Just one of those mornings!

Thankfully, I'm one of those people that can jump out of bed and be productive five minutes later.

I fired up several sewing machines and then I just seemed to have one issue after another. Loosening the tension and changing the needle helped one machine and wouldn't you know it - the other one needed a new needle as well. But not before I spent some time ripping!

How do you love that crazy weather out there? Even the girls are happy to be in the house! While they both have big thick fur coats, it's their feet that get cold. I've seen Miss Lexi standing out there lifting her paws. We're not going for a walk this morning. I have a limit on what temperature I'll walk in. -19!

Despite the machine issues, I did get stuff done, but alas - it's all homework for upcoming classes and I wouldn't feel right to share it with you before sharing it with them.

Now, how cool is this?  Susan sent me a link to a shop offering classes in England. Guess what is one of their classes???  The Everyday Basket that I wrote when I was at Northcott. The pattern is still available on their website!  Here's the link to the pattern on Northcott's website if you want to make it. It's super cute and I love it. I have several of them around my studio to put stuff in.

I know that I have no one to blame for this but myself, but I'm going to gripe just a wee bit. I was instrumental in putting together the Charity quilts for two local Modern Quilt Guilds. I obtained the fabrics, made the kits, came up with a basic design concept or several and then one was chosen which was a design of mine that had been modified, made the application - anyway - you get the picture. The blocks were made by the guild members and the tops were sewn by someone else. No big deal for that part. Everyone wants to be part of the design process, everyone wants to make blocks, but when it comes to the quilting (especially) and the finishing - well no one wants to do that!  Now I'm not complaining in the least about that. What I ticked off at is that in one of the guilds, I got resistance that I was in the charge of the quilt - that it was my vision! Anyway - long story short - YES - I could have been more proactive and doled out the jobs so I really shouldn't complain, but that one bad comment ticks me off.

What I totally dislike is the lack of respect for the amount of time that I WILLINGLY put in to make and finish those quilts. Do people think that I have loads of spare time?  I GET IT!!!  I didn't ask for help but I don't mind doing the work - I just wonder if people appreciate the fact of how much time all that finishing takes?

So while these two charity quilts are done and gone, that's it for me. I will have NOTHING to do with future charity quilts for the Modern guilds. Someone has stepped up to take over the job in both guilds - YEAH!!!!  I will not make blocks, I will not quilt them, I will not bind them nor will I put on a sleeve. I've done my time!!!!!

OK - enough of that griping - here are the quilts. I did spend most of yesterday afternoon working on finishing them up and got them packaged and to the UPS office before 5:30. They are scheduled to arrive on Feb 5 - THREE days before they are due!!!!  Can you believe it? I can't!

Here's the first one. It's for the Grand River Modern Quilt Guild. It's a knock off of one of my designs that appeared in a magazine last year. I'll show you how I changed it tomorrow.  I absolutely love the quilting on this one. Very textural and yet it doesn't detract from the very graphic design of the quilt. I called it Flower Garden - although I should have called it Modern Flower Garden or what is the names of those english gardens????  I can still change the name - maybe! Only five of the seven colors in the palette were used.

Quiltcon Charity quilt for Grand River Modern Quilt Guild

I wanted to put a purple binding on the quilt, but NO - I used the purple for the other quilt. Ooops. Well, I had some of the blue left over. I knew it was going to be tight and was prepared with Plan B, but guess what? I had enough with just a wee bit left over. The blue was meant to be!!!!

A HUGE SHOUT OUT to Northcott for donating the fabrics for the quilt. We love you - Northcott!!! This quilt is made entirely with the ColorWorks solids.

Barely enough binding - but it worked!!!!!

The second quilt used the same base of colors but all seven of the colors in this year's palette were used in the quilt (Green and white were the two additional colors). The members made the blocks using a maximum of two colors in each block. The members arranged the blocks at the January meeting. I called it Scattered. But now that I'm looking at it in the picture, there's an X forming in the picture with the white! Oh well - doesn't matter. This one just needed a label sewn to it as I had finished the binding and the sleeve a while back. It's mostly made with Northcott fabrics (Colorworks solids) but we added in some similar color/value fabrics that had a design printed on them. The backing is Toscana by Northcott. Again - thanks to Northcott for supporting our guilds and their charitable endeavors.

