The rebel in me!

How many of you are doing Cassandra's Circle Free BOM?  I am and my first block is done.  36" square unfinished (read more below).  My stash of indigo Shweshwe fabric will be used in the process.  It was time to use this gorgeous fabric in a project.   This fabric was purchased years ago from https://meerkatshweshwe.com/ and if I need more, I will be giving Celeste a call.

The fabric is a wee bit heavier than normal but absolutely gorgeous to work with for applique.  Especially in those curves.  The fabric doesn't fray as usual and I'm asking myself why I didn't work with this fabric before instead of sitting in a bin on my shelf.

This is where the rebel in me showed up.  The plumes were to be placed in a spiral mode, but I decided to do it differently and reversed four of the plumes to face the other four.  Love it!  As more blocks are done, this block will be revisited and more things added to it.

Now, getting back to that 36" square unfinished.  It should be 36-1/2" unfinished.  What happened to that extra 1/2"?   When I cut out the white background fabric, an extra inch was added to the measurement and the fabric was ripped across the WOF.  My grain is not straight  and after squaring it up, my piece is not the full 36-1/2" that is needed and there is not enough extra fabric to redo!  Darn, darn, darn.   So ..... this is where my creative side will have to visit and do something to make that centre piece the correct size.  I will have to stew on that idea for a wee while.

This is how my block looks on the design wall.  Big.

The other project that has been worked on over the past few weeks, is putting another label onto my quilts that have won ribbons in any quilt show that they were in.

My friend Karin did a talk about this at guild and the appraiser also told me to do that as well.  The appraiser also said to put a label on any quilt that has been appraised and the value.  So that will be the next step to do.  This will be a good way for future generations to know that their quilt has some kind of value and to treat it kindly.

Cherish your day!

Nine patch wonder

Well .... I finally got the binding sewn onto this quilt.  The machine quilting was finished back in February 2017.  This is so unusual for me not to get a binding on right away.  Oh well, it is finished and that is all that matters.  Simple nine patches with patch sashing.  Simple as that.

 The backing is made up of three different pieces of flannel.  They look washed out in this photo.

 This is more like the vibrant colours in the one piece of flannel.

For making labels, I stretch and pin my label onto a piece of Styrofoam board and then write my information.  The label doesn't move as I write and I no longer have to use a piece of freezer paper on the back to write.  This way is quicker too.  Just pin and write.

Label sewn onto the backing.

 My machine quilting is just simple straight lines.  Washed and crinkly.  Love it.

 Another view of the stitching.  Simple lines.

Simple patches.  Lordy, as I write this post, the light bulb went on.  That is the name of this quilt.  "Simple Patches".  I will need to get out my permanent marker and add that to the label.

Without further ado, the quilt was stretched slightly and pinned onto my Styrofoam board and the words added to the label.  Done.

I love simple quilts.  Also, complicated quilts.  Makes life interesting.

Quilt info.:
Started - Jan. 27, 2015
Finished - April 5, 2017 (only took 2 yrs. and 3 months to finish) LOL
Top Size - 58-1/2" x 86-3/4"
Finished Quilt Size - after machine quilting and wash and dry - 57" x 84-1/2"
Pattern Source - me, myself and I
Patch size - 5" x 5" finished.
Batting - 80/20 cotton/poly
Machine quilted by me using my domestic sewing machine.

Have a great day!

My Kaleidoscope

Since my last post, my task was to continue working on my hand quilting and to finish up two quilts that were started.  I chose to finish my kaleidoscope quilt.

There were three borders left to do.  Then two.  Then one.  Suddenly, I was trimming the outer borders.  Wow .... that went quickly.

The binding was sewn on and then I was on a mission to get one side done and then another until it was all done.

Even my label was made and ready to be sewn on.

After washing and blocking ..... my quilt was done!  Oh, happy, happy days.

 

In the navy blue negative area, this is where you see my machine quilting.  A very tight meander.

A  close-up of my hand quilting.  One tip for you if you ever make a kaleidoscope quilt .... in the very centre, cut away a bit of the batting and the bulk of all those seams will sink into the hole and you won't have any puff up centre.  It worked for me.  Mind you, this is a wall hanging and that is why I did that.  When I run my hand on the backing, I can feel the centre poking through the hole. 

Finished size: 52" x 52-1/2"
Source:  Ricky Tims "Kool Kaleidoscope Quilts"
Quilting:  Both machine and hand quilting
 
Have a great day!

It's a finish!

It feels so good to have another quilt finished and gifted away.  Once I started machine quilting it, it was done within three days (binding and label included in that time frame).  Yikes, N.E.V.E.R. before has a quilt been finished so quickly by me!!

I was on a mission to get this quilt done and gifted to this lovely young couple for Xmas.  They will be nice and warm when they start their new life together on the east coast of Canada in the new year.

Simple grid quilting all over ... except in two corners.

The back is a gorgeous flannelette.

A few hand quilted circles to help break up all the grid work in two corners. 

My label was quick and easy to make.  Just a square of fabric folded on the diagonal.

Seconds after taking a photo of the label, Miss Ashes had to check this quilt out and decide if it was worthy of her.

Yep, she sure made herself cozy.

Have a great day!

Being Silly

You know, fresh air and nice warm spring temperatures can do silly things to a person's mind, making them do silly things.  Bear with me and read on ....

For my hexagon quilt, it has been bugging me on what title to put on the label (I do like to give my quilts proper names).  Foremost in my mind, it was Hollyhocks in a Castle Garden (see post here about it).  Then, once it was hung up on the wall in our dining room, my DH took one look at it and said: "it looks like a field of flowers".  Darn.  Now what title to name that quilt?

