This week, a bunch of us were suppose to retreat at a lovely place about a 45 minute drive from my house. There are usually 18. Then, since Covid, the facility reduced the number to 12, then to 10 and then said “no” to overnight stays. But they offered us “Day” retreats where we could go out to sew, go to a restaurant to eat and go home at night. Uh, no thank you … I probably live the closest to the facility and many of the others have about 1.5 hr drive. And who wants to drive home in the dark on a stormy November night? None of us. And, in the end, we would have had to cancel anyhow because of further Covid restrictions.
SEW … since we’re lamenting that we can’t retreat in person … I bit the bullet and paid for 1 month of unlimited Zoom. Everyone that is part of our core group and a few others were sent the link and we Zoom and sewed away for 4 days.! That’s a LONG time for a Zoom quilting retreat!!!
However, it seems like everyone got a lot of sewing done. One lady said, “I got way more done staying home because I wasn’t up wandering from table to table to chat with everyone!”
It was a LOT of fun to “see” friends that I haven’t seen for a LONG time.
SEW … you’re probably wondering what I got done. Actually quite a bit. A lot of this and a lot of that. I did finish 2 pillowcases with the John Deere fabric I bought.
Now that some self-imposed deadlines are met, I feel like I’m catching up.
Connected Project
I haven’t mentioned this project before. Our guild decided to do the “Connected Project.” A fun project where it connects various guild members together. We’re not suppose to know what the finished block is like and although I’ve seen a Youtube videos, I don’t know exactly what my block will look like. The idea is that we are divided into groups of 8. Each of us is given a paper pieced block (with various options from simple to complex) and we make the block in the colours that are chosen by my group mates. It was fun to go through my scraps and use some of them up! I can’t show you yet … but I will show you what I’ve done when I’m allowed to.
On the right is s a picture of the scraps of fabric left after I cut the blocks into their finished sizes.
Below is the 7 envelopes all ready for the mail. AND, they are nestled into a UFO that is NOT even on my list. It was just sitting there when I was looking for something to show off the envelopes. OH my … how many more UFOs will I find when I’m not even looking for them???
If you look closely at my PHD list, you’ll see “connected” is not considered “Finished.” I have done my part for now. I’ve got 7 envelopes from other quilters that I get to open Dec. 1. Then I’ll be putting my block together.
Hanging Sleeve
In my last post (HERE), I showed you a B&W photo of a hanging sleeve using a blind hem. One lovely person asked if either Kathleen or I had a tutorial on it. Well, Kathleen, the very smart quilter that she is, has a tutorial on it. You can check out her blog post HERE. While you’re visiting Kathleen, check out her tons of tutorials. Well worth the visit!
Morewood Mystery
You can find details of the mystery quilt HERE. I’m all caught up. This is November’s clue.
Inspired by Nature Blog Hop
This week you have the opportunity to win a fat quarter bundle of Venetian Marble or Tiki Punch! Both are wonderful collections!
After Quilt: This term is new to me … but I completely understood it when I heard it. It’s those bits and pieces that are left over when you finish a quilt. SEW … I’m going to be working on an After Quilt.
Scrappy 4 patches: This is in the same state that it was last week. It hasn’t moved off the design wall.
Quilting:
Nothing happening … yet
Stash Report
A sad week in this department. A local quilt store was closing their doors … with some good sales. When I went, everything was 65% off. Can’t complain about that! One good thing: a quilting friend was right behind me in line … we chatted up a storm and the wait went quickly then!
Here’s a picture of the damage. My husband was with me when I bought the first pieces of John Deere fabric and he “ordered” me to buy more (6.5 yards). He has a plan for them … of course I’ll be doing the sewing! The blue with white polka dots is for backing baby quilts (4.5 yards). A total of 11 yards will be added into Fabric Added this year.
And yes, I bought some quilting rulers, glass head pins in a tin, and (2) 4 yard zippers by Annie (with zipper pulls).
Fabric Used this week 0 yards
Fabric Used this year: 279.5 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 61.5 yards (my husbands amounts as well)
Net Fabric used 229.0 yards
Husband’s purchases: 17 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track!
Stitchin’ Time
I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.
January – Sept: 290 / 304
30 min days/ Nov: 22 / 22
Total days in 2020: 312 / 325
Percentage = 96%
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
TO DO
I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”
I can’t wait to see what my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors create this week!Make sure you follow along! Scroll down for the rafflecopter link for your opportunity to win some awesome fabric!
OK … in THIS POST, I talked about how I hate hand sewing on hanging sleeves. I really dislike hand sewing. period.
Making the sleeve is easy …
Edited
Measure the width of the quilt. Add 1″
Take the width of the quilt and cut a 8.5″ strip
Turn under 1/4″ on each end of the strip.