Quilt con Charity quilt for the West End Modern Quilt Guild

I was hoping to ship them together in one box, but that didn't happen. I had two identical boxes and one went in each. It was cheap to ship them as one shipment (with two boxes) so the cost wasn't too bad. Bottom line - they are gone. I just need to write up the story that goes on the label that will be attached to the front of the quilt. A job for later today.

That's two more finishes for this year. And neither of them belong to me. I'll recap the January finishes tomorrow - just in case something else gets completed today!

I finished off these blocks that were hanging on the design wall. The blocks are called triple nine-patch. Anyone want to use them as seed blocks to make their own quilt???  The end result is gorgeous.

Triple four patch blocks - up for grabs

I've made two quilts from these blocks. That's enough for me. Both are done. Here's a link to my blog post so you can see one of them.   And here's the second one that is currently hanging in my upstairs hallway.

Another version of the triple four patch quilt

It was a two spool day yesterday. I emptied two more spools of thread. The thread drawer barely has a dent in it so I'm not running out to buy more thread - just yet!

Two more empty spools of thread

In keeping with not letting quilts that need binding pile up - I got the binding on this charity quilt finished yesterday. Yes - another finish that didn't belong to me.

Binding on the charity quilt - DONE

 While I've been puttering, I came across this bag of thread. What the heck was it for??? There are bobbins, top thread and bobbin thread, feet and a screwdriver?  And I wonder why I can't find things sometimes.  I'll ponder on it for a day or two and then put it away if I can't remember what it was for.

A bag of supplies - for what??? Who knows.

I also dug out the serger this morning and finished off a pet mat. I'm not counting these in my finishes, but again - something done and it wasn't for me!!!!

A pet mat - DONE

 Not that I'm worried about no finishes for myself. I'm making great progress on several projects. Those projects are HUGE and not the sort of thing that one would finish overnight. Oh yes - I'm not worried about the finishes for me at all.

When Ronda and I took our class last week, we found a few things to buy. I was looking for spring-like fabric for my Hello Sunshine quilt. I spotted this fabric. How cool - there are 8 FQ printed as a panel.

8 FQ printed as one panel

The girls at the shop (Creative Sisters) had a very clever way to fold that fabric so that ALL eight fabrics would show in their packaging. I was so excited this morning that I opened it up without taking a picture. Ronda is on the train (hopefully) after waiting in the bitter cold and so I'll get a picture of her bundle for tomorrow.

On that note, I booked THREE things to do outside the house today. BRRRR!!!!!  I'll just dress warm and I'll be fine!

Have a super day!!!!


Ciao!!!!

It's a triple!

What's with this weather? It's cold!  And loads of rain!  We live in Canada so I guess it's expected. It just seems that the weather is getting colder, not warmer, although I have to say that the last couple of days, I haven't been freezing! That's a step in the right direction.

After a wee bit of a SNAFU start to last night (let's just say that I got the times mixed up a wee bit!), but the presentation to the Durham Trillium guild was well received. Thanks to everyone who came out. Looks like a great guild!

The theme was scrap quilts and I was on a mission in the last couple of days to get something finished so I could reveal it to them.

Now that they got to see it first, it's time to reveal it to you. This is one of my UFOs for 2018. The project had been sitting around the house for YEARS! And technically, it was a leftover from a class that I taught years ago. I think I showed you in a couple of previous posts. If you search my blog for "triple four patch", you'll see four references. Here's the link to one of them dated November 18, 2014!!! And it was years prior to that that I made the first quilt. I must check the label to see when it was made. Just checked - 2005.

OK - so let's have a look. A couple of weeks ago, I finished all the blocks - 144 of them.

144 blocks are laid out on the design wall and ready to sew

I started by sewing them into four patches and that reduced the number of blocks to 36. Yes, I twirled the seams on the back!!!!  The little teeny blocks do not have twirled seams, but all the others do.

And now there are 36 blocks

Then I decided to sew the blocks into 6 rows. Oh, there's supposed to be a picture of that. Ah - here it is.

