December 24

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

All done or as done as it will be. This is my favourite moment, when I decide I am not doing any more. Then the peace of Christmas decends and all is well. I have been working on my priorities for the last couple of years and family is definitely at the top of list, even topping out sewing. Eek! I always think I start sewing early enough but things come up. This year it was making receiving blankets and face clothes. Priorities!

I did get the two Christmas quilts done for the two year olds. Yeah!

May the peace of Christmas be with you and your family this holiday season.

WIP Wednesday - Baby Quilt

This quilt was quick to cut and to sew. All done in a morning. 

Love the owls! 

Not in a real hurry for this so it will be put away until 2016. Not that long at all.

Christmas Sewing

Tis the season for making a list and checking it twice, and it you are lucky, checking the items off said list. Could not sleep for the large to do list dancing in my head so got up and checked off a couple of items!!! Yeah for 3:30 up and atom. (Anyone else remember Atom Ant?)

First up my Christmas Stocking for my good friend's baby. She guilted me into it.  I have a list a mile long but managed to put this together in a morning. I also sandwiched a couple of baby blankets, no pictures.

 Love the November Bee Blocks, they are so cute. I may have to make a quilt like this myself.

And some red and white sewing, just because I have wanted to do it for ages!

And a finish. Bungle Jungle Stripe. With a striped binding and a peanut backing. The request was for grey with a hint of blue. To me this is the perfect fabric and I am almost out. I am already very sad.

Such a cute quilt should have better photos but I seem to be running out the door in the dark and coming home in the dark. Shortest day here we come!

WIP Wednesday - Christmas is Coming

I love Christmas! Everything about it! The decorations with the lights making everything glow. The favourite movies that I never tire of watching. And of course the Spirit Singers Craft Fair. Last year we made Scandi Ornaments. This year angels and trees. Super cute!

 With the date!

The Auntie Quilt - Finish #25

Yes! Yes! Yes! done and delivered. This is the last of the quilts that traveled with me to Niagara Falls. I completed the binding the morning I flew out. Needless to say, in the rush of last minuteness, I forgot all my clothes and had to go shopping. The good news is that I had a ton of room in my suitcase after transporting four quilts.

Love this Holiday Hustle pattern and kit from Sew Lux. This is my fifth quilt using this pattern and I still really love it. Turns out perfect every time.

I used High Street by Lily Ashbury so the fabrics match her daughters two Jacob's Ladder quilts. Auntie Annies quilt also has a the pink and green and the backing fabric for the backing. I really liked this touch.

The 60th Wedding Anniversary was so fun! Wonderful catching up with everyone during a happy occasion!!! And all the quilts were a big hit!

Pink Jacob's Ladder - Finish 24

Another cousin quilt. A pink Jacob's Ladder to compliment the green finish last week. Laura is the pink sister. It seemed only fitting to use the same material, High Street by Lily Ashbury, for both sisters.

I quilted through the middle of the block to emphasize the secondary pattern made by the squares. Love the offset square design.

I am very pleased with this finish. The quilt will be coming with me to Niagara Falls.

Green Jacob's Ladder - Finish 23

A cousin quilt. I am working my way through the cousins and it is great fun. I have made a green Jacob's Ladder for Jenny, as when I asked what colour quilt she answered green of course. Well I should have known.

I used High Street fabric by Lily Ashbury. I have used her material before and love it! The mix of bright colours is just so wonderful. And as a bonus she works right on top of my local quilt store. How fabulous is that!

I quilted through the middle of the block to accentuate the the secondary pattern and I love how it turned out. The backing is an Anna Maria Horner print that ties everything together. Perfect!

This quilt is also coming to Niagara Falls with me.

Finish #22

I love Kaffe Fassett. I love his bold use of colours and I love the weight of his fabrics. I always feel like I am quilting light.

This is my go to pattern for the men in my family. It is my fourth quilt using this pattern. There is something about squares that really does it for me.

This quilt is for Rob's dad and the backing was chosen especially for him. He has been a New York Times crossword guy for as long as I can remember. He also spent some time creating crosswords, which I am told is waaay harder than it looks.

I am thrilled to have this quilt ready to present in person. I will be gong to Niagara Falls for their 60th wedding anniversary. It makes me so happy to be part of their celebration.

Finish #21

It seems like you sew and sew and don't get anywhere and then all at once finish after finish. I must say it is quite satisfying.

I had planned a different quilt for this baby, Hannah, but did not get it together. This quilt was for my grandchild who should be born in December. Well that is a long way off, should be able to make another by then. Gulp!

I have long had the Hourglass quilt block on my bucket list. I love it made with 30'2 Playtime. Love! The traditional pattern and the traditional fabric, ahhh love! I must say my daughters were quite daunted by the industriousness of the Sunbonnet Sue. Everyday of the week!!!

