Do you label your quilts?
Is it important to label your quilts?
I believe that every quilt that YOU make is important enough for a label.
The quilt below was made by my Grandma. This is a fact. I believe that it was made for my parents wedding, but there is no one alive to verify that. They got married in 1950. A label would tell the whole story,
I’m going to join Kate at Life in Pieces in her 15 minutes of stitching a day. I used to do this when I was working full time. Sitting at the machine for 15 minutes was a great de-stresser!
Although I don’t have the stress that I had when I was working, I still need to sit down at my machine. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. when I am home. I obviously can’t take a machine with me every time I travel (although, I’d like to!).
At first, I was hesitant to join in because I already know of two major trips that are happening this year … and then my percentage would go down – big time. Who am I trying to kid? Who cares about what percentage of time I sit at the sewing machine? Probably only me. SEW … I made the decision that I will only count the days that I am home.
My 15 minutes to stitch will NOT include:
15 Minutes to Stitch will include:
Are you going to join Kate & I in 15 Minutes to Stitch 2019?
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I follow a blog called “Virtual Quilter.” Judy Butcher designs quilts in EQ and posts daily pitcures of her creations. She has an amazing range of wonderful quilts.
I asked for permission to post some of her pictures … and here they are … with links to the original post.
Julianne’s Star From Dec. 31,. 2018 LINK is HERE . I love the contrast between the background and the blocks. The quilting really enhances the quilt!
Well, when you don’t keep up with all the parts of Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery … it takes a LOT of time to catch up … On Friday, I sewed with friends … I was hoping to at least get one of each block done – that didn’t happen!
Then I asked for opinions … for my gray – for the blocks with the teal 4 patches. I had 5 different grays … only one of them was big enough (the one on the left) to make the rectangles that went with the 4 patches … It was voted down … too dark … the others were too light, or just right … but none of that mattered since there was not enough of the “just right” one to do the trick. My friend’s solution was “quit being lazy and strip them together like the pattern suggests.” 
HA! HA! And THEY are the ones that tease me endlessly about sewing with small pieces! (Don’t I have awesome friends?) SEW, I’ve been sewing strips of grey fabric together for my rectangles. One strip is made. No blocks are made yet! But I’m liking the strips.
I am no where near the reveal … On Monday, I’ll be linking to Good Fortune Linky Party. There is bound to be some who have the top completed. And, there’s probably a few that have not slept since Friday and have it quilted. Me? I’m enjoying the slow stitchin’.
Yes, I bought fabric this week. I needed binding for Purple Shells. And YES, I’m going to keep track of my husband’s purchases – separate from mine! If I use them, then I’ll subtract what I use from HIS purchase. (GRIN!)
If you want to join us to decrease your UFOs and finish your new projects – you have until Jan. 20, 2019 … more information is HERE.
Summary: I finished Purple Shells … I counted it as a Start in 2019 even though it was started in late December. (Mostly because I didn’t want to add to my UFO list!
There are no UFOs finished, I’m just slow stitchin’ on Good Fortune.
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“Shells” is done, done, DONE! I am absolutely thrilled with how this quilt turned out. And … it was done in time for my son to deliver it to Ontario! YEAH!!! Continue reading
Here is a view of all the UFO projects that I finished in 2018. Some were quick finishes, others took quite awhile and were bigger projects.
I’ve been working on Shells from Turnabout Patchwork. You can see my start HERE.
The picture on the left is the quilt sandwiched – with the spool of thread I plan to use for quilting it … the one on the right has the painter’s tape marking the straight lines.
I do hope I have this done in time for my son to deliver it!
Parts 1, 2 & 3 are done … all done (left picture). Part 4: I still debating whether to strip fabric together for the rectangles – or just go with one piece of fabric. Part 5 has the orange / neutral (grey / neutral for me) partially sewn (right picture) … the bigger triangles still need to be cut. Part 6 … string piecing neutrals … not too many, but not sure when I’ll start them. Tomorrow, I will be linking to Monday’s Good Fortune link-up HERE.
