I'm in Heaven...

....quilter's Heaven, that is...because I am...

Down By The Old Mill Stream...

This book has been so elusive. For almost 14 years, I have been on the lookout for a copy and had just about given up. Rarely, one would appear on eBay always way beyond me...

Enter my Buds - our little stitching group - the 5 of us have known each other for years - through thick and thin. Turning 70 next week, my emotions have ranged from denial, up and down blues and wondering how I got to this time in my life. Yesterday my friends surprised me with deliciously decorated cupcakes and a wonderfully wrapped package which when opened was The Book.

I laid awake last night reflecting on this beautiful present and even more on being blessed with the gift of their friendship. Thank you Dear Buds - I am touched beyond belief...

Pat

PS - this Crockpot Cheese Tortellini With Sausage is almost ready for dinner tonight - our next major snow storm has arrived and the winds are blowing snow in from the West...

 

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The importance of being earnest...

...when it comes to making hundred's of half square triangles, lack of accuracy will get you everytime. It sure did for me. As mentioned in my previous post, this UFO goes back 4 years. Dozens upon dozens of HST's were made according to the instructions...I knew better...why I did not use Triangles On A Roll (TOAR) at the beginning, escapes me. Cutting many, many individual triangles can often lead to disaster when piecing and needing a 2 1/2" unfinished square.

Take a close look at the difference...

First ones made piecing two triangles together....Just a bit off wouldn't you say?

Brand new HST's...spot on...using TOAR

Then when sewing each HST to the next, needle position gets moved one dot to the right of center and on goes #57 - 1/4" foot with guide.

Works for me and lesson learned. Now back to joining those rows together...

What do you do to ensure good results when piecing?

Pat

 

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16 days of Olympic quilting...

Do you enjoy watching the Olympics? We sure do at Taylorsoutback...from the Opening ceremonies to the Closing...and all the events in between. Many years ago I started my own little Olympic tradition - a new quilting project would commence with the goal of having the top completed when the torch was extinguished. This was always much more doable for the Winter Games rather than the Summers - we tend to be on the road.

This winter when I looked at the scary amount of UFO's that have accumulated - well it was easy to choose one of those rather than start from scratch...or so I thought...

See this pile of a jumbled project?

Last time it saw the light of day was 4 years ago - during the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. The partially completed top has been folded inward & pinned to my flannel board all this time (not good!) It took me a while to figure out what stage it was at and then realized the flying geese block in the next HST border was incorrect. A little reverse sewing, going over the instructions (which are pretty sad, hate to say) and now a good pressing and tweaking before continuing on...

I still love the fabric though the pale blue polka dot was probably not the best choice for contrast. It looked darker on the website when originally ordered. But it is what it is...my brief journey into the "shabby chic" look and it will be perfect for a summer quilt. Check out the Canadian flags and English crowns - Canada has always held a special place in my heart with my Grandmother's French Canadian roots and our frequent trips over the years to their beautiful provinces. The fabrics are by Robin Pandolph and were exclusive to Canadian quilt shops in honor of their Olympic year.

Have also completed the 2nd applique block for the Benjamin Biggs quilt...

And sew it goes...as the days grow longer and our temperatures head back into the double digits on somev days...we edge a little closer to Spring...for now I can be found, when time permits, at the sewing machine and counting the days before that torch is extinguished..

And a note to self...don't leave a half completed project pinned to a design wall for 4 years...

 

Pat

 

 

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There is no definition...

....for describing the winter we are locked into now...the bare ground is a distant early November memory. There is no definition in our landscape...snow drifts have formed at the log corners of our house and across the country roads. There is no definition to our gardens - outlines totally obscured under multiple feet of the white blanket. Our 3 shelties are quickly out and back in, preferring a spot by the fire or lying in the occasional beams of sunlight that come into the sunroom.

Comfort foods, hot chocolate and fresh baked cookies define our cravings...and frequent guilty trips to the treadmill...

What defines me personally is usually quilt related, of course.

My first block for the Benjamin Biggs quilt...

And working on the center of the Di Ford Mystery quilt...

Z

This is the first BOM by mail I have ever done - wanted to step away from my own fabric choices to see what could be learned. Our kits from Homestead Hearth were minus the main floral chintz and a red with white circles needed to complete the center. Hope we will receive them soon...so for now will hold on the border until everything can be squared up on completion.

Happy first day of February everyone - may this new month bring more gentle days and a hint of Spring. We are in desperate need of the landscape to be redefined...

 

Pat

 

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