A Quilt Finish and Eagles are back!

It's been a slow go, but so glad this old UFO is now a completed quilt and gifted to my BIL.

For some strange reason, there are few particulars about this quilt.  Like, I have no idea when this was first started and the pattern name.  I probably saw this on Pinterest and was able to figure out the block and drafted up the quilt pattern in EQ.  Usually, I'm much more organized than this with important details and give credit to the original designer.  Oh dear, I sure slipped on this one.

Block:  Blockbase pattern #2022 Light & Shadows and 4 patch

Block Size:  10" finished

Size:  96-1/2" x 97"

Batting:  Hobbs polyester

Machine quilted by:  Kathy Wareham

Cottage season has started and my sister and I made a day trip to the cottage to bring out more supplies and to do a few chores before the onset of black flies (which are not in full force and biting).  We got them done and were sitting on our porch to have our lunch when we heard a screech.  "That's an eagle", I said.  We both grabbed our phones to take photos.  This is the first time we have seen two Canadian Bald Eagles together.  This is the third year we have seen an eagle in our area and I'm guessing they are here to stay.

So beautiful and majestic.  Canadian Bald Eagles, indeed!  

Cherish your day, cherish your life and cherish your country!  My country will always be CANADA!  

Stars, stars and more stars

I'm hoping that my great nephew loves his new quilt that he will be getting for Xmas.  It has been awhile since his last quilt and he was due for a new one.  Ignore the shadow in the bottom part of the photo .....

Here it is sideways.

A closeup of the quilting called "Sea of Stars" by Christy Dillon of My Creative Stitches.

A cotton sheet was used for the backing and if he wants to reverse the quilt on his bed, he will have an interesting look there also.

This was a fun quilt to make ..... until those stars.  Ugh.  They were paper pieced and not my favourite to do.  This quilt got stalled because of those stars.  Now, it is done and ready for gifting.

Quilt Details:

Source:  My design using EQ7

Block size:  7-7/8" x 7-7/8"  Why didn't I make the block 8" square?  I'm puzzled by that size.  Oh well.

Started:  April 2021  Top finished: October 2022

Finished:  November 2022

Size: 56-1/2" x 80" (top size before quilting, washing and drying:  59" x 84-1/4")

Batting:  Hobbs poly

Quilted by:  Kathy Wareham

It feels good to get this quilt done and ready for Xmas giving.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

A Scrappy Quilt

This quilt has finally been gifted.  

Wasn't I spot on with my colour choice!

Quilt Details:

Source:  Stash Buster Challenge (a Facebook site) and pattern by Border Creek Station

Of course, I changed the block slightly from the pattern.  What else is new, eh!  LOL

Block Size:  10" finished

Started:  April 2022

Top Finished:  July 2022

Quilt Finished:  August 2022

Size:    60" x 77" (top size before quilting, washing and drying:  60-1/2" x 78")

Batting:  Hobbs poly scraps

Machine Quilted by:  Kathy Wareham

Quilt design:  Dancing Flowers by Christy Dillon of My Creative Stitches

There we have it .... another happy camper with their new quilt and another quilt finished!

Fall is definitely here.  Tree colours are changing quite a lot now.  We will be having a number of cool days ahead and then it will warm up for the weekend.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

"Northern Lights"

So, so glad that this quilt is finished and up on my wall for the month of March.

Pattern source:  Bought at Fun with Stitches quilt store in Belleville, Ontario, Canada and the pattern name is "Lightening Bolt".  Once I got to the halfway point, my brain started to hurt in trying to figure out the placement, so the pattern got tossed and I went my own way.   There was extra fabric and strips were cut in different widths and sewn to resemble our northern lights.   So, so glad that the pattern got tossed!  

Started:  Nov. 19, 2016

Top finished:  Aug 16, 2021

Quilt finished:  February 13,2022

Quilt size:  66-1/2" x 66" (top size before quilting, washing and drying was 68-1/2" x 69-1/4")

Batting:  Hobbs 80/20 cotton/poly

Machine quilted by:  Kathy Wareham

Today, is my Mom's birthday (she passed in 2008) and she would have been 104.  Happy Birthday wherever you are.  Thinking of and missing you greatly!  

Cherish your day, cherish your life .... because like the people of Ukraine, we will never know when our lives could be shattered!

