I had chocolate for dinner!

Yep - I had chocolate for dinner last night. Well technically I had chocolate and a salad!  That's healthy - right?  Now why did I have chocolate? Well my cook has disappeared for a couple of days and I've had to fend for myself. God forbid if he sees that I ate chocolate for dinner. But I was working and I didn't really want to stop to make something to eat. I happen to have a chocolate stash in the studio and that was good enough for me.

He's back today so I even tidied up the kitchen, emptied the dish washer, reloaded it and vacuumed up the dog hair.  All those domestic things that I don't normally do. I even took the running shoes off the kitchen table!!  That's a whole other story for another day!

I noticed that the quote of the day yesterday is "Living the Dream".  Yep - that's pretty much my life at this moment. I mean - I got to sew all day yesterday for work (HEY - I had to test one of my patterns and I ended up making a number of changes to make it easier to understand) and then I got to sew all evening for myself! A bit of reading tossed in (those Dalziel and Pascoe books are addictive), a few e-mails and phone calls about some upcoming super exciting projects, chocolate for dinner, fabric arrived in the mail from a personal shopper  - see what I mean?  It doesn't get better than that!

I finished the bag pattern that I was testing. It's sitting in the graphics department waiting for them to pretty it up and then it will be available for you to download for free.  It's super cute. I won't tell you which one until the pattern is available cause you'll all want it. But the moment it was made, I decided that I could have fun with this project and already going to rejig the pattern in a different size for a very specific reason. Just wait and see. I already pulled fabric for it!  Can't wait to get that made!

I'm pretty fast at sewing stuff, but when you have to write instructions so someone else can follow along, that slows me down a LOT.

Then the day was over and it was time to do my personal sewing.  Yep - the top is done, the backing is done and well both pieces are loaded on the long arm ready for me to quilt tonight.  Yes - I think I just might make that deadline tomorrow!  But not before, I decided to fussy cut the TWO borders on the quilt and miter the corners. Just wait until you see - it's a bit of a nightmare and NOT something I would write a pattern for. It isn't perfect and you'll see why, but I'm over that perfection thing!

I made good progress on the design (in my head) for the next deadline quilt. That's a good thing since I don't have a lot of time to get it completed. All the supplies are now assembled and ready to go. That process will start tomorrow evening.  Thankfully this one just needs pictures - the quilt doesn't need to be there.

Don't forget, today is the fourth day of QUILTsocial with machine embroidery. Some more great ideas and tips for machine embroidery or just check out what I'm up to!

On that note - I'm out of here.  A super busy day planned.  I'm making extremely good progress on getting things caught up and organised which makes me even more organised as I have more time.

Have a super day!!!!


Ciao!!!!


PS - if you're going to be in the Toronto area this weekend, make sure you plan to come to Black Creek Pioneer Village.  It will be the location of Quilts at the Creek - a GORGEOUS outdoor quilt show.  I will have TWO quilts hanging in the show. There's going to be an amazing display of red/white quilts for Canada's 150th, gorgeous quilts for Quilts of Valor, my Sesquicentennial quilt will be there so you can see it in person if you missed it at Quilt Canada.  The pattern is available for free download on the Northcott web site.

Retreat Day One

There's always the best of intentions and then there is reality!  I had every intention of getting to the retreat early so I could go for a bike ride and blog before I started to sew. Nope - I pulled into the driveway at precisely the time that we could get into the house. I chose to unpack and start to sew rather than to go for a bike ride or blog. 

While I wasn't in a panic getting ready as things were pretty much under control, I still had a bunch of pictures that had to be loaded into various blogs. That got done. The dogs need separate walks which is hopefully a temporary situation, but still has to be done. Load the car and despite the fact that I'm only bringing two project bags (OK, I sneaked a third bag in, but I needed to) there is still a lot of stuff that had to be packed in the car.  

The drive was uneventful and I was here. The day was gorgeous. One of the nicest days that we've had so far this summer. 

There is no dilly dallying with this group.  I think everyone had arrived within an hour of me arriving. Sewing machines were unpacked, beds were claimed and we were good to go. And we have two newbies with us.  I don't think they have ever been on a sewing retreat before and one of them is pretty new to quilting.  