Sew this strip lengthwise with a 1/4″ seam.
Secure the sleeve to the quilt
sew the top of the sleeve just below the binding
Press the bottom of the sleeve, measure up 3/4″ on the side towards the quilt. Press
the last pressed line is what you fasten to the quilt (this leaves space for the rod to be inserted so that the quilt can hang
When I’ve done this for quilt shows, I’ve made the sleeves and pinned them on. They’re only going to hang for a couple of days, so I don’t need to worry about rust or too much stress.
Anyhow … after talking about how I HATE hand sewing, I had 2 comments that I thought were worth mentioning.
Kathleen, from Kathleen McMusing, suggested putting them on with a blind hem and using invisible thread. I thought this was a brilliant idea.
SEW … when a gal needs to get 3 quilt sleeves on, she uses her sewing machine. As you can see, I used the blind hem stitch. There was a grey thread in the bobbin (that’s what you can see) and I had Aurifil invisible thread on top. There is NO stitching visible on the quilt! Perfect.
I received “Ohana” fabric collection to use for this blog hop. Aren’t the fabrics awesome?
They made me think of flowers … Well, there are pretty flowers in some of the fabrics. H I thought of the Accuquilt die that I have, “Cleopatra’s Fan.” To me, this die never made me think of a fan, but it did make me think of flowers …
SEW … off to EQ and I played around with the design and the fabrics and came up with this …
Below is some of the pieces on the Accuquilt die. I wasn’t able to lay all of the fabric out at once because I wanted specific fabrics in specific places. So each fabric was cut and placed into the sections where they were destined to go.
I did need to have reverse pieces of each fabric for this block. However, working with Island Batik fabrics, it is seldom that I can decipher the wrong side from the right side. That made it super easy! I just needed 8 pieces of each cut and I didn’t have to worry about right or wrong sides! Island Batik fabrics are pretty cool that way!
Here are all of the blocks on the design board before being sewn together and borders added.
Here’s a close up of the quilting from the front. I outlined all the shapes and quilted little 3 or 4 petal flowers in the grey neutral portions. Wavy leaves formed the border.
And from the back showing more of the border’s wavy leaves.
Once the borders were added and the quilt quilted, … I only had 2 fabrics that I had not used in the quilt … and neither of them was good as a binding. A scrappy binding just didn’t feel right for this quilt. I was given “Marble-Purple-BE” as a coordinating fabric and it is perfect for the binding. Just a hint of the dark purple frames the quilt.
Stats:
54″ x 54″
Quilted with Aurifil #2600, light grey.
Binding attached with Aurifil #2581, dark purple.
Hobbs 80/20 batting
Pieced and Quilted on my Janome Continental M7 sewing machine.
Be sure to visit my Blog Hop Partner, Mania and see the quilt she made with the same fabric collection! Ohana!
Ohana should be arriving in stores soon!
Opportunity to Win
There are 3 opportunities to win some fabric! One from me and 2 from Island Batik.
From Me:
You could win scraps from 5″ x 10″ to 12″ squares of 12 Ohana fabrics. If you live in Canada, in the comment section, tell me how nature inspires (or could inspire) your quilting.
From Island Batik:
Click on the link below to have an opportunity to win Fat Quarter bundles of wonderful fabric: either Sweet Hearts or Love and Kisses
Disclaimer: All of the fabric and supplies (other than my sewing machine and iron) were given to me by Island Batik and the industry partners! Thank you!
Did any of you see this article from CBC Marketplace about masks? Click HERE.
After reading this article, I asked Island Batik what the thread count is for their fabric. Here’s what Elizabeth Phillips (Marketing and Graphic Design) said, “Our greige goods are the highest quality we can purchase. The thread counts are stated a little differently when buying the prepared for dyeing cotton but It’s a little higher than 600.”
So there you have it! If you’ve been making masks with Island Batik fabrics … you’ve been doing the best you can.
And yes, I’ve made masks with Island Batik fabric … here’s a picture of my purse with the matching masks!
Design Wall
Piecing:
Scrappy 4 patches: The setting triangles are added as well as the first border. I need to dig out some fabric and audition it for the 2nd border. This needs to be bigger. At the moment, it’s 38″ x 44″ … if I add a 4″ border, that will make it 46″ x 52″. I’ll be happier with that size!
Quilting:
About the secrets … Secret #1 & #2 are done … #3 is almost finished. Then I’ll add the hanging sleeves (with a blind hem and invisible thread) to #2 and #3.
Stash Report
No finished projects, no shopping …
Fabric Used this week 0 yards
Fabric Used this year: 279.5 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 50.5 yards (my husbands amounts as well)
Net Fabric used 229.0 yards
Husband’s purchases: 11.5 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year).
