Friday, June 30, 2017

June UFO update / July OMG

Not much to report on my June UFO Goal except to say there was not much time for piecing this month....plus the fact that my favourite long-loved iron up and quit :(

Hopefully, I'll have more time in July (except for the fact that we've booked an impromptu vacation!).

So, I think June's OMG - One Monthly Goal has now officially become July's OMG - One Monthly Goal!!!

Here's where things stand as of this morning on my Down The Rabbit Hole....





Not bad, just 37 houses to go!

I am linking up with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Fridays, Elm Street Quilts for OMG-One Monthly Goal and with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get A Whoop Whoop!.





Sunday, June 25, 2017

Sunday Stitching

Well, I'm not even close to having my goal for this month completed. 

The goal was to be caught up on my Down The Rabbit Hole.

I have, though, taken a little break from my hand-quilting so I could have the applique portion of DTRH done.

So this morning's slow stitching was working on these sunflowers...





They're so nice and bright....I hope not too bright!


Our little Miss Minnie should be a couple of weeks pregnant now...one subtle sign is that she is becoming a bit more affectionate...


She still has her attitude though....she is the boss and she knows it!

This will be her second and last pregnancy. Last year she had five pups....I hope she only has three this year. Five seemed a lot for her in the last couple weeks before she had the pups last time...she's just a tiny thing herself so it was difficult for her to move around.

I am linking up with Kathy today for Slow Sunday Stitching.



Sunday, June 18, 2017

Taking it easy...

I'm relaxing into my day this morning with some quilting on my Year in My Life...


Quilting came to a stop, though, when my Ott Lamp finally has a burnt out bulb...


I love to stitch under this floor lamp...I find it difficult to stitch without it! The bulbs are expensive, but this is the first one to burn out and I've used it practically every day since I bought the lamp in 2008!! So, not bad value!

I feel exhausted after spending two days at Quilt Canada in Toronto. I think it's more like a mental exhaustion from all the sensory overload. How wonderful to be in a convention hall full of people with the same passion!

At Quilt Canada it took me by surprise to come around a corner and see this quilt...


I've totally forgotten about this quilt...it is one I started also a few years ago. The idea was to hand-piece a wee house, one a day for a year. 

I love the fussy cutting...


I've located my "wee houses"...believe me, it took a few minutes...



.....time to resurrect this ufo!!

If any of my friends happen to come across some little bits that could be fussy-cut for my windows, it would be much appreciated! They measure at about 3/4" finished.

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching so we can see what others are working on today.




Wednesday, June 14, 2017

A Mini Update....

So far, so good.

Last week I started on a new little project hosted by Temecula Quilt Co. called Marvelous Mini Monday.

It's a twelve week sewalong and I'm doing well so far on week 2...


The block is 4" unfinished....so that wee bit in the middle is 1-1/2"!

I did not fussy-cut the centre...but it sure looks like it!

I haven't had a great history on working in mini-sized blocks, but have learned a bit along the way to improve my work.

I am one to press to the dark side, but on small work...such as HST's 1-1/2" or smaller I press open to help the block lay flatter....



On this block I tried using starch on the fabric for the HST's before using it....and I think that helped.

I also reduced my stitch size. I'm not sure that helped, but I tend to think so.

And...what would I do without my lovely stiletto made for me by a friend?? It really helps hold things in place as they are sewn. I hadn't realised how much I rely on the stiletto until recently when I did not pack it for a Retreat.....I kept reaching for it, but it wasn't there. I recommend trying to get used to using one, you will love it.

When the block was done I gave it another light spritz of starch and pressed it...what a lovely flat block I had in the end.

I hope some of you have decided to join in on this sewalong!

Linking up today with Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers, Confessions of a Fabric Addict for I May Have a Scrap Problem and with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social.

Have a great day!


Friday, June 9, 2017

A Marvelous Mini

What's this about not starting new projects? You know what they say about good intentions!

I read Kathy's blog post today over at Kathy's Quilts. She talks about starting up a 12-week sew-along hosted on Temecula Quilt Company's blog. The sew-along is called  Marvelous Mini Mondays.

