Driving hangover!

store sample

Good thing it is slow stitching Sunday....that is all my body and soul wants or could do. A bit of an explanation is in order. Yesterday my friend Bernadette and I went on a shop hop. We went to stores I had never been to before so that was fun.We started out at 7 am yes AM, 2.5 hour drive to the first store and we were there for opening. But we were also in for a surprise. We thought there were only 6 stores and we knew we could get them covered in the day...but at the first store we mentioned as we were leaving...one down, five to go and the lady said....nooo!! That is when we started to get a little nervous..they had added two more stores. Could we get them all covered in one day...SURE we could skip lunch or eat in the van inbetween stores. WE GOT THIS!!!We did a couple quick stops and Bernadette made sure we stayed on schedule. She was a great navigator with her phone...right down to how many meters till the next turn!!

could fit in one bag

So today I am putting away my few purchases and getting my house in order so I can enjoy my week and not have to do housework!! There will definitely be some slow stitching with Kathy
later on in the afternoon for me so I can rest this achy back of mine.I have been doing physio and it is getting better, it is just more annoying than anything.
Lots of things happening this week, so come back and visit and see what I am up to!!

There's a nip in the air...

A nip in the air and some frost during the full moon and you know that you are into Fall. All that and this weekend DH is away getting the hunt camp ready for the coming season. That has meant I have had a few days to myself. They have flown by too. I got a little housework done after dealing with a pinched nerve in my back all week. But mostly I just hand quilted and watched Netflix. I have been watching a show called "Offspring". An Australian based drama/comedy about a gyne/ob doctor and her family members. It is quite entertaining!

rounding the first corner

In keeping with Sunday and Kathy's slow stitching movement ...a time to relax after a busy week, I will be doing more hand stitching. I have been finishing a quilt for a friend that her mother started. Her mother was a beautiful hand quilter(her stitches are so small). My stitches are no way as small but finishing this quilt for my friend is a labor of love so that she will have a special keepsake that her mom's hands created. I am on the home stretch...just have three outside borders to go, then binding and delivery. The binding could be a challenge as I have none of the fabrics that are in the quilt ( I am thinking some of those fabrics are older than me)but I am thinking a scrappy binding to match the leaves.I may have some similar fabric in my "deep" stash as Bonnie Hunter says!! On another note, the first thing I noticed when I received this quilt was that it was basted with yarn and I thought it was odd...but I have to say it holds the quilt in place much better than thread basting. The only drawback is when pulling it out the batting beards a little but is easily tucked back in. I want to try this on the next quilt I baste.

colourful fall leaves

I want to fit in some machine sewing today also and IF I do this is what I am working on. It has been sitting on my cutting table for two weeks.Yes it has been two weeks since I sat at a machine...please don't call the quilting police on me!!!!haha These are swoon blocks that I will be doing a demo on at guild in a couple of weeks. They look complicated but are really very easy to do and depending on where you put your lights and darks, the blocks look totally different.

swoon blocks in progress

Typing on here is not getting any sewing or stitching done...have a great week!!!

Running, running, running!

bride and groom

Yes it has been a fast and furious couple of days. Travelled to see out daughter and attend a friend's daughter's wedding. The red and white quilt I have been working on was for this bridal couple. They finally have it in their hands and I think they like it!!It was a great wedding held in the groom's large garage on a beautiful day in September. We drove home the next day in rain, the whole 5 hour drive of rain. So I would say the couple got very lucky to have had such a great day.

Today I was gone for the whole day to our quilt show in North Bay. I had 8 entries ranging from large, wallhanging to even a mini. I had one guest to the show asking about a quilt I have for sale. She might get back to me as she wants to make sure it would be a good size for her bed. By the end of the day all ribbon winners were also chosen. I received a 2nd place viewer's choice ribbon. I think that is very exciting. So now maybe I can sell it for more as it is a ribbon winner?!?!haha

hand quilted ribbon winner

So tonight it is a relaxing evening. I need to rest up from these busy days. Fall is fast approaching so things in the garden need tending to...anyone need zucchini?!
I will be checking in with everyone over at Kathy's blog and see what you are all working on. My evening will be putting a few more hand quilting stitches in the quilt I have been working on for a friend. Not sure what new projects might be on the horizon but stay tuned to find out.

Have a great week!

Slowly stitching away!

