What a fast week it's been!
It surprises me, as February always seems to drag out for me even though it is the shortest month.
We have to go out this afternoon down Niagara-way to check out my daughter and her girlfriend's new house that they are buying. It's not supposed to be nice weather at all today, but you wouldn't know it by looking out the window right now....still and sunny!
I hope the weather holds off. After we are finished looking at the house I want to visit my favourite winery and favourite Mexican restaurant while in the area.
I haven't had much time to sew this week, but hand-stitching always seems to get accomplished :)
This morning I worked on a couple of my Chapman Coverlet blocks....these literally take moments to complete as they are so tiny...
.....and a couple more from the other day, so you can get more of an idea of the scale of the blocks...
Hmm, maybe we will get the windstorm, after all....as I'm sitting writing this post it's as if a curtain has been drawn, it's got so dark all of a sudden.....and the wind is picking up right away!
I did get my block completed this week for the Hand Pieced QAL...
....I love this block!....although I know I was daydreaming as I stitched, and had to un-sew a couple of times when I sewed things together incorrectly. There will be nine blocks for this sewalong, here are my blocks, so far...
This morning I did the applique on this little Dear Jane block...
I am so pleased with this little block and can picture a whole scrappy quilt made of it. (Uh oh, sounds like another "squirrel" moment)
Today was the first time trying out the Clover Black Gold needles. I was lucky enough to find them at my local quilt shop during a class yesterday. I've been curious about them since hearing Kathy from Kathy's Quilts recommend them.
I did enjoy using this needle....hard to explain why, but it did feel good in my hand.
My only complaint...I'm not one to like a package of different-sized needles, I'd much rather buy a whole package of the size I prefer. Maybe they do come packaged that way, I'll have to keep an eye out.
I also worked a bit on this month's block for my Queen's Garden quilt...
I've enjoyed this block, as it's a bit easier than the first four....but funnily enough, I'm finding it a bit boring and may try to dress it up with a bit more embroidery with the perle cotton.
It seems like I've accomplished a lot of slow-stitching this morning....but, really, each project was just a little bit of work. Nice to see progress, though!!
Well, now it's looking a bit brighter outside again. I hope we get to stick to the plan today. I'm so looking forward to that chimichanga!!
Today I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching, and with Elm Street Quilts for the Hand Pieced QAL.
Have a lovely day, that hopefully includes some quilty time.
This morning's stitching/coffee time was spent working on this week's block for the Hand Pieced QAL.
Here are all the blocks so far...four done, five to go...
So, in the video tutorials for the QAL we are shown how to hand-sew taking many stitches at a time on our needles. Well, I just couldn't seem to make it work and was happy with my "one stitch at a time" approach.
When I was sewing the final seams of this block this morning, I realised that I was actually doing it "correctly" all of a sudden without even realizing it....so cool! ....I was able to get four or five stitches on my needle at a time. I'm not going to question how this came about.....I'll just put it down to keeping on with it :)
I am a bit busy this morning, but later I'll have to visit other bloggers and see their blocks....and hopefully pictures of the backs of the blocks, as I can't seem to get my seams to twirl in a nice manner, which evidently they should be able to.
I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts Hand Pieced QAL Linky Party, Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?, and with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday.
I don't know what it is about "snow days"....on Tuesday the schools were cancelled again due to bad weather (not that this means anything for me at this point of my life!), and my husband didn't have to go to work.
For some reason, snow days make it difficult for me to discipline myself to work on the longarm.
So....I got a bit of sewing done!
First off, I needed to catch up on my Temperature Quilt....
I like it even more now that the second row (February) is being added.
Then I worked on this week's block for the Harry Potter QAL. The block this week is Luna....
This block took all the concentration I could muster. I kept thinking, "done is better than perfect"....but in the end she turned out just fine.....whew!!! Like I mentioned on my Instagram post, I love the block, but I'm glad there is just one Luna in the quilt!
Here are my blocks, so far...
I'm quite happy with them!
