Quilt Tops, First Skein and Rabbits

I finished piecing the Four in Four quilt top,

now I have two quilt tops to quilt - I just need to get batting and backing.

I also finished spinning the first skein of yarn for the sweater. Almost 200g, over 350m, of about DK weight wool. I don't think it is quite so bright in real life.

I am working on the second skein.

After all that cold weather and wind, it was 'balmy' -5℃ today, with no wind - our oldest son was happy to be able to go for a ride.

The rabbits entertained us this evening-

It started out peaceful.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.♥

Still Quilting

I am still machine quilting the Thread Head Quilt Along quilt.

I tend to keep the quilt really "bunched" around the sewing machine and I haven't been having a problem with the quilting. The stay stitching through the black squares really helped stabilize the quilt.

I am trying out all kinds of quilting designs in the blocks, some I really like , some not so much. I am trying to not be too critical and I hope it will all look fine in the end - it is all a learning experience.
I have quilted 18 blocks and one border so far, so 22 blocks and 3 borders left.

Finally saw a rabbit today - I was wondering where they have been, I guess they finally have lots to eat.

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

Sneak Peak

I don't like "sneak peaks", but I said I wouldn't post border instructions until Wednesday.

The borders are going on well - it is all that I have been working on lately.

More snow!! We did all get to enjoy some out door time

The rabbit showed up at 5pm, I guess he wasn't aware of the time change.

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

Blocks are Sewn

I have finished sewing the blocks of the THQA together.

I had to try it out on my bed.

For the borders I was able to find some more of the same, and similar fabric as the alternating squares, and I have decided that I will complete the diamonds that the alternating squares create for one of the borders (I will post borders ideas and instructions for the border I chose on Wednesday). I am hoping to start working on borders tomorrow.
I also ordered the wool batting, and bought the backing fabric and Aurifil thread for quilting. It is all coming together!

The rabbits have been entertaining us. The one that comes to the door (he has a little cross on his forehead - maybe he is a she?) has added 4pm to his regular scheduled visits - he is defending his property!

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

D's Quilt Officially Finished

The label is sewn -

so now the pinwheel quilt is officially finished! (I tried some Zentangling on the label.)


It is my first PhD Challenge quilt finished!!

This quilt is made from fabric that I inherited from a family friend. My youngest son wanted to design a quilt on EQ7, and he came up with this quilt to use the fabric. He also sewed a few of the blocks.
The quilt is 62" x 74". The pinwheels are 12" blocks, made with 6+7/8" squares to make the HST's. It has 7" borders.
I used wool batting (Tuscany Heirloom) and flannel backing.

I quilted it on my home sewing machine, with lots of free form feathers (no marking - too lazy!). I thought that the black fabric was the main fabric and the grey the background, so I did feathers in all the black, but once I started adding "McTavishing" to the grey areas, I realized that the feathers weren't noticeable, so I added a few feathers to the grey.
I used mostly Invisafil (100wt) on the top and Aurifil (which I buy from Tristan) for the bobbin. I did have to switch to all Aurifil for the last 3 borders because the bobbin case kept jumping out of place. I had no problems once there was Aurifil in the top. I think the Invisafil was too static - I did try putting it in the freezer for a bit and it helped for a while.

The switch in thread is not noticeable.
I tried a new (to me) border design that was lots of fun - free form feathers that had all different sizes of "blobs" (I am sure there is a technical term?).

The back of the quilt.
The stay stitching lines aren't really noticeable. A few people made a suggestion to use thread that washes out for the stay stitching - great idea - thanks!!

Do rabbits have clocks?

I started noticing that every morning, just before 8 am, the rabbits come to the back door. It is the time that I normally have some fruit/vegetable trimmings from breakfast and school lunch preparations to throw out. OK, I guess they have me trained!! They usually get a little something extra!! They're so cute!

Tonight's sunset.

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

Some BOM's

I decided to join in some Block of the Months this year.

The first one is Granny's Hankie from Justquiltin with Denise Russart.

Here is a picture from her website, the blocks are 16" and the quilt will be 102" square.

I am going to make it with batiks.

Last Saturday I drove around to three different fabric stores trying to find fabric for the background and borders (the appliques will be from fat quarters from my stash). I couldn't find anything I liked.
Later on I was looking online and came across Flare Fabrics.
It is a Canadian company that specializes in batiks!! The fabric was cheaper than any batiks I found locally (even at the discount fabric store), I only had to pay one tax (out of province), shipping in Canada is free (January special of free shipping to the U.S.), plus there is a 10% discount on first orders when you sign up for the e-newsletter!!! What a deal!! The fabric came today and it is beautiful, I can't wait to get started!

