A return to back-basting

In January I shared my attempts at back-basting applique (which you can see here).

Yesterday at my evening guild I was asked if I've kept on with this technique. I have to say I have thought about it but it seems that old habits die hard and I end up prepping my applique the old way without even thinking about it. 

This week though, funny enough, I had been thinking of giving this more of a try. I told my friend that, in fact, I have been preparing a couple of items for back-basting.

I have a pile of hearts ready to take to my day guild today....we sit at tables so a lot of people bring hand-work to do while the meeting is on. It's nice to take an easy project to work on as well as seeing what others are working on!

There are a few hearts ready for back-basting, except for a rogue squirrel that I did the old way...I think because at this point this method is easier for me to fussy-cut.

I also decided that back-basting would be the way to go for this Splendid Sampler block....it's quite finicky and this method was probably best.

With the thimble in the picture for scale you can see how small these seagulls are. I'm doubting my fabric choice on this one but I'm not going to do it over. Maybe I'll outline the seagulls with a stem stitch to define them a bit better.

In the end, I have to say that I still like this method and am going to try to remember to do it more often.

Have a great day, and I hope it includes a bit of stitching time!

Niagara, quilt shops, wineries!

We had a nice little mini-holiday this week to Niagara Falls. The weather didn't co-operate but it was nice to get away for a bit and have some fun.

I don't quite know how we packed so much activity in such a short trip. We stayed in a hotel right in the centre of Clifton Hill, where most of you probably know is all the wax museums, restaurants, touristy stuff, etc....as well as the main attraction...

We had dinner at Antica Pizzeria. I ordered what I'm pretty sure was the best lasagne I've ever had....I highly recommend it! 

Somehow we managed to squeeze in three quilt shops.

The first was The Quilting Bee in Fonthill. I wish I had remembered to take a picture with one of the knowledgeable staff there. Her name is Crowley with a "w"....so I always feel like I'm in a Dr. Seuss book when we greet each other with a "hello, Mrs. Crowley" and a "hello, Mrs. Croley". 

I did take a picture of a quilt that I hadn't seen before since I wanted to show it to one of my "horsey" friends...

Quilt shop #2 was Stitch in Jordan Village. It's such a unique shop....for quilters and knitters. The owner of the shop actually designed the quilt that I have had accepted to Quilt Canada this year. She is a bit photo-shy, so I took this picture instead...

On our way home on Friday we stopped in St. Catharine's at quilt shop #3, Kindred Spirits. It was nice to see their new location (actually in the same strip-mall as before, just a larger shop), as well as my friend's daughter, Amy, who works there. I asked if she'd strike a pose with the Farm Girl Vintage quilt that was on the wall (it's the one in the left corner of the picture)...

I am also working on my own Farm Girl Vintage with a group of friends as a support group. We are doing two blocks a month. I've been very happy with mine, so far, especially my polka-dot background fabric...

A couple of weekends ago I was in Quilt Junction and the first thing I saw was this fabric...

I thought it was perfect to throw some of this in with the red polka-dots....but I don't really think it works, after-all....

I'm not sure if it's the background "cheerio's" that don't work, or my choice of fabrics???? Any opinions are most welcome! I really think I have do re-do these blocks. 

What would a trip to Niagara be without some visits to a couple of wineries? We have some favourites in the particular area of Jordan/Beamsville/Grimsby....I think referred to as the Beamsville Bench. 

Our favourite by far is Kacaba. We didn't go there this time, we wanted to try a couple that we hadn't been to before. 

We came across Cave Spring in Jordan Village. They had a lovely Reisling (my favourite), which isn't surprising as most of the wineries on the "bench" have great Reislings...I think I've been told that it's the limestone in the area. 

We met Meg, who agreed to a photo (excuse my "hotel" hair...nice and poofy...usually from the shampoo in hotels...this time very little water pressure!)...

Then we came across quite a new winery, Redstone. They also had a nice Reisling...a little sweeter that I usually like, but still wonderful!

Of course, I did take a bit of stitching with me....my latest block from Life is Beautiful. Not much accomplished on this block since last time, but still nice to put a few stitches in while I was away!

I think I was a little optimistic, since I actually had another block ready, too. I just hate the thought of being left with nothing to work on if the opportunity arises!

Oh well, that one will be ready to take along to guild this week!

This is the time of month to check in with Audrey at Quilty Folk. She will have people linking up to see progress on Quilty365 circles. As I've shown before, my circles happen to be heart-shaped.