The backing is in honor of my Aunt Sue. She made my daughter a quilt 30 odd years ago. And started my love of playing with fabric. Thank you Aunt Sue.

Finish #20

Baby quilt #20 was a fun quilt to make. I enjoyed making the HST's and planning out the blocks. Very satisfying project. I used Beach House by Kate Nelligan which was perfect. We live in Vancouver, the coast, and the baby lives in Calgary, so not coast.

I found this block searching the web. I found out after it is a Moda Bakeshop pattern. This baby quilt uses one charm pack and as a bonus I had enough HST's for the ends! This makes the quilt longer than it is wide. I much prefer a longer quilt.

Love those multi coloured popsicles!

And the fish, wonderful.

I used my favourite striped binding that just seems to go with everything.

Finish #19

I have completed one of the fall baby quilts.

A red and white quilt was requested from the dad to be. They had their baby on the 17th, a little girl. Tons of hair, super cute. I used the tutorial from Cluck Cluck Sew. Allison has the best tutorials. She also just finished a heart quilt.

I used a long stitch on my machine to quilt this one. I definitely need to plan out my quilting better if I am going to use decorative stitches.

I stitched her name in the binding. It worked for part of the name but her first and second name have been redone 4 times. This will do! Maybe..should I try again?

A new start and a hopefully speedy finish!

What am I thinking? I have quilts that I need to finish. Lots of quilts! However this is for a very special couple on a very special occasion.

It is a quilt for my in-laws 60th wedding anniversary. I have the blocks done...if 48 x 64 is going to be big enough. I can always add a border. I am not doing more blocks.

WIP

I am almost finished two more quilts. Yah!!!

Hearts - The recipient was born on the 17th so no time to waste!

Elephant Parade - Love the elephants on this quilt.

I really need to get these done!

WIP's x two

I love Plus Quilts. This is my second one. And I can see many more in my quilting future. They are perfect for those days you just want to sit and sew. No cutting just mindless sewing. I used 5 charm packs for this and just laid out the squares til I ran out.

I made this quilt from the castle block. I saw it somewhere on line and fell in love. I did not know it was on Moda Bake Shop until I read the Cuddle Quilters blog post today. Super fun easy block. I used one charm pack to make this baby size flimsy. And the best part is I only have one or two blocks left! Bonus! I hate having blocks left over.

Three baby quilts almost done. Castle, Hourglass and Heart Quilts.

Yeah! Three more or so to go!

Gifted, as in given away

I love weddings! The setting up, the taking down, the ceremony, meeting new people and especially catching up with old friends.

Bri and Kristian were married September 19, 2015. I used to babysit Bri when she was 3, we go way back. So fun to see the little toddler a beautiful, competent and accomplished woman.

They loved their name in the binding! I am so pleased with my new way to label my quilts. I love it. I have decided all my quilts will have a label in the binding. Is there a reason we don't do this? It doesn't hold up or wash well or...?

I loved making this quilt from start to finish. From the fabric, to the design, to cutting and sewing. All of it. I am hopeful all the love in this quilt will wrap Bri and Kristian in love all their days together.

Charley 1 and 2, a Finish

Charley Harper 1 and 2 are complete. I sewed down the last bit of binding the day they were to be gifted. The quilts were requested to be long and narrow, the perfect size to sit on the couch and watch tv.

I commute on weekends so do quite a bit of hand sewing on the ferry. The panel quilt received more comments than the patchwork. Go figure!

I used the Greek Keys pattern by Kaffe Fassett. The fabric is Charley Harper by Birch Fabrics. I used straight line quilting on both quilts. Outlining the squares on the panel quilt looks very effective. Almost like a real quilt, lol.

I never knew who he was until this fabric line came out but I am now a big fan of Charley Harper. I just love his saucy looking birds. Now to finish my Charley Harper quilt!

My Love Affair

I am still in love.  However, my Love Affair is almost over. I have so enjoyed making this quilt and it will soon be making its way to a new home. Sigh! 

 For the back this fabulous camouflage. Love it and it goes so perfectly.

Now I just have to get the binding on. The wedding is next week! Nothing like a deadline to move projects along.

Finishes

We just came back from vacation and it was wonderful, smokey but wonderful. There were two forest fires we could see from our resort in Oliver. The babies learned all about helicopters as they kept flying over refilling their buckets. Fabulous entertainment.

I made a table runner for my cousin for her birthday. French General material to match her existing quilts. Quilted with almost straight line quilting.

 Cutest bugs ever!

Bug Check is finished and delivered. I hope it is acceptable to a 5 year old girl. It is not after all Anna or Elsa.

Bee Blocks June

Bee Blocks July

Bee Blocks August

Boy that feels good to be caught up.