Stitchin’ Time
I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.
January – Sept: 290 / 304
30 min days/ Nov: 15 / 15
Total days in 2020: 305 / 318
Percentage = 95%
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
TO DO
I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”
Well, I got the priority quilting done: IB November will be showcased on Tuesday as part of Island Batik’s “Inspired by Nature” Blog Hop. I was privileged to work with a fantastic fabric collection! Come back on Tuesday to see the quilt!
Last week’s list:
IB November: Quilt and Bind√ done
Work onSecret projects:Finish #3 not done
Work on UFO (Scrappy 4 patches) (to flimsy stage) not done
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √ done
This week’s list:
Secret project #3 : finish quilting, bind and photos
Work on UFO (Scrappy 4 patches) (to flimsy stage)
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √
No UFOs finished. One Start in 2020 finished.
I did add the remaining UFOs to my list … just so that you KNOW I have more! (grin)
Inspired by Nature Blog Hop
Click HERE to see this week’s awesome Ambassador quilts!
Some of my followers ask why I link my blog post to other bloggers linky parties. Here’s why:
When I first discovered the wonderful Internet world of quilting, I was totally amazed, but found I was often just visiting the same sites. It didn’t help that I had no idea about Google or search engines or Pinterest or anything. And this was YEARS before I started my blog!
Then one day, I happened upon a blog where there was a Linky Party each week. I believe it was Judy Laquidara of Patchwork Times and her Linky Party was about what’s on your design wall. I found it was an amazing source and changed every week. Through the Linky Party, I discovered many blogs that I still follow today.
Also, during that time, she had a free quilt pattern. The challenge was to use a stripe fabric and scraps. I have no idea when Judy did this, but I finished it in 2009. This was the result:
And, I played with the stripes and made big big blocks for the back. That was fun!
On this Remembrance Day, I think of poppies. How they originally symbolized the end of WW1 and now include the remembering of the many fallen soldiers of various wars.
I made this quilt for a Quilt of Valour using the Island Batik fabric collection “Freedom.” It is my own design.
In Flanders Field
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
Yes, I’ve had a busy week. Since Covid started, my calendar has been pretty blank. A couple of weekly Zoom things, daily walks and not much else, you tend to get use to it! Then BAM … all of a sudden, I had 2 dentist appointments (cleaning and fillings), a blood work appointment, a doctor’s appointment, a short guild Zoom meeting, a family Zoom quilting day, as well as the usual 3 weekly Zooms … Oh me, oh my … I felt almost overwhelmed. And to think, I used to have all those appointments, work full time and still managed to get a lot of quilting done! Sigh … Enough of my week … back to what’s important to me: Quilting!
Design Wall
Piecing:
Scrappy 4 patches: On point was the final decision on making this little quilt. I know it looks like a mess at the moment! I have some of the setting triangles sewn on … some are pinned and one row ready to be sewn together. I got most of this done at the family Zoom quilting day!
Here’s a list of who is showing their wonderful “Inspired by Nature” quilts. As you can see, the fabric is all wonderful and the quilts promise to be wonderful as well!
In Monday’s post, I talked about my latest UFO and how I wasn’t sure what to do with the 4 patches. Should I make a small quilt or a couple of snap bags?
There’s a LOT happening in my studio … but most of it I can’t show you yet.
This month is an “Inspired by Nature” Blog Hop with Island Batik. That project is now sandwiched and needs quilting. This Blog Hop promises to be another amazing one! Everyone is making a project “Inspired by Nature” and is using awesome fabric that will be available in stores later this month!
Of the other secret projects:
Secret Project #1 is done.
Secret Project #2 is being quilted
Secret Project #3 is ready to begin …
Design Wall
Piecing:
Scrappy 4 Patches: I have a bunch of 4 patches … these were started from a charm pack at some unknown date in the past. I found them when going through my stash. They were tied up with 2 semi-coordinating fabrics and I don’t know what my plan was or is …
Do I make another bag similar to THIS one, only with smaller squares?
Where ever you are with your UFOs … if you’ve made any progress at all … that is good! Very good!
This year, I have done (in my opinion) extremely well with finishing UFOs. So far, I have finished 17! And when I consider that one UFO turned into 3 quilts … (Florabunda) … and another UFO turned into 2 quilts … (Dog & Cat) … Yup … I’m pretty pleased!
This bag is from the pattern “Charming Bag” and you can get it at Fibre Expressions. I believe that the designer is either the owner of the store or her daughter. Anyhow … you can order either the pattern or a kit. I used a Charm Pack called “Sew & Sew.”
Before, Covid, Fibre Expressions was at most of the quilt shows that I attended in the lower mainland. I would often see a quilt covered car outside of the show, but didn’t know it was theirs! Check it out HERE.
