Celebrating Canadian Quilt History!

I'll revisit the pricing issue later this week—there's no time this morning. I'm back home, and there is much to do this week. I must not let that wreak havoc with my schedule! 

The last day of the retreat is always bittersweet. I've been away long enough to create chaos in my work schedule and long enough to ignore it, but at the same time, I want to get home, sort things out, put things away, and give my girls a big hug! 

I'll share as much of that story as possible this morning before I go to spin class. I'm sorry, but the sorting story will happen tomorrow. 

But first, I promised to share two things with you, and here is the first one. Several years ago, I ran into Judy Lyons (Quilt Appraiser), who mentioned that she was writing a book about Canadian Centennial Quilts. I had forgotten that, but I spotted this at the desk when we were in the local quilt store at our retreat. 

Bookmark for a NEW Canadian Quilt History Book

OH MY --- Judy finished the book! I took the bookmark, and when I returned to the retreat house, I immediately emailed her! We arranged for me to pick up the book on my way home. 

And here I am with Judy, getting my copy! How exciting is that? It's autographed!!! Thanks, Judy!

Judy and I with her new book!

I'm so excited because we must celebrate our Canadian Quilt Heritage (or just our Canadian heritage—we're way too polite!). I sat down with it for a bit last night, but after the "ordeal" of getting home, unpacking the car, and trying to sort everything out, it erupted into another scenario I will tell you tomorrow. 

Here's the book's cover. It's big—269 pages. There are lots of pictures and lots of history about the 1967 Centennial. Where were you in 1967? 

The cover of Judy's book

And there's the flyer announcing the new book. 

ALERT - NEW BOOK!!!!

So, how do you get your copy? Judy is the only point of sale, so email her - at judy.lyons35@gmail.com.  

We had some interesting discussions about quilting at the retreat. I do not profess to know all the history, but I know what has happened in the quilting world since 1998 and who all the well-known quilters were then. But if you have recently started to quilt, you often do NOT know where some of these techniques came from. New designers frequently release a "new" technique, which has, in fact, been around for years! I think credit should be given to the original, but I bet the new designers don't even know, or maybe they don't care. Anyway - I'll leave it like that. 

But contact Judy. There was a limited production run, and you do not want to find out you can't get a copy. 

If you want to meet Judy and hear her speak about her book, there is an "official" book launch at Kindred Spirits Quilt Shop in St. Catherine's, Ontario, on February 14th. Check out the link for more details. 

Let's join Judy in celebrating Canada's Quilt Heritage. Thanks to Judy for all her hard work in preserving our Canadian history!

Speaking of quilt history, let's move on to one of my retreat projects. Jinny Beyer was one of the quilt gurus in her day. All her work was hand-pieced, and she designed many beautiful fabric collections. She is a legend in the quilt world, and I LOVE her stuff. 

OH - and she was FAMOUS for her border prints. Everything I learned about border p[rints, I learned from Jinny! She came to Canada (Alliston) and taught several classes, which I had the good fortune to attend. 

I even taught the border prints as a class, as I found this in the book. Did anyone attend that workshop?

Class requirements! 

This UFO consisted of one yard of the Christmas-themed border print, and I already had one placemat made. If I were doing this today, I would have cut the border print fabric into strips. I did not initially, but that's how I started yesterday. I aimed to make as many placemats as possible from the one-yard cut. 

After cutting the border print into strips, I used my templates to cut as many pieces as possible without having to piece anything. Jinny's concept was to match the principle design lines and the print within that wider strip. I soon abandoned that idea, as it would waste so much fabric. The placemats would be donated, and who would care? 

Laying out the placemat puzzle

So, it became a puzzle. How do I match up all these pieces to cut triangles? I needed six triangles, and none of my pieces were large enough. 

The puzzle pieces

With a bit of ingenuity in the piecing department, I managed to get all six triangles cut. 

Creative sewing to get a triangle

Some of them had a few seams, but all matched pretty well. 

Plan B - and it worked beautifully!

Here are the five placemats. The one in the back is completely finished, while the four in front are just tops. These have been on the UFO list for many years, and it feels great to have the fabric cut and the placemats together. If you look closely, two are the same, and the other three have different centers. That's how this border print worked to get the maximum from the yardage. 

The border print placemats

I might put this on my UFO list for February, and the job will be to finish them off completely. Then they can be donated, and they are gone! 

Speaking of things gone, well, that's a story for tomorrow. I'm almost ashamed to share it, but you will all be able to relate to it!

This is what greeted me when I opened the door. 

MOM - I got a big booboo on my nose!

