A finish and a start....

This week it feels so good to be back to a bit of needle-turn applique.

I've been doing a lot of knitting lately, and a bit of handquilting. 

I added a few pieces to this block of my Animal Album quilt, designed by Kim McLean, one of my favourite designers. I think this is the third of her quilts that I have done.

What got me back to my applique was receiving the instructions this week for Block 2 in a BOM I'm doing, A Curious Journey by Susan Smith. I've started a Susan Smith quilt in the past which is currently in the UFO pile :(

Here is Block 1 of this quilt...

For Block 2, I decided to actually follow instructions. Some designers will have you glue all the pieces onto the background all at once, then start stitching. I thought the un-sewn pieces would just get in the way...and at first they seemed to, but after just this morning working on this block it feels ok. 

Will I continue with this method?...probably not. But I do believe in at least trying because you just never know when you'll find something that will just tweak what you already have in your tool box.

That is not all of the applique pieces, there will some fish swimming about in the middle, etc.

Here is what I accomplished this morning....a little bit of stems and tulips...

Some other slow-stitching this week was sewing the binding on my Unity quilt, which was the latest Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt. Man, I worked hard on the piecing in the last week to get this done. I didn't do the last border because I just needed this one done. I hurried so much that my final border did not work out just right. I regret that, but told myself that the 4-year old that was receiving this for a birthday present would not notice, or care....what a rotten attitude, I know....and I'm not usually one to think this way. I hate to admit it, but there you go...now you know!

And here is Lachlan with his quilt....only a week late for his birthday!

Coming up this week is Canada Day. To celebrate, my grandson, Kirby, and I signed up for a Canada Day Virtual 5k (all the races so far this year are virtual, so sad).

We ran the race yesterday at the track that is in the Fisherville Lion's Park.

It was hot...too hot for me. I'm not a good runner in the heat and humidity, but we got it done! 

It makes me so happy that my grandson likes to run with me!

I always wear a "buff" on my head when I run and I bought this one for my race in Scotland last year...

It was nice to wear it again yesterday to celebrate our Canada Day Virtual 5k!

On that note, I'll wish you a happy Canada Day...hopefully we can all find a way to celebrate even if that means a little extra time to get some slow-stitching done!

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching. I think I'll take a bit of time to see what others are working on today, hopefully you can, too!

Lazy Sundays

I feel like it's been a lazy day...not sure why, as I just took some time this morning to finish up a quilt on the longarm. 

I don't usually work on a Sunday but this week may turn itself a bit upside-down, so I thought it was a good idea to get a head-start on the week.

I did start my day, however, as always.....with a bit of hand-stitching.

I've been taking part in an easy Instagram sewalong called #scrapbagsampler. When the sewalong is done there will be a tutorial on making a little tote of some kind with the blocks.

The block I completed today is the hexie one...to give you an idea of scale, it measures 2.5x6.5. None of the blocks have taken very long at all. I especially liked learning the wonky star with the two fabrics in the star points, and I liked the curvy one.

I've been taking part in a knit-along, also, learning two-at-a-time socks on 9" circular needles. You have to post a picture of each step before getting the next set of instructions.

These are pretty basic socks, but you have to make these in order to progress to the more intricate ones. 

Much to my surprise, I have liked working on these short needles. I didn't think any method would beat out DPN's for me. Live and learn.

I just had a few rows to knit this morning to get me up to where I needed to be.


Then I switched over to my applique....what a productive morning!....although the first two projects didn't actually take too long at all.

I want to finish the Animal Album blocks that have been started before deciding what will come next.

The squirrel still needs to be re-done....it is on the original background that I had started with before changing my mind.


That's all for now. I think I'll spend a bit of time in the sewing room.

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching.

It's a mystery to me....

I am one who has always enjoyed taking part in a mystery quilt sew-along. I know there are others who simply don't like them, and that's ok :)

A quilty friend of mine used to lead many mystery quilts for one of my guilds years ago and it was always a whole lot of fun. 

This week I am trying a new mystery for me....a knitting mystery.

The pattern is called The Impromptu Shawl.

It starts out with four balls of lovely yarn...

There are some nice fibres here...merino, alpaca, and the grey one is 50% Yak!

With the pattern is a deck of cards. Each suit...hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs....represents one of the balls of yarn. The numbers on the cards denotes which pattern of knitting to follow.

After doing the first bit of the pattern, I drew my first card from the deck...

The jack of diamonds tells me to use the multi-coloured ball and which pattern to follow. 

I can tell already that I'm going to love the process of knitting this shawl. I really feel like sitting and knitting all day today!

I also did a bit of applique on my Animal Album quilt. I really don't want this one to fall by the wayside. I've put it on my list of quilts that I'd like to complete in time for our quilt show in 2021, so hopefully this will keep me at it.

I had a visit with a friend this week and she was talking about how there are two kinds of crafters...Process and Projects. 

Projects....The crafter who creates because of a need of the completed craft...such as making a quilt for a wedding gift or a new grandbaby.

Process....Those of us who create for the love of the "doing". I've known for a long time that this is who I am. I love the journey of the project...the getting there is an added bonus. 

