One day left... in June and in my 75th year

 It feels good to have accomplished what I set out to do in early June with finishing some quilt tops and also completing the quilting and binding of some of the tops that were patiently waiting on hangers.  

In the meantime, I have also pieced more tops and the hanging section of my stairwell is full again.  That is a good thing because it means I have accomplished some projects that were waiting but now, time to think about another quilting marathon. 

At the moment, I have a quilt that I am quilting for a dear friend, Rose, that died earlier this year with a quilt for one of her grandsons not quite finished.  That will be done in the next day or two and a label will get added along with the binding.  

The Patterns by Jen was a gray block and I made two, as usual, with lights and darks reversed.  They ae the two in the center of the picture.  The colour for the Rainbow scrap challenge was a repeat and I thought that it would be a good idea to reduce the gray scraps by making my strip pieced and plus blocks the same and hopefully, reduce the gray bin?  

I also got busy and made blocks for Canada Stitches.  That group makes quilts from blocks mailed in and the completed projects are presented to first responders who attend Can Praxis at Rocky Mountain house to get support for their PTSD.  Spouses and significant others are invited to attend and there is a presentation at the end which shows them wrapped in their quilts.  I hadn't sent in any blocks for a year so time to change that.  I made a selection of Churn dash blocks.

There was room left in the box so made some Jelly Roll Ripple blocks, pattern from Fat Quarter Shop and I dug out browns and beiges with a few reds and stitched them up.  The box is full with my contributions as well as some from another guild member who makes blocks for this cause. 

Next on the list was making pillowcases for adolescents heading to burn camp run by our local firefighters.  The wife of one of the organizers is a member of a guild I belong to and for the last few years, she has collected pillowcases to hand out the kids as they arrive and it is a big hit.  I had been collecting fabric that might work for teenage kids, especially boys, and once I got going, made far more cases than I had intended BUT, the bin of fabric is now less than half full!   I think there are seventeen and quite a variety.  She lets the kids choose their case from what she has on hand so nice for her to have a variety.

This quilt top got stitched together after being cut earlier in the year.  I saw a picture (probably on Pinterest?) and it was easy to copy and figure out.  I used 6.5" centers and 3.5" strips.  I ran out of the red so had to add in some brown.  This will be finished (eventually) and become a Quilt of Valour.

Another quilt top completed.  I was worried at first that the red/green combination might look like Christmas but, it worked with the maple leaf print fabric.  It is Square Dance by Fabric Cafe and is a 3 yard quilt although I always use more than that amount of fabric.

One more Fabric Cafe 3 yard quilt is Strip Happy and I included a close up of the Canadian themed fabric that I used. 

So, these are now folded and hanging on the rod, waiting for the next step.  Since I have added quite a few tops to my hanging section, it might be time to quilt a few?  I finished quilting my wall hanging and this was a recent purchase in May at a local quilt show.  Easy and fun! 

One more day in this month and I will have to get my brain to accept that I have a new number when asked for my age.  The good thing about having to renew my driver's license is that seniors get it for a good price and I had the realization that I have been driving for 60 years.  

I have one book left in my Patrick Taylor, Irish Doctor series and am reading the last book in the Virgin River series.  Now it will be time to catch up on reading an assortment of books that I have collected recently.  I can't wait to read the next Gil McNeill book because I love her British sense of humour.  Having been raised by a mum that was British, I identify with so many of the terms that she uses in her stories.  And, another book by Kate Quinn - the Diamond Eye and this is another author that writes about Britain during WWII which again I relate to since my mum was a war bride.  Louise Penny and her newest book is also waiting for me to busy reading.  

Reading, tennis, quilting and taking my husband to appointments seems to be my daily routine?  Happy Summer to everyone and hopefully y'all get time to do what you enjoy. 

More June finishes!

 I have been pushing myself to get some of the tops off of hangers and have some finished projects.  So far so good.  Less computer time, less time on my phone and no time at my sewing machine for piecing!  Two Illusion quilts got made... one is for donation to my traditional guild and one to the modern guild.  I decided against one large quilt as the colours were very bright and I wasn't sure about a recipient.

This is Amalie super sized, a pattern by GE Designs.  I used some older batiks for this one.

