It's an absolute perfect Summer weekend in my neighbourhood. Nice temperatures and low humidity. I could take a few months of this!
Today Kathy at Kathy's Quilts talks about doing some stitching outside....I think that's a great idea and I'm working on the perfect little block for it, as there are no applique bits to blow away in the breeze!
I've resurrected my Dutch Treat blocks. I really should try to get these going more often, even to do two blocks per month would keep this quilt moving along nicely. Hmm, maybe I'll put a reminder on my calendar!
Here is the block I finished this morning.....
This block is called Poirot....it makes me smile because I've always been an Agatha Christie fan and the block really does seem to be a nod to Poirot's infamous mustache.
I started on the second block that I have prepped...
I guess you can't see much of what it will look like. The tracing is quite faint with my new favourite marking pen and even my basting stitches are blending in.
Yes, I think it's a good idea to put this on my calendar! I am glad to see a little improvement in my fiddly reverse applique on these two blocks. It has helped to spray starch the top fabric, it seems to reduce raveling.
This weekend has been one of the first in a long while that we haven't been busy so I'm taking the opportunity to finally paint my dining room. I just need to get the second coat done today.....it's looking super!
I am linking up with Kathy today for Slow Sunday Stitching.
So far this week has been a week of "fails".
I attempted a bit of paper-piecing. Eventually the inevitable happens...
....one of these things is not like the other! Also, it was the second time I did this within the hour, so I walked away....maybe later today I'll try again.
I haven't worked on my Dutch Treat blocks in a few months, so I prepped one to work on at guild last week and I finished it up over the last couple of days. Why oh why is reverse applique so difficult???!!! I'm not particularly happy with this, but it's the best I can do so it stays...
Enough about that!
On the weekend I threw some fat quarters that are for a new applique project into the washing machine with my regular laundry. Usually all the threads that come loose end up in the lint trap, right?
Well, who knew that my husband's socks must be some form of Velcro....
I should have thought of taking a picture of the whole week's worth of socks that were exactly the same, but I didn't think of it 'til this last one, haha!!
I lamented the other day about my sore, swollen wrist which I think may be from my hand-quilting this past week. One nice thing about blogging is that you do get some help from readers.
I had a comment from Julie at Pink Doxies to possibly try a compression glove while I'm quilting. I've ordered one and will look forward to trying this....thanks, Julie!
I suggest visiting Julie for a look at her post on How To Create Quilts With Drama. It's a good read and she offers some valuable tips.
I returned to my Down the Rabbit Hole today after a couple of days off so I could finish binding another quilt.
I left the thimble in the picture so you could get an idea of the scale of the rabbits. I'm not sure how to quilt the rabbits, they will definitely need something. For now, I'll just SID and return to them later....
Writing this post has brought some thought about my hand-work. I have had many "mature" friends over the years worry that their work is deteriorating due to physical limitations....eyesight, arthritis, etc. I've always commented to this by saying they should just enjoy their craft and not worry about perfection. I think the time is coming for me to practice what I preach. There are definitely some days that my hands waver a bit holding the needle.
I am going to choose to look at it this way...
My quilting journey is full of many chapters and I want to enjoy them all. My first quilts, like many of us, are obviously "first quilts"! Then they progress and become our best work. Now, in my middle-age, my stitches are changing once again. But I will make the choice to enjoy my craft for what it is on any given day....because I quilt to make me happy....and I choose to be happy because it is good for my health (that last bit is a quote, not actually my words!).
I remember as a hockey mom some parents being so upset at their child's performance. I would say to them to give the child a break, because on any given day that child is doing their best on that day. This philosophy has stuck with my in different ways over the years, and now I will use it in my stitching.
So....now at the end of this long (boring?) self-realization I look back at the photo of my Dutch Treat block and think it's ok.....it's the best I can do today!!!
lol....thanks for sticking with my if you're still reading along!!!, this is not the blog post I started out writing a half hour ago!!
Happy Valentine's Day!
I am linking up with Lorna for Let's Bee Social, and with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers.
I'm still moaning about my Dutch Treat applique project.....so sorry!
This morning I finished up this block...
I realised as I was trying so hard to take some nice stitches without the fraying that seems to happen that I was gritting my teeth.
That's when the thought struck me.....this is what I do for fun and because I enjoy it!!!! I gave myself permission to call this one done.
So out of the 196 or so blocks needed, I have nine :(
Then I stuck the nine up on the design wall to take a picture....
Darn it all, don't they look pretty???
Maybe I'll compromise and do a block occasionally when the mood strikes.