I guess she's still trying to bury her bone in the frozen backyard. Sigh. Lexi does not want her bone, but Murphy is not listening! 

But yesterday, when I was on the phone with my parents several times and sitting at the table for snack and dinner, they entertained me! Those silly girls are so like little children. 

Mom's home - Mom's HOME!!!! 

Well, I'm off to spin class, and then it's a super busy day with the first of my online events for February, which is also National Embroidery Month!! 

Speaking of which, here is the FINAL QUILT social post. Check out what you can create with mySewnet Embroidery Software.

Oh, and now that I'm back on my big computer with a much larger screen and keyboard, I know why I have two computers. The laptop is excellent for travel, but I would hate to write on it daily! Yes, I could have external hook-ups, but this works for me!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Shopping for fabric!

We have heat again! We had heat in the house, but it wouldn't go above a certain temperature. The technician was shortly after eight and made several adjustments, and YES - I needed to clean the filter. It amazes me that since we now lease the furnace, the company is NOT pushing down our throats to have it serviced. When we owned the furnace, they were on us like a dirty shirt to have it serviced twice a year. I'll be making some notes in my calendar to get that done. 

Furnace repair in action

And it's probably about time we got the ducts cleaned. Now, where are those call centers when you need one? I'll be making my own call for that! 

I confess that I needed a nap yesterday. Not sure why - I'm getting lots of sleep, but maybe it was the stress of the deadlines? Well, a new week has started, and I've got more deadlines, so I had better get myself together and start prepping! 

I pulled a quilt backing from the shelf the other day. It's flannel, so it took up a lot of room, and it's now washed and ready to make into a backing. I could put the last piece of backing that was sitting out away. 

Yardage that didn't have room on the shelf

I still have a few bolts of fabric and lots of bolts of interfacings that won't fit on the shelves. My goal is to use up the bolts of fabric for backings and then be able to put all the bolts on the shelf. That will come, and once I get back to the community project quilts, I'll be using up lots of batting, so I should be able to get all the bolts on the shelf at some point in the next couple of months. 

No more yardage without a home

All the big yardages for backings are folded and labeled on this shelf. Well, a shelf and a half, but so easy to find something. 

The shelves of backing fabric

While waiting for the technician to arrive, I went through my blue baskets of fabric to see if there were any other large yardage pieces. I'm looking at anything that is 3 M and above. I will go through ALL the fabric baskets and pull out those large yardages as they will make a good backing and eliminate stuff from the basket. 

I've shown you before, but this is how I shop for fabric at my house. I find an empty table and tip the basket out, which goes into a nicely organized pile. 

A basket of fabric tipped out for shopping

Then I start by putting it all back in the basket, still in an orderly fashion and all folded. 

Putting the fabrics back in the basket

I was also looking for something else I knew was in the blue basket, and the pieces I wanted to keep got set aside on the far left. 

The shopping process

After rifling through the two blue baskets, I found what I was looking for (the border print) and ONE piece over 3 M. I've been through the orange baskets and now the blue. So many more to go through to see what other backings I can find. 

What I pulled from the blue fabric baskets

That's stage one of sorting through the baskets of colored fabric. Then when appropriate, I'll start going through and pulling some of the prints I'll never use and grouping them into kits for Diane. But we're a little away from that. 

Here's the blue border print, which I have plans for! 

And even though this is far down on my list of priorities, I pulled out two jigsaw puzzles I intend to finish over the Christmas holidays. 

Two jigsaws waiting to be put together

I had an accident with a sewing machine the other day. Well, not an accident but an incident. This is what happened. I wonder why the needle bent rather than broke? I was using a less powerful sewing machine, so perhaps I was going slow, and the lower level of power in the machine accounted for this? 

A bent needle

This is how the dogs are when outside. While it wasn't cold yesterday, it was blustery, and Murphy was quite happy to lie in the snow like this. She looked so forlorn as I made her go out and get some fresh air!

MOM -- I don't want to be outside! 

Lexi, on the other hand, likes to curl up! Right out in the open, I love how that nose gets completely covered, but those ears are like antennae! 

MOM -- it's great outside! 

Her other favorite pastime when outside is to sit at the fence and look on the other side. This allows her to watch people walk on the path; now that the leaves are gone, it's much more open. And then occasionally, a fox, skunk, or raccoon will wander by, and this causes them to go into a frenzy. 

Mom -- I can see everything on the other side of the fence

Murphy is absolutely fascinated by moving that bed out of position or pulling on the quilt in the bed. And I swear, when she stops, she's posing! 

