My summer tea cosy

I am crazy about tea cosies so that is what I decided to make with the lovely Mirror Ball Dot fabrics that I won in a giveaway.(here) This fabric was really nice to work with.  The machine quilting that I did in freemotion on the white part, just sparkles with opalescence.  The two photos below are just one cosy..green teapot on one side and pink on the other. 

A perfect summer tea cosy.  My new favourite tea is The Countess of Seville from David's Teas. I love to have a cup after work.  It's a citrusy, organic green tea.  So nice.  

My first postcard!

Well, this is the first postcard that I have made, that I am pleased enough with to send.   Although, if I ever do lettering with my machine again, I would not use variegated thread.  Learned something new.  I also have to fine tune the edging more so that it looks a bit neater.

 I won't say who will receive it...that will be a surprise.  It is all addressed (somewhere in Canada)  and just waiting for a stamp.

I hope that whoever receives my first postcard will show it on their blog  so we can all see where it ends up.

PS: The little fabric scraps I used to make the postcard are from the mystery quilt I am making 
called "Darlene's Mystery Quilt" .  I am currently working on Round 5. More on that at another time.    

An Awesome Win!

A package arrived for me today, all the way from Hawaii! That's 8700 kms (5406 miles) away from Halifax. Wish the nice warm sunshine would have arrived with the package!

  A few weeks ago I won the giveaway on Mark Hordyszynski's blog "The Mad Hatter of Maui".
Mark is hosting a BlogHop called "Mirror Ball Hop".  Mirror Ball fabrics, designed by Mark and printed by Michael Miller Fabrics, will be available again, after being retired.  The first printing was in 2007 but has been brought back by popular demand.  I can say, It Is Fabulous!  Now that I have these fat quarters that I won in the giveaway, you can be sure I will be collecting as much as I can.  Also included in the giveaway is the wonderful colour swatch chart.  Isn't it just the prettiest!  In the colour chart you will see Fairy Frost and Cotton Couture.  I have some Fairy Frost, just a scrap or two.  I am anxious to try the beautiful CC solids too.  Check out Mark's blog.  He has a new line called "Beadwork" that will be available soon.  It is amazing. 

Check out this week's participant in the Hop,  Karen Neary .

Thank you so much Mark!  I am tickled pink, or should I say "Princess"!  This just made my day.    

What's Happening!

 I spent my spare time, the past week,  making two more Dear Jane blocks.  That's a total of four so far.  A long way to go.   I love these little blocks so much.

 

I worked on completing a knitting project.  I made another golf club cover. Knitty Sister  knitted his face and feathers.  She is amazing.  His nose is stuffed.  This one is the blue Angry Bird.  Made it for my boss.  He really liked the one that we  made for a co-worker, so I thought it would be a nice surprise for him.

I am also working on knitting another tea cosy.  This one is from a pattern by Churchmouse . This is what it will look like.  Not the greatest pic.  I took it with my webcam.

I am using Noro Silk Garden.  Here are the colours of my yarn.

I am linking up with the Needle and Thread Network, so stop by and check out all the creativity. 

What's Happening

It's been a year since I bought the Dear Jane book of patterns by Brenda Papadakis.  I am a sucker for samplers and this one is the ultimate sampler to me.  I just adore the border on this quilt.  I have spent the last year going back and forth on what fabrics I would choose.   I love every Dear Jane that I see and want to duplicate the colour scheme.  But no, I can't do that.  I have to find the one that is right for me.
And there it was, sitting right in front of me for the past 5 years!  A basket crammed full of pinks and greens and black background florals. (I will add solid white for background) The black florals will be the unpieced border triangles.    Old colour combo, very feminine,  just perfect for " My Dear Jane".  Why hadn't I entertained this idea before?   I had collected these fabrics for a group quilt that some friends and I were going to each make, 5+ years ago.  I never did start that quilt.

So, I have made the first two blocks and I will work on this project over time.....a lot of time.  There are 225 block patterns! 

Each block finishes at 4 1/2 inches

I have always wanted to make an authentic red-heeled Sock Monkey.  Just recently, I finally found the Rockford socks at a outdoor shop in North Sydney, N. S., the only place in Nova Scotia that carries this sock.    I spent 6 hours yesterday making this crazy little guy.  I just love him.  I also have a pattern for a sock monkey quilt that I plan on making soon as I collect the fabric.  His name is Sydney!

I am linking up with The Needle and Thread Network this week.  Stop by and check out what's happening this week.

Update on the belt for my Featherweight....Kathy B. found one for me in Saint John, N. B. and will deliver it to me in person soon when she comes to visit for our annual Quilty Week.  Thanks

What a Day in Mahone Bay!

