The Chapman Coverlet

So here's the thing....I miss doing my daily hearts for the Quilty365. 

One of the benefits to having a quilt like that on the go is that is is a great take-along project. I enjoy having small blocks to work on during guild meetings, vacation, applique group, etc.

There's a quilt that's piqued my interest for a while now...The Chapman Coverlet. I'd have to look into it more, but I'm thinking it's a reproduction of an antique quilt....but don't quote me on that.

I've had the pattern and templates for a few months...

Each block is 2.5" unfinished, so a nice size to tuck away for a travel project!

Most Chapman Coverlet quilts I see on Facebook and Instagram are done in Civil war prints. I could do that to use up my scraps, but those fabrics don't make me happy.

I've done up two blocks to try to choose...one in 1930's (which always make me happy!) and more modern prints, like Tula Pink, which are very bright and cheery. 

Hmmmm, maybe Pinterest will have some good fabric ideas for this quilt.

Half of the blocks are dark applique on light background, and the other half will be light on dark. 

A few minutes ago I'd thought to stick the 30's fabrics for this one....but now I'm not sure again!

Even my meager collection of Kaffe Fassett fabrics called out to be considered yesterday....but I really don't have much of that sort of thing. I wonder if they could be partnered with the other Tula Pink and Cotton&Steel-type fabrics in my stash?

I am linking up with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social. Have a look at her blogpost today to see some quilt patterns she has created to commemorate Canada's 150th!

Sunday Stitches on One Monthly Goal!

My goal for this month was to have the top completed on my Quilty365/Year in My Life.

The last heart took place mid-month, so I had a couple of weeks to get it together....and I did!

I ended up using the border fabric that I've had in my stash for quite a few years, and am happy with the end result.

As soon as I was able, I snuck this quilt onto the longarm to be basted...

I don't know if hand-quilters know that this is a service that a longarmer can offer. In the past I spent many afternoons crawling around the living room floor basting quilts that were stretched out and pinned to the carpet. What a pain, literally! 

I knew a couple of months ago when this quilt was hanging on the design wall that it was begging for hand-quilting. What an absolute pleasure it was to sit and get the first stitches into the quilt. I don't know how to explain the peaceful feeling to someone who doesn't enjoy stitching with their hands. 

I wish I could get decent photos of the quilting process. I love the texture of hand-quilting...

I think what makes this more special to hand-quilt is the meaning behind many of the blocks. In hand-quilting the quilt I find myself reflecting on the past year.....grandchildren being born, a Summer of puppies, sad days and happy ones. 

I am very glad to have taken on this project which has resulted in such a special quilt.

My husband hasn't seen me quilt a full-sized quilt before. When I picked it up yesterday to poke at a bit, he said how he thought I had finished already. lol....I thought he was joking, but no he wasn't....he just had no idea that this will be ongoing for a few months.

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching, and with Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh,Scrap!.

I am also linking with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal!


By the way, is anyone taking part in the year-long sewalong just started lately? It is to commemorate Canada's 150th birthday next year.

There will be three blocks released every week 'til we have all 150 6" blocks!

There is still time to join in, as we are just at week #2. I have the first week done, but will be re-doing them as I want to make the blocks red and white instead of red and tan....now's the time to make the switch before I'm too far along!....

I think I'll try to find time this afternoon to get these re-done.

You can read about this quilting project here. Oh, and every block comes with a story of an important woman in Canadian history!

I am linking this post to the linky party that Audrey is hosting at Quilty Folk for Quilty365.

Have a great day!

A new quilter and a new runner....

I had to laugh....

This week my sister-in-law came around with her second quilt ever. It's very well done. Her first one was like a Turning Twenty quilt....not a lot of precision needed. This one is more traditional with points, flying geese, the whole shebang.

Her comment was, "A quarter-inch seam really matters, doesn't it?".

But that's not the funny part.

I don't see her very often, so I took the opportunity to show her my Quilty365/Year in My Life...

She loved it, and asked, "but wherever do you get all those different fabrics from?".....I laughed and laughed....my husband laughed and laughed. 

She is so naive....I'll come back to this conversation in 5 years and see how her stash has grown. I'll remind her of our conversation.....and she'll laugh and laugh!!! She was then taken aback to realise that most of the backgrounds in this quilt are different also.....oh my, the look on her face!

