Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Sad farewell...

This past weekend we said goodbye to my father-in-law, who passed away suddenly, at the age of 87, of a massive heart attack.  We will miss you Dad!

"Sea-Fever"

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

By John Masefield (1878-1967).

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

WIP Wednesday

It has been a crazy week.  I have not been quilting very much - life has been intruding.  Thankfully quilting is a sanctuary for me and I get at it as much as I can.

This is what I have been working on...

I finally made the starting block for the {Modern} Round Robin.  I dropped it in the post today and am eagerly waiting for my partners block to work on.
I call this "Button, Button"
... and I am still working on the 12 Days of Christmas Quilt Along - the hand quilting is pretty soothing for me...and I still have to put the button on it.  It is really looking nice.

Sad to say - that is all for this week.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

WIP Wednesday

I missed a week and thought that I would have so much more to post... but here is my update.  


I'm still working on Melissa's 12 Days of Christmas.  I only have a couple more block to hand quilt and will embellish a few of them with some interesting buttons.

My Indigo Stars quilt is completely finished.  I have washed it and put it in the dryer, so it is all crinkly and 'antique' looking.  My hubby Peter likes it and it is draped over a chair in the living room waiting to be cuddled.


The Tourmaline runner is also finished.  I had a lot of waiting around to do last week and hand quilted it too.  It is going to be a 'thank-you' gift for a wonderful lady that has been helping out my mom.


I have also completed the first assignment for 'fresh-squeezed projects'.  It was a trio of Courthouse steps blocks.  I used shirt and suit material for them.  I love how they turned out.  




I also had lots of strips left over so put them to use and made a few mug rugs.  One for my hubby, Peter; one for myself at the office and one for a friend who is always very helpful.  


I guess that's not bad for a couple of slow weeks.  See y'all next Wednesday.


Connie

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Winter has arrived...

First winter storm of the season.
This is the view from our living room window.  It is much better than it was yesterday - you couldn't see out! 
We have not had much snow, so far this year.  Not a very typical Canadian winter, so far...that is until yesterday.  The first storm of the season arrived and this morning, I took a few photos to share with you.  What you can't see, is how cold it is!  

A small drift formed between the house and the gazebo.  It's about 1 1/2 feet high.

The workshop and part of the garden

Here is Gun Club Road.  This year, it seems, that they are only plowing just past our driveway! 

Peter's workshop from the road.

The driveway side of our house.  It is the sheltered side, so the snow really piled up here.
The creek is starting to freeze.  You can see the drift forming from our back fence.  
Now - off to make hot chocolate....Peter is almost finished digging out the truck!  

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

WIP Wednesday

I decided to jump onto the band wagon and participate in WIP Wednesday.  I find that if you have to report your findings, you are a little more focused on finishing the products.  So - since this is a new year, I am going to try to be a little more organized - get some of those UFO's completed.


I have been hand quilting a lot lately.  I'm working on Melissa's 12 Days of Christmas - I machine quilted the basic quilt and am now enhancing the individual blocks with some hand quilting.  It is looking really good.
I am also working on the Indigo Stars quilt that I started a couple of years ago....It is entirely hand quilted.  I have quilted the all the blocks and am working on the border.  Again, I think it looks pretty good.
I had a day of organizing and found some charm squares that I can't remember where they came from and put them together in a small table topper, using a great pattern called Tourmaline - I will machine quilt it next week.
I am pretty pleased with what I have accomplished, along with working full time - but a girl has to support her fabric habit! ;)



Monday, January 2, 2012

Winter Stitching...



I have copied my last "Winter Stitches" post here and will update my accomplishments.  I made good progress in December, even though it is a busy month with lots of holiday activities.  Peter & I had a really great holiday season and hope that everyone else did too! 

1.  Complete 'mug rugs' for the office Christmas Exchange - completed


2.  Participate in the 12 Days of Christmas Quilt Along - the first such event I have joined - status - Quilt top is now complete and I hope to start quilting it this weekend (for my daughter, Melissa) I have now machine quilted this quilt and have decided that since it missed the Christmas deadline for this year, I am adding some hand quilting to it.....
12 Days of Christmas Quilt Along 

3.  Mystery Quilt (Prince Edward County Quilters' Guild - PECQG).  The project is called Beyond the Block.  I need to have this completed for the Guild's quilt show in July 2012 - status - all sections completed to date.  December's installment was on how to put it all together...which has now been done.  I am now debating on a border...does is need one or not?  
Beyond the Block
4.  Finish hand quilting "Indigo Stars" - status - approximately 2/3 complete inside blocks are now all hand quilted - only the border left to do
Indigo Stars
5.  Bind "Tennessee Waltz" once returned from long arm quilter 

6.  Quilt and bind "Freezin' Season 2010" {Freezin' Season is an annual mystery quilt that is mailed out from The Quilt Patch in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan}
The Big Flake

7. "Freezin' Season 2011" - start and finish?

8.  Quiltsy Team on Etsy - join something - left this team - it was one thing too many to add to my quilitng world.

9.  Organize quilt room

10.  Visit my daughters in Toronto

11.  Start quilting with friends at work (once a week or once a month)

12.  Complete "Winter Enchantment" - Christmas present for Diny - status - complete

13.  Finish "Stars Over Fort Sumter" - top is finished and is in the 'que' at the long arm quilter...
Stars Over Fort Sumter

14.  Make gift for Mary Lou - new apartment/Christmas - status - completed and given

15.  Complete gift for Amanda - status - completed and given

16.  Mug Rugs - last minute gifts to be added to Christmas gifts for mother in law, sister in law, Mum, neighbour
...for SIL
...for MIL
...for Mum
...for neighbour
17.  Last minute Christmas makes - table runner for my daughter (made with left-overs from the 12 Days of Christmas Quilt Along
12 DoC Table Runner for Missy
18.  Last minute Christmas table runner for my living room
My holiday Table Runner
19.  Swap - Japanese x and + blocks - made 20 for exchange.
Blocks for swap
20.  Modern Minx Bee - I am the January Minx and have prepared the tutorial for the Envy block (from "Modern Blocks - 99 Quilt Blocks from your Favorite Designers" compiled by Susanne Woods)  Let the sewing begin! :)
January Bee block - Envy
I have made good progress and still have lots to do.  The cold winter is the PERFECT time for sewing and quilting.