I hope you are having a more satisfying time with your stitching this week than I am.
Today I am linking up with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday.
It feels like quite a while since I've sat and written a post.....so sorry!
For the first bit of July I had nothing quilty to talk about, then we booked an impromptu trip to Cuba!
Since being back I've been ill, along with having an infection in my ear, on my eyelid and in a gland in my armpit....not a happy camper the last few days!!! I'm starting to feel a bit more human today even if I don't look it.
We went to Toronto the day before our trip as we had a very early flight the next day. I'd never been to Yorkdale Mall, so we ventured in. I have to say, none of these stores show up in the malls that I usually frequent!
I did have fun in the Christian Louboutin shop...
As a shoe lover, I have to say I may have been drooling just a tad.
Cuba was wonderful....the best holiday we've had. I absolutely love looking up at all the varieties of palm trees...
This was our third trip to Cuba, but the first time we've spent a day in Havana. As a quilter I was in sensory overload with all the colour. I wish more countries would be so decorated in colour. I will have to visit Canada's east coast as I think the people there love to have colourful houses, as well.
For some strange reason, all the photos I took on my phone in Havana are not showing up in my Gallery, but here are a couple...
The food was great, but the pastries were over-the-top delicious! I don't usually eat much refined sugar, but this was vacation-time, right???
And, because we like to watch The Great British Baking Show, I knew that one of these pastries was a vol-au-vent and actually got to use "vol-au-vent" in a conversation!
Entertainment in Cuba is always fun and well-done. One day this woman came around to the pool to invite everyone to the evenings festivities...
I'm not going to share the photo I took with her....some sights are better off not seen!
Here are some of the entertainers from that evening...
I did take some stitching with me to Cuba.
I planned to do some sewing on my wee houses on the plane.
Luckily, I remembered that I should trim the pieces ahead of time as I didn't want to risk taking scissors on the plane and have them taken from me by security. So, I trimmed them in the car on the way to Toronto....which was a good way to pass the time as I'm not a good highway passenger!
Those blue scissors are always at the spot where I applique in my house. Yesterday I couldn't find them anywhere, which was driving me nuts.....then I came across this picture and remembered they were in the car. If I hadn't taken the picture it probably would have been months until looking in the glove box of the car!!
So I did do a bit of airplane sewing...
.....and in Cuba I would sit with my morning coffee on the verandah and do a bit of work on my Dutch Treat blocks. I have to admit that sometimes I find these blocks frustrating. I actually thought long and hard whether or not to continue with this project.
When new quilters come to me feeling frustrated, I tell them to allow themselves to be a beginner. Those words came back to haunt me, so I will continue and hope to see some improvement.
I hesitated to enlarge those two pictures, but what the heck, you may as well see them, warts and all!
One more thing to pass along. I've come across a blog put on by the PEI Modern Quilt Guild. In September they are hosting a Mystery Quilt-along and I'm going to join in. I've not done much in the way of Modern quilt-making, so this should be fun. You can find out more about it and see the fabric requirements HERE.
Today I am linking up with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social, with Mama Spark's World for WIP's with Friends, and with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Mid-week Makers.
Have a wonderful hot, humid Summer's day!
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!
I'd forgotten my plan to try to applique one block per week on my Dutch Treat quilt.
Yesterday I got one prepped so I could work on it with my morning coffee...
I really like this one....mainly because it lacks any inside corners, which, for me, are the most difficult part of these blocks!
The underneath fabrics are all Shweshwe fabrics that I purchased from Celeste at Meerkat Shweshwe a couple of months ago. I look forward to buying more at her booth next month at Quilt Canada!
One of the fun parts of these blocks is seeing the design appear as I poke away at the reverse applique! I have no idea how one goes about quilting this quilt, but luckily I won't have to worry about that for a couple of years :)
Here are the blocks I have completed so far...
Running update:
So, I've realised that I do enjoy taking part in races.
Back in January I signed up for the Chocolate Race in St. Catharines. Then a short while back my running group from Northshore Athletics thought it would be fun as a group to join in on the Mudcat Marathon in Dunnville.
Of course, this was all taking place this last weekend!
So this was my schedule....Thursday night run with the club, Friday evening run the Fishy 5K in Dunnville, Saturday morning run the Riverfront 5K in Dunnville and then the Chocolate Run on Sunday morning in St. Catharines.
I think I would have been ok if not for the run on Thursday...four days in a row was just a wee bit too much, lol.
Here are a couple of highlights...
Crossing the finish line Friday night when I ran my personal best!..
