September Results

October 1 .... the year is just zipping by much too quickly.

September was a good month for me, after all.  I was busy with wedding clothing alterations and helping out with rehearsal dinner and wedding brunch.  Glad that is over.

So, let's see what I did last month for the September Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge.

Binding got sewn onto this quilt and it is now finished.  This quilt won't be shown just yet as I'm adding in some hand quilting around the applique.  I know I'm fussy, but that is what makes me happy.  Sometime in October, you will see this quilt.

This quilt got the binding sewn on and is now finished.  Yahoo, two quilts bound last month!

Much progress on this Log Cabin and I will continue to work on it for October for the Chookshed challenge.

Another row was added to my Chevron Log Cabin quilt.  Only six more rows to go!  Just have to say that I love doing this quilt-as-you-go method.  This will also be my October Chookshed challenge.

At first, it didn't seem that much got done ..... but yes, a lot did.  So very happy with that.  Good thing that I blog because it shows me what I've been doing month by month and throughout all the years.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Log Cabin and Enough!

This is the UFO that I've decided to finish for my BIL.  There are quite a few pieces already made and it won't take too long to see progress.

As I'm cutting out for some of the blocks, I'm also cutting out pieces to make another of this quilt for my sister.  It will be queen size and will need lots and lots of wee blocks.  The pattern is called "Fragments of Cloth" by Norma Whaley.  So win-win.  Use up scraps and stash for both projects!

Now, about the Enough bit in my post title!

This little guy has decided that at night time, it is time to stop sewing and it is playtime instead.  He will get up from lying down and come over to my sewing machine and plonk himself down on my stuff.  I try to get two blocks ready to sew the next day, but he has had enough!  So, playtime it is and then bedtime.

 

Good progress so far!  

 

See my Chevron Log Cabin hanging over my door in above photo?  Four rows are done.  Row 5 has a good start.  The pile on the left are all done and joined together.  Only 3 more to do and then the row can be added to the other rows.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Quilts in Demand

My little great nieces have each separately asked me for another quilt.  So, guess what I will be doing next year for their birthdays.  Something simple and I will be going through my mags and Pinterest photos for some ideas.

Then my sister asked if I had a spare queen size quilt for her husband.  I looked but none that are masculine.  Then, going through my ufo's, there are two that can made into that size.  So, he will be getting this one .....

... or this one.  Not sure yet, but hope to have one done for Xmas.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Log Cabin Chevron

 This was my December binding challenge and I'm so happy to have this quilt done!  

Here is the quilt taken at a different angle.

Quilt Details:

This quilt was started in a class by Heather Stewart.  Of course, I did a twist with the addition of the applique and I'm so much happier that it came out this way.

Started:  October 2012

Top Finished:  October 2023

Quilt Finished:  December 2023

Quilt Size:  66" x 77" (top size before quilting, washing & drying:  67-1/4" x 77-1/2")

Batting:  Hobbs poly batting

Machine quilted by:  Kathy Wareham

This quilt will look lovely hanging alongside my other spring quilts.

Now, I did take another class with Heather Stewart and this was the quilt that was finished back in 2018.  Angles and Squares.  Heather asked us to be creative in making up our top (she just taught us the block) and this is what I came up with.  Of course, my favourite stars made an entrance and viola!

There, all the quilts are now made from the classes that Heather taught.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Log Cabins are rolling .....

..... along!  Time to get this project to the assembly mode .... which is exactly what happened!  This is now a top.  Backing has been selected.  Another top to go to the LAer.  Whew .... I'm so glad this is now off my UFO list and I'm so loving this top now!  Have to confess, but I hated this project and was so ready to dump it way back when.  Good thing I didn't listen to that voice!

A close-up of some of the blocks with the applique.  Do you like my decision to switch the centre chevron?  It makes the design look interesting.

On to the next UFO!  Just love it when I can tick off a UFO .... tick, tick, tick!  Still have 26 projects to deal with.  Finish a UFO .... start a new project!  No wonder my list never seems to drop to the single digits.  LOL

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Update on September UFO's

Well, well, well ..... I had good progress working on these two UFO's last month.  They are not finished tops just yet, but they have been moved along from just a few blocks.

My log cabin turned out amazing!  I'm just in love with this project now.  All the blocks have their applique.  The chevrons have been trimmed on the sides.  Just need to figure out the length and then trim.  The fabric for the border and beside each chevron has been decided upon.  Yes, time to get this beauty sewn together now!  Amazing what happens when I concentrate on finishing something started many, many years ago ....

This red/neutral project hasn't been touched since doing the last block.  Once the log cabin is together, then this project can be worked on.

Time at the cottage is coming to an end, unless we get some really nice weather and then our visits can be prolonged a bit.

This was a recent visage one beautiful morning with the sun shining through the autumn leaves.  Delightful.

To my fellow Canadians, Happy Thanksgiving!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

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!

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!

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/

Last day in the garage

Before I get into photos (aka eye candy) of our garage day, how about an update on my log cabin?

