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! 

Getting ready for March 17th

I have made a few St. Patrick's day projects. 

This is a simple table topper.

And a wall hanging.

I also have a quilt top pieced but not sure if it will get quilted before we leave for the summer.
The pattern is called Margarita Sunrise.  The fabric was a set of 2½" strips with a variety of peppers and fabrics to go with them - sort of a funky jelly roll.

And lastly, here is a picture of the blossoms on our orange tree.  The smell is almost pungent? 

I still have one more wall hanging for St. Patricks' day to get finished.  It needs binding and my leprechaun needs eyes and a nose. 

March Madness

It feels like time is running out to get some projects completed before we head north to get our hobby farm cleaned up and ready to sell. 

I have managed to complete, finally, my Kokapelli wall hanging.  For some reason, this project hung around for almost a year, waiting to be stitched and quilted.

My flannel yellow brick road quilt was a kit from a shop that has since closed up.  I messed up when doing the cutting - crazy, since I have made loads of quilts using this pattern?  However, with some creative piecing and adding in a few pieces of other flannels, the quilt is done.  It isn't large, just perfect for a lap quilt on a cooler evening?

Some of my other projects that are ongoing are on my design wall.  I have a couple of St. Patrick's day wall hangings and table toppers as well as a funky chili pepper quilt.  My Sharon Schamber class project is there waiting for me to figure out what I want to do with it and get it finished as well as my first house block for a swap with my Quilt Divas.

I completed a Quilt of Valour quilt top.  It is packed and ready to take home with me for quilting and binding.
The fabric in this is a floral print with Canadian flags in the flowers. 

Good grief, more than a month has passed?

Wow... time flies when you are busy, having fun and playing lots of tennis?  Our active life style seems to leave me little time for computer and quilting. 
I have managed to do a few projects in my limited spare time. 

This is a pillowcase for Quilts of Valour, Canada.  I have a few more cut and ready to sew when time permits.

Two quilts that I did NOT make.  I added the binding and stitched it down.  These are donation quilts made by the Sunland Stitchers here in Mesa.

Every month the Sunland Stitchers host a 9 patch swap.  This is the results of the first swap and my contributions for February are at the bottom of the picture.

 A flannel quilt for Mesa!!  I bought this kit last year at Hamel's Quilting in Chilliwack and it is now finished and is snuggly to sleep under.  Cooler than a comforter but comfy and the perfect warmth for me! 

Another quilt for Sunland Stitchers that I bound.

I quilted two of these scrap quilts for Quilters Point of View at Viewpoint.  Again, they are donation quilts and are made from the scraps that have been donated to the quilting room.  Binding is done and, I used the lint roller to get all the fluff from the batting off the black sashings. 

So, that is what I did in the last month.  A lot of tennis, a little sewing on the machine but mostly handstitching of bindings.  I have completed a Yellow Brick Road flannel quilt top and it is layered and ready for quilting.  There are pillowcases for QoV waiting for me.  And my Kokapelli is close to being ready for binding.  So, hopefully, I will have a few more pictures to post in the next week.  Rain is predicted for Mesa so that will mean sewing time!!!