting, as usual.  We found backings, and pin-basted 8 quilts of varying sizes, as well as sewing labels on quilts ready to be distributed, sorted donation fabric, checked the binding that someone had made and donated as well.  I brought 4 quilts of varying sizes home with me to finish.
 
The first quilt was made from a small, square panel, and had multiple borders added.  I quilted swirls in one half of each square, and a stylized flower in the other half.

The blue fabric at the top of the picture was part of the centre, and there were 4 more borders added.  I had fun stitching a different motif in each border, and used variegated thread on the final border.

The second quilt I've been working on had "stack n slash" nine patch blocks, made from bright colourful kid's prints.  I looped back and forth, changing direction in each square. 

I stitched green leaves in the sashing between the blocks.  There is still one more border to quilt on this quilt before I start on number 3.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 1.75 yards

Fabric used year to date  71.375 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  20.375 yards

Our grandson, age 27 months, loves Paw Patrol.  I found some fabric, and made him a pillowcase.  

He likes to help Mom and Dad in the kitchen, so I also made him his own apron.

I think he'll like wearing it, as both parents wear aprons in the kitchen.

I attended my community quilts group on Tuesday, and we pin-basted quilts all day!  I brought home 4 to quilt, add binding and labels.  As usual, we had a delicious potluck lunch, with our hostess' husband making a large pot of chicken soup !

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

ON THE NEEDLES MAY 12

I sometimes knit for our cousins, who raise alpacas.  I saved one skein of brown yarn, called Casino after the first baby born to their herd.  I wanted to try making a beaded shawlette, but had difficulty finding the correct size beads locally.

I managed to find some in an assortment of copper colours during our winter in the south.

 The mixture had matte copper beads, along with 4 different colour of glass beads with copper interiors.  I had a small crochet hook in my collection that was the perfect size to add the beads to the stitches as I knit.

It was difficult to photograph to show the beads, but it looks great in person....
See what others are knitting at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY 7 MAY 2017

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  69.625 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  18.625 yards

We've been home for a month, and my report hasn't changed at all!

We seem to take longer each year to get back into the groove.....

We've had lots of rain since we returned, and there is some localized flooding, but not near our home, so far.  Lake Ontario has an extremely high water level, and many docks and waterside properties are flooded as well.  The damp weather, along with our return to a home with stairs has been playing havoc with my knee.

We've had 2 trips to spend time with our grandson, and will be returning next weekend again - our younger son and daughter-in-law are celebrating their 5th anniversary.  We plan to send them out for some together time.  They had a huge fir tree uprooted in their yard during a late winter storm.  Most of it fell into the neighbour's yard, but the uprooted stump remained in theirs.  DH has been trying to dig it out, and cut off as many parts as he could, but finally had to give up - it is just too large.  Our son had a company come and give him an estimate for grinding the stump, and since the 5th anniversary is "wood", we offered to pay for the work....

I attended my guild meeting on Wednesday - great to see lots of familiar faces.  I sat with 2 newish members and told them about several of the fun activities coming up.  We played "strip bingo" - the cost was 8 fabric strips @ 2 1/2 inches by WOF.  I was relieved when I didn't win - I have every inch of storage space packed, so I better get using some fabric!  I was handed two small quilts to complete for our community quilts project, and spent the last 2 days machine quilting, and attaching the binding and sewing on the label.  It gave me time to catch up on some of my favourite TV shows that have been waiting.

I've been working on a super scrappy quilt top, using lots of orphan blocks and small bonus half square triangle units.  It is super scrappy, even for me, but I'm sure it will keep someone warm when it is finished.

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  69.625 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  18.625 yards

I always have a slow start at my quilting when we return to our northern home.  My basement quilting room is much cooler than the rest of the house, and feels even colder after spending time in the sunny south.  We spent our first weekend home with our younger son and family, when our grandson learned to say Grandma and Grandad, and this weekend our older son came for a visit.  We enjoy getting caught up on all their news.   

I attended my guild executive meeting this past week, and got caught up on all the news.  We'll be having a quilt show in June 2018, so now I have to get busy making some items for the boutique.

Hopefully I'll get my quilting mojo restarted soon....

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

ON THE NEEDLES 21 APRIL

I've been settling back into my northern home, including my quilting area.  I'm still trying to find homes for all my new treasures, and have been continuing on my plan to use my cut strips to make room for more.  I hunted through a basket of leftover units and I've been stitching the smaller ones together into usable block.

In the evenings, I've been knitting - something I do from time to time.  I always wanted to try entrelac, and found an interesting pattern while net surfing.

I found a large ball of variegated yarn and started knitting.  These colours will go with my new winter coat that I bought in the fall.  I may have to wear it someday, so I thought I should be prepared!  I wish the colour change was a little longer, and I can't wait to get it blocked.....

