Friday Night with Friends Report for February

I have been working on the quilting on my cat quilt – some of it was done on Friday night but I try to do a bit every day.  Here is some of my progress.

Detail around the cats in the sun.

The title of the first panel.

And some straight line quilting border work on the cats in the window panel.

It seems that I didn’t plan enough time for finishing it though as I keep on being too busy and I am worried that I won’t get it done in time.  Oh well, all I can do is try and if it doesn’t get done for this visit it will be done for the next one!

I did manage to get a few other things finished this week.  On Wednesday I went to a Bernina class at my LQS.  Ruth holds these classes once a month (except in summer – noone would come then).  We make a little project and learn about how to use some particular foot or feet or settings on the machine.  I attended these classes when I first bought my machine and learned tons but I feel like I have lots more to learn.  This class we made a wall hanging.

I learned how to do machine sewn binding the right way – it turns out that the way I was doing it on the placemats I made at Christmas was my own invention, although it worked okay.  And I learned a different way to do a diagonal join on the binding.  Here is my leaf on my mini quilt hanger.

And I had a spare hour before the class started during which time I put the straps on this bag (that I made at quilt retreat last September!!) 

It is a very large bag and I quite like it, although I like the smaller version that I made even more. I made this one about a year ago but I don’t seem to have ever posted a photo.

And that’s all folks.    I have a busy week coming up.  I am attending a workshop on Monday and Tuesday, working on Wednesday and part of Thursday and attending five films at the Available Light Film Festival, one on Tuesday evening, one on Wednesday afternoon and three on Thursday.  And Thursday is my birthday – and it’s a big one – 65 – so I get to watch all the movies I want to.

Please check out Cheryl's blog to see what everyone else got up to for Friday Night with Friends.

Janet

Year of the finished project for June

June has not been a stellar month sewing wise.  The weather has been stupendous.  The garden is growing profusely.  We have had company galore.  The boats have been launched and used.  Life is busy.  I have been working 2.5 days a week.

1. Six inch quilt block swap Done  Two blocks and a little sample of a postage stamp block for my partner.

I’ve decided to take a break from this swap for a while, even though I love making this little blocks.

2. Bee Balm block swap The instructions and fabric only arrived last week and I barrelled into getting the block done and MADE A MISTAKE, cutting into the fabric I was sent.  After looking for a week I’ve found a replacement – not the same but as close as I’m gonna get.  I still have to make the block.

3. Block swap adventure Done

4. Inchy hexagon swap Done

5. MMM Round Robin Done Last month for this one.  Here’s a sneak peek.

6. Simply Solids block swap Done 

7. Get your Hex On bee Done

8. Charm Pack Table Runner for Terry. NOT DONE

9. A birthday star block for Quilt Diva Julie. NOT DONE

10. A mug rug for my secret partner in the Flickr Mug Rug Revival swap. Done 

As well I am going to:  

***** Finish Easy Street!  Or try to any way.  I have 16 square blocks to make and 10 triangle blocks.  And borders and quilting.  Yikes!  Oh well, I will try..  But I wasn’t too successful.  Only four blocks done…

**** Finish the table mat I started for the Stitch Me Up blog hop. NOT DONE

*** Work on the X and + quilt .  I’m going to try for ten more blocks again this month.   NOT DONE

** Continue making leader/ender postage stamp blocks. These are coming along!!

* Make the prototype dress for DGD’s doll.  I need to decide if this dress is the right one for my GDs for the wedding in September…. DD#2’s wedding… NOT DONE

JULY LIST

I am probably setting myself up for failure but I have to get this sewing done sometime!!

1. Bee Balm block swap – No word yet on the instructions for July, but I am getting June’s block in the mail tomorrow.

2. Block swap adventure – 1 - 12.5 in block – mail by the 25th.  Carol wants any block and she likes purples.  I’m looking for a fun block pattern.

3. Inchy hexagon swap – 2 hexies per month – mail by July 31st.  Lori wants “different fabrics”.  Should be fun finding the right ones.

