UFO Show and Tell

 Here's a quick update on the internet situation at my house. It's NOT good. I've called I don't know how many times this past week to complain. Finally, yesterday we got escalated. Why? Was it because I threatened to move my service to another provider? Not that that would have been a guaranteed solution - I could get just as bad of service from the other provider as well. 

I was very polite but very clear on my position. 

Here's something to contemplate. If you're wary of how much information is out there on the internet, did you know that once you have a connection to your service provider that they have 100% control of those devices within your house? Yep - I've not rebooted the modem once, but it's been done MANY times by the service people. They've run tests on the equipment, they can see what's connected, they can control the services - all from wherever they are sitting and I don't think they are sitting in Canada! 

So my call got escalated and then for the SECOND time during this whole fiasco, they can't hear me. I haven't touched my phone but why can't they hear me? Anyway, back to a new call and get escalated right away and this time, they can hear me. 

We're getting a new modem today. The person I spoke to said they could see some issues with it and so a new modem is supposed to arrive this morning between 9 and 9:30. I have the instructions on what to do and we'll see if that makes a difference. 

Let's say that with the pandemic and working from home, that we NEED that thing to be working properly. Why did the modem start to act up once we upgraded the service? I've no idea and let's just pray a LOT that this is going to fix it. I know it went down many times yesterday that I know of and I wasn't happy. It was suggested that I watch my language in the event that the link didn't go completely down! Good point!!!

Someone else is going to host Monday sewing today! 

I want to share the show and tell from our UFO class yesterday. It's amazing how much is getting done, but I have noticed one thing. Some people are using it to get CURRENT projects done! Well, I guess that's OK if it motivates them to do that. But I also noticed that a few people are not paying attention to what they say they'll get done! I even send them a confirmation note. I let a couple of things slide yesterday, but since I had to pay money, that's it - no more Ms. Nice Girl. 

Katheleen finished her Snow Days (Crabapple Hill) quilt! It looks GORGEOUS!! It's a bit hard to see in the picture, but the cream border surrounding the center part is filled with hand embroidery. Her goal for this month was to finish a section, but she was on a roll and went ahead and finished the top. I love it. 

Katheleen's Snow Days

A few blocks didn't make the cut for the front and so they got pieced into the backing. Yep - the backing and the binding are also DONE!!! 

The backing and binding for Katheleen's Snow Days

Her next project is Quilter's Patch (Laundry Basket Quilts). As you can see there are a few blocks missing. So she'll be working on this for the next couple of months. 

Katheleen's Garden Patch quilt

 I hate to confess that I taught both of those quilts as ongoing classes at The Hobby Horse. The year? Well, it was several years ago. I don't have my list handy, but somewhere around 2015 or 2016. That's the intent of the UFO club. It's to get motivated to finish up those big projects that have been hanging around for a long time. The ones that someone else will not know what to do with when they arrive at your house when you're no longer there!!

Totally missed the date on that one. It was 2013!!!!!   You can check out the show and tell from that class at this link. 

But for those with no UFOs, I guess you can work on a new project, but there's not much satisfaction in that since you'd likely be doing that anyway. The UFO Club is above and beyond what you would normally do. Stretch goals!!! 

Shelly is working on a UFO! She hand embroidered these two blocks this past month. Wow - that's a lot of hand embroidery and it's perfect. I've seen her work in person and it's amazing! These blocks are from Winter Wonderland (Crabapple Hill). 

Embroidered block from Winter Wonderland

Embroidered block from Winter Wonderland

She committed to embroidering part of another block for next month. I see from a text last night that she already has the block traced. I think we should make her do the entire block! It's huge. 

Susan is working on a Halloween table runner. She got the two rows of the center section completed. Next month is to get the top done. I think it should be finished since Halloween will occur shortly after our next meeting!

Halloween table runner

Dede ripped out the quilting in the border of this flannel quilt and then requilted it. It's now bound and ready to be used. I see that Quark, her hairless cat, is inspecting it to see if it's worthy of him.  

