Happy Easter!
I've taken a break from blogging this past month. It's been a forced hiatus as I have been taking steps to de-stress my life a bit. Not that blogging has ever been a chore, or stressful, but it felt like something I could put on hold for a short while.
I've also taken some of my quilty projects off the to-do list, in an attempt to simplify life. I do have to admit, though, to another sewalong beginning at the end of April, lol.
I wish I could somehow fit a relaxing activity like yoga or pilates into the mix, but at the moment it doesn't seem to be happening. Luckily I have my morning slow-stitching....which I often refer to as my "yoga".
Since I was last here in blog-land I completed my Hand-piecing Sewalong. I think I'll try to get this one basted soon so I can do a bit of hand-quilting when the mood strikes me. It is 26"square and I contemplated adding a border, but I think this will be it.
I've also completed the fourth and final block from the wool applique class that I was taking at Quilt Junction lately. I learned a lot of cool stitches and am happy with my blocks. I think I will sew these together and make a small, decorative pillow.
On my to-do list tomorrow will be to do the prep-work for the next block for my Queen's Garden. In the meantime, this morning, I worked on my Tula Nova EPP....which is normally saved for "away" stitching...
I'm a little behind in my Harry Potter QAL. I did get the "Dobby the House Elf" block completed, but then it was given away and I'll have to make another....which kind of sucks, as it was a difficult block with a couple of issues ( not issues with the pattern, issues with my piecing! ) ...
Dobby was an intricate block.....then came the Hogwart's Express block!!!....it was even more-so...and in the end it did not work out well.
There's a big, fat error in the piecing....which I can live with. What you can't see, due to the magic of cropping, is the uneven edges to my block....so much so that I don't think it will be fudge-able when it comes to joining it with the other blocks. Also, I think I will change the numeral 2 in the block so it looks less like a backwards 5.
Here is a reminder of the previous blocks....
In my quest to organize and de-stress, I am trying something called a Bullet Journal. As someone who enjoys working with lists I think this may be a good thing, who knows. If any of you uses a Bullet Journal, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
It's been an early morning for me...I find that happens when there is a lot to do to prepare for a family gathering. We are having most of the family over for an Easter lunch.
I'll be trying a couple of new recipes, one being a crust-less quiche...I hope it works out!
On Saturday I made something ahead of time, to free-up some oven time for today. This bread was something my mother would often make. It's made with a sweet dough and when it comes out of the oven you put jam in the creases of the braid and a thin icing on the humps. I have to say, I'm impressed with the results, even though the flavour of the bread is slightly different from what I remember of my mom's. Of course, I had to test it out by having a slice (or two)....
That's all for now....have a wonderful day. I hope it includes a bit of slow stitching.
I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching, and also with Elm Street Quilts for the Hand-piecing QAL Finale.
Hmmm, I'm starting to think I may be involved in too many sewalongs!
One of them will be ending in a couple of weeks, though...the Hand-Pieced QAL.
I finished up the stitching on this week's block during my morning coffee today...
I have also been keeping up nicely with the Harry Potter sewalong. This week we worked on Snape...
Here are the whole gang hanging on the design wall...
That's about all for today....except I just have to share...
I was so excited to get the email yesterday informing me that my Down the Rabbit Hole has been accepted to the National Juried Show this year in Ottawa!
As someone who has been a hand-quilter since I was 19 in 1980, it feels so special to have a hand-quilted quilt accepted...I can't even explain how it feels!
It's been quite a few weeks since I submitted my quilt. Then I had to put it out of my mind. I really couldn't believe it when the email came in :)
Now....anyone going to Quilt Canada this year?....Maybe you could take a picture of my quilt hanging in the show for me? That would be wonderful.
Today I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the Hand Pieced QAL, and with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social.
Today I am going to share my design wall with you.
I am lucky enough to have space for a design wall that is 8' wide and goes from floor to ceiling.
When we installed it, my husband wondered at it's size. Now he admits that I've made great use of it!
Here is the view today...
Too many sewalongs....I know, I know!!!!
There is the latest block in the Harry Potter QAL, Hagrid, hosted by Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts...
Here are all the blocks, so far...
I wasn't sure of my fabric choices for Dumbledore, but I've grown to love him...even though he looks like he has a booger hanging out of his nose...
There is the Hand-pieced SAL....still keeping up...
In the above picture, you can also see three blocks for the Dear Jane sewalong that begins this month. I have to admit, I'm still nervous about this one....but the blocks are so sweet!
There is also the 52blocks52 weeks, that the Canadian Quilters' Association is hosting this year...
There is a block (the orange and green diamond block) that won't make the cut. I used a vintage fabric that I like and it turns out being too dull for the cheery 30's reproduction prints in the other blocks.
I considered letting this project go....but it's only one 6" block per week so I'll keep at it.
Here is the area where some of my I Am Enough quilt is hanging out...