I couldn't resist.

I mean, really, the first block took me all of ten minutes! The blocks in this mini measure 4" unfinished. 


Anyone else want to join in???

I will be using scraps from my ongoing Midnight at the Oasis.

I am linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop and with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Fridays.

Have a great weekend!


Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Food, food and more food! (and Lorna!)

Well, I don't think I'll be eating much for the next few days!

I've had two guild meetings the last two days....and a potluck meal at each of the meetings. So good....so much food!

There was a festive air at both meetings, everyone chattering away looking forward to Summer. Almost the same excitement as when we meet again in September.

I've been looking forward to yesterday's meeting in particular since we had Lorna McMahon from Sew Fresh Quilts as our guest speaker. 




I knew I'd want to buy a pattern or two of Lorna's, and it was so difficult to choose....but I did narrow it down to three...




We got to see all of her quilts in person.....



...and listen to Lorna talk about her quilts.....she is such an entertaining speaker! Thanks, Lorna, for a great trunk show!

As for stitching....finally, I have finished this block for my Life is Beautiful quilt....



I've been working on this block since before Christmas. I haven't enjoyed it. The only thing I like about it is that it is done! Ha!

So nice to start on the next block...




I'm linking up today with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social, with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers and with Mama Spark's World for WIPs With Friends.










Sunday, June 4, 2017

Sunday Stitches....with a new thread!

Today I have absolutely no plans.

I just had to type that first sentence and see it for myself. I think I've been very busy lately for me to appreciate the thought of no plans at all! It would have been the icing on the cake to be able to finally pay attention to my perennial bed, but the weather is not cooperating....so maybe some sewing-room time is in order!


I was able to put a few stitches into my hand-quilting this morning. I'd better find more time for this one if it's going to be ready for Fall Fair season. Oh well, if not, there is always next year.



Also on the slow-stitching front.....I was able to test a new thread that's on the market. 

My husband actually asked, "Isn't thread just thread?". I replied by pointing out to him that he has to admit that tools that he uses can differ brand by brand!!!

So, here we go!

I had noticed on blogs I've been reading that there is a new Aurifil thread.....an 80wt that is meant for applique (at least I assume that that is the intention!).

As always, in Canada we have to wait just a little longer for a product to appear....but I finally laid my hands on a couple of spools...


First off, there is a lovely sheen to the thread on the spool....even after taking the plastic wrap off, lol. The sheen may not mean anything to the way the thread handles, but it sure looks pretty. 

I used the grey thread to work on one of my Dutch Treat blocks the last couple of mornings...


Even in the real-life, up-close world I can barely see my stitches!

I had absolutely no tangles or twist-ups in the stitching of this block.

When I first started to applique I was a real silk thread snob. Since then I've switched to fine cotton thread and I love it. I have to admit, if I didn't already have a lifetime supply of thread (really!), I would most definitely be using this new Aurifil thread.

To be clear, I have no affiliation that is swaying my opinion.

For anyone just getting their feet wet in the world of hand-stitching and wondering what colours one should start out buying, I'll give the same advice that was given to me. Buy three spools.....perhaps greys.....one light, one medium and one dark. That will get you started, no problem!

While I'm at it I will share a new-to-me marking tool. 


It's this Uniball silver gel pen. You can see in the picture how it has a shimmer to it. So far, it shows up on any colour fabric that I've used it on. The only problem...it doesn't go away. I'm being really careful to actually make sure it gets turned under.

I hope I can find this pen in Canada. So far, no luck. I'm thinking my best bet will be a visit to Michael's.

Okay....here's the fun part!....

I have a friend who happens to own a quilt shop....Lana at Quilt Junction in Waterford, Ont.

Lana has an offer to those of you who read my blog. From now 'til June 15th, if you mention that you read about the new Aurifil 80wt in my blog post today, Lana will give you a 10% discount on your purchase of this thread.

Thanks Lana!!!

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching. On this damp morning, I hope you can take a bit of time to visit with others to see what they are stitching on today!