Pillow Talk Swap

Well it's been months since I last posted here. I guess maybe that's because I haven't really done much creating. Sometimes I go through stints where I don't even think to enter my sewing room. But now I'm out of the rut, and back to stitching. Good thing because I've already passed the deadline for the Pillow Talk Swap but here's the final result:

I was playing around with colour value and ended up with this arrangement. No fabric is used twice, so I got to snip into alot of my stash options. This broken bento box is similar to John's tutorial over at Quilt Dad, but I didn't "wonk it up". The back is envelope style with natural linen - a nice calming contrast to these big bold prints.

And in return I received this!!!!!

A beautiful string block pillow cover...with pillow form included!!!! Thanks to Kristen over at ThreeDancingMagPies, I received this gorgeous throw pillow to nicely complement my living room. She even included some lovely cuts of Summer in the City out of print fabrics!!!! I've been hoarding that collection for a while now, gathering enough to make a quilt...so definitely next on the project list.

This swap was alot of fun. And it was only round one. Perhaps another??? And this time I WILL BE ON TIME!

Luggage Tags

I whipped up a few luggage tags to coordinate with our new luggage purchases. And I must say, they are lovely! I used Good Folks, for it's bright, bold, eye-catching patterns. Won't miss these babies on the carosel. It was very tricky working with vinyl though. I think I'll invest in a teflon foot - has anyone used one of those before? Apparently nothing will stick to them...so smooth sailing on vinyl. Next time...

Strippy complete!

I'll telling ya - if you need some motivation to get those unfinished projects done - buy a new sewing machine! You'll be shocked at all you can accomplish!

My strippy quilt (which I had completed the top months ago!), is finally complete! And I'm so in love!

I did zig zag quilting in the center, then a few straight lines along the borders. Simple, yet so very pretty. Thanks to Heidi for her suggesting this quilting design.

I did a simple backing with a scrappy border.

I love it soooo much, that it is pushed it's way into my living room. So sorry to be packing away my Amy Butler brick quilt, but have to make room for this little gem. My husband is happy too...this quilt doesn't have any pink in it.

So now I just have to create a label for it. I think I'll embroider another one like Hopscotch.

Oh ya...and I named this one "Tootsie Roll" for two reasons.
1. It was the first jelly roll I worked with, and,
2. I kept wanting to break out in dance to that ol' school song "Tootsie Roll", which kept playing in my head as I was making this quilt.

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On a similar note, have any of you used Retayne or Synthrapol??? I'm worried a little about washing this one, and the Hopscotch quilt, because of the bright colours & the white sashing. I bought some Retayne, but I'm too nervous to use it. Some sites say it's okay to use it on a completed quilt, while others say no. Any experience with either of these??? It's nerve wrecking because I truly love both of these quilts!

Hopscotch Complete!

All quilted and bound and ready to be delivered to a very special friend.

I free-motioned my way around this one, trying out my new Janome...and boy was I impressed. That quilt glided through that machine!

I choose a dark, vibrant backing. My friend, Adrienne, LOVES pink...so I thought the flowers quite fitting.

And my first attempt at embroidery! Not too shabby! I kept it simple, but really enjoyed creating this label. I usually have a hard time with labels as I haven't found my preferred method...but maybe now I have??? Time consuming, but worth it in the end. How do you do your quilt labels??? If you have any reference/link for a how-to for different methods, I would love it!!! Comment & post it here!

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Thanks again to everyone who voted to name this quilt. It was a lot of fun!!! Maybe more contests in the future???

More pics to come of my other completed works...since buying that Janome, I'm a quilting machine!

More Quilt Blocks

Since I had so much left over from Carm's fabric, I was able to create another block for her...a framed wonky log cabin.

And I was also able to complete Sara's block for Mish Mash Stash Bash Quilting Bee. She requested hexagons, something completely new to me, and provided a beautiful vintage floral piece of fabric. Instead of doing the paper-piecing method, I decided to take the easier route with half-hexagon construction. I've never tried paper piecing, but from what I hear, this is much faster. You can check out a template/tutorial on flickr here.

I tried to keep with the retro feel by using all 1930's inspired prints...mostly from Aunt Grace's various collections. I hope she likes it!

What happens when you get a new sewing machine???

This is what happens!!!!!!

I finally started and completed quilting my strippy quilt (has been sitting in the closet for months!).

Also, I created a new ironing board cover. I was trying to be brillant one night and got adhesive all over my old cover, so a new, hand made one was warranted. I followed this tutorial here - very easy and fast!

AND...I finished my sister's (Carmen) block for Live Piecefully Quilting Bee. She mentioned to me that she was loving the "strippy" style...so this is the result.

All that and more in 2 days!!!! This new machine is a work horse, and has rekindled my love for sewing! Thank-you Janome!

Thruming Along

So after nearly 2 years in the making, I have finally completed my thrum mittens! Aren't they beautiful? Thrum mittens are a unique way to knit-in pieces of roving to create bulk and warm on the inside of the mitt. Cool eh?

A lovely wool maker, Fleece Artist, in Nova Scotia, Ontario, creates these beautiful kits, with a large variety of colours. I picked mine up at a local yarn shop, but click here for links to a store near you.