Quilters were lined up, waiting for the doors to open at 10 am this morning, at Trinity United Church in Mahone Bay, N.S.  I was probably 25th in line.   The Mahone Bay Quilters Guild was having their Yard Sale. And what a sale it was.  My head is still spinning.   My mission was to track down the two Featherweights for sale that were mentioned in the advertisement (thanks Karen). I  have been searching for a Featherweight for a few years .  When I entered the large room filled with tables piled with quilters remnants, fat quarters, books, patterns, everything quilty you could imagine.  Laurie Swim was there too.  I bought 3 large bags of scraps, that were  from Suttles and Seawinds.  Each bag was $2.00.  I got a large bag of precut  diamonds from Suttles.  That was 10.00. There must be 700 triangles! There were so many amazing buys.  I stopped at the first table, lots of vintage buttons and laces and then as I glanced around the room,  I saw them....two sweet little Singer Featherweights. One was complete with case and that was 200.00 but the other one caught my eye.  It was a 221, made in 1955 in the US.  It didnt have a case, but I fell in love with it.  It sews like a dream, just needs a new belt.  I asked how much, and when she said 75.00, I said "SOLD".  So needless to say, I am a happy quilter today. 

Then it was off to visit Suttles and Seawinds shop.  The fabrics and quilts are no longer in the Barn.  They are now upstairs in the main store, second floor. It is a wonderful place, lots of eye candy.   There is one small room that holds clearance fabrics.  That is my favourite room.  I found these four Kaffe fabrics for 5.00 a metre. And I bought a scrap bag stuffed full of large chunks of nautical fabrics.  I just cant resist the scrap bags. 

It was a lovely day.   Now with all these amazing  scraps I must make something new.  I think my quilty mojo is alive and well!

What's Happening?

I have been in a  very lazy mood lately.  I haven't worked on my handquilting

project for over a week.  I haven't started anything new.   I did get the pieced border made for my applique quilt, but haven't attached it yet. 
So what have I been doing?  Well, I did finish a knitting project, a cowl, that I started in early
  January. It was a group project that my knitting club started.  It was hard to get going on this pattern.  You really have to concentrate.  Well, at least I do.  So needless to say I ripped it out a few times. It is now complete but I will have to wait until next winter to wear it.

I have started to teach myself to crochet.  I am using how-to videos online. I always wanted to learn how to make a granny square. I have spent a lot of time practicing the last few weeks and finally produced a square that is not too bad.   

Now to get my quilty mojo back. 

Antique WiPs

While doing some scrap sorting, I came across a container that I had stuffed to the brim with scraps and blocks that had been gifted to me.  Very old scraps and blocks.  I am not an expert at dating fabrics but I will say that a lot of the scraps are from the 30s and 40s.
The first photo shows 19 - 9" handpieced blocks that are stained and smelly.  The second photo shows the scraps that were included with the 19 blocks.  There is enough of the muslin,  which I think is flour bag, along with one of the prints, to make another block so I would have an even number, as I would like to sew them into a quilt.  They really are too special to me not to do something with them.  The lady that made these has passed away many years ago.  I did know her when I was a child, so I think she would like it if I finished her project. 

Notice the blue and yellow print in the lower right corner....That is the original print and I have the same print in my reproduction fabric collection.  How cool is that!!

This pattern was started, all the pieces for the dress and hat were traced and cut out. I don't plan on continuing on with this pattern but I will use all the pieces for something else

This dresden plate was started and left unfinished. Not very many of the blades were already cut, but there are lots of scraps to cut more if I decide to make  several blocks.

Found several of these butterfly blocks complete with template made from a magazine page. 

Love this butterfly.  There was only one already appliqued but I have lots more if I want to make some more blocks.

A different butterfly, just one. 

What's Happening?

I have been busy the past week.  Trying to keep up with my many UFOs.  At least I haven't started anything new.  Well, a bit of a lie!  I did make another block to donate to the Prospect Quilt. A herring gull. I had purchased a wallhanging pattern last year, from The Harbour Quilt Co, in Antigonish, N S, (Unfortunately, no longer in business)  and this gull was a portion of the  design in the pattern.  It will fit in with the Village by the Ocean theme. 

I also was able to finish up sewing together the 30 hand embroidered 18" blocks that my Mother had stitched some time ago.  It is now in flimsy stage awaiting handquilting.  It measures approx 90" x 108"  It will be easy to quilt though.  I wont be using the prestamped quilting design.  I just didnt care for it so I will trace on my own design. It doesnt photograph very well but be assured, it is quite pretty and will be beautiful when quilted. 

