Motivational Monday - and it's all good!!!

Yesterday was a Sit n Sew day. It was probably the MOST productive Sit n Sew day EVER! I was so focused that while I remember that there were four other people in the room with me, I don't think for the life of me I could tell you what they were working on. Well, that's not quite true. I know Elaine was working on some July Shop Hop blocks and France was working on Quilts of Valor blocks. But Lynn and Diane? If I dug deep, I might remember, but I don't think I even paid attention so digging deep wouldn't help!

So what got done? I've been mentioning that there is a LOT of stuff that is very close to being finished - well that was my focus. Here's what happened.

Let's start by looking at that messy table. I mean really - how can this be a help to me? It's full of stuff.

The extra space table is crammed with stuff

I grabbed the first project which was a finished quilt top. The backing was also done. The binding strips were cut. They just needed to be sewn together. Now the binding is made and this one is ready to go into the "to be quilted" pile.

Binding, backing and the top - ready to be quilted

Onto the next project. The top was completed and nothing else. I had to choose some backing and cut the binding. Now the binding is made and the backing is as well. Another one to add to the "to be quilted" pile.

Backing, binding, and top - ready to be quilted

Hey - this focusing is FUN!!!!

Then onto the next one. This is Vintage Moments. The final two side borders were cut and they were even pinned onto the quilt. They are now sewn onto the quilt.

Vintage Moments - the top is FINALLY finished

The flannel backing had been washed and was literally rolled in a big ball. It's now nicely pressed and pieced. The bias binding was made and this quilt is ready for the "to be quilted" pile.

Binding, backing, and the top - ready to be quilted

I don't know about you, but I see a problem here. We already know that the "to be quilted" pile is HUGE. And I just added three more. But wait - I'm not done!!!

I grabbed the next one. The top was made. I'm really wanting to get this fabric used up so I took all the leftovers and joined them to make the backing. Yes - those two fabrics aren't the best match. I don't think someone will mind on a cold winter night. 

Scrappy backing

 I had to make the binding as well and so here's one more to add to the "to be quilted" pile.

One more to add to the "to be quilted" pile

In case you're wondering, I did NOT fire up the long arm yesterday to check the fuse situation. I'm doing that today. I had a lengthy chat with my Dad about the fuses and I feel that I'm a wee bit more knowledgeable in that department. 

But the day wasn't over. So I dug out the double wedding ring quilt. The first of the two lap quilts is already in the "to be quilted" pile.

When I pulled this one out, I thought there were a lot of those curved seams to sew. But NOPE - it didn't take long and this one was done. The binding and the backing were already made - isn't that a bonus when we realize how quick it is to finish something because we did some extra work one other day?

Another backing, binding, and top to be added to the "to be quilted" ile

What needed to be done? I had to add two melons! That's it and this one was finished. How silly for me to set it aside.

Two melons had to be added

The day wasn't over yet! And I wasn't stopping for anything! So I forged ahead with the remaining four blocks from the double wedding ring project. I had to piece four arcs and then attach them to the melon and then sew all the bits together.

It was while I was sewing this piece that the others left. Then I fired up the embroidery machine and it worked steadily for hours. I made progress but not fast enough for what I need to do. Since I do have four embroidery machines available to me at the moment, I may consider getting more than one going. I need another small hoop. I could use a larger hoop, but I'm liking the small hoop. More on that another day.

The LAST of the double wedding ring projects - DONE

This is going to be my practice piece when it comes time to machine quilt the quilts. I'm putting this one on my UFO list for next year. Yes - there are three quilts, but they only need to be quilted and bound. No piecing. That's going to be great. But I have a learning curve ahead of me in order to use the computer to quilt them. That's for another day. My learning curve was last night figuring out how to modify my embroidery design. And I did it!!!

