Going in different directions!

More like spinning my wheels in different directions!  

All the wheels have now been appliqued onto the background strips.  Yeah.  Progress.  Something accomplished!  The photo looks washed out from the bright sunshine spilling into my studio.   It is cold outside (-17C or 1.4F).  It is good that we have snow on the ground, otherwise there would be water pipes bursting.  Still those wheels are something to celebrate.  Now, I can concentrate on assembling all the sections together now.

What else is keeping my hubby and I busy?  Chairs.  These chairs were purchased ages ago from a restaurant that was selling them.  I bought two and my niece brought two with the plans for my hubby and I to redo them.  Well, years passed and we are now dealing with them and all four chairs will be for us.

The before on the right and the after.  Huge difference!

The chairs have been in the dining room since the beginning of September.  You can see the chairs on the left of the photo.  What is everyone doing?  Helping to make cucumber relish.  It is good for others to help with the making so that they can continue when my sister and I can no longer.  We had such good help that day!

So, it has been a mess in my DR and LR for a few months now.  Something always came up that prevented us from tackling them.  This job has been hard on my hubby and I to do this time.  We are no longer young and what was done quickly before, now takes twice or three times longer.

It is our plan to have two done before Xmas as that is our gift to each other.  We will not gather for Xmas and it will be just the two of us for Xmas and New Years.  Next year will be different now that a vaccine (or two or three) is available.  Such good news, but we still must be careful about gathering and wearing our masks when around people not in our bubble.  And washing our hands.  Very important.

This morning, my niece sent me a couple of photos from the past.  She was cleaning up an old USB stick and found these photos of me in my studio in Scarborough.  My T.O. friends will remember gathering there to sit and sew and chat and laugh.  Such good times.

So, that was my week.  What will be accomplished in the coming week.  More chairs done, for sure!  Other things too!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Wheels keep moving!

I try to work on this project for a few minutes each day.  There are times when I'm just too tired to do much but look and admire what has been done.

Today, it was pinning the wheels to the background fabric to get started.

That wheel has now been appliqued on.  One down, another thirteen to go.  Today, another wheel will be pinned in place and so on.  Perhaps by mid-December, this top should/could be done?  Maybe?

Now, how about a guessing game?  Do you have any idea what this is?

How about a mask for Pixie (Elf on the Shelf)!  She has to have a mask for safe travels back to Santa's workshop!  We all wear masks here in the province of Ontario and that means the elf has to have one too.  She is outside the usual bubble and she has to keep her distance too!

I wonder what my great-nieces will think of this?  Guess I will find out later today as this is the first day Elf appears leading up to Xmas.  This will be the 3rd Xmas she has made her appearance with my great-nieces.  I can still remember the first time that I saw Elf and made the horrible mistake of reaching out and touching her skirt.  Oh my, horrors upon horrors!  That was a definite no-no.  Their Mom had to (and I do mean 'had to') write a special note to Santa telling him how Aunt Rosie didn't know about the no-touch rule and to ask Santa to reset the Elf so that she would function properly.  Last year, the girls reminded me not to touch Elf.  Years down the road, perhaps they might read about this on my blog and know where that mask came from.  LOL

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Wheels on the Cart!

Well ..... all the wheels/stars are done!  Whew, that was a job trying to select fabrics.  My friend, Darlene, asked me if it was designed to have a row of darker hour glass blocks above and below the wheel/stars?  Can you see those rows?  Oh yes, that was intentional!

Hour glass blocks are starting to be sewn together.    

Since there are so many seams, they are being pressed open.  Less bulk at the joins.

See the beige fabric in the wedge part of the wheel/star?  There is none left.  There are enough scraps to make a couple 1-1/2" squares, but that is it.  Close call, eh!

If I wanted the quilt to be larger, it couldn't without introducing a different beige fabric.  That would not be a problem, because I would make it work.  The quilt size will be big enough for a single bed.

Here is another wheel/star.  They were made using EPP (English Paper Piecing) method.  The thought crossed my mind to do them using paper piecing, but EPP is the method that was used instead.

Most of this top has been made from Civil War charm squares; but I did have to dip into my stash a few times to find the right colour that was not in my charms.  

This is what is left of my CW charms.  This drawer was so full that it could hardly be opened.  I'm thinking there might be enough charms to make a thimble quilt, so that will be a new project down the road.  That is, as soon as I find my Dresden Plate template to make the thimbles.  It is somewhere ....

