The Daily Mail

Just a quick post today as it's busy times around here preparing for my son's wedding this weekend!

I want to share a "finish"....just in time for my trunk shows next week!

This quilt was a result of an Instagram sewalong, #100days100blocks, using the City Sampler book by Tula Pink.

You can have a look at my previous post, HERE, to read about it a bit more.

A quick note....this has been offered as a sewalong three times now by @gnomeangel, and she has announced there will be another 100days quilt next year but using a different pattern. Follow her to keep updated, if you have an interest. I think it doesn't start til next Summer, so lots of time to think on it!

I am soooo happy with my quilt. It absolutely is how I envisioned it. It represents a newspaper and I am calling it The Daily Mail, after a newspaper my husband reads. Kind of appropriate, as it was a daily project, don't you think?

I also didn't want a binding, as I thought it would take away from the newspaper effect, so I finished the edges with a facing...

I quilted it with the perfect design, called Malachite...

It gives the quilt awesome texture...

Hard to see the quilting, I guess, but it's difficult getting good pictures lately with the gloomy weather we've been having.

I love this quilt...

Have a great day...I really have to get going on my day now! So much to do!!!

I am linking up with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday, and with Confessions of A Fabric Addict for Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?.

#100days100blocks....almost a real quilt

Two years ago I participated in a sewalong on Instagram hosted by @gnomeangel.

The focus of the sewalong was this book by Tula Pink...

First, I have to say this is a lovely book. 

All of the blocks are quite different on the most part from blocks I have done before and they are all quick and easy. I had no problem keeping up with one block per day. 

When it was done, I went on down to my LQS for some grey fabric for sashing and ended up instead with a beautiful coral/salmon colour. The quilt is beautiful!....I was very happy with the results!

Even Cooper and Minnie enjoy a rare opportunity to be up on the bed with the quilt...

The idea was to post one block per day for one hundred days on Instagram using the hashtag #100days100blocks. It was a fun time and when they decided to run the sewalong again last year I was sorely tempted...but resisted.

This year it came up again.....and on the day that it began, I figured what the heck!!!, I'm in!!!

I have to say, I enjoyed this 100days as much as the first. I decided to do this one in mainly "shirting" fabrics as a challenge. It wasn't long before some modern fabrics squeezed their way in, as well as a few subtle-coloured fabrics.

This time around I only missed posting on Instagram on one day. That was the day that I rushed upstairs to the sewing room late in the day, realising that I hadn't gotten my wee block done....and ended up with a nasty run-in with my rotary cutter.

....and number 100....

I only had to re-do one of the blocks. Here is the "before"...

....and after...

Here are some of them up on the wall....

At about the Day 75 point I had a vision of how I would put this together in the end. It will have no sashing, therefore making it a nice lap-sized quilt. It will have no binding, it will be have a facing instead. And, to me, it will represent a newspaper.

Now I just have to think of a name for the quilt. I am leaning toward "The Daily Mail", which is a newspaper my husband reads, but I am open to suggestions....please?

I am going to rush to get this one completed, as I would like to have it ready to include in my trunk show, which is to take place on November 7th and 8th in Ingersoll. Wish me luck, as we also have my son's wedding a few days before that!

Today I am linking up with Lorna for Let's Bee Social, with Esther for WIP's on Wednesdays, and with Susan for Midweek Makers.

And, because I am linking with Esther I guess I should show what is currently on the design wall....my version, so far, of her pattern, "Queen's Garden"!

I still have to add a few bits to the top block (which is actually the centre of the quilt). This one has been challenging to me...using all neutral Japanese taupes, although the fabrics are lovely to work with and needleturn very nicely.

Well, back to work for me....have a wonderful day!

Oh, woe is me :(

What  lovely Summer weekend!....the last Summer weekend of the year. Oh, how fast it always seems to go.

Our weekend was all planned out.....spend time in the backyard attending the myriad of chores that got put on hold over the hot weather we've experienced. 

We got a good day in on Saturday and finished up with a nice juicy burger outside.

Then I remembered that I hadn't completed my block-of-the-day.

I've been taking part, once again, in an Instagram sewalong for Tula Pink's City Sampler.

Here are a few of the 70 or so blocks that I've done so far (out of the hundred that will make up the quilt)...

It's much different than the colourful version I completed a year or so ago!

So up to the sewing room I went....none of these blocks take long, just ten or fifteen minutes, if that. First thing I did, though, was knock my rotary cutter off the table....and it landed right on my foot between toes #4 & 5. Such a lot of blood! It may not have been quite as bad if I hadn't just changed the blade a couple of days ago.