On Saturday I got another row of hearts sewn on...which makes 9 rows of 15, so far....135 hearts! I still have three more completed and four more to get started on to be up-to-date....not bad!

I've referred to this quilt as "A Day in My Life"....but I think more appropriate will be "A Year in My Life"....so that is now the working title.

The photo represents 4-1/2 months...so over a third of the way through! 

When you visit Audrey at her post, she mentions an interview she did with Stephie Boon at Dawn Chorus Studio. You can see the article on her at Stephie's blog HERE. The blogpost is a good one and Audrey's quilting-ways really resonated with me.

Today we celebrate our hand-stitching with Kathy over at Kathy's Quilts . I started an online BOM with Sarah Fielke of Australia this year called Happy Day. There have already been some highly challenging blocks and piecing methods. The blocks are released on the last day of each month and I was happy to see that we are just doing two applique blocks this month. So, right up my alley!

This morning I put the final stitches in the bird block....

Sarah had a different method for making the narrow legs on the bird which I was happy to try. I'm all for trying new techniques and I liked this one. As this post is seeming to get a bit lengthy, I think I explain it another time!

Since both my projects today are of a scrappy nature, I'm also linking up with Cynthia over at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh, Scrap!.

It's quite snowy and frigid looking outside today...I heard a weatherman say we may have more snow in April than we had in December! So, a perfect day to hunker down with some quilting and maybe a bit of a good book later, too!

Have a good one!

365 Update

I don't quite know how it happened but I've fallen a bit behind in my 365 Quilt Challenge blocks.

I felt so behind that yesterday I considered letting this project go.... 

.....but then I took a bit of time at the end of my day to do a bit of sewing and realised I still love these little blocks.

I like the little Scottie block, but it took me a few minutes to realise why it didn't look like the instructions. I did figure it out but it'll stay as-is. In the grand scope of this project, little oopsies will just blend in with the crowd!

I only have half of the centre medallion sewn, but that's ok, I'll get to the rest of it when I feel like it...

So, I am glad that I took a bit of time yesterday to do these blocks....it really won't take much to catch up and it's shown me that I do still like this project. 

I'm also a little behind on my Quilty365/Day in my Life. 

Here's a reminder of my quilt so far...

I have to admit that I even wondered lately if I can keep this up for a year. I will though because I still love seeing this quilt grow month to month. I know I will very much like this quilt when it's done.

So I have prepped the blocks I need to get me caught up...

I'll take these to my monthly applique group this afternoon to stitch on....that's if I go. I have a sicko at home today, so I may have to pass on the outing. 

When I picked a fabric for March 14th, I was really hoping to find something to represent "Pi day".... I knew I didn't have any novelty fabric with "pie" on it, but I did think this one was kinda geometric looking...

I liked finding the ladybug fabric also, since they seem to be coming out of hibernation lately!

Seems like it will be another dreary day...hopefully you can sit back and do some stitching, perfect day for it!

Stitching on a Sunday

Well, not much time for slow stitching today. I am such an early riser but there's the odd time that I actually sleep in!

 Not the best day for that as we are heading down to have lunch with some of the family at a wonderful restaurant called Johnny Rocco's. It's one of my favourite restaurants and I especially love it when it's a first it's a first time visit for someone....today that person is my daughter. I hope she likes it!

This morning's applique was just one little heart for my Quilty365/Day in My Life...

This was a heart for yesterday, commemorating working on a lovely scrappy quilt made by a friend of mine for her granddaughter's first big-girl bed. The heart is a wee scrap I stole from the leftover scrappy backing of my friend's quilt. The piggy background used because my friend always seems to incorporate a pig fabric in her quilts...

The quilt turned out great, it is one of the prettiest I've ever seen...

Usually working on my Quilty365 I try to pick fabrics that reflect the day, but it's not always easy. This week, though, it seemed I had a few good ones!

On Tuesday I heard a wonderful speaker from Ottawa, Elaine Quehl. She is a prolific dyer of fabrics, saying she does about 5000 yards of dying per year!

 Here is my heart for that day....using a hand-dyed fabric out of a stash I've been coveting since 2007 and the heart is one done by me in my short experimenting with dying many years ago...

I quite enjoyed dabbling in dye. I don't know why I didn't continue.

And here is my heart for Leap Day. I was hoping to have a bit of frog fabric, but all I could come up with was a couple of little bunnies...

