#100days100blocks....almost a real quilt

Two years ago I participated in a sewalong on Instagram hosted by @gnomeangel.

The focus of the sewalong was this book by Tula Pink...

First, I have to say this is a lovely book. 

All of the blocks are quite different on the most part from blocks I have done before and they are all quick and easy. I had no problem keeping up with one block per day. 

When it was done, I went on down to my LQS for some grey fabric for sashing and ended up instead with a beautiful coral/salmon colour. The quilt is beautiful!....I was very happy with the results!

Even Cooper and Minnie enjoy a rare opportunity to be up on the bed with the quilt...

The idea was to post one block per day for one hundred days on Instagram using the hashtag #100days100blocks. It was a fun time and when they decided to run the sewalong again last year I was sorely tempted...but resisted.

This year it came up again.....and on the day that it began, I figured what the heck!!!, I'm in!!!

I have to say, I enjoyed this 100days as much as the first. I decided to do this one in mainly "shirting" fabrics as a challenge. It wasn't long before some modern fabrics squeezed their way in, as well as a few subtle-coloured fabrics.

This time around I only missed posting on Instagram on one day. That was the day that I rushed upstairs to the sewing room late in the day, realising that I hadn't gotten my wee block done....and ended up with a nasty run-in with my rotary cutter.

....and number 100....

I only had to re-do one of the blocks. Here is the "before"...

....and after...

Here are some of them up on the wall....

At about the Day 75 point I had a vision of how I would put this together in the end. It will have no sashing, therefore making it a nice lap-sized quilt. It will have no binding, it will be have a facing instead. And, to me, it will represent a newspaper.

Now I just have to think of a name for the quilt. I am leaning toward "The Daily Mail", which is a newspaper my husband reads, but I am open to suggestions....please?

I am going to rush to get this one completed, as I would like to have it ready to include in my trunk show, which is to take place on November 7th and 8th in Ingersoll. Wish me luck, as we also have my son's wedding a few days before that!

Today I am linking up with Lorna for Let's Bee Social, with Esther for WIP's on Wednesdays, and with Susan for Midweek Makers.

And, because I am linking with Esther I guess I should show what is currently on the design wall....my version, so far, of her pattern, "Queen's Garden"!

I still have to add a few bits to the top block (which is actually the centre of the quilt). This one has been challenging to me...using all neutral Japanese taupes, although the fabrics are lovely to work with and needleturn very nicely.

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

Alligators, bunnies and pups!

Yesterday I took a bit of time to get some piecing done on my Magnolia Mystery.

I like my fabrics, just not sure they are playing nicely together...but that's a mystery for you....just have to wait and see!

I don't know if that is the intended setting but I thought it looked nice!


In my last post, I shared pictures of a quilt that I had the pleasure of working on lately. You can read about it HERE. 

In some of the comments on this post, it seemed that some people thought this was my own quilt....it wasn't. This is a quilt made by one of my guild members in Hagersville...Betty. One day I hope to do this quilt though!


I've made good progress on my rabbits for Down the Rabbit Hole. 

The fourth rabbit is well on it's way, also. 

The other day as I was working, the thought crossed my mind to hand-quilt this one. I tried to push the thought away, but it kept niggling in my brain. I'd really like this completed by my guild's  quilt show next year, so it would be a challenge to have it done in time. Who am I kidding....it will be hand-quilted and I'm already looking forward to it!


As you know, we've had two litters of puppies with Cooper and Minnie and it's been such a wonderful experience. We even get the odd picture from happy pup-parents.....like this one just yesterday...

The white one is from our first litter. Turns out he has grown to 17lbs!!! So surprising as our dogs are 8 and 10lbs.

This week I decided to get Cooper neutered before Minnie comes into heat again....which may be soon. Ironically, we found out the same day that little Minnie has developed a slight heart murmur and the vet strongly recommends against any more litters. So, I feel better about the decision....and glad we found this out.

Today I am linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop! and with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday.

It's a beautiful day out there...hope you can get out and enjoy it!

Hello, hello!

It feels like quite a while since I've sat and written a post.....so sorry!

For the first bit of July I had nothing quilty to talk about, then we booked an impromptu trip to Cuba!

