Anniversary Quilt

My brother and sister in law had their 25th anniversary a few years back and I made them this quilt to celebrate. I’m not sure that I ever got a picture of it, and I certainly had not posted it on my blog, so a recent visit to their place gave me the opportunity to snap one.

It’s a pleasure to give them quilts as my sister in law is always so appreciative  and proudly displays them around her home. This one looks great laying over the back of their sofa.

I can’t tell you the name of this pattern, it was a photocopy template from a swap quilt class I took at Gone to Pieces years and years ago. A neat concept whereby you bring 5X5 squares of good quality cotton from your stash to class and trade with other participants so everyone winds up with a wide variety of fabrics. You then use the squares to make 1/2 square triangle (or not ) and the store gave you several options for layouts with them. I always liked this heart layout one, so opted to make my brother and his wife this one from my stash. They love and I love it, plus the heart pattern was very applicable for their anniversary.

Little Log Cabins in the making

The ladies in my quilted jacket class are labouring with their log cabin blocks that trim the jacket. They are small, only 3.5 X 3 inches finished plus you need a lot of them…..anywhere from 40-60 depending on your personal acreage.

Kelli, Joan, Mary, Doris, Donna and Margaret are all striping and sewing like crazy to get these little guys finished in time for the next class.

I feel their pain as I had to make them all as well for the store sample.

The original pattern had you cut each piece individually and sew them on piece by piece as well…that would have been even more painful.  I opted to teach the students Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day  method using strips which would save them much time and aggravation.  It was a good call!

Come on girls….you can do it!

Star Struck

This runner was a nice surprise from Debbie Caffrey’s mystery series.

I taught the class at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. recently and worked through the mystery instalments with students at the class. I love the way this runner turned out. It started out using  tri recs triangles, add a little here and there and you have these fabulous stars. I opted to use Christmas fabric and it looks so rich and seasonal.

These mystery quilts and runners are so fun to do as you just don’t know what they will turn out like until they are completely done.

I’m star struck with this one!

Unorthodox Bento Box

This quilt started as a challenge quilt for the “Sew Sisters” at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co.  Michelle the owner, asked her staff for a small challenge quilt using specific lines available at the store. I chose the line called Salt Air. The quilt was to be an original design, geared to beginners and on the smaller size. Perhaps a runner, but no larger than a lap.

I started with the idea that I would do a small square table topper, based on the block called Bento Box. I got all my blocks finished, laid it out and went “UG!”  as in UGLY, UGLY. What was I thinking? I was thinking that it would look really good, however it did not. So now what was I going to do with it,  as the table topper idea really did not work.

I opted to turned the blocks on point, add setting triangles and squeeze out a lap quilt instead of my original thought.

Now I’m happy with it…hence the name “Unorthodox Bento Box” as this is not how a bento box quilt  should go together or look.

Sometimes a girl’s got do what a girl’s gotta do. Think outside the Box!

“Cutie” is right!

I love this little quilt in the making. It’s from Bunny Hill and one of those projects that I’ve had stashed away for what seems forever.

It’s called Postcard Cuties for Winter and it really is cute. I’m partial to snowmen and to see these little guys come to life on the quilt….makes my heart melt!  happy. Still quite a few blocks to go yet, so I better get going to get it complete before the snow flies.

Beginner Beauties

My students from the Beginner Class are just about finished their quilts. These are wonderful finished projects and a few of the ladies opted to make their quilts larger and do multiple blocks…talk about dedication. Ann did her lap size in batiks for her trailer and it turned out superb.
Karen opted for brights in lime, pink and grey with an awesome polka dot to offset it all. This one is for her daughter.

Monica had wanted a red quilt and got it in this fabulous collection from French General. Love, love love it!
Trish finished up her lap size while trying to juggle dates with George…sometimes George won out and Trish came to class without her homework done….but she still finished. This quilt is for her daughter.

Gloria finished her quilt which is intended for her daughter to cozy up under when she goes away to university. It looks amazing.

Thanks ladies for making the class so enjoyable!

Backyard Friends

We live on a street whereby our backyard backs onto a field. Eventually it will be an extension to our subdivision with more homes, but for now it’s like the Back 40.  We get deer, raccoons, chipmunks, hundred’s of birds and these guys. We’ve been here 11 years and this was a first…to see these 2 wild turkeys wandering around.

God they’re ugly…makes me want think twice about eating  turkey for Thanksgiving!

Table runner mystery magic

These are the table runners almost finished from my Mystery Table Runner Class held at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. The pattern designer is Debbie Caffrey and I love the way they turned out with the stars. Debbie, Shirley Barb and  Kathy had to have a great deal of patience waiting for the final clue…but these were worth the wait. Awesome job ladies.