Lately, Miss Ashes and I have been taking nightly strolls around the property and while she has been eating grass, I've been looking at my neighbour's garden.  Those neighbours have been there for nearly 40 years and they work at keeping their garden in good order.

The first photo below shows the start of some of their spring flowers (their garden is fuller looking   and on the other side of the little fence that shows in the bottom left side of the photo).  Our garden is different and we are in the process of changing the beds, but being the newbies on the block (only our second year here), our spring flowers are looking a tad sparse. 

So, while Miss Ashes is eating her grass, I'm looking at both beds and thinking about my hexagon quilt and how it would look wonderful in the bit of green.  Remember, DH said my quilt looked like a field of flowers.

Well, being of silly mind, I did just that. 

Are you laughing yet?

 

Silly?  Yes, but not crazy enough to leave it there!  :o)


It didn't bother me to put my quilt on the grass since it was being washed again anyway.

This is where I'm embarrassed.  Remember me boasting about Crayola Washable Markers and how all the markings come out.  Well, much to my surprise, there were eight hexies that the markers did not come out on the first washing.  Only on this fabric.  I don't know why?  All my fabrics are pre-washed as soon as they come into the house.  So, I will dab on some Dawn detergent and rub gently and then put the quilt through a wash cycle and check to see if the markings come out.

They came out!  Yay!  See, I told you they come out!  Maybe just not always on the first wash.  :o)

Ah, life is grand as peace and harmony has descended on our home once again.

Oh, the label and what title?

Have a great day!

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Last finish for 2012

Life was very busy for me this month .... from looking after a family member following surgery, painting and getting ready for Xmas, I felt that I was being pulled in all directions.  Things have calmed down now and it is my time to play again.

A bit of quilting got done, but not much.  My Love Is did get finished.  Now that is such a good feeling of accomplishment.  :o)

 

 

 

Finished size:  38-1/2” x 53”

 

Hand quilted and hand embroidered.

 

Pattern source:  Pacific Patchwork

What will 2013 bring for me?  As usual, I will concentrate on my UFO's again and again and again!  :o)  They are always there for me.  Like comfort food, one can never have enough!

DH and I will be starting renovations in our home.  That will mean not as much time spent in my studio.  Oh well, I can't have my cake and eat it to.  At least not for now.

Miss Hank is doing well.  We are so grateful about that! 

Wishing you all a Joyful 2013! 

Have a great year!

Machine quilting

I am trying very hard to finish up some of my tops that are ready for quilting and I have been hard at work on this one. As you can see, things were going very well until I noticed a bit of bulk under my hand. Good thing I stopped when I did as my machine nearly got wrecked big time (and I just got my machine back from the repair shop). See how close my stitches and the pin are? Whew ... now that was close! After a bit of unpicking, I continued on until the whole quilt got quilted. The binding is on .... love that striped fabric and there is only enough to do one (maybe two) quilts and then there will be no more. The backing is striped flannelette and I just love it.

My label is sewn on and I am way ahead of myself. This weekend, I am going to a party!

Have a great day!

1 UFO Done!

Well, here it is .... my siggy or signature block quilt ..... it is done! This is finish #1 for Finn's challenge that I signed up for ..... yeah me! :o) Instead of doing a label for the back of the quilt, here is my label block (I was short one block for the border corners). With this photo, you can see the backing that was used and some of my stipple machine quilting and my hand quilting in the borders.

Thank you, Connie for taking on the responsibility of hosting this block swap .... just look at what came of those blocks!

I wanted to take photos of this quilt down at Scarborough Bluffs where Jennifer and her DH and I went for a walk a few weeks ago. Today, it was too sunny for photos and too breezy. There will be another photo opportunity with another quilt.

Have a great day!

Pattern source: EQ6. Quilt size: 72-1/2" x 94" (top size before quilting 76" x 100").

Edit Nov.13,2009 - there is a slight bleed out with some of the blocks, so when you wash your quilt, use a product that will help absorb any excess dye.

Also, a couple of the signature blocks washed out the writing and some others faded a lot. Advice .... take photos of your blocks and then if any writing washes out, you can re-write the info. on the blocks.

Canadian Maple Leaves

Well, my 4 Seasons Swap quilt is finished and ready for a new home in ………….. nope, I’m not telling! Hopefully, my swap partner likes it! If not, there are a few folks lining up to take it off her hands. :o)

I love making labels and have a lot of fun colouring with crayons!

It’s time for me to say goodbye to this little mini, so ….so long, farewell ….go, get out of here, shoo, skedaddle, don’t look back, you go girl … happy landing!

Have a great day

Labels

For the past few years, my labels have included care and wash instructions (it is never too late to start).

My descendants down the road may never know what is involved with caring for their quilts unless it is written down for them. I could give them paper instructions, but you know how they can easily become lost. So, what better way than right on the label?

For this quilt, the following instructions have been included:

Keep out of direct sunlight.
Top & bottom: 100% cotton
Batting: 100% polyester
Machine wash gentle cycle, mild detergent, cool water, line dry.
Do not dry clean.

What is simpler than this?

Have a great day!
P.S. I also sneak in the quilt number (#54) on the label someplace. Can you find it?

Happy Canada Day

July 1 is our nation’s birthday and we are 140 yrs. old! We’re celebrating in our own way, quietly but with pride.

This is my only patriotic quilt that I have and it is called ‘A Year of Celebration’. There is a maple leaf block with our flag in the middle and it’s the July block of the month. The idea came from my Guild and when I first joined, the lady doing BOM suggested that members could make a block for the monthly draw and make an extra block for a quilt. A few blocks were changed in the making and here is my version.

There are all kinds of decorative buttons sewn onto this quilt and it is hand quilted.

This is my label. Fun was had with crayons for colouring in the squares.

Have a great day, eh!