Scrappy Saturday - yellow

Just checking in to report on my progress with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for February.

My RSC21 challenge is to move along on my Chapman Coverlet. This is a do-able challenge for me as the blocks finish at just 2".

My goal is to do at least 10 of the little blocks if not more....and it almost always results in more because they are quick and easy.

 

This will be a real scrappy quilt in the end and I know I'm going to love it! Maybe I'll carve out some time this weekend to sew some of the blocks into four-sies. 

Here's a reminder of how these blocks will go together...

You can see on some of the blocks that I do think it's fun to fussy-cut when possible on quilts like this!

I've been taking part in a Boho Heart sewalong. This weekend I'd like to get week 2 completed. Here are the blocks from week 1...

I have no particular theme for the Boho Heart quilt, except for the fact that it is to be bright and cheerful.

One of the things I love about sewalongs through Facebook is the motivation...but more than that I like seeing all the different takes on a particular quilt from all around the world.

That's all for now...time to head up to the sewing room! I am linking up with So Scrappy's post for Scrap Happy Saturdays where we can see what others are working on in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge for January....complete!

 I'm off to a good start with my January blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This month the colour is pink.

I'd decided to make at least ten blocks per month for my Chapman Coverlet to help move this quilt along a bit. Usually this is an excellent take-along project....but with a "stay at home" order now in effect there is nowhere to take this along to! 

The blocks are only 2" finished, so they whip up in no time. Afterwards they will be sewn into "four-sies".

Below is  a picture of what I have accomplished so far. Some of the top ones have been sewn together.

 

I had a nice comment on Instagram from a quilter who has completed her Chapman Coverlet. I took a look at hers and she says it took 1400 blocks! I don't know if she meant the individual blocks or 1400 of the sewn-together ones. I'll be able to do the math, as she also told me how big her quilt is. 

I had the thought to calculate how big I want my quilt to be so I would know how many blocks I need....but I don't think I want to know just yet....sounds too scary, lol.

It's a pretty laid-back day today. I'm using some of the day to do some applique prep-work for my Curious Journey quilt. 

This BOM is a mystery quilt. Maybe after I complete a few more of the small blocks I'll put everything up on the design wall to get an idea of how this may go together. I know some people can't handle the though of doing a mystery quilt...but I love them!....and, of course, I'm a sucker for a sewalong.

It's a beautiful, sunny day outside...we've been having such extremely dreary days lately. Maybe I'll put on some real clothes later and go for a walk to soak up some Vitamin D. 

I am linking up with SoScrappy for the RSC21 (Rainbow Scrap Challenge '21). 

Goodbye 2020

 Well, we've made it to the end of what has probably been one of the most difficult year's most of us have ever been through. 

I do want to reflect a bit today on what good I want to take from this pandemic time into my future....things like slowing down the pace a bit, and enjoying life's little pleasures.

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but I do have one in mind inspired by my friend Terry. 2021 will be the year of tackling UFO's!!! Really, I mean it this time!!!

I also want to continue the Intermittent Fasting lifestyle that I've enjoyed for over two years now. I can't see any reason that I would stop since I feel much healthier and younger for it.

Yesterday I pulled out the first UFO that I had in mind to tackle...my Geometric Fun quilt...

This is three of the 20 blocks in the quilt. I have to say, it is not a user-friendly pattern...which is why I walked away from it in May 2019. But, I've always intended to get back to it.

Looking at it on the design wall I just felt a bit of dread. So, I've let this one go...no longer a UFO, but a ______ (we have to think of an acronym for a quilt that we decide to never finish). Quilting is something I do for fun...this quilt is not fun and there is still much to complete. I do feel a sense of relief making the decision to not continue....so it must be the right choice.

So many choices of what to work on. I've decided on returning to my Midnight at the Oasis, a Jen Kingwell design...

I'll say this one is 4yrs old....I know I was hand-piecing the triangles on the centre medallion on an airplane in December of 2016. There are a number of small churn-dash blocks on one of the following rounds and that stopped me from continuing. I am glad to return to this quilt...what a difference from when I had the previous quilt up on the design wall!