I will love the journey of the Impromptu Shawl....I hope I enjoy wearing it in the end, lol...who knows.

And, of course, I love the journey of hand-stitching. I know most of us who do needlework are in the same category as me. 

Looking back, I can only think of a couple of people in my life that made quilts only when the need arose...not just for the sake of the making. For me, I do it for the enjoyment....and I know from experience that each quilt, etc., will one day speak to who it is for. 

This has happened to me as recently as last month when I gifted a quilt to a person in my life who was obviously who the quilt was intended.

I hope you will comment on which kind of creator you are...but I have an inkling that I already know what most of the answers will be.

I am linking up with Kathy today for Slow Sunday Stitching...where I'm sure we'll see many others who are in it to enjoy the journey.

A-pickin' and a-knittin'

Good morning! 

It's a bright and beautiful start to the day....but cold!!!

I had a very early start to my day, so I had extra time to sit and pick out my swan block for the Animal Album quilt. 

If you remember from last time, I explained that I am changing up the background fabric before going any further. I decided that picking out the applique and re-using the pieces would be less trouble than making up new templates and picking out new fabrics and fussy-cutting again! 

Here is the original block....

.....and here it is now, almost all picked out...it will be worth it in the end!...

I was on a quilting retreat last weekend. It was held at Camp Trillium and was one of the best retreats I've ever attended....a lot of "extras" and I'll definitely go on this one again.

One of the demos we saw was about a site called Savor Every Stitch. If you were to go to that site and click on "patterns", then go to "Haphazard", you will find a super cool way to design your own quilt.

You go through the steps, which lead you to choose your block size (I chose 6"blocks), how many blocks (I chose the 6x6 layout), colours, and the ratio of how many large HST's to small HST's.

You then see a layout of what your quilt will look like. Then the really cool part....if you don't quite like the layout, you just keep pushing the button until you see one that you fancy.

Here is my little quilt...it measures 36" square and I think it will perfect for a lap quilt during my morning slow-stitching!

(Thanks, Stephanie, for introducing us to Savor Every Stitch!)


Back in the day I used to knit socks....a lot. I've wondered recently why I don't knit socks anymore. I realised that I stopped after my days of being a hockey mom ended. Most of my sock knitting was done at the arena...and, in the summertime, at the baseball diamond.

I'm determined to pick up sock-knitting again. We took a drive this week to Needle Emporium in Ancaster. I haven't been in a looong time and felt like going to what is, in essence, a candy store for knitters. 

I came away with three yarns....so this knitting-thing better stick!

 I also bought a circular needle to give "magic loop" knitting a try. I'm not sure what the deal is with magic loop, except for the fact that you can knit two socks at a time (will try that next time), and it's not as easy to lose stitches when carrying your project from place to place. 

I'll keep at it and reserve judgement for now.

This one is a Schoppel yarn called Zauberball Crazy in Colour # 1701, Papagei. I am using my favourite brand of circular needles, Addi.

Here are the yarns that are waiting in the wings...

With the Uneek Sock yarn I will try the two-at-a-time method.

That's all for today! I will be spending time in the car today, which means I can work on the knitting that is kept in the car. 

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

Confession time

So, I am definitely one to take on too many projects.....anyone who knows me can vouch for that. 

(I also don't believe I am alone in that, am I right?)

I even called a friend yesterday to find someone to commiserate with and hopefully get some inspiration on tackling all the totes and bags full of ufo's. It can be a bit overwhelming at times.

On that note....here's my confession time.....

I have started two new hand-stitching projects....what's wrong with me??? lol

One is a Kim McLean pattern called Animal Album. I love her designs, I think this the third one of hers I am doing.

I began with this block...

....sorry, wrinkly and also a dull day for taking pictures.

Well, after almost two blocks done I can say that the background is definitely not working for me. I made the difficult decision to change my mind.

Actually, not a difficult decision. I'd rather change things up now than continue just because I've already "put so much work into it" already. 

So I've brightened the quilt up with a white print for the background and started a new block this past week...

Such a dull picture, sorry....again it's a dull day. The block is much brighter in person, you'll see!


New project #2.....

That is just one block of Over The Hill by Wendy Williams. I hope to have the prep-work done for it in the next few days so I can take this one along to a quilting retreat next week.

Here is what I have done so far...

I'd like to share an update on my progress with Intermittent Fasting. I started mid-November in 2018. This has been a surprisingly easy process and it's free. 

Here is a picture showing me on the right the week I began, not the best picture but I know that's when I started. The picture on the left is today...

The scale hasn't moved a whole lot. The truth-sayer is my belt, which has moved from the first notch to the fifth....and soon the sixth. I feel like a much younger version of myself.

Lol...I also think this way of life has given me the confidence to embrace my natural hair colour!

People may think that my running is what has instigated the change, but no....I was running two years before starting IF, and while I know that I grew stronger, leaner muscles and vastly improved my cardiovascular health, my fat content hadn't changed. You can't outrun a bad diet.

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

Have a wonderful Autumn day!

Sit back and relax a bit

Today I need to find some time to prep a bit of applique. 

