This, is my new project. I received some 30s prints from Shay. She said they were all extras from her stash! Wow, I had days to decide what I would do with all the beautiful prints.
You know the saying so much to do, so little time...not quite for me, but making a decision to use
the fabric in a way that it would be
really used.
I decided on Roses of Picardy which is an old design. The centre has not been decided as yet, but I am thinking a soft yellow centre instead of black as the black is too harsh for the block.
I am having trouble with the fusible web. Actually, it is the threads that keep looking like they shred when sewn for more than one part of a pattern. Poor machine, I think when I was cleaning it, that I must have moved a small wire or something in the upper feeder. So much for cleaning my own machine. Which, by the way is a Janome 6600 and does not need to be oiled as I have it cleaned professionally once a year. Next week is my once a year....
The pile is my quilts....can you believe it? That is minus 5 quilts that have gone to a good home, plus the three that I have on beds here at the cottage.
I am gifting one for the best pot luck dish at our annual supper. I think one of the nice things about quilting is the ability to see the happiness on the faces of people receiving our love projects.
A very busy week so far. My friend Dawn came to visit. She isn't much of a quilter she says, so between the two of us we made this quilt for her in a day and a half.
Wish I could take credit for the quilt, but it comes from Moda Bake shop via Quilting in the Rain blog. Easy and quick but so effective.
It was a joyous moment when Dawn saw the quilt finished. She actually took all her extra fabrics home and hopes to be able to remember how to make it....on her own.
Also, our friends returned from Cozumel, and came to pick up their dog which we had been looking after, He is a great dog. part poodle and spaniel. Our dog missed him this morning when he woke up.
Today is my daughter's 51st birthday. I don't think a day goes by, no matter where we are that we do not communicate. Loving her is the easiest thing I have to do in this world. Just like the song....
The weather has lacked so much rain that there is a total fire restriction in our area. So many of us are going through the same weather this summer. While it seems good, it isn't for the birds and insects which share a close relationship. It isn't for the farmers who need the birds and insects to pollinate their fruit crops. Nature is needing some balance....wishing for rain is something I never thought I'd do, but we do need it.
It has been so humid that my fusible web on my new project stuck to the needle....does that say it all?
This is the last of the flip flop quilts. Also known as thongs in parts of the world, but here thongs say underwear!
I made another of these which are so popular that I do want to keep one for myself. I loved making these quilts! Such fun to pair
colourful blocks together. Again I used the remains of the jelly roll from Walmart plus a couple of other little bits of left over fabrics.
Having written that, I have purchased fabric online which will be a surprise to receive. I ordered from Missouri Quilt Shop, their sale of the day. The cost of shipping was more than the fabric.It cost $15.00 to ship to Canada. $5.00 for shipping in the US/ Why is shipping so expensive to Canada from some stores?
The lilies are almost open in my
garden which is the septic bed! I am going to split them this fall as they are getting crowded. I love lilies, I do think they are my favourite flower, well I love bee balm too of course, so they are both almost blooming.
I am pretty sure that there will be hummingbird babies at the feeder soon. The females are feeding more frequently, which says the babies are born. We shall see.
Canada Day was spectacular here at the lake. Lots of fireworks, but in the capital, Ottawa, it was awash with red and white, and last night the fireworks finished off a great day. Happy Birthday Canada....one day late.
I love Fridays! For me it isn't so much of a difference from other days of the week, except that the lake becomes active with the arrival of other cottagers.
I finished this quilt yesterday, I made this using scraps of nine patches, then cut them diagonally, then, I fitted them to
make random squares.
I love the back which is done with orange dots in strips. The backing which is a muslin piece I found, was just a little bit too short in length and just the same in width, so I made this awesome back! I think I could do this as a front on any modern quilt. My sweetie loves it too of course because it is so simple. I used a curvy pattern from my sewing machine to quilt it.
Favourite things.
I subscribe to Tip Nut.com...it is a great sight which every week the news letter comes with so many ideas that it boggles the mind. I get it on Thursday but wait till Friday morning to open it. So it is a Friday Favourite for me.
The other new favourite sight I have found is a young woman who won a You Tube contest and posts weekly about so many crafty and cooking things. The Crafty Gemini is also an awesome sight.
This is our Canada Day long weekend. There will be fireworks, BBQs galore so lots of stuff to do with friends and family. We are going to be fairly quiet as we are on our own.
I am not starting any projects this weekend. I am relaxing at the water's edge. I do have the flip flop quilt to hand sew the binding but other than that, all sewing is put away.
Enjoy your weekend, and be careful out there!
