Merry Christmas!

I know I haven't been blogging much lately. I apologize. It's not because I haven't been sewing, just that I haven't been well enough to keep up with everything and unfortunately blogging took a back seat. I hope to be blogging a lot more in 2015 and I even have some plans for some tutorials! I am really excited about that!

 

So I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a wonderful Holiday. I hope you get to enjoy some quality time with loved ones and maybe a little "me time" as well.

 

And since it isn't a blog post without some pictures, here are the mini quilts I made for the teachers this Christmas.

See you in 2015!

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

TGIFF - Indian Blanket

I am really excited to share this finish with all of you.

I took an online class from Rachel Hauser from Stitched In Color. The class was called Angled. Although I had sewn triangles and diamonds before taking this class, Rachel taught us so many things. The biggest lessons I learned are how to to cut these shapes with my regular ruler. There were 5 different quilts we could make and Indian Blanket was the first one.

 

I had so much fun making this quilt! I picked all of the fabrics except the backing from my stash. I started with Jeni Baker's line Nordika as my inspiration, and picked the rest of the fabrics from there.

It was lots of fun, seeing the rows come together. Once it was pieced, I got even more excited because it was a great opportunity for me to practice some FMQ.

And now that it's done, it is one of my favourite quilts I made this year.

So here it is, my Indian Blanket:

I apologize for the poor quality of photos but I was alone to take them and I used my iPad to do so. I was just too excited to share!

 

 

I haven't attached the label yet but it is ready to sew on this evening.

 

I am linking up to TGIFF over at Quilt Matters.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Pâtisserie Jelly Roll Race

I made another Jelly Roll Race quilt.  I really liked making this quilt the first time and I thought it would be a good quilt to practice some FMQ with the long arm.

I sewed the top during the summer and I quilted it a couple of weeks ago.

I did loops and wavy lines.  So simple yet so effective, in my opinion.

I love the colours in this fabric line.  

This quilt is also for sale in my Etsy shop but it goes so well in my house, I don't think I would be too sad if nobody bought it and it stayed a little longer...

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to all of my Canadian friends!!

Big Block Quilt

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I was starting to learn the ropes on the long arm machine?  Well I finally went out with my husband and got some photos of the quilt!

This quilt was a UFO from 4 years ago... I think...

Just a simple big block quilt using 8" squares.

It was a good size to start practicing the pantographs on the long arm.

I am really happy with this finish.  It's a great lap quilt with a flannel back, perfect for snuggling up with on a cool fall day.

This quilt is now for sale in my Etsy shop.

Kobo cases

My parents each got a Kobo e-reader early this summer. My mom asked me to make them each a quilted case for them. That way they won't get all scratched up in their bags when they head to Florida this winter.

I made them yesterday afternoon. It didn't take me long. I borrowed my mom's kobo to take measurements. I quilted them so they would have an extra layer of protection with the batting.

They were quite happy with them.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Around The World Blog Hop

I am sure most of you have heard about the Around the World Blog Hop. It has been going on for a little while now. Bloggers everywhere are posting photos of their work and talking about their creative process.

My friend Katy who blogs over at Lethargic Lass tagged me last week so now it's my turn to share and answer the following questions.

1. What am I working on?

I always have many works in progress. I like having many projects on the go at different stages, and using different methods. That way if I feel like appliqueing, I can pick up that project and applique; if I feel like piecing, I can pick up this project and piece. This also means I end up with quite a few UFOs but I always seem to go back to the ones I really like and finish them up... eventually.

This is on my design wall at the moment.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I define myself as a traditional quilter because I love all of the traditional patterns. I don't like improv or liberated piecing. I like things to be straight and to use rulers and cutters. I love following patterns for blocks. I will sometimes change the layout or the size of the quilt in a pattern.

Although I think of myself as a traditional quilter, I do love to use the new modern fabrics in my quilts.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

I quilt because it is my passion. I absolutely love every aspect of quilting. From picking out fabric and a pattern, to hand stitching the binding on, and every other bit in between. It calms me and lets me escape all of the hustle and bustle of our busy schedules. It is therapy when I am going through something difficult and it is also fun. I don't like going through a day without playing with fabric and thread, if only for 10 minutes.

So that's a little bit about me and my passion for quilting. I have tagged 3 on-line friends but I am not sure if they will fill the challenge as they didn't respond when I sent them an email. I will let you in on who they are though and you can go check out their blogs.

First is Kaaren who blogs over at The Painted Quilt. Kaaren is a friend of my mom's who now lives out in Eastern Canada. She does some wonderful stitching and piecing. I like seeing her photos of what she's working on, as well as the photos of her dog and cat, usually curled up by the fire.

Second is Rachel Hauser from Stitched In Color. I am currently taking an online class from Rachel and I am absolutely loving it. I love reading Rachel's blog posts about how she starts a project, where inspiration comes from. She has some great tutorials as well.

And last but not least is Diane who blogs over at Dianeloves2quilt. Diane and I seem to have a fondness for similar patterns and quilts. I love seeing what she is working on.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Ribbons

Last week, my mom went to Quispamsis New-Brunswick to visit a quilting friend. It was also the week of the Kennebecasis Valley Quilt Show. My mom entered three quilts in the show. She got to see some great quilts and meet other quilters.

Her Coloured Wholecloth quilt won a 2nd place ribbon for non-traditional quilt. This quilt was quilted first, then coloured in with colouring pencils. Then she painted on a layer of textile medium. This is a method taught and used by Irena Bluhm.

 

I won a ribbon for best hand appliqué on our Mother Daughter Baskets. You can read more about this quilt here.

 

And my mom won People's Choice for her Roses quilt. This quilt is made up of blocks that my mom's Aunt Annette hand embroidered. My mom pieced them together and quilted it.

She had a great week.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Birthday Quilts

Most of you already know I belong to an awesome quilt group. We have been together for many years and shared so much together.

Two of the members of our group celebrate their birthday on the same day in June. This year, they celebrated some special birthdays, 65 and 70. So the rest of us got together over the summer and made them each a lap quilt.

We had a great sew-in day working on the tops and lots of laughs were had too. My mom quilted the quilts and I made the labels.

The girls loved them and were very surprised when they received them at our first meeting in September.

In the crazy quilt of life, I’m so glad these ladies are in my block of friends!

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

TGIFF - Three Sides to Every Story

It's been a while since I've posted a finish, and I am so excited to share this quilt with you!  I have loved every part of making this quilt!  I loved the fabric when I first saw it, I loved piecing the triangles, I love that I quilted it myself, and I love the final product!

If you've been following me for a while, you may remember when I pieced this quilt top.  It was at an in-town retreat I went to back in January 2013.  Most of the fabric is Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda.  I added the borders a little later that same year and then it just sat, waiting to be quilted.

Last spring, when my mom and I decided I would be learning to use the long arm machine this fall, I added this top to the pile of quilts I would learn on.  I was so excited!  I told my mom it was one of the first quilts I wanted to do.  She knows how much I love this quilt, so she suggested I quilt another one first so I get a feel for the machine again before tackling such a special quilt.  So this is the second quilt I quilted last week while over at my mom's.

quilting on back

I love the micro dots for that inner border and binding!

 I got the binding on in no time and last weekend, we went to the park to get some photos.  My husband got a new lens for the camera and wanted to play with it, win-win!!

I haven't decided where to put this quilt yet but it has already been used by my little one.  I know this will be a well loved quilt as it is the perfect size for snuggling under with a good cup of tea!

 I am linking up to TGIFF over at Sew Fresh Quilts, where Lorna has a cute little fox & friends quilt.
 You can click the link and go check it out.