Another Finish

I decided to make a Romanian Point Lace tutorial, so I have been working on this little (4") ornament I designed.

It is the first piece of RPL that I have designed and my second completed RPL!

It makes a nice window decoration, but I think I will use it as a Christmas ornament.
I will post the tutorial tomorrow.

Over at Charming Chatter, Kelly has posted the 13 Schnibbles quilts entered in the Schnibbles Times Two Contest. There are prizes if you vote!! I would really appreciate some votes - mine is #6 if you would like to vote for me, but they are all wonderful!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!! ♥

Contest Winner!

Today is the draw for the $40 GC for CSN stores.
Thank-you to everyone that entered!

Very technical I know!

I am thrilled to announce that the winner is the very talented Cyndi from BLUEBIRDSWING! Congratulations!

Coincidentally Cyndi also suggested a great name for the little Schnibbles quilt, so I am going to call it "My One and Only"! Thanks Cyndi!


I have been working on the Romanian Point Lace - 4 more flowers and only 8 more to go (along with meters of braid and filling in stitches).

I think I will work on filling in the some of the areas now.


I started making a new quilt too! "Diamonds at Large" is from the book "Layer Cake, Jelly Roll & Charm Quilts" by Pam and Nicky Lintott.

It is very easy and only takes one layer cake (border, binding and all) to make a 45" x 60" quilt. The layer cake is Harvest Home by Blackbird designs (Moda). I bought it on special from Hamels, when I went to a quilt show this spring (it is still listed for the same price on their web site - $32).
The pattern calls for a layer cake with a strong light/dark contrast and this one doesn't really have it, but I am hoping that it will work out. I liked the idea of making something with just a layer cake - so I am trying it out!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!! ♥

Friday Night Sew-In Results

I decided to join last nights "Friday Night Sew-In", and had so much fun!

I finished quilting the border on the little Schnibbles quilt. I drew the vein for the center of the feather and then did the loops free hand. I did a wavy center line but then did loops to fill the width of the border.
All the machine quilting is finished!!

Sewing on the binding. Regular Aurifil thread and a walking foot.

Hand stitching the binding to the back.

The little Schnibbles is all finished!! I am really pleased with how it turned out. I can see why people are so addicted to them. It was a lot of fun to make and the pattern was so well explained.

I think I am going to call it something like "Standing Out in a Crowd" or "Shining Star" because of the darker star in the center. If any one has any suggestions - that would be great.

Finishing this quilt is also one of my Charming Girls Quilt Club, July/August goals completed! Yeah!

Don't forget you have until Sunday at midnight to enter my contest!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!! ♥

Schnibbling!

Today has been a rainy day, so it has been great for working inside!


I finished machine quilting the main part of the little Schnibbles quilt. I think I will do some feathers in the border.


I used two different quilting designs in the four patches. The one in the stars is an idea from Ferret Fabrications, from her Holiday Starrfire quilting video on her blog. The design in the plain four patch is what I think is the design in the book. I felt that since the four patch and triangle designs were so angular that I needed something softer for the background. I used a standard meander design for it. All free hand on my home sewing machine. I might pencil in the center of the feathers in the border to try to make it even. Might!! Rarely do I draw a design first! I'll see how I feel when I get started.

These flowers are one of my favorite - must have - flowers! They are Night Scented Stocks. They close during the day and open up in the evening, and give off the best scent! I usually plant them near windows and doors so the smell can come in the house. They are great to add to cut flowers too. I usually combine these in pots with other flowers, since they can be a bit straggly looking.

Don't forget the contest too.

Have a great day and thanks for dropping in!! ♥

Free Motion Quilting

I started quilting my little Schnibbles quilt.

My youngest helped pick out the quilting pattern from some samples I tried and I think he made a good choice. I am using Invisafil thread (100wt) with an #80 Microtex needle. I used Warm and White cotton batting for this quilt.
It has been a while since I did some free motion quilting and I had forgotten home much fun it is! It probably helps that this is just a little quilt.

