A Finish and a Start

The older teen boy wanted a computer gamer theme or soccer for his quilt. What is the matter with quilt fabric manufactures? They make online game fabric which is cute -- for little kids. There is nothing much for soccer except white balls on a green background. 

So I found this panel of gears and made the top but could not think of a name. So I googled the panel and found "Steampunk" -- a term used with computer games. So it is called "Steampunk, maybe?" 

My gamer friends say that's "Pretty close." I hope the boy likes it. I do, and it was fun to make. Fabric is gold, black and browns, metallic running through, very cool.

The other one is for his grandmother. It is not finished, needs about 10" of borders, but I like it so far. She sent a picture of a quilt with a big flower in the middle, so I looked and this is was the only one I could find of left of that big blossom that was popular months ago. Some bright colored pieces, but she wanted light. Anyway, I'm having fun with this too. The outer corners are in soft greens, not a great photo in artificial light. Hope to get some daylight next time. Quilting it will be interesting. 

But later. I have a hockey game to watch!

It's a Jungle Out There

 This blog title is the name of a finish. It came out of a pile of leftovers from another top that isn't quilted yet. We have a loft decorated with an African theme but needed a lap quilt (big TV, recliner, etc.) It was fun to make. Not happy with the photo, but here it is, with a close up. Double-click to see it better.

Now I'm working on a pile of leftover floral prints, oldies but enough to make a bunch of HST with contrasting values. Not sure what will come of it, maybe just an empty scrap bin!!

Flowers with Friends

I published this top before, but now it is FINISHED with a deep sense of gratitude. It was not fun. The pieces were leftovers from a different layout and given back to our guild where the fabric and pattern had been donated. The white background (don't know why it looks pink here, artificial light likely) material is heavy and my longarm did a lot of thumping going over the seams. Also, it needed white batting and I could not find a thinner option, so that adds to the thickness. 

It looks pretty though, and I hope whoever gets it enjoys it. Colors are fun. I used a panto called Saffron Blossoms, not too densely quilted. Didn't want to add the the weight. Still, it feels good that it is done. In my record book, it is #257. Also changed the name from Leaves and Friends because the panto looks a bit like leaves but more like flowers.

I'm working on Christmas gifts, so will not publish them here unless totally convinced that the recipient will not be peeking. Trying to do others in between so hopefully will have a few that can be posted.

We have lots of snow with up/down temps. Dropped 20 degrees Celsius in a couple hours this week. Our storms are much like those on the east side of USA but it is much colder here, but power outages are rare. Hibernating is okay!

No sleep, but it is finished

I stayed up late one night to finish the binding (hand-sewn) and put on the label. Regretted that later but it feels so good to have this one finished. 

The recipient wanted a black quilt. I couldn't do it. Too depressing? Maybe. I used a mottled black for most of the top and backing and stuck in a panel that I just love. If she hates the quilt, I will have no trouble keeping this one. The panel invites you into the scene. I lopped off the sides and put the pieces into flying geese that look like triangular windows up the sides. A bit of a challenge but was not as hard as I dreaded. Used a dark green to frame them and the panel and quilted it mostly with a panto called "Oh My Feathers" ... but went a little wild in the mountains. No quilting on the windows other than in the ditch. Pictures show the results.

 

The label is cool, a free to use pic found on the web!

Now on to the next ones... a couple and their little boy who loves the English alphabet but not creepy critters. It was a challenge to find fabric without the critters, but it is now on my cutting table. 

Hope everyone is staying safe and well. 

 

 

 

 

Pretty Pink Papilionini

 

I may have the Latin name wrong, but it sounds good and begins with P --- and this one is finally finished, labeled and ready to go to a good home. I'd thought I'd keep it but have nothing pink in my house except a small bit of leftover scraps. Also, when

I realized I liked the label as much as the quilt, that seemed a good reason to find a lover of pink. It is 58.5" x 64" and quilted with a Panto called "Fanciful Flyers" in the middle. I made up the border which doesn't show up with the pink variegated thread, but it was fun. Now on to the next one...

Plaid Squares in Squares

 This quilt top was done last year but finally made it to the longarm. I'm not sure I like the pantograph I used, but the best part is that it is finished. It is 55.5" x 71" so about a twin or a large lap quilt. It will go to a charity in town.