To all my American friends, have a safe Thanksgiving!  We had our Thanksgiving last month and there was a spike in Covid-19 cases afterwards.  Be prepared to see a surge of spikes a few weeks from now.  In our district, we currently have 11 cases (10 from a close contact) of Covid-19.  So far, we have had a total of 65 cases with 1 death.  We take Covid-19 seriously in our neck of the woods!  Wear a mask, wash your hands, regularly wipe down surfaces (your vehicle and your home) and keep your distance.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Linking to:  https://quiltingpatch.blogspot.com/

A bit of progress!

I've been doing a bit of sewing lately and progress has been done on my newest project.  All the hour glass blocks are done and now I'm working on the stars or wheels.  I'm doing something outside the box and those stars are going to go right out into the border.  I'm excited to see how this will turn out!

Update with my sister and her cancer.  After her last treatment next month, her oncologist is going to release her from the treatment program and she will be dealing with her family doctor going forward.  He is very pleased with her results and this is a man of few words.  Good news, for sure!

I just dropped her off for her IV treatment this morning and will be back to help her later this afternoon.  Stew is already in the slow cooker and tea biscuits will be made later for supper.

My days are busy with her and helping out as much as I can.

So, a day in my studio is most welcome.

Here in Canada, we had our Thanksgiving mid-October and we are now seeing a spike in Covid cases.   Today, across Canada, our new cases are 4981.   The health experts say it is the family gatherings that are the spreaders of the virus.   Family gatherings and travel are not good to do right now.  For those of you in the U.S.A., think about that and don't gather or travel.  My husband and I have already decided that we will not gather for Xmas or New Year's.  Our health are more important now so that we can enjoy family later when Covid is not an issue.  We wear masks and keep our distance and stay away from crowds.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Couldn't help myself!

LOL ..... I just couldn't do it!  Make the pattern as is?  Nope.  Not me.  Mind you, the pattern looks ok as is.

So, I was staring at my design wall and thinking ..... you know, it is dangerous when I think ...... what could I do to make it different?

Stars.  Stars are needed.  What kind of stars?  The perfect pattern was found on my EQ 7 and Blockbase.

This is a start.  It may not be the final layout, but a good start.  The stars will float across two rows right into the border.

I feel good about this new project.  It is helping me get my quilting mojo back.

Cherish your day!  Cherish your life!

New project

Lately, my quilting mojo has left the building and it has been sorely missed.  I've been busy looking after my sister and my husband.  They are more important right now and they need my attention.

Still, a sew-along caught my eye a few weeks back.  It would be so easy to do.  The pattern was printed out and placed in a basket for later to do and I promptly forgot all about it.   After seeing another quilter working on this sew-along, it sparked something in me and I found the pattern in my studio and I actually started a new project.

Hour glass blocks.  Easy to make from my bin of charm squares.  My blocks will finish at 3-1/2".  A border will be added to my top so I won't need to make as many blocks.  Can you tell that I'm excited?!

Sew, if any of you are interested, you can go to https://cluckclucksew.com/2020/10/an-hourglass-pattern-and-an-hourglass-a-day.html and get your pattern and sew along with me.  To keep my mojo going, more than one a day is being made.  At least two or three to keep me motivated and I'm trimming as I go along.  It would be way too tedious to wait until the blocks are all made and then trim.

I sent this quilt to my cousin who is now in hospice care in Wakefield, Quebec.  He complained that his room was too stark and I knew this quilt would be perfect for him.  He has received it and likes it a lot.  This quilt was finished in May 2019 and it sat in my quilt cupboard waiting for the perfect person.  He is that person and I'm happy he is happy.

Cherish you day, cherish your life!

Antique Sampler

Yesterday, we woke up to snow on the roofs, vehicles and grass.  It melted by the time hubby and I ventured outside to take photos of my latest quilt.  Soon, there will be more snow and it will stay until spring next year.   Last night saw me putting a wool blanket on the bed.  Temps are starting to dip and the nights are getting cooler.

Autumn in our neck of the woods is mostly over for this year.  You can see a lot of bare trees now on the hill and a lot more sky now.

This is a pattern by Sue Daley and I didn't make too many changes to her design.  Finished!  Such a lovely word!  Once this project got started, I kept at it and finished the top in a few months.  Remarkable for me to stick to the same project for so long.

Quilt Details:

Pattern source:  "Antique Sampler" by Sue Daley

Started:  January 2017

Top finished:  March 2017

Quilt finished:  October 2020

Quilt size:  70" x 70" (size before quilting, washing and drying:  72-1/2" x 72-1/2")

Batting:  Hobbs 80/20 cotton polyester

Machine quilted by:  Kathy of Kat's Quilts

Another top can be crossed off the list and it is now hanging on the wall in our dining room.  So lovely to see!