Now the quilt is in 6 rows

BUT not before there was a wee bit of ripping involved. As much as I tried to keep things in order, that didn't happen and I was pressing the last row when I noticed that there were two LIGHT big squares (identical fabric) sitting side by side, right in the middle. Hmmm - I realized that the rows are symmetrical, so I ripped that row in half and rotate one of the halves and sewed it back together. DONE!

Ooopsy!!

Here is the finished quilt top!  It's very scrappy - more scrappy than the original one I made in 2005. I had wanted to do this setting from the moment I realized that I had leftover blocks. I love it!!!

Finished quilt top - 72" square

Well, I was on a roll and this is a UFO for 2018 after all, so I had already dug out some fabric on a bolt that I thought would have enough to make the backing. I needed two pieces about 78 " long. There were two pieces about 85" long. DONE! The backing is now sewed together.

If you read my QUILTsocial blog posts last week, you know how I get my scrappy bindings. But in case you didn't, I save my leftover binding bits in a tin. The lid is popping on that tin. Time to get some scrappy quilts made.

Tin of leftover binding bits

Even though there's a lot of blue in the quilt, I decided to go with browns for the binding.

Brown binding bits ready to be sewn into one binding

When people look at this quilt, they often don't realize what is the block and how it's sewn together or even how it gets its name. Have a look at that link I posted above because I did explain it there. Whenever I show the quilt, I always show everyone how it's made.

What was hilarious last night was this. The guild has a pile of scraps that people can sort through and take. I had briefly glanced through, saw a piece of red that would have worked for the 150 Canadian Women, but I didn't take it. Then the program person brought me this.

Triple 4-patch blocks from the scrap pile

At first, I wasn't going to take them. I really don't need more. But when I saw what was there, I had no choice but to take them. You see, there were 2 1/2 blocks. Not one, not two, but 2 1/2.  Why was that so funny?

Because I had 1 1/2 blocks leftover at home. So I brought home those scrap blocks and added to my blocks and now I have FOUR complete blocks.

Four complete blocks

Now what to do with this???  NO - don't even think that I could make another quilt. Not happening. I have way too many other ideas on what to make without making a third one of these quilts. I only forged ahead with the second one because I wanted the different setting for the blocks.

I could sew these together and make a small wall hanging.  I could do that. Or I could release these four blocks into the quilt world as SEED blocks to feed someone else's scrap quilt fetish. Yes - that might be what I do! Hmm - now how to make that happen?????

I'm not crossing this one off my list yet as I think I should just forge ahead and get it quilted. So when the long arm comes back, this one is getting quilted. Then I'll call it done! Well, after it gets an official label as well.

I've been working on my Trend-Tex challenge. Things are coming along nicely. The more that I work, the more that I finalize the plan. I'm trying to keep it no larger than 24" square or thereabouts. It'll all depend on how the components fall into place. I do have a wee bit of paperwork, but most of it can wait so I think I'm off to the sewing machine.

And if you might be inclined to get a seed block, let me know, otherwise, those four blocks go in the orphan block box.

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Finally finished - well almost

Yesterday was a sit n sew day and we had a blast as usual. These are truly the best days and even though I was supposed to be working on other things, I know that it's important to make time for fun and friends.

Let's start with a bit of show n tell from some of the others.  This is the block that Diane is working on. I think I mentioned it before, but I had forgotten to take a picture. I love the color combination It isn't one that I would have chosen, but sometimes those are the best ones. Always good to see what colors others are using!  I'm not sure how many blocks she has to make, but the entire quilt is made from those blocks so she has a bit to make.

Diane's blocks

These next two quilts are Elaine's. I think this is called "This is Canada" by Wanda's Designs. A super nice quilt that represents all the provinces and territories of Canada. I bought the pattern, but well  - haven't started!

Elaine's version of This is Canada

 This is the quilt that Elaine was working on the last sit n sew day. The fabric is Russian themed with those little nesting dolls.  The picture doesn't do justice to the bright vibrant colors of the fabric. But the top is DONE!!!

Another finish by Elaine

It was a bit of a crazy day for me. I seemed to spend a fair bit of time running around getting stuff for the others. But that's OK. I still got a lot done.

I FINALLY finished making the blocks for the triple four patch quilt. Yes - I had planned on 144 blocks and I had to dig into the bag to get those bits that I mentioned last time I chatted about this quilt.