"Presents Galore"

This quilt has been shown, but not the details surrounding it.  So, finally here they are!

Pattern Source:  inspired by "American Wildflowers"in McCalls's Quilting Mar/Apr. 2015 edition

The quilt below is what the pattern should look like (minus the applique flowers in the setting half  triangles).  Quite a difference, eh!  "Presents Galore" doesn't even resemble this quilt at all, so I was inspired by the block pattern, but then my quilt took off in an entirely different direction.

Quilt Details:

Started:  April 16, 2018

Top Finished:  Aug. 18, 2021

Quilt Finished:  January 17, 2022

Quilt Size:  70-1/4" x 86-1/2" (top size before quilting, washing and drying was 75-1/2" x 90-1/2")

Batting:  Hobbs poly

Machine quilted by:  Kathy Wareham

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Diamond Star

What joy to have this quilt done!  Perfect timing to enjoy for the summer months.

This photo was taken outside under our blooming crap apple tree.  It looks washed out in the sun, so some photos were taken in the shade.

The backing was a great way to use up fabrics that just needed to go .....

Quilt Details:

Pattern source:  from EQ software (not sure which version)

This star has many names:  Texas Star, Hexagon Stars, Friendship Hexagon, Garden of Flowers, Dolly Madison's Star, Boutonniere.  

Started:  Spring 2009 

Top finished:  Feb. 2021

Quilt finished:  May 2021 (I'm not going to do the math .... I'm not going to do the math .... LOL)

Quilt size:  102-1/4" x 100-1/2" (the quilt has not been washed/dried yet, so there will be shrinkage)

Hand pieced using EPP method.

Machine quilted by:  Kathy Wareham

Quilt machine design:  Edgewood 1 by Christy Dillon of My Creative Stitches

Batting:  80/20 Hobbs cotton/poly

Another quilt done, done, done!  Oh happy days, for sure!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Road Block

No ..... just my latest quilt called "Traffic Jam" by Pat Sloan.  

I tried taking photos outside.  Nope, too dark in the shadows and the wind was blowing too much.

How about on top of the snow?  Still too dark.

How about draped on top of my armoire doors?  Not bad.

I know, I know, how about just pinned to my design wall?  This is the best it can be for now.  LOL

When I zoom out, can you see my other UFO project right beside it?  It is coming along very nicely.

Quilt Details:

Pattern:  "Traffic Jam" by Pat Sloan.  

Started:  March 2017

Top Finished:  September 2017

Quilt Finished:  March 2021 ..... yes, yes, yes ..... only took five years!  LOL

Quilt Size: 54-3/4" x 68-3/4" (size before quilting, washing and drying:  57-1/2" 71-1/2") 

Batting:  Hobbs poly

Machine quilted by:  Kathy Wareham 

My notes say that the blocks were done as a leader/ender process.  

I'm happy, another item ticked off my 'to do' list.

A perfect cottage quilt for sitting on the porch during spring and late summer days and nights when the breeze is a tad cool.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Angles and Squares

This is my first finish for 2021!   Due to this quilt hanging in our foyer, this is the best photo that I can get of it.

A different angle.

Close-ups of the quilting which is called Late Bloomer by Christy Dillon of My Creative Stitches.  Since there are so many white areas in the quilt, I wanted the quilting to show and the green thread shows off the design quite nicely.

Quilt Details:

Top started:  April 2006

Top finished:  August 2020

Quilt finished:  March 2021

Source:  From a book called "A Thread Runs Through It" by Barbara Dieges

Block Name:  6" Cotton Reel

Size:  91-1/2" x 92" (top size before quilting and washing:  96" x 96")

Batting:  Hobbs 80/20 cotton/poly

Machine Quilted by:  Kathy Wareham of Kat's Quilts

This quilt was quilted late last year, but I finally got around to putting the binding on this week.  

Perfect timing to hang this quilt for the month of March as it brings a fresh look to my decor.  The temps are just above freezing and the snow is melting.  Spring is around the corner.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Last finish for 2020

Happy New Year ..... we all hope!  It will be interesting to see how the next few months play out.

I got this quilt finished just under the wire.  What a good feeling to get something finally done!

"Four Seasons" is the name of this quilt.  It looks more like a fall quilt, but there are spring greens and summer greens in the quilt along with yellows of our flowers that grow in our front and back garden.  Look closely and you can even see some snowflakes!

