Monday's Promises

Although I have spent many hours in my sewing room, I don't have much to show for it. One of the reason is because I'm pulling in all the threads on Hidden Gems, aka RSC2015.  I'll spare you looking at another picture of that one.



I did a little bit of sewing, trying to assemble a backing for my MIL's table runner.

Table runner top

This is all I have so far.

A Shoo-fly block, a Friendship Star block and a regular 9-Patch.

Some more units are cut or assembled and some more need to be cut. It is all in neutral fabrics because my plan is to applique Autumn themed shapes to it.

It is slowly coming together. Since this is my OMG (One Monthly Goal) for January, I have to put the pedal to the metal and sew on! :^D

The backdrop in these picture is the purple I pulled out for RSC. As you can plainly see, I haven't done anything about it yet. Gosh! It's January and I am already behind in my schedule. This is going to be a FUN year! lol.

Until next time ... stay warm! (Last weekend, we've hit our first -25 C of the year. We are expecting +6 C on Thursday. Yep, I live in Canada where the weather doesn't always follow the seasons, lol. )

;^)


Joining Beth at Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Makings.
Joining Nicki at Mrs Sew & Sow for Scraptastic Tuesday.
See you there!

Past RSC quilts

Today, Angela at So Scrappy asks Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilters to share their rainbow quilts with the RSC newcomers as an inspiration, a starting point. Since I been a RSC quilter for only the last two years, I don't have a lot to share but I'll gladly share what I have made so far.

I made this quilt a long, long time ago, prior blogger, prior Internet (at my house at least) and I love it so much I wanted another one... eventually. When I started to read blogs, some quilters were making rainbow quilts by following Angela's colour of the month. I jumped it.

In January 2015, I started making the same blocks but in a smaller size. I apologise for not knowing the name of this block.

 As the month passed, the blocks piled up.

 In mid-year, my rainbow looked like this and I was very pleased.

By the end of the year, I had a lovely quilt and I was completely hooked on RSC

Came January 2016, I still joined Angela and the Rainbow quilters for another fun year but I added a personal challenge into the game: to use older fabrics in my stash. So I picked these fabrics for the RSC.

I looked through many books to find a block that would be simple enough yet fun, you know, it needs to be fun ... I mean they're M & M Candy after all.  :^D
I settled on Peace and Plenty, a 12 inches block.  And the game was on ...

Month after month, the block changed colour.
I didn't used brown or black for simple reasons but I still needed a twelfth block. I thought a rainbow would work. And it did.
 

 By October my quilt was done.

It patiently awaits for its borders. Hopefully, it will be finish some time this year.

For 2017, I will participate again and I will make ... uhhh ... there is too many to name here, I mean, I haven't settled on one or two yet.  Maybe today, as I am perusing the links on RSC2017, I will make a decision.

Until next time .... sew up a rainbow.

;^)

First OMG and surprises

I'm having so much fun reading all the blogger's reviewing quilts and projects made in 2016 that I am forgetting my own goals. Let me apologise right now for a lengthy and photo heavy post.

What have I done in 2016 ? Lots are unfinished projects, I think.

In no particular order;

I learned how to made baskets.

Finished all the blocks for a Double 9-Patch quilt, which has started in 2015. They are now sleeping in a drawer somewhere.

Did finished Secret Garden wall hanging along with a matching table runner. Still waiting for DH to get a rod up so the Garden can grace my dining room.

Finished County Roads SAL hosted by Lori  (Humble Quilts). I had some issues with the last border but managed to finish it.

 I had fun with some string blocks. You will see more of these in 2017.

Did a carpet for my son's bedroom with older thick, stiff fabric.  I'm really happy how this one turned out.

I participated in the Block-a-day QAL called The Ultimate Sampler 365 Challenge. I am stuck stalled working on the blocks for July. This too will embellish my blog again in 2017.

Did a table runner for my MIL which she likes a lot. She brought it back a couple of weeks ago so I can now work on finishing this one.

 I won some wonderful fabrics from Sue (Suebee's World) and made these totes.

Quilt of the Century had its last row of hexagons attached. Looking at  adding borders and embellishing this one in 2017.

What's a year without a RSC? This quilt came together thanks to Angela's Rainbow Scrap Challenge. The block is Peace and Plenty. Needs border or just quilting? 

I participated in my first Block Swap. Barb (Fun with Barb) was the hostess and it was a lot of fun. This is something I would like to do again.

Also a first for me is the baby quilt I did for a craft sale. I've done baby quilts before but never for sale. More baby quilts will be added in the coming years.

Here's another basket I learned how to do in 2016. I've learned a whole lot more than just doing the basket, lol. It is still at that stage.

Bags of all kinds. Lots of busy bags ...

Lots of gift bags. All for the craft sale. My plan is to make a few items per month for the craft sale.

And I free motion quilted Hidden Gems, my RSC 2015, just last month. Needs to sew down the binding and a label. Yes!!

Oh and I forgot Westering Women. The first six blocks are done; need to do six more in 2017.

