Kentucky here we come!

Before sharing my slow stitching for today, I want to share some news! 

My Circles quilt has been accepted into the juried show in Paducah, Kentucky!.....I'm so excited and of course this means a road trip! 

I'm really not a comfortable traveler but, funny enough, I'm pretty stoked about this trip, lol.

I really didn't expect the email to say I'd been successful in getting into the show. All I can say to all of you that make such beautiful quilts is to go for it....after all, all they can say is "no"!

I did get a "no" recently from Quilt Canada 2017 for my Flower Garden quilt....

....and that was ok. It was interesting also because with the letter of rejection comes constructive criticism from the three judges....which always a good thing and something to learn from!

So, on to my stitching for today. 

My goal this month is to complete the top to my Happy Days quilt. On Friday I stuck the blocks on the design wall to get an idea of where I'm at with this quilt...

Hmm, just a couple more 12" blocks to go....and they are paper-pieced ones, not my favourite, especially since I am having trouble getting them to print out at the correct size! So I think I will take creative license and do something else.

Much to my surprise, I am short a couple of these wreath blocks...

I guess I read the pattern wrong, since I thought we needed six of them plus one corner one....but it's eight that are needed. 

That's what I'll be catching up on for my Sunday stitches this week...

...and for some reason I didn't get the last two leaves appliqued onto the corner block...

I am linking up with Kathy at Kathy's Quilts for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Today Kathy talks about today being the day to Spring Forward to Daylight Savings Time. I don't know why an hour difference affects us so. All I can say is, bring it on!!!....I am so ready for the extra daylight in the evenings. For me it means we'll be almost ready to spend more time outdoors enjoying the backyard.

I am also linking up with Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh, Scrap!.

Have a wonderful day!

A Virtual Trunk Show!

Right now there is an online Trunk Show going on and I thought I'd take part. 

You can view the Trunk Show here at Whims and Fancies....or click on the "Trunk Full of Quilts" button on the right side of the screen.

I haven't had too many finishes this year, but that's not unusual. Since most of my quilts are hand-appliqued they tend to take a couple of years to complete....plus there is the fact that I have way too many projects on the go!!!

The two quilts I am showcasing for the Trunk Show are ones that I had a lot of fun with and don't mind talking about them yet again.


Moonlight Thru' the Trees

The first is a group project where each person chose their theme and everyone contributed a block to the quilt.

My theme was neutrals. I had always wanted to do a neutral quilt, but was surprised at the difficulty I had with it...until an unusual brainstorm came upon me.

You can read about the brainstorm here, and see other posts about it here and here.

I love how my neutral quilt turned out. I am currently redecorating a guest room and this quilt will hang there.


Flower Garden

My Flower Garden quilt was a quilt that took approximately two years to applique and three weeks to quilt, although there were many days I "ran away" from the quilting, so maybe I could have had it done in two weeks.

This is my second Kim McLean quilt and I've enjoyed both of them.

Check out this post to read more about my recent completion of my Flower Garden quilt.


My Circles

I'm including a picture of My Circles quilt. It was actually completed last year but I wish stroke my ego a bit and share a picture of my quilt hanging this year at Quilt Canada in the National Juried Show, where it won a second-place ribbon in it's category. 

This is truly a highlight in my quilting life! Thanks for indulging me!!

I hope you'll take time to sit with a cup of coffee or tea and visit with the many bloggers who are sure to take part in this virtual trunk show.....I know I will!

A pretty Flower Garden!

So many quilt-hopefuls fall by the wayside...hopefully to be brought back to the needle at some point.

Some quilts hold my attention until they are finally complete, and my Flower Garden quilt has been one of them.

I'm pretty sure it's been at least a two-year project and, as I'm sure I've said before, I've loved every bit of the journey of this quilt.

I knew a long time ago that I wanted to quilt this in a way inspired by Judi Madsen of Green Fairy Quilting. I had the opportunity to take classes from her in June 2015. She is a very precise quilter and her work is fabulous. It was great to see her in action and to see her quilts up close.

