Week 23 of 2024

I sewed another bra this week because I wanted to make sure I had how to sew a bra firmly in my mind, so that I wouldn't have to refer to the Craftsy class all the time.

I tweaked the pattern again, and I think now it is just right for me.

The pattern is a mash up of the Maya Bra from AFIAterlier, and the Classic Bra from Bra-Makers Supply (demonstrated in the Craftsy class). The kit for this is also from Bra-Makers Supply, not the one I originally order, but this one is very nice.

Bras don't take long to sew - all the seams are short, but most seams are stitched a few times. This bobbin was full of when I started sewing (I think it is a 70 weight thread, finer than regular sewing thread).

Works in Progress -

Temperature Blanket

Tatting

Cross Stitch

Photos from Around - 

The chicks are almost 5 weeks now.

In the front row are the three kinds of chickens we have.

They are still living inside, but go outside for short times.

We had more rain this week.

But also some amazing clouds.

Both big girls.

The garden is drying up - the weeds are doing well with all the rain, but I should be able to start planting.

The perennial gardens are doing great.

We were able to mow the grass today, and I started planting flowers.

All the best!♥︎

Getting Ready for a Quilt Show

I am so excited to be participating in my first quilt show!

This is my Mother's quilt group and they kindly asked me to participate. I will also be doing some demos (two machine quilting - beginner and fancy, and machine applique).


Here is my pile of quilts, it was hard to limit myself. I am hoping to sell a few of them too.

Roses in my garden,

this "Morden Sunrise" has the most beautiful smell and is made for our harsh climate.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!♥

Machine Quilting

I have been machine quilting the samples I made with my new Go! dies.

The Winding Ways one,

I chose to quilt it in concentric circles with a walking foot because I wanted to emphasis the circular pattern that the blocks create.

The Rob Peter to Pay Paul one,

I quilted feather variations on this one.

I also quilted a baby quilt,

meander quilting in the center and a swirl design for the outer border. This quilt is made from the fabric I was sent by Marcus Fabrics.
The Tumblers were cut using the GO! cutter and my Mom pieced it. She was pleased with how easy the tumblers went together. We will be able to make 3 baby quilts (she has already finished one) with this fabric and we will donate them to the children's hospital.

They all just need the binding.

This is this month's Henrietta Whiskers block.

We have had lots of heat and my vegetable garden is growing well,

we just need some rain - I have never seen such deep cracks.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!♥

Finished Hand Quilting

I finally finished hand quilting the Bear Paw Quilt!!!!


I spent yesterday at a mini retreat with Myra and Corina (among others), and even though we did lots of chatting, I managed to do a lot of quilting. What a great way to spend the day! Now I just have to finish the binding - should manage to get it all done before the end of the PhD Challenge on Thursday.

I tried quilt pounce for the borders of the BP quilt and it worked really well, much quicker than marking all the individual lines of the stencil, and the design did not wear off as easily as plain chalk. Joan recommended it to me. The one I tried was an "iron out" one, and I found it helped to spray it with a bit of water before ironing, otherwise it took so long to iron out.

Next are a few pictures of the flowers in my garden -

The last two flowers (peony and iris) are perennials that were here when we moved in 4 years ago and this is the first year that they have bloomed - lovely to finally see what colours they are.

We have also been bike riding again - summer time is the best!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!♥

More BOM's

I finished up the "Hop to It" BOM -

It is a 12" block. I am pleased with how it turned out and I think this will be a fun BOM. If you have the "Hop to It" book sitting around you should consider joining in, BOM's are a great way to get quilts made.

I am also working on this month's Granny's Hankie BOM (a 17" block). These blocks are so easy - Bali fabric is much easier to machine applique with freezer paper than regular fabric, and the pieces are big.


The hawthorn tree is blooming - such pretty pink flowers.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!♥

Rain Day

It rained today so I was able to do some work inside.

I got all the applique pieces ready for the June "Granny's Hankie" and "Hop to It" BOM's, they just need the seam allowances pressed onto the freezer paper. We are doing block #12 of the "Hop to It" book for those participating.

We have been having great weather, and I have been spending lots of time outside.

Seedlings are starting to sprout in the garden.

There have been so many baby birds around.


Perennials have started blooming,

These irises come from our first house and we always bring some to each new house (this is our fifth house), they have never looked so good, I guess this is their favorite spot.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!♥

Henrietta Whiskers

I finished this months Henrietta Whiskers BOM -

My fabric is so busy, definitely "out of the box for me", but lots of fun.

The six blocks so far - three more blocks and the border to go. The patterns for this BOM are still available.

I was given this quilt to machine quilt. It is a quilt that someone in my Mother's quilting group made for Quilts of Valor - Canada, I am honoured to be quilting it. I think I will quilt a feathered wreath in the large Canadian flag fabric square. She used spray baste to put all the layers together - it will be great to quilt without having to worry about pins.

I am using my regular machine quilting set-up of an old piece of counter top - this makes all the difference in quilting a large quilt.

It just sits on little pieces of 2x4 - pretty easy (to set up and to store).

I am very pleased that I planted all the gardens, especially as it has now turned cold and rainy (good quilting weather!). Here are some pictures of my yard.

I know things are just waiting to grow! (That soil might look nice - but it is really just hard lumps of clay - it always amazes me that little seeds grow in it.)

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!♥