One more project added to the "to be quilted" pile

By my count, that was SIX projects that got finished yesterday. Well, not finished enough to put on my finished list, but they got moved to the next round. Am I thrilled???  I'm ecstatic!!  I did actually make a cushion cover last night as well and that one will go on the FINISHED list. I don't have time for a picture this morning.

The studio space is quite messy at the moment, but it's all a work in progress as I attempt to finish that embroidery and sew a quilt top together. I think I got close to 14,000 steps yesterday and that was a Sit n Sew day!!!  That's totally crazy. I've learned over the years - be VERY efficient with your movements. Think ahead and anticipate what needs to be done so you can "multi-task." And don't make mistakes!!!   Test - test  - test!!!!!

I'll share more of that with you another day. I don't have time this morning.

But have a look at that extra table beside my sewing machine. What a difference a day makes.

Look at the sewing table!!!!

There is one more big project on that table. A tuffet that needs to be finished. I really should get off my butt and get it done.  Then I would have room to store the "next in line" projects and still have some room to work.

So I'm crossing things off in my Task Master book. I'm adding things to one list as they go off another. It's all very exciting and so nice to see the number of things that have gotten accomplished over the year.

I hope that everyone else is getting things done. The end of the year is fast approaching.

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Motivational Monday update (or not)

I'd like to say that I have lots of pictures of stuff that I've done to show you, but I don't. I do have pictures, but no finished show n tell.

I did get the top and back done for the magazine quilt and it's hanging on the long arm waiting to be loaded later today. That was good.

I got something done for the upcoming QUILTsocial blog and all the pictures are taken and need to be loaded to the internet. That was good.

But I can't share them with you yet.

However, I do have a couple of things that I've been doing that I can share. I did manage to get all the blocks together from those mini half square triangles. For some reason, the numbers worked out. I don't think I threw anything away (god forbid!) and I didn't make more. How many blocks are there? Well - you'll have to wait to find out. But there's a magic number that means there will be nothing leftover and I like that. How that worked out is beyond me.

Mini-blocks are assembled and pressed, ready for the next step

I managed to get the ends sewn on these last two border strips for Vintage Moments. I even started to pin one of them on and I see it's going to take some creative pinning so I left it for later today. That poor quilt has been laying on the table for weeks and I'm going to need the table soon so I had better get it finished rather than tossed in the corner.

Final borders for the Vintage Moments quilt

Notice those rounded corners which means I have to make bias binding. I'm OK with that. I'm going to use the striped fabric that's in the stars so it's all good.

I also managed to get some more enders/leaders done on the black/white quilt. I cut up the centers from that red that I found. I think I have 27 red centers. I might just cut a couple more bright colors and make the color of the centers varied. Not sure - will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Enders and leaders

Then I dug something out that I received a couple of weeks ago. It required the use of Steam a seam. Hmm - a wee bit of a while since I used Steam a Seam and I managed to goop up my iron pretty badly. Although you can't see it in the picture, it's a mess.

Gooped up iron

And now the iron is all clean again. The bottom is scorched, but it's clean.

Nice clean iron

But my cleaning towel is a mess. This isn't the result of just this last cleaning. It's been used a lot to keep the iron clean.

The cleaning towel is a mess

I'm going to share with you what I was working on last night and this morning, but I want a completely separate post for that so hopefully tomorrow. What fun and something else to collect. Oh my!

I've been a wee bit bad lately as I've been buying fabric. I don't need fabric. But two of the three purchases I made were necessary. So that's a NEED versus WANT.

I needed sashing for my 150 Canadian Women and this is what I ended up with. I wanted the same sashing for all the blocks and I knew I didn't have enough of anything so I got this on the weekend. It's a Northcott Toscana. That Toscana collection is a really good blender! Works for many things and a huge variety of colors. Fortunately, it's easy to get as the Hobby Horse carries the complete line. Thanks, Gail!