After the Riverfront 5k on Saturday morning with my friends, Karen and Sheila (who are also quilty friends!). In this race I got second in my age group....which is kinda hilarious to me as I am a very, very slow runner!...
Then, The Chocolate Run on Sunday where I ran with my running buddy, Paula, and her daughter, Eleta...
The race was partly run through a wooded area...I was able to take a couple of pictures because by this time I had to walk at least a third of the distance...
The Chocolate Run was highlighted by chocolate-covered strawberries handed out at the 1K mark, and some great "swag" after finishing...
....and chocolate martinis, of course....
These races certainly added to my award collection....
Paula made me a wonderful way to display my medals....
Oops...I forgot to take a picture after I replaced the backscratcher with an actual dowel!!
So, after all that running on the weekend, the last two days my body has been sooooo fatigued. Would I do it again next year?, probably, because I had so much fun! I would cut out the Thursday night run, though!!
My new tulips are finally starting to blossom....after all the old ones are on the way out....
Don't they look lovely with my pretty, yellow Spring flowers??
Have a wonderful day!
Linking up with:
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social
Quilt Fabrication for
Midweek Makers
Mama Spark's Worls for
WIP's
It was my turn today to host our little applique group that tries to get together once a month.
Well, didn't Winter throw a wrench into the plans with a snowy, blustery day!
The local OPP have asked that people stay off the roads, so I've made an executive decision and cancelled our get-together :(
Hmm, so what to do on a day like today? Work? Get my income taxes in order? Sew?
I think I will sew together the final 12" block needed for my Happy Days...
Yesterday, my Happy Days quilt shouted out to me that it will be a quilt for my granddaughter, Mina. It's so nice when a quilt finally realises who it's meant to belong to!
...and, I think I will try to sew up three blocks for my 150 CW quilt, since I'm about thirty blocks behind...
In a post from early February, which you can check out here, I talked about being intrigued by the Dutch Treat quilt.
Well, of course I did have to give it a try. It's all done in reverse applique, which I find a little tricky. (So, please be kind when looking at the photos!)
I'm trying to complete one block per week, which will make this a four-year project if I do all 196 blocks. The blocks will finish at 4".
Here are my first four....
Now, in the pictures, I can see my first block is a bit off-kilter. Oh well, this is one of those quilts that should show definite improvement as it progresses.....at least, I hope so!!!
I think the coolest part is how the design begins to appear as you carefully snip and stitch the shapes. Remember, with reverse applique the top fabric (the grey in my blocks) is in the foreground and the printed fabric is underneath and revealed in the end.
Next time I do a block I'll try to remember to take pictures of the process.
Well, better go for now since the pups are demanding breakfast.
Have a lovely, wintery day!
I'm happy to say that I've completed the centre of my Midnight at the Oasis....
I'm pretty happy with it and I hope that was the most difficult section of the quilt!
So much to do lately in the sewing room. Our twin grandbabies are arriving in just a couple of days now. Luckily, they won't know that they will have waited a week for their quilts! I have the first one put together...
Such a quick and easy pattern suggested by a quilty friend and it all starts with a charm pack. Love it!
Also, on the design wall this week was December's block for the mystery quilt offered by one of my guild's.
I have to say, it's quite the thing....through absolutely no added effort on my part I've constructed the ugliest block I've ever put together....
....and a fuzzy picture to boot!
Will this block make it into the final quilt?...who knows, only time will tell.
At guild yesterday, we had the pleasure of listening to a wonderful speaker, Celeste Compion of Meerkat Shweshwe.
I say pleasure, because she had her audience totally enthralled for probably 90 minutes! She was afraid that she'd talked too long, but the crowd reassured her that this was not the case.....as evidenced by the crowd of people buying her fabrics during break-time!
Celeste also had an example of a quilt she is working on called Dutch Treats. Here is an image of it that I've scooped off the web...
I had one of those "squirrel" moments that Sandra of Musings of a Menopausal Melon talks about....when you see a new idea that you just have to try! Oh no, here we go again!!!
I was almost going to walk away from the idea when I realised that it was all done in reverse applique...but I think I'll try a block or two to see what I think.
I even think it may be a good quilt to try Back-basting Applique, which I talked about HERE.
Of course, I took the opportunity of buying a few fat quarters of some shweshwe fabric to use in Dutch Treats. The quilt is traditionally done in indigo prints, but I couldn't resist these beautiful, bright fabrics!...
That's it, that's offically the last "start" for the next ten years.....really!!!
I am linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social and also with Silly Mama Quilts for WiPs, Works in Progress.
Have a wonderful day!
