quick little...

I discovered a link up this morning that I wanted to tell you about...

What is a link up you say? It is a web page were bloggers can list their current post on their blog and when someone cliks on a little icon they are brought to a blog where they can read MORE about what interests them...

Check out Live a Colourful Life, Really Random Link up

And just as a little reminder, if you look up at the tab bar at the top of my page, not the very top, silly! just below the title and the header pictures...  You will see a tab that says, Link Parties...
If you clik on that it will go to a page where I have posted the icons for other link up pages for various days of the week...

Using these link-ups are a great way to discover new blogs that may suit your reading style and interests...

Whats in the Bag, Dad?

 



 

Strawberry Plants in Bloom on my front 'porch'...

 

Work in Progress -- Modern Classics Challenge

I am inspired!

The other day a friend was looking for the name and instructions to make a 'classic' quilt block.  Classic but not very well known.  Over time the design and its instruction have become "little known".

One of my Quilting "things" is to collect old quilt patterns and booklets and magazines....  I have thumbed through these books over and over and over and, well, if I must say so, I knew what she was looking for, and I knew where to look for it!

Then another friend sent me an email to tell me that she really enjoyed the way I was able to share my knowledge of quilting...

So those two 'events' have inspired me to make for myself and new SUMMER CHALLENGE for 2013. 

I would very much like if you could follow along!

THIS IS THE MODERN CLASSICS SUMMER CHALLENGE

I will post a unusual quilt block each week, along with a tutorial of how to put it together.   Each block, I hope will introduce you to what was once before called MODERN QUILTING!  

I will be starting the challenge on May 21, 2013 and the last post will be on Sept 03 2013,  by my count that is 18 weeks so 18 blocks. And I have a feeling that will not be nearly enough to cover all the interesting early MODERN quilt blocks!

 

There will be blocks that are fairly simple with straight line sewing, there will be blocks with triangles of various sizes, there will be blocks that are appliqued and there will be blocks with curves, and there will even be blocks to embellish with embroidery stitches!

 

 

Unlike last summer's self challenge to make 10 quilts and donate each of the quilts, my challenge is to awaken an interest in some of these patterns and designs.   I hope that somewhere along the weeks of the summer YOU will find a quilt block that you LOVE and will make your very own MODERN CLASSIC.

 

I am posting these all on my blog and I do ask that you use the designs only for yourself, if you know someone who likes the pattern, please ask them to come visit my blog to get the instructions.  

 

 

None of the patterns are original designs by me, but I am doing the research and posting the information about them.

 

I will give you as much history on the blocks that I am able to discover.

 

So if you would like to follow along with this series your best bet is to sign up on my email list so that each time I update the blog you will not miss and 'episode'...

 

Also if you are so inclined, I would so much appreciate knowing how you are doing with each block posted and if you have a question that I did not address in a particular post, leave a comment, or use my email contact which is on my blogger profile.

 

I hope to set up a group flickr account so that you can post photos of the blocks that you accomplish!

 

Ready?

 

Works in Progress - It Could Be Anything....

I have not written a blog post for almost two weeks, that is quite unusual for me because I always have something to say...

 In fact I talk so much that my husband has got into the habit of saying "umhumm", whenever he vaguely hears my voice....

He has no idea what I have said and I suspect that it really doesn't much matter to him... Someday I hope to say to him " DUCK! "   and he will say "umm" and then not have time to utter the "humm" part of the word....

I have been spring cleaning again -- I keep getting this urge or need to declutter.   The things I went through 6 months ago and decided to keep are again on the chopping block...  Space is not at a premium in my house, I still have some empty shelves, empty drawers and empty rods in the closets, but I keep thinking back to when I was a child and had my bed, and a dresser and a few books and about three china horses on top of my dresser.  My room was not piled with things or toys or dolls.   When I wanted to take up a crafty project, there always seemed an old shirt or skirt to take apart to make barbie clothes with, or my gramma would give me yarn to knit a scarf, or my dad would buy me a paint by number kit .

I keep yearning to make things simple...

But it is not so simple to live simply...  Sorting scrappy squares, in anticipation of a summer marathon of quilt top making...  want to sew along with me, this summer?  I have not set myself a plan or a goal yet, tho...

 

A box of chocolates, that have already been eaten and then filled with scrappy triangle pieces....   I have been sewing them, light to dark for a day or so now, with no real plan for them as yet -- other than a someday quilt top -- maybe part of my summer project...

 

 

These blocks were from a few years back, a pattern from Quiltmaker Magazine that a group of 5 exchanged blocks from...  I used half the blocks and made a really nice lap size quilt, but still have about 30 blocks -- I think it might be a bed runner....  and more half squares sewn together, not sure where or what their purpose is.  And under the "heritage squares" are a stack of blue and white bowtie blocks...

 

 

 

and this developing "postage stamp" project, each block is 25 squares and measures 6.5 inches --- the postage stamp squares are 1.5 inch each...  a long way to go....

 

 

And while I watch my favourite shows in the evenings or sometimes when I wake up at 1am, instead of laying in bed, I get up and crochet...

 

This granny square project is well on its way, all the 'rounds' are made --- 80 of them and now I am adding the last white round to make each granny square, square and at the same time joining them...

 

 

And who but Walter finds a way to lighten up any serious thoughts!  If he could talk he would be saying, " Take a Break, Already!"  Walter thinks everything except laying around is work...  I think I do agree.

 

 

 

and if I have the GAUL to ignore his suggestion to take a break, he just lays on top of my work or my instruction sheet and forces me to consider his suggestions...