Happy days!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Linking to:  https://quiltingpatch.blogspot.com/

Chevron Log Cabin

This afternoon, the leaves are swirling around in the wind; the sky is ugly.  A cold front is moving in.  Tonight we are expecting -2C (28.4F).  We could have snow on the ground in the morning. 

I took advantage of a break before the temperature starts to drop and took photos of my latest quilt finish.

"Chevron Log Cabin".  I sure loved making this quilt.  A combination of printed and solid fabrics were used.

What the sun and tree shadows does to a photo?  It takes on a whole different look!

It was windy and the top of the quilt had to be rearranged twice.

Quilt Details:

Pattern Source: Fon's & Porter's Love of Quilting ebook.  Way back in 2013, I was approached by Fons and Porter to review their ebook called "Build Your Best Log Cabin".  This is the pattern that immediately caught my eye and I just knew that pattern had to be made.

Top started:  Febuary 2013

Top Finished:  December 2018

Quilt Finished:  October 2020

Quilt size:  89" x 89-3/4" (top size before quilting, washing and drying:  90-1/2" x 90-1/2")

Batting:  Hobbs polyester

Machine quilted by:  Kathy of Kat's Quilts using Baptist Fan Feathers from My Creative Stitches

DONE!  Such a happy word!

This weekend is our Canadian Thanksgiving.  It will not be our usual dinner celebration affair.  A niece has already dropped off cooked turkey and gravy (thank you Nicole).  I just need to add potatoes and veggies and that will be our supper tonight.

To my fellow Canadians, however you celebrate ..... do it safely!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Linking to:  https://quiltingpatch.blogspot.com/

Two quilts

I've been going through busy times of late and I don't seem to have much to talk about in the way of quilting.

Today, I do have something to say.

First off, I'm working on finishing two quilts.

This one is my "Antique Sampler" by Susan Daley.  This photo was taken in my friend's garage.  We met for a few hours last week and this is what was brought over to work on.   Binding is on, but it is not finished yet.  

Why not, you wonder?  Well ..... since I'm so fussy about my quilts, extra steps are taken to finish it off to my satisfaction.  Anything that is appliqued on my quilts (that are machine quilted) I like to add hand quilting to help anchor the applique.  So, I've been hand quilting around each circle and stitch-in-the-ditch around the motif inside the circle.  Yes, yes, yes, I'm crazy and obsessive.  That is me and they are my quilts, so I will do whatever I want to make me happy.

So, why didn't I just hand quilt the whole quilt?  Well, this top has been sitting on a shelf for years waiting for me to hand quilt it.  The way I look at it, my LAer does half the work for me and I do the other half and those tops are finally getting finished.  If I wasn't so obsessive, then she would do all the quilting and be done with it.

Next, binding is being hand sewn down on my quarter log cabin quilt.  No applique on this quilt, so it will be finished soon.   Photos of both finished quilts will be coming your way in the next wee while.  

Next .... yesterday, I presented a trunk show to a small number of ladies.  I wore my mask and some of the ladies wore theirs also.  It was odd to do a trunk show like this, but it was good to feel normal again .... except normal won't be for a while.  Our area has had only 40 cases of Covid-19 and only 1 death.  All the cases have been resolved.  The health experts have done a marvellous job of contact tracing and insisting on isolation for those who have been exposed.  We all have to be smart about this deadly virus and wear our masks and wash our hands and keep our distance.  Be smart about it!

Yesterday, I wore my patch autumn jacket to do the trunk show.  On my way there, I stopped off at a local coffee shop and the man serving me my coffee remarked on how much he liked my jacket.  Well, that was my chuckle for the day because I nearly didn't wear that jacket because it has been around for 12 years now and it is starting to get old.   So, guess what I'll be wearing today when I take my sister out for groceries?  Yep.

Well, time to get another suitcase opened up and pull out those quilts and refold them and put them away in the quilt storage cabinets. 

I wonder when another trunk show will be done?

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Another finish!

With the cooler weather, binding is going on.  My queue of quilts waiting for binding is starting to dwindle down.

This quilt was started way back in November 2005 from a pattern called "Liz's Super Star" from Fons & Porter magazine but with a change.  

Well as per usual, only two blocks were made and the project got shelved and stayed shelved for 15 years.  Lots of the big and small HST's were made back then, so all I had to do was start assembling more blocks once the bin got pulled and dusted off in January 2020.  Again, I got bored and decided to change things up by making crazy blocks and doing a sweet charm square borders to make the quilt bed size.