I also sewed this week's block for 52blocks52weeks, hosted by CQA....
I was wondering whether to continue with the 52blocks52weeks sewalong, as I seem to have so much going on....but it's such a small commitment every week I've decided to keep playing :)
In November of 2016 I posted about a quilt I was excited about starting, the Chapman Coverlet. You can read about it HERE.
I had started off by appliqueing two of the tiny 2.5" blocks, as you can see in the post. Well, that was about it for that one, it promptly got forgotten about. Although...from time-to-time it would whisper to me and I would promise to get back to it one day, as I still liked it.
Even this past week, while I was tidying a bit, I came across the two lonely blocks again....and thought, "someday".
Then something funny happened....someone commented on the Instagram post regarding my Chapman Coverlet asking if I had kept it up, even though she noticed the post was from 2016.
That's all I needed, I guess, a kick in the pants. I chatted back and forth with this woman on Instagram and looked at the pictures of her Chapman Coverlet....and got inspired.
These blocks are small and quick....I can work on them frequently and not take time from bigger projects.
This will be a glorious, scrappy quilt!!
That's all for now. It's actually another snowy, blustery day in my neighbourhood, but I will make my way up to work on the longarm....discipline in action!!!
Please, stay warm and safe....maybe you can have a sew-day???
I am linking up with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers.
I am also linking this post to the first Harry Potter Linky Party hosted by Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts.
I don't understand the psychology of it, but when there is a snow/ice day I find it difficult to start work for the day.
I've told myself that I will make the commute up to the longarm after I write this post.....discipline, that's what I need!
It will be a short work-day, though, as I am beginning a new quilt today. So exciting, these new beginnings....I just have to keep that feeling going until it results in a finished quilt, right?
I am going to work on the cutting for Shimmer, a quilt and
sew-along by Allison at Cluck Cluck Sew.
I am using some beautiful Jen Kingwell fabrics for my Shimmer...
I'd like to have all the background fabric cut today....and hopefully some of the prints.
I've been doing well with my Harry Potter QAL hosted by Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts. I'm really liking the blocks. This week we did the "Ron" block...
It's not too late to join in...this week is only block #3.
I am a woman who works well with lists. If there is a lot to do in preparation for a gathering at my house, for example, there will be a list involved.
I don't know why I'm not a list person when it comes to my quilting goals. This week a quilty friend shared her 2019 quilting list with me.....so I promptly made up my own list and stuck it up on the wall...
.....and it made me feel good :)
.....for a few minutes, because then I realised I forgot one item.
I fixed the list and stuck it back up...
Not bad, as the added project is easy, quick and won't last too long.
But wait, only a couple of minutes later I remembered something else...
Now, I was getting a tad nervous....was there going to be more???
Nope, that's it! Although I don't feel quite as happy as I did when the list first went up. Yesterday I had thought to remove Marshall from the list, which is the mystery quilt being offered by Quiltmania magazine this year. Today I'm not so sure. I'll have a think about it.
The Dear Jane sew-along starts in this next week. I have to admit that that one will be a challenge, but if I'm ever going to make a Dear Jane this will be the time.
Here is my block for this week for the Hand-pieced QAL....
I have to say, if you want to get nice results on a flying goose...hand-piecing is the way to do it!
That's all for me today, off to work I go!
I am linking up with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers. I am also linking up with Lorna for Let's Bee Social, and with Patty at Elm Street Quilts for the Hand Pieced QAL.
Finally....it's Friday....but not only that....it should be the last day of extreme cold. For a little while anyway!
I think it's true what they say, we Canadians do like to talk about the weather. But who can help it when it's been so very cold?
I'll have to work on my Temperature quilt on the weekend....I'm sure I'll be using some of the dark purple fabrics for this last couple of days. I'm also looking forward to beginning the second row of the quilt as it is the 1st of February today.
At the top of this picture is the Temperature quilt so far...
