Sunday, September 24, 2023

In a Fog

The last three blocks for my red/white applique are now done.

I was at the cottage and finished them there.  In the morning, there was a heavy fog on the lake and thought that would be perfect spot for photos.

How about on the wood pile by the fire pit?

Or maybe on these concrete steps that my Dad built over 50 yrs. ago and are never used now.  The lakefront has changed over the years making these steps unusable.
Now, I can start playing around with sashings and my plan is for using different fabrics.  Or maybe not if my plan doesn't look good.

Here are all my blocks together sans sashings.  The blocks may get shuffled around a bit to ensure the colour differences are spaced out nicely.  Borders?  What to do about them?  Will need to do a bit of thinking about them.  Some applique or just plain?  Decisions, decisions.

In a previous post, I had shown a photo of a be.a.ve.r dam.  The dam has now been breached by a gap about 2ft. wide.  Water is pouring out.  Hunting season is here now and I do think that rodent has met an unpleasant ending.  No photo as it was pouring rain when we drove over the bridge.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Ugh .... log cabin blocks!

Progress has been made on getting this UFO going ..... but not without some problems.  Jack the Ripper had to come out and help me a number of times until I finally got the hang of sewing strips on in the right places.  Because this is an old UFO, my seam allowance had to be adjusted a few times ..... until finally, blocks were being made.  Then, being a tad smug because I thought I got a good rhythm going ..... oops ..... two blocks had to be fixed because one strip of fabric was sewn on wrong .... not once, but twice.  I sewed light strips onto the dark side.  Ugh!  No photo .... I was too ticked off with myself  and quickly fixed the errors.  All is well now.  No .... nope .... another block got messed up.  That one is fixed and done and I'm moving on.  

Only 8 blocks to go and then I can start working on the chevron borders and the applique.  Oh, forgot to show you the applique.  Circles and leaves.  I'm not going with the original layout (the darks were aligned to the center) ..... just got to do my own thing.  When I looked at the layout above with all that neutral area, it was just begging to have something in it .... well, that is when I started to play the 'what if' game.  See how just some circles and leaves make a huge difference.  Now, this layout has my mojo going to finish it soonish.


There will be three vertical strips of this chevron.  Lots of strips to be cut out!
Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Red & White applique.

Good progress has been made on this UFO.  There were 8 blocks to complete and while at the cottage, 5 blocks were completed.  How is that for just a few days of work!

This photo was taken at the bridge on the way to/out of our cottage.  The bridge is only wide enough for one vehicle.  Just as my blocks were being laid out ..... a truck pulling a RV came along and I just stayed in place and he got around me ok.  I didn't want to just leave my blocks there on the railing as they would have disappeared down into the murky water below.   My sister did ask me what happens if you lose one or two blocks?  Well .... do you see the creek above the dam?  No, I won't be up the creek as there is still background and red fabrics to make more.  LOL  But, notice the scissors holding the blocks in place.  I was really hoping not to lose any of those scissors or blocks.  Whew .... success and an interesting photo to boot.

Can you see the be.a.ve.r dam?  We are just wondering if someone will come along and dispatch the rodent to another place.  If the dam breaks, the water will wash out the bridge and no one will be able to get in or out of their cottages and hunting season is just around the corner.  Will a hunter be taking a few pot shots at the rodent?  My sister's kids always advise anyone coming in or out of the cottage to be sure to go ahead of us as we always, always stop at that bridge to see what is going on.  That is what our Dad did with us and we do the same thing now.  This is a tradition.  Must do it!

It was busy time at the cottage.  Painting got done, but there is still more to do.  This is the time of year that I gear up projects to work on while the weather is nice and humidity is low.   Also, no bugs to contend with.  Spray painting is in my future. 

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Saturday, September 9, 2023

Which UFO?

Oh decisions, decisions ..... which UFO should I pull off the shelf to work on?

Why one ..... why not two?

OK .... so what is my reasoning for two?

One to work on at home using my sewing machine and a handwork project to take along to work on away from home.

This one will be worked on at home.  It was started at a workshop back in 2012 and promptly shelved.  I did finish another one from a second workshop at the same time .... so, why is this one still lingering?  I hate doing log cabin blocks.  During the workshop, the teacher had to actually sit with me and coach me on which way to do those strips and I'm still confused .... but I WILL figure it out.

This applique project will be the handwork to work on away from home.

So, these two UFO's will see some progress this month.  A little bit here and there will make a difference!

Cherish your day cherish your life!

Monday, September 4, 2023

Hexie Delight!

That is what I'm calling this top!  Hexie Delight!  How delightful!  LOL

Hexie by hexie .... this top grew and became one.  I'm so loving the hexie border.  This was my husband's suggestion and how right he was.

Backing has been chosen and it will be going to Kathy for machine quilting.

One more UFO ticked off the list.  Oh, happy days!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Thursday, August 31, 2023

August Binding Challenge

My quilt for August was finished well before the month ended and here it is.

 "Dilly Flowers"

A few close-ups of a few flowers, the quilting design and the applique border.



Quilt Details:

Source:  Designer Elise Baek from English Paper Piecing Society on Facebook.  The applique section was found on Shutterstock and adapted to suit my look.

Started:  February 2022

Top Finished:  March 2023

Quilt Finished:  August 2023

Quilt Size:  59-1/2" x 74-1/2" (top size before quilting, washing and drying:  61-3/4" x 78")

Batting:  Hobbs 80/20 cotton poly batting

Machine quilted by:  Kathy Wareham using "Lucky" quilting design by Christy Dillon from My Creative Stitches.

Now, you are probably wondering what my friend no-blog Mary has been up besides vacationing .... well she made a dress for herself!  She had 3 men's shirts and decided to do something with them.  Mary is so good at thinking outside the box and I absolutely love her new dress!

For September, my pick for binding will be this quilt.  I would like to have it on my bed come this fall.  Speaking of fall ..... leaves have been changing already.  Daytime temps are normal but morning temps are a little bit on the cool side.

Lately, while helping to babysit a couple of grand nieces, the 7 yr. old asked me "why did you dye your hair white!"  Hummmmm .... can you imagine how that question cracked me up!!!  LOL

My red/white hexie top is finished and photos will be following on that one soon as well as what my next UFO will be to come off the shelf. 

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Sooooo close!

I'm so, so close to getting this UFO into a flimsy.

This is where it is at now ..... just the remaining left border to do!

These two sections have been sewn together and just need to be attached to the center on the left hand side.
Finally .... just two more sections to sew together!  So, so close!
Lots of things have been happening here and will continue for a while longer.  Between appointments for hubby and myself and babysitting and cottage ...... whew, I need to come up for a breather!  Right now, blogging is taking a back seat and I will be back at beginning of September for update on my binding challenge.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!