Let's Read.........

Michelle at City House Studio put out the request for testers of her new pattern , the "read" bag.

She kindly accepted my offer to make one, and I finally got to it this week!

It's a beautifully structured bag as well as a great size.

Michelle wrote a pattern that was easy to follow and the only thing I think I did wrong was to add seam allowance to the paper pieced letters which wasn't needed.

It was easy to trim down though,so no problem.

I used fusible fleece instead of batting on the outer portion of the bag, and I did use a medium stabilizer on the straps.

The paper pieced letters are really cute, and Michelle provided the option of applique letters as well.

I did a little rubber stamping on the one "book" that says

Read A Book.

I used an alphabet fabric for the lining and an orange dot fabric for the pocket.

Fun bag to make!

Thanks Michelle!

WIP Wednesday

I am pleased to report that I finished my Ironwork* QAL quilt which I have named Off The Grid for no other reason than it was the name I used to try the embroidery feature on my machine for the label!

Thanks to Sandi at Piecemeal Quilts for designing this QAL
A few photos...

 The backing is a cotton sheet. I remember the days when I hated cutting up fabric to make the backing...

And here I am with the perfect sized sheet, and what do I do?
Oh yeah...cut it up and add pieces!!

I used my even feed foot to do all the quilting, until I realized that there was a lot of open space on the large asterisk blocks. So I did some hand stitching using perle cotton to fill it in a little. 

I like the softness it adds to the overall look of the quilt.

I almost went with a solid binding, but I am so happy I didn't.

The black and white stripe is one of my favourite parts of the quilt. I purchased it locally at Fabricland.

 So, I mentioned the label. I almost never put labels on things and it's usually because I just forget!

However, I knew this quilt was staying here, so I thought I'd try the embroidery feature on my machine.

It turned out just okay.

I used Steam A Seam and plan to hand stitched it on.....in case I want to remove it later. ;-)

I have no idea if I was supposed to snip the thread connecting the letters or not! Anyone know?

A few shots taken with sun and shadows......kinda fun!

I didn't measure it when it was completed, but it is somewhere in the neighbourhood of 80"x80".
That's it for this week, although I have started doing a tote from a pattern I am testing for Michelle at City House Studio.
I just might open my Colorbox of Shott cotton and gaze at it!
The pattern for 12 trees arrived today...hmmmm...
Linking up this week at Freshly Pieced with guest host Felicity!
and The Needle and Thread Network with Monika.
Have a great sewing week.

WIP Wednesday

Well, it appears that summer doesn't want to come here yet!

Supposed to stop raining and warm up by the week-end.......I sure hope so! Although the sun is shining this morning-good sign!!

So, I've spent this last week sewing...poor me!

On the WIP stage is Ironwork* which is basted and in the process of being quilted. It's all being done with the even feed foot, so no FMQ this time.

I used a very high tech design program...:-)  ;-)

I'm about a quarter of the way done. A TON of threads to bury!! 

So, I'm doing them after every 2-3 blocks.

I took some time to do a couple of unscheduled things.......

I ordered some supplies to make key fobs which arrived when I was on holiday.  Did a few of them.

Very quick and easy to do...

A month or so ago, I purchased 2 patterns from Amy at During Quiet Time.

She has this amazing series of garden themed paper pieced patterns. I got the boot and garden gloves.....

I decided to make a market tote......

Look at that boot pattern!! Amazing or what!

Laurie Wisbrun's rain boot  fabric (aka-Wellies) is a perfect compliment to the boots.

The boot fabric is Bee In My Bonnet by Lori Holt.

I'm not sure what the gardening text is.

For the inside I used a laminate.

This is the back...

The print is Fresh Flowers by Deb Strain

Not my original plan for the back.

I made the gardening gloves block, but darn it, the fabrics were a wrong choice and the glove didn't show up well.

I love these gloves though, and I will use this block for something else once I do some outlining around the top glove.

I don't have any more of the background text, which is too bad. I really like it.

The last thing I did was re-organize my fabric. I had the tutorial by Angela bookmarked for ages, but it wasn't until I saw that Carly at Citric Sugar had bought the comic book backs locally, that I was motivated to get busy.

They come in packs of 100.....I bought one.......shall I wait until you stop laughing??