And by slowly stitching...I am speaking about my speed. Most everything has slowed down this week especially me. I somehow managed to catch a whopping head cold that has knocked me on my butt. Heavy sweater and some time sitting under a quilt hand qulting has passed the time. But I am done with it...it can leave now! I have places to be and people to see.
Our area is hosting a quilt show this coming weekend Sept 10-11 in North Bay. "Quilts by the Bay" is held every three years. Although it is put on by many guild members, the show itself is not sponsored by any guilds and you don't have to be a guild member to show your quilts.

pink colour catchers

But before that happens for me, I have a family friend getting married out of town and we wouldn't miss it. Her sister was married earlier this summer and now it is her turn. It has been a busy summer for this family. The bride's aunt and I have been asked to be the unofficial wedding coordinators for the afternoon ...very exciting (although I am sure everything is taken care of). This all leads me to my quandary....I made the happy couple a quilt and really wavered on washing it. It needed to be washed to rid it of pencil marks but with all the red and plain white...I was afraid of bleeding. Enter two colour catchers and they did their jobs well. I will show the colour catchers but the quilt will have to wait one more week! Don't want to give everything away.

Beans,peppers, tomatoes and zucchinis

The weather here is turning cooler and as some things in the garden are just about done, others are just starting. Cucumbers and zucchinis are starting to produce now but beans and peas are almost done for the season. Around this area it is called "lock your doors season"...if you don't, you may find zucchinis have come to visit!!

 So today I will be slow stitching along with Kathy, thinking healthy thoughts and kicking this cold to the curb. Might even go outside to soak up some rays and mow the lawn. Enjoy your long weekend...last of the summer and the beginning of Fall.

Summer is coming to an end

loaves made and a bit for supper

It is Fall Fair season in my area which signals an end to summer and the start of fall and all that brings. My sewing has taken a backseat lately to the garden which needs tending. Produce is ripening and needing to be pickled or bottled. Today I made zucchini loaves, and pesto( I have a great crop of basil this year). Yesterday I picked all the beans and clean,cut and froze them so we can have fresh or as close to fresh veggies this winter.

pesto and enough for daughter too

It was our little town's 96th annual fall fair this weekend. So Friday I loaded up my entries and took them to the arena and then I was a clerk(recording the winners on paper) for the afternoon. Yesterday I went up in the afternoon as DH and band were playing(always fun to listen to). Then at 4, I was able to retrieve all my entries. I did very well this year except in the pickling department. Well the pickles were probably okay but the lids let me down. I had lots of notes on my entries that said "don't use rusty lids".....who would do that really!!! I have reused lids in the past but not if they were rusty only ones in good condition. I guess like everything else...they aren't being made as well as years ago. So for me from now on...new lids all around. Has anyone else noticed this? Just wondering.


So  now that the kitchen is cleaned up and supper is thawing, I have the afternoon to visit my sewing room. Having just finished a large project, I always find it hard to get started again. Trying to figure out what I want to do next is a challenge...not that there is a lack of projects that need attention. I will be sitting down later today for some slow stitching  with Kathy
I still have binding that needs completing on a gift I am working on. Busy week ahead for me, hope you all enjoy your week too!

Step by step

It really is a process that goes step by step. This morning I just wanted to sew on something fun. I wanted to create. I have a quilt that needs machine quilting and one that is in the process of hand quilting but I just wanted to play with fabric. And so I did just that.

I received this bag of scraps from a fellow guild member. I have already made a few minis from it but there are lots of pieces yet to use. So after sorting and deciding on a few layouts, I got to sewing.
I knew this was going to be a mini quilt but how small did I dare to go. The individual hst finish at 3/4" with the blocks finishing at 3". I added sashing and the whole project finishes at 9x13". I figure I will machine quilt it and that will be my practice for starting on the quilt I have to quilt for September. "Two birds, one stone" sort of thing. Win win!!!But believe me no one ever said making mini quilts was easier than larger ones. It is like looking under a microscope, every little thing  is emphasized. I am quite happy with the result.

Raindrops keep falling on my head....

lilies finally bloomed-now enjoying the rain

No not complaining that is for sure. We were in much need of this rain but it doesn't have to do its catching up all in one weekend but it is trying!! It has been raining, drizzling and or misty since Thursday night. Just what we  and all the gardens needed, a gentle soaker rain.

quilts that still need sleeves.

With all this weather it leaves lots of time for indoor activities. My daughter is home for the weekend and so today I think it will be hand stitching and some movies. I have this pile of quilts that need hanging sleeves for our quilt show in September. So in keeping with Kathy's slow stitching this is what I will be up to today. Not really a project that needs completing but it is something that needs doing! I don't put sleeves on my quilts unless they are going in a show and then I remove them.I have sewn on three already and have five more to do...they are the larger ones. A good job for today. Once these are done I might have time for some more hexies. The units are growing as I start to join them so I know where I have to fit things in.

Happy stitching!