In the same quilt

What in the world am I referring to?  Well, machine and hand quilting together in the same quilt.  Recently, a friend asked if it was OK to combine both in the same quilt.  Well, why not?  It is my quilt and I will simply do whatever I want to.

In this close-up, you can see my straight machine quilting.  Straight lines I do just fine.  Circles by machine are another matter.  Why fight it?  Hand quilt those circles. 

In this photo (below), can you see the effect of straight line quilting and circles?  Very nice together.  I have come to the realization that if I want to see my tops quilted up, then I have to do something about it.  Some of my tops will go out to a LAer.  Most will be done using both machine and hand quilting in the same quilts.  If I can handle it, then they will be done by me.  These quilts will not be show stoppers, they will be cuddle quilts for family and for the cottage. 

Here is a pile of quilts that have been pulled off the shelf and onto this quilt rack.  I'm hoping to have a few of them done by the end of August.  Two are getting there .... only if I concentrate on finishing them.  One top will be sent to a LAer to be quilted up as a donation for our upcoming quilt show in 2016.   It will be so nice to see this photo diminish in quantity as time goes on. 

I'm using this quilt rack as an incentive.  When I first started my blog, I had a large quilting frame that was used ... not for quilting .... but to hold tops/projects for me to focus on.  They got done ... one ... after .... another.  They were in my face.  I saw those projects each time I stepped into my studio.  That was my incentive.   The quilt frame is long gone (we didn't like each other).  Friends are encouraging me to finish my tops.  So, whatever incentive I can use, it will be helpful.

These two photos were taken back in April 2007 in my Toronto studio.  That was a long time ago and a different city.  How times have changed.

Have a nice day!

This week in quilting

At my last guild meeting, I was asked how the renovations are going.  Very well.  The tilers have been and gone.  Eleven doors got painted (closet doors included in that tally).  It is now up to me to finish painting door frames.  We want to bring in the plumbers next week to get the toilets and taps installed.

But .... some quilting sneaked in.  I do need my play time.  :o)

On my Kaleidoscope quilt, only 3 borders to go.

This is what is being hand quilted in the borders.  Just a simple design.  Simple goes fast.  I like that!

Also, machine quilting got started on this quilt.  Stitch-in-the-ditch for the rows.  Then there will be some diagonal quilting and then some hand quilting.  Again, simple, simple, simple.

Just to keep me focused ... my pile of painting supplies within easy reach.  Got to get cracking on that painting.

Have a great day!

Oh stars ...

It was time to bring out my trademark stars again.  It has been a while since I played with them!

In my last post, I hinted at a new design and here is what it will be.  Initially, a design was sort of doodled, but it changed as soon as pieces started being placed on the strip of neutral fabric

With the addition of one piece after another ....

.... my idea is definitely taking shape.

Yep, I think this it it.  Or it may change .... we'll see.  Right now, all the pieces are just pinned in place.

Still adding some more pieces ...

... and this is it.  I do like this a lot.  This layout will be repeated again in the white space that you see below.  Yep, I like this!

This week, we had snow shoveled off our roof.  In places, it was waist deep.  That is just too much.

With all the noise going on with the renovations, Miss Ashes seems to be taking it in stride.   :o)

Have a great day!

Coming up for air!

The renovations are coming along quite nicely.  Two bathrooms almost done and once toilets and taps are installed, they are ready to be used.

Seven doors got painted and in between waiting times for the paint to dry and to keep out of the way of the tilers ..... a bit of quilting got done.

A huge box of scraps was recently acquired .... not that I really needed them ..... but scraps are scraps and I love scraps .... big time.   I won't be keeping all these scraps.  They will be shared amongst friends and what they don't want will be brought to guild to share there.

Out of the huge box, this container was pulled out.  There were strips already cut out.  A whole lot of strips.  So, what to do with them?  What you see are the left overs that were not used. 

A whole bunch of rail fence blocks were made.  The bottom section has been sewn into rows and that is why there is a difference between the top two sections.  Why are they in sections?  Well, you will just have to sit tight and wait and see what goes there.

So, what else did I do?

This top below got marked up and sandwiched ready for machine quilting and some hand quilting.

My Kaleidoscope quilt got a lot of hand quilting done on it.  The center is all done.  Now, it is just the borders to do.

Between the painting and quilting and renovations .... it has been a good couple of weeks .... but my paint brush is calling me.  There are 3 more doors and door frames to be painted.  Ah well, that is life.

Some days, it feels like nothing gets done.  Then, I look at previous posts and well, yes, a lot got accomplished. 

Today would have been my Mom's 97th birthday.  She has been gone 7 years now.  So, Mom ... Happy Birthday ... wherever you are ...

Have a great day!