Loads of slow stitching

border with vines and other pieces ready

 Yup loads of slow stitching is in my future. I have finally settled down to finish this quilt. The top is pieced and the last large border has a vine, leaves, flowers and some birds. I have already put the centers on the 44 flowers and have been cutting out the rest of the pieces. The vine is pinned onto the border fabric and I will be sitting down to stitch this afternoon and watch nascar racing with my DH!!(that's dear hubby not Denny Hamlin although cheering him on too!)

quilt top without borders

I am trying something different with this quilt. I didn't want to attach the border and then have to applique with the whole quilt on my lap so...I have sewed the mitered corners of the border together. Laid the vine and pinned it and now I will only have one join in the vine. The pattern definitely didn't say to do it this way!! I will have to be very diligent when I finally sew the borders to the quilt and pin them to death so they fit perfectly!!I have been working on these borders and applique pieces for a few days. OMG it is taking longer to do the border than the whole rest of the quilt.

                                                                                            I have fit in time to visit  Kathy's blog and see what everyone is working on these days. Being her Northern Blog stalker...I must do my job!! haha  We were not able to get together for our annual Piranha retreat but we will definitely be making solid plans to do it next year...maybe even two visits to make up for this year!! 

Enjoy your week and whatever it holds in store...Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt colours should be coming soon. Anyone joining in on the fun? Before I can sit down and stitch today, there is homemade chokecherry wine that needs bottling!! So many things to do and I just want to sit and stitch or knit!!

Getting this day started

 It has been an early morning for me. Hubby who is a volunteer fireman, has been out at a fire all night. I woke up and he wasn't home yet so there was no more sleeping happening so here I am!

boardwalk McGregor Park

my neighbourhood on my walk

It has been a busy and productive week. Sewing day with two friends...social distancing of course! I have been working on a new baby quilt and  helping a friend by proof reading a new pattern she is doing as a sew along. With it being a short week because of Thanksgiving, it didn't take long for Saturday to arrive!!

We got our first taste of winter weather yesterday...rainy with a bit of slushy stuff fell. I prefer these pics from Thanksgiving weekend when we visited our daughter.

I will have lots of time today to sit with a coffee and check in with my friend Kathy and see what all the slow stitchers are doing. I will not be attending my annual quilting retreat which starts later this week but that won't stop me from quilting/sewing and hopefully getting some projects finished!

sunrise Monday morning

Lake Huron

beach finds

This is a block from the baby quilt. It is 4 1/2" unfinished, yes that makes that nine patch 1 1/2 " finished....isn't it cute!! Do you see Eeyore in the corner? This fabric has Pooh characters all over it!! I hope to have it finished this week!

Have a great week ahead and I think a nap might be in order later today!!

I'm back!!

some pickling 

 I  can't believe it has been a whole month since I blogged. I am going to have to pull up my socks!! It has been a busy month and things are finally starting to settle down and get into winter mode. The gardens are empty except for some potatoes and all the pickling is done!!(thank God)!! We alo fit in a week of camping/fishing with our daughter and her boyfriend. So now I am ready to get back into my sewing room and settle down for the long winter ahead!

A good start for that is a friend has asked me to proof her newest pattern and sew it up in my colours. Nothing like jumping in with both feet...quilting math will get you started and make you want to continue. The proofing was done last weekend and then I couldn't wait to start on the actual quilt. The quilt is called "Marquise" by Carla Alexiuk whose blog is Quilting by the River. She used Studio 180 rulers so things are all squared up and sewing is easier and more accurate. It took no time to get the sewing done (once I got to it) and today I finished the borders so I could show the finished top. I think this top was meant to be as I had just enough of the blue and gold fabrics to put them where I wanted. With the Canadian theme of the quilt(there are words to the national anthem on the blue and cream fabric) I think this quilt may become a donation to Quilts of Valor. You can contact Carla through her blog for more information or if you want to buy the pattern. (shameless plug for a friend)

finished quilt

sample shot of block

The knitting needles have been calling. A few friends and I have started meeting again to knit. We are a small group so not to worry. So I started my Christmas knitting on Friday. It is going to be a slow project as it is really challenging me to keep the correct stitch count going! It will be my VERY slow stitching for this afternoon when I join Kathy and others in taking some quiet time for myself.

But right now I have a sewing room to tidy up and get ready for the next project. I think a new clue came out this week for the Morewood Mystery and I have two projects from last year's guild to finish. No lack of things to do!!