4. Simply Solids block swap – Mail by July 26th – Annie wants a spider web block.  I’ve wanted to make one of these for ages! 

5. Get your Hex On bee – mail by July 31st.  Stacey wants grouped hexies of different sizes on a grey background.  Fun!  I’m waiting for my package to arrive.

6. Charm Pack Table Runner for Terry. I have a plan and the fabric and pattern.  This will hopefully be done this week.

7. A birthday star block for Quilt Diva Julie.

8. A postcard for my partner in Sheila's postcard swap.  Due by July 31st.

9. Some kind of homemade goodie for my secret partner in the It's a Sister Thing Swap.  I have until the end of August to finish this one, but I’ll be thinking about it and hopefully making something sooner.

As well I am going to:  

***** Finish Easy Street!  Darn it!  I am going to finish it this month.  Because August and September are too busy for me to try and do it then. 

**** Finish the table mat I started for the Stitch Me Up blog hop.  This one would probably take a day to finish.  I need to get it done!!

*** Work on the X and + quilt .  I’m going to try for ten more blocks again this month.  

** Continue making leader/ender postage stamp blocks.

* Make the prototype dress for DGD’s doll.  I need to decide if this dress is the right one for my GDs for the wedding in September…. DD#2’s wedding… And okay this one now has top priority!  Because I’ll have to make the dresses for the girls next!

Janet

Fun at the Retreat

First a quick update on the concussion.  Although it is not as bad as it was two months ago, I don’t seem to be able to get past the stage where I can do normal activity for about three hours, then have to have a nap.  And if I push it to four or five hours then it takes a couple of days to recover.  I am off work for two weeks and will not be going in at all, am limiting my computer time to three one hour sessions a day and trying to rest, rest, rest.  I am sick of this!!

My new blog header photo is of a volunteer viola that popped up in my pot of chives.  Good thing there is a little bit of spring showing up because mostly it is hiding out.  This is what it looked like here on Thursday.

But the sun is out today and the snow is starting to melt again.

I was thrilled with how much I got done at the retreat despite having to nap and being overwhelmed several times.  First up, my Simply Solids swap block for April.  This fairly simple paper pieced block designed by Lisa just about did my brain in, but ta-da… I did get it done…

Then I made this two very easy blocks for Caroline in the 6 inch block swap.  This block is called Liberate.

In the big bag of scraps I acquired recently there were a number of ends from kaleidoscope quilt cuttings so I made these kaleidoscope hexie flowers for Joke for the April swap.

I put together ten blocks for the X and + quilt.  I am so not sure about these blocks – because there is so much beige and brown in the fabrics.  I am going to finish this quilt regardless, but I’m sure hoping it will brighten up as I make more blocks.  Or I might have to use a sashing…

And I made FOUR blocks for Easy Street…. and put together all the pieces for parts two and three.  This quilt is on my design wall now and is staying there until it is done. 

And lastly I started a new project – just a little one, a fun one. But I can’t show it yet. 

Janet

A bit of sewing this week…

Firstly…Brenda from Oshawa… you have been so sweet commenting regularly on my posts.  I love to respond to comments and try to do so all the time, because hey – when I leave a comment on someone’s post I love to get a response.  But Brenda you always come up as a no-reply blogger.  Please check out this link to see how to rectify that.

I have managed to get a little bit done last weekend and this so I think I’ll do a mid-month report (well mid-month plus three)…

We’ve had very mild weather and I’ve been out doing a lot of snowshoeing and skiing, but despite that, and being busy at work, I have managed to sew.  First here is our 1.5 hour ski trek today.  Grey out, but warm. We let the men break the trail   Had a little fire and tea/rum break and then the women headed home while the men went off to check out another trail.

Last weekend I finished my January – February 6 inch blocks.  Terry wanted any block in black, white and one other colour.  This block is from the 100 Quilt Blocks magazine Volume 3 and was designed by Leslee Price.  It is a lovely block but I would definitely change some things if I were to make it again.

