Lorna's Vine

Three fabrics were pulled and pinned onto my design wall to see which one would be best for the alternating squares.  The one on the right is out completely.  I like the other two and am having a hard time to decide.  The one in the middle has an obvious diagonal line and I don't really want to see that.  So, thinking outside the box .... te he ..... what about taking the left hand fabric and cutting it into squares the same size as the corner stone and using the middle fabric to frame it?  Now, that idea appeals to me a lot.  Looking at the sashing and corner pieces just pinned in place, I'm liking this project a lot!  The striped fabric on the left will be the borders.  So, more on this idea in another post.

My niece sent me this photo of the quilt that her oldest daughter (age 12) picked to go with them on their family reunion.  I'm surprised that she still is using it!  That quilt was made for her when she was just a few years old.  It is still going strong.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

August Quilts on Display

You know this post was coming!  These are my quilts to choose from to display this month.  Enjoy!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Chevron Log Cabin blocks

Well, much progress has been done on these blocks.  They are all done.  Now, I can slowly do the QAYG (quilt as you go) for each block.  I'm happy.  I have something for take along sewing to keep my hands busy.  So, for the Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge, my challenge for the month of July is DONE to where I wanted it to be.

Below are the fabrics that will be used for the backs.  It will be interesting to see them done up..

Lo and behold .... look ..... one row is done!  Hand quilted and each hexagon sewn together!  Very happy.  I will continue with them for the month of August as part of the Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge.

For the Challenge, #3 was chosen for August and this is my #3.  Lorna's Vine.  My colour choice is blue.  I was initially tempted to go with red, but hubby said no to that choice.  So, blue it is.

There are 12 of these triangles to make.

Four of these squares.

All the sashings have been done.  This batch needs trimming.

There are 2 different fabrics to chose from for the large alternating squares.  I just have to put the fabric up on my design wall and pin the sashings on top of the fabric and decide which one to use.   I will show you that choice on another post.

This project is more along than first thought.  I'm surprised this hasn't been finished into a top by now.  Guess I needed this challenge to push me.  LOL

No binding got done for July challenge.  No-blog Mary is taking a break.  I think I need to also take a break from doing that for a few months.  I've struggled recently with the binding challenge and that must be my clue to take a break.

Can't believe we are into August already.  We are enjoying a heat wave right now.  It is hot and muggy but no complaints because in a number of months we will be getting cooler and then colder as we move into the new year.  We pay good money to experience this heat by taking a trip to the Caribbean.  

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Almost there!

Well, my plan to try to get at least two blocks done per day is working.  Not many more to go now.  Just 16 full blocks ......

.... and 8 half blocks on both ends.

My sister and I went to the cottage a couple of weeks ago.  We saw autumn colours on the trees.  Say it isn't so!!!!  No, it was the setting sun casting a glow on the trees across the lake.  Whew.

Then, we saw something in the middle of the lake.  What in the world was it.  Was it a bird?  No, this thing was odd looking and moving way too quickly for a bird.  My sister got the binoculars and looked and .... holy cow .... it is a moose, she said.  We grabbed our cameras and went flying out the door.  By the time we got to the front of our property, the moose had already moved away down the lake.  We had to hurry to be able to catch it as it was coming ashore.

Off into the bush it went.  This was a young moose.  How excited we both were!  We nearly missed seeing this moose.  We were on the porch facing the lake.  I was reading a book and my sister was doing a crossword.  She got stuck and looked up to think and that is when she saw something funny in the water.  Karma.

Mr. Ridley is quite the contented kitty.  His meds hopefully are working.  He will have bloodwork done in a month and we will see then how he is doing.  He was buy looking out the window at some work being done in front of our home and stayed like this for a good 15-20 minutes.

He still drags this rope to his water bowl; drops it in and then drags it back to the living room or dining room.

Of all his toys, this seems to be his favourite and we find it in different places around our home.  One end is usually wet.  LOL

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

Sashings

When I worked on the 5 different sashings for this quilt, I did think it was me thinking outside the box and wanting to try something different and how unique my quilt turned out.

After my post, I got to thinking ..... I've done this before!  Seven years ago, I made this quilt with 7 different sashings also.  So, I'm guessing that this idea works for me!  Been there, done that .... twice already!  LOL

If you are thinking of trying this idea ..... go for it and have fun!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

July quilts for display and Collection for a Cause quilt - Friendship

Since starting to seriously quilt back in 2000, it is amazing how many quilts have been done over the years and how many collections I now have to choose from for each month.

The only months that are duplicated are the months of February (for Valentine's) and July (for Canada Day).  Those are the months for red/neutral quilts.  

To see those quilts, you can go to this post and see them.

Since that post, there is a new addition and it is this quilt.

Wanting to try something different and think outside the box, there are 5 different sashings that were used and here they are:

The backing is from a duvet cover that was bought at IKEA.  

I did make one adjustment to the applique design as shown below.  I just found the space to do reverse applique too close and knew it would be a struggle.  Just look where OLD was marked in the two places to see just how close the old lines were.  There was only 1/8" to separate the circle and the petal and the petal and the outer edge.  Just not enough space to easily work with.  So happy the changes were made.

Quilt Details:

Pattern Source:  Moda fabrics

Block Size:  8" finished

Started:  February 2023

Top finished:  December 2023

Quilt finished:  May 2024

Size:  49-1/2" x 63-3/4" (top size before quilting, washing & drying:  52-1/2" x 66")

Batting:  Hobbs poly

Quilted by:  Kathy Wareham using Trillium Leaf by Darlene Epp.  The trillium is the provincial flower for Ontario and they put on quite a lovely display in May in the forest.

For each month, I need 8 quilts to display on walls, railing and quilt rack.  So far, there are a total of 10 red/neutral quilts available to pull.  All I need to do is make another 6 and then the quilts can be split into two groups for display and not have a repeat for February and July.

Right now, there are plans to make two and possibly three.  My brain has been busy thinking and planning!  LOL  Fabrics have been gathered and they can be started at any time.  More on those plans later.  There is an old UFO that could be pulled out and worked on also.

For the whole month of July, I will just sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labour!

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

July Challenges

For July, the Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge, the number to work on is #1 and this is it:

Alas, that project will be NOT be worked on after all.  There is a wedding quilt that needs to be started and made this month and that is what will be worked on instead.  My niece already knows about this quilt, so the pattern can be shown.

My Chevron Log blocks will continue to be worked on.  I try to get at least 2 blocks done per day.  The QAYG bit will be done later.  

If time permits .... perhaps this fabric might be used for another gift quilt .... but that is probably wishful thinking.

I will try and get the binding on this quilt ....

No-blog Mary did a great job in restoring this quilt back to life.  She had to put on a new backing plus new binding.  She did better than me last month.  She said the job was tedious, hot and heavy.  Her daughter will be delighted her quilt will be usable once again.

Ridley is back to have seizures again.  The meds are helping.  They are not daily (last ones were a month ago) and I'm wracking my brains trying to think of the trigger.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!