Star Surround Quilt-Along

 

I've started another project!  Just a pillow cover, so that I can join another of Melissa Corry's Quilt-alongs.  This is the fourth one I've done and always loved the end results.  This is another large star and just 9 make a good-size lap quilt. 

 

 

Picture from Melissa's blog - Happy Quilting

 

I talked my best friend, Kim, into making one too.  Tonight I am at her house and before we started sewing on our individual projects, we cut out our blocks for the quilt-along.

 

Here is Kim's selection:  pink stars and purple for the surround, on a white background.  I'm linking for her because she doesn't have her own blog.

 

 

And mine, similar to one of Melissa's colour choices:

 

 

I probably could use a bit more contrast, but I have a plan!

 

We also cheated and figured that instead of cutting 2 7/8" blocks, they will probably be used to make half-square triangles, so we used the Easy Angle to cut triangles from 2 1/2" strips.  If we're wrong, oh well, white triangles will never go to waste!

 

Linking to the Quilt-along Cutting Instructions - have a great night!

 

 



Farmer's Wife Friday (on Saturday!)

I pull out my Farmer's Wife quilt blocks when I want to sew, but can't make up my mind what to do!  I found this site Craft Sew Create that hosts a linky every Friday for people like me that are still plugging along. Maybe I'll actually finish mine this year!

 

 

This week's block, Birds in Air (or Flying T's as my grandson calls them!)

 

I haven't taken an updated picture of my blocks lately, I have about 25 done, but I'm not happy with all the colour combinations, so I have to edit them and re-kit the ones I want to remake.

 

 

I might tackle that later today, but now I'm off to fix the toilet (I am woman, hear me roar!) and fight with my nemesis,

 

 

I hate vacuuming!

 

 

Sunday Stash Report, Week 28, 2013

 

 

Finally, a week where more went out than came in!

 

 

Added this week: 3.75 metres

 

Added Year-to-Date: 145.5 metres
 

Used since last report: 4 metres

 

Used Year-to-Date: 29.5 metres

 

Net used/Added for 2013: 116 metres

 

 

2 metres of Bella White 98, 1 metre Bella 30's Blue 25 and a treat for me - the Honeycomb pre-cut by Moda!

 

 

And a finish!  I used one of my new vintage sheets and made a pair of pyjama pants.  I can't remember where I saw it (a while ago), but someone had made a pair using the hem as the bottom of the pant legs.  I made up a pattern using my favourite pair of pyjama pants and in less than an hour, I have a new comfy pair!  I have two more sheets I'd like to make up.

 

I also gave a friend some fabric for her grandson's I-spy quilt, and realized I've never counted the other fabric I've given her.  I've counted 2 meters this week, but I'll probably have to update it further.  That makes me feel better about all the yardage I've accumulated lately!

 

Linking up to Judy's stash reports at Patchwork Times - check out my fellow bloggers there when you are done.

 

More about my purchases:

 

I bought the blue to make the centres for my gramma's Dresden Plates.

 

 

I used a blue square from her scraps to find a blue to coordinate - I can't believe how close I was able to come to it.

 

 

This is still my favourite piece in all the blocks. As near as I've been able tell, this fabric dates back to about the 40's, and could be as late as the early 50's.   I have 20 Dresden Plates that my grandmother pieced, and my mom whip-stitched them to a nice soft yellow background (she wasn't a quilter or hand-stitcher, so she didn't blind-stitch them, and I'm leaving them just the way they are!). 

 

Have you ever bought something for the bonus inside?  The Honeycomb pack comes with a template inside that is for marking your starting and finishing points for each seam. (The flag piece is my favourite print in the Happy-Go-Lucky line - I'll have to get some yardage in that one!)

 

 

These hexagon are huge compared to the ones I'm working with.   They measure 3" on each side and are 6" across at their widest point.  I couldn't resist pairing them with mine (and the smallest hexie I have ever made!)

 

The comparison got me thinking about how do you measure a hexie?

 

My punches give the size as at its widest point (old Creative Memories punches, no longer available - however, there is a newer style listed but I don't know what size it is - since I'm a consultant, I should probably order one and figure it out! If you want your own and are in Canada, you can check it out on my CM site www.mysite.com/terrifisher).

 

I've seen the pre-cut papers advertised for either at the widest point or the length of each size. I find it easiest to measure one side (p.s. it's half the measurement of the widest point).

 

I take a perverse pleasure in showing off a hexie flower made with 3/8" hexies (sounds so much smaller than 3/4")

 

 

Can you imagine a dolly quilt made with these tiny beauties?

 

 

Have a wonderful Sunday!  I'm off to sew!

Terri in BC

 

PS:  Here's the link to the tutorial I used to learn how to make these hexagons is from Bonnie Hunter of quiltville.com, the queen of scrappy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Sunday Stash Report, Week 26...Half way through the year!

