I Made Myself a Deal

Happy Monday!

Like everyone else out there that quilts, I have a job and a family.  Trying to find time to do everything is tough. And if you have ever read my blog, you know that I am not good at finishing things.  Luckily, that is not a characteristic I take to work with me.   :)  It does, however, apply to my quilting (and housework).

So I have made a deal with myself.  A bet if you will. 

I have to complete 5 quilt tops/flimsies:

Autumn Ridge
Cambridge Square
Sailboats for Joseph
Egg Money Quilt
Big Sister Addie

AND finish the Northcott Block of the Month.

When that happens (about May 2013 due to the BoM), I am buying myself the Babylock Jane to quilt them all!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My pennies are already saved.  I had been saving for the past few years to buy a long arm.  However after completing some house renovations, I lost every spot that had previously been large enough for such a beast.  So a mid arm it is!  My only issue now is getting over the guilt of buying a machine given I have only completed two baby quilts in 2012. Therefore, my little challenge to myself!

Wish me luck!  Happy Quilting!

Block Number 2!

They multiply!! I was so inspired by how well the first block went together, I couldn't consider doing anything else until I finished Northcott Block #2!!  Block #3 is already cut and waiting on my sewing table to get a little peace, quiet and patience :)

I love the Marti Michell templates so much!!  But cutting out one block at a time is NOT my thing.  Other than hand applique quilts, like Piecemakers, my preference is to cut out a quilt from start to finish and then sew.  Maybe a sample block.  But nothing like this!!

Any Sampler Lovers out there??  Anyone else doing this quilt?

I am off to get some Work work done and watch the Canada / US Soccer game.  Go Canada!!!

Happy Quilting!

Northcott Block of the Month - Block 1!!

I have been away for a few months.  Away from my blog, but mostly from my sewing machine.  Busy at work & busy with my kids' soccer and skating.  Just plain busy.

I went to Sew Have Fun today to pick up blocks 3 & 4 for the Northcott Block of the Month.  I still had not even cut a piece of fabric on Block 1.  Until today!  I have a fear of cutting fabric.  Especially if the fabric is in a very limited amount and one wrong cut will mean big trouble.  Maybe that is why I usually buy an quarter of a meter..... okay, an extra meter...... of every fabric, for every project.  No wonder I have such a large stash!!

Well as you can see, I changed all of that today.  Block 1 is complete!  And thanks to the Marti Michell templates, it was easy to cut and easier to piece!  The rest of the blocks still frighten me, but now that I have Block One under my belt, who knows?  Maybe Block 2 won't take another three months!

Happy Quilting!!

UFO Update ....................

My UFOs - Updated 1/29/2012

Here is my list of shame. I don't think it looks a whole lot different than when I did this list almost two years ago. Yikes!! If anything, I think it is growing!!!! My goal for 2012 is to get this list down to 15 items. Wish me luck!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Sandwiched/Quilting Needs to be Completed
Baby Bargello - Batik (Pieced)
Spring Cleaning - Thimblebery Fabrics (Pieced)

Quilt Top Completed
Big Block Flannel Quilt (Pieced)
Charmed Hearts (Pieced)
Fire Escape - Atkinson Designs (Pieced)

Needs Borders/Square Up
Sailboat Quilt for my Son's bed (Machine Applique)

Blocks Completed
Friendship Star - Thimbleberry Lakeside (Pieced)

Pieces of Fabric in Great Organized Containers!
2010 Piecemakers (Hand Applique)
1998 Piecemakers (Hand Applique)
Pretty Dresses in 30s (Hand Applique)
Dresdon Plate - Thimbleberries Lakeside and Lodge (Hand Applique)
McKenna Ryan - "Journey to Light" (Machine Applique)
"Winding Roads" Quiltmaker Scrap Pattern (Pieced)
"Sweet Hearts" McCalls Quick Quilts Pattern (Pieced)
Thimbleberries Block of the Month (2008)
Elm Creek Quilts - Olde Silver Thimble Bookclub (Pieced)
Traditional Sampler (Mixed Methods)
Moda Madiera Jelly Roll Quilt (Pieced)
Hearts and Flowers (Machine Applique)
Double Wedding Ring - Fons and Porter pre-cut kit (Pieced)

Uncut Kits or Fabric
1999 Piecemakers - Time and Season (Hand Applique)
30's miniature quilt kit - Dresden Plate (Hand Applique)
Art to Heart - "I Believe" (Machine Applique)
Northcott "Cambridge Square" (Pieced)
"Bali with Love"(Machine Applique)
Row Your Quilt (Mixed)
McKenna Ryan - Petals of my Heart (Machine Applique)