The next biggest question is what to sew?  I didn't bring anything that has a deadline so I can literally pick whatever I want. I grabbed a BIG project. Well here's the thing, you don't really think about how long a project is going to take. You just start.  I picked a dozy of a project.  Florence Flamingo by Elizabeth Hartman.    I picked my own colors and everything was cut (well it turns out that almost everything was cut, but I did bring extra fabric). 

I laid out all the background pieces - yikes, this is intimidating. There are so many and many different but similiar sizes.  Now if I were teaching this class, the first thing I would say is LABEL all the pieces.  Did I do that?  Nope - I'm just silly that way.  So I used the ruler on the front of my sewing table to measure each one.  Because of the colors I used, I can't chain piece this so one by one, I'm making the nine blocks. 

The good news is that I got four blocks done. The bad news is that it took me all day!  I did get part of another block done.  I could set this project aside today and work on something else, but I'm kind of in the groove on this. I know which piece goes where so I'm thinking I had better keep going and should get all the blocks done today. EXCEPT the partial block.  You see there are left and right facing birds. I've decided to randomly choose one to go the opposite direction. But the pattern has the pictures for left and right and I accidentally choose the left when I should have chosen right. I double checked BEFORE I cut and still goofed!!!!!   I think the fabric I goofed on was the only one that I didn't have a long enough strip to replace so that one waits until I get home.  DUH!!!!   I like Elizabeth's patterns, but boy - there is a lot of little pieces and you need to keep your wits about you.  I had similiar issues with Fancy Forest and I made those mistakes here as well!

So you would have some pictures to look at today, I've got a couple to share with you on what I did on Sunday at my house.  There is my design wall in the corner - same old stuff that's been on the wall for a year. Those Halloween blocks. Time to get something done. 

Since I had to fire up the embroidery unit on the loaner sewing machine, I might as well babysit TWO sewing machines instead of just one. 

My sewing machine

It's been sitting there for a year with the embroidery unit attached. I haven't sewn anything on it in a year. Haven't even turned it on!  Time to change that!!!

Let's hoop some fabric and get to work.

Fabric is hooped and stitch out has begun!

Babysitting TWO embroidery machines

That's all I'm going to say about that.  Let's just say that it was a challenging day.  I do have the edited pictures of what I did, but you have to wait for another day or so for those to be posted.


As usual at the retreat we are being well fed.  Not a lot of snacks made it up so that is a good thing and I've had this craving for an ice cream cone for about a week.  I don't normally eat ice cream, I don't normally crave it. But must be the nice weather. Ronda and I zipped out to the store (she was in charge of dessert last night) and we got Kawartha ice cream and apple crisp from Hewitt's Farm which is just minutes away from where we are.  My craving is over. I can move on!

On that note, I've a bit more computer work to do this morning and then hopefully out for a bike ride - the weather looks awesome. And then back to the flamingo farm.

By the way, I have to  mention how different each retreat is depending on the people!  This is a very neat and tidy group.  We each have one project on our tables. The rest are neatly stowed in one or two project bags. There is NOTHING on the cutting table and I was the one who mostly used it to trim all those little bits on my flamingos.  Oh yes - this is a neat and tidy group!  But we're all making super progress. Katheleen is already on her third project!  The rest of us are working on mega projects, although I did see that Laura finished a small project last night as well.  I'd better get the camera out!

The other thing about our group is cutting.  This group came with everything PRE-CUT. There is no messing around cutting - they are prepped and ready to sew! One other thing to note is that NO ONE went shopping. I did stop by the quilt shop (Thimbles and Things as I had to drop something off), but NO ONE went out to shop except for our trip to Hewitt's.  OK - Ronda and Laura had a few errands, but there was no fabric shopping.  I'm not going to mention any names here to protect the guilty!

OK - now I'm out of here.

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!!


By the way, we're at Fireside Retreat.  Look at the pictures and drool.  The grounds are beautiful at this time of year. Beautifully maintained and so inviting.  The house is gorgeous as well.  Yep - we're in quilt heaven!  The quilt shop is only 5 minutes away!


One other thing to note. The FREE PATTERN for Coast to Coast to Coast is NOW LIVE on the Northcott web page.  Zip on over and download it so you can start cutting up your panels.

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Birthday Canada - 150 years! 

