Sunrise, Sunset

Sunrise-

Sunset-

Today I sewed while waiting for varnish to dry on the baseboards-

Hand sewing on the wall hanging-

Another sunrise picture because I couldn't resist-

 All the best!♥︎

Sewing Fun

Today I was painting doors.

But at least I got to sew while waiting for paint to dry.

I quilted one of the wall hanging layers,

and started making holes in the other layer.

Photos from around-

 My son made a track for the puppy to have a run (she loves it).

 The hard packed snow looks and sounds like styrofoam.

Blowing snow at sunset.

Windy and cold.

All the best!♥︎

Another Quilt!

This year I wanted to try to get back into blogging - it's been wonderful. I am remembering all the things I like about blogs, and why I got started. The one thing I forgot was how inspirational they are. I thought this year I wouldn't start any new quilting projects, but reading blogs and seeing so many beautiful things, I just couldn't resist!

This is the start of a wall hanging that I saw on a blog tutorial. Should just be a quick project and then I will get back to my other works-in-progress.... Squirrel!

Photos from around-

I did some more tiling this weekend - the bathroom backsplash (I had ran out of tiles when I tiled around the bath tub). Also the mirror went up, the bath tub taps are in, and the door mouldings were installed. I am so pleased that it is coming together.

There are large snow drifts after yesterday's storm. 

Molly loves to dig in the snow.

Her coat is getting small, but it still works.

All the best!♥︎

Thimbles Table Runner

The Thimbles table runner is all finished!

This is the first of my WOOFA challenge projects to be finished. It was my leader/ender project (a little piece of fabric to stitch when piecing other projects, so I don't have to cut the thread) for the past 6 years. There are 915 thimbles! But who's counting! There are 15 rows of 61 thimbles per row. It is 19"x56".

I use a little template to cut the thimbles. The finished pieces are just over an inch high and about the same on the bottom. I will keep making these because I think it is the best way for me to use little bits of fabric, and they are the perfect size for a leader/ender.

Over the years I have made a few different table mats with these thimbles, and I have learned that it is best to have an odd number in the row and to press the seams in one direction. This way the rows can go any way. I have also learned not to bother rearranging the rows because there will always be similar fabric near each other. This time I only found two spots where the same fabric thimbles stack on each other. When sewing rows I pinned the first row, then realized it was a waste of time (60 pins!), after I just locked the seams together while sewing and it worked fine.

this was my Grandmother's thimble

I used one layer of Hobbs Heirloom Natural cotton batting to make a flat runner. I used Aurifil 50wt thread for the free motion quilting, and quilted an overall meander, because it is my favourite to quilt.

I made this for the top of an entertainment unit. It is really so the dust doesn't show as much!

 Photos from around -

Stormy day.

 Maggie watching the snow fall off the window.

With all the fresh snow we tried out our new snow shoes.

They are much better than the old fashioned ones I have.

All the best!♥︎

Friday Night Sew-In

It has been years since I participated in a Friday Night Sew-In, and I thought it was about time I join in again.

My sewing got an early start and I finished free motion quilting the thimbles table runner.

The binding should get finished tonight.
Thanks to Skype, I was lucky enough to sew with a friend on the other side of the world today, Raewyn  thanks so much for joining me!

Thanks to Wendy - Sugarlane Designs, for hosting the sew-in.

All the best!♥︎

Making Progress

I have been making progress on a few projects.

Finished piecing, and starting quilting the thimbles table runner,

and grouted the tiles.

It might be -30ºC outside, but it is beautiful! If it wasn't for the puppy I wouldn't have been outside to see the sunset.

All the best!♥︎

Sewing Thimbles

I have to wait a day for the tiles to set before grouting, so I finished sewing the last thimbles and started sewing the rows together!

Just a few more rows left to sew.

It is very cold outside, but a puppy still needs a run around. 

All the best!♥︎

Love It When Things Work

Finished tiling around the bathtub.

I am so grateful to the have the right tools to make this an easier job.

I was so happy that the hole for the tub spout worked the first time!

I am still working on the handspun sweater. I think it will be long enough when I finish that ball of yarn. I guess this is Maggie's territory - it is near her food bowl.

All the best!♥︎

Tiling

 I had big plans on pinning a quilt together today, but more important duties called.

I painted the bathroom and started tiling - hopefully I will finish it in the next few days so I can get the quilt pinned.

My Mother sent me a picture of her finished quilt!

All the best!♥︎

Sewing Thimbles

I am working on the first of my WOOFA projects.

Sewing the last two rows of tiny thimbles, for a table runner.

All the best!♥︎

WOOFA Challenge

2020 is going to be my year to participate in challenges, and the next challenge I am doing is the WOOFA Challenge - Working On Or Finishing an unfinished object.

Cheryll from Gone Stitching is hosting this - thanks Cheryll!

These are my unfinished objects-

 Thimbles that have been my leader/enders for a few years,

should be able to finish it into a table runner this year.

 49 Pineapple blocks.

Will be a 98" square quilt.

Pieces of Time.

Just the appliqué borders left. 

 Bali Medallion quilt.

I thought it was finished, but I think it needs more borders.

 Flowering Snowball quilt.

Just needs quilting.

 Orphan Blocks.

All kinds of blocks from different quilt alongs to put together in one quilt.

 30 'Dear Jane' blocks.

Hopefully putting this out there will be my biggest motivator to get working on, and finishing these projects.

All the best!♥︎

Finished Quilting!

 I am so pleased to have finished quilting my Mother's quilt.

The pattern is Verdant Valley by Vicki Stratton. It is 52" x 65".

I quilted with Bottom Line thread in the top and bobbin. I think my Mom stitched in the ditch with it too. The backing is plush, and the batting is Hobbs Tuscany Silk (she glue basted the quilt).

In the beginning the thread was not co-operating, so I put a thread net over the cone and that really helped.

The quilt is echo quilted, and I just followed along with the edge of the free motion quilting foot.

I am always impressed with how the back of a quilt looks when I use a plush or pinky backing.

Free motion quilting this was my One Monthly Goal for January! Done ✔️

All the best!♥︎