Red fabric for the sashing of 150 Canadian Women

 For the curious amongst you, this is what was in that package I received the other day. You probably don't recognize this, but it's the same line of fabric that I'm making my Farm Girl Vintage from. You see, at the last meeting or perhaps it was the May meeting, Lynne asked me if I knew what I was going to do with my blocks. I ask each of the participants every month. Well, I hadn't really thought about that. And I had given ZERO thought for the fabric for borders/backings, bindings, etc. I only had the FQ bundle and there wasn't going to be much of that left.

The collection is several years old so I knew it would be hard to find it. However, I did find it at a store in the US by searching the collection name (Farm Fun) and the designer (Stacy Iest Hsu). The window for that shop has been open on my iPad for MONTHS. I never hit the PAY button.

But we had Claudia from Fabric Please! (a mobile quilt shop in a trailer) as our guild speaker this month and she had some FQ bundles of this collection. I asked if she had yardage. Oh yes - and so I went to her website and I ordered this. Not the same ones I was going to order from the US, but I was OK with that. I was only ordering what I could get my hands on. So instead of supporting a US-based quilt store, I supported one of my local quilt shops and I got FREE shipping to boot (only because of the size of the order). That was a happy discovery and I'm a happy camper. Now I have to figure out how to put those blocks together by the end of November. ACK!!!  Here's a link to the Fabric Please! website for Farm Fun in case you want to get your own FQ bundle. Notice that you won't find the bottom two fabrics that I bought because I bought it ALL!

Fabric to finish off Farm Girl Vintage

Then I had a weak moment. I bought this FQ bundle designed by Carolyn Friedlander. I don't need it, I have no plan for it, but I liked it. So I bought it. I swear - strike me down! But I've been behaving myself a lot, so a little digression every now and then won't kill me or the bank. Now I've got to figure out something to do with this.

Carolyn Friedlander FQ bundle - a WANT, not a NEED

It's going to be another silly week. For some reason, I seem to have tons of errands that need to be done. I also have deadlines with the long arm and with the sewing machine. It's hard to get any work done when you're not in the house or you're reading a book. But that's OK. I'm reading two books - one non-fiction and one fiction. Neither is a page-turner so hopefully, that won't interfere with this weeks workload.

It's Monday today and that means SEWING DAY. I've got my bags packed (that was done last Monday after I came home from sewing) and I'm ready to go, but not before the girls and I have our separate walks.

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

There's nothing like being prepped.............

I did a stupid thing yesterday. I was walking Miss Lexi in the forest and I see that some enterprising kids are building themselves a mountain bike trail. Not cool. So I dismantled their handiwork and in doing so, I picked up a big log or something that hit me right in the lower back. I paid for that move all day. Even painkillers didn't kill the pain. GRR!  Much better today, but stupid, stupid, stupid!!!

Anyway - enough about that - let's see what I got done at Monday sewing. Remember - my focus is on those UFOs. There is no deviating from that agenda. Those projects need to be done.

The first project I worked on was Vintage Moments. I taught this class TWICE and still never finished my quilt. I got the last piece of the sawtooth border sewn on. Then it was time to make a decision for the last border. That monochromatic green or the striped fabric I used to make the stars. A mutual decision was the dark green. The borders were cut and two of the four border pieces got sewn on.

The last border is almost on

This is what the project box looked like. A LOT of stuff in there including THREAD. 

Stuff in the project box

 I pulled out all the fabric. Yikes - once I get all my UFOs completed (HA HA HA), I imagine I'll have a LOT more fabric and thread and tools. Anyway  - all the fabric except the strip which is needed for the binding was put away.

Fabrics have been refiled in the stash

I found some bits and pieces of leftover blocks. Obviously, counting is not my strong suit. And there was one border that I had to recut a second time as it didn't fit well the first time around. 

Leftover bits of blocks

Then it was time to deal with the backing. Oh, I should mention that I put the borders on at Monday sewing, but when I got home, I decided I needed to get myself prepped for the following Monday. So I went through the Monday sewing bag. When I got to the Vintage Moments, I thought it was time to get this in order.