I vaguely remember the 100th birthday.  1967. I was young and went to school in the country. Yes - a one room schoolhouse - imagine how old that makes me!  Actually it was a two-room schoolhouse that year. Grades 7 - 12 in one room and Grades 1 - 6 in the other. Anyway, there was a Confederation Train (here's another link)  that was going from coast to coast with displays about Canada. It came to my closest town and the older kids from the school got to go. My brother got to go. I did not. Was I upset?  You bet - I wanted to see that train!

I was watching the morning TV program while sweating my heart out at the gym yesterday and they interviewed two women who were in Ottawa for the Canada Day celebrations.  When asked how long they had been planning this trip, the response was FIFTY YEARS.  In 1967, as young girls, they made a pact to be in Ottawa for the 150th birthday!!!  WOW --- I had no visions of that in 1967 and so I'll spend a quiet day at home. And I'm OK with that!  I'm really not a fan of crowds. 

But here is my Sesquicentennial quilt pattern. The pattern is done!  It's been looked over by someone else, by me a thousand times and the graphics guys have assembled all the pictures and formatting. All that remains is ONE last look before it goes on the web page.  So sorry it can't be there for you to start making your Coast to Coast to Coast quilts this weekend, but I'd rather get it right than have you all yell at me!

Coast to Coast to Coast quilt pattern

 Barring any major issues, it'll go up on the web site sometime on Tuesday.   Yeah - one more pattern written and only 6???? more to write!

I'm really liking coming home and chilling in the backyard right after work.  Oh wait - I have to tell you about work yesterday. The office was very empty with many people taking the day off for an extra long weekend. I got so much work done it was amazing. All those little piddly jobs that you put off, the obscure e-mails, I got a LOT done.  I need about 4 more days like that.

I finished a quilt top this morning. It's the same one that was made for this past deadline but this one is made with different fabric. So similiar but different - the one that went to the magazine is nicer. That quilt did arrive and the little note in my micro binder is gone. I just need to make the binding and the backing for this other one. And Lorna (Sew Fresh Quilts) offered up a good suggestion to remember to use those nice labels. She makes the binding and puts the label with the binding so when she's ready to sew the binding to the quilt, she won't forget.  SMART!  The labels are sitting on the cutting table!

Today, I was going to work on one of my Task Master list projects and I will, but first I thought I could get this quilt top sewn together. There are 35 blocks. It shouldn't take long.  I'm not sure if I'll put a border on. I don't have anymore of the green fabric. I'll see how big it is when it's together. It's small, but small is OK.

35 quilt blocks make a quilt top!

 And these are extras that are going on the back. Got to find some backing which shouldn't be hard. Well, there's so much to look through - that's the hard part. But there is lots to choose from.

Bits for the backing

 And I found this in the bag as well.  Scraps of the green, scraps of the creams and a note. A note to me tellling me what needed to be done.  OK - but did I cross off what was supposed to be done?  Nope!!!  I'm thinking that everything looks done according to the note.  I'll deal with this mess later today.

Scraps and a note

I do need to do some work on my next deadline which is July 10, but I also want to have a day to do whatever I want in the studio. Well within reason!  NO starting a new unscheduled project.  I'm not that crazy!

But once this is done, I hope to get the March Task Master project on the wall and finish it (them).  It's borders on 4 small quilts. Shouldn't be that hard to get done.

And on that note, I'm out of here!

Have a super Canada Day!!!!

Ciao!


PS --- I'm an idiot.  I arrive at the dog park and notice a couple of people wearing red T-shirts, or Canada themed T-shirts.  What am I wearing???   I HEART NY   - yep - only me would do that!  I'll change if I have to leave the house.  I did zip up my hoodie!  Yep - that's me - a true Canadian!  Never mind - I almost posted an Amercian themed quilt this morning on my blog.  What's up with that?

Out of here!

Oh Canada!

It would appear that EVERY quilter in Canada has made something with the Northcott Sesquicentennial fabric. Well, most quilters - OK a LOT of quilters. Have a look at this article about an 87-year-old male quilter!  It's pretty cool. Thanks to Susan for sharing that.