I'm bummed out, as today I was to take part in my first Terry Fox Run, but that's not happening. I may end up going in to see if I need a stitch or two as it starts bleeding again when I stand up.

So I guess this means no more outdoor chores today.....extra slow-stitching time!

I'm working on the current block of my Tomato Soup, The Sequel quilt....

I think after breakfast I'll put this one aside for a bit and try to get going on this month's block for Save The Bees. It will be nice to have extra stitching time today, even though it's not for a good reason. I may even try to setup outside under a tree and enjoy what looks to be another beautiful day.

I've been struggling a bit with the start of an EPP project...trying out a new stitch to join the bits together, instead of the usual whip stitch. I bought this beautiful book as I heard that it is a good one to learn some new tips and tricks from....

It really is a beautiful book...and I haven't even read anything about her methods yet. The first bit of the book has some interesting reading on the positive effects of slow-stitching...both physical and mental.

It's difficult to choose only one of the paragraphs to share with you. So much of what I am reading here are words which I can totally relate to, as I'm sure many of you could as well.


"the mental space one enters into when absorbed by sewing may also play an important role in understanding its benefits. Sewists commonly talk of the "meditative quality" of sewing, asserting that with their eyes open and needle in hand, they're able to gain the same sense of calm and grounding associated with meditation"

"it seems that it may also offer a space in which to temporarily retreat from the world, delivering us back to our loved ones energized, refreshed, and more positive"

There is more but if I go on I wouldn't know where to stop!

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Have you been able to visit with Benita Skinner and take part in the Online Quilters Meet and Greet? You still have until the end of the month to qualify for some great quilty prizes!

You can read my post for the Meet and Greet HERE.

That's all for now....my husband is making breakfast and it smells like the bacon is almost ready!

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching. I know I'll certainly have some time to visit with all the bloggers to see what they are stitching on today!

Let's Do The Time Warp!

Hi there!

It feels like it's been a while since I've had a few moments to actually sit for a bit and have the time to do a blog post.

We had a mini-vacation weekend....just local stuff, but had a wonderful time.

Part of it was spent in Stratford, Ontario, which is famous for it's theatre and shops....and restaurants!

We went to see the live production of Rocky Horror Picture Show and I have to say it's probably the best theatre that we've seen. I highly recommend it. 

The tickets are pricey and scarce, but we did manage to get seats way at the top....and only $25! I was a bit leery of how good the seats might be at that price, but they were terrific. At the Avon Theatre I doubt there is a bad seat in the house.

I did intend on "dressing up", but chickened out at the last minute. I think I was nervous of walking from the hotel to the theatre (all of about three blocks!) in fishnet stockings.

I'm kicking myself now, as there were many people going all out...

I even bought a souvenir to commemorate such a great evening out...

I've been poking away at my applique. This week I've been paying attention to my Tomato Soup, The Sequel...

I feel like I've been making good progress on this 24" block, but there are still many leaves to applique...

....and when I hung the block up for a picture, I can see there is a lot of blank spots that will be needing filling in...

I've also kept up with the daily Instagram sewalong for the Tula Pink City Sampler...

This is the third time that the sewalong has been hosted. I participated the first time...

....and now again this time. I have challenged myself to just use mainly "shirtings" with a few other fabrics thrown into the mix. We are up to Block 68 of the 100 blocks...lots of fun!

I've put a few blocks up on to the design wall to get a taste of how this is progressing. I'm not sure if it's working out or not, but I'll carry on. I'm starting to wonder about sashing....what colour...or no sashing at all???

We got a bit of a tease on Instagram yesterday that this will be the final rendition of this sewalong, but that there will be a new one next year featuring another pattern!

Just a reminder that I am taking part this month in 2018 Online Meet and Greet with Benita Skinner.

You can read my post for the Meet and Greet HERE if you missed it. There are around 75 bloggers participating, and with each one that you visit you get a chance to win a lovely quilty prize.

Good luck!

I am linking up with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers, and with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social.

100 Days 100 Blocks....again!

The Summer days have been passing by so quickly that it's been difficult to sit down and do any posting here.

In 2016 I took part in a daily sewalong on Instagram to make the Tula Pink City Sampler quilt. I enjoyed it so much and love the quilt... I was so tempted to join in again last year but resisted the temptation....so proud :)

So, this month they started again and I was back and forth....then Day 1 came and I jumped in. There are 100 simple but awesome blocks and we are supposed to post a block a day for a 100 days. You can see all the wonderful blocks on Instagram using the hashtag #100days100blocks.

