One Monthly Goal - September Finish (thankfully!)

I feel like I'm squeaking this month's One Monthly Goal in just in time! 

For some reason I did not enjoy catching up with my Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks. I never should have let myself fall behind, I guess.

In my rush to get them done, I messed up a couple of times and had to do one over, and un-sew and re-sew another!

Here they are...

So....the block in the upper left corner is the block to be sewn for September. I kept making mistakes....I don't know why....so by the time the block was done I couldn't like it, even one little bit. So, instead of making two more of them, I made two blocks using patterns from previous months. Hey, it's my quilt, am I right?

And then there was this unfortunate beast...

Actually, in the photo it doesn't look soooo bad....but in real life it's a muddled mess....what was I thinking!? This one will go directly to the trash.

What can I say?....I am quite happy to be done with this month's goal!!!

I do like this block...

....mainly because I forgot I ever had the wee bird fabric and I love it. Once I found it in the blue fabric bin I just had to use it.

I look forward to October's block, which I think will be the last block. It will be fun to see how all of these blocks will go together.

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This morning I thought I would be finished block 3 of my Tomato Soup, The Sequel quilt. I got to the point of adding the last two leaves and didn't like my fabric choice.

Here is one pinned on in the middle of the block...

...hmm....why can't I ever seem to take a picture that isn't skewed?...

Once I hung the block up I had an idea of which fabric to use and I'll get on that at some point today.

The blocks in this quilt are a whopping 24"! A little difficult to manage at times, but not too bad.

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There is still time to join in the fun at the Online Quilters' Meet and Greet over at Benita Skinner's Creative Space blog, which you can find HERE. 

We have until the end of the month to visit the different quilting blogs and enter for a chance to win a wonderful quilty prize.

You can read my post for the Meet and Greet HERE. 

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I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal - September Finish, and with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?. I am also linking with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday, and with So Scrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday

Oh, woe is me :(

What  lovely Summer weekend!....the last Summer weekend of the year. Oh, how fast it always seems to go.

Our weekend was all planned out.....spend time in the backyard attending the myriad of chores that got put on hold over the hot weather we've experienced. 

We got a good day in on Saturday and finished up with a nice juicy burger outside.

Then I remembered that I hadn't completed my block-of-the-day.

I've been taking part, once again, in an Instagram sewalong for Tula Pink's City Sampler.

Here are a few of the 70 or so blocks that I've done so far (out of the hundred that will make up the quilt)...

It's much different than the colourful version I completed a year or so ago!

So up to the sewing room I went....none of these blocks take long, just ten or fifteen minutes, if that. First thing I did, though, was knock my rotary cutter off the table....and it landed right on my foot between toes #4 & 5. Such a lot of blood! It may not have been quite as bad if I hadn't just changed the blade a couple of days ago.

I'm bummed out, as today I was to take part in my first Terry Fox Run, but that's not happening. I may end up going in to see if I need a stitch or two as it starts bleeding again when I stand up.

So I guess this means no more outdoor chores today.....extra slow-stitching time!

I'm working on the current block of my Tomato Soup, The Sequel quilt....

I think after breakfast I'll put this one aside for a bit and try to get going on this month's block for Save The Bees. It will be nice to have extra stitching time today, even though it's not for a good reason. I may even try to setup outside under a tree and enjoy what looks to be another beautiful day.

I've been struggling a bit with the start of an EPP project...trying out a new stitch to join the bits together, instead of the usual whip stitch. I bought this beautiful book as I heard that it is a good one to learn some new tips and tricks from....

It really is a beautiful book...and I haven't even read anything about her methods yet. The first bit of the book has some interesting reading on the positive effects of slow-stitching...both physical and mental.

It's difficult to choose only one of the paragraphs to share with you. So much of what I am reading here are words which I can totally relate to, as I'm sure many of you could as well.