You'll notice that I've added a new "button" over in the right-hand margin for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2021. I think I may join in on it this year (crap, did I just break my resolution before 2021 even started????). It's a way of busting the stash a bit....it's worth a look if you want to consider joining in. Just click on the button and it will take you over to SoScrappy's blog, the host of the RSC. The colour for January is pink. 

I've finally had time during my Christmas break to do a bit of sewing. I think I'll try to incorporate a bit of sewing in each of my days....I really do seem to get a lot more done by hand than machine!

Here is what I've been working on this week, my Spice Market quilt...

This is not the final layout for Spice Market, it's just all the blocks completed so far, hung willy-nilly. The next step is many, many appliqued circle blocks. I find the solid fabrics very unforgiving when doing needleturn applique....I will have to some fancy quilting later on to disguise that fact!

I've just thought of something to work on for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!....and I won't be breaking my "no new project" resolution!  I have been working sporadically on my Chapman Coverlet....well, not quite sporadically, make that rarely. So I will make 10 blocks per month....they are quick and so easy, they just measure 2.5" unfinished. Easy peasy.

I will be very happy to get back to my Chapman Coverlet. It will be a glorious quilt, I'm sure....if you like scrappy, and I do.

 Has anyone watched Bridgerton on Netflix? I finished it yesterday, and I find myself reading this post in the narrator's voice, who happens to be Julie Andrews. 

Well, I'd better go and get something accomplished...or not. It may be a lazy day today. I've actually dressed up a bit to usher out the old year in style....so maybe I'll relax with an extra cup of coffee and my book. 

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

Happy New Year everyone!

Slow stitching....

Some early morning slow stitching going on here this morning...as per usual. 

A little earlier than usual as I have to be on my way soon to Niagara Falls for a race....looks like a beautiful day for it, too!

Here's the best picture I could take yesterday of the Falls when we went down yesterday for my race kit...

....and here's a picture of me yesterday trying to rock a red lipstick....I figured if I could be confident enough to do the red lip, I would be a confident runner today!....

This morning I've been working on my Chapman Coverlet blocks (since I haven't been able to take the time to prep other applique).

I love these little blocks, they are 2.5" unfinished and use up my scraps nicely. I pulled this project back out this month as it is a perfect one to work on during travel. I went to Scotland this month and am happy to say I loved every moment of it. It was everything I'd hoped it would be and I think if I didn't have family ties here I would definitely become a Highland girl.

I know it may look like a hot mess at the moment but it will be glorious when it's done. To me, it will be representative of what a quilt means to me....a cacophony of colour (I love alliteration!).

This week I also managed to put a few quilting stitches into my Shimmer quilt, which had been put aside as it was a bit warm to work on during the Summer...

Here are a couple of highlights from our trip to Scotland...

I love the castles we saw. This is Doune Castle. I wonder if it looks familiar to any of you? As the sign says, it was featured in Game of Thrones, which I've never seen as I don't get the channel, but I'm told I would enjoy it. 

It was also used for Monty Python and the Holy Grail....when I was in the small gift shop as we paid our entrance I asked if there were there any coconuts for sale, lol....and the answer was yes! 

And, for you Outlander fans (like myself), it represented Castle Leoch in the TV show.

The headphones that were available to narrate during touring around the castle actually had Terry Jones (Monty Python) and Sam Heughan (our Jamie) as narrators. 

I'm just posting this picture because I like it so much. It is Urquhart Castle, overlooking Loch Ness...

...and Loch Ness itself, so beautiful...this one taken at the charming town of Fort Augustus...

I did do a 10k race at Loch Ness / Inverness while I was there...so exciting! I admit to a couple of tears at the starting gate as I thought of my Granny emigrating from Scotland 99 years ago...

(best race logo, ever!)...

Well, that's about all I have time for this morning! Have a wonderful Sunday and I hope you can take time for some slow stitching of your own.

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching. Check it out to see what others are working on today.

Sunday stitches....

What a fast week it's been!

It surprises me, as February always seems to drag out for me even though it is the shortest month. 

We have to go out this afternoon down Niagara-way to check out my daughter and her girlfriend's new house that they are buying. It's not supposed to be nice weather at all today, but you wouldn't know it by looking out the window right now....still and sunny!