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  2.875 yards

Fabric used year to date  69.625 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  18.625 yards

I completed another baby quilt made from a printed panel.  The backing is flannel with a train print - I've had it for a while, just waiting for the right project.

This will be my last report for a couple of weeks.  We'll be on the road north next week, then I'll be unpacking, restocking the larder, and hope to visit our grandson (and his parents) shortly after.  I wish we lived closer, but we don't want to move, and this allows them more time with my daughter-in-law's parents.  We'll make a few trips after we arrive home, then fewer over the summer, then a few more in the fall.  They may visit us when they take their holidays, and we hope to have our grandson stay for a week without the parental units!

DH and I managed two evening visits to Disney World this week.  Attended Fantasmic at the Studios, and Illuminations at Epcot.  That will be our final visit until the autumn.

My Wednesday quilting group shared several quilts this week, and were bringing all their questions to be answered, and problems to be solved.  For some it was the last quilting get-together of the season, and for others, there will be one more week.  I took lots of pictures, and shared them with the members.

We are getting together today, to share lunch with 3 other Canadian couples who were all posted to Tyndall AFB in Panama City FL at the same time.  My friend and neighbour is hosting the group.  She is cooking a turkey today, to serve cold for lunch tomorrow.  I made potato salad, 2 loaves of French bread, a chocolate coconut bundt cake, and raspberry coconut bars for dessert. Another friend is providing a salad, and the fourth will be making salmon dip to have with drinks before lunch.  We're all looking forward to catching up on all the news.

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  4 yards

Fabric used year to date  66.75 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  15.75 yards

My used fabric was for pillowcases.  Our sewing day made 223 pillowcases for area children's hospital.  The only other sewing I did was to cut the yardage for tablecloths for DS2's use at work.  I didn't add the fabric to my stash report, so I can't claim it as used.  I serged all the edges, then turned and top stitched the hems.  I was able to use the differential feed on my serger for the round cloths, just eased the fabric enough to turn and stitch with no puckers.

I've been baking this past week.  I made 4 loaves of whole wheat bread, 2 French loaves to take to a dinner party, and 4 loaves of cinnamon raisin, fruit bread.  Three of these were gifted to neighbours.  I wanted to use the fruit before packing up to head north.

Company is coming tonight.  We plan to go out for dinner, and I have made an apple crisp for dessert, to have with some vanilla frozen yogurt.

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

A SUCCESSFUL PILLOWCASE DAY

Our clubhouse began humming, as members of my quilting group and their friends and neighbours began to get set up early for our 2nd annual pillowcase day.  By 11am, we had 4 sergers, 10 sewing machines, and 10 non-sewing helpers ready to begin.

The Tampa Bay area coordinator for the Cases for Smiles charity came, loaded with lots of pre-cut pillowcase kits to add to the ones donated by our group.  She made sure everyone was busy, and supervised the non-sewing workers. 

 
They pinned the "kits" together and kept the machines humming along.  They also picked up the cases when each step was finished, and took them to those who were turning them, pressing them, and then delivered them back to those sewing to continue with the next step.  

The 4 sergers were kept busy, as we tried to complete each of the pillowcases.  Near the end of the day, we also had some finished using a French seam - one extra step.

We took a short break for a quick lunchtime snack, sharing some chocolates and bar cookies, then it was back to work!  The coordinator counted the finished pillowcases, and packed them into bags of 50.  By 3pm, we had completed 223 pillowcases, beating our record.

 We carried the heavy bags of completed pillowcases, along with the rest of the supplies to the coordinator's vehicle, then waved good-bye.  Everyone slowly packed up all their gear, and we straightened the clubhouse - putting chairs back and searching for forgotten items.  I'm sure everyone was tired, but thinking about all the children that will sleep on the pillowcases at the area's childrens hospitals kept a smile on everyone's faces.  

We're looking forward to doing this again next year.
 

MY LATEST FINISH

I finally talked DH into being a quilt holder, so I could get a picture.  He's been so busy lately - 6 band performances in the past week.  They've been visiting all the local nursing homes before the band members begin heading to their northern homes for the summer.

The block pattern was ladder star, from Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville, in her "Addicted to Scraps" column in Quiltmaker magazine.  I used the leftover half square triangle units, along with some 4-patch blocks, for the border.

I did basic quilting in the blocks, and had fun making swirls in the neutral borders.  I used a variegated King Tut thread from Superior, colour #921 Cleopatra  
It had Variegated Colors:LIME-RED-ORANGE-AQUA-PURPLE, which coordinated with the Egyptian fabric I used on the back and binding.

You can see a bit of the backing showing in this picture. 

My quilting group, along with several other volunteers from my southern community will be making pillowcases for Cases for Smiles tomorrow.  I got my serger out, oiled it, put in new needles, cleaned out all the lint, so I'll be ready to sew from 11-4.