 Even though the colors in the binding are not a perfect match, all those colors are in the various plaids. Stripes make the most attractive edge for some quilts. I really like it on this one.

 This week has been a stressful, up and down week so far. A friend tells us his wife is leaving him. Another friend's sister (only 41) had a massive stroke and without the quick thinking of her young daughter may have died. We just got word last night that a dear one who is 91 also had a stroke and cannot move. She is ready to meet Jesus, but I love her so much and cry that she is suffering. Also a family issue with news that helps us with some questions. Good news but emotional. Besides all of this, several prayer requests, some quite stressful for those who asked for support. I feel their pain and have them on my mind continually. Making quilts is certainly therapy and helps me as life happens.  

I have a nice pink backing draped over the longarm waiting for me to get the batting trimmed to size. It goes on a pink top made from scraps. Pink is not my fav color, but love this one. I also have two more tops that need quilting, and at least six baby quilts with fabric stacked up ready to sew, several boxes of scraps that will make several fun scrappy projects, and project boxes here and there that keep calling my name. Will I live long enough? Have to... and get all those quilts finished!

Growing so Big

Finished this in a few hours. It is much like the last one only it took less time to sew and quilt. I've several more panels for children and do them when the bigger quilts tire me out. It will to to Basically Babies.

Also still working on my 'squirrel' distraction, but other things keep interfering, like cooking, laundry and keeping the house uncluttered. Hubby is good to pitch in but he has been getting calls for work and now has three PCs, four keyboards, and five monitors in his den, plus printer, full-size copier, and you get the picture... he has other things to do besides clean up the messes I make!

Oh, he is also making our itsy yard look lovely and runs errands. We are in phase 2 of getting out of social distancing etc. and so far so good in our neck of the woods. Our provincial government has been superior in guiding us through this. Only a few have broken protocol and unfortunately paying the price.

Our local guild, over 200 folks, has been having monthly meetings on ZOOM. What a hoot! We are quilters and most haven't much familiarity with this way of communicating. Lots of laughs to say the least!

Stay safe!

Growing So Fast

"Growing So Fast" is a finish using one of the panels that will be given to "Basically Babies" as soon as some of our restrictions are lifted. I added two borders and quilted it densely so it heavy and will hang flat. The bears were left alone so they are puffy and tactile.

Now I'm doing my own variation of Dachshund dogs - long and lean horizontal with their bodies made up of scraps in five different colors. I make the pattern on EQ 8. It was easy even though I changed the dog's face and feet from the pattern that is available online. EQ does a great job of telling you how much fabric is needed and how to rotary cut the parts that can be cut that way. It gives dimensions for them with the seam allowance included. The head and tail end of the dogs are more suited to foundation paper piecing so I have worked up the pattern for that. Also, the blue, green and purple "bodies" are cut out, the blues are sewn together. This is fun... a total "squirrel" as it was not on my to-do list and I was looking for something else when I saw a photo that gave me the idea.

No pictures yet, but soon, Lord willing!

Off and On the Longarm...

The baby quilt is finished. A lousy picture, but I'm getting lazy in my old age. It's a panel, added a border, and practiced nine different fillers in the background. Backing is soft flannelette.


The one below is a scrappy quilt made from the leftover pieces for a larger scrappy. It is about 36 x 60 and perfect for practicing. I've never tried feathers before. I'm a coward. However, decided to attack and do some large, free-motion feathers around the outside. There are five blocks in a row and I'm doing them in simple lines. 

The feathers are large, uneven, sloppy in places, but they say practice, practice, practice. You can glimpse the last done and believe me, these look better that the first done. I can do leaves with my eyes shut but they are more forgiving!

The bigger quilt with all blocks like these and black sashing, has two rows sewn together. I'm still not sure how to quilt it, but do realize these blocks must be stabilized with ditch quilting if they are going to stay square!

NOTE: The Nativity Pattern shown in the upper right corner of this page is available in hard copy from my Etsy page for a limited time. After they are sold, the digital version will still be available. Click on the picture of this popular quilt to see more and to order it.

Chili Pot finished

If my blogging was as consistent as my quilting... or have I got that backwards?