Since being back I've been ill, along with having an infection in my ear, on my eyelid and in a gland in my armpit....not a happy camper the last few days!!! I'm starting to feel a bit more human today even if I don't look it.

We went to Toronto the day before our trip as we had a very early flight the next day. I'd never been to Yorkdale Mall, so we ventured in. I have to say, none of these stores show up in the malls that I usually frequent!

I did have fun in the Christian Louboutin shop...

As a shoe lover, I have to say I may have been drooling just a tad.

Cuba was wonderful....the best holiday we've had. I absolutely love looking up at all the varieties of palm trees...

This was our third trip to Cuba, but the first time we've spent a day in Havana. As a quilter I was in sensory overload with all the colour. I wish more countries would be so decorated in colour. I will have to visit Canada's east coast as I think the people there love to have colourful houses, as well.

For some strange reason, all the photos I took on my phone in Havana are not showing up in my Gallery, but here are a couple...

The food was great, but the pastries were over-the-top delicious! I don't usually eat much refined sugar, but this was vacation-time, right???

And, because we like to watch The Great British Baking Show, I knew that one of these pastries was a vol-au-vent and actually got to use "vol-au-vent" in a conversation! 

Entertainment in Cuba is always fun and well-done. One day this woman came around to the pool to invite everyone to the evenings festivities...

I'm not going to share the photo I took with her....some sights are better off not seen!

Here are some of the entertainers from that evening...

I did take some stitching with me to Cuba. 

I planned to do some sewing on my wee houses on the plane. 

Luckily, I remembered that I should trim the pieces ahead of time as I didn't want to risk taking scissors on the plane and have them taken from me by security. So, I trimmed them in the car on the way to Toronto....which was a good way to pass the time as I'm not a good highway passenger!

Those blue scissors are always at the spot where I applique in my house. Yesterday I couldn't find them anywhere, which was driving me nuts.....then I came across this picture and remembered they were in the car. If I hadn't taken the picture it probably would have been months until looking in the glove box of the car!!

So I did do a bit of airplane sewing...

.....and in Cuba I would sit with my morning coffee on the verandah and do a bit of work on my Dutch Treat blocks. I have to admit that sometimes I find these blocks frustrating. I actually thought long and hard whether or not to continue with this project. 

When new quilters come to me feeling frustrated, I tell them to allow themselves to be a beginner. Those words came back to haunt me, so I will continue and hope to see some improvement.

I hesitated to enlarge those two pictures, but what the heck, you may as well see them, warts and all!

One more thing to pass along. I've come across a blog put on by the PEI Modern Quilt Guild. In September they are hosting a Mystery Quilt-along and I'm going to join in. I've not done much in the way of Modern quilt-making, so this should be fun. You can find out more about it and see the fabric requirements HERE.

Today I am linking up with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social, with Mama Spark's World for WIP's with Friends, and with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Mid-week Makers.

Have a wonderful hot, humid Summer's day!

One Monthly Goal - June

I was up in the air on what would be my quilty goal for June.

I almost chose a big applique goal.....but.....it's Spring and the nice days are calling me to spend time outdoors. 

So, I've decided to try to get up-to-date on my Down the Rabbit Hole BOM. 

Here is a reminder of where I'm at so far...

This past month we were supposed to get the next round done, which consists of forty houses. 

I've gotten as far as to pick out my fabrics for the houses....

There is a Facebook support group for this quilt where people around the world are sharing their progress. One quilter used blocks from her unfinished 365 Challenge from last year to be some of the houses for her quilt....so cool!....I commented to her that I'd be doing the same thing and thanked her for the inspiration!

LOL...I almost got rid of these wee blocks lately, but now they will find a "home"...

There are also four cornerstones to make....which is the section for the month of June.

So, that is my goal....to be caught up on this BOM!

Linking up with Lorna from Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social,

Elm Street Quilts for OMG- One Monthly Goal, Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers.

Have a great day!

Dutch treat.....and a running weekend!

I'd forgotten my plan to try to applique one block per week on my Dutch Treat quilt.

Yesterday I got one prepped so I could work on it with my morning coffee...

