Some finishes

I've been neglecting to update my blog, so I'm going to catch up with a few of my recent finishes. For Christmas, I made 3 I-Spy quilts: 1 each for my last grand-niece and grand-nephew, and 1 for a special little girl adopted by a very lovely couple - they had waiting for a long time to become a family!

Although they have a lot of the same blocks, each one is a little different. I try to take the kids personality into consideration, so for example, there is a ballet dancer in one because my grandniece is taking dance lessons. Each one has a block that has the first letter of their name - it was interesting keeping the girls' quilts straight because both their names start with E.

I keep forgetting to take pictures of the finished product, and I've already gifted these so the before-binding pictures will have to do!

This next quilt has an interesting story:

My good friend and co-worker gave me a bag of fabric that she was clearing out. Most of it wasn't suitable for quilting, so the larger pieces got donated, but in amongst the pieces I found 15 log-cabin blocks already completed, and the scrap fabric. I asked her about it, and it turned out some the fabric came from her deceased mother's stash. She didn't want the blocks back as she is not a quilter so I made one more block, assembled the quilt and surprised her for Christmas. I called the quilt "A Hug from Mom" and she was overwhelmed. It is a true scrappy quilt, and Cathy remembered some of the pieces as being from her dad's shirts, some curtains, even old sheets. The blocks were all different sizes but I was able to square them down to about 14" each, and the quilt finished at about 55". It is not 100% cotton and one fabric has a really loose weave, so I'm not sure how well it will wear, but it was probably the most well-received quilt I have had the honour to finish. 

The rainy season has begun, so has sewing season!

It's the last day of September and the fall rains have started. I live on the West Coast of Canada and our weather is comparable to Seattle, WA. We had another hot, fairly dry summer, which seems to becoming the norm, not the exception. But we can still count on rain, which signals the start of my  sewing season.

I got a kick-start in mid-September while I was recovering from surgery for a gallbladder removal. It is the only surgery I can remember having in my life (I did have my tonsils at 5) but based on my observations of others who have had surgery, I came through with flying colours. I was home 5 hours after the surgery, even though they had to do a larger incision because of size of the gallstones. I was pretty much pain-free with a few days.  So of course, I busted out the sewing machine!!

With 100 days left until Christmas (that was two weeks ago!), I decided to get some I-spy quilts out of the way first. I make these for the littles in my family, and a few other select people. Here's some links to other pages where I have talked about them: Brayden's I-Spy, Zoey's I-Spy.




I like to personalize each one's I-Spy with a block that has their first initial in it.

The new ones make numbers 10,11 and 12. They are basted and ready to quilt. My plan is to get them all quilted this week. Starting today, I'm going to join Kate of Life in Pieces and spending 15 minutes a day sewing, and reporting in each Sunday.

So hopefully next week I can report successfully sewing 7 out of 7 days.

I'm pretty much done making these simple quilts, as I have made one for each of my sister, brother and my grandchildren (all 10 of them)! I have a huge stash of novelty prints still, as each one uses 99 individual blocs, and a fat quarter yields 20 5" squares (if using a Canadian fat quarter). I plan to make up a couple of packs of 99 blocks (just in case) and destash the rest eventually. I have a destash pile started.

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!)



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.

 

 

 

 



NewFO Challenge Linky Party 2014

I'm going to join another linky party - forget the Finish it Up ones, maybe I'll have better success starting New FO's instead of finishing UFOs (Unfinished Objects)!

Hosted by Barbara of Cat Patches, she is a great enabler!

In all seriousness, I do better finishing a project when I know there is a new one in the wings waiting for me. I also have to play silly games with myself, like telling myself I can't go to the quilt cave until I've done some housework.  It's really dumb I have to do that, now that the kids left home, its not like there is anyone here to trip over things (except me!).

 I've updated my UFO and WIP page to track where I am on the old projects, and I will continue to whittle this list down, but as I finish two projects, this year I would like to start the following projects (some will be quick and easy, others will be long-term):

January:  Crazy Quilt Journal Project - I'm already committed to starting this project in January and it should be finished by December.

I come from a long line of seamstresses and sewists, and I've always wanted to make a crazy quilt, so I'm going to make something that will use the bits and bobs I've inherited, honour my mother and her ancestors, and learn something new.  Signup is closed now, but Kathy is accepting late registrations as time allows.  For more information, you can visit the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2014 here.

February:  I want to start a Super Mario quilt for my niece's oldest son.

This project also has a deadline - I need to have it done by early May for his seventh birthday.  

March:  My birthday month -  I plan on making myself a Tiny World!

I fell in love with Karen of Faeries and Fibres versions, and have a little collection of teacups and sugar pots from my mother and grandmother that would be perfect.



  April:  I Spy (need for June) - I've made one for all the little ones in the family, this newest one will be for the youngest who is turning two in June. Here's a picture of my last one:

May: My grandson hopefully still loves all things construction by his next birthday (he'll be 6), so this one will be next on deck:

Construction Zone by Quiltmaker Magazine

June: As part of my goal to give everyone in my family a quilt, I plan to start Elizabeth Hartmann's Cat quilt.  She's currently doing a quilt-along, so I have been saving the patterns for my cat-loving niece.

July: If I haven't already started one, I have to pick a pattern in July to start a queen-size quilt for my younger daughter and her husband.  It will probably be a Bonnie Hunter quilt.

August - October: I haven't chosen any for these months yet, but they will probably be small projects that, if successful, can be repeated easily to get my Christmas sewing done by the time the next project starts, which is:

November: As I have for the last 3 years, I will start Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt the day after American Thanksgiving. 

