One Monthly Goal, among other things

It feels like I haven't done much in the way of posting on my blog lately....the days just seem to fly by sometimes.

I'm still plugging away on my Down the Rabbit Hole during my morning coffee-time. I've been determined that it will be done in time for our quilt show at the beginning of May. Yesterday I almost put it aside...but soon realised that I've finished maybe 85-90%, so I should keep at it!

I have completed my One Monthly Goal for March. My goal was to finish the quilt that I started at a workshop in February.

I did like the pattern we learned about in this workshop, was just not thrilled with my fabric choices. You can read a bit about it HERE. 

I was actually going to ditch the project into the garbage (that's how much I didn't like it!) when my husband remarked on the blocks that were on the design wall. I ended up making this quilt my monthly goal as there wasn't going to be too much work involved and figured, in the end, it could at least be used as a picnic quilt or something to that effect.

A couple of blocks...

Almost done...

Top finished, and made the decision that this would be it, no borders...

I chose some fun modern quilting...

The binding is done, now it just needs the handsewing...

In the end, I've warmed up to it a bit, lol! I think I'll try selling it in the boutique at our Quilt Show to make a bit of spending money for when I go to the East Coast this Summer.

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I took part in a Fabric Postcard exchange lately. Now that the recipient has received her postcard I can share the details.

The exchange was arranged by Elm Street Quilts. The postcard I made was destined for a quilter in Texas....her desired theme was "bright".

I've never made a fabric postcard and was a bit nervous but the process was fun and quick. There are plenty of tutorials out there on You Tube.

The theme for the postcard I received was "houses" and came from a quilter in Texas....

I love it and love all the detail she put into this postcard. I still have it on display!

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I've finished this month's step in the BOM from the PEI Modern Quilt Guild Mystery Quilt...

These blocks are pretty sweet and I can't wait to see how this all goes together in the end!

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I'll finish up with two things I've learned lately....one good and one bad.

I've recently worked on clients' quilts that have a wonderful 1/4" inner border. What a great way to add interest without doing a "flange"...

There is a trick to this and I will be doing this on one of my own quilts this Summer. 

The "bad" is when I used a Chaco-liner to mark a bit of quilting lines on my Down the Rabbit Hole this month and the marks are not disappearing. 

I'm pretty bummed about it. The fortunate thing is that I didn't use this marking chalk elsewhere on the quilt.

One more picture....of me at the end of the 5k portion of the Around the Bay Road Race this past weekend in Hamilton....

It was a lot of fun and I look forward to doing it again next year as a 3-man relay for the 30k. 

The funny thing is that at the beginning of the race it was like it is every time. My legs are tight and I wonder what the heck I think I'm doing....me? a runner?....then around the 2k mark things seem a bit better and I'm in the groove.

In April, our running club in Port Dover starts the new season of Learn to Run. I encourage anyone to give this a try....you just might surprise yourself....I know I did!!!.....and you'll make some new friends as a bonus.

Well, this has certainly turned out to be a lengthy post! Hope you've lasted this long to see that I'm linking up with .....

Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal Finish linky,

PEI MQG clue 7,

Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers, and

Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social

Friday Finishes

Looks like another snow day here today. After a bit of obligatory work on the longarm, maybe I'll have time to do some piecing :)

I feel quite lucky to be able to stay home when there is inclement weather!

I've been spending my morning coffee time doing some quilting on Down the Rabbit Hole...

I'm glad the quilting of the middle bit is done. It was difficult to hand-quilt, and with the fact that different muscles are being used from my usual morning applique, my wrist and hand are a bit achey. Today I worked on an easier section.

This is the middle of the quilt...

I have completed this month's step for the PEI MQG Mystery quilt. 

These blocks were not my friend, I had a difficult time with them. They are not perfect and they are smaller than they should be, but they are done and still quite pretty. 

I am making a small version of this project, but seeing the blocks on the design wall makes me think they would make a striking bed-sized quilt!

I also completed this month's block for Simple Folk. I love it!....and this from a person who didn't like the Grunge fabric line! That is what I am using for my background and it is perfect.