Then I went back and got 200 more...

I know I don't need to explain to you why I have so much :-), but they are almost all half yard cuts!

I still need another pack for the fabric in buckets and drawers..

I need to stop buying and start using!!

Linking up with Lee and Sukie at Freshly Pieced

and

Monika at The Needle and Thread Network.

then I'm going down to the lake/pond and check up on my ducks!

Have a great sewing week everyone!

I'm A Finalist!!

Go ahead and ask me if I'm thrilled!

This is a first for me... I have entered a couple of quilting contests, but never been a finalist before.
I truthfully didn't see that coming!!
 

 This is the Summer Sewing Contest at Jennifer's.
There are 4 categories in the contest, and my From Summersville to New York table runner is a finalist in the Home Decor section.

Woo Hoo!
There are so many amazing projects in this contest, so go on over and check them out.
You can vote in each of the four categories.
Even if mine isn't a favourite, vote for someone!!

A Vacation and a duck!

Just back from a great week of vacation in Vancouver where the weather was cool but didn't hamper anything!

Only a few photos, I promise!

 I came home to RAIN!!

How did that happen?

But, I got an amazing surprise today when I went into my back yard to cut the grass!

A mama duck and her 9 babies!!!...on my patio!

So, we went on a journey to get them to the lake...

I followed along behind them...mom knew where she was going....

I was terrified as we crossed Boychuk Drive (a busy 4 lane road). Yes, I stopped traffic for a few minutes!!

Into the lake to meet up with dad. I have no idea how they got into my yard. It must be close to 1km from the lake.

It took us 45 minutes to get to the water!!

But, such a fun journey for me!

WIP Wednesday.....a long time...

...in the making!

After 11 months, most of which has been a UFO, I finished Ocean View From The Prairies!

I spent many hours over the last couple of days hand sewing the binding on.

The quilt measure 102"x90".

The feature fabric is Marine by Dan Stiles.

There is also alot of different colours of Kona solids, as well as various circles- love circles!

I use the stack and slash method which was very easy to do.

Once the top was pieced, it hung in a closet for many months while I worked on other things hoping someone would come into my house and finish this for me...didn't happen ;-)

funny how that works!

I finally decided to piece together a backing and see how it would turn out.

I used up some leftover blocks and added the little sailboat I made months ago....I kinda like it!

 On to the quilting...

I did simple wavy lines across the centre of the quilt,

stippled the circle border, and did a design from Leah Day, called water plant - it seemed appropriate!
I got a real workout in travel stitching!!!
Some parts were great and other parts a little more organic, which sounds better than I lost my concentration!

The binding is from Timeless Treasures  called Pixie Pops, and I really like this fabric alot and will definitely use it again.

One last photo...getting some rays...

I guess it's not complete until the quality control team has their say!

 Now, that I have this great sense of accomplishment, I can move on to other things...

Like reassess old WIP's and decide if I want to continue with them or not.
My tastes seems to have changed since I began them!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced  and

Monika at The Needle and Thread Network.

Then I'm off on a holiday.
To cold, rainy Vancouver..;-(
 Yippee!

Have a great sewing week!

Diamond Jubilee and Quilting!

It's bright and early in the morning and I am settled in on my couch ready to spend several hours watching the

Diamond Jubilee celebrations!

Since I live in one of the colonies:-),we tend to be very interested in the goings on of the Royals!

My time will not be idle though!

On my lap is my huge queen size (appropriate, don't you think!)

quilt- Ocean View From The Prairies.

I am hand sewing the binding on this baby, and then it will finally be done!

Yippee!

If your are watching the celebrations, hope you are having fun!

Fresh Sewing Day!

It's been months since I have remembered to post on the first of the month for...

Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts

I
I always find making a mosaic the hardest part! Trying to figure out what I have done ain't easy either!!

My finished quilts include..
Sew Out Loud QAL
Swoon block densely quilted and hung
Path to Tallahassee.

I did a Summersville collection....love this fabric line!
Table runner using 3 New York Beauty blocks
24" cushions using zigzag blocks, and hst blocks

I also made 2 wallets...
a test run(green), and the real thing!
It's working really well.
And, just to finish off the month, I made a bunch of drawstring bags for a charity auction.

Time to link up with Lynne and visit a few other blogs!