Dede's cat, Quark, is inspecting her UFO homework

The goal for next month is to finish this small project. That's the beauty of the club. Some people can handle a large project each month, others cannot. A lot of the members of the UFO club still have full-time jobs and still have to juggle their time between work, family, and hobbies. 

Dede's UFO for next month

Lynne is busy with embroidering her Dream Big panel. It's looking gorgeous!! If you have the right technology, it's a snap to position those machine embroidery designs on each of the petals. If not, it can take a fair amount of time to make that work. We encouraged her to use the technology that she has available to her. I got a text last night. She tried it and it worked!!! Way to go Lynne!!!! You'll be done that entire project by next month! 

Lynne's Dream Big panel

We also have a bit of other show and tell, not just our UFO project and that's what it's all about. Sharing of ideas, projects, and just life! 

Lynne got the binding on this project. 

Lynne's Wolf Abstractions by Violet Craft

But look at what else she does with her finished projects. She makes a bag/cushion cover for EVERY quilt. See how she uses her embroidery machine to embellish the cover. It's a great way to use up the leftover fabrics from the project. And I love how Smoke is surveying the cover. Perhaps, he's thinking of pouncing on the wolf? It's also her label as she put her information on the pillow cover. It's a brilliant idea. 

Lynne's cover for the Wolf Abstractions quilt

Jane was working on a quilt top and the intention was to finish the complete top. That didn't happen because of a fabric shortage. I gave her partial points for completion. I LOVE The colors of the quilt. Guess what Jane will be working on this coming month?

Jane's partially completed quilt top

Linda worked on a Scandinavian style Christmas wall hanging. She bought it as a kit some time ago. The top is done and ready to be quilted!

Linda's Scandinavian Christmas wall hanging

Well, that's only half of the show and tell from yesterday! It's so exciting to see people make progress on their projects and some of these projects are HUGE and have been hanging around for quite some time. I love how motivated we are to get some of those old projects done!

Just as we were saying goodbye, my internet dropped. GRRRR. Then we had a family Zoom and I got to see Little Bear! He got a face trim! He's so cute. Well, M is cute too! But of course, the internet dropped on that call as well. Breathe Breathe Breathe!

I spent the rest of the day puttering in the studio - and well, you'll just have to wait to see the result of all that puttering. 

I'll finish off the Show and Tell for the UFO club tomorrow. 

So if anyone is interested in getting some motivation for completing projects, I'll be opening up the sign-up for the club in a bit. I already have some new sign-ups for 2021. We're going to start the new club in January. Those that currently in the club will most likely just get re-enrolled. That's what happened last year. If there are too many for one hour, then I'll split the group. 

The classes will be via ZOOM so ANYONE, ANYWHERE can join! How's that for crazy! Should we be able to get back together again, I'll still run a Zoom session. Yep - the Zoom thing saves a lot of time. I don't have to tidy up, I don't have to find chairs for everyone and no travel time! Remember, the cost is $125 for the year. You get $10 back for each month you complete your homework! If you know someone who would be interested, pass the information along to them. You can e-mail me (elainetheriault@gmail.com) to sign up. Put UFO in the subject so I won't miss it. 

We have a great time and we're getting these old projects done!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Buggy Barn!

I have loved the Buggy Barn patterns over the years but recently the company (and quilt store) closed its' doors. The web site is even gone which is good - drives me crazy to find an abandoned web site.

Anyway - TWO of the quilts we worked on at The Hobby Horse were from Buggy Barn.  I have to say that I have attempted to get one of them done - hmmm - about three times now.  Still not done!  But I will get it done ................  someday!

Farm Fresh by Buggy Barn

This is the one that I have attempted on three separate occasions. Well - I have made good progress, but still a long way to go.  There were a couple of people who worked on this quilt. Only one person was at show n tell.

Lynn did a fabulous job on her quilt.  Note she changed the US flags for Canadian flags.  Still a bit of work to finish up the applique on the borders but I know she will have it done soon!!!!   

