progression

I am back to quilting this star quilt again I want to get it done for the Quilt show in 2024 so I now have a deadline! I love the back also! 

 

now and then...

I have the top of the quilt finished with the applique and now have to add it to the rest of the quilt and add the borders, when I auditioned on the bed the length is great but I have to add more to the sides, remember I am only using what is left of the fabric that was given...more applique? do I dare? 

This picture came of this was my first love, she was found listed in the paper at 8 months old I had her till she was 13. Britnee was a very smart girl she went almost everywhere with me. 

This is one of the quilts I made using bear paw pattern that I was going to use for the quilt below I made all the paws and decided I didn't like it so made enough to make 2 other quilts this is one of them. I was very fortunate as I designed this on the go and the pieces fit well to create this quilt around the panel. 

I don't often work with panels but happy how it turned out. 

This quilt was donated and tickets were sold the winner decided she had enough quilts already and declined the win. I was fortunate because I had made and donated the quilt and mom's group quilted it...beautifully I might add. 

I was the lucky one to have it returned to me 

The quilt below was a signature block swap I had participated in long long ago (big stars) the challenge again is to create a complimentary layout for the blocks. I found this pattern on line as a free one the four stars conjoined. Loved it and thought it would really make the big stars sparkle even more. 

I started pulling from the scrap barrel I am sure when you look at these stars you will see other quilts I had made previously from the fabrics 

I had great fun pulling and piecing these together I actually think this would be an excellent border too. 

 Well I hope you find some stitching time, I may be finding more my part time is weeding out more jobs and ours are now on the block...I may be soon fully retired. The question is can I take it! 

Celebrating finishes

My Big stitch quilt is finished binding and all and I have slept under it, peacfully

I love how it turned out and will use this method again! 

Showing the binding due to using a colour I never thought of using this is called "sweet potatoe" its amazing how the orange goes so well with the red.

This is a quilt I started in the summer on the pretence of  swapping it with someone but things had changed and I decided to finish it and keep it myself

I wanted it to look more amish because that was what the person hinted at liking when chatting so I found basket blocks in the 501 quilt blocks book and designed this quilt, it's really more the quilting then anything

This was the themed backing I had used for the quilt 

I started on the star quilt I have a deadline now I want it done for the RVQG 2024 quilt show so I will continue and have enjoyed getting back to it. I love how the back looks as well 

I am freehanding the design on the star diamonds so they are not perfect but I am okay with that it looks more home made, it is a big one a King I want to display it on the staircase when done. 

One last photo to show that Ontario is trying to show its spring days Ted is out on the porch with his blanket taking in the sunshine. This boy suffered a stroke Thanksgiving (Oct) and is doing okay. He has a wonky walk but now I bring a carriage when we walk so that he can ge some rest, he is in his 13th year still has pep! 

Well I hope you are able to get some finishes soon would love to visit and give you a Bravo! 
 

new stitching activities

I am so excited that I have decided to use this utility stitch for my Trick or Treat basket quilt this is a pattern that was from the book When the Cold Wind Blows by Black Bird designs, I myself would recommend this book you will want to make most of the quilts in it.

I will show you down further what else this book has done for me, but for now I wanted to talk about this stitch the first time I was introduced to it was watching Jen Kingwell and saw these adorable stitches for quilting your quilt. I am big stitching around the baskets but using the tacking "X" all over the quilt background. 

I am trying to entertain myself with new stitches and quick quilting methods by hand so that I can get through the 30 tops that I have to quilt! (the joys of semi retirement) I love revisiting the baskets and the selections of fabrics I had made to put them together it also reminds me of many days in the summer during break sitting outside to work on them under blue skies. Perfect for the March weather we are currently having with power outages, freezing rain and high winds. 

 I am finished with the applique that I am creating for the top of a quilt that is on my design wall The motif's I have used are from the book When the Cold Wind Blows and I created a layout that is pleasing and reminds me of spring, our birds are almost deafening with song celebrating the change that is coming soon. 

I am very excited about this project due to creating "more" to enhance it, each project seems to help me grow in the quilting world. 

On a side note I am not sure if anyone has watched the feeds of the Quilt Nerd. I am finding her very interesting she really gives a detailed view on quilts, quilts I have not seen and not just modern but antique, political, innovative just a plethora of quilts and history I am thoroughly enjoying her narrative.  If you have a chance check her out it is well worth your sit and sip time. 