So much fun to see quilting through the eyes of a beginner! Love it!

....and it continues...

I showed her my FlowerGarden quilt....

....and she asked, "So what is the purpose of this one, why did you  make it?".....that got me laughing again as I explained to her that most quilters I know make a quilt for the fun and/or the challenge, etc. She is still at the newbie stage of making a quilt for a purpose or buying a piece of fabric just because it is needed (remember those days????). 

She did admit to having a feeling during the sewing of her sampler that she was itching to get to the next block, and so on.

And so it begins!....we have recruited our next quilter! If only she knew what she is in for. Although, maybe it's better that she hasn't a clue of the obsession she is about to enter???

I think she was well and truly hooked when I handed her a bag of about twenty civil war fabrics....bought long ago for a quilt that just never happened. Oh, the twinkle in her eyes as she peeked into the bag....priceless!

The weather here in Southern Ontario has certainly taken a turn towards Winter in the last 24 hours. As I sit here writing the wind is is quite blustery and there is a bit of the white stuff out there. A lovely morning to be curled up with some Slow Stitching, don't you think?

I finished a section of my Auntie Green's Garden. Now I have to prep a bit more before continuing...

I finished up the bit that was left on my current Life is Beautiful block....

....and then I was able to do some hand-quilting for a few minutes. I wish I could stay curled up with that all morning, but it's not meant to be!

Today is the Santa 5K in Hamilton. It is my first race and I've been excited and a bit nervous, lol. This morning, I'm thinking I may be a bit crazy.....why couldn't Friday's weather be happening today!!??...we had temperatures of 20 degrees, beautiful!

At the moment my phone is telling me it is -1 feeling more like -11!

The race is going to be down by the bay on Lake Ontario and I think the wind will be wicked. But I'm sure it will be a blast....everyone in their Santa suits...running with an old friend and some new ones. I'm sure I'll remember this day with fondness...and the weather will just add to the story of it.

I'm going to finish this post later today, hopefully with a couple of pictures of the race. Wish me luck!!!!

********************

Well, I'm back and lived to tell the tale!

What a blast!!

It was windy.....and wonderful! So much good cheer.

So windy, my beard kept blowing up in my face on the trolley ride to the starting line...

There were a few people I knew from my running group...

So many Santa's in one room....so much fun...

At one point I wondered if I was close to halfway....then I saw the 3K marker.....awesome!!!

I had a time in mind that I would like to run the race in....and I think I beat it by a few minutes....again, awesome!

What an exhilarating day!

I had a couple more pictures to share, but for some reason they are not transferring over. Oh, well, this post is getting long enough anyway!


I am linking up with Kathy at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching and with Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh, Scrap!.

Have a great day!

Inspiration

Today I am feeling inspired.

What a wonderful feeling. 

It's wonderful for exactly one reason. Even though I've been a quilter since I was 19 in 1980 I still can feel inspired by other quilters. Inspired to take the next step in my hobby. 

It's such a great feeling to know that, for me, quilting doesn't get old....there is so much to explore.

I have known quilters, just a couple actually, that have the attitude that they have done techniques a certain way for years and it works so why try new things. Honestly, a lot of times, this attitude shows in their work....sorry, just my opinion.

This week I read a blog post by Steph over at Dawn Chorus Studio entitled Thinking About the Process of Improv Patchwork.  Her current quilt, Fete, is one of my favourites at the moment. I commented to Steph that the idea of Improv Piecing is intriguing to me, but makes me nervous of how to go about it. She gave me a pep talk and recommended a book that would help me understand.....so Santa has a copy ready for my stocking so I can try something new in the New Year!

So, this morning, as usual I check in on Kathy over at Kathy's Quilts. What a timely post she has written. I hope you can take a moment to read it, as I find it especially inspiring to me today and maybe you will feel the same way.

Kathy also mentions a blogger whom I've never heard of, so I checked her out.....The Bitchy Stitcher. More very inspiring words today!!!....and so true. I don't know how many times I've heard quilters lament on their work. So disheartening. Please, if this is you, take a few minutes to read this wonderful post today!

Wow, lots of words today and not many pictures! Let's rectify that with just a couple.

