Sunday, August 27, 2017

Binding, and more binding

I don't always have a lot of "finishes" in one year as many of my quilts are ongoing applique projects that tend to take a long time.

This month, though, is different. I am currently working on the third binding this month.

Sewing the binding down is not my favourite thing to do, but sometimes it's nice to just have some mindless sewing to do.

It was nice to sit and put in a few stitches....


....before heading out to the Baptism of my twin grandbabies. I only managed to get a picture with little girl twin....


....who looked like a fairy princess in her little dress. (Sorry for the bad photo!)

The service was followed by a lovely meal, surrounded by family who we only seem to see once or twice a year. The weather is gorgeous today for an outside celebration. 

Now for a little bit of a rest.....it's been a busy weekend! But that's what Summer is for, right???

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




Friday, August 25, 2017

Friday finishes!

This morning I put the final stitches in the binding of my Quilty365, or as I am calling it, A Year in My Life.



This is such a special quilt to me. 

It was started as a sewalong with Audrey at Quilty Folk, with the idea of appliquing a circle per day for a year with the intention that the fabric chosen would reflect that particular day in some way. Most of mine were, but I have to admit that some days I just picked a fabric to get the block done! Although, I somehow think that subconsciously the fabric chosen probably did have meaning on any particular day!

My quilt spans November 12, 2015 to November 11, 2016. For those of you doing the math...a few of the blocks are not on the quilt....they will be incorporated into the label on the back.

I started with a circle, but right away remembered years ago wanting to do a quilt with appliqued hearts, so I switched it up.

Lots of memories in this quilt.

Birthdays...



...puppies born last Summer...



The day we found out that our twin grandbabies would be a boy and a girl!...

....and near the beginning of the quilt, quite a few purple blocks to represent pain I was experiencing at that time....


On a side note....

In the Fall of 2015 I was in a lot of pain....so much so that I considered asking my doctor for a handicapped parking pass. I now know that sugar is the culprit for me. I try now to avoid sugar and on the times I choose to indulge I'll get what I call my "sugar pain". 

The other day I had a visitor bring me a beautiful butter tart (a Canadian treat which is mostly sugar, and delicious!). I chose to go ahead and enjoy....and like clock-work 45 minutes later the sugar-pain shot down my legs. (It was worth it!)

My life has changed so much since this quilt was started almost two years ago now. The biggest being taking up running and really enjoying taking part in races! 

Here I am last weekend after the Disco Dash 5k....I had to ask this stranger to pose for a picture since he was probably the most authentically dressed!....



What I'd like to know is how on earth did this happen, and with probably a million stitches in the quilt, however did I even notice it??!!....


I marked this block with a pin so I would remember to go back and fix it. I don't know if you can quite see it, but one of the stitches is a big loop! I've tried to ease it in, but, nope, it wouldn't co-operate, so I'll go back and un-quilt a tiny bit of the quilt and fix it.

I will cherish this quilt! Among other things, it will represent a transition from pain to good health :)



I'm also happy to say that I have actually finished my OMG - One Monthly Goal!!!

My goal for August was to complete my Freefall quilt....and I did it...


This quilt measures about 39" square, so I think it will be a wall-hanging for the guest room.

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal-Finishes.

I am also linking with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday and with Mama Sparks World for Friday is Finish Day, and with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a WhoopWhoop!.


To end this post, I'll choose a bit of cuteness...


Our pups are doing well, they are now trying to use their spindly legs to hold up their chubby selves and walk around!

Have a lovely day!




Friday, August 11, 2017

365 Challenge Quilts

Today I will share some pictures of the 365 Challenge quilts that have passed through here in the last few months.

I started my own 365 last year but fell off track at around the March point. These quilters should be so proud of their accomplishment....and their stick-to-it-tiveness! 

They have all created beautiful heirloom quilts.

I know some of the pictures look like shots of the same quilt....but there actually five different ones shown.











So for today's Finish It Off Fridays, etc., I am celebrating these quilters. Good for you, ladies!!! Whoop, whoop!!!

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 Friday.

Bye for now!

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Quilting....and a puppy update!

I was not able to do as much stitching this morning as usual, but I did manage a bit.

I've been trying to get a nice picture of my quilting without much success...


....and when I went to stitch this morning, the sun was catching the quilt just right...


LOL, you can practically see every stitch!

I'm turning the first corner...only three sides to go.

The challenge on this border has been marking my lines so I can see where to quilt. You can see in the first picture I've been trying painters' tape. It works but I don't find it easy.

I came across a marking tool I've had for years and gave it a try. It's this Clover chalk tool...


I don't know how I forgot about this marking tool, it was always a favourite. It's called the ChacoLiner, and I'm not sure if they are even sold anymore.

So, this morning I marked my lines by laying the tape down and drawing a line along the tape with my ChacoLiner, then removing the tape. Works for me!

 I had this tool in a white chalk, also. I'll have to have a look for it as I think it would show up better. You can kinda see the line where the red arrow is pointing to. It shows up enough for me to be able to quilt it.



Soon I'll have stitching of another kind to work on. I gifted a quilted a while back, I'm thinking in 2004. It's been so well-loved that I've been asked if I could please repair some of the applique that's come loose.

It was so nice to see this quilt again. I love it so much that a part of me would love to do it again so I could keep it!


There are pieces all over the quilt that will need a bit of stitching, like the pink heart shown here and lots of the vine...


This is what a quilter loves....to see that their quilts are being used!


Puppy Update!!!

On Tuesday Minnie gave birth to three pups...


It was an exciting morning, and Minnie was a trooper. Cooper was pacing and trying to peek at what the heck was going on....





You can see that Minnie tore up the box while in labour. Don't worry, we have her and her family all set up in a clean, fresh bed...


My husband said that my "training" in watching Call the Midwife had finally come to good use. Haha!

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching. I am so envious reading her post today....I wish I was further along with my Life is Beautiful as hers is looking great!

I am also linking with Cynthia for Oh, Scrap!. She always has a good scrappy story to tell!

Have a lovely Summer's day!





Tuesday, August 1, 2017

August OMG....One Monthly Goal

I haven't been very successful the last couple of months with my Monthly Goal. 

August will be a very busy time for me at the longarm, so I'm giving myself a break. My goal this month will be finishing the top of my Freefall quilt....



As you can see, not many blocks to go. If I can squeeze it in to get quilted, I will count that as a bonus. It's not very big....maybe 39" square. 

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for OMG - One Monthly Goal. Have you decided to join in monthly with a goal???

Have a lovely Summer's day!