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!
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.
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.
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.
Today I thought I'd share a picture of how my design wall is looking. Last weekend everything had to come down and now it seems a bit refreshed for some reason.
It also reinforces what I know....that I can never seem to resist a sew-along! Surely I'm not the only one?....lol, I know I'm not!!!
I'm still loving the temperature quilt (along the top of the picture) and am looking forward to February, when I'll start adding a second row.
The large block on the right is a new sewalong called Miss Lizzy Blooms. The blocks are 18", nice and big and cheery.....there will be one block per month.
Below that are my first two blocks for the sewalong offered by the Canadian Quilters Association....#52blocks52weeks. I'm using my 30's prints because after all this time I still really love them.
There are a number of my Farm Girl Vintage blocks on the wall. Doing eight blocks of that quilt is my One Monthly Goal for January and it looks like I may be able to accomplish it. This was a sewalong a couple of years back and I'm sorry that I fell off the rails on this one because it results in a pretty sweet quilt.
My "braid" is on the design wall to remind me to get back at my I Am Enough quilts.....I'm pondering this being my goal for February.
And, finally, there is my Harry Potter block!!!
I love it!
This is the very beginning of a quilt-along that Lorna is offering at Sew Fresh Quilts....we've just started, so a great time to join in!
A quilt that has fallen by the wayside is my Simple Folk quilt. It is a BOM that was offered in 2018 by Sarah Fielke.
I don't know why it's been months since I've worked on it, but I did prep a block a couple of days ago and have been poking at it.....I still like it and want to keep at it. I wonder if it's back on my radar because Sarah's new BOM starts next week????
So cute!
And, a bit of a tip here.....you'll notice that I fussy cut the bird in such a way that the pattern in the fabric will kinda represent an eye where the bird's eye should be?....well, that was a design choice instead of having to applique a very small circle/eye. I was going to use the opportunity to try to use the Appliquick tools that I bought a long time ago....but I chickened out once again :(
Today I am linking up with Lorna for Let's Bee Social (hopefully we'll see a few more Harry Potter blocks!), and with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers.
Well, it looks like a messy morning out there and I have to get ready to go out in it. Hopefully you get to stay inside and do a bit of sewing!
I hadn't planned on a post this morning, but it's turned into a lazy one so I may as well share some quilty-stuff while I sit with an extra cup of coffee :)
I have been stitching away at block 4 for my Queen's Garden quilt. I have to say, it's not my favourite and will be glad to get on with the next one.
Ha!....couldn't even seem to take a decent picture of it! I decided to get all the blocks up to see if this one will "fit" in...
I guess it'll blend in. I'm finding it challenging working with the neutrals, but I think it will result in a pretty quilt.
With the end of the year comes the thoughts of which quilt projects will be undertaken in 2019. I know I have too many on my mind so I think I'd better cull the herd right from the get-go.
I'm still looking forward to doing my temperature quilt....I can hardly wait to get started! You can read about it in my post HERE.
Anina from Twiddletails is heading up the Temperature Quilt sewalong and has a good post today on getting organised. You can see her post HERE.
I've been wavering on taking part in Lorna's Harry Potter Quilt-along over at Sew Fresh Quilts. I had kinda talked myself out of it, but I'm in! You can read about it HERE.
I just have to do the Harry Potter quilt.....In our family of six, the Harry Potter novels were something that we all enjoyed...which is something, in my books! (pun intended!) I have such fond memories of all of us waiting our turn in the family line-up to read each book.
Lorna is offering this in two sizes...10" blocks and 20" blocks. I will do the smaller version. I've taken advantage of Boxing Week sales and ordered a background fabric, but will try to do the rest of it from stash.
I wonder if it helps to write a list of projects that will take priority in 2019? Anyone have an opinion on this? Then the other UFO's could just take a back seat and be out of mind for the time being?
I do think I will participate in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge again. I hadn't even thought about it until just now, so I don't even have an idea in mind for it. I'll think on that one for the next couple of days and come up with something.
Today I am linking up with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday, and with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?.