This is probably the most difficult quilting I've ever done, but so much fun at the same time. There are quite a few oopsies in the quilting, but with invisible thread and such dense quilting there was no way they were being picked out. For this reason, this is not going to be a "show-quality" quilt, but it will always make me smile to look at it! 

Like I always say, it's all about the journey and this one was a good one!

The sashing is made of 1.5" squares and was worth the effort!

I wish I could get a better picture of the texture on the back but here's the best I could do....

Again, I love the use of striped fabric for the binding...

Each block was fun and whimsical to applique and it was nice to re-visit each one as it was quilted....

I know that this kind of quilting will take a lot of practice to really get it right. I'll definitely do it again, probably not on a client's quilt but on my own quilts.

In my applique group there are many of my friends that are working on the same quilt, but in different fabric choices.

One is done in Fassett fabrics, also, but with a beautiful white background fabric that really makes the bright colours sparkle. Another is in batik fabrics, another in William Morris and yet another in her "stash" fabrics. So much fun to see them all done a little differently.

I've entered this quilt and my Moonlight Through the Trees quilt into the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show. I'm on my way there today and am hoping the FlowerGarden quilt is hung so I can get a good picture of the whole thing. If not, I'll get it on my design wall when it comes home and take a picture.

I'm so happy I changed a few of the fabrics at the last minute...such as the cat...I like him so much better now!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later this same day....

So I've been to the Fair and it was so nice to see my quilt hanging so I could take it all in. I had ended up hearing in advance that my quilt had won a lovely ribbon....so nice to be recognised for what you love to do!....also secretly nice to stand back and eavesdrop on what the people say about one's quilt, lol.

To make it even more special was the fact that a long-time quilty friend of mine also won  for her quilt! Way to go Karen!!!

Now onto the next quilt! I wonder if I'll ever do another Kim McLean design. I've done two now and loved both of them! Maybe, we'll see....I'm kinda into Jen Kingwell lately. I do seem to like the Australian designers!

I came home to catch up on mowing the lawn....all of a sudden it's growing so fast after the rain we've had. A sure sign of lawn mowing is seen when a person has a white dog...

I am linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social.

Just in time...

I wasn't sure that I would enter my FlowerGarden quilt into the Fair this year or not. As I got closer to finishing it I felt the urge to push and get it done in time. 

It's been such a busy time the last few weeks that it is nice to have a reason to just sit back and relax while I bind my quilt. I have a couple of sappy movies saved on the PVR which are perfect for this task. 

I know that many people enjoy the binding....I just find it something that needs doing. Somehow this morning as I poke away I'm finding it a nice calming "chore". I've truly enjoyed this quilt from beginning to end and it's nice to sit today and reflect on it. 

It really is being completed just in time. Entries to the Fair have to be submitted either this afternoon or tomorrow morning! I was going to take it in Monday, but find myself with a reason to go to town this afternoon.....so as soon as I finish this post I'll get back at it. Hopefully, finished by noon and then given a final going over.

I joked the other day about possibly binding it in the car on the way to the fairgrounds.....and I wasn't too far off the mark!

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Hopefully you can sit back and enjoy some time to take a break today with some stitching, reading or whatever brings you peace.

Back to my hearts...

Life has certainly gotten busy around here lately!

I almost decided not to post on my blog today but will do a quick update before I go tackle the vegetable patch.

This week I am going to do my best to get caught up on my Quilty365/Year in My Life quilt. I probably have 8-10 to applique and another 10 or so to get prepped.

The "winner" heart is from my new TulaPink fabrics and is to commemorate the first day of my Learn to Run class that I have signed up for.

I have to admit, the decision to try to be more active has made me a bit emotional this past week or so. So much out of my comfort zone and feeling like a turning point in my life. I've been a bit overwhelmed.