I do have some EPP to do and I did do a bit this morning. My Tula Nova is coming along nicely, but it's getting bigger and a bit more cumbersome to work on.

You can see on the purple-striped section that I am trying something new-to-me. 

There is something called the flat-back stitch for joining EPP pieces, and I've tried it before...unsuccessfully. My attempt looked sloppy and loose. The purpose of this stitch is to actually look neater and not see see stitches from the front, as you can kind of see when doing the whip-stitch.

I tried using painters' tape for this method, but it didn't hold well enough while inserting multiple-pieced segments, like I'm doing now. Then I tried gift-wrapping tape....stickier than the painters' tape but not sticky enough to leave any residue on the fabric.

I have to say, my attempt at the flat-back stitch this time was much more successful...

Hmmm, maybe you can see in the picture above....on the right of the otter is some whip-stitching....to the left of him is the flat-back stitches. 

As you can see, I'm still "old school" and baste my pieces to the foundation paper. I'm not finding it easy to do the newfangled gluing method.....and that's ok, as I even enjoy the thread-basting process.

Thanks to SS for walking me through the flat-back stitch. I really do try to be open to different methods even though I may stumble a bit at first :)


So, today I am fatigued. It feels too busy, physically, lately. I've been doing some painting this week...this morning I'll do the last hour or so needed to finish the job then really take it easy for the rest of the day.

I'd really like to prep the next block on my Kim McLean Animal Album quilt.

Here is the first block, practically done....I just need to prep three more small circles....

I do love very busy quilts!!

The other day I posted a picture of me with my arms full of garlic, you can see that post here.

Yesterday we tackled braiding the garlic. It was fun, and the first attempt without supervision. There is definitely room for improvement, but I'm quite happy with the result...

I think we should have made two smaller braids instead of the one, but once we got going it was hard to stop!

Well, I'd better get to my painting. I've always enjoyed painting, but I'm ready to have it done with.

I'll leave you with a picture of how my Temperature Quilt is coming along. This is it complete from January to the end of July...

I'm loving this one, and may even think of doing another version for 2020!  

Have a lovely day, and hopefully you get a chance to sit back and relax a bit.

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching.

A little bit of applique and a little bit of handquilting....

I truly didn't think it would be such a long gap between this post and my last one.....the days slip by so quickly sometimes!

Today marks the 7th anniversary of Slow Sunday Stitching hosted by Kathy at Kathy's Quilts. Every week she invites us to share the projects that we are stitching away at. 

Lately I came across the new quilt published by Kim McLean, called Animal Album. I had no interest in starting a new applique project, but I just love Kim's designs and I finally caved in....thinking I'd get the pattern and it would be a new start for 2020.

I've completed two of Kim's patterns and loved both of them. I told myself it's ok to just work on one block...just one! 

Kim McLean's are "a little bit much", as I overheard a woman say once when she was viewing my Stars and Sprigs at the Fair a few years ago...and as I began this block I've realised, once again, that I really do like quilts that are "a little bit much"!

The blocks are 18" and there are still a lot more pieces to go on block #1.

This week I also started hand-quilting a quilt that was part of an online sewalong that just wrapped up, called Shimmer...

I love that I can baste quilts on the longarm. Back in the day I would pin quilts to the wall-to-wall carpeting that I used to have in the living room and spend a few hours crawling around the floor basting them. This is so much quicker and easier, and a service I love to provide for my hand-quilters.

Then I just had to sit down and put those first lovely stitches into the quilt. I wondered which feeling is better....those first few stitches quilted on a quilt....or the last few? I don't think I know the answer, both are pretty good!

My favourite thread and needles....and my new thimble, ready for action...

....and who'd a thunk it....I can't use my beautiful new thimble to quilt with .... it will have to be only used for applique :(

I wrote about my new silver thimble in my last post, which you can find here. 

I bought it at the quilt show hosted by the Genesee Valley Quilt Club in Rochester, NY. I do have a few more pictures to share with you from this wonderful show.

I always love house quilts. This one was beautiful and you can see in the close-up one of the "pictures" that were quilted into the background...

I like when we can see different quilters' interpretations of the same quilt. Especially nice when the quilt is from one of my favourite designers, like this one designed by Sue Garman...

This one is my favourite...

The following quilt was their raffle quilt...I haven't heard from them so I guess I didn't win. It's probably the most beautiful raffle quilt that I've ever seen at a quilt show. I also love the extra effort they put into the beautiful feature around the edge of the quilt...

I always love a good scrappy quilt. This one really caught my eye, I think the blocks are 3 or 4"....

I'm thinking it would make a good "leaders and enders" block. I made one up to try it out. I cut a 3.5" square, sliced it in half and and inserted a strip...

I seem to remember someone once being hesitant about attempting a scrappy quilt, worrying about how everything would go together. But I also remember hearing how each of the fabrics are usually in your stash because you liked them at some point, so they should be wonderful together in a scrap quilt!

Today I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching. I hope you have a moment to visit with her to wish her a happy anniversary and maybe visit with other slow-stitchers.

Have a lovely Summer's day!