December: I hope to finish a couple of other embroidered-block quilts this year, so in December I will reward myself by starting this quilt! The free patterns can be found here - Sulky Threads 2013 Block of the Month - I Love Sewing -

I found the link on Barbara's (Cat Patches) NewFO list and fell in love.  I'll do it in the colours of my sewing room - pink, lime green and aqua.  When I followed the link, I discovered they have several years of BOM patterns that I want to do.  I'll limit myself to one for now!

Thanks to Barbara for this challenge - I hope this one will be easy for me to keep up with!  For other enablers lists, visit the Linky Party here!





15 minutes....

Well, so much for shorter, more frequent posts!  I've been working a lot of overtime and any free time I've had I used for sewing, not on the computer (way too much of that at work).  I've also had a sweet 2-year-old's birthday to celebrate, a series of appointments with a sleep specialist, and just general busyness.  But I am resolving as of today, to take 15 minutes at least every other day to post here.  Why?  Because it keeps me accountable, it's a journal of what I've managed to accomplish and how I've spent my days and I just like doing it!

 

Zoey loved her I-spy quilt!  Of course, my bug-lovin' granddaughter picks out the spider!

 

And the water table I got her was a hit!

 

 

The simplest toys can get the biggest smiles!  From Auntie Jackie and cousins.

 

And can you see future trouble with the new swing set?

 

My other gift to her was a summer outfit made from a pattern that I used for my girls when they were little.  I made it reversible with 2 pairs of matching panties, but forgot to take a picture before I gave it to her.  I tried that day, but it was so bright and sunny, the picture was really blown out - here's the best I could get after adjusting it.

 

 

Now I'm heading out to enjoy the sunshine after 5 days of rain! 

 

Have a great weekend,

 

Terri in BC

 

 

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Sunday Stash Report, Week 20

Okay, so it's Week 22 apparently!  I lost 2 weeks somewhere along the line - no wonder I only had one post in May!

Another busy two weeks have passed, but at least this time I can report some finishes! 

 

 

I had basted this quilt together at the time of my last stash report with the intention of gifting it to my co-worker for her sister who had just moved to hospice. Unfortunately, she passed the same day I made my report, after just 3 days in hospice.  I went ahead and quilted it, and presented it to my coworker in memory of her sister.  She has decided to give it to her mother with my blessings! She has been giving me a hard time ;o) ever since about making her cry (I love her that we both can laugh and cry at the same time).  Counted in my stash report is the binding at 1/2 metre.  

 

I added one of my special labels made with a Heather Ross goldfish.  My mom used to mark her ceramics with a fish (check out our last name!) and when I found these goldfish, I decided to use them to mark my special quilts.

 

 

I finished my experiment with old poly/cottons and lace from my mother's stash that I inherited (see more here).  It turned out exactly how I envisioned! I've shown it to a couple of friends and my daughter and they all love it - in fact, my daughter wants it if she has another girl. 

 

 

Pardon the wrinkles!  Since it also has eyelet fabrics, I plan on putting a layer of muslin underneath the top, then use white flannel for the batting.  I plan on using minkee for the backing and it will be too heavy if I use a regular batting.  This one measures about 36 x 36 in., perfect for a stroller or car seat, or swaddling.  I have enough fabrics and lace left to make at least 4-5 more, but I might make myself a summer lap quilt instead!  I hope to get it quilted this week.  Used from my stash, only 1.5 metres - yikes, I can probably get about a dozen from what is left.

 

 

Yesterday, I realized there are just 10 days until Zoey's second birthday, so I quickly put together her I-Spy quilt.  I had to raid the stash for the last 10 fabrics and now my Happy Room looks like a bomb went off. It's pieced in rows and as soon as Bonnie Hunter's Quilt Cam starts in about 45 minutes, I plan on sewing the rows together and hopefully get it quilted today!

 

 

I even fussy-cut a frog princess from the leftovers of her big-girl quilt - the scraps that keep on giving!  This was an easy 2 metres of fabric out of the stash, good thing I have to make another one by July for another birthday.

 

 

Of course, since I cleared some out of the stash AND it is Super-Stitcher weekend at my favourite local quilt shop, Hamels (20% off all regular priced fabrics, first weekend of every month!), I decided to stop by and add to my stash of Bella solids.  I was lucky enough to find a couple of bolts of Glamping by Mary Jane, so I grabbed some of that as well (along with a Fat 1/8 of Salt Air).  Added: 6 metres - so much for stash-busting with those finishes.

 

Instead of buying a colour card, I've decided to spend the money on the colours I want, and made up my own colour ring so I know what I already have.  Good thing, because I've already bought the 3 of the same colour twice each  (I apparently love Feather, Blue Raspberry and Aqua)!

 

I cut an approximately 1" x 2 1/2" piece (preferably from scraps) with pinking shears, use fusible lightweight interfacing to add body, and mark it with a pigma pen with the brand-name, colour and stock number.  Then if I remember to bring it with me, I don't double up any more.  My stash is small, but I only buy what I need for current projects (so far).  These ones are mostly intended for the Super Mario quilt that I want to make for my grand-nephew.

 

 

Added this week: 6 metres

Added Year-to-Date: 63.5 metres

Used since last report: 4 metres

Used Year-to-Date: 21.5 metres

Net used/Added for 2013: 43 metres

 

 Linking up to Judy of Patchwork Times Sunday Stash Report.  I've made a promise to myself to spend 15 minutes a day in the sewing room this month, so hopefully I will also post more frequent, shorter posts!

 

Thanks for visiting,

Terri in BC