Quilty365 will wind up in November....so close to completing the year that I don't want to give up now!

Here are a couple that I worked on with coffee this morning...

I've been working off and on on quilting my FlowerGarden quilt. I've made it past the halfway point. This has been some of the more difficult work I've done on the longarm, but at the same time lots of fun. There have been many mistakes made, but it's been a learning experience and I will definitely do this kind of work again!

Here is a peek at the pebbles on the top border...

As for the rest, you'll have to wait for another day...I'll post lots of pictures when it's done!!!

I want to send warm wishes to a dear friend who will be facing a long road in the next couple of months. I know that there are many quilters who will have you in their thoughts tomorrow and the coming weeks, xo.

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts for some Slow Sunday Stitching and with Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh,Scrap!.

Over-the-top quilting!

I'm still stitching along with my #100days100blocks project on Instagram. Instagram is the only place that this challenge is taking place. Check it out if you have a few minutes....lots of beautiful fabrics being used!

Here are my blocks for the last two weeks...

For the next while I will be hiding in my studio as I stitch away at my FlowerGarden quilt on the longarm. I'm just having a little break now as my eyes were starting to cross. 

The method of quilting I am trying is inspired by classes I took last year with Judi Madsen.  I've known since then that I wanted to try her method of quilting on this quilt. I have to say, it's turning out to be quite difficult...but there's no turning back now!

Here is a sneak peak...

On a more personal note, I'm quite proud and surprised at myself this week. 

A couple of weeks ago, a friend suggested I join the local Learn to Run programme. My first reaction was to scoff and come up with many reasons (excuses) why this wouldn't be for me. 

To cut to the chase, last night I attended my first class! I was scared but excited at the same time. For the first couple of weeks it is brisk walking....which is fine by me! 

We walked along at a brisk pace for 4.5 kilometres...which is huge for me. 

I was so proud of doing something so out of my comfort zone that I cried all the way home!

I guess the biggest surprise for me is the fact that a year ago I was experiencing a lot of pain in my body. So much so that I was very close to asking my Dr for a handicapped parking pass. What a difference a year makes!

I am linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social.

Finally a real quilt, almost!

I've been working at getting my FlowerGarden quilt together these past few days.

I'll post pics today since this quilt has been featured in many of my Slow Sunday Stitching posts this past year....or so!

Here is the top half...

.....and here is the bottom half....

Now I just need four outer borders made up of 89 1.5" squares each. So close!!!

I think I'll have some sewing time later today, so my goal will be to get at least two of these outer borders done.

I am finally ready for this one to be a completed quilt!

Today, to switch things up I thought I'd start my day with a bit of embroidery on my Life is Beautiful quilt...

Most of the stitching on Life is Beautiful is back-stitching, so it was fun to do a bit of the feather stitch (I think that is what it is called).


On the kitchen front.....I've been trying all Summer to make sourdough bread with no commercial yeast. I've had a few failures, but yesterday I finally had success.

Here is my lovely dough, all ready and waiting...

.....and here is my first loaf...

I know it looks a bit short and wide....but that's because I think I should have seasoned my new pan....the bottom of the loaf stuck to it.

I have to say, though, the texture was great and it had wonderful flavour. We both gave it a thumbs up! I'll cook the second loaf today and see how things go. I can't even explain how exciting this was to me!


Someone who is new to needle-turn applique has asked me to post pictures of how I end off a piece of applique. This is by no means "my way", but just "a way" that really works for me. 

If anyone has a different way that they could share, that would be wonderful!

First, after the last stitch, I bring my needle and thread to the back and take a little bite into the backing fabric only, making sure it's within the seam allowance of the applique piece...

 ...then I tie a knot right there...

 I take a couple of running stitches in the backing fabric only. This is to ensure that that dark thread doesn't wangle itself over to the un-appliqued backing and show thru' after the quilt is quilted....causing what we in the longarm world  call "varicose veins".