I thought I had finished all of my hearts for my Quilty365. I figured on sewing the final ones onto the flimsy on Saturday. Well, I realised that although I had prepped a heart for Hallowe'en, I had not actually finished it. Here it is, the final heart.....really!...

.....and then a few stitches in a Life is Beautiful block....which I love, as cherry trees hold a lot of sentiment for me....

Today I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching and with Cynthia for Oh,Scrap!.


On a personal note, here is something that I hope can inspire you!

A year ago I was in a lot of pain. My doctor had prescribed Percoset, which alarmed me at how much I liked it so I stopped that, and I was going to ask him if I could possibly get a Handicapped Parking Pass. 

This year, after making many changes in my health, I've been in a Learn to Run class....and next Sunday I'll be running in my first race....a Santa 5K in Hamilton! It all seems so surreal to me! I have never been an athlete in any sense of the word!

So hopefully I'll have a picture to share next week of that big event!

For now, here we are on Saturday morning enjoying the beautiful morning....

Have a wonderful day!

A Virtual Trunk Show!

Right now there is an online Trunk Show going on and I thought I'd take part. 

You can view the Trunk Show here at Whims and Fancies....or click on the "Trunk Full of Quilts" button on the right side of the screen.

I haven't had too many finishes this year, but that's not unusual. Since most of my quilts are hand-appliqued they tend to take a couple of years to complete....plus there is the fact that I have way too many projects on the go!!!

The two quilts I am showcasing for the Trunk Show are ones that I had a lot of fun with and don't mind talking about them yet again.


Moonlight Thru' the Trees

The first is a group project where each person chose their theme and everyone contributed a block to the quilt.

My theme was neutrals. I had always wanted to do a neutral quilt, but was surprised at the difficulty I had with it...until an unusual brainstorm came upon me.

You can read about the brainstorm here, and see other posts about it here and here.

I love how my neutral quilt turned out. I am currently redecorating a guest room and this quilt will hang there.


Flower Garden

My Flower Garden quilt was a quilt that took approximately two years to applique and three weeks to quilt, although there were many days I "ran away" from the quilting, so maybe I could have had it done in two weeks.

This is my second Kim McLean quilt and I've enjoyed both of them.

Check out this post to read more about my recent completion of my Flower Garden quilt.


My Circles

I'm including a picture of My Circles quilt. It was actually completed last year but I wish stroke my ego a bit and share a picture of my quilt hanging this year at Quilt Canada in the National Juried Show, where it won a second-place ribbon in it's category. 

This is truly a highlight in my quilting life! Thanks for indulging me!!

I hope you'll take time to sit with a cup of coffee or tea and visit with the many bloggers who are sure to take part in this virtual trunk show.....I know I will!

Close to a finish!

This week marks the ending of my Quilty365/Year in My Life applique project!

 So hard to believe this started a year ago and I've pretty much kept up.

Yesterday my husband had carpal tunnel surgery, so I prepped the last four hearts that I could and took them along to applique while I waited for him  ...

It's nice that these last few blocks actually represent something, as some of the blocks of the last few months are just fabrics picked willy-nilly. The sun-heart is for a grandbaby born this past week, the black heart in sadness as I remember the anniversary of my first husband's death, the gold leaves to represent the blanket of gold leaves out my kitchen window this week and the googly eyes just because I came across this in my stash and thought it was cute!

The last scheduled day for hearts is on Friday. I had mentioned in a previous post that I was wishing to find a poppy fabric to do the last heart as it will be Remembrance Day. Wouldn't you know it....a fellow blogger and new friend contacted me that she could help me out with the poppy fabric.....cool! 

I walked out the mailbox a little while ago and found a nice surprise...

....a nice piece of pink poppy fabric to finish off this quilt! (thanks, SL!)

Quilters are so nice!

I think I will prepare that last little block and actually save it 'til Friday to applique!


Two days ago while I was working away I heard my dogs start to bark....which is unusual as they are generally pretty quiet. They were at the front window barking at this....

I know, not a great picture, but I had grabbed my phone and taken it in a hurry. It was Joe Roberts, a man who is walking across Canada to bring awareness to homelessness, #pushforchange

It reminded me of a time in late 1987/early 1988? We stood outside our house to watch the Olympic flame be carried by our house on the way to the Calgary Winter Olympics. I also have a picture of that, but who knows where it is at the moment!