I hope the weather holds off. After we are finished looking at the house I want to visit my favourite winery and favourite Mexican restaurant while in the area. 

I haven't had much time to sew this week, but hand-stitching always seems to get accomplished :)

This morning I worked on a couple of my Chapman Coverlet blocks....these literally take moments to complete as they are so tiny...

.....and a couple more from the other day, so you can get more of an idea of the scale of the blocks...

Hmm, maybe we will get the windstorm, after all....as I'm sitting writing this post it's as if a curtain has been drawn, it's got so dark all of a sudden.....and the wind is picking up right away!

I did get my block completed this week for the Hand Pieced QAL...

....I love this block!....although I know I was daydreaming as I stitched, and had to un-sew a couple of times when I sewed things together incorrectly. There will be nine blocks for this sewalong, here are my blocks, so far...

This morning I did the applique on this little Dear Jane block...

I am so pleased with this little block and can picture a whole scrappy quilt made of it. (Uh oh, sounds like another "squirrel" moment)

Today was the first time trying out the Clover Black Gold needles. I was lucky enough to find them at my local quilt shop during a class yesterday. I've been curious about them since hearing Kathy from Kathy's Quilts recommend them.

I did enjoy using this needle....hard to explain why, but it did feel good in my hand. 

My only complaint...I'm not one to like a package of different-sized needles, I'd much rather buy a whole package of the size I prefer. Maybe they do come packaged that way, I'll have to keep an eye out.

I also worked a bit on this month's block for my Queen's Garden quilt...

I've enjoyed this block, as it's a bit easier than the first four....but funnily enough, I'm finding it a bit boring and may try to dress it up with a bit more embroidery with the perle cotton. 

It seems like I've accomplished a lot of slow-stitching this morning....but, really, each project was just a little bit of work. Nice to see progress, though!!

Well, now it's looking a bit brighter outside again. I hope we get to stick to the plan today. I'm so looking forward to that chimichanga!!

Today I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching, and with Elm Street Quilts for the Hand Pieced QAL.

Have a lovely day, that hopefully includes some quilty time.

Snow Days

I don't know what it is about "snow days"....on Tuesday the schools were cancelled again due to bad weather (not that this means anything for me at this point of my life!), and my husband didn't have to go to work. 

For some reason, snow days make it difficult for me to discipline myself to work on the longarm.

So....I got a bit of sewing done!

First off, I needed to catch up on my Temperature Quilt....

I like it even more now that the second row (February) is being added.


Then I worked on this week's block for the Harry Potter QAL. The block this week is Luna....

This block took all the concentration I could muster. I kept thinking, "done is better than perfect"....but in the end she turned out just fine.....whew!!! Like I mentioned on my Instagram post, I love the block, but I'm glad there is just one Luna in the quilt!

Here are my blocks, so far...

I'm quite happy with them!

I also sewed this week's block for 52blocks52weeks, hosted by CQA....

I was wondering whether to continue with the 52blocks52weeks sewalong, as I seem to have so much going on....but it's such a small commitment every week I've decided to keep playing :)


In November of 2016 I posted about a quilt I was excited about starting, the Chapman Coverlet. You can read about it HERE.

I had started off by appliqueing two of the tiny 2.5" blocks, as you can see in the post. Well, that was about it for that one, it promptly got forgotten about. Although...from time-to-time it would whisper to me and I would promise to get back to it one day, as I still liked it.

Even this past week, while I was tidying a bit, I came across the two lonely blocks again....and thought, "someday".

Then something funny happened....someone commented on the Instagram post regarding my Chapman Coverlet asking if I had kept it up, even though she noticed the post was from 2016.

That's all I needed, I guess, a kick in the pants. I chatted back and forth with this woman on Instagram and looked at the pictures of her Chapman Coverlet....and got inspired.

These blocks are small and quick....I can work on them frequently and not take time from bigger projects.

This will be a glorious, scrappy quilt!! 

That's all for now. It's actually another snowy, blustery day in my neighbourhood, but I will make my way up to work on the longarm....discipline in action!!!

Please, stay warm and safe....maybe you can have a sew-day???

I am linking up with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers. 

I am also linking this post to the first Harry Potter Linky Party hosted by Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts.

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!