Those logs keep rolling along ....

This is where I'm at with my Log Cabin project.  Lots and lots of strips being sub-cut and sewn to make the chevron borders.  Did I mention lots of strips.  The chevron (in the middle of the photo) has strips being auditioned for me to see if I like the progression of colours.  The block on the bottom right has all the applique sewn down.  The other blocks in this row have been removed and the circles have been appliqued on.  The leaves will be sewn onto the blocks as a take-along project.  

I've decided to make all the chevrons the same and at the same time.  There is a need to be careful because if one section doesn't look right, then that same section in all three will look off.  So, only a few strips will be sewn at one time and then pressed and auditioned.  

Once my chevrons get too long, they are folded and pinned in place so that I'm not dealing with long sections while sewing more and more strips onto the chevrons.

When sewing the strips onto the chevron, they get placed onto a piece of styrofoam and this makes it easier for me to pull from each group for each chevron.  This keeps me organized and ensure that all strips get sewn in the right order.  I only do about four of each colour because when added up there are 24 strips on the styrofoam and that is enough for me to work for one session at the sewing machine.  If you look closely at the yellow strip on the far right, it has been frankin pieced together.  That colour fabric is gone and there were only small pieces enough to make the length that was needed.  Each chevron section needs 72 sets of two x three sections = 432 strips!  Lots and lots of strips!!

 

About five days after the first photo ..... what a difference.  I'm so loving this project now.  After making those first few blocks and then binning it for years, I would have tossed out this project .... but the majority of the strips had already been cut out.  There was no way this was going to be tossed and so glad that I finally figured out a process for making those logs.  There will be border strips separating the chevrons from the logs.  Some fabrics have been pulled and auditioning will be happening soon.

This pile of blocks (below) is an entire top .... just waiting to be sewn together.  That will be done probably next month.  

A bit of outdoor painting and sealing our brick patio and spray painting happened this week.  So glad to have that done.  My window of good weather will soon be closing and I didn't want to wait another year to get those small jobs done.  I'll be making a list of all things that my hubby usually does to close up for the winter.  I must be prepared for the day when he can't do everything by himself.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!