The second BOM is from the Electric Quilt Blog.

I made January's block today - it was very quick to make - the blocks are only 6" for this one.
There will be a block a month for the whole year and I have no idea what it will look like. I don't normally like to commit to a mystery project but I thought a 6" block a month wouldn't be a big commitment if I don't like it. You don't have to have EQ for this one, the patterns are also PDF's.

Yesterday I bought these shoes-


they are the kind with the balance ball technology for toning your legs. I originally saw them for over $100, but these were under $50 from Costco. I find in the winter that I don't exercise as much as I should, so I thought they would be great to wear when I clean the house (I tend to vacuum a few times a week, and my children already make fun of my quilting gloves, now they think it is funny that I have vacuuming shoes!). I wore them today when I was cleaning and I could really feel it my legs. Now to see if I can sew with them, so I can "exercise" by walking to the ironing/cutting board!

This picture is from yesterday -there are lots more rabbits this year.

The frost was so pretty today -

early this morning

later on in the day.

The weather is also warmer - the rabbits have their ears up.
They really like pineapples, tops and all!

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

Another Mug Rug

I finished another mug rug.

I decided to make this one a bit bigger (10" x 15½"). I made it with squares and triangles that I cut with the new GO! die.

It is fun to watch the rabbits outside. It is amazing to see them eat frozen vegetables sliding on the frozen ground without any hands.

My DH returned to the cold on Friday, after almost two weeks in Southern California -

and brought me back some beautiful fabric from The Quilt Cupboard. He said the ladies were very helpful.

My son also returned on Friday from winter camp (or Camp Bedbug!!!!), so there has been lots of laundry and vacuuming!! Not such a nice present!

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

Machine Quilting

Yesterday I taught a few friends (including my Mother) a machine quitting class.

Every one did very well and it was lots of fun.

Here is my Mom's work.

I have been working on machine quilting a little mat/large mug rug that I made with the pieces I cut with the new GO! Die.

Yesterday morning when I opened the patio door to take a picture of the beautiful full moon -

a rabbit was eating carrots on the deck three feet away -

he didn't even flinch! I could just hear him crunching away. Next time maybe he'll come right inside.

Debbie (of Designs by Debbie and Dixie Too!) is having her first giveaway of a beautiful "I Love Quilting" necklace (I assume the contest closing date is wrong since she just posted the contest yesterday).

I am thrilled to say that my baby is coming home today after three days at winter camp with his school, and that my husband is also coming home today after almost two weeks of being in southern California - I think the -30°C/-20°F temperatures here will be a bit of a shock to him!

I am also very pleased to say the we believe that my SIL will be fine after been found outside on one of the coldest nights of the year - someone was definitely watching over her!

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

Friday Night Sew-In

Tonight is the Friday Night Sew In hosted by Heidi.

I am working on the Romanian Point Lace table center tonight.


The rabbits have been eating parsnips I threw out for them. You can't tell but it was very windy and her/his fur was just blowing - you could really see how thick it is.

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

A Couple More Wonky Stars

I am still working on my Olympic Challenge (challenge being the key word!). I did a couple more wonky stars today. I did enjoy making them this time.


I am still trying to work out how the whole thing will go together.

I am going to put an applique in the bottom left corner. Trying hard to finish it this week!!
The Pinwheel Sampler Quilt Along is supposed to be starting this week and the Postage Stamp Quilt Along starts at the beginning of next week. Lots of new and exciting projects to get going on, so I need tho get this challenge out of the way.

I chopped the frozen pumpkins up yesterday, and the rabbits have been enjoying them. They had been chewing on the outsides, but really like the seeds inside.

Have a great day! ♥

Still Sewing Squares

Finished cutting out all the squares for the "Spanish Steps" borders. I have been busy sewing them together. All the 3 square units are pieced.

Now I am sewing the pieced units together. I laid them all out first to make sure that the colours were evenly spaced. It should go pretty quickly now, so that I will be on track to finish the borders this week.


There was a lot of activity at the bird feeder today. A flock of partridges came. At first there was just a pair, the rest of the flock was pacing along the other side of the neighbor's fence.


The rabbit just watched.


Later the whole flock came and joined them. Before dark I noticed that the partridges were all huddled down under the trampoline in the back.

Have a great day! ♥