The first finish of 2016!

It almost makes it sound like I am a  miracle worker but the truth be known, these finishes were almost done when 2016 started! Here is my cute little angel made from a kit ( it included the frame!!!!) by Bits and Pieces by Joan.

I am really pleased with it and now it is going up on my wall to look over me while I sew.

 

 

I also finished this pair of nice and simple ribbed socks. This wool is beautiful and soft and really thin. They are thin enough to actually wear with shoes. Many of the socks I have knitted are  just slightly too thick for shoes so I usually wear them just about the house...but that is nice too!

 

 

And I finished my little blocks. Today I'll be sewing them together and then I'll start the prep to add the little wool appliques.

 

 

So cute!

 

 I have been really enjoying reading all the blogs about the wonderful plans for quilts in the upcoming year! It is always interesting to hear what other quilters are thinking about!

 

And as for me, I have TOO many plans floating around my head.

I need to start doing just a few things at a time instead of 20 things at a time!

 

Happy Sewing!

 

A Little Late...

I'm a little late for wishing you all a Merry Christmas but just in time for Happy New Year!

 

So where have I been?  It was a busy couple of months trying to finish 3 quilts for my 3 stepsons. I got them done and just in time!

Then I went into panic mode to make a gift for a wonderful friend.

 

Now that the Christmas rush is done I am settling into getting back to a few old projects and getting ready to enjoy some new ones!

 

Some new first - I love little blocks. I had bought a kit from Primitive Gatherings - Summer Love

 

 

They are so cute! I can't stop touching them. All the blocks are ready to assemble.

 

 

And I have a pile of fabrics all gathered to start another new project- another Primitive Gatherings pattern called Nine. It's all 1-1/2" nine patches.

I'm not sure if I am crazy or not but it is going to be fabulous!

 

 

 

And for some ongoing projects... my wool angel...all I have left is a little embroidery and then get it into the frame.

 

 

And my little 1/4" hexies are really making progress.

 

 

And for a small trip back to the beginnings of my quilting in the early/ mid 1990's - this is one of my very first quilts from the book that started it all - Country Threads. I found it all folded up while sorting out the linen closet. You can hardly tell that there is a row of houses in the middle and then look at that weird night sky! It was originally an American flag inserted there but being Canadian I thought a night sky would work well!

 

 

I think I have made almost every quilt in this book.

 

 

Look at these old calicos! And my little red plaid hearth!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Dealing with my grief the last few months has made me think about all the parts of my life including my quilting and my blog. There was a short time that I wasn't sure I was going to keep posting on my blog, but I am. I enjoy sharing what I've been doing almost as much as I enjoy reading other peoples' blogs. So in the near future I am going to update it's appearance (it has been too long and really needs a face lift), start adding a few tutorials (I have a couple ideas) and more I hope!

 

Happy Quilting!

 

 

Should be making Christmas gifts but....

There is still lots of time...I know...but I am not usually a leave it to the last minute person.

So what have I been doing instead of finishing Christmas gifts?

 

All 168 scrappy 4-1/2" log cabin blocks are done. I pieced them together in two halves so all that is left is to sew the two halves together and decide on a border. There are 2 layers on the door.  For now it will stay as it is until Christmas quilts are done.

 

 

Then I was visiting my Dad for a couple of days. The hexagons have become my travelling project.

 I am now finished all the full 'flower garden' blocks.

 

 

 

 

I have just 3 stars to finish and then some part blocks to finish the edges. It is still a long way to go! My dad thinks I should put the number of pieces on the label. He always has good ideas!

 

 

Here is a look at the back! That is a lot of seam allowances.

Taking the paper out is going to be interesting.

 

 

And finally this little angel was calling to me to get started.

 

 

It was a kit from the Houston show. It isn't my usual taste but when I saw the sample it so reminded me of my mom.  If she was still with us I would have bought this and made it for her. She would have loved it. I kept going back to it over and over so I finally bought the kit to make for my sewing room as a tribute to my wonderful mom and all the things she loved.

 

I am not sure it is a good idea to make such a tribute. I keep getting a bit weepy when I am working on it. Even after 5 years, I still miss her more than words can say.

 

Now I have to tell myself I should get back to Christmas...

 

Happy Stitching!

 

 

Where have I been?

I'm home...from Houston!!!! 

What a great time! I loved the quilts, I took classes and I shopped!

 

Here is a bit of my unpacking!

 

 

 

It's hard to see on top of my busy quilt! But as I make things I'll be showing them.

 

Going to International Quilt Festival was one of my bucket list trips and a 50th birthday gift to myself! And now I want to do it again! It was inspiring!

 

But now Christmas is right around the corner and I have to get busy! busy! busy!

 

Happy Stitching!

Oh no...a VERY big UFO list!

What was I thinking would happen when I started peaking in bins, looking on shelves and moving things around?

 

What happened was that I found a huge UFO pile. Some of it technically not unfinished because it is just in the 'I collected it for this project' stage, but it is all there and ready to go! My list has over 25 quilty things on it. And all I can say is how did that happen???

 

So I organized my list into categories with the most urgent things first and hung it on my bulletin board. No more ignoring reality! I started with what had to get done for Christmas because 3 of the quilts are for gifts and one is a Christmas lap quilt for us (or maybe a gift). Then in May my local quilt guild is having a quilt show and I have a couple quilts I want to get done for that. Next on the list is scrap quilts - I have 3 of those started. Then I have hand quilting projects. After that I listed the small UFO's that are just little day projects like bags and things. And finally the miscellaneous section full of the non priority projects.

 

My thought is to work on several things at one time (such as something with hand work and also something with machine work) but to finish things starting with the top 3 categories first.

 

So here is what I have been working on this week...

 

Two posy blocks done (and another one is started)

 

 

 

And a scrappy log cabin is coming along. I have almost 90 blocks complete of the 169 I want to make. They are cute and will finish at 4-1/2"

 

 

Happy Stitching and hopefully your UFO's are not as out of control as mine!