August Bee Blocks Done

We just spent a week in Ontario at the cottages. Love it there with all the family!!

Thank you for all the suggestions on the binding. I went with the light purple. I think it gives the quilt more of a light and happy look and I just love Kaffe Fassett shot cotton. It's like you get two colours for one. How fabulous is that. It was for my nephew's 21st birthday. I had to give hime the quilt and then sew the binding on through the rest of our week together. Finished last Friday!!! Just in time for our Saturday departure. (My Sil sent a picture she took with her phone and I downloaded it! No it did not work.) The quilt was a big hit. Love it when that happens.

I finished some bee blocks. Yeah!

One bee I had to make another block from July. I just cannot seem to read directions very well. Hopefully the rest are okay!

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday. http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.ca

No-Low Spend September

I'm in!

Carla from my 1/2 Dozen Daily is having a No-Low Spend September challenge. After summer holidays I thought it might be fun. My two goals are:

1. No eating out. This will involve shopping and cooking. I know this is a novel concept, but living alone I have moved away from both. This is a health concern as I would like to eat way less added salt. My favourite food group this summer was potato chips. No more crunchy, salty, potato goodness for me. As my daughter says it is my kriptonite.

2. Sew from my stash. I will only buy fabric to complete existing projects. This should take me to October with absolutely no problems what so ever. I have three quilts on the go that I may have to purchase backing for that I would like to finish this September. This will be a challenge as I love to pick up little extras at my fabric shop while buying the necessarys. A little charm pack here, that little fat quarter there.....oh and it needs that contrasting fabric......they all seem to fall into my bag.

I may have to continue this challenge into October as one study I read says it could take 45 days to change a habit if it is deeply ingrained. Oh yeah, my two challenges are deep, very deep!

If you would like to participate in the challenge Carla has a linky on her post.

Link is here. http://halfdozendaily.typepad.com/my-half-dozen-daily/2013/08/september-nolow-spend-challenge-goals.html

WIP'S Wednesday

Working on this fun quilt. Sort of slowed down on the quilting as I am unsure of what to bind it in. 

Love the Lotus Leaf I usually use but...

maybe stay the same with the dark purple...

however could go scrappy...

not having a ah hah moment where it seems to click. Wait, that picture looked pretty good!

Amy at 13 Spools http://www.13spools.com/ had a great post on adult play. What it is and what it is not. Lots to think on. Lots of concepts to embrace and put into practice. I think I will measure my fun today on a scale of 1 - 5. Taking the bus and reading my book 4, walking home from work and not reading my book 4....is there a 5 in my day? I will keep myself open for the opportunity.

Linking up with Needle and Thread http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/ and Lee at Freshly Pieced. http://www.freshlypieced.com/

WIP Wednesday

I am finally putting the binding on Jordan's quilt. Yeah!!! No more guilt for Nanny. Every time I said I was going to sew, she said "Jordan's quilt?" Of course I have not finished quilting it, just sewing the binding to a half quilted quilt.

 I bought the backing for the last two placemats. Still unsure if this will be Christmas! I have my doubts I can wait that long but who knows. 

Lady of the Lake. Love the colours on this one. Of course, Kaffe Fasset is one of my favourites. I think this is my fifth quilt with his fabrics. Love!!

Love the shot cottons too. So light, not as heavy as regular fabric and rolls up smaller, so easier to quilt. That's me Quilting Lite!

For my solids bee this paper pieced block. When I finished the block I thought I would never paper piece again. However, looking at the picture I love how it looks and I learned a new skill. Never say never.

My start quilt. Love the fabrics, however, I need to recut the filler blocks. Feels like a redo and that is always a staller for me. Soon!

All the other projects are waiting in the wings...calling!

Linking up to Freshly Pieced and The Needle and Thread Network.

Happy Birthday to You!

Andrew's quilt is done and on it's way to Nova Scotia. I am hopeful it will arrive in time for his birthday but...I made the wrong choice at the post office. To get there in two days was $40+, I ended up spending $20+ anyway and it may take 10 business days. I put in the time to get it done and stumbled on the delivery. Choices!

 The rolled quilt.

 Yeah for sun in Vancouver.

 My favourite binding ever.

I am extremely happy with this quilt! Love it and hope he does too! Happy Birthday!

Friday Finishes: An update

We have been enjoying a gorgeous, hot, sunny, fabulous July. Not how our summer had been progressing, the switch up is invigorating.

Pinned Jordan's quilt! Yeah! Started the quilting! Yeah! No tucks, pleats or other unwanted additives on the back so far. Progressing nicely. No picture of the quilt, however, a picture of Jordan making muffins with mommy. A fabulous helper!

Well right up until I remembered a birthday. Stopped everything and started these placemats. I only have enough backing for two. Is it too crass to give them unbound and two for the birthday and then two for Christmas? I will have to think on how heartless I can be. It is the thought that counts right? I have been told by my son-in-law (not the recipient) that if it is not finished, it is not a present!

My cousin is coming to town. I have given it due consideration and have decided I cannot finish her quilt I two days. I do however have a couple more blocks done. 

Star quilt stalled due to trimming error as I was mindlessly following the directions. Note to self, engage brain when cutting. Sewing, brain optional as it can be undone! I have given it a great deal of thought and decided how to fix it. Easy peasy, just need to do it.

One brothers quilt is done and in the mail! The other is still in squares. I will post the pictures when I know he has received it.

On the personal front, June was not great. My anniversary was on the fifth and then there was Father's Day. The girls and I are all very sad. Grieving. And sad. So we have chatted about it and decided we can be sad, it is okay. We do not need to get over it, it is a journey that will last the rest of our lives, and we can be present to each stage. That being said it is time to buy groceries and cook something. So did buy groceries, have not yet cooked. One small step at a time.

Just One Slab

http://naptimequilter.blogspot.ca/2013/06/slabs-for.html

Please see link above for Just One Slab Quilts Recover Southern Alberta. Cheryl from 
Dining Room Empire is organizing quilts from slabs. Please stop by her blog to take a 
look at her fabulous efforts. It is comforting to know the quilts will live on long after 
the media will have forgotten.