Most of what else you see in the picture is the progress on my I Am Enough quilt. I don't want this to end up in the UFO pile, so this project will be my One Monthly Goal for February. I'm not exactly sure how many steps were left to do for this quilt, but my goal will be to complete three steps....what they are, who knows....that has yet to be determined :)
Because it is link-up day for the Hand-Pieced QAL, I am posting pictures of my first two blocks...
I notice on Social Media that other people have been able to "twirl" their seams on the second block. I have not been so lucky....but after I post this I am going to re-address this situation...
....if other people can manage to do it, then darn it all, so can I!!
That's all for today....I have a few things I must do this morning, then I'll be taking it easy for the rest of the day with a new book to read or some English Paper Piecing. I hardly had any sleep last night so I know it will be an extremely unproductive day :(
Today I am linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?, Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal, and with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Fridays . Also, for the Hand-pieced QAL I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts and Simple.Handmade.EveryDay.
Stay warm people!
Hmm, I seem to be getting a bit more time for piecing lately. I know it's from me changing up my daily schedule and I'm liking the productivity!
I usually have some progress on my handwork...and that goes for this week, also. I have finished this block for my Simple Folk...
I wish I hadn't fallen so far behind on Simple Folk, which was the Sarah Fielke BOM for 2018. Especially since the first installment for 2019's BOM is being released in the next 24 hours.
I also sat down after work yesterday for a coffee break and some hand-piecing on this week's block for the Hand-Pieced QAL....
I am happy with block #2 of the Harry Potter QAL hosted by Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts. This block is Hermione. It's not too late to join in on this one!
(note to self....clean the lens on the camera so as to get clearer photos)
I've been working at my Border Creek Mystery. I think this will be a bright quilt!
I've been dabbling with some Dear Jane blocks. This one has been on my bucket list for a very long time, but I've always struggled with tiny blocks. I think I'm ready (really????)...and now is a good time, as there is a sewalong beginning in mid-February on Instagram, so there would be motivation and accountability (really????).
Here is the block on the design wall so you can get an idea of "scale"...
Now it's time for a bit of an abashed confession...I seem to have two more "starts" looming in my near future. I'll go into that at a later time.
For now, it's time to make the long commute to the longarm. Believe me, on a frigid day like today, I'm even more thankful to be able to stay indoors.
Stay warm, stay safe!! xo
Today I am linking up with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek-Makers.
I was supposed to go out for a run early this morning....but it was -18C....so I made the executive decision to make a change of plans.
I don't really mind the cold, it's more the dicey footing on snowy days that I don't like (which wasn't an issue this morning, mind you). It just felt like a good idea to curl up in my chair and begin the first block of the Hand-Pieced QAL.
I had pretty much talked myself out of this QAL since I have so many hand projects on the go....but after reading Kathy's post the other day at Kathy's Quilts, which you can find HERE, I thought I'd give it a try. (That Kathy can be quite an enabler!)
I have done hand-piecing before, and enjoy it (of course), but you never know when you may pick up some new tips and tricks along the way.
I usually mark my stitching lines with pencil and just eyeball the seam allowance with scissors, then sew on the pencil lines. Not long ago I bought this nifty new ruler, the Jinny Beyer Perfect Piecer.
I don't know why I bought it, other than the fact that I'm a bit of a gadget girl. Did I really think it would make a difference in my piecing....to be honest, probably not!
There are little holes in the ruler that you use to mark little dots using a mechanical pencil to indicate the sewing line.
I honestly have to say that I've never, ever such a nicely pieced block!! Two thumbs up for this little ruler.
I also used another gadget that I've picked up lately, a seam roller, which is also useful for paper-piecing.
All-in-all, a pleasing session of hand-work this morning. The block went together nicely and I'm happy now that I've joined in :)
I will be linking up with Kathy's Quilts on Sunday morning for Slow Sunday Stitching (I'm cheating and writing this on Saturday as on Sunday morning I'll be running the Robbie Burns 8k!).
I am also linking up with Elm Street Quilts for their first link-up party for the Hand-Pieced QAL.