It's time for a "mid-term" report, if nothing else to prove to myself I am actually finishing projects.

One thing I discovered I'm really bad at is taking pictures of my finished project. Sometimes, I've even forgot to count them out on my stash report.  But here are the pictures of the finished projects that I could find so far this year (plus my long term project)!

I know I'm forgetting some, but I'll try to do better!

Now for my stash report.  This was a really bad good week for adding to my stash:

 

About 15 metres from one garage sale.  Good thing all the flannels on the bottom are going to my niece (about 3 metres).  I had already put 2 more metres of another flannel in my stash before I remembered to take a picture.  I love the red hippo fabric - it's an IKEA print from 2008 and there is about 3 metres of it, perfect for a pieced backing on a kids quilt.

 

And I'm not even sure how to count all this:

 

 

3 clotheslines full of vintage sheets and pillowcases.  12 pillowcases at about a metre each, and at least the same number of sheets at about 4 metres each makes for 60 metres.  That's 75 metres in one week (but I only paid $23 for the whole works!)  I better start knocking out some finishes soon.  I think I'm going to do a giveaway or two with some of the sheets.

 

Added this week: 75 metres

 

Added Year-to-Date: 141.75 metres
 

Used since last report: 4 metres

 

Used Year-to-Date: 25.5 metres

 

Net used/Added for 2013: 116.25 metres

 

I did get one finish this week and it's been haunting me for a while.  I had been working on Just Takes Two (homage to red & white quilts), but once I saw the first quarter assembly, I wasn't sure if I could carry on with it.  It's not that I didn't like it or appreciate the work in it, it just seemed so much larger and complex than I envisioned.  I decided to carry on and make some of the blocks I liked the most, added a few of my own and made a table topper.  I played with the design and came up with something I like!

 

 

 

I ran out of daylight before I finished the applique so it seems a little light on the top, but it filled in nicely.  I probably should have made my T-block in the reverse but overall I'm very happy with it.  Once it is quilted, I'm going to bind it with a red binding. It will finish at 36" square, perfect for my antique square table!  I used 2 metres each of Bella White (98) and Kona Ruby!

 

I have washed all my new/old sheets and hung them to dry.  It was so hot here that the one load was dry by the time the next load was ready.  Tomorrow is supposed to be a real scorcher by West Coast standards, perfect for our annual Canada Day barbeque!

 

Have a happy Canada Day!

 

 

 

Terri in BC

 

 

 

 

My newest obsession!

I've been trying to resist for a while now, but every once in a while I would slip and pick one up.  But today, I fell off the wagon big time!

 

Welcome to Vintage Love!

 

 

I lost count at 12 sheets and 10 pillowcases, plus I got 5 more shirts for my Moth in a Window blocks.  I only paid $10 for the whole lot!!!  I love garage sales!

 

The next one wasn't to be outdone, and I picked up close to 20 metres (about 20 yards) and two finished kids aprons for $15.

 

I had only gone with the idea of picking up sheets and shirts, because I've been trying to declutter, but found more bargains.

 

And a Nancy Drew book printed in 1961, in excellent condition for just $3.  I need to find my old ones, including a couple from the 1940's that belonged to my mom.

 

I also picked up a partial set of dishes.  I'm going to smash them up and tile the top of my old potting table, which has seen better days.

 

I'm going to sand it, paint the bottom white, and add new plywood to the top, then my daughter is going to help me create a mosaic top.  I may end up boxing in the bottom area and making a storage cupboard for the deck cushions. 

 

I also picked up some tea cups for a friend.  She wants to have a tea party for her daughter's 5th birthday, and I promised to keep a look-out for some pretty ones.

 

I may end up keeping this one!  The colours are perfect for my sewing room, and I can see a cute little pincushion in the top.  It is older than the others, but isn't marked.  I think it might be bone china from about the 30's but I could be way off.  I don't know much about china.



Sunday Stash Report, Week 25

Nothing in this week, and no finishes to report, although I have been plugging away at several projects.

Added this week: 0 metres

Added Year-to-Date: 66.75 metres
 

Used since last report: 0 metres

 

Used Year-to-Date: 21.5 metres

 

Net used/Added for 2013: 45.25 metres

 

Today my thoughts and prayers go to all those affected by the severe flooding in South-West Alberta.  The fourth largest city in Canada, Calgary has had its main core inundated with water and power has been shut off. and numerous towns have had unbelievable damage.  The town of High River has been almost completely destroyed.  My brother lives in Calgary and took these photos of Fish Creek near his home.  Luckily, he lives on a bluff 100 feet above the creek and is unaffected, other than by road closures.

 

 

These pictures are of Fish Creek and MacKenzie Meadows Golf Course.

 

 

Ghost Lake Dam - my brother has gone there today to rescue his sailboat.  Apparently, there are log jams starting to build up in Ghost Creek and as my brother says, when the old-timers are starting to pull their boats out of the water, you know it's time to get yours out too.