Here is my quilt from 2016.....

This time I am challenging myself to be very subtle with just a little bit of colour once in a while. Here are a couple of my blocks....

....and here are the first 20 blocks all together....

I think it's going to work!

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 We've had a nest of barn swallows above the front door for the past while...what a mess! We did try to deter them at first, but they won and set up camp.

The baby birds took many days of perching like this before finally getting up the nerve to fly the coop...

In this picture you can see one of the baby birds and it's momma or papa on a branch not far from our front door..

This morning I finished the next block in my Simple Folk BOM. I think I'll take a break for a couple of days and do a couple of my Dutch Treat blocks.

That's all for today....gotta get going to get my car checked out. For once, in a long time, we have absolutely no plans for the weekend so you know what that means!!!.....I can finally paint my dining room. I'm so excited!

Today I am linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?.

Quilt Show news and some slow stitching

It was especially nice to sit with my stitching this morning. It feels like such a busy time lately that I feel fortunate to have a hobby that takes me out of the busy times and allows me to just "be".

I've been poking away at this block, which is one of the Sarah Fielke BOM's for 2018, Simple Folk...

My go-to method of doing circles is not conducive to fussy-cutting. I'm not terribly fond of my circles on this block....it would have been a perfect opportunity to test the Appliquick method. Oh well, I'm sure there will be more opportunity in this quilt to try it...I'll live with this block, warts and all.

I'll be going on a Quilt Retreat this week and, of course, I've packed way too much....but it is good to have choices!

I hope to get the pieced blocks for Simple Folk somewhat started. This is what they will look like...

This is the big weekend of our guild's Quilt show in Simcoe, Ontario. 

We had a wonderful start on Friday....and then a huge wind storm blew in with gusts of up to 120km winds. 

About an hour before the show was to finish up for the day the electricity went out at the venue and we had to close early.....and the power didn't come on again 'til mid-Saturday!

So, the show did not open on Saturday....we are having the second day today. Thanks to social media, we're hoping that the word has spread. 

I haven't even had a chance, myself, to take in all the quilts, as on Friday I was volunteering at the show's boutique booth. So I'll be looking forward to seeing the show today....as well as meeting a couple of fellow bloggers!

I did whip around quickly before the show started on Friday to get pictures of my quilts hanging. I love the look of my Tula Pink City Sampler and look forward to it finally being on my bed after the show...

I'm still happy with the coral sashing....even though I originally went to Quilt Junction looking for grey fabric!

One of our vendors specializes in EPP, Eagle's Wings Quilts....and she also happens to be a blogger who links up with Slow Sunday Stitching!

I haven't done much EPP in a couple of years, but I do love to do it, so I picked up this pattern to start at some point...

That's it for today...wish us luck on a successful day at the quilt show! I hope it works out after all the hard work everyone has put in :)

I am linking up with Kathy at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.

OMG....January Finish

This month's goal was to complete the quilt top to my Tula Pink City Sampler.....otherwise known on Instagram as #100blocks100days.

The challenge was to piece a block a day from the Tula Pink book for 100 days....and then to try to have the top together this month.

The book is beautiful and it was a lot of fun to do the blocks and share with others around the world. To qualify for the prizes everyone had to post the appropriate block per day on Instagram.

The blocks were completed and then the fun began of arranging them on the design wall....

All along, my thought was to assemble the quilt with a grey sashing...I wasn't certain if it was to be light, medium or dark grey, I just assumed that something would talk to me when I went shopping for it.

Well, as I looked at all the solids at Quilt Junction didn't something unexpected happen! A lovely salmon-coloured fabric just begged to be the chosen sashing fabric....I couldn't ignore it....

I love it!!! I'm almost sorry to have this one done with as I enjoyed the whole process. I think it will be put aside 'til perhaps Summer when I'll take some time to custom quilt it.


After Christmas we took advantage of the Boxing Week sales and bought ourselves a pasta maker. 

So much fun, and what a difference from store bought pasta!

This past week we made a lovely supper using the pasta maker and looking up a recipe we'd seen on TV lately....Jamie Oliver's 7-veg pasta sauce which you can find HERE.

The recipe made up a big batch of super-tasting sauce, we give it two thumbs up. There was enough for us to freeze two baggies-full for future meals.

Believe me, it was as delicious as it looks in the photo....

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the finishing party for OMG, One Monthly Goal.