I had dug through the stash and found a bolt of this green/yellow flannel. Yes - there is plenty for the backing so it went into the wash. I like to wash my flannel backings if the top is NOT flannel.

Ready for the washer

This is how it came out of the dryer. Looks like a swaddled baby. And it still looks like that. I haven't had time to unroll it. That's OK - the backing is going to have to wait for another day.

The quilt backing after being in the dryer

Obviously, the pattern for the Vintage Moments quilt was in the project box, but I found another pattern as well. Probably given to me by someone???  No idea.

Two patterns in the project box - one belonged, the other did not

Remember those bits of blocks? I forged ahead and applied the centers to all the fans. Why not? If I didn't do it then, it was just going to become clutter hanging around the studio. So the centers got applied to all 11 blocks. Seven of those blocks are extra. I cut the corner piece as well and sewed that on. Hey - I was on a roll. But they are DONE and that feels great. I think my "prepping/cleaning up" took three hours once I arrived home. But three well spent hours.

Seven fan blocks - DONE

 Four of the eleven blocks are for the corners of that last border and I didn't want the square corner on them so they only had to have the center appliqued in place.

Corner blocks for the last border

Now there are just two border strips to sew on the quilt and the quilt top will be done. The binding and backing need to be made and it's ready to be checked off the list. I was hoping to get it done by this weekend, but I won't be able to. Doesn't matter - I'm very happy with the progress and this one is almost done.

The thread, the orphan blocks and all the fabric are now resting in their respective (and proper) homes.

While at Monday, I did work on The Farmer's Wife project. I got 5 more blocks completed including one dreaded paper pieced block.

Five blocks for The Farmer's Wife project

 When I got home, I put those blocks away and made sure that everything was prepped for the next Monday sewing day. I had to cut a couple of missing triangles. There are 21 blocks left (of 111). I'm super excited about that. The goal - I should be finished the blocks by the end of September and then I have to figure out what to do with them.

I used up all the red squares for my ender/leader project so I cut more of the red squares when I got home. Those two stacks look pretty equal so hopefully, I won't have to cut more, but if I do, the red fabric is in the bag. Nothing is going to stop my productivity.

Ender/leaders prepped for Monday sewing

I still had the entire afternoon ahead of me at Monday sewing, so I pulled out the next project. I had started to work on this one a while back. It's also on the UFO list. What's funny is that this was supposed to be one big quilt when I started it, but well - I don't do big quilts anymore. And yes - there are enough blocks made to make THREE quilts. This is becoming a common thing!!!  I guess I can keep one for my scrap quilt trunk show and give two away. That's perfect. 

Fall Leaves scrappy quilt

One of the tops is almost together - I think it just needs one side border of sashing. And this is what I completed for the second top. It's almost together. Yes - that's my helper again.

Second scrappy leaves quilt top - almost together

I needed to cut more sashing strips so that got prepped as well. 

More sashing is cut

I'm super ready for Monday. The Vintage Moments likely won't go back - I can easily finish that off here. But The Farmer's Wife and the Scrappy leaf are in the Monday sewing box. I figured I was going to need something else as well, so I dug out blocks for Winter Wonderland (also on the UFO list). That's the redwork embroidery one that I'm working on. I have the blocks for the outer border all cut out, so that's in the Monday sewing box. The embroidery is on the kitchen table to be packed into my backpack so when I'm on the plane tomorrow (yes - going away again!), I'll listen to my audiobook on the plane and do some stitching.

Now if that isn't focused, I don't know what is. But I swear - it's all about the prep. The more prep you can do for your sewing days, the more progress you'll make. And it's way easier to do the prep at home in the event you are missing something than arrive at the sewing day and not have enough fabric or whatever. Prepping is key to successful sewing.

