Bags and Blocks

Sometimes I am called the 'bag lady' because of all the bags that I make.  I don't know what I am going to do with them all but I use them now and then.  I will have one for every season if not every month.

This is the Tahoe Bag.

I bought the pattern when I was in

Lake Tahoe for my sister's wedding

last November.

We were leaving the quilt shop

when I spotted it so I bought it in that shop and 

purchased the fabric in another shop there.

I made another Quilter's Carry All two thirds

the size that the pattern calls for.

I also made the front panel into a pocket.  I made

it just like the pattern but sewed it onto the main

bag instead of making it part of the bag.  The back of the bag

has the same panel but is not a pocket.

I am taking this bag on my next trip to

Europe in September.

It will make a good carry on bag for the 

plane.

Two more of my Irish Quilt Blocks finished.

I am up to date on them now just waiting for 

McCall's Quilting to post the last 5.  I am ready

when ever they get posted.

Joined at the Hip Block for July.

All half square triangles.

Tired and Hot

We were at the cabin the last few days working like crazy because we only had a few days to get the work done.  We were replacing some of the pink fiberglass insulation in the ceiling.  We had a leaky roof and Terry re-shingled the roof one year on the main cabin and then last year he did the bedroom and porch.

YKW checking over the situation

The insulation is all up, now the fun starts.

The plastic has to be added for a vapour barrier.

Three hours later and a lot of sweat

the plastic is up.

The temperature was around 28C so we 

also went through a lot of

bottles of water.

Paris revisited again

I bought fabric last year when Lynda and I went to Paris and finally got my nerve up to cut it.  This is the fabric from Le Rouvary Quilt shop that has the shop name on the fabric.  The fabric is called Romance de Paris Hearts and Flowers.  It doesn't really match anything in my house but I really liked it so I bought it.

I paid 4 Euros for 2 fat quarter pieces and the shop owner gave us some of her leftover scraps.  If you calculate it into Canadian dollars it is almost 7 dollars per fat quarter.  Well I am only going to be in Paris once in this lifetime so I bought it.

I had to piece the back of the cushion that I made because I wanted it to be made out of all Paris fabric.

I made the back envelope style

so that the cover can be taken

off if I wanted to.

July Block's of the Month

Three BOM's for July are finished.

Traditional Dresden Plate Block

Modern Dresden Wheel Block

These are both from Craftsy 

In Color Order July Block

Apple Avenue July Block

The center block was suppose to be an American flag

but since I live in Canada I had to change it a 

Maple Leaf.

The Canadian flag has a red maple leaf in the center

with 2 red bars on the sides.

I thought the pale blue looked like the flag was waving in the sky.

Carpenter Star

I am still working on my current BOM's and I like to make other things at the same time.  


I was alone one weekend because YKW had gone to the cabin.  I had to stay home to water the plants in the greenhouse.  He grows cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers in the greenhouse and they are very prolific because of the warmth and protection and need to be watered every day.


I found the perfect pattern to make a Carpenter Star Quilt here.  My only problem was that it was too big.  I wanted it to be a lap size for me, so I made the squares at 5 inches and not 6 1/2 inches.  Mine ended up being 48 x 60 inches.

I really like the pink and purple that "Mary"

had so I copied the colours.

My oldest granddaughter really liked it too.  It may be hers one day but it has to stay in my house for a while. 

I am trying to make myself a quilt for every month of the year.  I go to yoga classes from September to June and would like to take a new quilt for each month that I would use for Shavasana.  

 

Some Very Sad News

On the morning of July 3rd my sister's daughter-in-law passed away in her sleep.  She would have turned 30 years old today.  She leaves behind two small children 12 and 5, and her husband.  Rest in peace Emilie.

Some Unwanted Visitors

Shortley after dinner time yesterday YKW was looking out the deck doors onto the garden deciding if he was going to water the vegetable garden and called me to come quick. 

The sun sets here around 10pm and this was early evening which is a strange time for these visitors to appear. 

 I thought they were noctural animals but I guess not.

Momma Skunk

Her 4 little ones were out there too

but they all scurried when they heard

the click of the camera.

A few minutes later she was back again.

Not shy at all.

Foraging for grubs.

YKW decided to water the garden

and shot water at the shed hoping that they

would stay under there until he was finished.

Now we have to try to get rid of them by

trapping them or using something

to send them on their way

somewhere else.

Happy Canada Day

Tomorrow Is A New Month

Tomorrow is a new month with new blocks to be downloaded and sewn so I have been busy finishing up this months blocks.  Some of my blocks come out at different times of the month or week so it seems I always have new ones to make.

This is June's block from Apple Avenue.

4 cute lady bugs

June Block from Canton Village Quilt Works.

These blocks come out on the 25th of the month

so I am not behind on this one.

