A sewing we will go....

Not only was the weekend filled with quilting but yesterday was a UFO or free sewing day at guild. I spent the weekend getting two baby quilts machine quilted and I have a third quilt almost ready to be quilted. There will be some binding days in my future.

just a tease...wait till you see the whole quilt

At yesterday's workshop I started a new quilt, one that will be a workshop for another guild I belong to. I have to have the sample ready for the February meeting so most of the day was spent cutting. It is not a complicated pattern but I waited till the last minute to chose the fabric so cutting was done at the workshop. I have part of the block sewn with the rest to be done today. Another on the program committe has her top done and she used batiks so I wanted to go with something totally different so the quilt ladies would see how the pattern is adaptable to different fabrics.

meet Penelope Piedmont

Also yesterday I took "Penelope" out to sew. It was her first outing to guild and she worked beautifully. The only drawback is her case is not realiable so I had to put her in a plastic tote for carrying. I think she weighs about 40-50 lbs so not exactly portable. I might have to see if she will fit in my travelling bag with wheels.
After tidying up the house  a bit, I am headed to my sewing room for another day of sewing and watching the snow falling outside.
Happy week ahead!!

When you get a snow day...

The snow came, unfortunately it came mostly Friday evening into Saturday. I was forced to cancel the paper piecing class I was suppose to  teach but this gave me a free day of sewing that I wasn't expecting. I made good use of it too.

a little blurry but colourful

I have had these string blocks together since October but needed to make them into a flimsy. It will be a sample for a demo I am showing on Tuesday at guild. So that was completed. Now I just have to figure out what colour to use for the outer border. Any and all suggestions will be considered!Maybe piano keys to futher use up some strings and strips, I am not sure.
Today was another snowy day and after the laundry was in, I decided to finish up a couple of blocks from our guild BOM. We were each given a different focus fabric to use and it has to be in every block. After that the colours and fabrics are our choice. The blocks  finish at 12" and the focus fabric is growing on me. It is a Kaffe Fassett fabric that I wasn't too sure about in the beginning.

outer space circles is the focus fabric

Block #4 and 5 of 12

I have already peeked in with Kathy to see what everyone is slow stitching on today. I am just slow today...does that count!!! It is always fun to see what everyone is up to and working on. Just a little fuel to help this ole engine get in gear.
Here's to the week ahead, make each moment count and be happy!

The snow is coming and so are the babes!

samples for paper piecing class

It is mid January and we finally have some snow that is staying with more coming. Of course there would be more coming...I am teaching a class tomorrow or suppose to be?!! I am teaching paper piecing. I spent yesterday getting all my stuff ready and doing step outs of my samples. I had forgotten how addicting paper piecing can be....as you add each piece of fabric you can watch  your quilt come alive. I have a bit of a challenge for the ladies but they don't know about it yet. Come back on Sunday and see what we did all day Saturday if the weather lets us.
Yes the babes are coming too. As I said in my last post, there seems to be a baby boom going on around me. I finished the top of  the second baby quilt, I have made for little boys, with a third one waiting in the wings to be made.Now to find time to quilt them and binding and they will be ready.
I also finished a little knitted sweater for a wee one. The pattern said complete in 5 hours. Bahahaha somewhat like a quilt in a day!!We all know that doesn't happen! But it is done and adorable if I do say so myself! I might add a small toque to go with it. Camera died so pics of the sweater and quilt will have to wait.
Enjoy your Friday, I am off to my knitting group and hoping the snow holds off till later this afternoon!

Don't worry ...be happy!

So here we are well into the month of January. For me that means I am a year older. Yes a birthday was had last week and I was spoiled for a day by my DH. My daughter gave me my birthday gift at Christmas so candle fragrances filled the air too along with an afternoon with the girls knitting.

disappearing nine patch

close up of fabric cute bears

I am looking ahead to the year to come. Many workshops and quilt programs to get ready not to mention the BOM that I am involved in that need some attention. There has and continues to be a baby boom around me. So this week I took a break from Bonnie Hunter's mystery and started two baby quilts for a couple of little boys. The quilts aren't finished yet but these are sneak peeks of them. I have another little boy one to make but I have a little time for that.

