Whatever Wednesday May 20, 2020

It not quilting but it's still fabric.

I had an inspiration a few weeks ago and started to "design" a template for our ID card holder at the office.

The ones given by the corporation are made of plastic. With the everyday use and the ups and down of our weather, the plastic tends to become brittle. No one wants to lose their ID, so I thought fabric. It won't break down in a year or two.

So I made one for me. Orange of course.

Front

Back

Not bad, but there's some areas that could be better. The plastic on the front comes from bags our toys are wrapped in when purchased.

When I showed pictures to my colleagues some asked for one, so I changed the pattern a little and did two more.

Front

Back

That's all I have to show for now. See you again soon.

;^)

What Cabin Fever Turned Me Into

It all started with the need of finding more Aqua/Turquoise fabric to finish my RSC Challenge back in March.

I dived into my strings bins looking for aqua and found more than that ...

 

... so much more than just aqua. I started to itch to sew them all together. It was fun! After the aqua was done, I couldn't stop.

Somehow this happened. (!!??)

I thought I needed some straight strings for another piece, because I couldn't stop. I needed to sew these scraps together and turned my eyes to my 1.5 inches strips bin. Oh Yes Baby!

I instantly developed a yearning to sew 9 patch block. Somehow this happened. (!!??)

And this! 

Alternate block to the 9 Patch

And a blooper. what's a good sewing session without a blooper? 

After, I put the strips back in the bin properly as it was just a big mess before, (Should have taken a picture of the before.) some pieces were too short to be used in a 9 patch block (see pile on the left of the bin in the earlier photo). Now I had more scraps to sew and the fever gain on me to just sew some more.

Again, I don't know what these are for (!!) and why I am doing this (??)


We interrupt this program for an important information. 

Health care people need more masks. 

So masks were made.

Some for men

Some for ladies 

They are open on the sides so the nurses, doctors, etc, can insert additional protection. The pattern was given to The Artisanat Club by the clinic. 

Sew until I ran out of elastic. 9 for ladies and 10 for men. And the scraps are calling my name from the corner of the picture! 

Thank you, health care people, cashiers, first respondents, and all of you out there for your daily sacrifice. 

Now back to our regular programming. 


Meanwhile, I found in a gifted bag of scraps (from a long time gone social gatherings), this piece. It's a baby panel that is commercially quilted ...

... but it has no backing. (!! ??)

Okay! So? What is one supposed to do with this? This batting is not even soft!! Yuk!

I got a mind of taking it apart. Yes, I know, right! I'm going crazy. Totally too late for me. haha!

I can hear Cynthia, (Quilting is More Fun than Housework) who hates to un-stitch, wondering "Why would anyone want to undo all that?"  I don't know!! The Cabin Fever made me do it!

When I got back into my sewing room, those funny strips were still there. They were calling my name  again.
I felt the pressure to sew some more together. And this happened.

Yet, more and more were coming out.

AAAAAhhhh!!! 

I can't TAKE it anyMORE!!! 

The scraps are invading me!!  

With my youngest son's help, we turned an ugly, sun-faded chair into this. (Again, didn't take a before picture. Sorry)

For first time upholsterers, I think we did a pretty good job. We deserve an A on this one ... or a box of Oreo cookies. :^D

And one place mat almost done. Wonder what I could use to bind it with?

How about some scraps?   😵 AAAhhhhhhhhhh!





Saturday, April 4th, was such a hot gorgeous day that everyone wanted to be outside. But we have to keep our distance and this is what social distancing means ...

...  socializing from a distance. I love this. The neighbours are sitting at the end of their driveways, talking the afternoon away. (Seen from my living room window)


;^)


This post's meant to bring a smile to your face. Hope I succeeded. Have a great one. ♥


Joining
Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Angela at So Scrappy
Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun than Housework

Progress

What a wonderful thing. Especially when I'm the one doing it, haha.

After a fun afternoon with strings,

I made some progress on a green border ...

Followed by another green border!

Whoop Whoop! I am so happy! Look who's done!!

Field of Poppies (aka Good Fortune by Bonnie K. Hunter) is ready for quilting.  Um! I'm just noticing that last border is pretty wavy!

Doesn't look better up close. Okay so it isn't ready for quilting. I'll redo that last border (sigh!) but at least you know what it looks like. What do you think?

While I took pictures of my quilt, early this morning, someone came by to serenade me. It's a Cardinal bird. I SOOOO love cardinals. I just sat there and listen for a bit. Then he took off. Thank you for such a lovely moment. I appreciate it. And please come again, any time at all, soon.


So now that I am done with the greens, this place needs a good cleaning.

That is so much better. Awwhhhh! I think I haven't seen the top of this cabinet since the beginning of 365 challenge back in 2016.  Yikes!

Yes, my cutting table is a sewing cabinet. With no machine in it. But one is coming, eventually. Aunt Lucy is bringing me hers whenever we will be allowed to meet again.



These mats were finished and delivered ... on her porch.  Yes! Checked.

Oh yeah! I bet you want to know what I did with the strings, right?