And I also finished my January - February Adventure block.  Samantha wanted a Saw Blades block in bold and dark colours.  I think this qualifies.

 

And this weekend I completed my Bee Balm bee blocks for Liz in Australia.  She sent us charm squares from the Mama Said Sew line and asked for this really quick and easy block from Jera at Quilting in the Rain.com.  The tutorial is found at Moda Bakeshop.

And since I have been motoring along on my swaps I allowed myself some time to work on the baby quilt.  Here it is with the borders all added and sandwiched up ready to quilt. 

I also made some progress on the cardinal at the class last Monday, but I’m not ready to show it off yet. 

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Janet

This is why I never get anything done!

I’ve had a hiatus from Easy Street for the last week or so.  I have had all the fabric sitting out waiting for me to finish cutting all the pieces, but other things clamoured louder for attention.  Like some overdue swap items…

Aileen was my partner for the November Adventure Block swap.  She kindly told me not to worry about getting the block done on time as I was on holiday.  The only problem is that I am the kind of person who does everything at the last minute.  So if someone tells me to take my time and get it done when I have time…. well I might never have time!  Aileen wanted a wonky house block in bright, crazy colours.  I hope this fits the bill.  I figured that the rain drops that are rising instead of dropping add to the wonkiness.

And then when I told Joanne that I was going to be late with her December hexies, she said not to worry about doing them at all if I was too busy.  Talk about letting me off the hook!  But I try to be a good swapper and complete my commitments, even though sometimes they are late.  So I made these hexies for Joanne this week.

Then the local craft club decided that we need to do a round of baby quilts to donate to the nursing station.  And I had been looking at Persimon Dreams Project Quilting challenge and I was excited about the square in a square block.  And I received a bag of scraps with around 150 blocks in yellow/orange, hot pink and a flower print.  Pair these with a light blue and here is the baby quilt I’m working on!  My only placement rules were alternating square in squares and solids and that no outside colour could go beside itself.

I thought I’d get all the blocks and rows sewn together this week after work but …..

And then I read a someone’s post for the Year of the Finished Project and they said the rules are that you have to finish a project before you start a new one.  Whoops!  Blew that.  (But I reread the rules and each person actually makes their own rules for themselves.  So all I have to do is finish the Easy Street top in January.  Yikes!)

I will try and get back tomorrow with some recent mail that I need to show off  

Oh and my e-mail wasn’t working from the 9th to the 15th – if you sent me an e-mail during that time and haven’t heard back….. I didn’t receive it.

Janet

Book reports and Easy Street

What have I been up to?  Well DH and I took a whirlwind trip to Prince George (approximately 1600 km) so we could see his sister and two nieces and a nephew prior to Christmas.  We decided to take the bus – way cheaper price and not much longer time wise.  The trip down was great.  We had seats to ourselves most of the way and I read and slept.  We had three and a half days in Prince George and were due to leave on December 21st at 11 pm to arrive home in the very early morning of the 23rd. 

Well coming home was a typical Christmas travel time night mare. The bus was 2 1/2 hours leaving and we were about three blocks from the bus station when the driver announced that he had no high beams and no speedometer and he was going back to the station.  We spent the night on the bus sleeping while waiting to see if a) the bus would get fixed, b) there would be and alternate bus or c) there would be some other solution.  Over the course of the night we were told a) the bus would not be easily fixed, b) we could take the morning bus 1/3 of the way and would have priority seating on it, c) if we took the morning bus then there would be a bus that we could take to the 1/2 way point and d) there would be no bus going all the way to Whitehorse until the next scheduled one that was to leave Christmas Eve at 11 p.m. 

So we went back and spent the day at my s-i-l’s and were fortunately able to get out on a plane that evening – both to Vancouver and then up to Whitehorse.  We were supposed to have two hours between planes but the first plane was late and we had about twenty minutes to traverse the whole length of the airport to the gate for the second plane.  We did make it though and got home at 1:30 in the morning. 

