Thursday, 4 October 2018

Where did September go?

I seem to have lost a whole month of blog writing. September came and went and it appears I went right along with it.

It is guild season and that means it's time for our annual BOM. This year I went for a little bit more of a modern look. Most of my guild members are more traditional quilters, but sometimes getting out of our comfort zone is good for our creative spirits.

2018 BOM for my quilt guild the Quaker Quilt Guild in Norwich, On

All that negative space to quilt as little or as much as we want. I may have gone overboard with the feathers, which I love adding to a quilt.

feathers and swirls
As Christina Cameli does in her Craftsy/Bluprint class Wild Quilting: Creative Free-Motion Combinations I added a showboat. A little affiliate ad here: You can enjoy Bluprint Get Started Event: Watch All Classes + Shows For Free (10/5-10/12). It is the center focal point with the crosshatching and is surrounded by feathers, swirls and pebbles. 

Want to see a closeup of a few of the blocks? Of course you do. Who doesn't like some eye candy?
ruler work and a few pebbles

straight lines, crosshatch and curved lines

simple stippling on this one I called it Twister
The background is Kona snow, the yellow is a Micheal Miller solid that I don't remember the name of nor did I bother to write it down when I bought it, silly me. The lighter print is a Northcott and the darker is I believe an Art Gallery, another silly me moment I removed the selvedge for someone who was collecting selvedges. For the backing I used a wideback from Connecting Threads. The batting is a Hobbs Heirloom Bleached Cotton Batting. I do prefer an 80/20 Hobbs but was looking for a white batting so I settled for the 100% cotton. 

a neat photo showing the blocks shadowing through the back 
This is a big part of what kept me busy, that and having my main machine in for repairs for the better part of the summer. It is back in again for repairs for the 5th time in a little over two years. I know totally UNREAL! 

Linking up to 














Tuesday, 21 August 2018

A Bit of Improv

Disclosure: I don't do improv well, I like structured blocks. But let's give it a whirl and just see what happens. Maybe it will be a reject or a keeper. You be the judge.

I toss bits and pieces in small containers, you know just in case you need that one piece you just tossed. It was time to come up with a game plan to use some of them up. Improv piecing here I come.

box is starting to overflow

triangle cutoffs might as well use a few of them too

After a little sewing I had one 6 1/2'' block hmm not bad, I see possibilities.

those are blacks although they look washed out here
Might as well dive in and make another.

a little more grey in this one
Now what?? Put them on the design wall step back and let inspiration come forth. Look out here goes nothing or everything! 

adding blocks of black, some triangles and strips.... this actually might work
 Make units and more units and start joining them into something coherent.

starting to become interesting, but not quite feeling it
It needs something more at least I feel it does. Dig into more scraps and leftovers. Warning improv can be a little messy. It seems the piece I was sort of looking for, but didn't realize I was looking for them were at the bottom of the box. I didn't take a picture of the mess I made I was in full search mode. I don't work well in a mess and have since cleaned it up.

those blacks didn't photograph worth a darn.

The strips on the side were already sewn with the 3 pieces on a 45. They were leftover from a table runner I made years ago as a gift to a friend who has since passed away. Silly me I have no pictures of it at all and no idea who has it now.

This mini is 28'' by 21'', and is patiently waiting for me to quilt it. 

Now for the question is it a keeper?





An Unscheduled Break

I'm here *Waving wildly* I'm here. Wow it's been a month since my last post, I've been here just dealing with real life.
We took a much needed break and went up North to Killarney to visit our oldest son. It was a well needed time away. His place Avalon Eco Resort, is gorgeous and so peaceful.

looking across Tyson Lake at dusk

peaceful view from the deck

We went kayaking a few times. Enjoyed time with our youngest granddaughter, I had to get in lots of hugs to last until Christmas.

our northern  granddaughter, she loves being outside
I finally got my Pfaff machine back after being in for repairs, this time it was gone for more than 2 months. Unreal! The good news it seems to be working correctly for the first time since I bought it new.
I pulled out my Westalee ruler toe foot and rulers and gave it a bit of a workout. I think I should have made the swirls smaller but other than that I'm happy with it. Now what do I do with this piece?
ruler work and some fmqing

I hope you have been taking some time to enjoy life and the people who are important to you.





Wednesday, 18 July 2018

Christmas in July Blog Hop

A quick and easy wall hanging bringing peace to the holidays. I like applique and this project includes applique. Thanks to Sarah of Confessions of a Fabric Addict for hosting the Christmas in July Blog Hop, I'm pleased to once again be participating. With the temperatures we've been experiencing a little Christmas in July is more than welcome to get us thinking of cooler temperatures. Of course a boost to our Christmas sewing is also always welcome.
 You won't want to miss any of the great ideas so make sure to visit all the blogs participating, the list is at the end of this post.