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Did you know about this new book? I was (am) lucky enough to recieve an advance copy. The only thing was … I HAVE to make a quilt using one of the patterns in the book. YEAH!! An excuse to make another quilt!!! And, I love the challenge of trying something new!
The author is Teresa Mairal Barreu. She’s an Australian author and blogs at Sewn Up … which you can link to it HERE.
I love the premise of this book. You make a specific block, cut it as directed and voilá – you have a completely different block with a difference! It’s a little like the disappearing 9 patch and disappearing 4 patch … but with totally different results! Continue reading
We (my husband, 2 kids, one partner and 2 others) went to Harrison Hot Springs for 2 nights.
It was a beautiful drive there. We took the back road (instead of speeding down the highway). The sun was shining, there was snow on the mountains … just beautiful. We ate, walked through the town, sat in the hot springs, swam, ate, sat in the hot springs, ate, took naps, ate, laughed a lot, and had a grand time!
When I got home, I opened my gift from my cousin. (There are about 25/26 of us and we draw names each year). Terry, my quilting cousin had my name this year. She blogs at TLC Quilts – Sew what’s next? The picture on the left is what she sent me: Isn’t it perfect?
A spool of glide thread … I already know I love this thread! And it’s a different colour than what I have … perfect! The snips … so handy … and Angela Walter’s book … so inspiring! I can’t wait to soak up every word that Angela has written! Thank you Terry!
And surprise. She sent my husband a gift. Said she couldn’t wait until she had his name in the draw (which could be in 25 years or next year … one never knows). This is what she sent him! We had a good laugh!
I’ve glanced through the book … can’t wait to have some time to read it!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!
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I am done the last quilt for my PHD!!! The rain quit coming down for about 10 minutes, so I rushed outside for a quick photo. Ideally, I like to take pictures in the sun, but who knows how long I’d have to wait before I see the sun again? And there is very little of it in the back yard at this time of year. You can see details of my start on this quilt HERE.
A few posts ago, I told you I would show you close-ups of the Irish Snails Quilt. First is a better picture of the whole quilt. (The sun shone one day while I was at work and my dear hubby strung a closeline across the garage door opening and took pictures for me. Isn’t he great?) 
There is a Janome club meeting 4 times a year where I work. In September, attendees are able to choose one of 2 fabrics (or both). They can make whatever they choose and may add whatever fabrics they wish. When they return in November, they hand in the project they made. These projects are placed up on the walls around the store. Customers are encouraged to vote for the one they like best. The winner will get a prize from the store. All participants get to keep their projects. If you live in the area, pop into Langley Vacuum and Sewing and vote for your favourite one! (The ones without numbers were made by employees of the store.) I hope you enjoy the small slideshow! Which one would you vote for?
Yes, I have my last UFO of 2018 DONE, DONE, DONE!!!!
I know I showed you a picture of one of these finished HERE … but When I cut out the fabric for these 4 wine totes, I cut out 4 – 14″ x 15 ½” pieces, plus the 4 purple satin lining pieces for inner lining. I obviously wasn’t thinking!!! For some reason, I thought I’d need a front and a back piece of both for one wine bag. DUH!!! I did finish up 2 of them … and I had this extra fabric sitting there … SEW … I embroidered 2 more totes. I much prefered the one with batting in it – so batting was used (along with a stabilizer) for each of the other totes. My daughter has already claimed one … I have a destination in mind for another … who knows what will happen to the other 2?
I know that I also said that I started this new quilt and hoped to have it done by Saturday (tomorrow) … well … I don’t think that’s going to happen … Visiting with friends took priority. As it should!
I haven’t finished putting the top together … There are 2 more seams, then I need to make the pieced borders … then I can sandwich and quilt it. But the label is made!
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Quilting Gail 