For the corners of these blocks, Sarah Fielke gives us another method for those triangles on the corners that is an alternative to "snowballing" the corners, so as to save on fabric waste. I was skeptical, but thought I should give it a try as fabric in Canada is getting so expensive....and I'm glad to say it worked out perfectly!

I'm looking forward to the next block! In this month's instructions there are many nine-patches to complete, also, which I have not started yet.

I am linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?,  with Katie Mae Quilts and with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday.

RSC18 and PEQ MQG

This month the colour for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is light and medium blue.

As an added bonus, we are offered a quilty project, Squared Away, to do.  

There are sixteen half-square triangles used in this month's block. I happened to come across my stash of Thangles and thought this would be a good opportunity to use them...

I plan on making three blocks each month, and have two done so far...

I like them! Although, I'm not sure I'll continue to use the Thangles. They are a good method, but I can get the same result with the Easy Angle ruler. By using the ruler I skip the step of removing the papers from the Thangles. I'll have a think about it.

Of course, my other project for the RSC18 is to construct three birds per month from the Black Birds pattern designed by Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts that I wrote about HERE. 

Adorable....I think I'll try to get another done this weekend.

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I've also completed Clue #5 for the PEI MQG Mystery quilt....

This step used a nifty trick on trimming the rectangles so that are cut just right...see how the seam doesn't run directly corner-to-corner? There was a suggested video to watch to learn the technique which was a huge help!

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I think I've been holed up too long in the house because of all the crazy weather lately....I feel like an outing today. 

The Ice Wine Festival in Niagara started this week, so we may plan on a nice drive down to our favourite winery, Kacaba Vineyards and Winery, and sample the food/wine pairing. 

It's too easy for me to become a hermit in the Winter.....at least I can take solace in the fact that we'll be looking forward to Spring in two months, right?

I am linking up with SoScrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday and linking this post to the PEI Mystery Quilt-along post. Also, for the first time, I am linking with Sew Can She for Show Off Saturday.

Have a great weekend and stay warm!

PEIMQG Mystery, Clue #4....Done!

With all the hustle and bustle that comes with Christmas-time, I almost forgot about completing Clue #4 of the PEIMQG Mystery Quilt-along that needed to get done by the end of the month. 

I took a bit of time Thursday afternoon to work at it. There were three methods to choose from on how to construct the blocks...I chose "improv with improv". Everything worked up so easy, I really like the method.

Here are my blocks...

Usually by now in a mystery we can take some pretty good guesses as to how the quilt will evolve....so far, though, I'm stumped!

If you want to join in, I'm sure you can catch up...you can look into it HERE.

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As of this morning I have completed my OMG-One Monthly Goal, which was to finish the bunny borders on Down the Rabbit Hole. I'm very happy about that....not so happy about some of my fabric choices, but I'm sure it will work out in the end.....right???

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Lately I've taken note of all the quilts I have in this house and realise it's time to gift some of them out. Don't get me wrong, I'm not stingy with my quilts. Many people have received them as gifts and my children have many, as well. 

When the family comes home for Christmas Eve they're going to take some quilts home with them...

I think there's still a couple more to add to the pile! This is feeling good!

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Here's a reminder to think about joining in on the 6 & 6 in 2018 challenge issued at Pomegranite and Chintz. 

It is a challenge to help move some of our ufo's along....and then fun of starting some new ufo's projects!

I have been mulling it over and am sure to have a few ufo's to put on the list. I'll get my list together before the end of the year.

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Does anyone have suggestions of  good shows on Netflix?

We recently finished Mad Men, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Finished The Crown, although I think I slept through most of it. I came across a mystery series called The Five and we enjoyed that, too. 

I haven't watched the second season of Stranger Things yet, maybe I'll do that soon.

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

Completed...just in time!

I squeezed in a bit of time to get caught up on this month's sew-alongs....literally was sewing between 7 and 7:30a.m. to get these done!

I shouldn't have left it so long, as neither step was very time-consuming.

I have my blocks completed for the PEI Modern Quilt Guild Mystery Quilt-along....

