Christmas pandemonium

Not even close - let's call it a case of a major senior moment.

Yep - I left the house very early this morning to get to the gym.  I had already edited pictures for the blog today.  I got about 2 KM from the house and realized that I forgot to upload the pictures to the blog so I could write the post when I arrived at work (before I actually had to start work - as if I work by a clock!!!!).  Well on my way home tonight, I realized that I had forgotten to write the blog!!!!

So here I am.

You see it was a crazy crazy day at work. Even though I got there way before 8 AM and had to come in the back with the warehouse guys, with the intention of leaving early - that didn't happen and it was go go go all day.

More on that excitement another day.  Here's what happened yesterday.

 Here's that other customer quilt that I got done the other day.

Customer quilt - DONE

 It had minky on the back and normally it isn't an issue, but this minky had been stretched along one of the edges and well - I had a smidgen of ripping to do to get rid of a tuck caused by that stretching. But it looks fine on the back!!!

Edge stretched on the minky!!!!

I had a very productive day yesterday.   I got that T-shirt quilt put together - no problems.  It really looks very nice.  Then time to make the backing.  The fabric I used for the backing is part of Northcott's new Stonehenge line called Gradations.  I really really like it and the quality of the flannel is EXCELLENT.

Hardly any fraying when it was washed.  Just a couple of long threads that came loose across the top.  Less than 1 /4" was wasted.  That is QUALITY!!!!!

Very little fraying took place with the washing process

Less than 1/4" was lost

 Once that back was made - the quilt was loaded onto the long arm.

T-shirt quilt - DONE!!!!!

The othe thing I like about that Stonehenge fabric is that it hides a multitute of sins on the back of a quilt.  Not that there were any sins on the back of this one, but any stops and starts or thread breaks are easily disguised because of the multi colour of the fabric.  I love that and because it is flannel - it will be snuggly!!!!

Stonehenge multi-color hides any quilting sins

Next up was to make the binding and get that sewn on.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new Husqvarna Viking Walking Foot.  I think my old one has either died or it just doesn't work very well.  It was a breeze to sew the binding on. 

Sewing the binding on with a walking foot

And there it is - the quilt has a binding and just needs hand stitching and a label. That's a job to start tonight.

Binding on!

But I wasn't done there - oh no - there are a few more quilts that need assembly.  I got the border put on this one (which thankfully the customer is picking up on Boxing Day!!!! and a second one that has to be made - same quilt - different color)

Border on

Binding made

Backing made

Yeah - will try to get that one loaded tonight so that I can tackle it in the morning.  Yes - another day off tomorrow.  Thank goodness or I wouldn' be getting any sleep!!!!!


One of the other projects that I have to work on is converting this dress (yes a tad dated) into a quilt.

A dress to be made into a quilt

 I had one idea in mind, but when I laid it out last night on the floor another idea popped into my head.  I will play around with it tonight and see what happens.  It is finding something that coordinates with it.  I have one fabric, but only one meter and I don't think that is going to be enough.

I took the dress apart last week.

The dress is in pieces

Got any ideas?????   Well - a quick shopping trip in the morning and hopefully I will be good to go.

On that note - time to get to work with a hand needle.  Good thing there are books on tape!!!!  

Have a great day!!!!!

Ciao!!!!

More show n tell.................

We had a great day sewing on Monday. Since it was a holiday we did not have regular Monday Motivators, but I offered my studio and we had a full house. Everyone was working on their homework for some of the ongoing classes. As usual, loads of laughs and LOTS of work got done.

 I love that lightbulb moment when people figure out to solve their own problems. I am not going to show you that show n tell until the class on Saturday.

However I will have to warn people that they are NOT allowed to bring OTHER projects for show n tell.  It has happened on numerous occasions where someone brings out a quilt to show and I either have the kit, pattern or a UFO.  In this case - I had the kit. Have a look.............

Kaleidescope quilt by Elaine M  - I just LOVE this quilt. 

The first quilt shop I ever went to was Quilter's Fancy in Toronto.  I remember walking into that shop and my jaw dropped. Seeing the fabrics sorted by colour - well I had never seen so many blues together, yellows, reds, etc.  I was in LOVE.   Well I saw this kit on my first or second visit to the store. I remember hesitating to purchase it. The cost was around $80.  How could I justify spending that much money on a kit?