144  - triple four patch blocks

 Hm - I guess my math wasn't good the day I did the cutting or else, I've miscounted the stacks of 10, but I had 1 1/2 blocks leftover. I know - A half block!!!  I got a chuckle out of that.

1 1/2 extra blocks

 Thanks to Rose who brought me two more of those smaller plastic containers, all the blocks are in two containers. Just waiting for the moment when they can be sewn together! They are all trimmed up and ready to go!!

144 blocks in two plastic containers

 I decided that I don't want to buy a whole whack of these containers. I'm going to do my best to fill them with blocks while I'm making the blocks, then make the quilt and move onto the next one!

And more progress on the pixelated apple quilt. Block 7 is now complete.

Pixelated apple quilt

 I had to cut a few more red squares yesterday but while Pauline and I chatted - she sewed and I prepped Block 8. So I've started to work on it, but I forgot to take a picture. I think you can figure out what block 8 looks like.  Once that block is together, I'll be almost half done!!! I'm getting excited about this quilt even though there is still a LOT to do!!!

Thanks to Tish, I'm now the proud owner of this cute doggie print.  I was able to trade her some cat fabric that I found as I was cutting a few more squares for the triple four patches. I think I had to cut eight squares in total which was not bad!

Dog fabric

 But the real work of the day happened once everyone left. I needed to finish piecing that next urgent quilt or get to the long arm. I didn't feel like quilting so I decided to piece blocks. There are 16 in total (paper pieced - no less). I was just going to do a few, but then my brain kicked in and I realized that I had to get them all done. So I did. Two were already done and the other 14 were started.

Once the blocks were done, I thought I might as well trim them so I could start to remove the paper.

Trimming the paper pieced blocks

 I got out my iPod and listened to an audiobook while I removed the paper. I'm happy to report that this morning, the only thing left is to add the FINAL border. One border  - four pieces of fabric - four seams! However as I was ironing the very wrinkly fabric so I could cut the borders, I had an incident!

I normally keep my glass of drinking water on the ironing board. I know - stupid stupid stupid! I forgot to move it and grabbed the iron and BAM - there was water everywhere including on my fabric.

An incident with a glass of water

Let's just say that I'm waiting for the ironing board and my fabric to dry which is spread out downstairs. Doesn't matter, it won't take long to put that last border on. One seam for the backing and make the binding. I'm in good shape.

The big issue now is to get the custom quilt that's on the long arm - OFF.  I have today to finish it. I was booked to go to the gym, but I'm going to revert that to next week.  Not panicking, but time is tight! And I would really really like this quilt in a box by Monday afternoon. Normally wouldn't be an issue except that I have a meeting, a class, and a sit n sew day this weekend.  Say NOTHING!!!   I like living on the edge!

On that note, I'm out of here. Got some stuff to prep this morning for the meeting tomorrow, change that appointment, and it's heads-down on the long arm for the rest of the day!

Have a great day!!!!


Ciao!!!!

Change is GOOD!!!

A couple of days ago I posted a picture of a quilt that Maria was working on at the Monday Mania sewing day. Someone wanted to know the source of the pattern.  Well - here is WAY more information about that quilt than you could possibly want. But there are so MANY variations for making it - I thought I would share some of that with you.  And in future whenever I post anything that Maria makes - I might as well post the pattern source!!!   I had two requests for pattern sources in the past week for her projects.

And a quick aside to say GOOD MORNING ANN!!!!!!!!!!!   You know who you are and I love to hear all the GREAT stories about you.


OK - so here is a picture of Maria's quilt.

Maria's quilt

Here is a close up of the quilt which I did not post before.

Close up of Maria's quilt

OK - so you want to know where she got the pattern???

The pattern was in a Fon's and Porter LOVE OF QUILTING - September/October 2012 issue.

Here is the picture from inside the magazine

But wait a minute - I made one of these quilts a LONG time ago. Here is what mine looks like...........

Totally scrappy

QUILT???  Did someone put down a quilt? I can TEST that - I really can!! I am good at it!

Anyway, my pattern came from American Patchwork and Quilting, June 1996.

This is the photocopy of the article

Close up of the quilt. Oh yes - I did NOT do the same setting as the pattern

Do you see the difference between Maria's and mine???   Hers has sashing and mine does not. Both of ours use the SAME fabric in each block. Maria's sashing also include a corner stone in the SAME colour as the small squares.