The second quilt we worked on (also by Buggy Barn) is called Garden Party

This one is a bit more complicated - there were LOTS and LOTS of pieces. They were HUGE pieces and much overlapping into adjoining blocks.   Yes - I started the project, but no time to finish it!!  But have a look at what the class did with theirs - they are awesome.

Maureen - she took the big flag out and put in some flower pots. She also used a lot of wool for some of the smaller pieces.  Still a bit more work to do but looking awesome!!!   Nice to see the BRIGHT version. 

Maureen's owl tucked up in the tree. This was an embroidery applique

Linda - still hard at work on her version.  Like I said - there is a LOT of work on this quilt.  But it is looking AWESOME!!!!  There are a few "design" elements on this one and you can't even tell where they are!!!!

This is Mary who made a LOT of changes - I will show you a bit more in a minute. 

Sacha - she has made some great progress, but she still has a lot of applique to go.  This one is going to be bright!!!!  I love it!

Vivenda - a bit further behind, but once she gets going - this one is going to fabulous.  The colours are spectacular and I love when people change the pattern. The original pattern is done in home spuns and country style - this quilt is NOT that at all. 

OK - here is a better picture of Mary`s

Mary was very AMBITIOUS and her quilt top was not only done, but it was quilted as well!!!!!!

She switched out the flag for a bee hive with bees

Her bucket of berries

First cat was switched out for a bunny 

Cat number two - gone. A family of owls moved in

And she added a squirrel where the owl was. 

Her church bird house!

That show n tell was awesome.  BOTH of those quilts were a HUGE amount of work and everyone is to be congratulated that they got so much done.  I have hopes that I will get mine done. I am thinking - desert island with nothing else to do. Then it will get done!!!!!   I don`t need that desperate of measures (I hope).

On that note - I have other stuff to blog, but I also have a date with the long arm.  One of these days - it would be so nice to get up and have NOTHING due that day!!!!   Maybe in a week that will happen!!!!


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!

Ciao!!!!!!!

Show n tell!

Time to get some show n tell up.

These pictures are from the class at The Hobby Horse. We are almost done this quilt (OK - there are TWO quilts). both are from Buggy Barn.  I notice that the numbers in the class are dwindling.  Hmmmm - I wonder why???


Anyway - have a look at the ones that I do have pictures of.............

Part of Mary's

Linda

Maureen

They have been working very hard - this is a HUGE quilt. And while they do resemble the original - there are a few changes that make them different from each other. I'll have better pictures from the upcoming final show n tell.


Then we have the show n tell for Vintage Moments. I notice that the numbers in that class is also dwindling.  - did I say something?

Anyway - have a look at the show n tell that we did have.

Mary's center

Two of the outer borders for Mary's quilt

Bits of Jan's quilt

This is bits of Loretta's quilt

Shoot - I didn't write down this name I can't remember!!!!

Karen

Susan

Lynn

Erica

I know that many others are furiously working on theirs. I can't wait to see them all at our upcoming show n tell.

Have a great day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Buggy Barn reveal

The good news is that we are making great progress on our Buggy Barn quilts - the bad news is that Buggy Barn (the pattern company and store) is closing.  They were in business for 18 years and have decided to call it quits - probably to spend more time with their families or just quilt for fun!!!!   Anyway - I do love their patterns and have made several.

This year we are making Farm Fresh and Garden Party in our on-going class at The Hobby Horse.

Hmmmm - class time arrived on Saturday and WHERE IS EVERYONE?????

There are 11 in the class - 3 showed up and 2 others for various reasons which we won't go into - weren't able to make the class!!!

Here is the homework that I managed to get pictures of.................   These quilts are becoming huge and hard to get good pictures!!!!

Maureen - it is bold - it is bright. Nothing primitive or country about this.  I just LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She has changed up the pattern a bit

Lynn - This is the Farm Fresh pattern.  Those little flags will eventually become Canadian flags.  It looks amazing!!!!!!!!

This is Mary`s -  she also changed up the pattern as well.

Linda`s who has kept pretty true to the pattern

These quilts are HUGE and there have been numerous instances where the pattern needed to be changed to - well they just needed to be changed. In other circumstances - people changed them because they didn`t like a particular element.