The next day DH got us a little tree.

We spent Christmas Eve at DD # 1’s home in Whitehorse, had a mad present opening session the next morning, then went home for Christmas evening.  On Boxing Day we had our big family meal with twelve attending and a ton of food. 

I did read four books over the last week and here are my reviews. (All photos from Amazon).

This book is in Mr. Grisham’s usual style.  An easy read, interesting, well written but not too deep.  It gave me a much clearer picture of how litigation works in the US of A.  Worth reading.

 

 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgensten.  The book is about a night circus and all the magic and mystery it holds.  The first 7/8ths of the book are fascinating as the circus and it’s many fabulous offerings are richly detailed and the story line is intricately woven.  I found the ending to be a let down.  It felt like the author just got tired of the story and wrapped the whole thing up in a few short words just to have it done.  I read this on my e-reader but would have liked a hard copy so I could easily go back and check dates and places. It is set in the 1800s. Worth reading.

I listened to this book on tape while I worked on my Easy Street blocks one afternoon.  It is a mystery story with a female heroine who solves the case.  Well written and gutsy it is a fun book to read.  I definitely will be looking for more in the series.

 

The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay was a fantastic read of the “don’t want to put it down” variety.  Set in the 1800s in New York it follows the plight of one young girl from the poor side of town. The writing is wonderful – making you feel like you are there at that time and place.  Ms McKay explains how she got the idea for the book through her own family history, which makes it all the more interesting.  Definitely worth reading.

And here are my Easy Street blocks so far.  I’ve worked on Steps 1, 2 and 3 so far. 

Janet

Things that come in the mail, and a bit of sewing…

It has been a while since I’ve posted a mail and sewing blog.  A bit overdue I would say! 

Here are my wonderful hexie flowers for July received from lovely Shannon.

And my beautiful 6 inch Cathy’s Campfire  blocks from Margaret.  I love the fabrics she used.  She also sent the piece of interesting and colourful fabric, which she says is hand printed aboriginal fabric.  Yes Margaret lives in Australia   She must know how much I love bright colours.  Margaret’s blocks are done and on the way to her but I forgot to take a photo before I sent them.

I did a little scrap fabric swap with Cindy from Fluffy Sheep Quilting.  Here are the scrumptious bits and pieces she sent.  Of course I didn’t take a photo of what I sent….

And I won a giveaway of forty-two colour coded blocks from Kat at Diary of a Flutter Kat.  Look at these beauties!

I know just what I’m doing with the two piles above.  They are getting combined with some other scraps of modern fabrics and I’m going to make this for my next scrap quilt. 

“Next one?” you say.  Well I have made some progress on my colours quilt and once it is done I am going to reward myself with starting the next one.  

Only four purple blocks left to go.  I plan to piece the blocks at a quilt retreat I’m attending at the end of September – so I’ll have to have those four blocks finished by then.

I finished quilting one of the baby quilts…. I know it is such a tiny little thing I should have finished them both by now…. and I still have to trim this one and bind it.  Ah sometimes quilts move slowly….

But here’s one that’s moving with great speed.  A friend from our town was diagnosed with a rare and fast growing lymph node cancer a couple of weeks ago.  He is very anxious to get out to Vancouver for treatment and found out on Friday that he is leaving next weekend.  Fellow quilters, Linda P and Linda H, and I decided we have to make him a quilt.  We chose a pattern on Friday afternoon, picked colours, cut and started the piecing Saturday and finished piecing and made the quilt sandwich today.  Tomorrow I have to quilt it, then one of the others will finish up the binding and label.  There is a collection going on for him and the presentation of the town’s gifts for him will be on Thursday evening.  Sometimes we do some really great things in our little town.  Anyway here is the quilt so far.  This man loves the northern lights and takes fantastic photographs of them.  So we’re trying to send some with him to Vancouver.

I’ll get some better photos of it tomorrow after it’s quilted. 

That’s all for now folks, nah, hah, hah, hah…..

Janet