Normally on Sunday mornings we sleep in a bit, after all it is the beginning of the week.
The dogs needed out, so as I stepped out onto the deck with them, this is what greeted us!
Even the dogs looked over to see what this was. It appears, this is probably a hundred year
old dock that somehow has had
the urge to wander. There are five huge 15-20 ft logs under all the rotted board! We have no idea how it got here or where it came from either.
My sweetie moved it to the other side of the lake, attached it to a tree so that the township can come and remove it. There are huge spikes sticking out of it and at night it would certainly be dangerous for navigation.
We were lucky to move it before
the rains started.
Also seen this morning was a small beaver who looked at the dock with wonder.
I finished up the second of the flip flop quilts. It will be a bit smaller than the first one I made, but just as colourful. Okay, I am done with these for the summer.
For years this little sucker has been my ironing board. I just didn't have space for a large ironing board, so I made do.
Sometimes, for a large project I used three or four sheets to press items, well no more.
I was on the Missouri Star Quilt Shop site and there was an easy pressing board.
I asked my sweetie to cut me a
large board. Over the board, is a large towel, made like a pillow case, and over that, an old sheet, made to fit over that. It is awesome, doesn't take up any more room than my cutting mat.
As we head to the city on highway 35, there is a church with a sign that says...We may not be Dairy Queen, but you should try our Sundays!" Isn't that cute?
Oh how much fun is it to send off surprises to special people! They don't know they are getting these in the mail!
I have been making these two quilts for twin boys...great great nephews...born in April of this year.
I also decided to send a couple of other quilts along to complete my culling of quilts.
I don't know about you, but passing quilts on, even though it is hard to part
with them gives one a very special feeling.
I finally figured out the label thing. Oh goodness why does it take me so long to learn things? My private teacher Helen too five minutes and there it was, a label.
So, away I went and made four of them in minutes. Next, I am going to do the freezer paper thing. The fabric from the
purchased quilt label package was very
stiff, so I had to machine sew it on the
quilt.
I am really pleased how it all turned out.
I returned home from dentist, who is in the city, driving such an exotic car that I didn't know what kind it was. Tells you where the money is doesn't it?
Anyway, he is a great dentist, so an implant is on the way for my
dazzling smile.
Anyway, I returned home to a lovely package of 1930s fabrics from Shay in Australia. (Quilting in my Pyjamas for those that don't know) and oh my, I am through with all my stash busting for now. I am going to make something with what Shay sent and add (Quilt On) Bev's fabrics also.
Making a quilt larger than 65-70" is a challenge for quilting on the machine. But, there is a Mennonite group on my way home, so I am asking on Tuesday when travelling once again to the city, if they take the quilts to hand quilt. Would that not be something?
"An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets, the more interested he is in her..." Agatha Christie.
Someone brought these napkins for the weekend once. I never really noticed what the caption was over time, but looked at the writings again and chuckled as I read it.
I just do not like the camping thing, bugs, no power, no showers, and no hair dryer....Oh wait, when the power goes out here, it
could be like that till we power up the
generator!
Well here is one of Helen's completed quilts which is going to Switzerland with her. She will be gone for a month, and also plans to visit Venus for one of the Operas.
She has shown me how to make
labels. Here is hers for one of the
quilts, done in Italian as that is the language is of her hosts.
There are many sites on the web for making labels, but being challenged when it comes to directions, I now know how to make them.
As usual, the cabin offers the
perfect background for photos
for her work.
The weekend was full of sewing and quilting in spite of the lovely weather, I was pretty much at my little space in the sun room
Got my first flowers of the season from our neighbours. The girls brought them over which was a lovely surprise.
They are all so fresh and beautiful. I always thank the cottage guy, but it is actually the cottage gal that picks them up....she had to tell me that ....
From George Carlin, which is how I feel.
I was looking in the mirror the other day and I realized I haven't changed much since I was in my 20s. The only difference is I look a whole lot older now!
PS...I received a parcel from blogging friend Bev in Oakville. The photos will be shown later, but the fabric is perfect. I have a project in mind already. Thank you Bev for sending the extras.
When we came back to the cottage this spring, I vowed to use up my stash.
Now compared to some of you, I only have a bit, but my fabrics, batting and a few other things, must fit into a cedar chest. I don't have room for everything else that makes up quilting.
I do have small suitcases stacked to store threads etc.
I sorted through fabrics on Sunday morning. I cut out 6" squares and discovered that I had 3 X 6 white already cut out which is what I needed.
Then, I found about 10 metres
of wide white backing. What was I thinking when I bought that? I do not remember that purchase!
