Who's ready for a challenge?

I've recently come across a new challenge to begin in the new year.

The name of the challenge is 6 x 6 in 2018. The idea is to make a list of 6 UFO's you'd like to finish up in 2018, and 6 new projects you will start...although you don't have to list the new ones as you may not even know what they are yet!

You can read about it HERE at Pomegranate and Chintz or HERE at Frayed at the Edge.

There are a few(!) UFO's I'd like to get to so this sounds like fun to me. I also hate to admit it, but I already have a few new projects starting up in 2018, too. 

I hope some of you will join me in the challenge, as it's always good to get some motivation to attack some UFO's!

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Again, another post thinking ahead to 2018 can be found HERE at Quilting Jetgirl. There is also a "button" to the right entitled #2018PlanningParty that will take you there. 

Yvonne is asking us to reflect on our quilting year and list some goals for the year ahead. 

You don't have to write a blog to take part, there are a couple of ways to join in....and to make it even more fun, there are many prizes to be had!

I will be mulling over my projects and deciding soon what will be on the agenda for my 2018.

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Today should be my last day at the longarm for 2017, unless I work on something of my own on my Christmas break. I know I would love to have some time do some piecing, that's for sure. Except for the actual busyness of the couple of day around Christmas Day, I hope for some peaceful stitching time.

I came across this teeny quilt that I won earlier this year, made by Sandra Walker at Musings of a Menopausal Melon...

It's been in my living room all year but now it actually goes with the decor! When I took this picture today, it was the first time I noticed that Sandra had actually fussy-cut a star to top the tree, lol! So cool!

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I like that the last client quilt of the year is one made by my sister-in-law. For years she has said that she'd like to learn to make quilts....and now she has!

I also like that she took a beginner's class at her LQS, it certainly pays off. 

I especially like that this quilt is Canada-themed....a nice one to close out our sesquicentennial year! There are even patches commemorating the Tragically Hip.

We had a couple of errands to do on Thursday, so we stopped for lunch at Urban Parisian in Port Dover. I also had the free Peppermint Hot Chocolate that I'd won....so yummy and so worth the sugar intake!...

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.

Well, I'd best get at it. Looks like we are in for another snowy day so I'm glad I can stay inside and spend my time in the studio!

Tips and Tricks

I was reading Yvonne's post today over at Quilting Jetgirl. 

The topic today is Tips and Tutorials and Yvonne is inviting people to write a post and link to her post.

I have a little applique tip, but I think it is an important one....and maybe everyone this already, but here goes!

When finishing appliqueing a piece, make sure the tail of the thread is secured underneath the applique. Try to avoid leaving a long dangly thread.

Here is a bit that I appliqued today...

....and here is a picture of the back-side of the same piece.....

See the orange thread that I stitched with? Whenever I finish a thread I always tie a little knot anchored to the background fabric, then take two running stitches, making sure I'm just catching the background fabric.

Here's why...

As a  longarm quilter, I have quilted applique quilts where there have been long dangling dark threads. If they end up straying under a light coloured background fabric, they may be noticeable after quilting. Then your quilt could have what's known in the longarm industry as having "varicose veins"...not a nice look! 

By securing the the threads the way I have shown in the pictures, there is no chance of that happening.

Secondly, I always take these little stitches in the applique's seam allowance so that if I choose to clip away the background fabric behind the applique, I can do so without a problem.

On a side note....there is always discussion on whether or not to trim away that background fabric behind the applique.

 Here is my opinion...but in the end it's up to you since it's your quilt.....

I leave it if the quilt is going to be quilted on the longarm. If it's just a layer or two, I don't believe it adds much bulk. If I am going to hand-quilt the quilt then I will take the time to trim the background away, as it will be easier for me to quilt.

Next to be added are the bumble bees...

I may have to do the wings over as they should be further up the body of the bee...but maybe not, we'll see.