I've got THREE urgent things that need to be done TODAY so that's going to be my focus. Thankfully my back is feeling better. There is nothing worse than trying to work through the pain. I had no choice - I just sucked it up. I was going to walk to the library to get some books, but decided that I would take the car instead. Well, as I walked from the car to the library, my back liked that. Great - I should have walked the entire way!

On that note, it's time to get to work!!

Have a great day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

What we did at the sit n sew!

Sit n sews are the best days ever! It's a day of great conversations, loads of laughs, inspiration, creativity, and we get a bit of work done as well. It's time spent with friends and that's what life is all about!

While I wasn't as productive as I would have hoped, I still got things accomplished.

I started the day off by sewing the backing together for a quilt. I also made the binding. This project has been added to the "to be quilted" pile. That pile is getting higher and higher. I'm trying to get one of my own quilts quilted every week. I didn't get one done last week. I'm on a bit of a learning curve with the computer.  I had to call the support team yesterday for another question and OH BOY - there's so much I have no clue about!! 

Backing, binding, and top - ready to be quilted 

I didn't take pictures, but there's stuff crammed EVERYWHERE downstairs in order to clear the tables for the sit n sew. I'm going to try and work away at one or two of the piles, just to get things done. So this top and binding and the backing fabric were sitting there and all that needed to be done was to sew the backing fabrics together. Now, this quilt is also ready to be quilted.

Backing, binding, and top ready to be quilted

I got six more blocks sewn for the 150 Canadian Women quilt. That makes 138 blocks done. You know what that means. I've only TWELVE blocks left to go. I'm so excited about that.

Six blocks for 150 Canadian Women quilt

When I sew these blocks at Monday, I always seem to screw up the cutting or piecing on at least one of them. Oh shoot - I'm looking at the picture above - do you see what I see???  Yep - there's a boo-boo in one of the blocks. Anyway, since I was sewing these at home, there weren't any fabric mishaps. Of course - just when I had easy access to the rest of the fabric.

The white had been cut for the remainder of the blocks and I decided to bite the bullet yesterday and I cut EVERYTHING for the last 12 blocks. Now to sew them together. I wonder how far along Peggy is?  Will she beat me? I could sew them today to beat her. But I have work to do so that isn't going to happen. I'm going to keep on my schedule of 6 a week. That means two more weeks and I'm done the blocks.

Remaining 12 blocks are cut out.

I also did a few of these little pinwheels as my enders and leaders. They are small and they are fiddly, but better to get them done as enders and leaders so I don't drive myself crazy.

Pinwheels as enders and leaders

I didn't get pictures of all the projects that the others were working on, but here's what I got pictures of.

Claudette finally finished her Vintage Moments quilt (by Marsha McCloskey). I ran this as a class twice and Claudette attended both classes, but she got the quilt done!!!  I have to say that mine is on my UFO list for 2018. I think just the last two borders need to be sewn on. Yes - I'm going to be focusing on those UFOs, so mine will be done before long. It's a gorgeous quilt and lots of learning.

Claudette's version of Vintage Moments

 Claudette has several long-term projects that she brings to the various sewing days. All of them are VERY labor intensive. This one is called Wild and Goosey - it's a Bonnie Hunter pattern.  The pattern is paper pieced and I think you can find it on the link I've provided. Otherwise, just search for Wild and Goosey and the link to the pattern will come up.

Claudette's blocks for Wild and Goosey

 I've no idea how big she's making it and no idea how many blocks she has completed, but it's pretty cool. Actually, this would be a good use of those cut-off triangles I have from making binding and borders. I have THOUSANDS of them. Now to get those paper patterns printed.


Linda was working on That Town and Country quilt by The Gourmet Quilter. I absolutely adore this quilt (you see what happens on a sew day?  I like everything that all the others are working on).  I did buy the pattern for this. I've met Susan-Claire (the designer) and she's a hoot. I love her and I got to ride around Quilt Market one year on her scooter, but I digress.

