Year: 2016

A disastrous bleed

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I always wash my quilts after they are quilted, label is on and the binding is finished.  I was a little suspect of my green label because it bleed a little when I used glue to secure it in place.  Thinking that a “color catcher” would be enough, I put Grandma’s Fabric quilt #6 in the wash.  Whoa!  I pulled it out right away.  Took it to the kitchen sink and tried Sunlight bar soap, vinegar … nothing was working and you could literally watch the colour seeping further and further.  I did the only thing I could think of: I grabbed a pair of scissors and and cut the label out.

Labels 7-12 were already done – they instantly went into the garbage, along with the offending green fabric.

So now I have some mending to do.  The plan is to cut the corner in a triangle shape, unstitch a good inch or so, add backing, batting and the white top.  Then, add a new label, quilt it and try to figure out how to join the binding on the corner  …  I do not want to take miles of binding so that I can have mitred binding.   Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to do it?

To see what other’s have finished on Friday, visit these blogs: Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts

Edit: I was just reading an email from The Quilt Show and it contained a link to Colorways by Vici Welsh … she has tested a few detergents and has found that Dawn Ultra Pure is one of the best to prevent colour running … a little late for me, but something to remember if I suspect a fabric will run.

Hope your quilting does not involve as much re-doing!

Gail

More accomplished at the day retreat

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I did get a lot more finished at the day retreat last week!  These 2 quilts are almost the same, but with different quilting.  I did “C’s” on one, which makes it look like I quilted circles.  On the other, I quilted flowers.  It’s a simple pattern that starts with a circle and you try to add 5 petals on the flower.  I don’t have any rules and if 3 petals are all that fit, that’s just fine.  It was hard to get a picture of the border, but the flowers, joined by a vine, float along the border.

Wander over to Patchwork Times and Love, Laugh, Quilt to see what others are working on.

Happy Quilting,

Gail

Grandma’s Fabric: Another one completed!

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For 3 days this week, I’ve been sewing with friends at what we call a day retreat.  We go for the day, come home and sleep in our own beds. Last night we all went out for dinner.  It is a lot of fun!

We are all getting a lot done!  I’ll try to take some pictures of what other’s are working on … there is a lot of creativity happening … some of the projects are for future gifts – so I won’t take pictures of them!

I have managed to get a lot of quilting done.  The quilt I showed in the last post, using 3 ½” squares is completed.  It’s way too stormy out to take my usual picture of quilts hanging on the clothesline.

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To see what other’s have finished on Friday, visit these blogs: Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts

I’m off for another day of sewing.  Hopefully the storm isn’t too bad and that we have power to sew all day!

Happy Quilting,

Gail

Quilting another …

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Quilting #4 of quilts made from Grandma’s fabrics.

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Here is a rough drawing of the quilting pattern.  A tear drop, then echo the tear drop, small flower petals, then echo the flower petals.  It’s pretty easy to do as an all-over quilting pattern.

 

 

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And now a picture of the quilting in progress …

 

 

 

 

Wander over to Patchwork Times and Love, Laugh, Quilt to see what others are working on.

Happy Quilting,

Gail

Grandma’s Fabric: Two more started!

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I have some 4 patches left over from previous quilts using the 2 ½” squares – so I’ve started working on another quilt to use them up.  This one will end up a little bigger.  However, I do need to make some more 4 patches.  I haven’t decided if it will be on-point or straight.  I’ll wait until I have all the blocks made before I decide.

There are no pictures of the 2nd one I’ve started … it’s mostly in my mind and will involve 2 ½” strips of grandma’s fabric sewn with white fabric … only grandma’s fabric is cut into strips and I need to cut more white strips.   I am thoroughly enjoying working with her fabric.  My grandma was a pretty special lady!

Wander over to Patchwork Times and Love, Laugh, Quilt to see what others are working on.

A note on the nursing reunion:  It was great fun to see the gals that attended!  A few I hadn’t seen for 40 years!  And it was neat to connect with everyone.  Kudos go to the Katy, the main organizer!

Happy Quilting!

Gail

Zipper Bags are done!

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I managed to finish the zipper bags … just in time as I was busy today helping a friend set up a booth for a show.  Check out The Steam Trunk Craftworks to see what I played with!  She does mail order as well as several shows.  I absolutely LOVE the hand painted buttons!

Here are my zipper bags and they are already wrapped and ready to head over to Victoria. They finished up at about 9″x 8″.    It was a lot of fun to quilt organic straight lines on the fabric.  I love doing “organic” … it doesn’t always need to be perfectly straight!  Just my style!

They were a lot of fun … no pattern … would you like to do a sew-along to make these sweet bags?  If so, leave me a comment.