Well back to getting things done, thank you for visiting 

Tops to talk about

I finished quilting my first big stitch quilt so so happy loved the practice on this quilt and have really enjoyed the "freedom" of big stitch

The 9 patch blocks were from a swap long ago when Fons and Porter had a Quilt Chat group they had shut down suddenly we were lucky that some people stayed connected and opened their own site to chat because as you know we start to connect and build relationships. 

here is some of the quilting and the blocks 

here is the back now the fabric is bright but the quilting has toned it down a little 

I have already decided on the next quilt to put on the frame this was a quilt started just before the Covid Pandemic as called as I sat with other quilters on our sew day. Karen  had developed a pattern for Barbara and I to put together and I had made some adjustments and created my version in the middle then created a bigger quilt by adding the borders. Did you notice that I have used that black and white rose fabric? This is my covid quilt as you can there are similarities in the virus. I will show you more of the quilt later 

This is my back of the quilt I thought it was appropriate at the when there was such controversy on whether to vaccinate or not 

Also I have finished part 2 of the Mystery Hexagon quilt by Jemima's Creative quilting. I am loving the different fabrics people are using in this mystery, worth going to visit on Instagram. I also love that it is a 4 week post this helps you keep on track and get a quilt done in a year with hand work

 I thought I would also post an embarrassing moment, these are all the tops I have in mind to quilt and yes I will get them done if I keep going the way I am Big Stitch has become my friend. 

Hope you are able to get some stitching done, thanks for visiting! 

Quilt a longs are fun

 

the quilt above was a quilt along a few years ago called "Fonthill" this was one of those quilts where I dove into the scrap barrel and picked whatever came up, each block had a personality the challenge was picking the borders and sashing for this one

Then Border Creek Station had a stash buster  pattern that was almost the same a little smaller in diameter so I changed the layout and made this applique to compliment the blocks It was a great challenge to design the layout but very happy with the end result. 

Below are quilt a longs I did with friends we exchanged strips of supposedly our ugly strips but as you can see there are just no ugly fabrics one of my friends has a blog Applique and Patches   go to her blog she is a very creative quilter 

The pattern was called waves and as you can see I could not make just one they are both the same pattern but I did a little tweeking on the layout my dad loved the red one so it was given to him as I was finishing the turning of the edges since there were prairie points as the finishing. 

I love to do sew alongs with sites that promote their different blocks of the week/month. Question would you rather a block a week or month? I like a week it keeps you in high gear as you build your quilt. this one below was from Piecing in the Past signing up to her newsletter always keeps you busy with new free projects 

The one above was a semi completed Kit that a fellow quilter did not want to finish and I was at the right place at the right time I was able to purchase this as a small nominal fee and finish it I love this quilt! The quilter did a wonderful job of what she had completed with piecing and ironing the pieces so continuing was like a dream! Sometimes a quilter will find your half finished projects treasures. 

Well this is a little look back on some quilts since I am slow stitching right now I thought I would share some that I have been working on the last few years. hope you enjoyed some of my memories and it gives you incentive to get involved in your quilt room again. 

Snow blows in to Ontario with a vengeance

I put this little quilt together yesterday there was a sew day in the morning with one of my guilds via zoom and Pam Buda of Heartspun quilts  had a wonderful new Archaeology pattern that she is calling "Welcome Spring" using spring colours. 

I decided I wanted another quilt for St Patricks day since the one I made last year went to Australia in a doll quilt swap. 

I still had some of the fabric left so I used greens and blues and I am calling this sweetheart of a quilt Irish Spring. I love how it turned out at the time this was taken I was not able to put on the border due to the paper weight fur ball on top of the border I wanted to use but can you see a corner of it? 

It is together now and I will post it when I have done the quilting it will be simple to go with the simple pattern. So much fun I hope you get a chance to visit the site and make one. 

I am also continuing with my stars and have found a wonderful go between them I will have to post next time didn't take a picture but it has all the color that is used in the quilt so far

And this was the stall in my hand quilting I thought I would have 2 projects finished but shovelling for hours deterred me and believe me my back shoulders thought I grew wings because they were painful just in that spot. 

I did get one side done of the border and only have one more to go I am using this lovely cable I am showing the back and the front just love how it finishes. 

 I am using the needles above they are Chenille 24's and they glide so nice for a big stitch as well as the # 8 valdani no twisting and runs smoothly through the fabric and batting. I can't wait to put the next one on the frame that I will big stitch too. 

Well spring is but a dream as we quilt, the days are getting longer soon the garden will be calling for me am I ready for the change....hmmmm that is mixed emotions for me.