"the mental space one enters into when absorbed by sewing may also play an important role in understanding its benefits. Sewists commonly talk of the "meditative quality" of sewing, asserting that with their eyes open and needle in hand, they're able to gain the same sense of calm and grounding associated with meditation"

"it seems that it may also offer a space in which to temporarily retreat from the world, delivering us back to our loved ones energized, refreshed, and more positive"

There is more but if I go on I wouldn't know where to stop!

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Have you been able to visit with Benita Skinner and take part in the Online Quilters Meet and Greet? You still have until the end of the month to qualify for some great quilty prizes!

You can read my post for the Meet and Greet HERE.

That's all for now....my husband is making breakfast and it smells like the bacon is almost ready!

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching. I know I'll certainly have some time to visit with all the bloggers to see what they are stitching on today!

Let's Do The Time Warp!

Hi there!

It feels like it's been a while since I've had a few moments to actually sit for a bit and have the time to do a blog post.

We had a mini-vacation weekend....just local stuff, but had a wonderful time.

Part of it was spent in Stratford, Ontario, which is famous for it's theatre and shops....and restaurants!

We went to see the live production of Rocky Horror Picture Show and I have to say it's probably the best theatre that we've seen. I highly recommend it. 

The tickets are pricey and scarce, but we did manage to get seats way at the top....and only $25! I was a bit leery of how good the seats might be at that price, but they were terrific. At the Avon Theatre I doubt there is a bad seat in the house.

I did intend on "dressing up", but chickened out at the last minute. I think I was nervous of walking from the hotel to the theatre (all of about three blocks!) in fishnet stockings.

I'm kicking myself now, as there were many people going all out...

I even bought a souvenir to commemorate such a great evening out...

I've been poking away at my applique. This week I've been paying attention to my Tomato Soup, The Sequel...

I feel like I've been making good progress on this 24" block, but there are still many leaves to applique...

....and when I hung the block up for a picture, I can see there is a lot of blank spots that will be needing filling in...

I've also kept up with the daily Instagram sewalong for the Tula Pink City Sampler...

This is the third time that the sewalong has been hosted. I participated the first time...

....and now again this time. I have challenged myself to just use mainly "shirtings" with a few other fabrics thrown into the mix. We are up to Block 68 of the 100 blocks...lots of fun!

I've put a few blocks up on to the design wall to get a taste of how this is progressing. I'm not sure if it's working out or not, but I'll carry on. I'm starting to wonder about sashing....what colour...or no sashing at all???

We got a bit of a tease on Instagram yesterday that this will be the final rendition of this sewalong, but that there will be a new one next year featuring another pattern!

Just a reminder that I am taking part this month in 2018 Online Meet and Greet with Benita Skinner.

You can read my post for the Meet and Greet HERE if you missed it. There are around 75 bloggers participating, and with each one that you visit you get a chance to win a lovely quilty prize.

Good luck!

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

Summer rain

What a perfect morning for some slow stitching.....somehow a rainy, dreary morning makes for an even cozier time for doing handwork.  

I'm ready for a slow day. Two of my sons came over yesterday to help re-roof our shed....needless to say, they got wet....but it got done, thankfully.

Meanwhile, I was holding down the fort in the house with a 4-year old, a 2-year old and the 16-month old twins. We had a lot of fun, even more-so when we discovered that The Wiggles is on Netflix and we had a dance party, lol.

And, thankful for my Instant Pot so I could make up an easy-prep lunch that was enjoyable for wee ones...

So....tired at the end of the day, after two days of more activity than I'm used to. Should have meant for an early bedtime, but we found a show that we both liked, Happy Valley, and we kept saying just one more episode....until well past midnight. So....I think a little extra slow-stitching will be on the agenda today!

I've been poking away at the second block of Tomato Soup - The Sequel.

These blocks finish up at 24" and I'm having fun working with the bright, beautiful fabrics. 

I like this one and was happy to finally find a spot for it...

Here are my first two blocks together on the design wall.....

Hmm, I can tell it's a gloomy day since the pictures aren't picking up the vibrancy of the fabrics.