Anyway, this is a finish, photographed, documented, in the book, and ready for someone, likely will go to Quilts of Valour (the 'u' indicates the Canadian version). These wonderful people have distributed nearly 15,000 quilts in just a few years. 

This one was fun to make. Used fabrics from my stash, quickly made the blocks and got the backing cut, made the label, then let it sit for several months. The label said it was finished in 2019 -- only out a few months. It is 66" x 85.5" and the backing is orange that looks a bit like tomato sauce. Binding is lengths of leftovers from the blocks and finished by hand. I quilted it on the longarm with a panto called "Oasis." Easy.

I took two photos. This one is too yellow and the other was too pink - same camera, same lighting, about 30 seconds apart. Go figure??

We were supposed to be on vacation but 'you know what' would not allow us to leave, so this staycation has us at home. Some value in that -- I'm sewing more because I'm not supposed to be here.

Half a Halo - finished!

Finally this one is finished, labeled, and ready to put on the sofa. I called it Half a Halo" based on the where I decided to stop making this intricate pattern by Sue Garman. See her version here. It is stunning, but I'm not up to any more little triangles.

Now on to a couple more UFO's.

Finally...

Nosebleed is no more. See comment on last post. Now I'm feeling good and not afraid of it going at it again. Thanks for your care and prayers!

This is a finish, a charity quilt. I went to a guild sewing day and was handed a pile of fabric again to "take it home and make something." Santa squares, other squares with birds and bird fabric, and some red plaid flannel. Apparently these were donated to the guild some time ago and no one wanted to tackle them. I'm naive. I took the pile and this is the result. I bought the red ribbon otherwise the birds just took over. They are still a bit much, kind of like the swirling flocks in that Alfred Hitchcock movie, but Santa is happy and someone will like this quilt.

I'm nearly finished the skinny tree so a picture soon. Also working on that Halo Medallion. All the paper-pieced arcs are a tedious chore, but nearly done. More soon on that one too.

Hopefully, the year will end well. I'm not a Santa person, but am looking forward to celebrating Christmas and baking cookies!

Which Way to Dinner?

This finish is about 32" x 40" and made of the leftovers from one that I cut out and made the blocks before deciding to change it (link). It was a great size to practice quilting on, both ruler and free-motion. To my eye, the quilting was clumsy but after it is finished, it looks okay.

Then off to a guild sew day on Saturday and was given 13 blocks and a bunch of fabric to 'make the top.' This is another charity project. Of course the blocks are not all the same size and none of them have points in the right place on the outside edges, but it is starting to look better than I feared. The setting squares will be yellow not dark like the two in the photo. I'll add a white border and make binding out of the leftover print so it will be varied around the outside and nicely frame it.

By this time soon ...

By this time soon this quilt will be in the hands and on the bed where it belongs. My daughter wanted subway tiles in taupe gradually going from dark to light. This was not as easy as I thought to get the color graduation, but the piecing was simple. Manipulating that much fabric was another story. 

The quilt is 112" wide so it will hang over the bed, and 100" tall. The panto is called "Dazzle" and makes dense quilting, just what she wanted. I had people praying for me to persevere and get it done by yesterday... which I did. Thank You Lord!!

The name: "You are Covered" (Psalm 85:2). 

It looks so good on my bed that I'm thinking of making another king-size - indicating that I've truly lost my mind!

 

Another one finished...

This is a surprise for a dear friend who turned 90 a few weeks ago. It is not a birthday gift though... the title says it all: "For the Joy that You Bring..." (see Philippians 1:3-5)

I was inspired by a pack of florals in my stash and a table runner pattern from the book "Skinny Quilts and Table Runners." I'd made one in pink florals for a charity auction and it was one of the first items to sell. This one uses the same blocks only more of them. It is 60" x 89" (she is a little lady) and quilted with a panto called "Breath of the Gods."

I had to photo it draped over my long arm because I'm working on my daughter's king-size and it takes up my only design wall. 

This king It is a simple design and should finish quickly. I'm still sleepy all the time, but it is a false feeling. If I get moving, it passes. Doc's assistant calls it "the new normal" 😏

Is finished really better?