So, today I made the quilt top which is going to an Aunt when we visit this summer...Yep we are off this island in August. Can you believe that?
I found the green and pink wheels at the bottom of the chest. I had nine squares, which I made for my second quilt. I had to totally square these up and still have lots of the dots fabrics...are you surprised that I still have lots of dots? anyway, I made a sewing machine cover and did some bits of improv on the sides of it to see what those free motion people do when they have creative moments.
I totally impressed myself I tell you, but wow, what a lot of thread that one uses for this straight stitch stuff.
I bought bamboo batting which is lighter than warm and white which I usually use, but for $9.00 a metre, how could I not try it? I think I actually must have used some of this before and it feels so soft and light. A perfect price point.
Helen, the proverbial quilter, is in a flurry as she is making quilts for all the friends in Europe that she will be visiting this summer. Knitting beautiful light scarves too for the daughters of the friends, but the quilts are just amazing in their simplicity.
She will give me a lesson in label making this weekend as I, for the life of me cannot get my head around making labels on the computer. Another lesson from my private teacher....she endures so much from me I tell you..."OK, show me one more time please?" and she does!
We are heading into the city for a few days. Of course we shall be leaving in rain as we refused to leave our little paradise today which is warm and breezy.... OK, it is blowing a bit, but a beauty day.
I love summer in Canada.
I
It isn't often that we get both of our hopefully future Olympians here at the cottage on a long weekend.
This year, for Victoria Day (the mighty queen), the kids came up with their boats to a perfect perfect weather weekend on May 24.
In previous years we have had snow, sleet, and mighty winds, so getting calm bright days to enjoy the lake is a bonus at this time of year.
Practices were early morning, so up at 6 am to follow the boats to
ensure safety was good for me as I am used to getting up early.
With coffee in hand, we delivered the boats back to the marina only to find that a bear had tried to eat our truck cover.
Since the bear visits, we have been diligent about food at the cottage. Never ever did we expect (duh) that a bear would be on the mainland at the marina. Anyway, lots of garbage around, the cover is totaled. Another lesson learned by us after 12 years.
The top looks like it had a rotary cutter doing work....must have been a seam of sorts on the cover.
So, another week has passed. I am making two more baby quilts as my grandnephew and his wife have had twin boys. Got the fabric yesterday to have a project over the weekend as the weather is deteriorating as I am writing this blog. Do I care?
I am looking for some 1930 type fabric, either charms, jellies or layer cakes. I know that there should be yellow in the fabrics and that's about it. Do you know where to get this?
For Sale: copy of encyclopedia Britannica...$200.00. Recently got married and husband knows everything! (one could substitute wife somewhere herein )
Have a good weekend!
At the cottage for the past week, there has been sunshine, light winds and a lot of sewing going on.
Helen and I made baby quilts. She is off on a trip with her darling, visiting a friend who is a new grandmother to a beautiful little girl, so pink was in her charms, for making her quilt.
I, on the other hand made for a boy born April 24th this year. I love the green blocks added to the soft blues of this quilt. A simple but effective look to the finished product.
We both cut out 5" blocks and 3" sashings to make the quilts.
I made mine almost reversible. I always
have trouble with backings and after much measuring and deciding what to do, I am very pleased with the results.
It is hard to blog about ones life when that life is so busy. I note many of us are so busy sewing we don't have time to blog, and sometimes, the brain just doesn't register an interesting, (in my opinion) blog.
Our life has had so much happening in the last week, with three, count em three deaths of friends, quite suddenly. Trips to the city is always an event, so it is with relief although sadness that we are here at the cottage, but thankful for good health once again.
This is a photo of Helen's cabin where many quilt photos have been taken as the cabin sits in the little wooded area behind her cottage.
As I was returning along the path this morning I could not resist another shot at the wonderful cabin.
Laughter is the best medicine.....a man and woman who have been married many many years are sitting at the breakfast table....
The man...when I die, I want to you to sell all my tools and stuff right away....
The woman.....Why?
The man....Well I feel that you will remarry and I don't want some jerk touching and using my stuff!
The woman....what makes you think I'd marry another jerk?
The inspiration for my flip flop quilt came from Carol Burniston in the June 2008 issue of Fons and Porter magazine.
I kept the pattern with instructions which showed larger flip flops. I decided to make them smaller to fit a jelly roll which I bought for $9.00 at Walmart in the US this passed winter.
It was such fun to make. I just don't think it will be in my possession for long as my daughter has already said she loved it.