That's all for now, except for the following PSA.....


For bloggers out there who've had problems getting notified of comments, read THIS POST at Fun With Barb for a Blogger Fix. It took just minutes and the problem seems to be solved! 


I am linking up with Kathy today for Slow Sunday Stitching, where I think I'll indulge in a little extra time looking at what others are working on today!

It's been a while!

Well, I knew a while ago that May was going to be a very busy month....but I didn't know that I wouldn't even have a few moments to do a blog post!

The jam-packed calendar continues until mid-June.

Here are a few highlights of the month so far, beginning with our quilt show at the beginning of May.

I was able to see my Down the Rabbit Hole hanging. This was the quilt that was completed just in time! 

Part of the fun was strolling around looking at the quilts with Gail of The Cozy Quilter and Kathy of Kathy's Quilts. 

And I was only able to visit with one of the vendors (due to a series of events brought on by the terrific wind storm that weekend), so was only able to make one purchase...

I wish I could make time to do some prep-work on this before heading to Nova Scotia, as it would make a perfect travel project, but I don't know if there is time for that!

The quilt show was followed by a quilting retreat. Why is it that it feels so relaxing while on retreat, but you come home exhausted???

Here is our hostess, Lana of Quilt Junction...

Here is our set-up for the three days, in the ballroom at the Elm Hurst Inn ....

....and the beautiful view from my room...

I managed to work on a few projects, such as my RSC18, Squared Away...

...and some of my Simple Folk pieced blocks...

It was also fun to see what others were working on!...

....and I even had to get a picture as proof that I am no longer a salmon virgin...

...that's a big piece of salmon! I figured if I was ever going to try salmon, doing it at a 5-star Inn may be the place to do it!

I did manage to get all the blocks completed for our BOM we've been doing at the Haldimand Guild this past year....

I am going to like this quilt once it is done. The irony is that despite the simple blocks, there were many errors in the pattern which made it frustrating. The further irony?....it wasn't until I had all the blocks on the design wall that I saw that I had made a huge design error in the planning of this! So funny! Oh well, keeps one humble, I guess!!  I'll elaborate at a future time.


Right on the heels of the quilt show, and the retreat....race weekend!

I had three races that weekend....not sure I'll do that again, but I did have a lot of fun!

.....and managed to have a wee visit with my daughter at the Optometrist where she works....obviously we have good taste in sunglasses....

This past week was more of the same...so busy with visitors from Alberta. Somehow I still managed to get a bit of applique accomplished. 

Here is the first block of Tomato Soup, The Sequel (almost)(finally!!) done...

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

Have a lovely day!

Tomato Soup - The Sequel

One of the favourite quilts in this house is this one...

Of course, it doesn't have a label on it, but I put it around 8 years old and it's one that everyone likes to snuggle with while watching tv... it scores high on the mooshy scale, probably because of the lovely wool batting. 

There's many things I like about this quilt and why I think it works. I used three different reds as background fabrics which gives it some nice interest and I think the blue in the border is just right. 

I'd have to look up the pattern to know what it's called....I'm pretty sure its a design by the Piece o' Cake women....but around here this quilt is simple called Tomato Soup :)

When I began my current project I was again drawn to the reds but steered myself in a different direction. As I've said in a previous post, which you can see HERE, the piece just wasn't working. I feel so much better now with switching to my original gut feeling....

...everything is just going to pop on the red background....love it!

This quilt will be known as Tomato Soup - The Sequel.


I'm going to do another plug for our local quilt show this week hosted by the Norfolk County Quilters' Guild. There are over 240 quilts to see. The guild has so much talent in quilting and fibre arts, should be a good one!

I'm almost ready for set-up day on Thursday....

I love the energy of being part of a quilt show. So much work and then it all comes down so fast when the show is done.

I'll be manning the boutique area on Friday morning and just generally hanging around on Saturday afternoon. If you're able to come be sure to say hello!

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

Have a lovely Spring day!