Sunday Stash Report, Week 28 - Feeling Better

 

At the end of what seemed to be a very long week, I was finally feeling well enough to tackle some sewing.  Not sure what kind of bug I had, but I sure felt lousy. 

 

I've been plugging away some embroidered blocks for two quilts, so no finishes there, but last night and today I started AND finished another I-Spy quilt flimsy!

 

 

Not the best picture for colour, because the sun is shining hot and bright - we have been over 30C (+85F) for the last 4 days, with no end in sight.  That is so unusual for us on the West Coast. Our weather is typically cooler (similar to Seattle's).

 

Added this Week: 0 metres

 

 Added Year to Date: 64.1 metres 

 

Destashed this Week: 1.5 metres

 Destashed year to Date: 25.5 metres

 Added for 2014: 38.6 metres

 

Total spent  YTD $294.20 = $4.59/metre

 

 

These are my favourite quilts to make for toddlers and pre-schoolers.  This one is for my youngest grand-nephew, Brayden.  I have fun picking through my stash and scraps for 5" blocks that suit their personalities and interests, and fun things to look for!

 

 

I like to include a block that features the first initial of their name - love this B!

 

Next up, I have to get the Super Mario quilt done, plus I want to get Celtic Solstice out of the way so I can start on some baby girls quilts.  My other niece has just announced she is having a girl about a month after my daughter!  (My sister is so excited - after 4 grandsons, she's finally getting a baby girl to spoil!)



Not much to say today

Other than I am sick... see you tomorrow!

Sunday Stash Report, Week 27

Well, that didn't last long!  I managed to blog 3 days in a row, but missed the last two.  The good part is I was able to spend time with friends, and do a bit of sewing, all while nursing a sore back, so at least it wasn't laziness that stopped me.

 

I even managed to get a finish in - the scraps that keep on giving:

 

 

This little table runner is the fifth project I have made from my Pure by Sweetwater fabrics, proving a small amount of fabric can go a long way.  (I started with a Layer Cake, 2 charm squares packs, a small fat 1/8th bundle and 2 yards Bella Natural - to see what else I made, click here and here)

As my leftover pinwheels didn't spin the same way, I had to play around with a setting that worked - I love the result.

I also practiced some free-motion quilting:

 

I don't think I hit a single registration mark, but I like the result.  Tonight, binding!

 

 

Added this Week: 0 metres

 Added Year to Date: 64.1 metres 

 

Destashed this Week: 1.45 metres

 Destashed year to Date: 24.0 metres

 Added for 2014: 41.55 metres

 

Total spent  YTD $294.20 = $4.59/metre

I haven't posted a Sunday Stash for a while, so I have to include the yardage for this cute little Princess apron (the first of many, I suspect) - you can read more about it here.  I'm working on a generic pattern and variations, and my granddaughter makes the best model ever!

 

I don't have any other finishes yet, but I'm working on quilting through the pile of flimsies:

 

 working through the scraps:

 

 and (bad me) started a new project!

 

The start of 4 Nested churn dash blocks.  I had just enough of the Forest Fantasy fabric left to fussy cut 4 1/2" blocks for the centre (instead of tiny churn dash blocks), and two 2 1/2" blocks to add to my Polaroid block collection.

 

 Now that I have my mojo back, here's hoping for a summer of finishes!

Throwback Thursday - Day 3 of 31 days of blogging

One of my other crafty loves is scrapbooking, so much so that I was a Creative Memories consultant for 17 years and now a Close to My Heart consultant.  I host weekly workshops which are generally well-attended, but sadly my own scrapbooking efforts have also fallen off the wagon. 

 

Last night, I had a workshop and started going through pictures to add to some pages I had already decorated!  I came across these lovelies of my sweet grandchildren:

 

 

August 2011 - Alex was almost 3, and went to his first Airshow.  Smart parents got him ear defenders, and even though it wasn't raining, he thought the umbrella was fun!