Some got sewn together





different colours were used





and tossed aside for later.






I have to stay focus.







It took me a while




and some help from the Super Seam Ripper,







but I got what I wanted.

Hum! This will be a fun quilt, I think. I like where it is taking me. Maybe it's a quilt for me?  We'll see! :^D




Be "in" and stay home.

;^)

Joining
Denise at For the Love of Geese
Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation
Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Angela at So Scrappy
Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun than Housework

Bye Bye 2019

It hasn't been an easy year for me and my family. The health issues, hubby losing his job, the continuous moving from one place to another at work, the news of being transfer to another centre, a sick child at home, the new staff to train, yep, it was a rough. But of course there's always the flip side where things shine bright like ...

 ... the day I made Port-a-cath pillows with the lovely ladies at the Artisanat Club.

... my first I Spy quilt got finished. My only finish of the year. 

... Les paniers de Cécile got to the flimsy stage. It's was a sew-along from 2018.

2019 also saw me working on a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt and getting it all together this time, lol. It was first "done" in May. Unsatisfied with the quality of my piecing, I decided to take it apart in August.

By mid-September it was back together. It is not exactly finished since I am working on the borders ... still.

Anywho ...

... sensory blankets were also made in 2019 by the Artisanat group. We had a lot of fun again. A very beautiful group of ladies that I am very lucky and so happy to be part of.

And of course, in 2019, there was the Blues.

There was a lot of blues. Every other week or so, the blues were there. I posted about the 365 Challenge quilt 32 times in 2019 which is GARGANTUAN when you think I wrote only 38 posts this year. (No wonder you are tired of seeing the blues, sorry!)


So ... care to see some more? ...



Hmmm?



😁




It's starts with a Starry Path

32 pieces. Sorry but all I can see are broken dishes units.  No stars.



Mrs Lloyd's Favourite on December 23 is also my favourite.

It has 37 pieces. RSC2020 contender? Yes! (oh! Look at that! I have one corner turned the wrong way. Oh the sneaky one, lol.)

Dec 24 - Bethlehem Star - 41 pieces

and then the Star of Bethlelem on Dec 25 - 57 pieces

which is also known as Swoon. I so wanted to make a Swoon quilt when they were the trend on the web. Now I do have a little Swoon. Yay!

Good Cheer on December 26 with 53 pieces.

A.K.A. Eggnog Overdose (but just for me. Ha!)


Lightning in the Hill - 57 pieces

December 28 was Jacob's Ladder - 54 pieces

Oh! talking of ladders. Have I told you that during my holidays, we decided to finish painting the house? I started this project in July 2019 and got the entrance done. Now it was time for the hallway, staircase to the basement and the living room to get a new color. Bye bye burnt orange living room. Hello Sand!

So much fun! Hilarious! (not!) Between the paint and the sewing, I had to go to work too.


The evening found me at the sewing machine to finish Dec 29, Range's Pride with 20 pieces.

It's now December 31st and I finished work at noon. So drove home and ran downstairs to finish Dec 30 with One More Block - 48 pieces

Can you believe it! There's only one more block to go!! AWHHHHhhhhh!

The fun I have!!

I spread out the centre and all the 6 inches blocks made to see if the last one needed to be dark blue or light blue. 

Well, what do you know! 

I don't need to do the last one. 

I have enough block to do the last round!

I am giddy with joy!! 

I am DONE!!! WhooHoo!!

Then I spotted this one. 

:^(     :^(    :^(

I really don't like it. It is the worst mess of the entire 2019.

So, okay, I'll make the last block and remove this ugliness from my beautiful quilt.  :^D 

I looked up the last block and ... 

Hopes and Wishes 

... Ha! hahahahaha! No WAY! 

NO WAY! 

Not even with eggnog will I attempt to do this one! 

So, I snooped around ... 

... and found November 24 had a bonus block. 

Yay! It's an easier one. (anything would be easier really!) 

Ta-Dah! December 31 is Turkey Tracks in my quilt! 

and I am 

really 

done!  

Now, the first meeting of the Artisanat Club is January 7, 2020.

Can I have the top all together for the first Show and Tell of the Year???

AWWWHHHHhhhhhh! 



The suspense is killing me. hahaha!



;^)


I wish you all a blessed New Year with good health and loved one near. All the rest is icing on the cake (but we still shouldn't take it for granted).

I know I am complaining sometimes on my blog but know that I truly appreciate each moment I have with my family and friends, with you all and with my sewing machines. (I couldn't help myself; I just had to include them there. lol)

I hope we will all be together again in 2020 for a wonderful year of joy, inspirations, tutorials, sew-a-long, challenges, for scrap busting, for finishes' cheers, for empty bobbins and wait, what? new projects and UFOs alike, for the frustrations, the bloopers, orphan blocks, surgeries' recoveries (ours and the sewing machines), quilt shows and ribbons, for new and repro fabrics, best tool finds, tears and laughter, pat on the back and congratulations. Oh and the seam ripper. 😒 All in all, the best is yet to come. 😁

Hugs,

Chantal