Two Bento box quilts made from one jelly roll using Kat Potter's directions for making the blocks.  Very bright quilts and again, decided to make two for donation rather than one really big quilt. These look the same but are different.

Meadowland mystery from last year is quilted and bound. 

Hip to Be Square is a rainbow scrap challenge from 2022... this turned out way larger than I had intended and is a bit out of my normal colour choices... using blacks and white is not normal for me.

And some new starts!  A heartstrings challenge for June using fat quarters.

A quick 3 yard quilt is on the design wall.

This is the patterns from Fabric Cafe. 

And strip twist blocks are finished and joined so another top joins the hanger brigade!

I feel good with so many tops turned into finished quilts and now back to piecing before the next quilting and binding marathon.

A few finishes since Saturday

 I have been totally focused on getting some of these tops quilted and then I spent some time on Monday and Tuesday afternoon working on binding four of them.   

So far, this is what has been accomplished: I have the quilt made from the "Parade" block that was designed for Quilts of Valour earlier this spring.  Lots of older Northcott Oh Canada fabrics used as well as some of the new ones for 2023. 

Town Square is a 3 yard quilt and I demonstrated making these blocks at guild last month.  I used up a lot of fabrics in the center along with some red donated to QOV by Hilda.

In March, while at our 'other' house for a few weeks, I put together this quilt top.  I used the idea of the 3 yard quilt called Illusions but used 5 yards and created extra blocks. 

Another 3 yard quilt called Sew Quick used up some older fabric with a Canadian theme.  I included a close up of the novelty fabric with names of places from around our country.

This is the heartstrings challenge for July - use some fat quarters and my blocks are made, just patiently waiting for bindings to get done before I join these blocks into a top.

I still have a huge stack of quilts (it seems) waiting for binding and one more ready to load and get quilted.  It is hot enough here and so much smoke in the air from forest fires that hiding inside seems to be the only option.  

My list progress for June.  I have added to this list, of course, since I wrote it a few days ago. 

My new list for this month:

1. Rainbow scrap challenge strip and plus blocks - colour chosen was blue but we have already had blue so I will work with my browns since the bin is overflowing. 

2. Finish blocks for Strip twist and get the top put together - blocks are finished, just waiting to join them into a quilt top

3. Finish Carolyn's fat quarter blocks (Heartstrings challenge for June) and get top put together

4. PBJ block for June - gray 

5. Quilt two Bento box tops -One is done

6. Quilt two Illusions tops

7. Bindings!  There will be at least 11 finished quilts to bind and more if I get bento box and Illusions quilted in a timely manner   Bindings 1, 2, 3, 4 are done. 

8. Quilt art wall hanging quilted and bound and hung on the wall. 

9. Make a 3 yard quilt (already kitted up) at Saturday modern guild sew in.  

10. Catch up on row x rows for May and June - 4 to get done!  

11. Make a few pillowcases for the kids going to burn camp in July.  

So far, a fabulous June!

 Only three days into the month but, weather is glorious - sunny but not hot.  Our gardens are growing nicely though we need to water daily because May had one rainy day and we broke records for driest and warmest May in 125 years!  Doesn't bode well for forest fires and our reservoirs but Mother Nature has her own agenda.  In the past, June has been unpredictable when I think back on sports days at elementary schools.  We would listen to the radio in the mornings while commuting to work and the list of cancellations for the planned celebrations and activities was long and frustrating for organizers. 

But, here we are, enjoying perfect weather.  

This was my list for the last ten days of May: 

1. Rainbow scraps in orange for my strip and plus blocks - Done

2. Patterns by Jen in soft blue for May - Done

3. Complete two row by rows as per my own challenge to myself for 2 per month NOT DONE

4. Stitch blocks together for Town square. Done

5. Load and quilt 2 tops?  Hoping I can make myself do that... I need to figure out how to bribe myself. Done and I managed to quilt 6 tops and make the bindings.  Am very pleased with my concentrated effort to reduce the quilts on hangers. 

The Town Square, started at a guild class on making a 3 yard quilt, is not only put together, but it is also quilted and waiting for binding. 

May orange rainbow scrap challenge blocks made.  The scraps in my orange bin is actually below the top! 

RSC orange plus blocks done!