On to the project, a wall hanging. I started with 4 FQ's and some scraps for the lettering. I used my favourite applique technique Crafted Applique from BuzzinBumble. But you can use whatever your preferred method is.


hanging out with the zucchini

To start pick a FQ or a 16'' by 19'' piece for your background. Using your favourite applique method ie: Steam-a-Seam 2 or Heat'n'Bond or turned edge and hand stitched applique cut out the applique pieces. For the dove a 7 1/2'' by 14'' piece and the lettering a 7'' by 9''. I overlapped the lettering so it looks like script. Layer the dove with back wing, body and top wing oh don't forget to tuck the beak behind the body.

arrangement of the lettering and dove

I left 2'' on each side and 1 1/2'' on the top and bottom from the edges. Stitch the applique to background, I like using the blanket stitch and used Superior MonoPoly thread to stitch the dove and lettering. Trim this piece to 18'' by 15''.

1 1/4'' red border and a 3 1/2'' print border
Add a 1 1/4'' narrow border, red in my photo and a 3 1/2'' print border. 

Aurifil thread colours #5001, #1103 and #2021
For the quilting I went simple, as sometimes less is better. I quilted feathers in the wings, a few lines for the tail feathers, swirls in the outer border and straight lines radiating out from the center in the background.

feathers in the wings and straight lines from the center in the background add a bead or satin stitching for the eye
A quick and easy project to add to my Christmas decorations.

a look at the back

The pattern is available in my Etsy shop .

one last look

Make sure to stop by and visit the rest of the bloggers participating in the Christmas in July Blog Hop.

Saturday, July 14th

Selina @ Selina Quilts

Sunday, July 15th


Monday, July 16th

Jamie @ L'Fair Quilts

Tuesday, July 17th

Sharon @ Vrooman's Quilts

Wednesday, July 18th

Thursday, July 19th

Danice @ Homespun Hannah

Friday, July 20th


Saturday, July 21st

Marian @ Seams To Be Sew

Sunday, July 22nd

Anja @ Anja Quilts
Moira @ Quilted Snail

Monday, July 23rd

Brenda @ Songbird Designs

Tuesday, July 24th


Wednesday, July 25th



Saturday, 14 July 2018

12 Days of Christmas in July 2018 Blog Hop




Sarah at Confessions of Fabric Addict is hosting the 12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop. And it starts today, July 14th and ends July 25th.  It's never to early to start thinking about handmade gifts and holiday decor.  Sarah has a great tutorial on her blog today!

Come back on July 21st to see what my Christmas project is. Last year's project was a pillow. You can read about it here.

2017 Christmas in July project



Saturday, July 14th

Selina @ Selina Quilts

Sunday, July 15th


Monday, July 16th

Jamie @ L'Fair Quilts

Tuesday, July 17th

Sharon @ Vrooman's Quilts

Wednesday, July 18th

Marian @ Seams To Be Sew

Thursday, July 19th

Danice @ Homespun Hannah

Friday, July 20th


Saturday, July 21st


Sunday, July 22nd

Anja @ Anja Quilts
Moira @ Quilted Snail

Monday, July 23rd

Brenda @ Songbird Designs

Tuesday, July 24th


Wednesday, July 25th

Brandy @ Pampered Pettit

Sunday, 24 June 2018

Outside Stars a new Pattern

I would like to introduce you to 'Outside Stars' this is my second pattern to be released from this years #30quiltdesignchallenge. It is a paper pieced pattern. I love stars and as you can see this pattern forms two stars. Mr sun was not co-operating at all, two days of cloud and rain doesn't make for ideal photos.
hanging out with my hostas

This is the baby quilt size I started out with the intentions of making a lap size but real life changed my plans. I will be making the lap size as I love the look, can I say that about my own pattern.

The blocks are 15'' on point. I quilted straightish lines around the stars to make them pop.

straight lines to pop the stars
swirls in the red star centers

The gray fabrics are Northcott 'Canvas', the white is Kona, the black solid is also a Northcott. The red is a mottled red by Moda.
I quilted it with my favourite quilting thread Aurifil in the following colours #1103, #2605, #2024 and #2696.

Outside Stars is a paper pieced pattern and includes freezer paper instructions, which is my favourite way to paper piece. It comes in three sizes Baby 42'' by 42'', Lap 62'' by 84'' and Queen 84'' by 106''.

made by Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life

Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life made this beautiful version of my pattern. Thanks Wendy for testing 'Outside Stars'.

You can purchase a pdf of 'Outside Stars' in my Craftsy store.

Friday, 22 June 2018

Twist'n'Turn Published

 I am published!

my name in print!! photo by Quilters Connection 

My quilt 'Twist'n'Turn' is in issue #36 of Quilters Connection.

I haven't received my quilt back from the magazine yet. So here's the one I do have.


I won a gift certificate from The Red Hen Shop last year when I participated in the #30quiltdesignchallenge. Melody was fantastic and helped pull a bundle together. My challenge to myself when I won it was to use it and not stash it. After playing around in EQ7, Twist'n'Turn was born. And the rest is history as they say.

I hope the comment problem is fixed as I love comments. I followed a quick tut from Just Let Me Quilt.
We'll find out together whether it works or not.