Sunday, October 30, 2016

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards
Fabric used year to date  191.5 yards
Fabric added this week  10.5 yards
Fabric added year to date  44.25 yards
Net used 2016  147.25 yards

I did a little shopping on the trip south.  First stop was at Zook's Fabrics in Intercourse PA.  They had a large number of bolts marked 30% off, and I also got a discount after showing my guild card!  I chose fabrics to complete my "Autumn Leaves" quilt, that will use the remaining leaf print blocks.  I also picked up a cute baby quilt panel.  It is becoming difficult to find panels that are 36 inches x the width of fabric - most are barely 24 inches!

Next stop was in Richmond VA where we visited Quilting Adventures.  What a lovely shop, but as I'm trying not to buy fabric without a plan, I only picked up a yard of clearance fabric and two fat quarters - all neutrals to help with my plan of using lots of scrap strips and squares this winter!

Today I unpacked the 4 large totes, removing anything that wasn't quilting/sewing related.  That will have to wait until we do a "fall cleaning" of my sewing sunroom.  Everything that was unpacked is put away, and we made a grocery run this afternoon too.  DH spent time doing his usual outdoor chores too. He took a bit of time to visit with the neighbours - we always get a lovely welcome from everyone, and of course a chat to catch up on everyones' summer.  Of course, not everything goes smoothly, and we've been having internet problems since it was turned on yesterday.  Everything has been attempted at the "office end", and we have an appointment on Monday to have a new wireless router installed.  Until then, my portable notebook has to be hooked up with a cable to get on-again off-again connections.  We might have to cancel our Skype call with our grandson and family tomorrow.....

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

Monday, October 24, 2016

STASH REPORT SUNDAY (OR MONDAY!)

Fabric used this week  3.875 yards
Fabric used year to date   191.5 yards
Fabric added this week  0 yards
Fabric added year to date  33.75 yards
Net used 2016  157.75 yards
 
My final project before heading south was another snuggle quilt for my grandson.  I used a cloth book panel, cutting the pages apart and adding sashing and cornerstones.

I've spent the rest of the past week organizing my sewing room and looking for projects that I want to complete over the winter.

I think that I've decided to make some scrappy quilts, trying to reduce the number of scrap strips and squares that seem to grow when I'm not looking.  I have also packed two small duffle bags with neutral fabrics to help with my plan.    Now back to packing!

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



Monday, October 10, 2016

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Here are some close-ups of the quilting on my redwork quilt.


I stitched in the ditch around all the triangles, and outlined all the embroidery.  Then echo quilting in the borders and setting triangles and squares.  I stitched curls and leaves around the embroidery in the centre block.
I plan on taking this quilt south, and it will decorate my living room in February.

Now back to stitching my grandson's next quilt!
Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  7.75 yards
Fabric used year to date   187.625 yards
Fabric added this week  0 yards
Fabric added year to date  33.75 yards
Net used 2016  153.875 yards

I completed my redwork wall hanging last night, sewing the final stitch in the binding.  The pattern is called Red Radiance.
Now back to working on another quilt for my grandson.  He's decided to have a quilt with him everywhere he goes, so he needs an additional one.  I'm using a cloth book panel - they don't all work, but this one is about opposites and has no beginning, middle and end.

Check out the progress reported at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

Monday, October 3, 2016

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I finally dusted off my camera and took some pictures of the baby quilt that I finished last week.
It began as a panel, called "A Beautiful Day", designed by Jacqueline Steves.  I decided to make it a bit larger, so I added two borders.  The small lime green border was made from a fat quarter - the only matching green that I could find in my stash.  The final border and binding was made from fabric that I bought from Connecting Threads - the colour was perfect, and the swirls in the fabric echoed the swirls in the panel design triangle border.
 I outlined the centre panel, using monofilament (invisible) thread.  I decided to outline all the designs, and not add any extra quilting, as the design is cute and busy.  I stitched flowers and leaves with curlicues in the plain pink area, wiggles in the lime green and curls in the final orange/gold border.
This quilt will be donated to our local hospital by my community quilts group at my guild.
Now back to my machine quilting.  I have to take advantage of the time I have today, as we have company arriving again tomorrow!

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

Sunday, October 2, 2016

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  6 yards
Fabric used year to date  179.875 yards
Fabric added this week 0 yards
Fabric added year to date  33.75 yards
Net used 2016  146.125 yards

My "used" fabric was from my small autumn leaf wallhanging, and a baby quilt made from a panel.  The baby quilt will be heading to my community quilts group at my guild. (picture to follow later)
  I'm currently quilting my redwork quilt, making slow progress.  This time of year, DH and I are busy doing our Christmas shopping, as well as birthday shopping for our grandson.  It seems early to everyone, but we'll be relocating south in a few short weeks, and they get super busy this time of year.
DS1 spent the weekend with us - sort of.....  He arrived Thursday in time for dinner, but he really came for a game weekend with his friends.  Starting with lunch together on Friday, they played board and card games of all sorts for the weekend.  We had a good visit at breakfast each morning, and by 9:30 he was off for the day.  He returned home this afternoon, and we took him to the train station for his trip home today.
Next week, my brother and his wife will be in town for 3 days.  They visit from China a couple of times per year, and this time, 3 of his wife's school friends are coming for a tour of southern Ontario.  They've never seen the autumn leaves in person, and are looking forward to their visit.  They are staying in a hotel while they are here, as it would be difficult to accommodate 5 adults comfortably in our small townhouse.
Next weekend is Thanksgiving for all Canadians, and we are looking forward to a lovely dinner with friends.  Hopefully I'll get some quilting done too!  I'm starting to plan some projects for my winter in the south.

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