This is the first bloom on this Winnipeg Parks rose.

Please don't forget to enter my contest! Odds are pretty good so far!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!! ♥

Charming Girls Quilt Club

I decided to join in all the fun over at Charming Chatter and signed up for the Charming Girls Quilt Club.


This year Kelly decided to have bi-monthly goals/priorities. This seems very manageable, and I think will be another great motivator for me. The goals for the two months can be more than just quilting goals - another great idea. There is also other fun stuff, like quilt alongs, swaps, and sewing parties. So/sew much fun!!
There is also monthly themes. This month it is "Self Care". That is something I definitely believe in! It is important to take time for yourself so that you can be the best that you can be!

My goals for the months of July and August are to finish this little Schnibbles quilt. Today I sewed all the blocks together.
Next month my family is taking a vacation to another country - so my goal is also to experience the joys of another culture, and to see if we can improve our lives because of it.
I also want to make another little bag.
Just three goals for these two months, not much. I spend lots of time in the summer enjoying time with my family, and outdoors.

Now for garden pictures.

Lots of Day-lilies blooming


And a Cactus blooming

Yesterday there was a beautiful double rainbow -

It was so bright!!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!! ♥

Mistake Fixed!

I finished all the flying geese blocks that I had made a mistake on!! Yipee!!


Now the little Schnibbles is all ready to be sewn together.
I am surprised at the dark pink fabric in the center star, it is such a contrast to the other pastel colours. I put it in the center so that the quilt wouldn't look off balanced. It is a beautiful colour in real life, it just seems odd with the other fabrics in the line.

Now for pictures of my garden.

I love the sound the water makes on the onions when I water them!

Impatiens - one of my favorites

Some pots (and an old rototiller and bird bath)

I came upon this little robin when I was watering - he sat there for hours - poor thing!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!! ♥

I forgot to mention that Michelle (a fellow Manitoban) has entered an online patriotic quilt contest, she is the only Canadian in a sea of Americans to have entered - maybe our fellow Canadians can show her some support and vote for her quilt?

Working on Schnibbles

My Schnibbles is coming along.

All the four patches are done, and I am half way finished redoing the flying geese blocks.

There are two of these little rose bushes in the garden and they are in full bloom. I think they are Morden Blush. Very small flowers - about 2" across when fully opened, and change to very pale pink as they open.

The tomatoes are growing beautifully with all the heat. They have gone from this -

to this -

in 3 short weeks!
They have lots of flowers and I can taste the caprese salad already!! Yum!!

Have a great day and thanks for dropping in!! ♥

Oh No!!

Yesterday I cut out all the fabric for the Schnibbles quilt I am making.

Today (after sewing the start of the flying geese blocks and cutting them in half) I discovered that I cut the wrong size fabric!! Should be 4¼" squares and I cut 4½" squares!!


Now I am in the process of unpicking and resewing the triangles!!
The first step in the four patch block is sewn. Needs to be cut to 2" strips.
I must admit I was enjoying making my first Schnibbles! I can see why so many people are making them. My only excuse for the error is that I have a cold!! LOL

No flower pictures today, just some beautiful lettuce (romaine, red leaf, mesclun mix, buttercrunch..) -

and my favorite - red oak leaf lettuce -

We have had lots of rain and sun, the garden is taking off!!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!! ♥

Schnibbles Times Two

Ever since I received my copy of "Schnibbles Times Two" and saw the contest about it I wanted to join. I was thrilled when I saw that Kelly from Charming Chatter was hosting the contest through her online store - Cotton Charm Quilts.




I have decided to make "Plan C" (the small version) from the book with Moda Aviary fabric by 3 Sisters.

I will be changing the pattern slightly (which I am please to say is OK!). Because I only have one charm pack, I will make the border with the pink Aviary fabric.

I have until July 31, 2010, to complete this quilt and get all the necessary photos and form sent in to Kelly.