 

These pictures from various websites:

 

 

Inside the Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames hockey team (photo courtesy of the team's website http://cflam.es/12VsG0C).

 

Here's a visual of how high the water is:

 

 

(courtesy of Virgin Radio Canada)

 

 

This is the Calgary Zoo.  The animals have been evacuated and there are rumours that the big cats are being held at the local jail!

 

The worst hit community is High River.

 

 

(photo courtesy of http://www.highrivertimes.com/)

 

The entire town is underwater and homes have been wiped off their foundations. My boss has family living there and they were evacuated with no warning, and only have the clothes on their back.  For awhile, they had even lost their mother!  She was in the local hospital and was evacuated to a safer place, but because it had to be done so fast, the lists of patients wasn't updated right away.

 

Unlike a hurricane or a flood by a large river like the Mississippi, this was flash flooding caused by heavy rains over the Rocky Mountains, melting the winter snowpack.

 

The military has been called out.  This amazing shot came from Virgin Radio Calgary:

 

 

Go, Army!

 

Because of the inundation of water creating problems for storing and distributing goods, I am donating my goods to the local Salvation Army, where they are assembling trucks to send to Calgary and area.  I am also donating cash to the Canadian Red Cross, specifically for the Alberta floods.

 

If you can spare a little, I'm sure it will be appreciated.  100% of all designated donations are going to the flood relief.  You can donate here http://www.redcross.ca/donate/donate-online/donate-to-the-alberta-floods.

 

The Red Cross (and Red Crescent) is my preferred charity of choice.  They saved my daughters' lives through their blood donor program (both of my daughters required several blood transfusions at birth due to Rh incompatibility) and are generally the first organization to respond to disasters around the world.  I always donate through them when they ask for funds for specific disasters. 

 

And one last thing for a little humour relief - Calgary has got an awesome mayor!  Check out his latest comments:

 

 

(courtesy of Virgin Radio Calgary)

 

Stay safe, everyone!

 

Terri in BC

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Vignette Mystery Quilt

After I posted yesterday's stash report, I realized I've never really talked about my long-term project, Vignette in Stitches.  I had been following Leanne Beasley's blog for a little while when she announced she was putting out a new magazine and it was going to kick off with a Mystery Quilt.

It took me a while to find a North American dealer but I finally found it to order at In Between Stitches in California.  They have been wonderful to deal with, and now that a new mystery has started I am keeping my subscription.

 

When my first issue arrived, I was challenged to find similar fabrics to the ones used in the quilt (by an Australian designer, Rosalie Quinlan).  I could have ordered a fat quarter bundle with some of the fabrics in it, but I have so much stash, I decided to wing it!

 

I had fun pulling colours and patterns from my stash that resembled the ones in the magazine.  I was really happy with my final selections, and I only had to buy the red polka-dots and the replacement for a large embroidered border that was supposed to look like this:

 

 

(This picture is from a blog of like-minded stitchers, Vignette in Stitches, and you might want to check out their finished quilts).

 

I knew if I had any hope of finishing this quilt in my lifetime, I had to eliminate 144" of a 4" wide stitched border.  Instead, I bought a cute Minny Muu mini-flowers in the same colours as the embroidery.

 

 

I quickly got started on the assembly and embroidery of the first block.  I learned a couple of great tips, such as using a lightweight fusible batting behind the embroidery to add depth and hid any stray threads, and baste on large strips of scrap fabric to keep the edges from fraying.

 

 

Each of these little Churn Dash blocks measures 4" finished, with 1 1/2" HSTs. 

 

I finished Block One by the time the second issue arrived with two more blocks in it.  I pieced it together fairly quickly, and then got sidetracked for over a year.

 

 

Finally in January, I picked it up again and got the embroidery done on blocks 2, 3 and 4 assembled the first row.

 

 



Blocks 5 and 9 were next and I not only got those pieced, but all the cutting for the remaining blocks. I even had the design traced for the embroidery.  Then I got stalled again.

 

At some point in the last six months, I assembled the centre section which included blocks 6,7, 10 and 11.  I don't even remember when.

 

But this past week, I started working on the appliqued flowers for the centre!

 

 

I'm new to hand-sewn applique in just the past year. It's taken me a while but I think I finally figured out how to get nice smooth curves.  It involves Mylar, a hot iron and starch and even a bit of glue. I am having so much fun!

 

 

And here are the parts so far.  There will be another narrow red polka dot border and a row of 1 1/2" squares surrounding the centre, and a large appliqued frame on top of the centre as well.  The second side piece just needs the red polka-dot borders pieces added and it will be ready for embroidery. Since the starting block is dated, I'd like to finish this by the end of the year so I can enter the finishing date as 2013!

 

This is one of my summer projects - wish me luck!