Block#4 on the Hand Piecing QAL

We have had a very snowy week so it have a been a great time to sew. This weeks lesson is to read the directions twice. I cut my pieces too large so although the block looks great it has to be trimmed down and then it will likely be wonky. How ever it has been a great way to learn the gentle are of hand piecing.

I am still waiting for a Perfect piecer ruler to come in the mail, but I did find a little wooden iron which has been wonderful for "pressing" between getting out the big iron. I am making progress on the Crabapple Hill Stitch along.

To pre wash or NOT

Okay, huge mistake. I never prewash my fabrics and as I am pressing and starching my block #3, I notice that the red are running. I know, I know you should always pre wash your reds but hey call me lazy. I will wash the remainder of the red fabric now and may have to remake my other blocks. UGH!

Wet and Wild

We have had a crazy winter so far, the month of January brought lots of snow and bitter cold. So far February has brought lots of rain and icy driving conditions. It has been difficult to get Juno out for  walks but as anyone who has a dog knows once you start something with a pooch you have to keep it up. Your pet does not care if the weather conditions have changed.

I am having so much fun doing the Crabapple Hill Stitch along and the Hand Pieced Quilt along. The Stitch along is daily for the month of February. The Quilt Along is weekly for nine weeks. Today starts week three. Here is what I have completed so far. 

Lots of Stitching Stuff

Our Baby Juno

Hubby is still on the mend although the winter is a bit difficult as he has fallen twice and with all the metal in his bum I am always worried he might break something again.  We have a new furry girl in our lives now and we are so happy to have Juno.

Lately I have been doing quite a bit of sewing. The first is a hand piecing quilt along and I have done the first two blocks in two different colourways. The next is a Crabapple Hill Stitchalong  for the month of February. So this post is going to be photo rich as I have lots to show.    I am also working on a flannel quilt to give to the surgeon who operated on my Hubby, I have all of the blocks pieced so next time I will show you my progress on that.

First Block 

First Block second colour way

Second Block second colourway

Second Block 30's prints

Crabapple Hill Stitch Along Fabric Choices, threads and colour pencils 

My Muslin prepped with colouring and stitch markings

First square stitched




I am also 

 

Not Quite the Vacation we Dreamed

Our 3 week holiday turned into a bit of a nightmare at the end of the first week. My husband and I were involved in a serious car accident while away and after a 3 days in a Florida hospital were airlifted back to our home in Canada where my husband spent a total of a month in the hospital with serious injuries. He had surgery at a Trauma hospital and then was transferred to a rehab facility. He is home now and we will begin the process of recovery. I am so thankful to still have him.

However before the accident I did get some of my Guild Challenge embroidered, then completed it once he was stable and home. I have the top completed now and still have a couple weeks left to finish it before the show.

Prepping for Vacation

Our Guild is having a show in May and I have taken a kit for the Guild Challenge. I do this for every Quilt show however I have never completed the challenge and I am determined to finish this one. The challenge was to select three crayons from a 64 pack. ( I selected hot magenta, violet and a blue green) We were also given a fat quarter of a batik. The Idea was to use the colours of the crayons along with the piece of batik to create a wall hanging of no more than 80 inches around the full perimeter. I took our guild pin, enlarged the image and am using crayons to colour the image. I am planning on taking the fabric away with me to embroider. My plan is to have it completed by the time I return and have it ready to border and bind in time for our Quilt Show.

The first photo is of the freezer paper that I used to draw our logo and the second is the fabric I have coloured.

Kawartha Quiltmakers Guild 35th Anniversary

My Guild celebrate our 35th Anniversary this past week. We were each to bring a quilt the theme being 35 of anything. Many were interesting but the one I want to show you today was made by one of our Guild's Founders.
It was a wall hanging made of 35 different hankies enclosed in her retired hand quilting frame. The hankies encircled a photo of the founder of our guild. One of the hankies still had a price tag hanging from it 25 cents.