To see what other’s have finished on Friday, visit these blogs: Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts

Happy Quilting!

Gail

Nursing Reunion and zipper bags

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This weekend, I’m going to a nursing reunion!  Hard to believe that it’s been 40 years since we graduated from St. Joes!  It will be fantastic to see everyone that attends!

The gal organizing the reunion contacted me and asked if I had anything small in my quilty box to use as prizes for a game.  I replied, “sure, I have some zipper bags.”  Well, I went to my quilty box, which did not have any zipper bags in it.  So, that means that I need to make some.  They don’t take long and are fun to make.

I pulled out my small tote of fat quarters and chose a couple of prints … I’ll make the one on the right first.

Linking this post to Freemotion by the River

Happy Quilting!

Gail

Some progress

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My design wall is a flannel backed tablecloth on my bed.  It’s not ideal, but it works and it’s portable.

I attempted to “web” this and ended up with a confusing mess.  I should know better than to “web” an on-point quilt.   Just have 4 middle rows to piece and add in.  Then hopefully I can get the borders on.  I’m hoping this will happen today at Monday quilting!

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Wander over to Patchwork Times and Love, Laugh, Quilt to see what others are working on.

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Gail

 

Grandma’s fabric: another one in progress

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Here’s another quilt using Grandma’s fabrics.  This quilt is using 2″ squares … I needed 121 four-patches to make the size of quilt I wanted.    I pieced it when I was in Alberta and had a limited amount of fabric as I under-estimated what I would need.  It has sat rolled up in the flannel-backed tablecloth.  My friend, Cindy, helped me to arrange all of the 4 patches.  It was a lot of fun to have a talented artist to help!  I hope to be able to get the top together today.

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Take a wander over to Judy’s Patchwork times and Love, Laugh, Quilt to see what other’s are working on.

Happy Quilting,

Gail

It’s finally completed

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The disappearing 4 patch was completed earlier this week.  Just in time for my trunk show at the Vancouver Quilt Guild.

Here’s a picture of it: all quilted and bound!

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I also finished 2 other quilts made with Grandma’s fabrics:  A 4 patch on point made with 3 ½” squares and a Shoo-fly (made with  3 ½” strips and sashing).

And the “Green Elephant” quilt was finally bound and it’s on it’s way to a sweet baby girl.

for Bernard & Bernice's daughter

That’s all the quilting I’ll be doing for awhile as my machine is starting to skip stitches and needs to visit the doctor. (And yes, I changed the needle, re-threaded, cleaned the machine … and it’s still skipping).    However, I will be able to work on piecing for short periods of time.

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Gail

Grandma’s fabric: a near finish

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When we got home from holidays, I didn’t think I’d be able to sew because of my back.  I could stand, but not sit.  So, my wonderful husband raised up my sewing machine so that could stand and quilt!  Awesome.  It is very stable and works like a charm!

So, there isn’t much on my design wall, but one quilt made from Grandma’s fabric is almost done.  It’s in the process of having binding added.

First, I made the binding. Sewed the binding onto the BACK!  Glued the binding into place and then started sewing the binding on by machine.  Hopefully the binding will be completed today!  Then, I will show you the finished quilt!

Wander over to Patchwork Times and Monday Making to see what others are working on!

Happy Quilting!

Grandma’s Fabric and holidays

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I haven’t posted on the blog for quite awhile because we’ve been on holidays.  I did get the disappearing 4 patch assembled and sandwiched – it’s now ready to quilt.  gma-3_5-in-disappear-4

We took a road trip to Alberta.  Both kids road their motorbikes and we followed in the camper and pulled the trailer with a piano in it.  Fun?  Yes, until it got really cold as we camped in the Rockies at a beautiful spot called Fish Lake.

The first picture is from Kinbasket Lake. It’s a man-made lake that came about when they made the Mica dam, near Revelstoke.  It’s a beautiful colour!  We stayed at the resort – which was pretty, but we did not like the trains on one side and the logging trucks on the other.  The last picture is from Fish lake.

After camping at Fish Lake for 2 nights, we carried on to central Alberta to deliver the piano and then went to Edmonton to visit my sister.

When in Edmonton, I attempted to stand up from a chair and my back said, “Hello – I’m going to cause you pain for the next while.”  So, there will be no sewing in my near future!

This post is linked to Judy’s Patchwork Times.  Take a wander over and see what other quilters have on their design wall.

Happy quilting all!