MOM -- this is my good side - did you get a picture? 

And boy, does she ever love the TV. She recognizes the word now because when you mention the word, she looks at the TV. The best parts are when a dog or other animal appears on the screen, or she recognizes the music and runs if it's one of her favorites! 

Hey -- can your family come to play with my family? 

However, Lexi isn't as skittish as she used to be. Yesterday, when I walked them separately, we passed a couple of inflatables, and Murphy was startled and barked her head off. When I passed by with Lexi, she looked and went right up to sniff them. Before, Lexi would have freaked out and backed away. I tell you, the older she gets, the bolder she gets! 

Well, it's off to spin class this morning! And then Monday sewing and then lots of work! Between the computer and the sewing machine, I'll be busy today! But then, when am I not busy? 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Virtual sewing days are the BEST

 

It's going to be a LONG day today. I did not sleep well at all. I heard some terrible news about a friend's son - I'll be attending a virtual funeral today. At one point, I woke up with tears streaming down my face. That was after I finally got to sleep. And Murphy, who gladly welcomes everyone into our house without so much as a squeak (OK - that's not entirely true), decided to alert us to animals in the backyard - not once, not twice, but THREE times. So if I fall asleep -you'll know why!

I'm happy to report that the number of e-mails in my inbox is sitting at 700! How the heck did that happen? Well, between the data migration issue and my diligence, I'm now down to 700 e-mails. I've been using my new tracking book for classes and my e-mail filing system, and I'm up-to-date - well, except for the e-mails which came in overnight. I'll deal with those as soon as the dogs are walked. So - I truly feel like I'm in control. And every day, I delete more e-mail. OH -- I have an amazing filing system in my e-mail that is better than it's ever been!!

My class master book

Now here's a problem. I got an e-mail yesterday from a company announcing a product for sale. OK - I didn't want the product, so I deleted the e-mail. Today I get another e-mail - advertising the same product. I do NOT need this two days in a row. Yet - I don't want to unsubscribe because once a week, they send a link to a tutorial. Why do we need these excessive e-mails? And do we have time to write to everyone to explain this to them?? Can they not figure it out on their own? 

We had a great time at Monday Sewing. When and if we are ever allowed back together, I swear that I'll be opting for the online version of Monday Sewing. There's no need to pack up supplies, worry about road conditions or traffic, set up and take down tables, and wait on the iron. No need to worry if the room will be hot or cold. No need to worry about having a hot lunch. Yes, it would be nice to actually see people, but we get to participate in ALL the conversations this way. I think I'm hooked on Virtual sewing days. 

I worked on my Christmas Fig quilt, which was laid out on my design wall - can't do that at the real sewing days. I had to add in a couple of sections to make the side borders longer. There are three seams in this section, and I can't see any of them in the photo. I can't even see the center seam. Yeah me!!!!

The new border with three joins

But in this photo, you can see the one join because this is where I had to join the 6" piece to the 5 ½" piece. 

One join in this section

I've had a lot of experience at joining stuff like this. It's the kind of thing that gets me excited. I'm a precision piecer - I can't help it - I'm a Virgo!! BUT - that doesn't mean that I don't make mistakes. I was merrily sewing and look what happened.

Oops - this doesn't work at all

Ooops - that won't work, and I had so carefully joined it. 

But the final border got finished, and I folded the quilt top up. Oh drat - I forgot to take a picture of it. 

The first Christmas Fig quilt top

I was going to work on the binding and the backing but decided to work on the second top instead. I'm glad I did. First off, this quilt is an odd size - it's 68 by 86. Yep - it's going to be tricky to make a backing. And the piece I was going to make the binding out of wasn't large enough. 

So I laid out the blocks for the second quilt. There were 20 blocks in this project, and each of them was 16" finished. Putting them all in one quilt was going to result in a huge quilt. I don't do huge quilts any longer. I refuse to give a large quilt to someone with the expectation that they will put it on a bed, which MOST people will not. (If someone asks for a bed quilt - that's a different story). But a smaller quilt can be used as a couch quilt and more people would use that than a bed quilt. Most charities want couch sized quilts as well. I'll NEVER make another large quilt unless some particular circumstances prevail. 

The blocks for the second Christmas Fig quilt 

There are two on-point blocks, and I really hate putting those blocks into a quilt where they sit square. Some of the blocks required frames (as per the book) to make them 16" so I started with that task. I had run out of the fabrics that I used for the block backgrounds, but I had recently purchased two yards of a white and so I'm using that for the frames and the setting triangles. Who the heck is going to notice that? No one!!  Gosh - I'm so much more relaxed than I used to be when everything had to match. Thank goodness I'm over that. Quilting is now more fun, and let's get stuff done!!!