I've been successful in keeping up with The Splendid Sampler so far. I quite like Thursday's block. It went together nicely. I'm not quite sure of my fabric choices, but I did want to define the pieces. I didn't want to lose the design. In the end, I'm sure it will play nicely with the other 99 blocks!!

I'd better get started for my outing....but will share a picture of little Miss Minnie basking in front of the almost-done fireplace. I'm positive she thinks we installed it just for her....if it's running you can be sure she's stretched out in front of it!

I'll be linking up with Kathy's Quilts to see what others are stitching today.

Have a good one!

Day in My Life

Isn't Mother Nature funny! We had a bit of an ice storm last night and today is bright and sunny and not much wind. It seems to often be like that. 

I had to go out this morning and was a bit nervous of the roads.....there was some ice, but not too bad. On my way home it was totally fine. 

I thought I'd do a quick blogpost as I have an extra coffee for today in an attempt to stay awake. It was one of those mornings when you wake up at 3 and lay there for an hour before admitting that more sleep is just not going to happen!

I did get some nice applique done. I stitched down this little flower in my FlowerGarden quilt and I just had to take a picture. For some reason this little flower really pleases me! Funny, eh?

I am linking up with Quilty Folk for Audrey's monthly tally on our Quilty365...or as I'm calling mine, my Day in My Life.  

Here are 7 rows of 15 blocks....105 blocks! I have two more sewn and a few to catch up on. 

I'm very happy with the progress. I'm also very happy with the way the "scrappiness" is playing out since I'm doing this without any real plan to co-ordinate the blocks in any way. 

I once heard that if you make a scrap quilt out of your stash you are bound to love it since it is made up of all the fabrics that you originally bought for the very fact that you liked them! Makes sense to me!

I also want to share a blogpost by "Quilting is more fun than housework" which you can see HERE.

I've followed Cynthia for a short time, but I'm so surprised that I've never caught a glimpse of her Quilty365! I love it! I think if I had seen this in the beginning I definitely would have been "inspired" by Cynthia (meaning copied her, I suppose?). 

Well, off to enjoy my coffee and call my applique mentor. Always good conversation with her. The only problem is is that out of these recent conversations comes a niggling feeling that we will be starting a new applique project. Oh brother, what is wrong with this picture????

Have a lovely day!

Something splendid!

I'm enjoying the Splendid Sampler. The fourth block was released yesterday and I had to get right at it this morning with my morning coffee. Here are my first four blocks so far...

The fourth one isn't quite done, but almost. They are all so cute!

I'm finally catching up on my Quilty365/Day in My Life since being ill last week. All the hearts are at least prepared if not sewn down...

The heart with the little Japanese girls was as close as I could get to represent going to the Mandarin on Sunday for lunch. I know, wrong country, but I love that fabric and wanted to get it in there!

I find I'm venturing into backgrounds that aren't always neutral. Hmm, that's ok!

Another splendid....our progress on our new fireplace. I have snuck in some painting here and there this week...it's coming along!

Could there be yet another "splendid"?, you ask. Why, yes, yes there is!

I received an email yesterday congratulating me for my quilt being accepted into the National Juried Show this year at Quilt Canada! What a feeling, to be recognised at what one is passionate about. How exciting!

The quilt is my Circle quilt, which you can see in the banner of this blogpost, as well as here... 

The sun is shining after a couple of rainy, grey days....makes me feel like just getting out and soaking up some Vitamin D.

Have a great day!

Slow start

It's one of those days where it would be nice to just curl up with a book and relax.

You recognise this type of day almost immediately. I slept in, which is highly unusual. It's a snowy day, which hasn't happened too much around here this winter! For some reason I was appliqu-ing in slow-motion with my morning coffee. 

Hmm, coffee!? Maybe another one is in order?

I was hoping to get caught up on my Quilt365/Day in My Life hearts this morning....I did manage to get two sweet little blocks done...

Yesterday I sewed on another row to the main quilt....

When I hung this on the design wall, I realised a "happy accident". I had decided early on to have 15 hearts in a row, which means that every two rows constitutes a month of hearts (somewhat). I didn't plan it that way!  Not a big deal, but in a little way it pleases my sensibilities. So, at a glance, I can see that with these five rows of hearts I have been at it for approximately 2-1/2 months!

I'm a couple of days behind in the 365QuiltChallenge, but did manage two more blocks yesterday, and they are adorable!

Our fireplace is installed but still under construction. This morning seemed particularly cozy doing my stitching by the fire....I think maybe because out the window I could see the bit of snow we had overnight? I've noticed that little Minnie loves napping in front of the fire...