I really like this one....mainly because it lacks any inside corners, which, for me, are the most difficult part of these blocks!

The underneath fabrics are all Shweshwe fabrics that I purchased from Celeste at Meerkat Shweshwe a couple of months ago. I look forward to buying more at her booth next month at Quilt Canada!

One of the fun parts of these blocks is seeing the design appear as I poke away at the reverse applique! I have no idea how one goes about quilting this quilt, but luckily I won't have to worry about that for a couple of years :)

Here are the blocks I have completed so far...

Running update:

So, I've realised that I do enjoy taking part in races. 

Back in January I signed up for the Chocolate Race in St. Catharines. Then a short while back my running group from Northshore Athletics thought it would be fun as a group to join in on the Mudcat Marathon in Dunnville. 

Of course, this was all taking place this last weekend! 

So this was my schedule....Thursday night run with the club, Friday evening run the Fishy 5K in Dunnville, Saturday morning run the Riverfront 5K in Dunnville and then the Chocolate Run on Sunday morning in St. Catharines.

I think I would have been ok if not for the run on Thursday...four days in a row was just a wee bit too much, lol.

Here are a couple of highlights...

Crossing the finish line Friday night when I ran my personal best!..

After the Riverfront 5k on Saturday morning with my friends, Karen and Sheila (who are also quilty friends!). In this race I got second in my age group....which is kinda hilarious to me as I am a very, very slow runner!...

Then, The Chocolate Run on Sunday where I ran with my running buddy, Paula, and her daughter, Eleta...

The race was partly run through a wooded area...I was able to take a couple of pictures because by this time I had to walk at least a third of the distance...

The Chocolate Run was highlighted by chocolate-covered strawberries handed out at the 1K mark, and some great "swag" after finishing...

....and chocolate martinis, of course....

These races certainly added to my award collection....

Paula made me a wonderful way to display my medals....

Oops...I forgot to take a picture after I replaced the backscratcher with an actual dowel!!

So, after all that running on the weekend, the last two days my body has been sooooo fatigued. Would I do it again next year?, probably, because I had so much fun! I would cut out the Thursday night run, though!!


My new tulips are finally starting to blossom....after all the old ones are on the way out....

Don't they look lovely with my pretty, yellow Spring flowers??

Have a wonderful day!

Linking up with:

Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social
Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers
Mama Spark's Worls for WIP's

One Monthly Goal....May

My first thought for May's goal was to get to a certain point in my Down the Rabbit Hole.

The other day, I was in a quandary about some of the "flowers" in the medallion so far....

I decided it was worth the bit of time needed to make me happier with this.....

I like it! Also, I removed a flower(circle) that is in the first picture at the 11:00 position because it suddenly seemed the perfect choice for the very centre of the piece!

I just need to sew down the last couple of circles and figure out how I want to complete that black bias strip and I'll be able to carry on to the over-50 leaves that get appliqued next.

That was going to be my "One Monthly Goal" but there is another that will take that spot for May. 

My goal will be to complete my Meadow Mystery quilt.

This quilt will be a "picnic quilt"....something to take outside when babies are visiting so they can roll around on the quilt on the grass...so this may be needed soon, as the weather hopefully warms up!

Another reason to get this one done is that I'd like to try quilting it in a way that Lorna from Sew Fresh Quilts seems to favour for her quilts. Lorna will be the guest speaker at one of my guilds in June, the Norfolk County Quilters' Guild in Vittoria, so I think it would be cool to have this quilt done for Show and Tell when she is there.

As a side note, the pattern for this mystery quilt was very well done. This was offered by Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs. I mention this because Cheryl is starting her next mystery soon, called Magnolia Mystery. If anyone loves a mystery quilt, or has wanted to try one, I do recommend Cheryl's mystery patterns!

Hmm, maybe this month I will have a quilting goal and an applique goal!


Lately we've had a LOT of rain. I'm a bit worried about this little bird on top of the basketball post...

She's been busy building a nest inside the post for the last little while...I'm wondering if it's been totally destroyed by the rain. What an odd spot for her to choose to nest.


Linking up with:

OMG-One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
Mid-week Makers at Quilt Fabrication
WIP's at Silly Mama Quilts