My One Monthly Goal for February had been to get three more components completed for the I Am Enough. That did not happen....I just got the Around the World section done.
My goal for March....I think it will be to get two more sections done for I Am Enough. Wish me luck!....I'm going to need it!
In the above picture, you can also see my February row of my Temperature Quilt entwined amongst the other "stuff". I'm not sure if I can get much sewing done today, but I will finish off the February part of the Temperature Quilt. I don't work on it daily, I find it easy enough to do it every five days or so since the blocks are simple.
I think that about sums up all I want to say about the state of my design wall today...even though I've left a few items out.
I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal, and also with Elm Street Quilts for the Hand Pieced QAL.
Have a great weekend!
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.
This morning's stitching/coffee time was spent working on this week's block for the Hand Pieced QAL.
Here are all the blocks so far...four done, five to go...
So, in the video tutorials for the QAL we are shown how to hand-sew taking many stitches at a time on our needles. Well, I just couldn't seem to make it work and was happy with my "one stitch at a time" approach.
When I was sewing the final seams of this block this morning, I realised that I was actually doing it "correctly" all of a sudden without even realizing it....so cool! ....I was able to get four or five stitches on my needle at a time. I'm not going to question how this came about.....I'll just put it down to keeping on with it :)
I am a bit busy this morning, but later I'll have to visit other bloggers and see their blocks....and hopefully pictures of the backs of the blocks, as I can't seem to get my seams to twirl in a nice manner, which evidently they should be able to.
I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts Hand Pieced QAL Linky Party, Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?, and with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday.
I don't understand the psychology of it, but when there is a snow/ice day I find it difficult to start work for the day.
I've told myself that I will make the commute up to the longarm after I write this post.....discipline, that's what I need!
It will be a short work-day, though, as I am beginning a new quilt today. So exciting, these new beginnings....I just have to keep that feeling going until it results in a finished quilt, right?
I am going to work on the cutting for Shimmer, a quilt and
sew-along by Allison at Cluck Cluck Sew.
I am using some beautiful Jen Kingwell fabrics for my Shimmer...
I'd like to have all the background fabric cut today....and hopefully some of the prints.
I've been doing well with my Harry Potter QAL hosted by Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts. I'm really liking the blocks. This week we did the "Ron" block...
It's not too late to join in...this week is only block #3.
I am a woman who works well with lists. If there is a lot to do in preparation for a gathering at my house, for example, there will be a list involved.
I don't know why I'm not a list person when it comes to my quilting goals. This week a quilty friend shared her 2019 quilting list with me.....so I promptly made up my own list and stuck it up on the wall...
.....and it made me feel good :)
.....for a few minutes, because then I realised I forgot one item.
I fixed the list and stuck it back up...
Not bad, as the added project is easy, quick and won't last too long.
But wait, only a couple of minutes later I remembered something else...
Now, I was getting a tad nervous....was there going to be more???
Nope, that's it! Although I don't feel quite as happy as I did when the list first went up. Yesterday I had thought to remove Marshall from the list, which is the mystery quilt being offered by Quiltmania magazine this year. Today I'm not so sure. I'll have a think about it.
The Dear Jane sew-along starts in this next week. I have to admit that that one will be a challenge, but if I'm ever going to make a Dear Jane this will be the time.
Here is my block for this week for the Hand-pieced QAL....
I have to say, if you want to get nice results on a flying goose...hand-piecing is the way to do it!
That's all for me today, off to work I go!
I am linking up with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers. I am also linking up with Lorna for Let's Bee Social, and with Patty at Elm Street Quilts for the Hand Pieced QAL.
Finally....it's Friday....but not only that....it should be the last day of extreme cold. For a little while anyway!
I think it's true what they say, we Canadians do like to talk about the weather. But who can help it when it's been so very cold?
I'll have to work on my Temperature quilt on the weekend....I'm sure I'll be using some of the dark purple fabrics for this last couple of days. I'm also looking forward to beginning the second row of the quilt as it is the 1st of February today.
At the top of this picture is the Temperature quilt so far...
Most of what else you see in the picture is the progress on my I Am Enough quilt. I don't want this to end up in the UFO pile, so this project will be my One Monthly Goal for February. I'm not exactly sure how many steps were left to do for this quilt, but my goal will be to complete three steps....what they are, who knows....that has yet to be determined :)
Because it is link-up day for the Hand-Pieced QAL, I am posting pictures of my first two blocks...
I notice on Social Media that other people have been able to "twirl" their seams on the second block. I have not been so lucky....but after I post this I am going to re-address this situation...
....if other people can manage to do it, then darn it all, so can I!!
That's all for today....I have a few things I must do this morning, then I'll be taking it easy for the rest of the day with a new book to read or some English Paper Piecing. I hardly had any sleep last night so I know it will be an extremely unproductive day :(
Today I am linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?, Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal, and with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Fridays . Also, for the Hand-pieced QAL I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts and Simple.Handmade.EveryDay.
