Show and Tell

I  hope my fellow Canadians had a good Thanksgiving weekend.  The weather here was wonderful, cooler temperatures, but dry and mostly sunny.  I finally managed to get photos of my two latest quilts.

Into The Light

This is another quilt using the japanese taupes. It was beautifully quilted by Karen Veenhuizen of Oakville, On.

I just finished sewing on the binding for this one.  It doesn't have a name yet.  I made this one to try and use up some of my Civil War Era Reproduction fabrics from many, many years ago!  Karen quilted this one also.  You can see the fabulous detail she added in this close-up photo of the center block.

Bye for now.  Happy Stitching!

It's been awhile, I know.  No excuses.

I had a bit of a scare and ended up in hospital in April, and it got me thinking about all of the quilts I have made and stored in the closets and under the beds, what am I going to do with them all!

My daughter, son and sister would probably take a few, but what about the rest? I've never thought of selling any of my quilts before, but maybe it's time to start parting with them.  But how?

And then there's my STASH!  Even though I haven't bought much new fabric over the past few years, my stash is out of control.  I try to use it as fast as I can, making one or two quilts a year, (which usually end up being stored in the closets or under the beds),  and I try to make one or two quilts for our guild's outreach program every year, but it doesn't seem to make a dent in it.

I remember when I was packing up Mom's apartment when she moved in with us, and I had to tackle her knitting room.  Mom was a prolific knitter, she had 3 knitting machines, and her closets were overflowing with yarns.  I remember thinking to myself that I didn't ever want my daughter to have to pack up all my fabric, needlework and quilting paraphenalia.  She's not a sewer and wouldn't have any idea what to do with it all, and heaven forbid that it all get tossed!

Hopefully I'll remain fit for a good few years and able to continue using up my stash, but I think it's time I try to find new homes for some of my quilts.

Here are photos of some of the smaller quilts I've made over the past few years, intending to publish the patterns, but never quite getting around to it! lol    

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Bunny Love

Bedtime Blankie

Loves Music, Loves To Dance

Some Bunny Loves You

Some Bunny Loves You Too

What would you do?

Another Finish

I can't believe it's been 6 months since my last post.  It's been a long, hot summer, but quite a productive one. After the renovations were finally finished I had to spend some time making curtains so my quilting had to go on the back burner for a while.  I no sooner finished the curtains when I had to put everything away again to get the house in order for my brother-in-law's visit.  He returned to Scotland last week and I've been able to get my machine set up and get back to the quilt I started at the beginning of the year.  No photos yet, but it's another quilt using the Japanese taupes.

I did manage to finish another quilt that had been hanging in the closet since before Mom passed away.
Karen Veenhuizen of Oakville did the quilting, and she did a fabulous job. Here's a photo.  No name for the quilt yet... and the binding hasn't been sewn on yet!

New Quilt Photos

It's been a while since I've had some photos to share.  The weather has finally co-operated and I was able to get outside yesterday , and with my husband's assistance, take some photos.

Here is a photo of my "Roses In Dresden" quilt.  I made this quilt quite a " few" years ago, but it is a big quilt and needed custom quilting so I had to save up my pennies to get the quilting done.  It was beautifully quilted by Karen Power of Oakville.

Roses In Dresden

The next quilt was made last year.

 "Nireko's Roses Revisited"  was made using a fat quarter bundle of  Lecien's original line of  Mrs. March's Basic, which was sent to me by Nireko, who used to be the "go to" person when Lecien was in California.
My original design "Nireko's Roses" was made using Lecien's taupes.  Here are photos of the two quilts.

"Nireko's Roses Revisited"

"Nireko's Roses"

I can't decide which version I like the best!









This last quilt was also made in 2016.

Dresden Plate

"Nireko's Roses Revisited" and the Dresden Plate quilt were both quilted by Karen Veenhuizen of Oakville.

She did a fabulous job!  I wish I could take better photos so you could see the quilting.

I haven't been able to fix the problem I'm having with leaving comments on your blog posts. They're still bouncing back to me as "undeliverable".

Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter.

Bye for now.

