Can't believe it is getting towards the end of August and I haven't posted any pictures to my blog!  Where have I been and what have I been doing?
Had company for 8 days and also had grandsons here for a few days. They requested green waffles so that is what they got - and, they ate them!

We made a trip to the Hood River area, border of WA and OR states and my good friend Dee took me to a lovely quilt shop called ETC.  I found some border fabric for my metallic challenge from the FVModern Guild.  Now the challenge was due last April and it isn't supposed to be this large, BUT, it will get finished.

This is another challenge from the FVMG that is more current and not due until September (I think?) and it will be done on time.   We had six fat quarters to work with and I added in more to create this simple quilt.

I will be putting together some Hug Mugs for Quilts of Valour.  Buy a mug for $5 and you will get the instructions and fabric to make a block plus the mug.  The block is then sent back to QOV for inclusion in quilts that will be made, using blocks from across Canada.  The blocks must be made from Northcott's Oh Canada line of fabric and the quilts are called "Hugs Across the Nation".  Quilts are given to injured soldiers or wounded warriors.  The fabrics in this line are really quite fabulous and are definitely Canadian.  Northcott has been printing the Oh Canada fabrics for three years and each year they continue to co-ordinate with each other.

This is a red and white wall hanging/table topper that I made as a sample for a kit for Hamel's Fabrics in Chilliwack.  Really simple pattern that goes together fairly quickly and would be stunning to show your Canadian spirit.  Would also look fabulous in fall colours.

I forgot to take a picture of the original rag quilt I made for Hamel's last month.  It is a child's size quilt out of the same fabrics.  This is a small rag quilt for a cat/dog/doll made from the leftovers of the original quilt.   

This quilt is called Coastal Bliss and was originally the shop hop blocks from the Vancouver Island shop hop.  Hamel's will have the entire top in a kit form including all the blocks and the finishing fabrics and directions.  Warning that this quilt will not be easy to put together for beginner quilters but if you can follow directions, you will be able to put it together.  It does require some partial seams and making a freezer paper template but the instructions are very detailed and specific.  The designer is Canadian and this is truly a West Coast quilt.  The fabrics are batiks and are very aboriginal and coastal in their designs.

So, not any real finishes so far in August but have accomplished a few things in my limited sewing time!

end of July - how did I do this month?

I finished a silk scarf a few weeks ago and forgot to take a picture.  This was purchased as a kit at the sewing show at Tradex in March. 
Was different to sew on silk!

I made this quilt from some fabrics that were different for me to work with. I am not usually a black person but loved the black and cream.

A tonga batik kit is finished.  I wanted to make this to see how easy it is and it is so simple, I have cut myself a bunch of strips from my batik stash to make another couple of these.  Will be good quilts for Quilts of Valour.

A really funky pattern that I made, wandering into "modern" mode.

Thus ends July and I am down to two projects that need quilting.  One is a wallhanging from last year and another is a donation quilt that my friend Annie made blocks for and I finished it up.  But, they go on the list for August!

Sunday morning - getting organized

I have two baby quilts finished.  Both were from fabrics purchased at Creative Stitches sewing show in March and the Abbotsford quilter's guild quilt show in June.  Done!  Crossed off the list.  Am determined that anything new that comes into this house gets made immediately - at least within 6 months of coming into my sewing room!

I was in Victoria last weekend and am slowing, gradually working through the cupboards and closets in my mother's house.  These are all the vintage linens that I found in the linen cupboard.

I have claimed a couple of them but lots of doilies and dresser scarves, table cloths for card tables or end tables.  Still thinking about what to do with them.

Friday finishes

This table runner is made from a Tonga Treat kit.  Simple to make using 5" squares.  These aren't my colours at all but will make a nice gift for someone.  I wanted to try the pattern and see how easy it would be use for a full size quilt.

A simple quilt for a baby made from charm squares.  Super easy and I quilted it very simply.  

My order of the newest Oh Canada fabric from the Stonehenge fabric line arrived.  Now I need to get busy and make up some of the hugs in a mug for Quilts of Valour.

My friend went to the Sister's outdoor quilt show in Oregon and brought me back some fabulous fleece.  Will make a really nice blanket to take to AZ this winter.  Go Seahawks!

I played with the instructions for this block sent by a friend.  She is going to teach a class in making these and she can use this picture as an example of what can go wrong!  Look at it closely.  The diamonds are put together incorrectly.  I should have flipped both of the bottom diamonds over so the light fabric is on the bottom.  Good lesson on what to avoid when piecing your blocks.  Lesson learned!

Summer is progressing.

I am working on finishing some quilt tops and getting them layered, quilted and bound.  Two recent finishes were both baby quilts and each were bought as kits. One was from the Langley quilt show in May and the other from the Abbotsford quilt show in June.  Am feeling good about finishing up kits quickly after purchasing them!  I really don't need any more UFO's in my sewing space!

Was very disappointed in the kit from Kismet quilts in Port Alberni.  I realized after cutting it and piecing the kit,there was no fabric included for the binding?  Would have been nice to have had the extra needed to complete the quilt and that is a first for me.  Not so sure I have purchased a kit before with no binding included?  If they are going to do that, they should at least point it out to you at the time of purchase.  Oh well.. dug into my stash and found a pink that would work.

 Getting Quilts of Valour ready to send to Edmonton for Wounded Warriors.  Finally took them all to U Haul and bought a box ($5... great deal, thanks for the idea, Susan).  Sent them off happily but the box weighed 60lb. Makes me think I might suggest quilters use a poly batting instead of cotton so the quilts are not so heavy! 

 

 A Tonga batik kit that I purchased at the last quilt show I attended.  Simple pattern and have pulled out a bunch of batik strips of my own to make a couple more.  Will make great Quilts of Valour. 

 

Another Tonga kit that is for a table runner.  Loved this pattern idea as well.  It uses 5" charm squares.

Playing with wonky stars blocks.  Fun to make these.

The modern quilt guild had some bags made and the muslin was supposed to be canvas.  They were pretty thin so we decided to each do something to make them more sturdy and I wanted mine to stand up on it's own.  Added batting and lining to the bag and then made an outside pocket and added that.  I think it looks better in person than in the picture. 

And tonight, we had some special visitors to our front and back yards. 

I had a birthday and these were the fat quarters that were my gifts from my Quilt Diva friends.  Awesome!!  I asked for bright and funky.  Helped me to get over being another year older.  UGH

 Two of my current projects that are ready for quilting.  The zig zag baby quilt and a red/white table topper or wallhanging that I made for the local quilt shop.  They will make up kits for that and the red fabric is fabulous.  Once it is quilted, I will get it back to bind and then will get a better picture of it.

Another project on my design wall.  Not too sure how I want to put this together.  Am seriously thinking about putting all the fabric into a ziploc and taking it south with me this winter.  Will be boring sewing all those triangles together!