This seems to be her "spot" in mornings now!

As I sit typing this with my extra cup of coffee, I'm realising that my body has a few aches and pains this morning....I hope I'm not coming down with something.....although that would explain my very slow start to the day :-(

I thought it might be nice to share a couple of blogs from time to time which I enjoying reading.

The first is Hilda over at Every Stitch. 

I discovered Hilda's blog just a few months ago when I saw her version of Auntie Green's Garden, which is a quilt I've been working on also (for a couple of years!). I'm still loving my AuntieGreen, but was wowed by Hilda's neutral version!

Hilda and I seem to be working on a number of similar projects, which makes her even more interesting to me!

One that she is quilting at the moment is the Civil War Bride quilt. I love her version which is done in red. I have to admit, I started this same quilt a few years back and only got two blocks done. Mine were in very dreary fabrics and I'm now certain that that is the reason I lost interest. It is a quilt project that I gave my permission to just abandon.

Another recent find for me is Gayle at Mangofeet. 

Gayle is another quilter that seems to be working on similar projects as me. Other than her obvious talents, Gayle has a great sense of humour and a knack for writing a fun blogpost!

When you have a moment with a nice warm cup of coffee or tea, please have a visit with these women on their blog and discover their unique talents.  

Hope you're having a better start to your day than me! Oh well, sometimes I think our bodies do this as a message to take a wee break, right?

Quilty365/Day in My Life

What a fun project this is turning out to be! Many of my friends are taking part which makes it even more special.

A few times I've fallen a couple of days behind, but really do try to at least have the little blocks prepped and ready to pick up at some point. They will be a nice take-along project for guild meetings and such.

Here are my blocks on the design wall today....

I started my hearts on November 11th. As you can see by the first block, I intended to play with circles, but remembered a long ago UFO, the idea to do a heart quilt. Those two orange hearts at the top are as far as that got!!!...but I guess their purpose was to inspire me years later!
 

The first four rows are sewn together. My plan is to sew them in chronological order. I'll do this for two reasons....I want the quilt to reflect the year in order, but also it'll be easier than sewing over three hundred blocks together in the end!!

I was hoping to have a fabric that would commemorate my  January birthday, but didn't really hold out hope for that. I don't really think I'm one to have much in the way of novelty fabrics.  The fun thing about having a 55-year old's memory is the surprises that are in store. Here is my birthday block using fabric I'd forgotten about...

I am writing the date on the back of my blocks, but now I think I should be numbering the blocks, as well. 

If you'd like to see other quilters' Quilty365 circles, check over at Quilty Folk, HERE, for lots of eye candy!

Just for the cuteness factor, I'm going to post a picture of last week's 365Challenge blocks....adorable!

 

Is it really the end of January?

What a beautiful weekend....makes a person feel that Spring can't be far off! I think what I miss most this time of year is the time spent outside in my backyard and garden. Oh well, we know to make the most of it when we can.

I've been hard at work lately quilting a couple of custom jobs. They've both been a lot fun, being able to use what I have learned in classes the last couple of years. I won't show the sampler yet that will be finished today as I haven't asked permission yet of the quilter...but I can show a few pictures of the one I finished before this one!

As soon as my friend brought me this quilt I had to ask if I could "play" with it! Here are a couple of close-ups...

I've been trying this week to make some head-way on our wedding signature quilt. By happy accident I found the perfect border fabric!

It's quite a lovely coral colour, I'm not sure it shows well in the picture.

The blocks in the 365 Challenge are starting to get a bit more intricate. They are adorable.

Our fireplace project is coming along nicely. We had great luck on Saturday at Lowe's and Habitat for Humanity ReStore for supplies. I love going to Habitat....you never know what you'll find!

As for this morning, I started the day as usual with some applique. This week I got a lot accomplished on my lower border of my Flower Garden.

 Today I tried to get caught up a bit on Quilty365/Day in My Life hearts. I've been doing the prep work almost every day, but it seems lately the applique falls behind a bit. They don't take long to applique, so I want to try to keep up and not let this fall into the dreaded UFO pile(s).

I was just reading Kathy's post over at Kathy's Quilts. She talks about staying on track and not veering off course. Lately, I feel like I'm veering wildly off course!!! There are so many projects calling my name. Somehow I have to learn to say "no"!

Have a visit with Kathy, HERE, to see what others are stitching on today.