Spring is coming

up to #9 done on mystery

The snow is melting mostly cause it is pouring rain outside today. But other signs of Spring are around. The sap is running which means fresh maple syrup is being made. Too bad hubby has to be outside in the rainy weather to make it though. Have not seen a robin yet no surprise since we still have lots of snow but the chipmunks are back! I also have some tomato,kale and cabbage seeds plants and they are popping up.

pattern I am working on

In the sewing room more patches are being made. I am keeping up with the Edyta mystery while also sewing up some blocks for a quilt for myself. Progress seems slow but I keep reminding myself that I am making two quilts at the same time.Getting closer to using that navy for something special on these blocks in the picture.






I am setting aside some time this afternoon to bind a quilt. I decided on a black binding with a white swirl for my spider web quilt. I think it look fun. I had asked for suggestions but with not wanting to add borders and the purple with black polka dot backing.... this choice seemed the best.You can even see some of the machine quilting I did on this quilt. Now sewing black binding at night is not something I like to do so that is why I will try to do it this afternoon. So it will be my slow stitching project to join in with Kathy and the others today!

I will have to venture out for groceries this week, we have gone almost three weeks so I think that is pretty good.  Hope everyone is doing their best to stay safe and stay home as much as possible.

Sewing Isolation

Today is day fifteen of self imposed isolation for hubby and I and we are doing fine. We will eventually have to go for groceries but for now we are good.

Cooking has to get done and a bit of cleaning but with no one coming or going ...so not much to clean! But living with a large shedding dog...vacuuming does have to happen! I have been passing the time sewing away the hours with some knitting in the evening.

my nine blocks so far

I am following along with Edyta Sitar's mystery blocks. I started a little late and today I am finally all caught up. I think I am going to like this quilt, the colours are so pretty!It doesn't take long to sew up the blocks and I am using another project with this one as leaders and enders. So I am getting lots done although it doesn't look like I am. Looks like I am going to have lots of time to finish what I am starting.

like falling feathers

The other day started with rain then changed to snow. After that the sun came out and brightened everything. But the snowflakes were falling like someone had broken open a feather pillow. They fluttered to the ground. I tried to take a picture but now sure it does it justice...you will have to take my word for it ...it was wonderful and peaceful to watch.Some would say that is weird and strange but I do love winter and watching it snow !!

Stay safe and stay home everyone!

Remember when....

spider web quilt needs quilting

You wished you could sew and only sew for days on end....well as we sometimes say, careful what you wish for. Now I am not saying it is a bad wish, but with all the events of the past week, here we go!We are a lucky part of the population that actually has something that can occupy our time, hands and mind. Turn off the news for a bit, put on some enjoyable music and get sewing!

I have been lining up some projects. Ones that I want to get done (ufo), some that are started and need finishing(BOM and guild projects) and then there are those exciting new projects. Two of those have been started by me this weekend. I wanted to do something new, a project that has been in a plastic bag just waiting its turn.I am going to be a tease here and not show the pattern. What do you think the navy blue has to do with the rest of these partial sewn blocks? I also have a quilt top that needs quilting. I finished this spider web quilt this week.

tease alert!

old pan

Today I had to set aside my work and do something for DH. He has started making sour dough bread for us. He found the best way to bake it was on a stone pan I had. Well it wasn't long and that pan got cracked. So last week our daughter ordered a new one for him. So to keep it safe a request was made for something padded to store it in. I thought that was the least I could do since he makes the bread!

new pan in padded case

After a few measurements, some stash diving for fabric, I got busy. It isn't perfect but it will keep the stone safe while not in use.

Now I did an oops yesterday! Yes I checked in on Kathy's blog and she was telling us about two new projects that we could join in with. One was with Bonnie Hunter and her friend and the other was a mystery with Edyta Sitar. I wasn't crazy about the pattern that Bonnie and her friend were doing but a mystery, I can't resist a mystery. So with amounts of fabric needed in hand, I spent yesterday afternoon shopping....in my stash! I hopefully found enough to do the mystery and that will begin tomorrow for me.

fabrics for new mystery

The mystery is 100 blocks in 15 days. Of course not all different blocks. You will be making a certain quantity each day. The blocks are also 6 1/2" unfinished so not difficult or large.You can check out the start of the mystery on Edyta's blog here!  I will be following along with light blues, dark blues, pinks(even Pooh) and creams as my colours.