Gail

Grandma’s Fabric

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This spring, I was in Ontario visiting my aunt and she asked me if I’d like to have my grandma’s fabric.  Well, that was a question that was easily answered.  My grandma was a sewer and a quilter. Several years ago, I finished one of her quilts and gave it to my Uncle Harvey.  After he passed away, his sister gave me the quilt back.  It is a treasure in our home and we call the quilt “Uncle Harvey.”

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Once I got home, I spent several days cutting up her fabric into 3 1/2″, 2 1/2″ and 2″ strips and squares.  The 3 1/2″ strips are made up into a few tops and I’m currently working on a disappearing 9 patch.  I’m having a blast!!!  Some of the fabric was obviously from dress making and some of it has some polyester in it.  I’m using it all!  A picture of a top, without the borders can be seen here.

Here’s my progress on the disappearing 4 patches … the squares are 3 1/2″ (so the 4 patch is 6 1/2″)  …  the slices are at 1 1/4″ from the centre … the outside middle pieces are rotated and then the pieces are all sewn back together.  I need 100 for the quilt.

This blog post is linking to Judy’s Patchwork Times, go check out what’s on other people’s design walls.

Happy Quilting!

Gail

Awesome Retreat

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It’s always a great time when one gets together with quilting friends.  I spent a week on Lummi Island at the home of a friend along with 3 other quilting buddies.  All I can do is smile when I think back on the retreat.  Here is a picture of our set-up at the dining room table.

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Here are some of pictures of what the gals did:

Linda started off doing a one block wonder.  It’s amazing how the cutting/sewing changed the fabric into something beautiful!

Then she had this super cute jelly roll and made up the pattern as she went along.  It turned out to be very sweet!

Debi also worked on a jelly roll quilt – with lots of small pieces.  All of her points are perfect.  Pretty, pretty, pretty!!

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Diane worked on this quilt – fabric with words and reproduction fabric.  A wonderful blend of modern and antique.

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Then Diane finished her Smith Mountain Morning that she started at a Bonnie Hunter retreat in October.   Isn’t it absolutely beautiful?

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I worked on making a top using my Grandma’s fabric.  It’s done, except for the borders!

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Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures of the wonderful sites of Lummi Island.  We went on a couple of short hikes, watched a sunset on the west side of the Island, visited the local market and an organic farm and we all practiced walking with poles!  All-in-all, it was a great time and many many thanks go to Linda for being the HOSTESS with the MOSTESS!! (Seriously, she spoilt us rotten!)

Happy Quilting,

Gail

 

still quilting

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I’m still quilting the green elephant baby quilt … I somehow doubt if it will be done before I leave for a week’s retreat at a friend’s on Lummi Island.  I still need to pack.

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Packing for a retreat.  It’s always a struggle and I usually end up taking much, too much stuff to work on.   We won’t have a lot of space, so I won’t be taking my big machine that I quilt on.  However, I will be taking my new featherweight and my featherweight table.  I still need to decide which projects I will be working on.  Although, I do have a few ideas …

  • Grandma’s fabrics (4 lap-sized quilts in total)  That should be enough, right?  I’ll tell you about Grandma’s fabrics in a later post.
  • Smith Mountain Morning (a quilt I started last fall in a class with Bonnie Hunter)
  • a retreat bag … or at least the supplies for it.   You can find the pattern and order the supplies for it here: http://emmalinebags.com

That should be enough.  We don’t sew 24/7, but we should get a lot of quilting done.

What do you pack for retreats?  I’d like to know what your essentials are!

Happy Quilting everyone!

Gail

Super Fun Baby Quilts

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This spring, I visited a cousin and she had made a very cute baby quilt for her soon-to-be-born granddaughter.  I couldn’t remember exactly what it looked like and I didn’t take a picture. 😔.  So I designed something similar.  This was the second one I made and the third is in the “almost finished quilting” stage.  It was easy to quilt with organic lines that outlined the elephants.
Pink Elephant - Bryar (Tina's)

A quilt for dog lovers

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We have awesome neighbours.  When our beagle “Bailey” was alive, they would come and take her for a walk with their dogs, or put her in the jeep for a trip to the dog park.  She loved them.    Bailey crossed into dog heaven this fall and I made this quilt for the neighbours.  I had been collecting “dog” fabric for a few years.  I love the bone quilting I did … so easy!

To see what other quilters are working on, check out Judy’s Patchwork Times

Happy Sewing Everyone!

Gail

My First Blog Post

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Hi!    Welcome to my blog!

This blog will show my quilting journey and perhaps a little of whatever else may be happening in my life.

In the future, I hope to have some sew-a-longs, mystery quilts and tutorials.  All which will enhance your own quilting journey.

Please feel free to comment and I’ll try to get back to you as soon as I can!

Happy Quilting,

Gail