WIP Wednesday

I have not had much time to sew but I have carved out small snippets of time. It is amazing how much you can get done when you make it a priority.

My cousin's blocks from my Aunt Sue's fabrics. These fabrics are at least 20 to 25 years old. I am a little worried about whether she washed them or not, after all I remember washing everything. It was a rule! Oh idea! Maybe I can use the fabrics that did not make it into the top on the back! Perfect! 17 blocks made.

 Melinda's mom's quilt, the Veracruz. Love how this is turning out! All the blocks are ready to sew into a top. Very excited.

And my mindless sewing project. Makes me smile when I work on it! Not sure what is going on there  but I have developed a serious crush on 30's fabrics! Maybe it is Aunt Sue!

Linking up to The Needle and Thread Network.

"Quilt + Love" A Book Review

My hero has a book that came out June 1, 2014. I read everything this person writes as it all contains great heart, a quirky way of looking at the world and thought provoking tidbits that I chew on for the rest of the day. Our Modern Quilt Guild was asked to review this book and I put my name forward. Heart + Love Quilts by Mary Fons. I, however, could not wait and down loaded it as an ebook this morning. OOOOOhhhhhhh, I am in heaven. Should I flip right through it and get to the gorgeous pictures? No, It was with great anticipation I read the dedication, the acknowledgements, the introduction, the notes on this book, and a brief history of quiltmaking. I wanted to be in the correct space to see the quilts. Did I say I love everything Mary writes? She may not know it but I feel we are on a first name basis. She invited me to her book opening! Well me and everyone who reads her column. I thought about using my aeroplan points to go.

My favourite quilt is in the book. The one that is on all the ads, My Dear, the nine patch with the wonderful row of rolling stone blocks. Oh and I want to make the 25 square block, Hello, There, and the flying geese quilt, Northbound, that is on the cover. And because I was reading and savouring every word I am not even through the book yet. Oh, I can go home and look at more!!!!

Okay the nitty gritty. I am following the pattern for My Dear. I am making a quilt for my cousin with leftover fabrics from her mom. Her mom was a quilter; she made a quilt for my daughter when she was born. Our grandmother also quilted. See Mary and I have a lot in common; we come from a family of quilters. I am hopeful this pattern will work with various sized scraps. Not too much commitment from any piece of fabric. Just need a minimum of 4 squares.

I read all Mary’s suggestions for choosing fabrics and paired down my original selection. I kept with the blue and red material. I may branch out if I run short. Not sure what colours I will make the rolling stone blocks.

Here are my sample blocks. I am in love with this quilt. The instructions are clear, if Mary has suggested a way to do something she always references back to the instruction and page number, and the numbers are correct, love that. I am enthused! Cut all the fabric!

I am pairing down the size of the quilt for my cousin, most of the quilts in this book are queen or king size. As Mary says these quilts are a commitment and you will not be able to finish them in a weekend. That is okay! I am savouring the journey. Each step of the process is to be celebrated and enjoyed. “Quilters are impatient people” but we do love each part of the quilt making process. As I sew up this quilt I remember the strong wonderful women in my family, the pioneer women who created quilts that were utilitarian and beautiful, and the new generation of quilters starting out. My cousin will be able to wrap herself in this quilt and feel all the love I have for her. Mary Katherine Fons “Quilt + Love”, yes it is in every stitch, a complete gift, and a beautiful and thought provoking book.

WIP Wednesday

I have been working on my cousin’s quilt. I chose the pattern from “Quilts + Love” by Mary Katherine Fons. Love this book! Love this pattern! I was going to change up the pattern as that is what we quilters do. Take something and rework it. In my case I sometimes rework it and it does not work. So, I love Mary’s quilt, I want my quilt to work, so I followed Mary’s advise! Who knew I could do that. I was going to add all the different scraps that came from my Aunt’s stash, but thank goodness Mary was looking over my shoulder and gently guided me away from making a gigantic error in material selection. 

I have paired it back to the red and blue scraps. Phew! Mistake avoided! This is going to be so wonderful!

I have Amanda’s top sewn together! It is pinned and ready to quilt! Yeah! I now have a deadline for this quilt as Amanda will be in Canada for the next 3 weeks. Need this done by Friday so it can go in the mail. I do not want to post this overseas! Our postage in Canada has gone up substantially!