Happy Thanksgiving

Just wanted to wish my fellow Canadians a very happy Thanksgiving.

On another topic, for some reason, over the past few months whenever I try to comment on someone's blog I get a notice saying delivery of my message has failed.  I've even tried to email a few of you
privately and the emails come back as undeliverable.  I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Please don't think I've abandoned you, I still read your blogs I just can't communicate with you!

Once Upon A Tile

Finished!  Finally.  I thought I'd never get it done.

Now I just have to save up to get it quilted. I'll add it to the pile. lol

One more UFO to finish and then I can start on something new.

Bye for now.

Once Upon A Tile

I finally managed to finish the blocks for my new/old design, "Once Upon A Tile".  I started this one before my Mom passed away and it's been lingering in the closet for the past 3 years. Once again I used fabrics from Lecien's Centenary collection.  I just love the look of the japanese taupes!  It took me a while to decide on a setting for the blocks but I've finally managed it.  Here's a photo of the quilt, so far.  I've still got to add the checkerboard surround and then the border.

What do you think?

In spite of the heat, or maybe because of it, this summer I have managed to keep sewing.  I just finished this quilt for a very special little girl.  She is 8 years old and tells us if she could travel anywhere in the world she would go to Paris, France.  So,  when I found this fabric

I just knew it was a sign and I had to design a quilt for her.

So, here it is. I don't know when it will get quilted as I'm on the hunt for a variegated thread that will match.

I'm sorry it's not a very good photo, but I'll try to get another one after it's quilted.

Bye for now.

It's been a while...

I'm back...  No excuses for my long absence, just didn't have much to say.
We were having our basement renovated and it seemed everything was in an upheaval.
I did keep busy though. I set my sewing machine up on the dining room table, the ironing board was in the living room and I did my best to ignore the chaos around me. lol
Here are some photos of recent projects.

This is the quilt I made for my grandson's big boy bed. I made a pillowcase to go with the quilt but forgot to take a photo.  It's hard to believe he's two already.

Back of Ayden's quilt

Front of quilt

This quilt is quite different from anything I've done before. The colors are so not me, but for some reason the main fabric "spoke" to me. I can't wait to see how it will look once it's quilted.

Haven't got a name for this one yet.

Our local guild held their show a few weeks ago, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn
my "Dresdens and Dahlias" quilt won a 1st Viewers Choice.

Dresdens and Dahlias

That's it for now.  See you next time.

Happy Thanksgiving

A quick note to wish all my Canadian friends a happy Thanksgiving.

I hope to be back soon with photos of a couple of finishes. Bye for now.

I'm back.... finally.  We've been having a busy , and hot summer!  The last of our company left yesterday and the first thing I did today was set up my sewing machine.  I'm anxious to get started on something new!

I did manage to get a few more blocks done for my new design "Once Upon A Tile".  Only 3 more to go, and then I'll have to make a decision on the layout and border.  For some reason I'm struggling with this one.

Bye for now.

Once Upon A Tile

It's been very hot and humid here the past few weeks so I've been sitting in the house, trying to stay cool, and working on a few more blocks of my new design "Once Upon A Tile".

I still haven't decided on a setting for these blocks, but I'm hoping by the time I finish the remaining 5 blocks I'll figure out something.

I also managed to get the binding sewn on to the last 2 quilts I showed you so I just have to do the hand sewing now.  That may take a while!! lol

Bye for now.

Today is the 2nd anniversary of my dear Mom's passing.  I still miss her very much.  Mom always loved to see what I was working on and when I would get "stuck" she would encourage me to keep going.  At times, if she didn't like something she wouldn't be shy about telling me.  Often, she would be confirming that nagging doubt that I already had and was trying to ignore!

As promised, here are a few more blocks of my new design, "Once Upon A Tile". The lighting wasn't very good when I took the photos and the backgrounds look like different colors, but they are really all the same.

I'm still not sure how I am going to set the blocks, so for now I'll just keep on appliqueing.

Hope you all have a great weekend. Bye for now.

This morning I received a lovely email from Lynda MacKenzie of Vancouver Island, B.C. with photos of a duvet cover and baby quilt she made using a few patterns from my "All About Bears" series.
They are fantastic!  I think the settings she used were just perfect.