Here’s a picture of the side of the bag with one of the ties. The ties are super handy when you don’t have the bag stuffed full! (grin)
This is a nice easy bag to make and will be great when I go to guild meetings or to quilt shows.
This leaves me with only ONE, yes, ONE UFO to complete for my PHD in 2020! WooHoo!!! (well, yes, I do have new starts to finish as well …)
Someone asked me if I’d be running the PHD in 2021! And the answer is YES! I will have 14 UFOs left and so hopefully, I will get those done next year. I think it will be a wonderful feeling to NOT have any UFOs.
How can this be? Sometimes it seems like the days take their sweet time … and I turn around and it’s close to the end of another month!
SEW – What’s happening?
Design Wall
Piecing:
I’ve been slowly working on my Charming Bag. The last picture I showed was of it pieced together. (HERE). If you go back to the last picture, you’ll notice that the ties are not in the picture. That’s because I forgot them. Thankfully, I remembered before it was quilted … it was a simple matter of taking about 3/4″ stitching out and inserting the ties.
It is now quilted. Nice simple 1/4″ lines. I like the look … and it’s what the pattern suggests. Aurifil # 2625 (grey) was used for the quilting and the edges of the ties.
Quilting:
Quilted the above bag …
Stash Report
No finishes … no shopping …
Fabric Used this week 0 yards
Fabric Used this year: 277 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 50.5 yards (my husbands amounts as well)
Net Fabric used 260 yards
Husband’s purchases: 11.5 yards
Stitchin’ Time
I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.
January – Sept: 260 / 274
30 min days/ Oct: 25 / 25
Total days in 2020: 286 / 299
Percentage = 95%
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
TO DO
I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”
Last week’s list:
IB November: Sandwich not done
Work on Secret projects √ done
Work on Charming Bag√ done
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √ done
This week’s list:
IB November: Sandwich
Work on Secret projects
Finish Charming Bag
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.
From the Heart Blog Hop
Did you see the post HERE? It’s a wonderful blog hop that’s happening now. Make sure you check it out. Plus … I want to know what YOU are going to make from all the inspiration!
Here’s what I made:
Are you interested?
If you’re interested in applying click HERE. You can read all about the program and what is involved. It’s a fun program to be in and one that has expanded my quilting abilities! I LOVE being an ambassador!
Carol from “Just Let Me Quilt” mentioned this blog hop WAY back in July … and of course, I jumped on the band-wagon. What could be better than a blog hop a mere 2 months before Christmas featuring small gift ideas? Carol comes up with the BEST blog hops!
Here’s my small gift(s) … they all nest inside this one!
Here they are poking out:
What they look like inside: (sorry it was hard to get a good picture with no shadows!)
And all 4 of them:
Details:
Island Batik fabric from the Deco Revival collection was used for the lining and outer side.
Make sure you visit all of the participating blogs … there promises to be LOTS of eye candy and all sorts of projects to tempt you into making some gifts “from the heart!” Let me know which ones YOU plan to make!
OK … so I don’t have a finish … but I do have a part of my Charming Bag finished. The front and back are now pieced together. It’s exciting to see some progress on this UFO!
Did you notice that I didn’t use charm squares from the pack on the bottom? I used grey fabric because I thought it would keep it cleaner. We shall see.
I have the cutest ruler by Omnigrid. It’s 4″ x 8″ and I’ve had it for simply AGES. I went to trim some squares, using the 45o angle to centre the half square triangle. It just wasn’t working for me. Then I looked at the ruler … the 45o line ends up 1/4″ from the corner. Now, if I were to use this ruler, I would have to move it 4 times to get it correct. Not happening.
I pulled out my 6″ x 12″ Olfa ruler and look where the 45o angle is … right in the corner. I’m a much happier quilter!
I’ve looked at my other rulers, including a 2.5″ and 6.5″ Omnigrid square rulers, and the 45o ends in the corners! Is it me, or is this weird?
That’s right, I’ve got a finish – but I can’t show you until the “From the Heart” blog hop! I’m glad I’m finished – I just need to write up the blog post and then I’ll be totally ready for my day on the hop (Oct. 26). It promises to be an awesome hop with lots of small gifts – just in time for you to make for Christmas!
Want some Eye Candy?
Wendy at Wendy’s Quilts and More showed pictures from Aotearoa Quilters Aqua Challenge. Amazing! This is an example of some of the entries, but you’ll have to visit Wendy’s page to see winners and the close-ups!
Quilting
I can show you a couple of more blocks from the guild’s mystery quilt. There are 16 “feature” blocks … and I quilted each of them differently using a different pattern on each block while playing with a 2″ circle and a petal ruler.
Quilting Gail 