It's now my turn to share a bit of some of the stuff that I've been working on.  Northcott had the cutest little packs of 5-inch squares made up as a giveaway for Quilt Canada. They were highly coveted and even though it was to be one per customer for the show, I know that wasn't always the case. Guess what?  Yep - we ran out!  Fortunately, we had some other giveaways for the people that came by.    I don't think I have a picture of that little pack.  I did get one that I used for my sample but there wasn't any to spare. If you got one or more - USE IT UP!  Don't hoard it!

Here's the deal.  When other fabric companies give you fabric, you get just the fabric. When Northcott gives you those little packs of fabric - we also give you a FREE pattern. I know!  And guess whose job it is to write those free patterns?  Mine!  Sometimes I'm lucky and I can pick the fabric I'm going to work with and sometimes, I have to go with what I'm given. Let's just say that each opportunity is a challenge and I LOVE a challenge. In the little pack (Northcott calls these packs of 5-inch squares chip packs), there were 5 squares of the cream and 5 squares of the red print. And this is what I made with the squares.

10-inch (finished) maple leaf block

 I love the block and was happy to figure out how to make it from 5-inch squares with minimal waste. If you would like a copy of the pattern, here is the link on the Northcott website.  If you did get one of those chip packs from our booth or if you get one in the future at a show or other event, check the back of the packaging. There is always a link to the website for a free download pattern.

Now it wasn't enough to give you a pattern for a block and fabric for one block and not know what to do with it. So I made a cushion cover by adding a couple of borders.

Cushion cover

 And I also made a small wall hanging using the same block by setting the block on point and adding one fabric for the border.  (Note - I did have extra yardage to make THREE blocks in total)

Wall hanging

 In case you're wondering, this is NOT the Northcott Sesquicentennial collection. This is from the latest Oh Canada collection called Our Home and Native Land.  There was NO extra of the Sesquicentennial collection to hand out as a freebie. It's been flying out the door.




There is also a free download for a lap quilt (note the picture on the website is slightly different from the actual pattern).  These things happen when you design with electronic files and once you get the fabric, you realize it won't work.  Too wasteful or not quite the right size or whatever.  I'll get the picture changed on the website next week. There is also a free download pattern for a tote bag. It's my Everyday Tote using Our Home and Native Land. I was going to aim to have it done for the booth, but that didn't happen. I did get the quilt top done and the tote bag is partially completed.  Something to strive for this week????

I actually made the smaller items from the leftovers of the quilt - I fussy cut that border so it would work on all those projects.  But you don't need to make the lap quilt to make the other items.

And then from the leftovers, I made this little basket.  I was a real hurry when I made it and wasn't thinking at all about the size.  It's supposed to be a bit longer - 5 squares long rather than 4.  There's also a free download for that pattern. Actually, there are two different versions on the Northcott website.

Everyday Basket Version 1
Everyday Basket Version 2

Everyday Basket

I have more stuff to show but I left the items at work.  I was supposed to be doing some project photography this weekend and totally forgot to bring the quilts home.  Oh well - more time for sewing!

On that note, I'm out of here.  Wait a minute, I thought I saw Lexi at the computer. Oh yes - I see she did post this morning. That dog!  She and her sister, Murphy are two big trouble makers.

Have a super day!!!!


Ciao!!!!

Motivational Monday - what was lost is now found!

It's MONDAY!!!!!   Only very weird people get excited about Monday, especially those that go to the gym at 6 AM.  One quick second as I digress from quilting but I decided to get myself back to spin class at 6 AM on Monday. I think I was so excited that I had trouble sleeping!  Go figure- but there is nothing like a 25 KM ride on an indoor bike to get your blood pumping and a good start to the day!

So on with the progress report for this week.  I was prepping for a guild talk last week. It was about organizing your studio and I'm going through my mental list of what needs to be added to the pile of stuff for show n tell. 

Magazines, books, tools, oh yes - let's not forget the patterns. Which pattern box should I take for an exampleÉ  Oh - let's take this one since it's not super full. 

Box is full of patterns with the theme of Sunflowers or Dogs or Bikes 

Have I ever mentioned that I'm obsessed??  Well - I am and that's all there is to it. I happen to LIKE sunflowers and dogs and bikes. This is the only box that has major themes like this. 

Anyway, I pulled the box off the shelf and OH MY GOD!!!!   What's this in the box???   NO WAY!!!!!