....and I completed my monthly goal for November, which was the applique on the sunflowers and the pieced border for my Down the Rabbit Hole...

It's getting difficult to fit this one into the picture :)


I've had a lot of nice comments on Down the Rabbit Hole. Sarah Fielke's patterns are nicely written and come with a monthly video tutorial. Soon Sarah will be starting the patterns for her 2018 sew-alongs....that's right, she's offering two different quilts!

You can check it out HERE. I wasn't going to join again, but I have registered for her Simple Folk quilt.

Another bonus is belonging to the Facebook group for the BOM....lots of support and inspiration!

I am linking up with the PEI MQG for Clue #3 reveals. 

I am also linking with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social, Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Mid-Week Makers and with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal - November Finishes.

I'm not sure yet what my goal will be for December. There are a couple of items calling my name!

Have a great day!

PEI Mystery, Clue #2

Well, today it's finally starting to feel like Autumn.

The bit of rain we had last night brought down a ton of leaves...but still lots to come!

The days certainly fly by. I've still got this week to finish my monthly goal....not sure that's gonna happen. I did manage to squeeze in Clue #2 of the PEI MQG mystery...

Easy-peasy....ready for Month 3!

For my morning applique, I've been poking away at the sunflower blocks for my Down The Rabbit Hole...

Here is a one of the corner blocks....all that's needed are the leaves...

...and here is a corner block I was working on the other day....can anyone see the problem???......

As you may know, I took up running a little over a year ago. I'm still really enjoying it, although I'm not sure I'll ever be a long distance runner....we'll see.

I am training lately for my first official 10k race in a little over a week. Should be fun and is being held in the east end of Hamilton not far from where I grew up.

I've experienced some beautiful scenery the last couple of weeks while out on my long runs....one of the great benefits of running.

I ran a 5k in Caledonia on the Thanksgiving weekend. With the Scottish roots of that town, we were encouraged to dress the part. Not many did....but I found I quite enjoyed running in a kilt!

I even had my own kilt pin from when I was a little girl! I enjoyed running in a kilt....next time will be at the Robbie Burns race in January.

I am linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social,  and with Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers.

Well, back to work for me....have a great day!

It's been a while....

Wow, it's been a while since sitting down to write a post!

I've had my nose to the grindstone since the beginning of August to make sure I had clients' quilts done on the longarm that needed doing in time for the Fair. 

I was trying very hard to stay on-track so I'd have time to custom-quilt my Happy Days quilt and enter it into the Fair...

Well, a week ago I gave myself "permission" to leave the quilting of this one until another time.....and what an instant sense of relief I felt! This one can be in the Fair next year.

I haven't even had time to prep any applique...so it's just been a bit of embroidery lately with my morning coffee. I was able to complete this block and begin the next...

Somehow I've managed to complete Step 1 of the PEI Mystery quilt...

....and the Magnolia Mystery...

I am taking part in a KAL or a CAL (knit-along/crochet along). Not sure which yet until the patterns are released on October 1. This is part of a Facebook group devoted to Outlander and the patterns will be somewhat associated with the show. Honey Girl Farms has specially dyed wool to co-ordinate with characters from the book/show and I've chosen Brianna....so I've rolled a skein into a ball and am ready to start...

Last week, I had the pleasure of presenting my trunk show for the Grand Quilt Guild in Fergus. What a great group...lots of fun! 

Here's a picture someone from the guild sent to me with my "Moonlight Thru' the Trees", or as my husband calls it, "The Hack Job"...

And, finally, a picture of one our puppies. This is the weekend that they go to their new homes. Boy, the time has flown by!

That's all the catching up for now....it's a busy weekend. Tomorrow is the Run for the Grapes in Niagara that I'll be running with quite a few of my NorthShore family. When I signed up for this one, I took comfort in the fact that it would be easier since the weather will have cooled off.....but, of course, that is not the case!!! It's supposed to feel like 40degrees this weekend!!! (which is 104 for you farenheit people!)

I am linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addice for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop!

Have a nice weekend....and stay cool and hydrated!