Nowadays, it is very hard for me to follow a pattern from someone's else design.  I just have to create my own version.  That is so much more fun for me!

I can easily make another quilt like this one (I still have tons of HST's leftover), with changes already dancing around in my brain.

Quilt Details:

Started:  November 2005 

Top finished:  February, 2020

Quilt finished:  September 2020

Quilt size:  56-1/2" x 76-1/2" (top size before quilting, washing and drying:  60-1/2" x 80-1/2")

Batting:  Hobbs 80/20 polyester/cotton

Machine quilted by:  Kathy of Kat's Quilts

This quilt will be the perfect companion for this quilt:

These two quilts will be going out to our cottage for the bunk beds.  Perfect!

Another quilt has been pulled and binding fabric has been found in my stash.  Guess there will be another finish coming soon.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Bumper Crop

Leaves are turning colours in our neck of the woods here in Northern Ontario, Canada.  Temperatures are starting to dip and there is a nip in the air in the mornings.  Time to start pulling out warmer clothes.

So glad that this wall hanging is done and done in time for fall (even though fall is officially not here yet)!

I love fall quilts and pumpkin quilts and can add another one to the mix.

Here is a bit of eye candy!  Enjoy!

We have been getting frost advisories lately and we have been covering up some of the plants that are still blooming.  Soon, the garden will go to sleep until spring.

Back of the quilt.  There wasn't enough of the pumpkin fabric, so I made do with what was on hand with additions.  Use it all up!

Quilt Details:

Pattern Source:  "Bumper Crop" by The Quilt Patch pattern company

Started:  October 2010 (what 10 yrs. ago already????)

Top finished:  November 2014

Quilt finished:  September 2020

Size:  56-3/4" x 64-1/4"

Batting:  80/20 Hobbs polyester/cotton

Machine quilted by:  Kathy of Kat's Quilts

This weekend I will be pulling out my autumn quilts and hangings.  I do admit to having a lovely selection to chose from to display.   All my pumpkins can be brought out of storage too!   Can you tell that I'm a happy camper?  LOL

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Close!

The trees around town and on our hill are starting to change colours.  It is that time of year.

I have a pumpkin quilt that needs binding and with the nights and days starting to cool down, this is the perfect time to tackle that mountain of quilts waiting for binding.

As I was sewing on binding, I was thinking and looking at what was left to do.  Will I have enough or does it need another strip of fabric to be cut.

How close is this?

After careful measuring and sewing the two ends together, this is what was left.  1-3/4" left.  That was close.  The angels were looking over me on that note!

Soon, I will have another quilt to show you.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

My Corona Flowers

 Finally, "My Corona Flowers" is done but Covid-19 is not done with us yet.

Quilt Details:

Pattern Source:  an original designed by Rose Marie Castonguay (me!) and those who may ask, there is no written pattern at this time to purchase.

Started:  April 6, 2020

Top Finished:  July 16, 2020

Quilt Finished:  August 31, 2020

Size:  71-3/4" x 92" (top size before quilting, washing and drying:  73-1/4" x 94")

Hexagon size:  1-1/8" on one edge

Number of hexagons:  792

Number of half hexagons:  90

Number of side half diamonds:  48

Number of corners:  12

Number of hexie flowers:  24

Normally, I don't count the number of pieces when doing EPP, but this time, I kept track.

Batting:  Hobbs 80/20 polyster/cotton

Machine quilted by:  Kathy at Kat's Quilts

E2E quilt design:  Joyful (with Pearls) by Christy Dillon from My Creative Stitches.  I would have this one again on another quilt. 

It was pure joy to work on this quilt during troubling times.  Now, if only I can get rid of those extra pounds that were put on during the same time ....

A lot of tiny scraps were used during the making of this quilt.  

My arms ached a number of nights working on basting those hexagons and sewing them all together.  Why?   Because I was so obsessed in getting this quilt done.  Worth it?  Oh yes.

Now that this quilt is done, I can focus on ufo's ..... again!  LOL

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Binding away!

Yesterday, I got "My Corona Flowers" back from my lovely LAer.  Last night, binding got started until my eyes were just too tired to sew anymore.  Today, the rest of the binding is now on.  Nights are starting to cool so sewing binding is what I will be doing soon.

So ...... how many more quilts need binding?  See the top shelf on my quilt cabinet?  There are six quilts that need binding!  Better get cracking and get them moving closer to the finish stage.  Every time I look at my cabinet, I start to drool.  Do you blame me?  LOL

Binding, binding, binding .....

Cherish your day, cherish your life!