Monday, August 31, 2015

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Here is my "Kiss in the Corner" quilt top.  The seams are pieced in one direction, and it is waiting to be pressed. 

I've always pieced tops using an "assembly line" method, similar to Bonnie Hunter's "Webbing the Top"

 Next step is to pin all the seam intersections, before sewing the final seams.

I have the first border strips cut and ready to sew on - found enough pieces of the same fabric in my 2 inch strip bin - cut at various times for various projects!

I'm still trying to decide which fabric I'll use for the final border.  I have it narrowed down to 3, but I'll wait to audition them when the top and first border are attached.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  120.75 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  63.75 yards

Net used 2015  57 yards
Nothing to report as far as fabric usage goes.....  I've been working on another scrap quilt, this time I'm using Bonnie Hunter's "Kiss in the Corner" pattern.  This uses almost all 2 inch strips, so I've been digging into my 2 inch bin for yellows, lights and darks, with a few 1 1/2 inch squares of darks thrown into the mix.
Thursday afternoon, I laid out all the blocks, sashings, corner squares and setting triangles on the living room rug (my design wall is too small).  I have a picture to add here, but Blogger isn't cooperating today......
I started to sew the top together Friday morning, and worked on it today, in between doing 5 loads of laundry.
Last weekend we went to Toronto to celebrate our August birthdays (3 this month).  We all met at a lovely park and had a picknic lunch under the shade of a tree.  Lots of time to chat, and enjoy the fresh air with our family.  
After lunch we headed to DS2's home in Kitchener.  We had fun playing with our grandson, and we helped them with a few jobs around the house and yard, returning home on Tuesday morning.
DH had a practice with his music partner, and they entertained at a local seniors' residence on Wednesday afternoon.  Home for a quick dinner, then off to the second last "Music in the Park" for the summer season.
Friday we headed up to Baptiste Lake.  A cousin of DH's, who lives in British Columbia, was visiting, and trying to see as many relatives as possible during his visit.  We met and spent an afternoon getting caught up on all the news, and DH and cousin told stories of their time together when they were young.  Our hosts provided a great BBQ steak dinner, and after watching a great sunset, we hit the road and arrived home by 11p.m.
I'm sure I'll catch up on my sleep soon, but I'm anxious to get my quilt top completed!
Check out all the progress shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times

Monday, August 17, 2015

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing on my design wall, but I am prepping pieces for another quilt top made from scraps!!!!!

 Here is my completed half log cabin quilt!  There are 140 five inch blocks in this quilt, and I decided not to add borders.  The red binding was also leftover fabric, just waiting to be used.  The quilt is 50 x 70 inches finished, and will be donated to Quilts of Valour, through my guild's community quilts program in September.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  15 yards
Fabric used year to date  120.75 yards
Fabric added this week  0 yards
Fabric added year to date  63.75 yards
Net used 2015  57 yards

 Finally, after over a month, I have yardage to claim!  My half log cabin quilt is completed, all made from scraps!  I plan on donating this one to Quilts of Valour here in Canada, through my guild's community quilts program. (We have someone coordinating just these quilts).  Now on to more scraps!

 I stitched my favourite feathered hooks on all the ''dark'' sections of the quilt.
I stitched lines and swirls on all the light sections.  Now to find a place to take a picture of the finished quilt.......
Just one more picture for good measure!

Please check out all the stash progress shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

DESIGN WALL MONDAY - OOPS! TUESDAY

I'm not sure where Monday went!  DH and friend arrived in time for dinner last night.  They were both tired from their visit to Syracuse, with 5 performances in 3 days, but they had fun, added smiles to some residents of nursing homes, and generally enjoyed their time!

Nothing on my wall, but I managed to get my half log cabin quilt pin-basted.  Now to find time to quilt!
It is currently draped over my sewing table, just patiently waiting.

So far this morning, two more members of the band arrived, just in time to head out for the morning performance.  The whole group is returning to our place at noon, for a quick lunch, so this morning I made some egg salad and tuna salad to make sandwiches, and I'll slice some tomatoes, cheese, put out pickles, crackers, meat and other condiments, and they can have a free-for-all, making their own lunch when they arrive.  This afternoon, we're all going to attend the performance, then are off to band member Steve and Shirley's place for dinner.  Not sure when quilting will fit into the schedule.  
Tonight we'll have 3 house guests instead of 1 - we're at our maximum number for the space we have in our small townhouse, but everyone is comfortable.  It will seem very quiet when everyone heads home on Thursday!!!!!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

Sunday, August 9, 2015

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards
Fabric used year to date  105.75 yards
Fabric added this week  0 yards
Fabric added year to date  63.75 yards
Net used 2015  42 yards 
 
I've been sewing every day this week, and the half log cabin top is completed, and I also pieced the backing fabric.  I really should have pin-basted it right away, but there were all sorts of short 1 1/2 inch strips left over, and I have stitched them all into 9-patch blocks - much more usable than some short strips!  One of these days, I'll be able to claim some fabric as "used".
 
DH and I did some clean-up this week, as we had company expected.  I love that he vacuums and washes floors!!!!
Wednesday evening we spent an hour enjoying the free concerts in the park - this time a solo performer.  He was very talented, playing guitar, banjo and bohdran, singing a variety of songs, and a witty banter!
 
Thursday afternoon our company arrived - 2 members of the band.  I fed them a quick lunch, then they headed over to the 4th member's home for a practice.  They hadn't been together since April, and wanted to run through their current playlist.  I joined them about 4:30, and we had a delicious dinner provided by our hostess.
 
DH and the keyboard player were up early on Friday morning, and played a round of golf.  Then, after lunch, he took her on a quick tour of Kingston, pointing out all the sights.  Around 3:30, the rest of the band arrived, and we had BBQ hamburgers and salads before they headed out for their performance for the local car club's "drive-in".  They meet in a local store's parking lot (with permission), and the group played 2 sets from 6-8pm with a short break.  Since they play 60's - 80's music, all the visitors looking at the vintage vehicles and hotrods, enjoyed the tunes, often dancing as they went past.
 
They left for Syracuse early on Saturday morning, and have 5 performances there, (mostly at nursing homes), before they return on Monday afternoon.
 
Check out all the progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

READY TO STITCH THE QUILT TOP!

I completed all 140 half log cabin blocks yesterday, so I printed out the layout from EQ, and last night I arranged all the blocks in their rows, ready to stitch!
My 1 1/2 inch strip bin looks better - I've used more than a layer of "lights", and almost a layer of "darks".  

I'm already planning my next scrappy project.  I guess I better get stitching!

We're having company tomorrow.  DH's band is getting together, and one of the members, who is from Sudbury, is staying with us.  They are playing for a collector car group on Friday evening, then are off to Syracuse NY to meet up with the final band member.  They are entertaining at 3 different nursing homes in the area before returning to Kingston, and doing the same here.  By this time next week, they'll all be on their way home again, and we'll see them when they all arrive at our southern home's location!
 

Sunday, August 2, 2015

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards
Fabric used year to date  105.75 yards
Fabric added this week  0 yards
Fabric added year to date  63.75 yards
Net used 2015  42 yards 
 
Nothing to report this week, although I have finished 94 half log cabin blocks - my goal is 140, so I had better get stitching!
 
DH and I attended the AQS show in Syracuse NY on Friday.  Lovely quilts, and I had great sales resistance at the many vendor booths.  I did buy some Superior Threads, and DH won a pack of squares from Northcott!  We had a wonderful day, did a bit of shopping and stopped for a meal before returning home.  I had decided that I wouldn't buy any fabric unless I have a real need for an upcoming project!
 
Check out all the reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.