 Finally, I trim the thread close, again to be sure a dark thread doesn't migrate. Again, note that all this is done in the seam allowance.

I am linking up with Slow Sunday Stitching and Oh, Scrap!.

Come On Get Happy

It's a lovely weekend and today I plan on taking it slow. I just want to enjoy puttering around in the yard and doing a bit of applique.

In my last post I showed the last piece to be appliqued to my FlowerGarden quilt. I may have been stretching the truth a bit. It was the last piece, kind of. 

I do have a bit of tweaking to do so that the quilt is pleasing to me in the end. Here is a picture from a while back showing bits that didn't seem to pop enough...

I'm not going to change all of those circled areas. I think the trees will be fine. I have though, gone ahead and changed up the cat...

...I like her much better!

This bird bothered me...

.....much better now....

These little changes have been worth it to me since the quilt has been such a huge project for a couple of years, I figure an extra morning of applique to fix it is not bad!

The last fix (I think) is the fountain...

....actually, not the fountain but the "water". It may have been ok if my background had been white, but it's actually green and pink. I did have some great suggestions come in for a fix for this, but in the end I have to re-do. I'm not usually a perfectionist, but if I don't fix this now I know it will always bother me.

I would like to try a technique on these little circles that I've heard about but not tried. A friend of mine actually reminded me of this technique the other day. It involves tiny elastics and starch and templates for the circles and you can check it out here.

 I didn't think I could try this method since I didn't think I had templates this small, but I just checked my Perfect Circles and there are four the right size. Hmm, time to try a new technique, I think!!


This morning I've taken a little break from the FlowerGarden and sat catching up with a few heart blocks for my Year in My Life/Quilty365...

The second one has had me singing Partridge Family tunes all morning....get it???....and has provided me with a title for today's post!

We went to see a movie last night....one that I hadn't even heard of. It's called Florence Foster Jenkins and is based on a true story. It stars Meryl Streep. I highly recommend this movie. It was obvious that everyone in the theatre was enjoying it. I came out believing that Meryl Streep is truly the most talented actress of our generation.

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts for some Slow Sunday Stitching and with Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh Scrap!.

September's OMG....and a "ta-dah"!!!

My goal for September will be to get the rest of my blocks completed for my Nature's Neutrals quilt.

Here is what I have so far...

....about 350 of them!

This has been part of an exchange among friends. Each month each of us was to sew two groups of eight blocks. We'd exchange monthly and come away with sixteen blocks per month. 

The idea was that after two years we'd each have plenty of blocks to make a quilt with. We were inspired by one of our friends who made the quilt on her own a few years back. 

I'm not exactly behind on this since it was supposed to run 'til sometime this Fall. Many of the group worked ahead though just to get it done, so I think it's just two of us still working on it.

If there is a UFO challenge in my guild this year, this quilt will go on the list as I don't want it to hang around for a long time unfinished. It will be a beautiful quilt and I'd like it done!

So my goal for this month is to get the three sets of eight sewn that need to be done.

It's ironic that I am linking with Red Letter Quilts today and for me it is a red-letter day.....

I was sitting doing applique with my coffee this morning as usual when I realised I was about to applique the last piece to my FlowerGarden quilt. I knew this was coming, but what a feeling it was after two years to know that this huge project is almost complete!

Here it is...the final bit...

....hard to believe!!!

The next few days will be about tweaking the quilt a little. There is a bird and a cat that need changing out as they just disappear into the background. I found a perfect fabric for the cat, so I know it's the right choice to take the time to fix it.

I was going to put FlowerGarden as my One Monthly Goal....to have it together and quilted...but I know this is on track to finish. On the other hand, I want to challenge myself to get Nature's Neutrals done instead.

I am linking up with Heidi at Red Letter Quilts to join in on the OMG, One Monthly Goal goal-setting party!

Have a great day!

More pretty flowers!

I love this bit of applique this week in my FlowerGarden border...

.....so jolly!