This cute panel that I bought at the Langley quilt show from Cherry Tree Quilts is layered, waiting for quilting and the binding is made.

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This was the stack of quilted quilt tops with bindings made when I had done four.

Happily, the pile grew to 6 by the last day of May. 

 I spent this morning cutting and stitching some backings for four more quilt tops but still need to cut the batting for them.

Quilt #7 is loaded and started - hoping to add it to the pile waiting for binding, later today.

Most of the quilts on hangers are for Survivors of residential schools.  I am waiting to hear if there is a need locally or will I cram them all into a box and mail to Ontario for them to finish?  If there is a need locally, then these will get layered, quilted and bound and ready for presentation.  There are three quilts of Valour on the right that I am in no rush to get completed as I have a decent stack of quilts on hand at the moment.

This is my Gudrun - GE Designs, strip twist.  I decided to use the entire jelly roll and make more blocks.  They are finished and waiting for pressing and trimming and then I can figure out how I want to arrange these blocks.  I am thinking about centering all the lighter blocks in the middle and working out with darker blocks? 

I was in Friday night Zoom sewing with my friends in the modern guild last night and this is what I have to deal with this morning - lots of pressing and trimming.  I think I have all of the strip twist blocks made and I also stitched up a set of Carolyn's blocks from 12 fat quarters.

This was the stack of cut fat quarters waiting to be stitched into blocks that are above.

Lots of weeding was done this past week and trimming the tulips and daffodil stems now that they have finished blooming.  The poppies are glorious in their colour.

The peonies are not very plentiful this year but they are so close to opening.

Since we have had no rain, the rose bushes are fabulous and blooming like crazy.

Am happy with the garden this year even if it means nightly watering. 

My new list for this month:

1. Rainbow scrap challenge strip and plus blocks - colour chosen was blue but we have already had blue so I will work with my browns since the bin is overflowing. 

2. Finish blocks for Strip twist and get the top put together

3. Finish Carolyn's fat quarter blocks (Heartstrings challenge for June) and get top put together

4. PBJ block for June - gray 

5. Quilt two Bento box tops - one is done

6. Quilt two Illusions tops

7. Bindings!  There will be at least 11 finished quilts to bind and more if I get bento box and Illusions quilted in a timely manner

8. Quilt art wall hanging quilted and bound and hung on the wall. 

9. Make a 3 yard quilt (already kitted up) at Saturday modern guild sew in.  

10. Catch up on row by rows for May and June - 4 to get done! 

Sounds easy enough but you never know what can get in my way!  I am about to read the last book in my Irish Doctor series and am sad to finishing my time with my Irish village that I have enjoyed being a part of along with lessons in Irish history.  This is perfect weather for afternoon reading on our upstairs patio... not too hot but sunny and comfortable.  

Happy June to everyone.  Life is good! (at the moment). 

Addicted to piecing - quilting, not so much!

 Weather here in the Pacific Northwest has been breaking temperatures for hot days.  A bit of a surprise and Mother Nature has taken us from long pants and long sleeve shirts to tank tops and shorts.  It was cold and wet for tennis and suddenly, we are playing earlier to avoid the heat!  Crazy but not complaining other than time is being spent watering all the new growth in the gardens and the newly planted seeds that are coming up quickly. Our electricity consumption, because of a/c use is higher than ever in the province for May and also breaking records. 

It was a lovely Mother's day and rather than ignoring the day as I usually do, my sister and niece came on Saturday for a great visit and an overnight stay with breakfast the next morning.  We had a good catch up on all that is happening in my niece's life - she is creator of Bad Cookie Pictures which is not my favourite genre - horror and ugh!  But, I try to be as supportive as I can without actually watching any of her productions.  She is also creating a home based business with clothing alterations, repairs and creations and doing some embroidery designs as well.  

Ha ha... the pajama girls.  My sister and I were raised in a home where it was pajamas and housecoats in the morning until you got ready for the day.  

I quick look into my front garden this morning brought a smile to my face.  I love it when the first poppies open and show their glorious colour. 