What is this?????

The moment I touched the box, a weird feeling came over me and I thought this couldn't be true.  But YES - there was my book of lists that has been missing since September of last year.  The last time I did the talk on organizing, I took this pattern box with me.  I guess in the mad rush of cleaning up, the book of lists got shoved in the front of this box. 

I almost died laughing when I found it!!!!

The missing book of lists!!!

And see how pretty that book is????   Very pretty!!!

Love the quote I put in the front of the book

Here is the sad note about the book and all the more reason to have our Facebook group for Motivational Mondays - I was doing a task list last year, although not in the same way - I kept recopying uncompleted tasks which was a huge waste of time.  Anyway - I stopped at the end of February!!!!   Now that is sad!!!  This year - there is NO STOPPING as we're all holding hands together to make our lists disappear (virtually) for 2017!!!!


What did I do last week?

I had to "repair" my Kaleidoscope quilt.  Here is the old version .................

Old version

And here is the new version

New version

Only the very observant will notice the difference.  Don't worry about it too much - I'll tell you after I show my group this coming weekend.

I did manage to get a quilt quilted over the weekend. Yeah!!!!!   I still have a few customer quilts to get done - but not many and I hope to get them all done by the end of April? Oh yes - I have to as some of them have due dates and I have some of my own that will have due dates very soon and it would be nice to be able to finish a quilt top and whip it over to the long arm and quilt it up right then and there!!!! And not feel guilty because I should be working on someone else's quilt.

Customer quilt - DONE

I've been asked numerous times about how I store my quilts. I don't have a whole lot of finished quilts, but I'm going to find a home for them and will be sharing with you. As I was searching through the quilts this weekend, getting ready for the next guild talk this coming week, I came across one that was done years ago and the sleeve was still pinned to it.  I'm happy to say that the sleeve is now stitched in place!!!

I'm checking labels and sleeves as I put these quilts in storage. Not long term storage - just out of my living room!

I see from the pictures posted on Facebook that everyone is going gangbusters. Finishing their March projects way before March is over and in one case - even before March began!  WOW-- that is what this is all about. Getting things done, organized, tossed out or whatever.  Keep up the good work.

I`m madly packing for an upcoming retreat and I hope that after 10 days of sewing (two 5-day retreats in three weeks) that I`ll be checking a whole lot of stuff off my lists!!!!

Two things to note today.  One - I posted the time for the Modern Guild Meeting as from 8 - 10 AM   - oops that should be 10 - 12.   (I updated the original information)

And if you happen to have downloaded the Maple Leaf Forever pattern from the Northcott website, take note that there was an error in it.  A new REVISED version is on the website.  So sorry for that.

I`ll have to update that list of events tomorrow.  Run out of time again today!!!

Have a super day!!!!


Ciao!!!

Canadian pride!

Did I already post this?  If not, here's a fun way to participate in a massive sewing bee and do something good at the same time.

The Canadian Quilter's Association is having a BIG QUILT BEE and the end result will be quilts that will be donated to Ronald McDonald House buildings.  Oh yes - I'm sure I've told you about this. Well, I'm telling you again!

Here is the link to the information on CQA website.

While it's a little bit confusing as to what fabrics are allowed, check out their website to see the specific collections.  Check out this link to see the entire Northcott  Stonehenge Oh Canada collection. I bet most of you have some scraps from this collection in your stashes.  What a super way to use up those scraps.

And if you want to wait until the Northcott Canadian Sesquicentennial fabric hits shops in order to make your blocks, that collection will be available in November.  There are some fun fabrics in this collection.

There is another new collection to be released in May 2017 called Northcott Stonehenge OH Canada - Our Home and Native Land.

Yes, there are other Canadian fabric collections you can use, but I'm a bit biased!

Wouldn't this be a super opportunity to get together with your friends? You could pool your Canadian-themed fabrics and coordinates and have an amazing sewing day. Now I must find time to do this - I think it's going to be loads of fun.

Send me pictures if you make a block. I'd love to see what you're doing!  And if I can wangle a day, I'd love to have a sewing party to make these quilts. Anyone up for that? It means I'll have to do a "bit" of tidying!

Have a great day!

Ciao!