However I taught this as a class years ago and I ended up with a lot of leftovers. And a student gave me some of her leftovers. I had enough left to make another quilt  that will be 70" square.

Bits and pieces to make another quilt

OK - the block is called TRIPLE FOUR PATCH. Look at the picture below to see how they came up with that name.

Each block is 6 1/2" UNFINISHED.  In this example - I am making mine TOTALLY scrappy so NONE of the fabrics within each block is different. 

A completed TRIPLE FOUR PATCH

Each block requires EIGHT - 1 1/4" light squares and EIGHT 1 1/4" dark squares.  You can strip piece those. Then you make FOUR teeny four patches - that is the little ones on the diagonal. Unfinished size of those teeny four patches is 2". Then you need FOUR 2" squares. Use those and the FOUR little patches to make a bigger four patch that should measure 3 1/2". Then TWO 3 1/2" squares are needed with the previously made four patches to get the final four patch. So you make four patches THREE times - hence the name - triple four patch!!!!!

You can add sashing, play with the setting, make them coordinated or scrappy - whatever you want.  Get out and play!!!!!!!!!   And if you do make one - send me a picture.



If you like to play - I am teaching a class at the Brampton guild at the end of this month. November 29.  I hear there is room (I am waiting permission to post this but what the heck). We will be playing with disappearing four patches, nine patches and several other options and we are going to PLAY.  There are so many variations. You will walk away from the class with about 10 or 12 different EASY EASY patterns.  If you are interested, let me know and I'll see what I can do to get you in the class.  Doesn't take much to prepare for the class - basically you need 5 inch squares. The more you bring - the more options you get to play with.  We are NOT making a quilt in the class.

This is ONE of the variations that we will be investigating on November 29

And for those of you who want something totally wild - this is what my Fourth of July looks like.

Pattern: Fourth of July by Judy Niemeyer 

This class will be at the Hobby Horse on Saturday, January 31 from 10 - 4.  It is paper pieced and so much fun.  I just love making her quilts. NO - there is NOT a kit.  OK - I think I need to take you all on a shopping trip so you can see how to buy for a quilt.  Any takers?????   And seriously - if someone wants to take this class and wants brights - maybe we can pair up and share so you get a bigger variety of brights.  Easy!!!!


Yesterday we were sitting around the tables at Monday Mania.  We have a somewhat standard way that we set up the tables. However a slight change to that left Barb and Karen by themselves in the corner.  Karen "pouted" and said she felt left out. A lively conversation ensued and minutes later - the room looked like this.............

The tables were moved into a circle and everyone could see everyone!!!!!!!!

It was such a brilliant idea - I wonder why we never thought of it before???????   Brain dead and you get in a rut and can't change.  Thanks Karen for kicking us in the butt and making this change. I LOVE IT!!!!   Not sure that we can use this configuration when we have everyone there, but we are going to experiment a bit more next week. It was a tad difficult when everyone had their machines set up!!!



Not sure what is happening in the backyard, but just moving that baffle seems to be making some difference. I know the squirrels are still getting up the pole since the suet cage is knocked down. But they are NOT emptying the feeders like before.  I need to get a couple more things organized and then we will see if they can even get up there???

Hard to see - but in the bottom right - the birds are hanging out in the maple tree.  They love to flock in the trees - flit to the feeder, grab a seed, then back to the tree to eat it!!!!

OH - I guess you want to see my progress on the Amish with a Twist Series II.  Well - have a look - I am making great progress. And so far - I am loving the quilt. Can't wait to get the pieces in the right spot so you can really see the lights, mediums and darks. Although there are NOT a lot of mediums here yet.

Amish with a Twist Series II

And for those of you who are counting - that is 33 blocks DONE. I made AWESOME progress on a lot more yesterday, but not showing you until I am done!!!!!  Oh yes - this is an easy quilt - I will be teaching it over the course of 2015 at Sew Sisters. The amount of homework required each month is going to be EASY!!!   Easy cutting, easy sewing - I think whoever signs up for this one SHOULD take another one just so they can keep busy!!!!!!!!

On that note - I have a few things to finish prepping for my class today.

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

Ciao!!!!!!!!!