I checked in for some slow stitching Sunday visiting with Kathy. Kathy you are being named an enabler, just so you know, showing us all those new projects that we could start!! haha So many quilters, knitters and stitchers coming together to show their work for us to enjoy. Once this blog post is finished, I am headed to my comfy chair for some knitting quiet time!
Stay healthy and be safe in your homes. Remember one day life will return to normal and and we will not have all this time to sew!!

Sewing Time

pattern and 70 triangles

With all that is going on in the world and our own neighbourhoods and homes, it is a great time to be a crafter or quilter!! Time to stay put and get some projects done...no travelling, no visitors, I don't even have to do groceries!!
So today as yesterday I will be working on a spider web quilt. I have completed 70 triangles and yesterday I prepped 70 more. I had a math error and thought 70 would be enough only to discover that I had half of what I needed. So I have ironed(i didn't do this before and think it will be easier) a bunch of strips from my string box and hope to put a dent in the 70 triangles today!!I am sewing them to a phone book page with the black circle fabric as my constant and it will be the star once the top is together.

pieces for the next 70 blocks

The binding is almost done on the whole cloth quilt. More about it on this post. It is a long way around 96 x 109. One more evening should be enough.That will be my slow stitching later this evening as I put thread and needle together as my friend Kathy does each Sunday for slow stitching!

Let's see how much we can get done in the coming days at home..isolating ourselves!

Quilting is good medicine

It is the best medicine...doing something you love. If I have to stay home and not go anywhere...that is what I will be up to. Today has been a frustrating day. A short shopping trip just added to that frustrations. How a virus that affects the lungs can cause a shortage of toilet paper?!?! who knows!!

So I am trying to look past all this craziness and look to fun, more positive things. A friend's dog had puppies today,my cousin who loves dogs is a foster mom to a new sweetheart and did everyone see that Bonnie Hunter got a dog too!! So excited for everyone. Can you tell I  am a dog person!! 

Spring is showing signs of arriving and with that the maple sap is starting to run. We have one litre of the sweet maple syrup already made!! yum yum!!

I also finished the whole cloth quilt I was working on. It took less than a month to do the quilting and I just have to hand sew down the binding. You can read more about it here!

With that I am looking to change things up a bit. Looking for  a new project to work on. I did a bit of applique on a single block. Very small pieces and that cured me of that project. Then moved onto a older project that has been sitting. Another applique of Hawaiian needle turn. I was one quarter the way done when I realized there was a hole in the fabric I was appliqueing down. The fabric was a kit, from a how-to class. I have now decided that the fabric is not worth my time. It was either cheap fabric or not good quality either way I have too many other projects to do, to be wasting my time on this one. A good way to clear out the sewing room!!

So with all that today, I think it is a good time for a cup of tea and curl up in my big arm chair and just cuddle under that quilt that needs binding. I think that is the prescription for what ails me today!! Tomorrow will be another day!!

Marching in Spring!

whole cloth quilt is hard to photograph, rainbow from a prism

Although the date is changing, I love the winter and will be sad to see all the white stuff melt away and leave! Having said that after the latest dumping of snow and colder temperatures, I have been inside enjoying my new quilting/sewing space.

different angle still not great

This is curling playoff season in Canada and I get to watch all the games on you tube(we don't have TV). It is a great time to do some hand quilting. I have been working on this whole cloth quilt since my retreat weekend Feb.14. So it has been less than a month, and I laid it out this morning to take a photo to show. It is coming along fairly well. The Q-snap style hoop I am using is about 15" square and I have moved it 32 times. I thought it would be a great idea to keep track of the moves. It takes about 2.5-3 hours to quilt that space. So with that I have spent 80-90 hours on this quilt, just quilting. I have the pin pricks and callouses on my fingers to prove it!! People always ask how long did it take and now, at least for this one, I will have an answer for them!!

Yesterday I set the quilt aside and did some piecing. Got 2 BOM for guild finished and worked on these cute little fellows. I started these log cabin blocks as a leader and ender for another project. Now I just want to see them finished into a quilt.

6" log cabin blocks

The dreaded "Man cold" has been visiting our home this past week. I am trying my best to evade it, so far so good but there are hints I might not be doing as well as I thought. I don't have time for a cold...pass the green tea and honey with just a shot of rye!!haha medicinal of course!!

My curling watching will continue today and with that more slow stitching. I will be joining Kathy and the others with slow stitching Sunday. A day to relax and do what we all like to do. As Kathy points out in her blog today, stitching, sewing or working with a needle and thread is therapeutic and good for us! Sounds like just what the doctor ordered and great medicine too!!