I am also working on getting another quilt top to flimsy stage.  It is an applique quilt I made several years ago.  It is from a pattern called "Through the Garden Window" I think.  I hand dyed most of the fabrics.  I love that the backgrounds are all different pieced designs. That makes it a bit more interesting than using just a plain background . I will be adding two more borders.  I started work on the borders today and hope to finish up in the next day or so.  I am going to machine quilt this one.  It will be a wall hanging for my upstairs hallway.

I have also been handquilting "MY Reminiscense" quilt.  And I have been ironing a lot of large scrap pieces, getting them ready, in anticipation of the new Accuquilt dies that I have ordered.  I ordered the 2 1/2" strip cutter and I am very anxious to get it working for me. 

Here is a bit of FMQ that I have been doing on a very old UFO.  I still have the borders to finish. 

It's snowing a bit right now and very cold so I am going to curl up with my quilt and do a bit of handquilting before suppertime.    Today is Retired Hub's 61st birthday so we will doing take-out for a treat.  He gets to pick.  So far its a toss up between Chinese food and Subway.  His decision.  Bet he goes for Chinese! 

I am linking up with The Needle and Thread Network.  Check out all the wonderful happenings this week.

Round 4 - Complete

Round 4 complete - Darlene's Mystery

I was lucky enough to have the whole afternoon to myself yesterday, and I took advantage of that.  I was able to get Round 4 of the mystery quilt attached.  It is a scrappy border of half-square triangles and piano key strips added to the top and bottom only, so as to make the quilt rectangular. This step was quick and fun to make. I do love a scrappy border.   Now to wait a whole month for the next border.

Project Complete!

Katherine (L) and Lindsey (R) showing off the completed rag quilt.

Back

We finished up making the rag quilt for Lindsey's little boy (who is just turning one year old).
It was a lot of fun helping the girls.  I mostly supplied info and problem solving and they did all the sewing and clipping.  They already have their next project lined up.  They are both going to make dog beds.  Katherine is getting a new puppy in a few weeks.


I won this lovely, very well made,  gift bag in a giveaway by  Heather at Books and Quilts. The fabric is really pretty, with vines and little birds. The closure tie is a very nice piece of  green ribbon.   I am going to use it to store my hand held scanner and recharger that I need to use at work.  How fancy!  The other girls I work with will be wanting one as well. 
You should check out Heather's blog.  On Tuesdays she does a post on her quilting progress and things that she loves to pass along to other quilters. I have been following Heather for a few years now and I have learned lots.  She knits too and makes some wonderful projects.   

Round 3 - Complete

Here is my third border round in Darlene's Mystery Quiltalong,  attached and anxiously awaiting Round 4.  This was fun to make and I love the result.  I chose to try the applique technique suggested by Darlene, machine applique using a fusible.  I was intimidated at first, but decided that diving in head first was the only way to approach the technique.  It worked very well and I will use the technique again in the future.   Here is a link to Darlene's instructions for Round 3.  At this point, my measurement is 51" x 55"

My version of Darlene's Mystery Quilt

WIP Wednesday

 I haven't really accomplished much lately. Just plugging away at several UFOs.
I was able to get "My Reminiscence" basted and ready to handquilt. I will be quilting it in my hoop, in my lap.   It is 66" square and destined to hang on the wall in my livingroom. 

"My Reminiscence" hand-appliqued by me!

I am also working on getting the third round border, for Darlene's Mystery Quilt, machine appliqued.  I got two of the four borders completed today.  It was slow going but I really love the result.  I used two layers of tissue paper as a stabilizer.  I used a variegated Tutti 50# by Wonderfil in lovely shades of bluish greys.  I used a Superior Titanium 90# needle.

I also have been lucky enough to be able to pass on my quilting knowledge to two young women.  One is my Sweet Niece, Katherine and the other is her friend Lindsey, equally as sweet.  Lindsey is a young mother of a one-yea rold boy.  She wanted to make him a Rag Quilt.  I have never made one before, but we researched, bought fabric and got it all cut and sewed up.  Just need to do the clipping and then I will post a pic. They were both so enthralled with the process that we have another project coming up.  Katherine just got a new puppy, so she wants to make a dog bed and Lindsey wants to learn to make a memory quilt for her Dad.  I think they are hooked and of course there is no cure!

Lindsey working hard on quilting her blocks

Katherine taking it slow and steady so she doesn't get a pucker. 

I am linking up with the Needle and Thread Network.  Stop by and check out all the quilty goodness going on.

Easter 1912

Thought you might like to see another of my family postcard collection.  This one was sent to my Great Uncle Bernard.  Bernard was just a little boy at the time. I only met him once, when he returned to Prospect when his Mother, my greatgrandmother passed away.  I was 10 years old . He was born and raised in Prospect but moved to the States in the 30s and  married and raised his children in Boston, Mass. He passed away in 1971.
  This postcard, from a family friend,  is postmarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in April of 1912.  I was born in 1952 so this postcard was already 40 years old when I was born.  So special to have these treasures.  

