Some Finishes

I finished machine quilting this large lap quilt. The pattern is Emma by Bella Moon. The quilt is 60"x84", the fabric is French General fat quarters. I used silk batting (Hobbs Tuscany), and flannel backing. It is free motion quilted on my domestic sewing machine using Bottom Line thread (top and bobbin), with loops and leaves.

I also (finally) finished quilting this little practice piece. I wanted to try Cathedral Windows on 60º angle, and a leaf type feather. I used 3 different colours of Invisafil thread (100wt) for the free motion quilting. The fabric is from an old silk blouse. It is 10"x12".

I also finished planting the garden this week.

Ice on the birdbath

 Last Saturday was the last frost (hopefully!), so it was time to start planting.

the front flower bed

tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers on the side

I extended this flower bed this year

vegetable garden in the back

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!♥

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.♥

Blocks and Photos

I finished piecing the blocks for the Four in Four quilt. No matter how I place these blocks, there are always similar fabrics side by side, so it is just going to have to be fine the way it is.

These next two photos are from my iPod -

My son took this last week, on one of our rides home. Stormy weather but bright sunshine, that's a sundog over the road - it looks so desolate.

Today we went to the symphony (the music of Simon and Garfunkel, my youngest son asked to go - it was lovely). Not the best photo - this was as they were warming up and our seats were in the second balcony, but I like how the lights looked like blue flames.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!♥

Friday Night Sew-In Results

Last night was a Friday Night Sew-In, it has been a while for me so I was pleased to join in. Thanks to Wendy from Sugarcane Quilts for hosting.

I was joined by Raewyn (Love to Stitch) on her Saturday - quilting and chatting, a nice way to spend an evening!

I didn't get any sewing done, but I cut out all the fabric for a new quilt. Pressing the fat quarters took as long at the cutting! The pattern is Emma by Bella Moon, a great fat quarter pattern. I used the rest of a French General fat quarter pack (leftover from my Double Wedding Ring quilt) for this - 23 FQ's (I am making the quilt 60" x 84", 12" blocks with a 5x7 layout).

I really enjoying this kind of piecing. It is the second time I have made this pattern and it is going together well.

Today I pieced 21 blocks (I need 35 blocks).

The snow drifts in the yard are constantly changing.

The partridges and rabbit eating together.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!♥

Four in Four Finished

I finished the Four in Four Quilt.

The pattern is "Emma" by Bella Moon (from Vancouver). It is 48" x 66" and I used 12 Bali fat quarters to make it. I talk about making it here (I made changes to the size of the pattern).

I used cotton batting and quilted it with an allover pattern of butterflies, loops and ginkgo leaves on my home sewing machine. The back is flannel.

a clearer picture of the ginkgo leaves

I am really pleased with how it turned out. It was a great pattern to make, and very easy. Simple patterns, like this, really seem to let the beautiful fabric shine. (The pictures don't seem to do the fabric justice.)
Tip
When I made this quilt I ironed the fat quarters before cutting and then didn't iron anything until the whole top was finished. I find that for quilts with simple squares it is easier to match seams when they are only finger pressed. They seem to nest together better.

It was very windy yesterday when the quilt was drying!

Have a great day and thanks for dropping by! ♥

Four in Four Quilt

Yesterday I cut out the fabric to make another quilt.

This is a pattern from Bella Moon (from Vancouver's The Cloth Shop). It is like a four patch in a four patch. The pattern calls for fat quarters (20 or 38), I only had 12 FQ's (from April's Bali Club - also from the Cloth Shop) . The quilt top came out to 48" x 66" - a nice lap quilt size. It was very easy to make and there was only a few scraps of fabric left!

They are 12" blocks, in a 4 x 5½ block layout.

Another quilt top waiting for quilting. I will have lots to do in the fall!

This year I decided to put all the roses in the garden together. When I moved them I added Epsom Salt to the soil and this year the roses have never looked better! Tons of blooms!

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