Embarking on a new quilt adventure

Last year I joined a quilt guild for the first time. The Patchwork Guild of Rawdon meets the second Saturday of the month (9-11), and has a workshop the fourth Saturday of the month (9-3). I can tell you it is not always easy to make it when I finish work at 8 a.m. but I do my best to try anyways.

This year, they decided to do one quilt throughout the year. We will be doing Elizabeth's Sampler "Let's Begin". 

We are to learn and complete one or two blocks per month. The first two blocks that were demonstrated were Friendship Star, and Churn Dash...using the hand piecing method. Well, hand piecing is not me and so I will be machine sewing these blocks. 

The two blocks we received at the October workshop last weekend were the Sawtooth Star with appliqued heart, and the Maple Leaf.

These are the fabrics I bought for this project...

 

From right to left...

1. light background
2. main fabric (floral print)
3. Dark (rose) print
4. Medium (pink) print
5. Light Green print (contrast #1)
6. Medium-Dark green print (contrast #2)
7. Sashing Fabric
8. Posts
9. Border
9. Binding
10. Backing fabric (not pictured here)

A lady at my local quilt shop spent a good amount of time with me, assisting me in my choices. I would never have chosen these, but I totally love them and I can't wait to make this quilt (49" x 69").

Only one problem, I'm terrified to cut the fabric for fear of messing it up LOL.
I'm sure I'll get over it soon enough.

Hopping with Black Cat Crossing ~ Take Two

Woo Hoo! Good morning everyone. Welcome to those who are just joining me, and a great big thank you to those coming back (explanation post here)

Thank you again Mdm Samm and Wicked Wendy for organizing this wickedly fun hop. And a huge thank you to Maywood Studios.

I don't usually "do" Halloween anymore, no decorations here, but there was a time when I did. Working on the re-organization in my sewing studio over the summer, I found some old halloween fabric.

I bought it at Walmart (at least 3 metres, goodness knows why) back when my son was in daycare. It was the year he turned 4 (he just turned 17 this month) and he had a pillow for nap time and I decided to make him some "seasonal" pillowcases. He loved it, I was thrilled.

Now with so much fabric leftover, it has sat there stored away since. Well, some time ago a found a (fabulous to me) free pattern for a "Take-Along Place Mat" designed by Cinzia Alloca; that has sat there waiting for me to get over my phobia of zipper installation.

This pattern had easy to follow explanations and pictures...so what stumped me? The "hand sewn" binding. Guess there is a first time for everything. Can I just say that I have discovered...I DO NOT want to do it again for a while. I love this pattern and want to make many more, but I will figure out how to do a machine sewn binding or "horror of horrors" for you serious quilters who prefer hand binding, I will change up the backing fabric and turn it into a "faux" binding by pulling it around to the front.

Here is where I was when I wrote my "Take One" post...

Thanks to a very kind comment from a friend, I did not give up and leave you with the above photos. Her kindness spurred me on to complete what seemed insurmountable and overwhelming at that time. Thanks C! Look, no more clips! Though I must say that poor puppy dog has been wagging it's tail ALL NIGHT! (so much for being back quick lol)

Very proud to have persevered and love my finished mat. Unh unh...you don't get to see my horrid hand stitching...here, look instead at this...

I've already begun plans for a table runner for next year...a kitty in blackwork...now this kind of handstitching I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE *wink*

Well, people will be rising soon for breakfast so I'm gonna go check out all the lovlies who shared my day with me...oops coffee cup empty...another refill and then some hopping...

Wednesday, October 22

Creatin' in the Sticks

 

(you are here...) Living With Purpose

Moose Stash Quilting

The Quilted Cat

Lines, Color, and Art

Hopping with Black Cat Crossing ~ Take One

Thank you Mdm Samm and Wicked Wendy for organizing this wickedly fun hop. And a huge thank you to Maywood Studios for producing such a beautiful line of fabric!

Due to my seeming non ability to complete a project with a respectful amount of time prior to due date (how did I ever work in administration??!!), I am currently experiencing technical difficulties with some very important binding...how do you seasoned quilters manage this with such ease it's like wrestling a cat at bathtime?!