Sounds like Quilty Fun, fun, fun!

http://www.mahonebay.com/If any of my followers in the Halifax area would like to have a quilty day, check this out.
If interested, get in touch and we could drive to beautiful Mahone Bay together  Wouldn't that be fun!!   I am hoping to find one of those Featherweights that is mentioned.  Let's make a day of it.  We deserve it.

  Quilter’s Yard Sale: Saturday May 4 - 10am–12 noon at Trinity United Church Hall, Mahone Bay. The Mahone Bay Quilt Guild will be selling fabrics, quilting books, quilting magazines, threads, notions, yarns, sewing machines - 2 Featherweights that we know of! Lots of bargains! All quilt related. Come to Mahone Bay for the day and enjoy the many shops (Suttles & Seawinds, Have a Yarn and Encompassing Designs – all fibre related!)) and restaurants too. Free admission, no early birds please! Spread the word & bring your quilty friends! Mark your calendars so you don't forget!!

http://www.mahonebayquiltersguild.com/ 

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Knitty Sister to the Rescue...Again!

I think I will change Knitty Sister's name to "The Knitting Whisperer".  When my knitting projects take a turn for the worse or if it becomes just too ridiculous to continue I always turn to her to get me out of my mess.  She is amazing (and very humble) 

This project, The Angry Bird Golf Club Cover" became a comedy of errors.  Too many mishaps to tell you.  Finally, I called in Knitty Sister to take it away from me and make it perfect and done. 
I got the pattern at.... Knitterbees      I/we  made this for a  golf crazy co-worker. The feathers and nose are stuffed.  The eyes and eyebrows are done in duplicate stitch. 

Feathers and Stars

My last post, ten days ago, I thought I was getting over my horrible cold.  Nope.  So, I haven't been doing much quilting.  Just too miserable and lethargic.  I am going to say that today I am pretty sure the Demon Cold has left me.  Fingers crossed.   
I did pick away at getting the next round, Step 3, of Darlene's Mystery Quilt completed.  This month's border is an appliqued feather spray with a star block in each of  the four corners.  I love it! 

The feather lobes are attached with Steam a Seam 2.  Of course, you can add this applique border with whatever method you prefer. I normally would have hand appliqued this but decided to try machine applique again, to advance my skill level and face my fear.  I haven't decided yet on what stitch or thread I will use. I might even try it in freemotion!   After that, the border strips are attached to the star blocks and then sewn to the quilt centre.  Another 2" border will be added as well.  And then we wait until next month to see what will be added in the next border round.  Fun, fun, fun!

On the mend

2 of the 6 rows sewn together so far. 

I have been down for the count for the past four days.  Horrible chest cold. just  Horrible.  On the mend now.  Feeling a lot better right now.  I decided to try a little sewing to take my mind off things.  I was inspired the other day by a blogging buddy (thanks Terry!) She was working on a project that consisted of embroidered blocks that needed to be finished up.  It reminded me that I had 30 embroidered blocks that my Mother had stitched a few years ago and that I had put off sewing them into a top for long enough.  These are 18" blocks and I am setting them 5 x 6 so it will be a nice large quilt.  (approx 90" x 108") .
The pre-stamped quilting design has almost disappeared so I will be tracing a new one on as I handquilt it.  Didn't care for the pre-stamped design anyway.  

This is the fabric I will use for the binding.  Very old but perfect!

Mother loves to embroider, nothing complicated, nice and easy stitching.  This is the fourth embroidered quilt that she and I have worked on together.  

Something new

This is the photo I used for inspiration.  It was taken in the Prospect area by Heather, who gave me her kind permission to recreate her beautiful photo in fabric.  Thanks Heather. 

 The Prospect Lobster Supper is coming up...in August...but it is time now to start collecting blocks to make the raffle quilt. The theme for the quilt is to make a block that depicts something from the Village.

A lovely summer day in Prospect Village , Nova Scotia.  Prospect was first settled in 1754

  Below is the block that I made using Heather's photo as inspiration.  Wild roses are so plentiful here during the summer.   I decided I would use this block to get over my fear of machine applique.  I used tissue paper as a stabilizer and that worked great. It tore off the back easily when finished stitching. I had no puckering at all.   I used Wonderfil Tutti 50# and Sulky Blendables 30# thread with a Superior Titanium 90/14 topstitch needle. I used stitch #17 on my Pfaff QE. The stitching was a pleasure.  I see more machine appliqued projects in my future.  

My Block  - 12 1/2" square

  

a close up of the wild rose.