June Block from Joined at the Hip.

I am doing mine in just 2 colours

and not scrappy.

The letter M and Mariner's Compass.

This is from Lyn Brown

her Quilter's Alphabet.

Spring Basket Block #12

from Morning Glory Designs.

Block 13 from Morning Glory Designs

Pink Daffodils.

My daffodils don't look like the ones on the website.

I just couldn't put green leaves where the

pink petals should be.

At the Cabin

We were at the cabin this week-end.  It was Field Day for Amateur Radio this week-end and YKW spent the last 2 days on the air.  He was very successful making over 100 contacts with other Radio Amateurs.  


While he did that I sewed.  I use my old sewing machine as we operate on a generator.  No hydro there.

A little grainy since I was using an Ipod Touch.

Making a new Table Runner.

I was able to finish it, now I have to

quilt it and bind it.

This pattern is from

The Art of The Quilt and is called

Pat's Favorite Table Runner.

I received this pattern as a gift last summer and this is the second table runner that I have made from this pattern.  It is a real easy pattern to make and goes together very quickly.

I already made some placemats with the same fabric,

but with a bit of a twist.

I put gold in the corners to bring out

the colours of the pansies.

I got this pattern off the Internet at The Secret Workshop.

It is called Seeing Squares Place Mat.

There are lots of really nice free patterns on this site.

Now I am wondering if I should do the binding on the table runner in the gold to co-ordinate it with the

 place mats or to do it in blue like the pattern says I should.

I will have to decide soon as I will start quilting it tomorrow.

More Placemats and Letter L

I have been working on some more placemats and this time for me.  When I have the family here for dinner I need 8 placemats and I haven't made myself any since I made some Christmas ones about 4 years ago.

I couldn't decide what colour I should make the binding

so I am doing 4 in each colour.

Four down and four to go.

This pattern is called Fine Dining

from Pieced Tree Patterns.

I then decided that I would like a table runner and I wanted it to compliment the placemats and I found this one.

This is called Nifty Nines again from

Pieced Tree Patterns.

I really like the patterns from Pieced Tree.

Quilter's Alphabet Block L

Letter L and Lovely Lilies.

Missing Quilt Top

Last February I took a finished quilt top to the Quilt Bee and presented it to the committee.  They would get it quilted and then it would go in the pile to go to the Hospice after the reno takes place.  It seems this top is missing.  I know that some of the gals in the Guild visit my blog so I am sending out an SOS to see if anyone out there has this quilt top and is hopefully working on it.  It hasn't been seen since the Quilt Bee. 

This is my Flying Geese Quilt Top.

I put a lot of hours into this quilt and

was really thrilled with the results.

I hope someone out there

in cyberspace can help me

find this top.

I used the "Deb Tucker Wing Clipper Ruler" .

It makes flying geese fly.

Self Binding Baby Quilt - Receiving Blanket

I bought some really cute flannelette when we were in Duluth last month to make a receiving blanket for Pierina's new grand baby.  The Guild was handing out patterns and the tutorial can be found on the Missouri Star Quilt company YouTube videos.  It is really easy to make.  You need a piece of fabric 30 inches square and one 40 inches square and then sew them together and you get a self bound little baby quilt.

Self Binding Baby Receiving Blanket.

Really cute fabric with babies.

The expecting parents don't want to know if 

they are having a girl or a boy so

I thought mauve fabrics with babies

would be perfect.

Making Baby Bibs

I started making Baby Bibs and it is not an easy thing to do.  I have made 2 and I think that this may be the end of my bib making.  I did some applique on them but I am not completely happy with the bias binding on them.

Care Bears are so cute !!

With appliqued stars.

I put the bias binding on the front on this one first and then turned

it over to the back and machine sewed it on the back.

Alphabet Letters and Hearts.

I sewed the bias tape onto the back of this one and

then turned it to the front and sewed it onto the front.

I figured that they would be washed many times

so they should be totally machine sewn

and not hand sewn.

I fussy cut the little bee on the blue heart,

the orange fabric was plain so I

thought the little bumble bee

would add a sweet touch.

Six More Blocks Finished

I am trying to keep up with all my BOM's as well as do other projects and I am not doing too badly. I have 6 more finished and only one more to be completed for June. It is only the 10th so I think I am well ahead of the game. My alphabet blocks come out every week and I am waiting for the partner block before I start the letter so I have L now and it's partner will be out on Thursday.

In Color Order June Block

Lyn Brown Alphabet K Block

and Kelly Celtic Knot

Craftsy Greek Cross Block

Craftsy Octagon Block

Blogger BOM from Cranton Village Quilt Works

Country Junk'tion June Block

I just have Apple Avenue block for June to finish, and I should have that finished up tomorrow.