Ding dong! It's the postman!

A few weeks back, Julie at Julie K Quilts wanted to swap a few books for a few fabrics. She asked who is interested in this book? So I raised my hand. And now it's here!  It's here!! Yeah Me! 

The book is called "Everyday Embellishments" by M'Liss Rae Hawley.  The quilt that graces the cover page is so beautiful with textured pumkins and 3D sunflowers. I did a 3D bowtie quilt once (will show you that someday) but never did anything like the amazing things in this book. This will really be a skill builder for me. Inside, one of the quilt is called "Victorian Fans" (like in Grandmother's Fans).  I've never sewn curves before but when you have a pattern to teach you, where's the limit?  I can do anything. Right? Yeah!! 

I also got a pattern by Petitequilts called Peppermint Lane. It is ♫Scraaappy♪ and I looooove it. Oh my! I got to finish my In-laws' quilt so I can start on something new. Three more added to the do-to list.

Thank you so much Julie.  You're sew sweet! ♥♥♥

Until next time ...      Smile!    ;^)

Chantal

Work, work, work and ...

Play, play, play!! This is basically how I feel at the moment.
I am "working" on a quilt for my in-laws (which I love BTW) but this quilt doesn't love me.  Or I took more than I can chew. I am starting to believe I don't have the necessary ability/experience to tackle such a project so it feels like  WORK! It is not a very complicated pattern as you can see:

it consists of HSTS and squares.  My problem  My challenge is sewing them straight. Let me explain, please. It is my first attempt to do a monocolour quilt; I have always made ♫ SCRAAAPPY ♪ quilts. With those, even if you have a point that is 1/8 of an inch off, it is ok/good enough because, in the big picture, it usually disappears blends in.  In this blue quilt, if I have 1/16" off, it jumps right out at me, screaming "I am ugly!!".  :-(     I have frogged these blocks so often I could surely make a block or two with the threads I have wasted.  BUT!  I've said I would make a quilt for my Wonderful Parents In-Law and I WILL!! I know my MIL is so sweet she will genuinely love it no matter what it looks like and because she is a crafty person too, she will appreciate the time and effort involved in the making of such a quilt. But, I, yes ME, want it to be perfect.  The pattern is called Heavenly Star and it was spotted on the Quilter's Cache website.

Here, I am testing corner blocks for effects. (If you have spotted my mistake let me assure you that is has been fixed). The stars are sitting on a large piece of white flannel.  It will be a monster of a quilt (if my calculations are exact) finishing at around 87 X 112 inches. I will NOT hand quilt this one. And this is also a first for me; I have never used the services of a professional machine quilter. I am learning so much with this WORK in progress.

But ... there is also PLAY!! or FIP as in "FUN in progress". :)

I have so much fun with the ♫ SCRAAAPPY ♪ quilt, it makes my heart ♫ sing ♪.  This Leader/Ender quilt (like Bonnie K. Hunter taught us to do) is inspired by Natasha at Scraps-a-Plenty.  It is soooooooo easy to sew and to put the blocks together that sometimes I just sew those blocks and neglect give the blue quilt a break. (Got to find a better name than The blue quilt or the In-laws' quilt!) Anyway, these little blocks are made with flannel scraps from when I was sewing pajamas for the boys. I would like to make 3 quilts so I need 210 blocks and so far I have 97 blocks done. I have (was it 23 or 25 blocks) ... some blocks all cut up and ready for assembly.  The middle part of  the blocks are crumbs (little pieces of fabric) sewn together till it reaches 4.5 inches or bigger. Then I trim it and turn it into a star or an uneven 9 patch.  Because it's made of flannel, the little pieces can't be too small but still I am using alot of scraps. Some squares, made with a favorite fabric, are not pieced at all.  (Wish I could crop the carpet from the picture.  Another thing I have to learn.) 

Ok!?! For some reason, the picture is now sideways LOL but it gives you an idea of what it will look like.  Meanwhile, I am having FUUUUNNN sewing this one up!  

Until next time...  ;^)    Smile! ... 'cuz it looks good on you.

Chantal

May I introduce you to ...

my sewing room! It's a woman cave, a haven of solitude, a glorious place where I spend all my days concocting beautiful, GOOOORgeous projects ... uhh ... no, that was a dream. It was actually a family room so it is huge for a sewing room but it got too small for this family as a family room. I do love spending time in here. It is my hideout from the house chores sanctuary after a long day. It is kind of "too clean" you might say and I agree.  It doesn't always look like this but since the house is for sale, I have no "room to expand the fabric of my imagination" but plenty of elbow room!  Let me show you around.

 
First my sewing desk. LOL like literally a (old office) desk but hey! it works! I sew and pay bills and file all at the same time. The pile of fabric on the floor along with the blue baskets on the left are perpetually sitting there.  It is a Leader/Ender project. (I will show you later).  The mini quilt is Abundance from Lori's (Humble Quilts ) quilt along from about a year ago or so. Thanks Lori. 

Under the first window is my cutting ... dresser. This picture has been somewhat staged, otherwise, you would see only the back of the dresser standing in the middle of the place because that's where the best light is.  When it is too close to the window (like in the picture) there is a glare on the ruler and I can't read the measurement. LOL. The dresser is also used as a fabric storage. Beside my old rocking chair that have rocked all my boys is  ....   ....   ..... I can't upload more pictures...>:(  !! WHAAAAAT!!!
What am I doing wrong?  Arrrghhh, still so much to learn!  (ok, take a deep breath, close the computer and start again). 
Ta DA!!! (I do need a new computer!)

Under the second window is where I quilt .... hand quilt my quilts!  This gorgeous frame was made by my DH.  (Yes, he IS a keeper!)  At the moment there is nothing on it but a bunch of WIPs so I drapped a flimsy/UFO on top. LOL The bins underneath are full of ... fabrics! House for sale: agent said declutter please.  So I removed the shelves and put things in bins.  It is not very practical because every time I want a fabric I have to empty a bin. Two of these are flannel.  Yes, I love flannel quilts! The third one is the blue fabric. Let's try another picture, shall we?



Ok! This is the old computer desk with more bins, (thanks to the sale agent). Red fabric, brown fabric, green fabric, well you get the picture. Candles, coffee mug and sewing basket near by for when the computer is too slow and a TV set that is very rarely turned on. (I am a radio girl.) My walls are bare, (thanks to the sale agent) patched and ready for a new coat of paint (which will probably be white).

So this is it. You now know a little bit about me and the kind of dungeon  paradise I work in. Even though it is in the basement, it is very bright because it is facing south.  Kidding aside, I truly love this place and will miss it big time once we are gone. What are the odds that I get a new place with such a spacious sewing room?  Not twice in a life time, I presume. (Oh oh the kitchen is ringing:  muffins are ready!) Got to go. Next time I will show you what I am stitching (or frog stitching) in here.  Until then, don't forget to wear a smile 'cause it looks good on you!!  ♫♪♪

Chantal

Here goes...

my first entry into the wonderful world of Blogland. 
Like so many other quilters out there, I read many blogs and tonight, I decided to take the plunge.  I am not one to make a BIG splash but I would like to join in on the adventure and fun so many of you seem to have blogging. I too love to sew and quilt.  So I will share my ideas, my inspirations, my disappointments and my triumphs. 
I will ask for your patience as I goof off learn how to blog and this may take a while LOL.  Next post, I will try to have a picture accompanying the text.
Until next time...

Smile; it looks good on you ;-)

Chantal