On a personal note, last week was very difficult. It would have been our 33rd anniversary. Rob took such joy in life and would have loved seeing our new grandson. He would have celebrated as our youngest granddaughter had prunes for the first time. And cheered as our eldest granddaughter slid onto the toilet by herself, no stool required. They are growing so fast and he is missing it. And they are missing him, his fun and his wisdom, and his love.

Linking up to The Needle & Thread Network.

WIP Wednesday

Where did that month go? Still working on the projects from last month.

Baby quilt finished and gifted. I love making baby quilts, mostly because I love babys! ABC Menangerie top and a Feedsack III for the backing. I am developing a real crush on the reproduction prints. Love. I sewed the binding down by machine. I am telling myself it is more durable.

March Bee Block completed. I am in awe of my Bee Mates and their forward thinking planning skills. They picked a block then sent out fabric and paper pieced patterns! Wow!!!

April Bee Block completed. I may be starting to warm up to paper piecing.

Sunnyside is still sitting there, waiting to be completed. I bought batting, I had a plan for the weekend, I was getting that quilt out the door, and I cut it too small. Who does that? Measure twice cut once!  Could have sworn I measure four times, easily. Sigh!

I now have Seascape and  Green Lattice sewn together as tops. And I have the backing! Maybe the cut too small batting from project above will fit, grrr.

Linking up to The Needle and Thread Network.

WIP Wednesday

I am sooo happy to say my Celtic Garden is almost finished! The quilting is done, the binding on and now the wonderful hand sewing part. I did, momentarily, think about machine quilting it. The speed versus relaxing fun. How is it relaxing fun always seems to win?

I also whipped up this baby quilt top. I contemplated going for the random look but it would have taken me twice as long to arrange the squares! It was such a busy weekend that I just wanted to be sewing! Mindless sew the blocks together sewing!

Okay, confession time! As I was photographing the ABC Menangerie quilt top I saw, sitting quietly waiting for me, three quilt tops ready to sew together. THREE! How could I have forgotten them. My mind is going or I really, really wanted to buy fabric!

First is my Rapture quilt. Love how this material feels, wow is it soft.

Second is the Green Lattice.

Third is Seascapes.

I am not mentioning the Sunnyside that is all put together and just needs to be quilted.

Linking up to The Needle and Thread Network.

April Fabric Fast

So when do you record a fabric purchase, when you order the fabric or when it comes in? So the two fabrics I have purchased are acceptable under the terms of the fast.

The quilt back for my charity quilt. This is charity quilt number two for me. Kind of weird having people bid and pay actual money for a quilt I made.

The second purchase is for a Veracruz quilt that my friend wants me to make for her mother! A commission, sort of. I purchased the fabric for the quilt and she will pay me for the fabric. I will get the left overs!!! Win!!! Fabric and I did not buy it!!!! It has come in and I love it. Love!!! The colours are bright and beautiful. I have, however, since purchasing said fabric decided the pattern is making a quilt that is too big. So I will scale it back by a dozen blocks! What this means is more fabric for me! Or a matching throw for my friend, we will see.

I purchased the fabrics from Hawthorne Threads. Fabulous service and very fast.

Linking up to Making Rebecca Lynne

WIP Wednesday

I have completed my February bee block! Yeah! And it is in the mail!

I have also just finished one of the March bee blocks! Yeah again! It is not in the mail yet.

The other March and April bee blocks still to go. They are both paper piecing so I have to work my courage up. Both blocks look fabulous so I am looking forward to adding them to my repertoire of made blocks.

I completed my Ride for Cancer charity quilt. Found this cute pattern on line. Love it! Super cute! Checked Out by Gayle Camargo. Super easy, fabulous directions, looks fabulous! Thanks Gayle.

The owl fabric is by Alexander Henry and the backing is from my local quilt store. I got to go shopping!!!!

My girls were over for Easter so we laid out two quilts. Just need to sew them together now. No picture of the second as it was an idea that was long overdue and finally executed! For my nephews birthday in July. I may even make the deadline.

Pinned this quilt! I took it out to add the borders and low and behold I had already put them on! And pieced the back! There must be little quilt fairies running around as I do not remember doing any of that!

So it was a fabulous couple of weeks of  sewing! Wish I remembered it! I may want to duplicate the output again!

Linking up to The Needle and Thread Network.