 

 

Lucky Gramma got to babysit this little sweetheart!  Zoey was 2 months old and spent the day with me.  It took me about a dozen shots to get this beautiful gummy smile! 

 

Now for the best news of all!  Grandbaby #3, a little girl is on her way!

 

 

 

Zoey is going to be a big sister in October.  My daughter is due the day after what would have been my mom's birthday, we are all so excited! I'm not taking holidays this summer so I can have time off to help out once the baby arrives and daddy goes back to work.

 

To my US friends, have a great long weekend!  To all the rest of you, only one day left until the weekend!

July To-Do List, Day 2 of 31 days of blogging

We had a great time yesterday celebrating Canada's birthday.  I saw on the news it's going to be a huge party in 3 years, our sesquicentennial (150 years).  There are websites galore already planning - here are just a couple.  I would love to go to PEI, it is the only province I haven't been to yet.

 

Ottawa (our nation's Capital)

 

Prince Edward Island (where the Confederation was signed)

 

 

I accomplish more when I set goals so I have decided on finishing the following free projects this month:

 

 

1.  Super-Mario quilt for great-nephew, Konner:

 

 

 

2 blocks done, 4 to go.  Using this tutorial from Cut to Pieces, I upsized the blocks to 1 1/2 finished, so the blocks are 27" finished.

 

 

2. I-spy quilt for great-nephew, Brayden:

 

 

 

It will be similar to this one.  I have made one for each of my grand-kids and grand-nephews when they turn 2 or 3, and Brayden is now 2.  That makes 6 in all, but there are 2 new babies coming later this year, so I'll have to hang on to those I-Spy prints a little longer (I was about to bundle them and sell them off).

 

3. Celtic Solstice for me

 

You can't get the pattern now, it was Bonnie Hunter's mystery last year and will appear in her next book. I only have 5 more blocks to make, so I have been playing with border designs.  I think I'm going to finish off all the white points and make the diamonds as shown.  I also varied the corner from Bonnie's

 

Now, for something new:

 

 

I have to reward myself so I purchased the pattern for the Nested Churn Dash from Quilt Jane for the low price of $2.00 Australian, which only came to $2.10 Cdn.  I probably could have figured it out on my own, but when someone else has already done the math, why not!  Click on my Craftsy button (to the right) and search for Quilt Jane, and you will see her lovely patterns.  (Note: Disclosure - I am a Craftsy affiliate so I will make a few pennies if you link to Craftsy through me).

 

I will be making mine with these lovely fabrics:

 

Pardon the lighting, it was nighttime.  This partial bundle is truer to colour.

The fabrics came from Warp & Weft, and are my quilt guild's summer challenge fabrics.

 

 

 

 



31 days of blogging - starts today!

Which came first - the chicken or the blog?

 

 

 

  I have totally fallen off the wagon and been neglecting my blog.  Along with that, it seems I have lost my motivation to do anything.  Revelation!  When I blog, I am motivated to do things just so I can have something to blog.

 

So a personal challenge - I want to post at least once a day for the next 31 days! I love reading blogs that share more than just their sewing projects, so I'm going to do the same.  Some of the blogs I follow and love are:

 

Bonnie Hunter - Quiltville

 

Judy Laquidara - Patchwork Times

 

Jo Kramer - Jo's Country Junction

 

Today, July 1st is Canada Day - the day we celebrate the creation of our country, not by war, but by diplomacy!

 

 

 Like many countries, we celebrate with parades and fireworks, and since it is summer, barbeques! One advantage of having grown children is that they generally host the barbeques now!

 

 

Good thing they have a pool, too, cuz it's supposed to hit over 30 Celsius today (85 F)!

 

And just few little UBI's - useless bits of information (I have a mind full of them, according to my sister!)  Canadians are known to be quiet and self-depreciating, but I couldn't resist sharing this!

 

 

Source: www.mybesthelper.com

 

Happy Canada Day, folks!