2nd quilt- cute fishing bears

I have seen many comments on the different facebook sights that quilters are having a hard time finding their mojo since the holidays. There is definitely a down period after all the excitement, family and food of those few weeks. My advice is to just pick a project...new or old and jump back into it. It doesn't take long to get bitten by the quilting bug and you are off. My New Year's resolution, if you want to call it that, is to be happy and positive. Easy you may think but some days this can be difficult. My friend Louise gifted me this coffee mug that says it all and was incentive or driving force behind my resolution. I think this is one resolution I just might be able to keep.

I will be behind the sewing machine today, finishing up the baby quilts and prepping them for machine quilting. If the quilting fairies are with me...I will be slow stitching the binding in place later today. Join Kathy
and the others slow stitching today and see what we are all up to, that should give some incentive to those who can't find their mojo.


Also Kathy ask us to leave an encouraging word for those that stop by. As my mug says "I have decided to be happy because it is good for my health".
I encourage you all to get your health checked...mammograms, pap smears.  We are no good to anyone if we are sick or unhealthy.This is on my agenda this week, one of those necessary evils we women have to go through. Here is to the week, months and year ahead...cheers!!!

Happy New Year!!

Welcome 2016 and all that is new and waiting to be discovered.
It was a quiet evening at my house as DH was working at a dance and I stayed home with the dog to relax and enjoy an evening of netflix!

my mystery colours

I thought I was doing well to catch up on Bonnie Hunter's mystery only to discover she did her final reveal last night as the ball dropped in Italy. Sneaky isn't she!! So today is a ME day of sewing, hoping to have a bit of the top done to show on Monday during the link up. My cutting table is looking a bit of a mess, can't wait to see how it will look altogether.

It is so nice not to have deadlines rushing me to get things done but having said that I find that I am lally gagging. Do any of you find that?I have lots of projects on the go and things that need to be done but they just don't have a deadline...so there is no hurry. But then WHAM.....the day is upon you and you're working late hours in a rush to get it all done.
Sooo....I am attempting to stop this vicious circle  or at least  slow it down somewhat this year. Get it done ......what am I waiting for!

This week we got a good dumping of snow and it has snowed a little bit each day since. Today it is a winter wonderland and I get to watch it from my sewing room. That with some tunes and a fragrant candle burning and I am in my little piece of heaven!!

 Wishing you all things new and wonderful in 2016. May your bobbin always be full, quilting hours plentiful and your stash overflowing!

Home again!

new PJs all around

not to be left out

It has been a few very busy but relaxing days. We spent the holiday with our daughter at her house. With the crazy "no snow" weather the travelling was easy to do. We did a little shopping, decorating cookies and lots of movie watching. She lives near Lake Huron so with the big wind storm we had, one day we went down to the beach and the waves were amazing. It was the closest we got to being cold, with the wind whipping off the lake.

beach at Port Elgin

All the projects I wanted to finish were completed. Deadlines do seem to work for me.So here are just some of the things I have done but couldn't show until now.

 But now to catch up on things. I have fallen terribly behind on the Bonnie Hunter mystery. I think I started clue 2 and have gone no farther. So this week that is what is on my agenda. I also have to get the layout design ready for a class I am teaching in a couple of weeks. We will be paper piecing but I am not sure what the final project will be yet. YIKES!!!
Heading out with a get together with friends so not much slow stitching will be getting done today but check in with Kathy and see what others are up to today. If you still have family around ...enjoy and if all visitors are gone and the house is quiet...enjoy that too!!!

Done Yet???!?!?!

Here I am sewing and quilting like a mad woman. Good thing DH isn't too busy as he is cooking so I can keep sewing. I decided at the last minute to make two lap quilts as gifts. Crazy yes!!! Well they are almost done and I can move onto some last minute knitting that I have to complete. I have enough time...that is what I keep telling myself. I will share pictures after the holidays once all the gifts have been opened....don't want to ruin any surprises!!
Luckily Christmas is at my daughter's house so my need to clean and cook is greatly decreased this year. I only have to bring dessert and baking. I am making cookies at my house and we will decorate them at her house.

from 2 years ago...my Christmas card to you!!!

The ground is white here today and the snow is falling but they are calling for rain so not sure if it will be a white Christmas or not but at least for now a little white stuff at least makes it feel like Christmas.

I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and all things new and exciting for the New Year. Have a great holiday with family and friends and we will visit again after the holidays.