I love them so much, I have another set in the works.

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Other news:

I know it's been a long time since my last post, but things are starting to pick up in my own crafty world...I have upgraded and purchased a new sewing machine...

I'M GETTING A JANOME!!!!!!

Ok I have to calm down...

Nature

I love my country and I love where I live!!!!

And thank-you Aboriginals for creating my favorite past-time - canoeing!

Where has the summer gone???

Wow!! It's been almost a month since my last post! I guess that's what happens when you get busy with life.

Sometimes, don't you wish you could just slow down time - I can't believe it's almost the end of summer.

What have I been up to? Well a whole lot of nothing really...well nothing crafty anyways. I haven't entered my sewing room in like 3 weeks! I have over 1000 posts to read in the google reader! I have a mini-quilt swap I need to get started on! I guess this is what happens when you get carried away with other demands in life.

Well anyhoo, I hope to be sewing and creating more very soon!

Hopscotch it is!

The votes are in...and the name of my quilt:

HOPSCOTCH

Winning 71% of the vote!

Thank-you all so much for participating & voting!

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Oh, yes! And how could I forget the winner of my lovely little bird zipper pouch?

Total of 41 comments: The winner is....#26!!!

MONICA!!!

Congrats!!! I'll be emailing you shortly!

Thanks again everyone for playing along!

Amish Quilt Blocks

Boy am I ever so eager! I just received Krista's fabric for August (for Live Piecefully Quilt Bee) yesterday. And today, I've already whipped up two blocks!

Krista sent out two solids and was requesting an amish type quilt with a twist...

...so I took it literally (he he).

First of the two: a spiral block. I like it, but I wasn't really paying attention when I trimmed it up...it's only 12" square (instead of the requested 12.5"). So instead of ripping this apart, cutting, and attempting to correct it, and in the process make a huge mess, I decided to make another...

Krista was great and sent plenty of fabric. Easy to make another full block...and yes, this one is 12.5". I'm happy with it. I really hope she likes it.

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Other random tidbits:

Do you ever have those days when you want to purposely destroy your sewing machine? Just so you can satisify the rage inside...and in the meantime have an excuse to buy a competely brand new one? Well that's me today. I hate my machine....you heard me...I HATE YOU! Just you wait...Soon enough I'll trade you in for a sleek, fancier model and your days of torment will be over!

Ok...I feel better now...

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The "Name my Quilt" Giveaway is still underway!!!

Voting will remain open for another day (closes July 29th!!!).

Don't forget to leave me a comment telling me you voted.

Good Luck!!!

I hope you all have a great week!!!!

Name My Quilt Giveaway

Thanks so much to those that posted some suggestions to name my Wonderland quilt.

I've created a poll on the right hand side for everyone to vote on their favourite.

Linen Dreams

Dreams in Wonderland

Geometric Freckles

Hopscotch

I included Hopscotch, because the pattern kinda reminds me of the playground hopscotch game...remember jumping from block to block??? Anyhoo, that's my suggestion.

So I thought, why not make this a giveaway!!! Fun right!!! I've set aside my lovely zipper pouch to giveaway to one lucky winner.

How do you win?? Follow these simple rules:

• Vote on the Poll: look to the right hand side of my blog, and you'll see the poll question. Vote for which name you feel best suits my quilt.
• Leave a comment on this post. Make sure you let me know you voted, so leave a comment here...it's the only way I can enter you in the contest. Please include contact info (email address, blog, something, so that I can get ahold of you if you win).

The poll is open for one week from today...closes July 29th!

At that time I will randomly choose a winner!

It's that easy. Contest is open to EVERYONE!

Family Camping Weekend

It was a great weekend, despite mother nature's fury of rain. It all started on the drive up...



Then more when we arrived. Dark clouds looming over us while we're paddling.

An intermission perhaps??? No...a thunderstorm and 3 scared children (it didn't phase the youngest Sam...he was cool as a cucumber). Once the thunder struck they all recited "I want to go home!" Instead, we all huddled around their mother (my sister). Thanks Carm, for keeping us all in check.



But alas, the dark clouds rolled away, and the sunshine (with lots of large fluffy clouds) came through. It was lots of fun and I was upset to leave. Until next time (which I think may only be another 2 weeks away), we'll stow away the canoe, and dream of sunny days with crystal calm lakes.

?? Wonderland ??

Well thank-you to all who helped me decide on sashing for this quilt...as you can see I went with the neutral off-white linen.

I love the way quilts look when their blowing in the wind.

(Please excuse the poor pictures...I had to use my old ancient camera as my new one is MIA)

Things I love:

- It's sashed with linen!!! I love linen!!! I used a home-dec weight though so I think quilting may get a little tricky.

- Wonderland collection! It's so fresh and youthful. I used a layer-cake for this one, and just created some basic blocks and threw them together.

- It's competely square, about the size of a small throw, which is nice enough to cuddle with on cool nights.

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So once again, I call upon my dear friends out in the blogosphere...I need to name this baby.

Any ideas?

To entice you even further, I think I'll collect my favorite names, then create a poll for others to choose...perhaps a giveaway involved??? Yes, yes?

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Have an awesome weekend...I'm off to camp and canoe. Hopefully the rain will hold off.