making a mess but getting organized

I pulled out a lot of fabric for Quilts of Valour from my fabric cupboard.  There were a few containers that were overflowing of either patriotic or country coloured fabrics.  They got taken downstairs to my sewing space and I spent 8 hours pressing fabrics, cutting strips and refolding neatly.

I have some Canadiana fabrics ready to  make more of the blue and white blocks for Quilts of Valour.  I will make some blocks with the flag fabrics so that the quilts are suitable and patriotic.

I have stacks of 2½" strips as well as lots of fabric cut and pressed ready to make pillowcases to go with the Quilts of Valour.  Hopefully, my friend Annie will help me by making them for me? 

The larger pieces of fabric are pressed and folded neatly, ready to stack on the shelf and now I know what I have on hand. 

Also, another job I tackled was to go through all my fabrics with a 'wine' theme and cut fat quarters as well as strips for borders, thinking that I might make a yellow brick road.  These can be put into a bag and taken south with me in the fall for a winter project. 

So, not much accomplished that is finished, but lots of strips cut and organization. 

Have also been busy adding hanging sleeves to quilts for our local quilt show in two weeks and getting the labels onto them. 

A Wet Thursday in May

The weather here in the Pacific Northwest has been absymal - wet, soggy, dark, dreary and we are definately suffering from a lack of cheerful sunshine.

My house is 'almost' as clean and tidy as it is possible to get an old house. 

I managed to get this chocolate and raspberry top all quilted and bound and is now a finished UFO!   

I also went through all my Canadiana fabrics looking for border fabric to change a blue and white scrappy quilt into something more 'Canadian' for Quilts of Valour and found a nice dark blue fabric with 'home and native land' printed on it.  Those words are from our national anthem. 

So, some sewing has been accomplished! I have more of these blue/white blocks in Arizona and can now take the perfect border fabric with me to create more QoV in the fall.  

May?

Where have I been?

Missing.

Working on my house, getting it ready for a prospective buyer.

Cleaning.

Yard work.

Guild flea market - sold lots of 'stuff'.

Making frequent trips to the thrift shop - not sure if they groan or clap their hands when they see me coming?

I have quilted and added the binding to the quilt tops I made earlier this Spring.  One UFO bit the dust, yippee. 

I'll be back, eventually. 

Final project for the winter season

I finished a project for April while wintering and now, time to pack up all my sewing stuff and get it all ready for the heat of the summer.

I also made three bags for baked potatoes in the microwave... another UFO off my list!

Now, to get organized when I get to our summer home! 

April in Arizona - hot, very, very hot!

We have had record breaking temperatures here in Arizona so I have been hiding somewhat in my sewing space though that is warm when I have to do a lot of pressing.

Last week, I got busy working on a row quilt, featuring blocks that are typical of the Pacific Northwest.  So far, this is what I have accomplished though am losing interest since paper piecing is NOT my favourite technique.

Today I was motivated to play with the 1600 inches quilt and made a quilt top which will be my Quilt of Valour project that I will demonstrate to those in the Fraser Valley who want to make and donate to this worthy cause.

Too warm in my sewing room for now but feel good that I got to play with this technique.  A quick and easy quilt though I would rename it the 3 bobbin quilt.  Took lots of thread but was made, from start to finish in 2½ hours. 

End of March

The weather has cooled off considerably so am spending less time hiding in my sewing room.  I have managed to complete the challenge for our guild's quilt show in June.  The title was "play the card you're dealt" and mine is completed.  Can you guess which playing card I was given?

I played with the Clover brand heart shaped yo-yo maker - was easy and fun to make them.

We have two weeks left before we head back to cooler temperatures and rain - ugh - but will be nice to be home. 

At the quilt show here, they put up a display of all my Valentine's quilted table toppers and wallhangings.

I have spent some time working on the paper pieced blocks for a swap with my Wednesday Quilt Diva group.  They are finally done and sent off on their merry way to the recipients.  It took me much longer than anticipated but I was happy with the freezer paper technique I used on these blocks.  My friends won't have to rip off the paper because this method was a little different than regular paper piecing. 

My funky house blocks for the Urban Living quilt.

St. Patrick's Day

The day to wear green and celebrate the Irish.
This is my leprachaun, finished in time to adorn my wall for March 17th

It is quite warm here.  Not hot enough to need the a/c but warm enough that we have switched from sitting in our backyard to sitting on our covered porch out front. 

Enjoy the day!