Stay warm people!
Hmm, I seem to be getting a bit more time for piecing lately. I know it's from me changing up my daily schedule and I'm liking the productivity!
I usually have some progress on my handwork...and that goes for this week, also. I have finished this block for my Simple Folk...
I wish I hadn't fallen so far behind on Simple Folk, which was the Sarah Fielke BOM for 2018. Especially since the first installment for 2019's BOM is being released in the next 24 hours.
I also sat down after work yesterday for a coffee break and some hand-piecing on this week's block for the Hand-Pieced QAL....
I am happy with block #2 of the Harry Potter QAL hosted by Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts. This block is Hermione. It's not too late to join in on this one!
(note to self....clean the lens on the camera so as to get clearer photos)
I've been working at my Border Creek Mystery. I think this will be a bright quilt!
I've been dabbling with some Dear Jane blocks. This one has been on my bucket list for a very long time, but I've always struggled with tiny blocks. I think I'm ready (really????)...and now is a good time, as there is a sewalong beginning in mid-February on Instagram, so there would be motivation and accountability (really????).
Here is the block on the design wall so you can get an idea of "scale"...
Now it's time for a bit of an abashed confession...I seem to have two more "starts" looming in my near future. I'll go into that at a later time.
For now, it's time to make the long commute to the longarm. Believe me, on a frigid day like today, I'm even more thankful to be able to stay indoors.
Stay warm, stay safe!! xo
Today I am linking up with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek-Makers.
I was supposed to go out for a run early this morning....but it was -18C....so I made the executive decision to make a change of plans.
I don't really mind the cold, it's more the dicey footing on snowy days that I don't like (which wasn't an issue this morning, mind you). It just felt like a good idea to curl up in my chair and begin the first block of the Hand-Pieced QAL.
I had pretty much talked myself out of this QAL since I have so many hand projects on the go....but after reading Kathy's post the other day at Kathy's Quilts, which you can find HERE, I thought I'd give it a try. (That Kathy can be quite an enabler!)
I have done hand-piecing before, and enjoy it (of course), but you never know when you may pick up some new tips and tricks along the way.
I usually mark my stitching lines with pencil and just eyeball the seam allowance with scissors, then sew on the pencil lines. Not long ago I bought this nifty new ruler, the Jinny Beyer Perfect Piecer.
I don't know why I bought it, other than the fact that I'm a bit of a gadget girl. Did I really think it would make a difference in my piecing....to be honest, probably not!
There are little holes in the ruler that you use to mark little dots using a mechanical pencil to indicate the sewing line.
I honestly have to say that I've never, ever such a nicely pieced block!! Two thumbs up for this little ruler.
I also used another gadget that I've picked up lately, a seam roller, which is also useful for paper-piecing.
All-in-all, a pleasing session of hand-work this morning. The block went together nicely and I'm happy now that I've joined in :)
I will be linking up with Kathy's Quilts on Sunday morning for Slow Sunday Stitching (I'm cheating and writing this on Saturday as on Sunday morning I'll be running the Robbie Burns 8k!).
I am also linking up with Elm Street Quilts for their first link-up party for the Hand-Pieced QAL.
As you can see, I have added two new "buttons" in the right margin.
One is for Bonnie Hunter's mystery for 2018. I've done a few of Bonnie's mysteries in the past, but I've not done one in a couple of years since this is traditionally my busy time of year on the longarm.
This year I thought I'd try to squeeze it in since her quilts are always a lot of fun, albeit a lot of stitching!
I figured I would do as much as I can each week of the clue given for that particular week.
I have some more strip sets ready to cut and sew...I'll try to take a bit of time to do those before the next clue is revealed today.
I've been stuck on what type of fabrics I'll use and finally am choosing to use "old" stash. Think "Debbie Mumm" colours. I have a ton of this kind of thing kicking around and, now that I've begun on Clue #1, it feels good to be using it up. (Although, is our stash ever used up?????)
The other new "button" is for a Hand-pieced QAL that will start in the new year. It sounds like the perfect project for those of you who have never tried hand-sewing but want to give it a try.
You can read about it HERE at Elm Street Quilts. There have already been a few posts giving some basic tips and tricks.
.....and....just to tempt you further....
Merry Mayhem's Mystery Quilts!
I've heard about this site, but never tried it. This one leads you through a mystery quilt (it must be small?), that occurs on New Year's Day. A new clue is released every hour.
You can read about it HERE.
I don't know if I'll take part.....but I'd like to! I've joined the Facebook page so I can keep updated and make a decision later.
At this point, I don't know what my day will entail....I'm supposed to go on a little road-trip, but we could have a bit of freezing drizzle....if I don't go out it will be a day on the longarm and a bit of sewing. Either way, a good day in store for me!
I am linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?.