 

 

Even if you don't have a 'Walter' sit back and find that ZEN moment.

 

 

Best Laid Plans...

The sun is shining...  The birds are tweeting...

And I decided first thing this morning to put a binding on a quilt that has been finished for about 3 months except for the binding.

I had my breakfast -- an omlette with slices of avocado on top and a nice fresh cup of coffee (sometimes I use yesterdays coffee left in the pot cause I am too impatient to wait for an fresh pot), checked my email and was headed to the sewing room before 7am...

I pulled out the quilt that needed the binding and plopped it down on the floor beside my sewing chair while I sewed the long strips of binding together

 

Then I turned to pick up the quilt and guess who? had made himself comfortable within the folds.

 

 

For a change he wasn't knocking things off the cutting table or taking up all the space by stretching out in the sun on my ironing surface, SO...

 

I shifted my focus and decided to work on another project.

 

 

Another small "chocolate box" of already cut 2 inch squares was passed along to me a week or so ago at guild meeting, so I thought instead of loosing them in the piles of stuff, I would do a bit of stitching them into a few blocks.  25 patch blocks, that maybe will become a doll quilt or? who knows, but I was in a mood to sew and since Walter had disrupted one plan, there is always an alternative in my sewing room...

 

 

Well, I did not get very far along when my DH asked if I wanted to go get some groceries, so I only got a few blocks done...

 

 

These are rather fiddly little blocks, but now they are started and I am back from the grocery store interruptions so I shall head back to the sewing room, open my window and listen to the birds twittering and fluttering outside my window, and get some more sewing accomplished...  And thats the plan for today.  It is not yet 10:30am!  Lotsa time!

 

Pink Kick...

Say that three times in a row! Pink Kick, Pink Kick, Pink Kick!

I saw a shawlette on one of my favourite crochet blogs, a few weeks ago and decided to go ahead and create a really large drapey shawl for myself using this 'shawlette' pattern stitch..  You can find the instruction for the pattern, free on Ravelry - it is called the South Bay Shawlette. (you need to log in or create an account if you have not already done so). 

But.  I first saw this pattern in progress on Le Monde Sucrette - you will have scroll back a few posts -- I did that on purpose cause I want you see her lovely projects as you scroll back!

 

Is this what you call ombre?  Cream, light pink, hot pink, and finally burgundy...

 

 

See that bit of yarn hanging?  I was in a bit of a rush to take these pictures as it is just after 5pm and the daytime light will have soon been gone for the day, so I finished up that last stitch and hung the shawl on the back of a chair on my balcony to get a quick pic...
 

 

Isn't that a great stitch?  Such a nice lacy effect and yet it is only a two row repeat.  Such a simple pattern stitch and it looks quite intricate. I may just create another in this pattern with a natural or organic quality yarn -- this one is done with 4 skeins of Red Heart Super Saver yarn.  I'm thinking this might look and feel really nice in a lighter weight yarn, but still as large shawl.  This version hangs down well past my bum and will keep me very cosy I think.  I definately prefer the longer coverage.

 

I have been wanting a shawl for a very long time to wrap around my shoulders while I work at my computer on those very early mornings when I tend to be doing my best work...

 

I just want to put a bit of trim at the top edge -- no fringe tho because it will just be chased by Walter, who if you read this blog regularly, you know is an imp in black and white cat fur...

 

 

trying on a pink hat to see if it will match the shawl?...

The Iron Challenge!

It is a huge job to organize and find ideas for your fellow quilters when you belong to a local quilt guild or a quilting group!  A few months back Diana announced the idea of a Iron Challenge and she did credit the idea back to the Fraser Valley Quilters Guild.   So this month members of our guild -- Abbotsford Quilters Guild -- picked up the idea and held our own EVENT...

This has turned out to be a wonderfully co-operative and creative enterprise and I know I thoroughly enjoyed the two hours my group spent working on our Iron Challenge Quilt.

Let me explain the details and rules that our groups used. 

First Diana supplied sign up lists and then she arranged those who signed up into 5 or 6 "man" groups.

Each team had to follow set rules which included: making a quilt from start to finish in two hours, the quilt must have a measurement of at least 140 inches all around or what we call premie size about 30 inch x 36 inches.  It must be a quilt, three layers, with binding and a label.  It can be any design.  Only one sewing machine, one iron and one ironing board per team.

On my team there were 6 people and Diana emailed us to let us know who was on our team about a week ahead.   This week allowed time to pick our leader -- Me, actually.  Then I made a plan, that included a listing of the supplies, tools, etc we would need and each of us declaring what job we might be best suited for.  I also created a plan for the quilt we would do and the whole instructions step by step.

Our group included Me, Lin, Karen, Bev, Carol and Jane --and part way through we aquired a helper, that I am sorry but I did not learn her name, but she did sew on the quilt label!  (names not necessarily is order, and not everyone was available for the photo)

 

A couple of other things to note, Our guilds charity quilts program, supplied all the fabric, batting and backing.  Harriet who takes care of our 'We Care' program brought piles of donated fabrics and each team chose what they wanted to work with.   Then just before each team started, every team  was given a fat quarter of fabric that Had to be included -- in our quilt it was that little strippy green that we put at an angle in the corner of each rail fence block....  then we called the quilt OLD RAILS.

 

We had a great time!

 

We learned from each other and our charity quilts program had six baby quilts all finished up to donate to the next children who are in need of a quilty hug!