In the meantime, please enjoy the following tune...I am going completely batty at this moment (a temporary setback I assure you)

and then please visit the super workmanship of those wonderfully creative people I am sharing my day with...

Wednesday, October 22

Creatin' in the Sticks

 

(you are here...) Living With Purpose

Moose Stash Quilting

The Quilted Cat

Lines, Color, and Art

 

I'll be back in a few shakes of a puppy dog's tail!

Calling all Whovians . . .

and especially lovers of cross-stitch. There is a new Doctor in town.

 

Via the Craftsy platform I came across a designer with various versions, in cross stitch of the 9th, 10th, 11th, and now the 12h Doctor. Even, Jack Harkness . . .

Kate Gatti, aka Hornswoggle, has many beautiful patterns, and can be found on Craftsy, Etsy, and Facebook.

I have no affiliation, other than as a consumer *wink*, but I love her work! And I am now the proud owner of a 12th Doctor x-stitch pattern that I'm going to begin sewing as I eagerly watch each week.

F.Y.I. sorry son, this one is to be mine! Though, there is to be a 2nd version coming out in a couple of weeks that will be more complicated and have more colours; and I will probably feel the need to get that one too, so maybe this one will be yours after all . . . wait and see.

RUSH HOUR ~ A final look...

Every day I refill the feeders, and I've taken to spreading some sunflower seeds 

on the ground for the squirrels to forage. 

They are fun to watch prancing through the grass, sometimes digging to hide them, 

though something tells me they will have trouble reaching these ones once the ground freezes 

and the snow comes . . . silly squirrels.

Since I've taken to spreading the seed this way, I've had anywhere between 8 and 10 squirrels at a time. Hence . . .

Around the World Blog Hop

I've been tagged in the Around the World blog hop by Kris loves fabric... Kris has been faithfully working on a labour of love for her son; a beautiful Dr. Who quilt (which is on my perpetually growing "to do" list) and so I've been spending quite a bit of time following her progress and getting to know her along the way.

1. What am I working on?

     Many fun and varied projects. I love to collect patterns and periodically, I even finish them. I love to join in the fun blog hops with Madam Samm of Sew We Quilt. The current one, Rush Hour, has one more day (there have been a lot of wonderful projects using that lovely Studio E "Rush Hour" fabric), and then in October it will be Black Cat Crossing cheered by Wicked Wendy of Why-Know-Kwilt. So of course I am working (secretly of course) towards that one. I love paper piecing and recently completed a test pattern for Juliet at The TartanKiwi . . .

I have my own Dr. Who quilt in the works for my son...as you can see by the date in the photo, I've been working on it for a while now. The Doctors are complete, and I am working on adding the most used quote by each one.

I am having lots of fun learning to quilt, but I really love to dabble in several crafty things . . . knitting (socks, slipper, dishcloths), cross stitch, chicken scratch, embroidery, oh and a newly developed love of paper piecing.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I guess you could say I'm a "wannabe". I love to try new things, and am not adverse to letting it go as a UFO when I decide I've had enough. I'm not drawn to finish just for finishing sake. Can't say I feel I'm really unique; I haven't really decided on a genre . . . I kind of like to jump in the river and let the current take me. Let you know where I end up when I get there LOL

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

Just to see if I can. I have a drive to learn . . . a drive to see what new thing I am able to wrap my mind around. And I love being able to do so in the comfort of my own home.

4. How does my writing/creating process work?

My process is very slow. Sometimes I swear my brain flows slower than molasses in January. But, when I get on a roll, look out I cannot stop until I am done; or until I just cannot keep my eyes open any more. All else takes a back seat.

I am supposed to tag some others, but was unable to do so. Any reader that would like to take up this dropped baton, please email me for the info! I'd love to add your link below!

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Morning light . . .

As I passed through on the way to the kitchen, I was greeted by a light . . .

see how the window sill seems to glow as though a light were shining on it?!

Here is what it was . . .

It was the sunlight filtering through a beautifully coloured maple tree. I had to crane my neck up to see it, and I'm so glad I did.

Just wanted to share my morning moment with you! Have a beautiful day!