Phew! Not too shabby.  Now this being said, what do I do in 2017 ?

Well, first let's think about the January OMG. I want to work on my MIL's table runner. I need to piece a backing for it. You might be thinking it doesn't take a whole month to piece a little backing of 18 X 36 inches! and you would be right. Since my plan is to applique some autumn themed shapes on it so her table runner will be reversible, it will take me the month ... or maybe more!  Have to play with the design some more but I am getting there.

In January, I'm participating in a different kind of quilt-along.  Cécile (Patchwork Inspiration) and Béa (Une aiguille dans une botte de foin), in France, are offering a Log Cabin Blocks Quilt-Along, where you decide the colours, the fabric, the size, etc. It needs to be a Log Cabin block though; traditional block we link with Cécile or for modern blocks we link with Béa. You need to make at least 8 blocks a month for a minimum of 16 blocks. (But you can do more) The reveal is in March. This sounds like a goal for me. :^D

As I've said before, I don't do resolutions although I have a feeling 2017 will see a lot of red fabric.

Oh and the last year finished and this year started with some surprises. I won a prize from Lee Anna (Not Afraid of Color). I received some fun fur in the last week of December.

Luscious, right? Nice green and blue with a touch of light pink/salmon colour. Mmmm! Thank you Lee Anna.  I think something for Spring would be nice. So I picked a pattern and started to knit but I wasn't pleased with it so I'm waiting for Plan B to show up.

Yesterday, I had to go out on errands in the freezing rain. I decided to stop at the post office too and ... Oh My! a squishie envelope! Gayle (mangofeet) wrote a little note, saying this little piggy wants to see Canada. It was so happy to be here it jumped out of the envelope and licked my nose.

Isn't she adorable? All dressed in blue. I so love her. So as I'm driving back home, I told her about the snow and the freezing rain falling. She wanted to touch the snow. So we did.

She was running all over the place so fast I couldn't catch her with the camera but she left the smallest foot prints ever.

Then she crashed, just exhausted, out of breath. I showed her how to make a snowman. She ask why? Why? because it is fun to make snowmen. Why a snowman? Uhhhh!

So we made a snowpiglet.  I hope she never asks to go back home because I really love her. Thank you Gayle.


Until next time .... pick up a needle.

;^)

Oh! yes! Linking with Patty at Elm Street Quilts for OMG. Gosh! Almost forgot again.

Slow Sunday Stitching ... at last

A thing I've neglected in 2016 was my hand quilting projects. I would like to remedy to that in 2017.  With the help of my new Task Master, thanks to Elaine at Crazy Quilter on a Bike, some slow stitching is now on the "Ordre du Jour".


We got more snow yesterday, overnight and it finally stopped very early this morning.

I shovelled another 10-11 inches of snow off the deck. You might be wondering why the heck do I shovel when I have 4 men in the house? The answer might surprise you. Are you ready? Because I can! Whenever my body lets me move, believe me, I move! Since it wasn't the heavy kind of snow, it was a most pleasant morning with the sun shining and little birds singing.  Ahhh!! So perfect! And when I have enough of shovelling, the boys take over. Perfect deal! :^D

Then the usual Sunday chores and meals to prepare, blah, blah, blah ... boring stuff... blah, blah, blah!

Comes the evening, I am starting to hear the muscles complaints. So, it is time for a long hot bath and then, some slow stitching with Kathy at Kathy's Quilts.

My Ohio Star Shadow has been waiting, on the quilting frame, for some attention for close to a year now. One block is marked and a needle is threaded. The only thing missing is me.

Isn't time you and I get reacquainted, Shadow? I think so. We will spend the evening together, as soon as I finish this post, I promise. 

Thanks Kathy for doing the Slow Sunday Stitching link party again this year. It is so appreciated. It is fun to see what everyone is working on and especially to see the progress from week to week. Thank you. 

Until next time .... pick up a needle. 

;^)

Last post of 2016- December OMG is done!

Yes! I did managed to finish my December OMG, with one day to spare.

I am so happy. Not perfect but I am very happy. After all, I am learning this skill one quilt at a time.

I needed to make my usual blooper moment. What? Let's not forget the tradition. I had to finish the year on a beautiful note, ♫♬♩♩♪, and a blooper was it. (really not made intentionally.)

This picture shows the half rosette that needed to be removed. I had 4 made when I realised my mistake. I had another pattern for the edges which included that section too. So 4 half rosettes were ripped off in order to do as plan.  The edge design looks like ...

... this. I thought it would add some "umph" to the quilt.

It follows the white zigzag of the edge.

My OMG was to finish quilting my RSC2015. The shuffling of the threads, the binding and a label are all this quilt needs in order to be crossed off the UFO list.
There's always next year. :^D

view of the back

The fabric audition for the binding has begun. I'll be sharing more picture after it is bind and washed.


I wish you all a fun, peaceful and blessed 2017. May it be one of your best years.

~_*


Joining Link Party:

Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Myra at Busy Hands Quilts
Patty at Elm Street Quilts
Angela at SoScrappy