There are only two more rows to assemble and sew onto the other sections.  My husband looked at the design wall and said it looks like the tail of a peacock.  It is so colourful and seems to shimmer.  Can I get this old ufo done before 2018 ends?  I think so!  There might have to be a slight tweaking before sewing those last two rows.  There seems to be a few too many darker blocks in the bottom right corner.  I couldn't see that until looking at this photo.

Now onto the garage photos.  OMG .... the eye candy was overwhelming.

Darlene has been busy trying to finish the borders on this top.  She also finished a Xmas panel (on the right) by doing big stitch hand quilting.  She plans to add some bling to it to make it sparkle.

Darlene purchased 2 metres of this printed flannel fabric and is working her flannel stash to add sections between the flower borders.

Below, you can see the diamond shaped sections that will be added to make the top wider.  Photos just don't do justice to how rich looking this printed flannel fabric is.

Claudia has been busy working on a few new projects.  She just purchased the It Takes 2 pattern as well as the embroidery pattern and is making it in blues (blocks on the right).

Below is a new block to be added to the others.  I showed her my few blocks that I had started years ago.  Maybe seeing her progress will prompt me to go back to my old ufo and make some more blocks next year.

Claudia also started Sweet Surrender (the diamond strip with applique).  I don't dare to start that pattern yet as there are way too many ufo's for me to work on.  One day, but not yet.

Karin brought in a wool applique project.  The blocks are stunning.  Another ufo that she should finish!

I did some stitch-in-the-ditch hand quilting on this old quilt that was finished way back in 2003.  This quilt never hanged well on the wall and it needed more hand quilting in the borders.  There was just half a border to do and that got finished yesterday in the garage.  Once home, this quilt got hung up and it hangs wonderfully now.  More on that later.

Lois was busy trimming these blocks for QOV quilts.  Once these were done, she worked on her shamrock blocks (which I didn't take a photo of).

So, that was our day in the garage and might be our last one for 2018.   Between Xmas and New Year's .... well that is a quiet time for most of us and who knows if there will be an impromptu gathering.

I regaled them of my episode about touching Elf on the Shelf and the big do-do that I got myself into.  OMG!  For those of you that don't know about this, please never, ever ..... touch the elf in front of little ones.  The elf will lose it's magic power and a letter to Santa explaining what happened had to take place and Santa had to recharge elf's power back.  It is a REALLY big deal.  Now you know .....

It was just a happy day for all of us working away on old ufo's and new projects.  A day of inspiration and friendship.  What could be better than that!

Have a great stitching day!

Busy, busy, busy!

I've been plugging away at my log cabins.  Bit by bit, they are getting done!  I even have the backing picked out in advance which you can see laying on the bench.

Only four blocks to go!  Oh my, I can taste the finish coming ....

Done .... the blocks are all done! 

The sewing of the rows is starting.  For the setting side triangles, can you see the striped fabric on the right hand side?  That is what I'm planning to use as long as there is enough fabric.  If not, then plan B will have to be found.  The border fabrics have already been picked out.  Bonus!  I'm on a roll with this project.

Guess what I'll be doing over the next few days?  🐱🐱

Have a great stitching day!

Progressing on logs

Well, what a difference a few days make (my previous post shows how this got started).  My log cabin blocks are coming along very nicely.  On most days, about 10 of these blocks can be made.  After a few days, there is a definite change to see.

Below is what I see from my chair.  Plus the mess of fabrics by the door.  That is the stash that I'm working from. 

To make the process handy, four Styrofoam boards are being used.  This one holds my long solid strips (WOF cuts).  By the way, I never realised how many solid fabrics were in my stash, until I seriously started pulling fabrics for this project.  Sheesh .....

 This board holds the smaller pieces of solid strips.

 This one holds my printed long strips (WOF cuts).

This one is for smaller printed strips.

I'm using two cardboard plates to hold my strips that are needed for each block to be cut down into the smaller strip sizes needed.  Two blocks are worked on at the same time.  It is a bit tricky to manage but it works.  As you can see with my selection of fabrics, there are solids and prints in my blocks.  Now, you are probably thinking that these colours aren't very interesting as you see them laid out here.  For example, look at the top plate. 

But once the block is sewn together, it fits quite well with the other blocks.  See the arrow?   Some duller blocks are needed to tame the brighter blocks.  What are all the pink little squares that you see on some of the blocks?  They are pinned in place to remind me that those blocks cannot be moved around.  The other blocks without pink squares can be moved, but not those.

Here is my status for today.  Just thirteen more blocks to do.  At this point, I'm getting very picky on which strips to choose for the remaining blocks.  I need to balance out the overall look so that darks are evenly spaced out, because that is where the eye will be drawn to.  My progress will slow down a bit now.

By Xmas, I would like to get this top done and ready the backing so that it can go to my favourite LAer.  There is still a lot of work to do before that can happen.  Like setting side triangles and borders .... aagh!

The other thing that is keeping me occupied is painting some drawers that my DH made for our pantry.  They will be so much handier to use.  Right now, my living room is a painting station.  I really need to get them done so that the Xmas tree can go up.

What else?  Some Xmas stuff.

Have a great stitching day!

Linking to: http://www.esthersquiltblog.com/ and http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.com/