That's like trying to explain to your kids what to do. As an adult, you have the experience, and so you know what they went through, and you don't want them to make the same mistakes. Well, it's the same thing for beginner quilters. Unfortunately, they have to learn that themselves, but if only they would listen and lighten up - quilting would be fun!!!

I love that large 20 ½" ruler for trimming the blocks. I made the framing pieces slightly larger than they needed and trimmed them down. Works for me. 

Trimming the blocks using a large square ruler

By the end of Monday Sewing, I had all the sashings cut and the setting and corner triangles. The frames were done, and I was ready to sew the quilt top together. OH yes - notice that I did NOT use white sashing. The first one I made had white sashing, so I went with something different, and I LOVE it. I also love those two on-point blocks ON-POINT. I got half of the top sewn together this morning, so about one more hour, and I should be ready to start putting the borders on. I will put an inner border of the same material as the sashing and then a darker fabric for the border. 

The partially pieced quilt top

All the fabric, including what I had set aside for the backing, now resides in ONE project box. I may have to play to get enough backing for the two quilts, the two bindings, and one border. But that's OK - I want this done and hope to finish by the end of the week because I've got homework stuff to prep and classes to teach!!!

The fabric for Christmas Fig

So I did lie the other day when I said I had removed NOTHING from those scrap bags to fill the pet mats. I found some of these instructions from panels for things like books, or aprons, or whatever. I had a small stash of them (yes - I have a project in mind), so I rescued those scraps. 

Instructions printed on fabric

I even knew where the other pieces were. And thanks to Helen, who had sent me some scraps a while back, and I don't think I ever thanked her for them. I did put this in the current pile - I think I have enough to do what I want. No need to collect more. That bag was sitting in the office, but it's now moved downstairs. 

My supply of printed instructions on fabric

Well, we always talk about running out of bobbin thread. I'm going to run out of top thread soon. No worry - I think I have two more cones of piecing thread at the ready. Nothing like buying in bulk, so when you run out, you haven't really. 

Running out of top thread

Look at this adorable pin cushion that someone gave me. It's stinking cute!!! And notice the color of the fabric matches my machine! And it's my favorite color. The inside has walnut shells, so it's perfect, and I needed a nice small pin cushion right beside the machine. Not that I use pins a lot, but I needed to pin some of that on-point quilt to get things to match up without stretching. 

My new pincushion

I need to make a red quilt in a hurry. What to do??? It's OK if the entire thing is red. Well, I have my favorite red quilt that I made from my scrap boxes, so I've decided to remake that quilt. I can't give away my red quilt - it doesn't have the right backing on it! I have two red scrap boxes. The lid is just slightly popping off of one of them. 

My two red scrap boxes

I'll be looking for mostly monochromatic reds, and well - the rest of those multi-colored scraps will be perfect for a string quilt. But I already have a HUGE bag of red strips ready to sew into string quilts. So this will happen, but not today. 

making

However, I did take a quick peek through the boxes and almost died. Guess what I found???  

Remember the doll quilt that needs repairs????

The doll quilt that needs repairs

I found that fabric!!! This fabric is also on the back of the little quilt, so I thought I should have something leftover. But I hadn't thought to check the scrap box. I have to investigate further, but I might have the EXACT sized pieces that I need to fix it. Not sure. I haven't got the fabric from my friend yet, and I might not need it. 

Fabric scraps to repair the quilt

The original appears to be a bit faded, but this should be fine for what it is. 

The difference between the old and the unused

I'm working my way through my task list on the calendar. I love it because if I don't finish a task on the designated day - I can just move it to the next day. You have to love that. I still have lots of silly little things to take care of - like why I can't make a payment on my credit card? Or why can't I sign up for the three libraries that we have access to with our library cards? I can access two of them, but I book I want it as the third library, and I can't make it happen. Time to call my friends to see what they can do to help me. 

It's going to be a busy and emotional day. I'm never good with funerals, and I cry at the drop of a hat. I cried while I watched the slide show of his life. I cannot imagine what his parents are going through. So tragic. 