The black and yellow quilt is also a jelly from Walmart. I loved this happy patterns and yellow is a great colour for any quilt don't you think?
It's Friday morning, this is the beginning of Canada's Victoria Day holiday which is a long weekend. The dog and the sweetie are resting up to get ready for the onslaught of nine people for the four days of fun and food.
I've made most of the meal preps, spaghetti, cakes, cowboy bread, the fixings already done for the pizzas, chicken is thawing, and the roast for Monday night is aging as will I be when this whole thing is passed.
And finally, not my photo of the hummingbird, but they are here. Fighting over food and loving our flower selections for the summer.
The other day someone told me I could freeze leftover wine, I was confused....what is leftover wine?
I was visiting my friend Helen who knows how to sew straight seams and curved one if need be. Well this is her weekend bag to travel in Switzerland when she visits this summer. I just love it to the point of getting the pattern from her.
Her work is so professional! I always admire her works. The inside is as lovely as the outside. She also has added inside pockets which the pattern didn't call for.
She is also in the final steps of finishing this boys quilt which will be travelling to Europe with her. For the grandchild of their host I believe. The red and white is Swiss flag colours I think too.
We are both in the making quilts
for the summer. I have two in progress but haven't spray basted yet, thought I'd do them both at the same time. Of course today, after four days of no wind, it is probably too windy to finish them, oh well, one more day isn't so bad.
I have these blocks, 15 of them,
which I did in a fit of what to do.
I was practicing making a wonky star block and had nothing but what you see.
They are free for whoever wants them. They can be finished for a charity quilt or whatever you wish. As usual, it is bright blocks but they are there for first come first serve type of thing.
I have so many projects on the go that they need to be gone from my huge (for me at least) stash as I only have so much room here at the cottage.
We have had glorious weather, the hummers are back, our flowers are all out, the trees are almost filled out here at the lake, so the season has begun.
Next weekend is a long weekend. We are having a gang up, so am getting geared up for that. Water skiing is in the books of things to do even if the water is cold. The young don't care.
Have had a bit of computer glitz as usual when I press to many keys, so that is why this post is long.
On Saturday night, did you stay up to see the super moon?
We did, but I didn't get a clear picture, so am posting from those who did.
The first is from Greece. Fabulous shot, even if Photoshop enhanced.
The second which is one of my
favourites, is from Christchurch
and is by a Ricky Tiong, who managed the shot better than anyone I think. Beautiful.
This one is by a guy who manages some of the fabulous shots of athletes around Canada. He took this in Toronto, and did a bit of editing to get this beauty. Those buildings are real and so great to see as one travels across the top of the city.
The last is from Ambiant Photos, a site that takes photos throughout the Caribbean. I just loved this one.
Did you manage to view the moon
in its glory? Our view was just
spectacular as the night was so
clear, we could almost read by
it.
I managed to piece a small quilt this weekend, which needs finishing and I don't have a complementary fabric for it, so since we are heading to the city tomorrow, I'm taking the top with me.
Helen is working on a beauty which will be completed by next weekend so I can take a photo of it too.
Also almost, almost done is the last of the winter projects, a sweater for me.
Our neighbours are in residence. We had dinner with them on Saturday night.. what a yummy yummy meal as Kent loves cooking. They are both wonderful "chefs". Even if it was a free meal, it was wonderful, and Mary sets a great table for a kid....
Enjoy the photos.
I finally was able to get to some sewing yesterday.
I made totes to just get my hand in sewing after almost six months without a machine.
I have so much fun making bags as they are colourful wherein I use up lots of fabric.
My sweetie commented that when he goes shopping in Dorset for groceries, he will receive so many oohs and aaws. Maybe, but they are at least very sturdy and highly functional.
The little one on the left is from a pay it forward that I received
years ago and it has been re-
purposed as the little quilt was
no longer being used. I love it, may use it as a summer purse too.
The morning is so calm, all islands and mainland are in full reflections. The lake is calm, which is not so good if it is cloudy as that means another day without sunshine.
True story....a friend who has a puppy realized that there had been a backyard escape...she ran to the front door only to see her dog running across the street...she was screaming the dog's name, frantically trying to make it across the street to catch the running dog. A truck driver blocked some traffic, opened his door to come to her aid, when the puppy jumped into his truck! My friend was so thankful, saying thank you over and over as she held her dog.
The truck driver looked around and leaned over saying "do you realize you are in a nightie?" Embarrassed, she noted that it wasn't see through and it was clean!
NOTE...daughter has been to physician it is suspected gastric problems for which ongoing tests will be needed...
really used. 