I think they are amazing and hopefully we will get the rest of the group out next month.

There are TWO posts this morning - check out the next one as well.


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!

A is for applique!!!!!!!!!!

While I love applique, any applique projects seem to get put on the back burner.  No idea why - just happens that way.  I am teaching an applique course at The Hobby Horse. It is one of the on-going projects and I am behind!  Plain and simple - I am behind.

We offered the students a choice of two patterns by Buggy Barn and I like them both. So yes - I am doing both of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Farm Fresh - by Buggy Barn

Garden Party - by Buggy Barn

Both of these are big quilts, but fortunately the applique pieces are big.

I have been piddling around with the pieces and trying to get some of the prep work done on Mondays.  This past weekend, I decided it is time to get serious about this. So after spending all day Monday ironing seams, I got home and was still fired up.

And how much space does one need to do applique????   LOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     If I have the room - I will spread out!!!!!

My new set tool set - Perfect Ovals.  I love the Perfect Circles so when it came to doing some ovals, my first choice was to use steam a seam - then I thought about the Perfect Ovals and VOILA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    it worked just as slick as the Perfect Circles

Amazing and I even did smaller ones than this and they were PERFECT. 

If you want to get Perfect Circles (two sizes) or Perfect Ovals or Perfect Stems - all by Karen K. Buckley - Check this out for more information.................   Karen K. Buckley


But that got me to thinking about other areas that cause problems. Like the ends of that blobby shape above.  You could use the perfect circles or ovals and baste just the tip of the piece.  I bet it will work like a charm.  And there are the stripes on the cat - oh boy - I want to try another idea!!!!!!  

Anyway - after MANY years (started this quilt (Farm Fresh) way before we chose it for this year's on-going project) - the first three blocks are done.   OK - I LIE.   The BLOOM block needs a bit of embroidery, and the other two need to be stitched down. Still - this is major progress. 

Pulled out Block Four - the pieces were prepped and now the pieces are glued in place. I still have a couple of small pieces to prepare and will do needleturn?????   or fuse them down???   Got to see how excited I am later today. 

My templates - seems a shame to throw them away, but I will NOT be making this quilt again.   Don't bother asking for them - it is garbage day and they are already gone!    But I am sharing the templates of the other quilt (Garden Party) with one of the students.  She is new to applique and not having to trace and cut the templates will help her out a bit. 

I have four of the blocks for the other quilt almost prepped and ready to glue down. That may happen later today?????   I was so excited about my progress, I could barely get to sleep last night.   That is just sad!!!!!


Well I had to shove some of the applique stuff aside and get the binding on the John Deere quilt.

Make room for the sewing machine

And now the John Deere quilt has the binding on

Got the fans for Vintage Moments trimmed and ready to sew - that is going in the retreat bag! A perfect thing to sew on the retreat. 

I have THREE favourite rulers - the 8 1/2" by 24", the 6" by 12" and the 6 1/2" square.  I have many 6 1/2" squares, but only one each of the other two. The other day I went to cut something and could not find the 6" by 12".  Where could I have put it????   I had had people over, but I doubt that any of them would take it, but it was possible that it got tucked in one of their bags by error.


Hmmmm - oh well - hopefully it will show up. Otherwise - I do have a spare!!!!!

Then I went to get ready to teach a bag class on Sunday. I opened the box and OH MY - what is this????

Do you see what I see?????

Do you see it now?????

Yup - there was my 6" by 12" ruler!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I guess I tucked it in the box to help with the class.   It is now tucked back in the ruler holders on my cutting table.   This is a BIG problem - I shove things into project boxes, get caught up in other things and then I forget what happened to the tools.  I guess one day - I could go through all the project boxes to try and find other missing stuff. Although I don't think I am really missing anything - well not that I know of!!!!!


Got some research to do today. All part of the upcoming big surprise which if things go well - will be unveiled next Monday!!!!!    I am pretty excited about it all. Stay tuned for that.

On that note - I have a LOT to get done today and I had better get started!!!!



Have an awesome day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!