Grand Illusion Mystery Linkup

So Bonnie Hunter  is having a linky party so we can all show off our mysteries. My top is completed and I hope by the end of this weekend it will be well on the way to being quilted too!
I went with a different colour scheme than she did and all of it was from my stash too!! I only did half the units but when it came time to put it altogether the way I did, I had to make a few more units for the border and sashing to complete it.
Now to decide how to quilt it.

A big thank you to Bonnie Hunter for another successful mystery quilt!! Looking forward to next year's!!!

I think camera needs cleaning

stack&whack stars

This week I have also finished two baby quilts and put the binding on a charity quilt. Six of us worked to get the top done, one quilted it and I put the binding on. A group effort for sure. The quilt is made of 2 1/2"and  1 1/2" squares and 1 1/2 x 2 1/2" rectangles. A shout out to Mallory,Linda,Sandra, Jackie and Jessica, our quilt looks beautiful!!

It has been a lucky week!!

Untitled art work

Well it has definitely been a winning week! On Tuesday we had an artist come into guild to talk to us about modern painting and how that related to modern quilting. He gave away a framed painting of his and I won it!!!






                                                   

Penelope will require a good spa day,case and machine

On facebook this week my cousin showed me a sewing machine that was being auctioned off. After a few comments...the price dropped from a starting bid of $30 to $10. I thought $10 wouldn't be too much for a door stop if it was that bad. Going on a picture only, I have never even touched the machine, I bid $10 and won! On Saturday I picked her up and brought her home. She requires a belt and a minor electrical wire repair but other than that she works and sews a nice seam. She is a "Piedmont". Has anyone heard of this machine? I am not able to find too much information on the internet about her. And as is customary...I have named her Penelope!!

How is it that you plan to wear your PJs and sew all day and all you have to show for your day is ....a clean shoveled driveway, 4 loads of laundry washed and dried, supper made and dishes done, manicure for one dog...OH and I got 7 of 12 blocks made, sashing and borders cut for a baby quilt. YIKES!!! I just can't seem to accomplish as much sewing wise as I use too!! haha
These are the rest of the whack and stack star blocks.  There was an extensive search for just the right colour for the sashing...leave it to DH to suggest blue! Of course it was the right choice but do you realize how many shades of blue there really are! OMG So this is how they sit on my living room floor. An open invitation of course for the puppy to come and lay down on them.

Add caption

So this evening will be my time to sit down and get some slow stitching done. I have a baby quilt to bind and if that gets done, there is always a few more blocks to go on the quilt that I am hand quilting. I have 11 of 30 blocks quilted. I started out so well doing a block a day...seems I have falled off track somehow!!
 Here's hoping the "time fairy" is good to you this week and you get lots done!!

Busy WeekS

So much for my resolution this year to blog more than once a week...blew it this week! But I do have lots to show for staying away from the computer!!

star whack and stack blocks

Last Saturday I attend a workshop at guild on whack and stack and yesterday was the second part of the workshop. I had my blocks sewn together and made into a top. So yesterday I tried my hand at whack and stack with stars instead of pinwheels. I think I like the stars more. So today I am hoping to sandwich the quilt and get a head start on the quilting. I would like to see it done for Tuesday so I can take it to another guild and it will be recorded as my first finish of 2015!!



It is very mild here today with fine snow and at time almost rain falling. I cleared the driveway of snow that fell yesterday and decided since it was mild I would take down the outdoor Christmas decorations. With all that done, I treated myself to a large mug of hot chocolate and it just isn't right without marshmallows!!
So sitting here writing my blog and linking up with Kathy for slow stitching Sunday and enjoying my mug!!She asked us to include a picture of our hand doing the work. I gotta say that is no easy task when you are right handed and only have a camera with the button on the right!!





I am a sucker for sunsets and pretty coloured skies! Yesterday morning I caught this. It really doesn't do it justice but I was lucky I got the pic at all...10 minutes later the sky was grey/blue!

Sewing Saturday and slow stitching Sunday!!

focus fabric in center & my 6 blocks so far

too cute

Now that is a weekend I can enjoy! Yesterday I attended a whack and stack class. I have never done one of these quilts.  Well I can't say that anymore and they can be addictive! After watching everyone's blocks coming together, I started thinking of all the different fabric I have that I could use! I like to make a quilt with a purpose usually. I didn't need to add to my UFO pile so I chose to do a baby quilt. This fabric has been in my stash for (let's just say awhile). I just love how the little faces of the bugs are showing up in the blocks...you can't help but smile!!I downsized my blocks too so they would be a smaller size for a baby quilt.
I have some dark fabric with fighter jets in primary colours...oh how they would make a great block!!! Stay tuned that could happen. We have part 2 of our class next Saturday!!

a few more parts must be made 

After class yesterday I was in a mood to sew. So I thought I would continue on with the Bonnie Hunter mystery. Now I was only doing half the units...BUT a bit of a problem has come to light! I find I have to go back and make a couple more units(more than half of the required blocks). Guess it is not so bad. Just something to keep in mind for the future if you think you will just make half of the units for a quilt.
I am continuing to hand quilt on my quilt. It is definitely a work in progress and I find I am enjoying my time with my hoop and needle and thread. I don't even miss my knitting. The sweater I wanted to make is at a standstill cause the wool I have is to thick for the pattern. I must find a different pattern but I really like the pattern I have. Just a bit disappointing!!!

So today will find me bopping back and forth between the sewing machine,ironing board and the hoop doing some hand quilting. Join Kathy
and the others and see what they are up to on this slow stitching Sunday!!

Christmas, New Years, My Birthday!

whack & stack fabric

Bonnie Hunter Mystery

It is always a busy time of year and to top off the holiday season my birthday. Another year older and only a bit wiser. I say only a little wiser cause by now a very wise quilter would have stopped buying fabric, kits and patterns and would have completed all those UFO's!!! I have a feeling that I am not alone in this!

Having said that, this weekend I am headed to a class at guild. We are doing whack and stack. In all the years I have quilted, I have not done one and it is time! I am in need of a few baby quilts so this will be the first one!
I am continuing to work on Bonnie Hunter's mystery. It is not going together as fast as I would like it to but if I stayed home that might help.

It has been very cold here this past week and you would think that huddling under a quilt and doing some hand quilting would be a good thing!
Even with the cold weather is doesn't seem to deter these two deer from munching at the bird feeder in my neighbour's yard!

Snowy Girl's Weekend

For the second year in a row, I spent the weekend with my good friend Susan at her home on the river. DH was a little dubious about me going as there was an impending snow storm on the horizon and maybe freezing rain but I was determined to go, and I did. The drive there wasn't bad, I had to take it a little slower but got there no problem. We spent the weekend catching up after the holidays. Since my move 7 years ago we have remained friends and try to get together monthly if we can! We haven't seen each other since October so all the more reason to go. I took a few things to work on but mostly I just wanted to hand quilt which is what I did. I only got two blocks finished but there is a lot of quilting in those blocks and with all the talking and movie watching...well you know!!!

The drive home today was not as quick. What should have been a 1.5 hours drive turned into 2.5 hours. It was snowing heavily when I left and turned into almost clear skies closer to home. I was not travelling on a highway but more like a two lane paved country road and driving at 50 kmph, you get to see and look at all the pretty vistas. Lucky for me not many others were travelling today! This was the view I had today for awhile!!!

DH had supper ready to go when I got home so after dishes I am settling in to do more hand quilting in my hoop and slow stitching  along with Kathy. I am working on the Autumn dresdan plate. The first of my "wanna get done" for 2015!
It will be an early bed as there is a busy week ahead!