I'm quite on-track to finish the two rabbit borders this month. I'm pretty happy about that as I'm still hoping to begin hand-quilting on this one in February :)

As mentioned, I am linking up with Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl for Tips and Tutorials. I am also linking with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social and with Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers. 

Have a wonderful day and try to keep warm!

Slow stitches....

Things are moving right along with my Down the Rabbit Hole quilt. I'm on track to finish the two rabbit borders by the end of the year, which give me hope that I'll be quilting this one by the beginning of February (crossing my fingers!).

Simple things make me happy....like how my leaves are actually little fussy-cut trees...

It's a slow start to the day, we stayed up way too late last night watching a few episodes of Mad Men. We're trying to finish the series before starting the second season of The Crown. I actually slept in, which is unheard of around here!

We hope to find something Christmas-y to do today. So far I'm just seeing some kind of Vendor/Crafter's event in Paris so that may be what's in store for today.


A few weeks ago we bought an Instant Pot and have had very successful meals. The other night we tried ribs for the first time. I'd say within an hour we had the best ribs that I have ever made.

We also did a practice run of risotto....this is something we make for Christmas dinner (mainly because my grandson can't get enough of it). We needed to see if we could tweak the recipe a bit to make it vegan-friendly. This year we have one vegan and two vegetarians joining us for dinner....not too much of a challenge, just a little planning involved :)


Happy to say, the risotto was delicious...I also have to admit that I do not make the risotto, my significant other is the risotto master in this household!

Here's a picture of the meal...I have to say the ribs probably looked better in person...they really were "fall off the bone"...

Have a wonderful day...hopefully you have time for some slow stitching. I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching to see what others are working on today.

A return to Flowerville

It's been such a busy couple of weeks. I haven't been able to find any time to prep some applique work.

I have completed all four bunnies on the two borders of Down the Rabbit Hole...

....and completed the embroidery on this Life is Beautiful block, which just so happens to be read Life is Beautiful...

Life is Beautiful happens to be my go-to project when I have no applique ready to work on. 

My secondary go-to is the Flowerville blocks, so that is what I worked on this morning for my slow stitching...

I had an exasperating time at my local Canadian Tire store this week while I was getting an oil change, emission test and winter tires put on my car. As I sat fuming in the waiting room I was distracted by the tile work on the floor and thought it would make a great quilt border...

...but I can't even begin to figure how to do the math on it!!! Maybe I'll have to sit with a piece of graph paper one day and figure it out.

We had an errand to run this week and decided to check out the RetroFestive shop in Oakville. It was a blast...if you can, check it out!

My goal this month is to finish the applique on the bunny borders for Down the Rabbit Hole. Each of the two borders gets a tulip in the middle and some random flowers around the bunnies. So, not too much for December when life is so busy with Christmas coming up very soon!

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching and with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal.

I'm going to take this opportunity to direct you to Yvonne's blog post for today at Quilting Jetgirl, entitled Why I Quilt. I found it quite thought provoking and hope you do, too :)

If I wasn't already in the Christmas mood, I would be this week. I have my two guild meetings.....one will have a catered turkey dinner and the other a huge potluck lunch! Bring it on!!!

Have a wonderful day...hopefully with some slow stitching of your own.

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!

Bunny #4

An observation first....does it seem like we're all into the Christmas spirit early this year??? I know that I am! 

Maybe it's one of those superstitious things....like it means we're in for a traditional snowy winter? One thing I did hear that is supposed to be a "sign" is how heavy the pine trees are with pine cones this year. Have you noticed????


I have a lovely lunch to prepare for family today, but still managed a bit of stitching time to start my day.

I'm working on bunny #4 for Down the Rabbit Hole...

I love the background fabric for this quilt.

Soon all for bunnies will be done.....

...and I'll have to squeeze in some prep-work time for the next step, the tulips.

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching. Hopefully you can have a visit with her today to see what others are working on today.

Have a good one!

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!