The Dear Jane folks say 'finished is better than perfect' yet sometimes I want to do a better job, or at least a little faster. This was difficult to finish. I started it ions ago, then had heart trouble (A-Fib), cataracts fixed, a couple of problems with one eye, and all sorts of trouble with ambition last year. When my doctors decided a pacemaker would fix the irregular heart, that took the stuffing out of me for a few months. So has adjusting to what my pacemaker nurse calls the "new normal" and being sleepy all the time. (I'm likely going to have them turn it up a bit, pulse is set at 60 so when I wake up I don't feel like getting up - which will make it work harder.)

However, all whining aside, this one is done and ready for its new home -- which is going to be built by early fall... so I didn't need to rush after all. 😊 It was hard to see - small stitches for the applique, and putting a black facing on black backing with black thread. If you have never tried that, I don't recommend it! And I made three mistakes doing the label of all things, but it is finished. About 25" square and for my daughter. Shhh, don't tell her. She asked me to make it, but by now she may have forgotten! It will match the runner I made for her awhile ago. 

 

King-Size Reveal --- Finally!

Scott's quilt is finally totally finished. This afternoon, we hung it from an open beam in our church using a temporary basted sleeve and heavy clips. The light from the windows is natural, but cloudy rather than bright sunshine. 

Soon this one is going in a box and under a tree. (If anyone reading this knows my son, don't tell him. He knows I've made it but has not seen it yet - and refused to look at photos.)

I'm glad this monster is finished. I could not work on it when getting a pacemaker as pectoral muscles are needed to handle something this big. Sometimes I was just so sick of working on it that I did something easier. 

It looks better in life, I think. Those who helped loved it and I am humbled by their praise because the Lord deserves it more. It was not easy to do and more answered prayer was involved with this one than anything else I've ever done. 

Two people said it was too nice to put on a bed. What he thinks remains to be discovered. Oh, it is 106" wide x 94" tall and took nearly 300 hours. 

More red slab quilts and one finish!

From a small box of red scraps I made this quilt which looks far better than the photo. My hubby claimed it as soon as he saw it. Now am working on this one (below) and will make another one also, all from that box of red scraps. The three of them are lap size or larger (or will be) for big laps!

The blue sashing is not my choice. A friend convinced me to try it. I've never been a fan of red/blue together, but it does have a certain appeal. Besides, it is from the stash and I am not buying more fabric! The left two verticals are sewn, with the third ready to attach and the fourth just hanging there looking messy. I am thinking of a 5" piano key boarder with leftover reds (they multiply in the dark when no one is looking). There is enough of them, plus a bit of blue to accent or put in the corners.

The third quilt has a brown/red print ready to cut up for sashing. 

Making these slab quilts is easy and fun. I'll quilt them with a panto and they will likely go to QoV Canada.

Scott's king size quilt is done, but no photo yet. We are taking it to our church where we can hang it from a beam and get back far enough to take a picture. It will be quite a production needing two ladders, at least two men, lots of clamps and patience on my part!

"Cabin Steps"

My customer sent me this photo of the homespun table runner that I made for her last month. She lives in a lovely older home and was totally thrilled with how the runner looks on her sideboard. I am too. I called it "Instant Replay" with the qualifier (well, not quite) because the Olympics were on at the time and because I had the order for a year before getting at it. She likes puns and word play.

I also put the pattern for this on my Etsy page, in case anyone is interested. I called it "Cabin Steps." It was fun to make and would also look nice in a lake cabin or a country-style decor in the plaids. I'd like to try it in different fabrics, but then there are lots of things I'd like to try!

Emma's Jams Finished

We (me and the friend who made most of it) are calling this quilt Emma's Jams for the inspiration and "Shabby Chic" for the way it turned out. Those cute pj's were almost impossible to quilt hence the shabby part, but chic because this one turned out so cute. 

I'm aware that stabilizer would have prevented some of the 'crawl' in the double knits and silk, but it would have spoiled the look my friend wanted. She is totally happy with the way it turned out. I feel somewhat humbled (my perfectionist side) but totally delighted that this one is unique, very cuddly, and finished. It will be gifted on Sunday and mom will send pictures of her teen's reaction. Sorry, I had no place to put it to get a better photo. It is a large twin size. The colors are close, but not quite right... and it is square and flat!!