This is a long weekend for us and the weather was fabulous up until this morning when predicted cooler temperatures and clouds rolled in.  I spent part of Friday and Saturday immersed in reading.  I can't put down my book(s) by Patrick Taylor who writes about an Irish Doctor in a small town in Ireland.  There are a lot of books in the series and I am up to #7.  I also will admit to be being hooked on the Virgin River series and try to intersperse them.  However, the most enjoyable reads for me have been Gil McNeil who is a British author and writes about "Jo"... a woman who is raising two sons on her own and buys her grandmother's wool shop.  Because I was raised by a British mother, so many phrases and actions echo my childhood.  I love her sense of humour and her descriptions make me feel like I am in the room with her.  Needles and Pearls was the one I finished and horrors - I read the books out of order.  I accidently discovered the first one I read in our library in Mesa and turns out it was the third book... so found the first and this one was the second.  A good read for me and am now looking at some of her other books though, discovered that it isn't easy to find British authors in our bookstores (love the Bookman that is local to me) but will keep searching. Our local library doesn't have any of her books? 

Piecing has been how I have been spending every afternoon this month. Has been three weeks of morning tennis and then home for lunch and heading to my sewing studio. Just when I think I should actually finish a top into a quilt, "just one more" pops into my head and off I go on another idea and direction. 

I had many projects cut and bagged and ready to work on while at the one day retreat at the end of April.  My last 3 weeks have been a continuation of that piecing spree.  First up is Strip Twist by GE Designs.  This block uses jelly rolls - 2.5" strips of both color and background.  I started off just making a few to get the feeling of how this block goes together.  

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Then I cut a few more strips and kept stitching as leaders and enders and the blocks on the design wall grew.  I need it to be larger so am now piecing more strips and cutting up to make more blocks.  This won't be finished any time soon but that is ok.

I had a few tops that resulted from my retreat stitching and getting the blocks assembled one home and they were piling up on a chair, waiting for the thing I dread the most - pressing the finished tops.  UGH.  But, done!  This is a Carolyn's block made from charms and some of Noni's fabrics (see previous post) and will be a Survivor quilt. (Residential school survivor)

Hopscotch blocks were sewn at the retreat but I needed to lay them out to see how many more blocks I needed.  Top is done - and now on a hanger waiting for quilting.

At our May guild meeting, I taught a 3 yard class using the pattern Town Square.  I had chosen my fabrics but as I arrived at the meeting, a quilting friend and fellow guild member handed me a stack of  Canadian themed fabrics.  She now has ALS and cannot sew any more.  So very sad but was determined to use her fabric as quickly as I can so I can show her the finished quilts.  The red in this quilt was in the stack of fabrics she gave me.  I have since added in a few other blocks to give a little more interest to the top but this is still living on my design wall - oops, the wind blew the blocks off so will have to get them put up again.

 

Finally, after bribing myself, I got all the finished tops pressed and folded and hung up, waiting to be quilted.  These are all framed charms, using some blocks made by my Diva friends, myself, and some of Noni's fabrics.  I have 6 quilt tops waiting to quilted and donated to Quilts for Survivors.  All simple quilt tops but hoping they will serve their purpose of wrapping someone in hugs and caring. 

I might have shown this earlier this month but, it is now pressed and is a Carolyn's block quilt top and again, for Survivors.

This top is also now pressed.  This is a strip lattice, free pattern from Jordan Fabrics in Oregon. I stitched the entire top using leftover strips from making quilts that use Canadian themed fabrics.  Many are from backings or leftover after cutting blocks.  Even the background fabrics were leftover pieces of lighter fabric. 

A new project!  My quilting buddy and good friend and I visited the Langley quilter's quilt show last Saturday and I fell in love with this small panel.  It helped that I had a gift certificate for the shop that had come as a surprise in their Christmas advent box and, of course, I had to spend my money.  I got the top put together - very simple to do and now it is waiting to be finished. 

The modern guild I belong to chose this as a block for a lottery at our June meeting.  The organizer had cut templates for us to use and I dug out some fabrics to make a cheery hexagon block. This was simple compared to the last time she has sewing curves. 

So my list for the rest of this month is to stitch the following - I have 10 days!:

1. Rainbow scraps in orange for my strip and plus blocks

2. Patterns by Jen in soft blue for May

3. Complete two row by rows as per my own challenge to myself for 2 per month

4. Stitch blocks together for Town square. 

5. Load and quilt 2 tops?  Hoping I can make myself do that... I need to figure out how to bribe myself.