Oh boy - times have changed!!!   Anyway - I was able to whip that project off the shelf  (in the stash room) in about 5 seconds. I love an organized space!!!!!

My kaleidescope kit

The pattern was from South Seas Import and I believe the fabrics match the pattern

From what Elaine said it was a bit of a challenge to assemble the top since it was made with 9 inch squares, NOT strips.    But now that I have seen it complete - I want to make mine too!!!!!!!!


 I think I am going to have to ban all people named Elaine from my studio!  Because another Elaine wants me to work on a different quilt with her. It is also a kit but NOT as old as the Kaleidescope.

Remembrance Poppies by Pam Bono

I did have the kit out at one point. Hmmmmm - well I am looking for something as a Thursday project and I am going on a retreat soon.   Hmmmmmmm................    Oh gosh - I have SO MUCH other stuff to do - I NEED 60 hours in a day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

However there are a few good Elaines in the world. They are the ones that take stuff off my plate.

Another Elaine is working on those tractor placemats.   (I know - when I grew up I was the only Elaine that I knew). Now - I know LOTS of people named Elaine.

Tractor placemats

Well I had FOUR of those placemats - two with kids on them and two without. I wanted only the ones without the kids so I am giving her the two with kids. I was hoping to have three of the ones without the kids, but she had already made up all the panels. No worry - they are gone so I am NOT going to have to deal with those extra panels. Thanks to all the ELAINES - you keep life interesting!!!!

This is what I am giving away

And this is what I am keeping!!

Then I have other friends who add to the stash issue and I LOVE them all.................

Got TWO of these Halloween panels and they are HUGE.   Just add an extra border and VOILA - two big quilts for Halloween.   Thanks Ronda!!!!!!!!!!!!

And some nice warm flannel with bikes on it!!!!!

It has been a couple of crazy days with lots of classes. Here are some NON class show n tell.........

This is a memory quilt - let's just say that I am very happy that I am NOT quilting this one. There are loads of areas that are going to be very interesting to quilt. 

Judy brought in this quilt that was made by her mother in law. Appears I did NOT get a picture of the front. But I happened to be talking about mitered corners in the class - how appropriate.   It is a scrappy log cabin with a piano key border.   My favourite pattern and border.   Apparently the mother in law  was self taught and got books from the library. I know exactly which book she got - Quilt as you Go by Georgia Bonesteel  (Or Lap Quilting - I am not sure the name and there are several books by Georgia)

But it was very interesting how she dealt with those miters.   She quilted the borders - added them to the quilt and then just stitched the miter. She did tidy up the raw edges by stitching them.   Hey - there are many ways to solve a problem.   Thanks Judy for bringing in your family quilt.  And you can see some of the top in this picture. 

Diane made this big star quilt in a class at The Work Room (I think that is the name of the store). I love how that striped fabric twirls around the center star.  She used very modern fabric and it looks awesome. 

I think I mentioned that I finally got the John Deere quilt quilted!!!!

John Deere quilt - DONE - well quilted. 

Here is the quilting pattern

Warm plush on the back

And that Sparky!!!!    She is getting very bad with noise, thunder and lightening. She plopped herself right down on the floor while I quilted and she was RIGHT where I needed to stand when I advanced the quilt.   Oh well - we managed.  She just LOVES that Thunder Shirt though. I think she would wear it all the time if we let her!!!!!

I love getting ideas from everyone and this is an excellent idea which I will pass onto you.  Diane likes little projects - hand work projects.  She purchased this small photo box from Michaels

Diane's little project box.   Much better than a Ziploc as there are NO holes to get poked by scissors or pins. It is a sturdy little case and Diane placed a strip of magnet on the lid to hold her sewing needle.   

I liked the idea so much that - well I had to get some too...............

Four little hand work cases. Now I have to find something to put in them.   Easy to keep in the purse and have a project to go!

Finished up another block on my embroidery project.  Now the blocks are not that big and I seem to get one done a week - no time outside of embroidery club to work. See - a definite need for those 60 hours a day!   Just that this project has a LOT of little blocks and I think there are still 12 ?????     Oh well - doesn't matter  - it is a Christmas quilt and there is LOTS of time before Christmas - right??


My bags are packed and I am ready for my road trip today!!!!!!!!!!!!    Going to be fun fun fun!!!!  and I have my shopping list with me as well.


On that note - I am out of here.

Have an AWESOME DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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