That's me on Susan-Claire's scooter at Quilt Market

Anyway, the pattern is also available as a book.  While I know it's super easy to borrow this or any other pattern from your friend, sales of patterns are HOW DESIGNERS MAKE A LIVING so they can provide more patterns for you. I can only ask that you respect copyright.

Linda's That Town and Country quilt to date

 Here's a close up of a couple of the blocks. Linda has done an amazing job with all the stitching by machine and by hand.  LOVE IT - LOVE IT!!!!!

Linda's version of That Town and Country quilt

Linda was also working on this small wall hanging. I LOVE the contrast in this piece. It's gorgeous.

Red cardinal wall hanging

 I'm sure I have the pattern to that little guy somewhere. I'm not sure who the designer is, but I can see the pattern in my head.

Pat was working on the borders to her embroidered elves (I had posted that quilt last sit n sew day). Then she worked on a couple of pillowcases.

Pillowcases by Pat

Pat was also working on a shoe quilt for a very special person's birthday (not me!)  I love the blocks and she had used fabrics that were special to the recipient. That's a great idea to customize a quilt like that. I think Pauline should be making one for herself s she did an inventory of her shoes and well, let's just say that she has a lot of shoes. The pattern for the shoe quilt is by Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts.   I couldn't find her pattern on the website, but you could always contact her if you wanted to buy it.

Pat's shoe blocks

Pauline was working on a table runner from batiks and laser cuts.  I love it.

Pauline's table runner

 Now here's an interesting thing about the pattern. I was at Thimbles and Things in Orillia this past week and saw some patterns that I loved. They looked like row by row patterns and in fact, they were. This designer in Alaska had an amazing response to her rows (from Row by Row Experience) that she decided to put them together as real patterns. I think some of them have been rejigged to make table runners like the one above.

Yep - just checked out the webpage for the shop (the owner is the designer - Marie Noah) and that's the same designer. Check out this link. The patterns are to die for. And how about that big quilt with the six rows. I'd make that in a heartbeat. I love it. I didn't buy any from Thimbles and Things when I was there because I think????  that I got the dog sled one when it was part of the Row by Row?? I'm not sure. I need to check.  But I love all that stuff. And how about this pattern - it's gorgeous.  I know that Sue has it at her shop in Orillia.

The last project that I took a picture of yesterday was also Pauline's. These were made from scraps of fabric (purple batiks) that she had hanging around. They'll make a nice wheelchair quilt or small lap for someone.

Pauline's blocks

Let's see - Diane was working on Night Sky by Jaybird, Linda K. was working on blocks for a quilt that I didn't see and Ruth was working on her blocks for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler.  It was a super day and I thank everyone for coming out. Even though I don't get a lot done myself on these days (well sometimes I do), it was a fun day.

And did you ever want to know about cremation and burials? I learned a whole lot yesterday!!!  Not sure that I want to be cremated now. But I guess I won't really care. It's something that we should all be thinking about and then the big question - what do you do with those ashes. I'll have to tell you the ash story another day!

Before I close today, I'm going to list the quilt shows in the area that are happening this weekend. I won't be able to attend them as I'm teaching all day on Saturday and have another Sit n Sew on Sunday, but you might be able to get out there and support the local guilds as well as get some inspiration.


Upcoming Quilt shows

New Millennium Quilter's Guild -- Friday, May 25 and Saturday, May 26  - Mildmay, Ontario

Oh - that's the only one I could find for this weekend, besides the St. Jacob's show I mentioned yesterday, as well as The Quilts of Iceland in Ailsa Craig and don't forget the small quilts at the St. Mary's Museum, in St. Mary's.  (there is no information about the show on their website, but the quilts are there).


There are a TON of shows next weekend and I'll post those this weekend. I have a ton of stuff to do today. Not sure where I'm going to start, but I'll just pick something and do it and then move on.

On that note, I'm out of here.

Have a SUPER day!!!!


Ciao!!!