Now off to pack up all my supplies......

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 13 yards

Fabric used year to date  62.75 yards

Fabric added this week  15.5 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  11.75 yards

I almost went into the red this week - totally not my fault!  My quilting group were out for our annual lunch and shopping trip on Wednesday.  The brought a card and a lovely gift of 62 fat quarters! It was a lovely surprise, but I had to hurry and finish my quilt to compensate for the huge influx of treasures!  Picture soon.....

  This week we are having a pillowcase sewing day for Cases for Smiles.  We hope to finish as many as we did last year.  We have lots of helpers, including some non-sewers, who press, pin, trim, fold and count the completed cases.

I hope to finish a couple more baby quilts before it is time to pack up and head to our northern home.  We always get so busy near the end of the season - lots of invitations to share meals with friends.

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

A SMALL QUILT DISPLAY

Last Sunday, our southern community had their annual Variety of Talents night.  In the past, it was purely a performance show, with singers, dancers, musicians etc.  This year the idea was to show other talents.  My quilting group was asked to set up a display, along with the Swedish weaving group, the wood carvers and both of the painting groups.  
The attendees were able to look at all the displays before the concert began.  My friend and I took the opportunity to share our love of quilting, let people know just what the group does, and advertise our annual pillowcase sewing day.

Of course, I forgot my camera, but a friend took a few pictures of the quilting display.  We placed chairs on top of a row of tables, and draped them with some larger quilts.  We also had smaller projects on tables in front, including runners, bags, pillowcases, etc.
It was fun to see some of the projects that we made this year, as well as a few from previous years.
A few people were disappointed to find out that nothing was for sale!  Unfortunately, I know what people are willing to pay for a quilt!  They don't know how much fabric costs, and want the labour for free.  Most of the people in my group quilt for family, friends and donate quilts to many different charities.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 7.125 yards

Fabric used year to date  49.75 yards

Fabric added this week  14 yards

Fabric added year to date  44.5 yards

Net used 2017  5.25 yards

My stats are up and down like a see-saw!  Another internet sale found me last week.  I didn't catch DH's cold and cough, but have been feeling just a bit stuffy, with little energy all week - I think that made me weak enough to be lured in by a sale!

I took pictures of my last two finishes this morning.....

 The row quilt uses a pattern by Lori Holt.  I added a border from Judy Laquidara's book, "60 Pieced  Quilt Borders".  It was a sew-along a couple of years ago.  Since I was determined to use my scraps this winter, I used lots of 5 in squares, 1 1/2 inch strips, and all the background fabric was cut from small pieces that had been hiding on my shelves for quite a while.  I did have to cut into some yardage for some of the larger pieces, and for the final gray border.

I was inspired by Nann's Ripple quilt shown here.  It uses 1 1/2 inch strips, so I pulled all my pre-cut full width strips, and was able to make a smaller quilt, only 5 x 6 blocks.  I even used leftover binding strips for both quilts too!

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 14 yards

Fabric used year to date  42.625 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  30.5 yards

Net used 2017  12.125 yards

Finally back in the black and hope to stay there!  I finished my row quilt, spending last night checking for missed thread tails.  I'll try to get a picture posted tomorrow.....

Our community is having a "Variety of Talents" show this evening.  I is usually musical, with some dancing.  This year they decided to showcase other art forms in a display for everyone to see before the performance shows.  The quilting group was asked to participate, along with the Swedish weaving group, the wood carving group, the watercolour painting group etc.  I've been collecting quilts and other articles that we have made over the past couple of  seasons, and will be heading down to our clubhouse to get set-up by 5pm.  The performances begin at 7, and people will begin arriving around 6 to get a "good seat" for the show.  I just have to remember my camera to get some pictures of the displays!

DH has a cold with a cough, and his voice sounds really gravelly.  Fortunately the band doesn't perform until Wednesday this week, so he's hoping that his voice will be up to the performance.

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  28.625 yards

Fabric added this week 5 yards

Fabric added year to date  30.5 yards

Net used 2017  -1.875 yards

 

More backing fabric added this week, so I'm back in the red!!!!

 

I've been a bad blogger lately, but I've been working in any few spare minutes that I can find.  It seems like we're busy from morning to night. I did get another quilt top pieced, this time from scrap 2 1/2 inch strips - thus the need for more backing fabric.

 

The block pattern is called Ladder Star and is one of Bonnie Hunter's Addicted to Scraps in Quiltmaker magazine. 

Whenever I had a few minutes, I'd cut pieces for a block, then when I had 2 cut, I'd stitch them together.  I made 48 blocks, along with many bonus half-square triangle blocks, (stitched as leaders and enders),which I used in the 2nd border. The only "new" fabric used was for the 2 plain borders, but was also from my stash.

I really have to find some time to pin-baste quilts - I now have 3 waiting!

 

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