I am linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social.

Goodbye Summer

Yes, it's the end of Daylight Savings Time. I don't know about you, but I think I'd rather have the extra hour of daylight in the evening....oh, well.

Sometimes Autumn makes me feel sad....I love my backyard and the time we spend in it doing gardening, having bonfires, kicking a ball around with the grandchildren, just sitting with a glass of wine and enjoying the sunset....and I know that this will soon be coming to an end 'til next Spring.  

Kathy from Kathy's Quilts has a post today about what sort of lighting we use as quilters as we do our stitching, now that the darker days are upon us. 

Here is my applique space, where I sit every morning to start my day with a little bit of hand work...

I have a regular table lamp, but what I consider one of my best investments is the Ott floor lamp. I bought this nine years ago, and I remember paying  for a replacement bulb at the same time so I'd have it just in case the original bulb burnt out.

Well, I would say that I generally use this lamp for 90 minutes every morning and I'm still on that original bulb. Also, I absolutely love the type of light it provides for hand-stitching. Ott lights come in many different varieties and I would highly recommend them.....not affiliated in any way, just a very satisfied customer!

At my sewing machine, I like extra lighting. Lately we had a great find at a thrift store. I have never heard of Luxo Lamps, but my husband has, so when he saw this lamp he knew it was a great buy...

I've just looked it up online and this one goes for over $170....ours cost $2!!! We have it perched at my sewing machine and I love it!

This week I've been getting back to my Sarah Fielke BOM, Happy Days. This has been a great experience this year with many methods covered along the way. I'm looking forward to doing the next one slated to start in the New Year!

Here is one block I completed this week, Alain the bunny (sharing the design wall with my hearts quilt)...

This morning I stitched on this next block....

I'm prepping by using a method that Sarah shows using these clips. I happened to have a package of them that I won....I don't think I ever would have bought them but am finding them surprisingly handy. I think I'll actually buy another package, so I have some for home and some in my go-to applique bag.

Every block has been so much fun and cheerful...

I'll end this post with a dose of cuteness. I've been taking Cooper to a new groomer. Here he is after coming home from his spa day...

....but the real cuteness was the seven-week-old Chow pups they had there...

Adorable!!!

I am also linking up with Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh, Scrap!.

Have a lovely Fall day, it looks like it's going to be a beauty!

Quilty365/November Monthly Goal....

It's been almost a year that I've been poking away at my daily hearts for the Quilty365 that Audrey at Quilty Folk began last Fall.

There are a few projects like this that I have tried (365challenge!) that I have tried but not kept up with, but I have been keeping up with this one...sometimes falling a bit behind but not too much!

It's been great to see everyone's take on this project. It sounds like Audrey will be holding a final linky at some point where we can see everyone's finished quilts.

Thank-you Audrey for thinking up this quilting project. I love mine and think I will hand-quilt it....because that's what it seems to be calling for!

Here are the hearts that I have sewn together, dating from November 12, 2015 to October 21, 2016.....

A lot of the latter part are fabrics just drawn from the stash, but the earlier ones were chosen with thoughts of the day in mind. 

Last Fall I was experiencing a lot of pain, so purple hearts represented particularly painful days. There is also a purple heart for the day Prince died. I have hearts to remember our wonderful Summer of having puppies and a couple of hearts commemorating new grandbabies in our lives! Lots of memories.

I have been calling this quilt "Year in My Life"....and looking at it almost complete it really does represent what has gone on in the last year.....love it!

I have most of October's blocks appliqued, I'm just waiting for the right fabric for October 29th, the day of our latest grandson's birth.

My final block will be November 11th, Remembrance Day here in Canada. I'm really hoping to get my hands on a piece of fabric with some poppies on it. Hmm, maybe I'll pop around to my LQS today after my errands to see if there is such a fabric there! It will be worth buying a fat quarter of just the right fabric to end this project!

I posted a picture the other day of a possible border fabric for this quilt...

I wasn't too fussy on it, but now that I've looked at the picture a couple of times it's starting to grow on me. So, unless I have a brilliant idea for something different, I'll probably go with this.

This quilt top will be my monthly goal for November....to have all the blocks sewn together and the border attached!

I am linking up with Audrey at Quilty Folk and also Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal.