Blue runner

I have have just newly retired from work, we have been extremely busy packing up the house, arranging storage and have hit the road for an adventure.  It should be fun.

I have quite a bit of my quilting supplies with us, and we are into the second week of our travels and the first item produced is a little runner for a Christmas gift.  An important task before we left home was to order in the book: Quilters Travel Companion.  This way, I can check out the areas we are going prior, and know where the local quilt stores are!  My husband is so pleased ( not ). Actually, he is wonderful as yesterday it was his suggestion to check out the Cloth Castle in Victoria. Thanks, hon.

I picked up some christmas fabric for this runner at Capital Iron, and I didn't even know they had fabric in their stores.  If you buy their fabric card for a $5 fee, good for one year, then there is a 20% discount on fabric.  My  one purchase more than paid for the card.

I love the bird fabric! 

runner # 2

 

Runner One finished

The first runner of three, has been finished and on its' way to a very kind family.  Our youngest son is attending a University 16 hours drive away, and they are kindly offering an 'overnight' stop each time.  This is a great relief to his mum, who does not enjoy the thought of him driving in northern weather,in the winter, in the dark, for 16 hours, after a day of school.

 

He will be attending school for 8 weeks at a time, then home for ten weeks... and so forth for a total of 5 times altogether.  Out of one charm pack with a yard of matching Fa La La, I have made a total of 3 Christmas runners.  Pictures tomorrow of Runner Two - it was sew much fun!

christmas runners

It is so hard to get any quilting projects started and completed.  With our house being for sale, every time there is a viewing from realtors, I have to pack all the sewing stuff up and put it away.  No ongoing projects!

Today, I decided to take the day and start some Christmas table runners.  I had a charm pack of Kate Spains' 12 Days of Christmas and some extra fa la la fabric to match. This is what I came up with:

 

 

 

I am just about finished machine quilting this one, and I made another out of the mostly red/green charms. On the back of both runners will be the fa la la fabric.  OOO la la!!!

A finish!

I have finished the quilt intended for use on the couch in our new fifth wheel trailer.  This was the first full sized quilt that I have machine quilted using my domestic machine, a Janome 6600.  The old adage, practice makes perfect still applies - the more I did, the better the stitches became, but I am still quite happy with it.




I have also made four mug mats in 'guy' fabrics and have set them aside for further gifts.  On the monster white quilt? Yes, I am getting my one 'hoop' done a day. Whew!

machine quilting

The reason I saved ... and saved... and purchased a Janome 6600 was so I could machine quilt my quilts, and not send them out to be quilted, and as long as they were not too big, of course.  I have been struggling and practicing and finally I started reading blogs to obtain some hints and tips.

Yes, should have done that first.  Well, I am half way through quilting the one in the blog header picture and I LOVE it.  Wait till you see it! 

a quick autumn table mat

I hand quilted up a quickie for the table in the kitchen:

It was a preprinted panel, but I just loved the colours and design and with hand quilting I think it looks pretty special!

Getting it together.

I am bad.  Yes, bad.  No excuses.  Faithfully every day I read the most lovely blogs by quilters, examining and drooling over their lovely projects.  Do I post? No.   I think I had better change my habits and 'get it together'.

Our house is for sale at present, and 'getting it together' to be ready for viewing did take some time and effort and all the quilting and sewing items were boxed up.  Then, we realized that we were not in a hurry to sell and if it didn't happen until the spring that was alright, except I would be looking at a long winter with no stitching.  Yikes.  So, I took one of the bedrooms, and rearranged it for a quilting studio.  One that I have to be very careful to be kept clean and tidy in case of viewings.  No throwing the scraps over my shoulder onto the floor like Eleanor Burns! HA!

So, what am I working on?  Well, one of my goals this winter is to ' get it together' and  finish HAND quilting this King Sized Whole Cloth quilt.  I have decided that I should work on one " hoop" of quilting a day, and so far over the past two weeks I have met the goal.  After this quilt is done, I will never hand quilt feathers again - oh my gosh I will have had enough! 

The middle here has been completed and I am working my way around the outside feathers and scrolling designs.  Due to the size of the quilt, I tried but could not get it all in one picture.

top finished!

  A couple of posts ago, I showed the start of an embroidered block for a quilt top.  I spied a nifty pattern in the summer issue of Quilt Sampler.  The patter by Sharon Reilly was quite interesting, except that as usual, I needed to change it ( just a little bit ). 

 I haven't decided whether I will quilt it myself, or send out to be quilted.  The fabrics were lovely to work with - mostly all Moda fabrics.   Now, this is one quilt destined to be kept by us - the colours were all chosen to suit the interior of our new 5th wheel RV.  It will enjoy a place of honour as the snuggle quilt on the couch.

First try at a bag

This summer, we had a visit from our son and daughter in law and travelled with them to Salmon Arm to replace a window in the truck.  While we were there, a quilt shop was spotted ( of course ! ).  Keira was very patient with me as I toured the shop oohing and aweing at the patterns and fabrics on display.  It was a wonderful shop.  She spied a bag hanging and asked if it was for sale ( no ) but the pattern was - an Amy Butler pattern.  Well, lets get that pattern and I will make you the bag for your September birthday. 

Here is the result.... I also put some funky buttons on the "catch".  I hope that the Micheal Miller fabric is what she is looking for!
 

And a couple of big pockets inside - I will fill the bag with a few treats before I send it!

Baby quilt done!

I loved making this quilt, especially hand quilting the little birds around the outside and button stitching around the corner flowers.  I forgot how relaxing hand work can be. 

I have started a new quilt that will be destined to be a snuggle quilt in our new fifth wheel.  I just love the hand embroidery on quilt patterns of Aussie quilters and since I had such fun with the hand work on the last quilt, I decided it would be nice to sit outside and make these blocks.  Here is the first start:

The pattern is from the magazine, Quilt Sampler ( spring/Summer 2010 ) called "Times Remembered" designed by Sharon Reilly.  The pattern is in redwork with some of the blocks in pink muslin.  I decided to embroider with colours and on white 2oo count muslin and have picked different fabrics to match. 

the first block.... summer day.... sitting in a comfy lawn chair under a canopy of tree leaves, cool breeze... stitching away with a cool drink beside you and gentle music playing in the background.....hmmmmmm

hotpads for visiting friends

We have some friends coming from the southern US to our wee little town close to the Alaskan border.  They will be here on Friday, and I wanted to make a little welcome basket of goodies for them since it is their first visit to Canada and their inaugural trip to Alaska.  This little hotpad can be used under larger casserole dishes.  I wanted to use Canada fabric that was subtle.  I also wanted to use some fish fabric designed by one of my favorite designers, Lisa Moore of Sitka, Alaska.  It is reversable, and on the back I used moose fabric for the many moose that visit our yard all winter long.
 I have another one to make, and the second will have more quilting, I think.
 I hope they like them!

new design sneak peak

We are VERY amused!

This is Victoria Day weekend for all of Canada.  Most people enjoy the celebrations, fireworks and camping out!  Yes, we will be camping out in our RV, however, not very far and close enough to home to be running back when we forget something, which we will.

I have been working on a lovely quilt using Hunky Dory fabric.  Love it, love it, love it.  It is very girly, for me anyway, as I abode in a house full of boys and men.  There will a picture soon.

great giveaway thanks Paulette!

   Paulette of Sweet P Quilting and Creations is having a wonderful giveaway on her site.  They are back safe and sound from a four month winter break in the south. 
   The big news is that the Janome  6600P has arrived in my home - thanks to Lori Findlay-Mead of Findlay's Sewing in Kelowna, BC.  I have tried a number of different items and I am very happy with my choice.  The quilting will take some practice, that's for sure!   It did take me a minute to find the speed control.  If they had put a picture of a turtle and a rabbit like on my DH's lawn tractor, I would have found it faster - ha!

 

a decision! a Janome!

     I have not posted for some time, as my mother in law passed on April 11 and we headed off to Saskatchewan.  She was 93 and had a great life.

     Traveling back across the prairies, I checked out 2 quilting stores - one in Mundare, Alberta that was just fabulous.  Lots of fabrics, pre-cut quilt kits of all kinds, tons of samples.  They were selling tickets for 2 quilts - one for Cancer that was a lovely pink number.  The other quilt was a queen sized jewel tones marvel.  My SIL and I bought tickets on both.

     The other store was in Edmonton on the south side ( Earthly??) sorry - I couldn't remember the name.  It was a fairly small but extremely busy store.  It seemed like classes and workshops were a major focus.  In both of the stores, I looked for wools and wool patterns, but neither carried them.  Hmmm.  In fact in the Edmonton quilt store, I finally asked the clerk, and she showed me a small basket of wool knitting skeins. Ah, no.
 
      So the decision - after much research, I decided on the Janome 6600.  My heart is thumping at spending that much money ( ok, my old Kenmore cost about $189.00 and was bought in 1979 or so ) but I am thrilled and excited.  I have saved for a long time.  The internet is great for opinions and forums when you are considering spending your funds.  The machine is being shipped on the bus on Monday and should be in my house by Wednesday. Whoo Hoo!

 

Sew and Tell Friday - a thrilling Tell only!

     I have finished two of the Spring runners now, and I think I will save them for Mothers Day gifts.  Those special occasions seem to arrive quickly on the calendar, and now I feel prepared for once!
     I am working today and it is my long day, which means I am gone for 11 hours, so there won't be any sewing done.  I do have a TELL though and I am truly thrilled.
     Krista Hennebury ( poppyprintcreates.blogspot.com) had a 75th "post " giveaway and it arrived today in the mail.  It is just lovely - Krista sent her beautiful little needle case, a couple of Canadian Olympic stamps,  an aboriginal design Olympic key chain, some needles, the nicest needle minder ( badly needed - I am always dropping them when sewing on the binding backs) AND two gorgeous pieces of batik fabrics.  I hope the pictures show as great as they are!  THANK you so much Krista!

The mailing package even had a sticker of a cow - a quilted cow!  How did she know that I love cows!!!!!

Spring Runners

I finally decided to make 3 table runners out of the very Spring - like Moda fabric - April Cornell.  I rather like the way that they turned out, and I am starting to realize I badly need a new sewing machine.  I fought and fought with this one.  It is about 28 years old and I am tired of fighting with it, ripping out and resewing when the tension goes all haywire.  I have been looking at a number of machines online.  The closest store is 5 hours drive away, so it will not be a quick " go see and try out".

I am thrilled to have won Krista's  ( of Poppyprint ) beautiful 75th post contest and I will be sure to post pictures when it arrives - she does beautiful work.

I have finished this one runner and have the two remaining ones to do.  They will all be the same, so I am thinking they may make nice Mothers Days gifts, with one for me!  We are very very busy finishing the painting of all out kitchen cupboards - huge job!  There is not much sewing time available, except at night when it is too dark in the kitchen to paint carefully.  We are putting 5 -6  coats of paint on, so it does take time, and I am only doing one section at a time so that the whole kitchen is not torn apart.

  It is not much fun getting a house ready to sell.

what to do... what to do....

     I have taken the 9 patch blocks and cut them up to make disappearing 9 patch blocks.  Then I was stumped.  Should I make a larger quilt? Should I put sashing between the blocks? Should I just put them together? Hmm. 
 

   

spring quilt started

Spring comes here in northern British Columbia far later for us.  I have one wee tulip trying to poke up through in the front garden.  Our snow has now all gone, but it is still fairly wet in the backyard.  However, with the first official day of spring gone by, it was time to start some work on spring fabrics.  I picked out Moda's Nature' Notebook by April Cornell, and had a couple of charm square packs in my stash.  What to do.....

I have decided to do a Disappearing 9 Patch and started making the blocks last night after work ....

Snowboard Dreaming

     I was very busy from Friday night, straight through to late afternoon today making this new quilt.  This will be a gift for our youngest sons' 21st birthday.  Yes, he is a snowboarder, who goes up to the mountain on each of his days off.  For the first time for me, the backing was soft minke fabric.  I am not sure that I would do it again, but I thought after a long day on the mountain or when he doesn't feel well, a snuggly soft backing would be nice.
     Now I have to get back on track with clearing out 'stuff' out of the house!!

 

peace quilt

this strange fabric wall quilt is finished.  It actually turned out quite well, and the first time I have ever used the pinwheel block.  Who knew - I love it! Click on the picture for a close up of the funky bali prints!

St. Patricks day this week

     We are not Irish, and we think we are Irish descendants, but any excuse to make a theme quilt runner or cake or card is fun!  The table runner was sent to our oldest son and daughter in law - just a simple rail fence design with machine quilting:

Then it should go along on it's way to Victoria with a card to match

Then, we should not leave out the youngest son's household with his three other roomates who get thrilled with a homemade cake:

Yes, the cake is indeed, green!

I am now busy with work and making the Easter goodies!  Fun Fun ( the making of goodies, not the work! )

meow! No more quilting!

This project took up most of the afternoon and I think Juniper had enough with quilting and no attention to her, the poor old thing. Too bad, she got kicked off back to the floor and I continued on .... with treats later.