Getting it together

My beginner class is drawing to an end, the ladies have finished their blocks and are now getting their blocks together. It’s helpful to lay out the pieces on the floor so you can see what goes where and how the pieces and rows will go together. I’m so proud of this beginner class, they have done wonderfully.

These quilts in progress belong to Gloria, Monica, Karen and  by George there is Trish’s.

Out-shining the teacher

Wow, this is amazing and it’s one of my students work. Even I can't do this awesome handwork. Monica was not fond of doing a machine  ladder stitch or zigzag around her applique pieces like the class and pattern called for. She asked if she could blanket stitch around by hand….

There really are no rules in quilting so do what makes you comfortable…you’ll love your project more if you do what you like.

She did amazing, just beautiful hand work and so  precise. Her centre blocks look amazing.

Guessing Games

I had been teaching a Mystery Runner Class at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. It was a really fun class, as students don’t know what the final project will look like. Clues are given each class and students follow the instructions to complete pieces of the puzzle. Before the final reveal, I had the students try to guess what the runner might look like by laying their pieces out. Some were closer to the final look than others, but all had fun working through the guessing game.

No wonder I fall into bed at night

These two don’t sit still for a moment!

All I wanted was a pic of them on their new quilts.

I take care of my grandsons when my daughter works and usually they are sleepovers as she works 12 hour shifts. After a whole day of daycare dilemmas I usually literally fall into bed at night…I am exhausted by the time they leave. I love them to pieces, but they are a  handful. Busy, busy, busy as they are  3 and a half and 20 months.

Daughter just bought them bunk beds and these are the matching quilts Nana made for them.

When daughter saw the quilts, she said to the oldest grandson,  “Ayden…look at your new quilt…isn’t it awesome, maybe you can sleep with it, in your own bed tonight !”…..seems that daughter and hubby have had a visitor in their bed for several months now.

Bada Bada Bling!

Yippee Ki Yay, Hooray Hooray, Awesome, Over the Moon, Wowser Wowser, Holy Mackerel, Jesus praise the Lord!… There is a God.

Dear Eldest Daughter is finally engaged. I thought this would never happen.  Dear daughter is 31 and moved back home a few years ago. She did the whole Match.com stuff with no luck and finally gave up saying “ I’m going to just let nature take it’s course” ….ya right, we’ve Weathered  84 hurricanes, 12 volcanic eruptions, 3 earthquakes and 24 wildfires since then…come on girl, to hell with nature!

So finally her girlfriend says that she may have someone that would be a good match, fixes them up on a blind date and it was love at first sight.  And the bonus is that this new son in law to be is awesome!

He even came and asked for her hand.

Wedding plans are in the works for May of 2014….praise the lord, I’ll get my sewing room back!

Can’t believe it’s a beginner

I love this quilt that Connie brought to have long armed….it is so pretty, it looks complicated but Connie says is was super simple, so much so that the pattern is called Can’t believe it’s a beginner.

Connie always makes such a fabulous job of her quilts…..absolutely square and always absolutely stunning. Another beauty Connie!  She chose Taro as the pattern to have long armed…looks great.

On a Mission

These ladies from my Mystery Table Runner Class at Kindred Spirits are on a mission….everyone of them has their head down and is intent on their tasks.  Shirley, Barb, Debbie and Cathy are all hard at work trying to anticipate what the table runner will look like…unfortunately they won’t know till the last class. Just a few bits and pieces of the pattern are given each class, but I can guarantee them it will be stunning when they are complete.

Pinwheel Pinup Girls

These ladies from my Beginner Class at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. are absolutely the BEST! They have been so much fun and they are doing fantastic at their blocks. Karen, Gloria, Ann, Trish and Monica have completed their last pieced block called Pinwheel. These ladies are all awesome students ….gorgeous blocks ladies!

Calico Gals

Double whammy for our Syracuse road trip….what are the chances of doing a double header while with Dear Hubby. This shop is absolutely wonderful….beautifully displayed and laid out. The staff were very warm and hospitable….
It has a sort of upper loft where they display their quilt samples…it was like being a kid in a candy store!

I found a wonderful display of cool place mats to make…..these would be a great class to teach at Kindred Spirits.  I bought the pattern and the round batting templates to do samples on.  I also was able to match up fabric for the “Tractor Quilt”…..also picked up a super cute Santa Apron pattern.

Look at Dear Hubby waiting patiently in the truck….what a gem….
…the truck I mean!