I can hardly wait 'til Monday when I pick out a backing for this quilt. Only a few weeks to go until I am actually quilting this wonderful quilt! I am almost beside myself at the thought of this being a finished quilt.

I wasn't sure I could finish this border by the end of the month like I'd wanted. On Friday morning I hung the border up on the design wall to see where I was at. So cool, at that point only 5 more flowers and one circle to go! This could be do-able, I thought!

I wish I could just keep at it with an applique marathon and be done but that's not going to happen. We are having a fun weekend out and about, a mini-holiday.

It feels like we've been housebound this Summer with our puppies so we had an outing on Saturday and today we head out to Stratford to see a play and walk around the town.

This morning I'm "enjoying" some slow stitching on this flower, one of the last to involve the dreaded (to me) reverse applique.

Selvege, selvedge, selvage?

I'm never certain on how to spell it, so I've looked it up and now I know it's "selvage". 

I'm not one to get caught up in the making of quilts using selvages, but when I think of it I do cut them off to donate to friends.

This week I was pressing a new piece of fabric and the selvage caught my eye...

"Leap and the net will appear".....how wonderful! Have I been missing something by not taking note of selvages before now? Are they always like reading a fortune cookie??? Maybe I'll have to be on the lookout for a selvage project in the future....like maybe a totebag or a cushion?  I may be a convert!

Time to finish my coffee and a few more stitches before heading out for some fun.

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching and with Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh Scrap!.

Another fun blog post to look at this week is Pets on Quilts 2016. So many people have joined in by sharing pictures of their pets and quilts. I had a shot of Cooper with his puppies that I submitted. 

Have a lovely Summer day!

Week One of #100days100blocks

For the last week or so I've taken part in the beginning of the #100days100blocks quilt project.

Thanks go out to my friend (kz), who brought this to my attention. The book is lovely and I'm enjoying the piecing. It is a sew-along that is posted only on Instagram. 

The idea is to do a block a day for 100 days and post that day's block on Instagram.....for a lot of fun.....and the possibility of winning prizes!

My plan is to do one or two blocks at a sitting. In this way I should be done in half the time. It doesn't matter how far ahead you sew, really, as long as you post the one block per day.

Each block takes an average of fifteen minutes...nice quick project.

Here are my first week's worth of blocks...

The blocks in the upper right and left corners of the picture needed a bronzey kind of brown fabric. I don't think it shows exactly that way in the picture, but the fabric I chose was just what I wanted. I was having trouble finding just the right fabric when I noticed this one...

....but what I noticed is that the back of the fabric was just what I was looking for....so that is what I used. I remember hearing a speaker once say that there isn't a "right" and "wrong" side to the fabric....there are "two right sides"!


My son is facing exciting times....he and his wife are having a house built and the basement has been poured...

I am a bit jealous. This something I've always wished to have done. I guess I'll live vicariously through them!


I love making a nice lasagne. I like it even better if someone makes a lasagne for me! My husband does a lovely individual lasagne and he treated me this week...

So yummy!....even better perhaps with tomatoes from the garden. Turns out these ramekins make enough for a meal and lunch another day! I love that we both enjoy cooking...handy when one doesn't feel like cooking that night.

On another cooking note....I have been determined to be a sourdough bread maker, using no commercial yeast. So far I've been an utter failure but this week there is new hope. My starter is looking quite healthy and I think I'll try for making an actual loaf on Thursday. Wish me luck!!!

Hopefully the next time I post I'll have a beauty of a sourdough to show you!



All I can think about lately is the quilting next month of my FlowerGarden quilt. Exciting and terrifying at the same time!

I don't know if I can meet my goal to have the border on the right finished by the end of August, but I'm pretty sure I'll have it done by the end of next week, so pretty close!

Today I am linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social. Have a visit with Lorna and see her post today about her Ugly Christmas Sweater quilt. Hmm, this quilt may be in my future queue of projects....but not this year.