On that note, I'm out of here!!! I hope you do NOT forget to set that timer for TEN minutes. What can you get cleaned up in ten minutes? It's amazing how quickly things accumulate because we don't see the mess. Yep - we tend to be totally blind to our messes, especially when the room is already a mess. I'm already chomping at the bit to start upstairs in the closets, which were already done once. I hardly wear most of what's there. Why am I keeping it? But it's all neat and tidy for the moment, and I have other things to worry about. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

TWENTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Had an awesome embroidery club - AGAIN!!!!!!    Such an amazing group of ladies and the conversations - well they are just the best!!!!!    Thanks everyone for a wonderful morning. One of these days I will show you what I am embroidering. I am making slow progress - what else is new!  but everything takes lots of time and the important thing - I have a plan and I am focused on this particular project. That is all good news!!!!!!!!!!!!     And I am making progress!!!!!!!!!!!


It was such a nice day that I just had to be outside. Did a bit of cleanup in the backyard and then off for a walk.

BUT I did get work done - have a look................

ONE of my plans for 2014 was to try and get those quilts done that are missing backings, bindings and/or borders.  And for some reason I have been ignoring that pile, but I felt like digging one out yesterday. This was sitting on top. Now the TOP was easy - just a GIANT Spiderman panel.  Pretty cool - it is big enough for a single bed!!!!  

Spiderman Top - DONE!!!!!

And cool backing that I already had

BUT - no binding. So of course - I ran over to Ruti's Needlebed and found this amazing fabric.

The binding for Spiderman

And before you knew it - it was sitting in the "TO BE QUILTED" pile

And so one more UFO bites the dust!!!!!!!!!!!   I love it!!!!!!!!!!


Then I got brave and decided to work on the border of that bargello. Well - what do you think?????

Border print Bargello with THREE borders on

When I saw the quilt laid out last night - this made all the fussing worth it!!!!!   Yep - that little internal gratifiacation for a SUPER job is all the satisfaction I need.

Mitered corner number one

Mitered corner number two - NOT BAD for matching the design

And the center join - do you see it????

Here is a better closeup

What I have left to make the last border - there is ENOUGH to work with, just not sure if I will have to piece any of it or not

This is the bonus border that was between the wider border that I used.  It will be good for a sashing of a quilt, an inner border????   Make frames for blocks??????    Lots of options

Is this for ME?????????????   NO Sparky - that quilt is NOT for you

That quilt was BORING - not thick enough. I much prefer my RUG!!!!!   Thanks MOM!!!!!

Might as well deal with the leftover pieces since that part of the quilt is done

I took everything apart and seperated into colours. They are now safely tucked away in their appropriate coloured scrap box

Oh - here is the label from the border print

And look what I found among the fabric - TWO rogue half square triangles. There is a whole bag of these - I am just not sure where I have put it. I keep moving things around and never know where anything is!!!!!   But there is a bag with hundreds of them in it!!!!

And the countdown continues.......................

One more Farmer's Wife block cut

And ANOTHER Farmer's Wife block cut

That leaves TWENTY more to cut!!!!!!!!!!!!!


When we were at the retreat, we took a side trip to Huntsville. Someone needed something from Fabricland so we popped in. I saw this "quilt" and it was only $40.  I know - I bought one. I have no idea why, but I guess if you ever want to give up quilting - you can just buy the cheap things!!!!!!!!

Not sure if you can see it, but there is a great narrow quilting pattern on this quilt that would be good for inner border or sashing or frame.  Check it out - follow the lines!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   This is the back by the way. 

This is the front!!!   That is why I bought it - I loved the toile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got the pinwheel blocks made for the Guild raffle quilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was looking for something this morning and OH MY GOD - WHAT IS THIS????????????????

I found ANOTHER THANGLE project.   GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

Well - I was thinking I was DONE with those Thangles projects. So the question now is should I drop everything and work on this - it was NOWHERE near the 2014 shelf, but I would like to get these Thangles finished. And well as long as I am working on finishing stuff, does it really matter if it came from the 2014 shelf??????


For those people who think the iPad is the ONLY solution for a small portable computing device - LOOK at this.  This is a KOBO (I have forgotten which one).  The cost - between $99 and $149.  And it does everything JUST LIKE AN iPAD.   Why or why do people think the iPad is the only solution?????   The mini iPad costs about THREE times the price of this. Not saying that you have to buy this one, but just DO SOME COMPARISON shopping!!!!!   I WILL NOT pay the additional price to buy an Apple product. Sorry Apple.

Kobo!!!!!!!!!!!

While I was out - I stopped at Indigo and saw this book. I just had to buy it - I don't normally buy books, but it is filled with pictures of the ice storm. Beautiful pictures - yes I know it is pictures of a bad situation, but the pictures are spectacular.

Ice Storm book

It is Thursday sewing today!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I won't be doing much sewing - I have to get applique prepared so didn't have to pack up the machine.


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



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