Misc Projects
Too many more kits of bags, chatelaines, wallhangings, journal covers etc. to possibly name

Like Mother, Like Daughter

When I was little, I always wanted to do whatever my Mom was doing. I was lucky in that my Mom worked from home as a bookkeeper until I was in grade 7. I am not sure how lucky she thought it was, but I always wanted to 'help'. As I got older, I worked summers with her (and my Dad) and followed on in the financial (and automotive) footsteps. My need to be just like my Mom extended into her hobbies as well. When she started plastic canvas, I wanted to do it. Ceramics? I must have driven her crazy. But when I absolutely, positively fell in love was when my Mom took a Sampler Quilt Class. I was 19 and hooked. When I moved to Ontario after university my Mom bought me my first sewing machine as an apartment warming present. And I signed up for my own Sampler quilt class. (Just in case you were wondering...14 years later and it isn't completed yet either.)

My daughter is 8 and just like me when I was little. She loves to help and is fascinated by fabric and quilting. One day while we were fabric shopping at Sew Have Fun, she saw Edith was teaching a sewing class to two little girls. They were making bathingsuit cover ups!!! Seriously? I find flannel frightening! 8 year olds thankfully have no fear. So once a week, off she goes! She has made shorts (below), a denim jumper, a fantastic backpack, a blankie for her teddy bear, and placemats for me and her baby brother. It is just incredible to watch! The most spectacular thing is how she designs her projects. Her creativity is absolutely amazing! I just can't wait to see what she comes up with next!


Happy Quilting!

Fire Escape.... and my love of Batiks

There was a time when I hated batiks. Serious amount of strong dislike. I had no idea why anyone would want 'tie-dye' fabric to make a quilt. And the idea that anyone would take a chance that a piece they would cut would not be exactly the same as the next piece. Madness I tell you!!! Back then the owner at my favorite quilt store would tell me that one day I would feel differently. And every time a new shipment of batiks would arrive she would lovingly show them to me. After some time I grew to appreciate batiks for the process and the art form. But still, you would never see one of my quilts with a batik included. Let alone a whole quilt of it!!

Then one day, something magical happened. I enjoy applique. Hand applique usually. But one day I saw McKenna Ryans's A Journey to Light! It was truly an experience for me. I decided I had to make it! So I asked Joy (quilt store owner mentioned above) if we could do a class or at least a kit. What I hadn't considered... was that McKenna Ryan's kits were very batik focused. I didn't care. I loved it! And with the dozen of hours I spent tracing, fusing and cutting shades of black and grey batik that had all looked the same to me a month earlier, I fell in love.

Now, I frequently chose batiks for projects. What I love is that every piece you cut is different. Funny huh? Quilting is just like every other part of your life. You grow, learn, mature and your tastes change. At a quilt show in Peterborough last year I saw a simple for Fire Escape and loved the use of batiks in the sample. Most of my batiks are still used in applique and scenary quilts like McKenna Ryan or Piecemakers. This is an Atkinson Design pattern. I love how easy to follow their patterns are when I just need a break from working!!

Now I just need to take this project from flimsie to complete :)

Happy Quilting!

Go Baby Go!!

For Christmas, I bought my mom an Accuquilt Go Baby. We had so much fun trying it out!! Okay, I cannot actually speak for my Mom.... but my kids and I had a ball! I love machine applique so I took the opportunity while my mom was here to use it to cut out flowers and hearts (with fusible already on!!) to make a throw for a little girl. Very likely a cuddle quilt for my Guild. All I need is to cut out the background blocks and iron on the perfectly cut (and did I mention already fused!!) pieces! Honestly I was really impressed. Less than an hour to fuse and cut 35 pieces!

My Mom went back to Newfoundland with her Go Baby in its cute pink case. She has already cut out a quilt of her own. I can't wait to hear (and see) what she does in the future!! Maybe if I can ever get through my huge list of UFOs and flimsies I'll think about getting one for myself :)

Happy Quilting!

Happy New Year!!

As is my tradition (or at least it seems to be becoming one) I did my Christmas sewing this year AFTER Christmas. On my guild retreat in October, we did a quick class on Christmas Tree napkins. My intent had been to do sets for gifts, but with work and Christmas prep..... it did not happen. However, my Mom and I had a chance to do a little sewing on Boxing Day and the result is a set for her and a set for me! The teachers will just have to wait until next Christmas :)

Such a simple pattern..... but a beautiful touch on the table.


Happy New Year and Happy Quilting!