I've not been doing too much quilting this past week as I'm trying to get some curtains made. We're having some company later this summer and I thought I would try and spruce up the bedrooms a bit. I'm anxious to get back to my applique. I'm working on block 5 of my new "Once Upon a Tile" design. I hope to have some photos to show you next post.
Bye for now.

Bunny Love

I have another, almost finish, for 2015! I just have the binding to do. Groan!!!

I made this quilt in January trying to use up leftover fabrics from some baby quilts I made in 2013. It was quilted by Karen Power of Carrington Quilts, who did a magnificent job.

My daughter loves this one, she thinks it's her favorite of all my quilts. I guess it's the brighter colors that she likes, not my usual palette.

Bye for now.

I thought you might like to see a few blocks of my latest design I'm calling "Once Upon A Tile".

I never seem to tire with the look of the japanese taupes, they give such a soft, elegant
look. What do you think?

Exciting News

I mentioned in a previous post that Marilyn H. of North Carolina had  her "Vintage Tiles Revisited" quilt juried into the AQS quilt show in Paducah which was held a few weeks ago. Well, the exciting news is that Marilyn won a first place ribbon in the First Time Entry - Bed Quilts category!  Congratulations Marilyn, your quilt is stunning and Linda  of Sewgrateful Quilts did a magnificent job with the quilting.

Here is a photo of a beaming Marilyn with her quilt,

and here is a link to her interview with Melissa Winters of QuiltTV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0RTZ6Tc2a4
Marilyn, I am absolutely thrilled for you,! I really wish I could have been there.

Continuing with my affection for working with japanese taupes, here are 2 of my latest finishes.

I'm calling this one "Dresdens and Dahlias".  The quilting was done by Karen Power of Carrington Quilts.
I think she did an amazing job!

I haven't got a name for this one yet, but it is a nine patch in a log cabin.  The quilting was done by Karen Veenhuizen of Oakville, On.  She too did an amazing job.
I'd have no hesitation in recommending either of these fabulous quilters.

Bye for now.

It's been a while since I posted, but I just had to share this photo with you.

"You'll Always Have Paris" by Mary Lynn Cargill

Mary Lynn Cargill made this quilt using the "Vintage Tiles Revisited" pattern, as a gift for a friend. She titled the quilt "You'll Always Have Paris", to acknowledge the time her friend spent in Paris while studying. It is all hand-appliqued and hand quilted.
Truly stunning! Lucky friend!

A while back I posted a photo of Marilyn H's "Vintage Tiles Revisited" which had won ribbons at the Quilting In The Pines quilt show. I recently found out that Marilyn's quilt has been accepted into the AQS show in Paducah, which takes place later this month.
Congratulations Marilyn, and good luck. I was hoping I might be able to get to the show to see her quilt hanging but it isn't going to be possible, so if any of you happen to get to the show and see her quilt, please take a photo for me.

Though I've been absent from my blog, I haven't been completely idle. I've managed to finish up 4 UFOs. Two of the quilts are out to be quilted, a third is waiting for the binding, and the 4th is ready to go out to be quilted. And, I've started a new applique quilt using the Japanese taupes. I'm hoping I'll have some photos to show you soon.

Bye for now.

Happy New Year

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and I'd like to wish you all a very happy New Year.

We had a quiet Christmas this year, but an enjoyable one.  I gave my sister my "Nireko's Roses" quilt as a combination Christmas/65th birthday gift, and she was thrilled.  She put it on her bed as soon as she got home, and I must say it looked stunning!  I'm really tempted to make it again for our bed.

The other day I received a lovely email from Ruth Maness with a photo of her version of "Vintage Tiles Revisited" which won Guild's Choice at the April 2014 Ozark Country Quilters quilt show held in Cassville, Mo.  With Ruth's permission, here is a photo of her quilt, which she hand appliqued and hand quilted!!

Isn't it wonderful?  Congratulations Ruth, a well deserved award.

I'm afraid I don't have anything new to show you.  My latest finish is still at the quilters. Hopefully, I'll have something for my next post.

Bye for now.