Quilt details:

Started:  April 2014

Finished:  December 30, 2020

Block name:  9-patch block  (7-1/2" x 7-1/2" square).  No pattern.

Quilt size:  60-1/2" x 87-1/4" after washing and drying

Batting:  poly batting

Machine quilted by:  Kathy Wareham of Kat's Quilts

Another UFO ticked off the list.

Done!

I don't know about you, but I'm so happy to see 2020 in the rear view mirror.  It was an awful year starting with the passing of my Aunt last January; Covid-19 hitting the world; my sister being diagnosed with colon cancer and enduring her treatments that ended last month; my hubby being diagnosed with Parkinson's; and finally the passing of a cousin early last month.  Yep, I'm so glad to see the end of 2020.

Hubby and I had a quiet New Year's Eve and day.  No gathering of family.  We will not contribute to the spread of the virus in our community nor amongst family members.

So, until we can all be vaccinated ..... wear a mask, wash your hands and keep your distance.

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!

A very old UFO

This quilt was my last finished quilt for 2019, but didn't have time to post about it before as it was a Xmas gift.

This quilt was started so long ago ..... as in March of 2004.  I didn't like where the project was going and it was shelved.  Then in February 2007, a new look was designed and then the work was started.  Because something new and exciting always caught my eye and my attention, the project was shelved again and again.

Finally, this summer I was determined to finally get this project going again.  So, up onto my design wall it went and then it sat and sat.

My sister was visiting me to do some clothing adjustments before she, her youngest daughter and I went on a vacation to Costa Rica and she saw the blocks on the design wall.  Oh lovely, she said.  She didn't remember that this was for her!  It was that long ago!  OMG and LOL.

Once I really dedicated my time and attention to finishing the blocks and assembling everything, it only took a few weeks to do.  Oh dear .... so much time wasted!  I know that I'm not the only one that falls victim to this waste of time/energy .... so I'm in good company.

Fussy cut circles.

Embroidery close-up.

This quilt was finally gifted to my sister and her husband Xmas 2019 as their 40th wedding anniversary.  It was originally intended for their 25, 30, 35 wedding anniversary but it never got finished until just before Xmas 2019.  Finally, done and gifted.  Whew!

Pillow shams were made and quilted but they still need to be finished and then they too can be passed over to my sister.

Quilt details:
Started:  March 2004 and restarted February 2007
Top finished:  Nov. 2019
Quilt finished:  December 2019
Quilt size:  101-1/2" x 100-1/2" (top size:  103-3/4" x 103-3/8")
Pattern source:  no pattern .... designed by me using EQ software
Batting:  Hobbs 80/20 cotton polyester
Machine quilted by:  Kat's Quilts using "Knit 1/Purl 2" quilting design

Another empty bin ..... yee haw! 

Have a great day!

Humble Xmas Quilt

I've been promising photos of this quilt for a while now and finally got around to taking it outside looking for that perfect shot.  The day was dreary and my quilt sort of gleams against the brick wall and the wee bit of snow on the ground.

The backing on my quilt has deers on it.  So sweet!

Quilt Details:
Block size:  8" finished
No pattern name/source available.  Had the pattern, adjusted it to my taste and added the trees and then lost the pattern.  Oh well, that happens, eh!
Started:  April 2015
Top Finished:  January 2019
Quilt Finished:  September 2019
Quilt Size:  55-1/4" x 73-3/4" (before quilting, washing and drying:  58-1/2" x 74-3/4")
Quilt Batting:  Hobbs poly/cotton 80/20
Machine pieced by me.
Machine quilted by Kat's Quilts

This was a fun quilt to make.  It is amazing what one can make out of scraps from a lady who was moving to another city and wanted to have a purge of her quilting stuff.  With the help of her friends (Karin and Jeanne) they asked if I wanted some of her scraps.  YES!  Some of the fabric pieces in this quilt had to be sewn together to make the exact size strip/square needed.  To me, this is a humility or a very humble quilt.  Just make do with what you have and go from there and unless you look really close, no one will ever know.  Absolutely fun!

So, there you have it, my "Humble Xmas" quilt.

A few days after taking these photos outside, this is what it looks like now .... a Winter Wonderland.

 Oh look, a deer!

Have a great day!