Meditative Handwork

When our hands are busy, our minds can rest.

The Ark

Completed Noah's Ark BOM

A Tisket, A Tasket February Basket

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

BOM Week

Firstly, I would like to thank Robin, from Crafty Musings, for the Kreativ Blogger Award. Robin is a busy little quilter. Her Jane Stickle blocks are fantastic and the Autumn House BOM, she recently started, is right up my alley! I look forward to seeing each block. Thanks again Robin.

What's that? More free BOM's! Have you seen, Baltimore Bliss, Season of Grace and Geese in the Forest. Sadly, I will have to save these for another day, as my project boxes are full. Or, maybe I could purchase a few more project boxes!

Last week, I did a little more organizing. Once I found out the shelf life of DMC floss, I decided to better organize mine. I'm still working on it, as I have about 250 older skeins. The new floss can wait. Because the skeins unravel and lose shape, I decided to transfer them to bobbins. They will be stored in DMC's floss organizer boxes.

Last week was also BOM week. I finished January's A Tisket, A Tasket block and The Bugs, from Noah's Ark.

Then I completed the February block of Country Calendar.

Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart. ~Author Unknown

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

Tree Farm

 

Christmas is just around the corner, so off to the Tree Farm we go! Now, what will it be this time? Cypress, cedar, spruce or pine? Have you ever appliqued flannel? I was expecting trouble, but was pleasantly surprised at how easily the edges rolled under and nice, smooth curves formed. Another surprise, as I hand quilted my Tree Farm, was the ease of the needle passing through the flannel.

 

 

Also finished my December Noah's Ark block, The Lion's.

I hope your Christmas is merry and spent with ones you love.  Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!

Until next year.....happy quilting!

Karen

Fresh from the Oven

Fresh from the oven and the kitchen smells wonderful! Isn't this a cute little wall hanging? Spice of Life was a freebie, I received from my local quit shop, at the Christmas Open House. All fabric, buttons and beads, came with the pattern. I just needed to provide the batting and backing.

 

 

I was getting a little behind with my Noah's Ark BOM. Last week, I finished the November block, The Penguins and stitched the December block. Now I just have to add the log cabin. Then, I am caught up again.

I'm a Pat Sloan fan and recently she posted a freebie pattern inspired by her trip to China. China Delight will make the perfect carry along project. First, I need to select some wonderful Asian fabric, from my stash. Pat is also working on another free BOM. I so loved working on the Farmer's Market BOM. Pat and Emilie Richards have gotten together to design this one.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

Happiness Is A Butterfly

I finished piecing together my Butterfly Garden wall hanging. So beautiful and graceful, my butterflies are sure to bring a little sunshine indoors this winter. Take flight my little butterflies. It's time to ride the wind!

Now, for the quilting. In the magazine it was done in an allover design, by machine. Even over the butterflies and flowers. My machine quilting has not advanced past the straight line. One day I will be brave, but on something much smaller.

This is the part that gives me the most trouble. Deciding what to do. One idea that came to mind was to stipple (by hand) around the butterflies and flowers. Any suggestions? Even suggestions for machine quilting. You never know, maybe by the time I get around to quilting it, I will have advanced past straight line quilting!

I managed to fill a large tote bag with lots of goodies at the Creativ Festival, in Toronto this past weekend. One exciting purchase was Sashiko supplies. As you can see, the packages are written in Japanese, so I will have to do a little research before giving it a try. Maybe I can incorporate them into little quilts. Sashiko means "little stabs," so I am told.

I completed this month's Noah's Ark Stitchery BOM. I'm thinking this one is my favourite. The Tortoises and Birds block.

I made my second Dear Jane block. Click here to have a look.

Until next week.....happy quilting!


Karen

September Resolutions

I just lined up, across the sofa, many unfinished projects. Last winter I decided to do a little knitting. So, I headed out to purchase enough supplies for one knitting project. I now have enough supplies for about five projects. I'm still working on my first project and am about to start it again for the third time. I think I understand the pattern now, or do I? It's been so long since I picked it up.

I decided to make a scrapbook, because my sister makes lovely scrapbooks. I now have five scrapbooks on the go and lots of supplies, that I have no place to store. It's fun, but it takes me a whole day just to complete one page. If I purchased just enough supplies for one knitting project and one scrapbook, would that have not satisfied?

Now quilting, on the other hand, is different. One can never have too much fabric, quilting supplies, quilts in the making or new projects to start. Hmmm.....maybe that explains five knitting projects instead of one and five scrapbooks on the go. My approach was the same as for quilting. The difference is, I "love" to quilt, and a "taste" of something different every now and then, is all I need.

So, until I have turned my wool into something useful, I will finish that one knitting project a year. My scrapbook supplies will find a proper storage place and a work schedule will be put into play. Then, I will never ever let that happen again!

I know what I need, I need to quilt.

But, first I need to rid the guilt!

Okay, I feel better now. So, on to quilting stuff. As you can see, I completed the Rainbow Top, of the Noah's Ark BOM.

Oh, have you been downloading the free Stitchery Angel projects? Last weeks project was a really cute Chenille Pincushion, and the week before, a wonderful Sewing Bag and this weeks (love it!) Here Kitty Scissor Holder by Lynette Anderson.

.....and I finished hand appliqueing the first two (of six) Butterfly Garden blocks.

Started hand quilting my Dresden Plate quilt and bent five needles right off the bat. At first I thought something was wrong with the needles. I was trying a new brand. Then I switched back to my old brand, but the needles kept bending. The only other thing I could think of is, I decided to quilt through the appliqued Dresden blades. This adding an extra layer of fabric. The needle went through easy enough. I didn't feel I was putting any extra pressure on the needle to get through the layers, but what else could it be. So, I changed my quilting plans and removed what I had done, to that point, and am now quilting around the Dresden's instead of through them.

Also, finished preparing all the applique pieces for my Cherry Butterfly block, which will be the centre of another quilt.

I decided it was time to start working on my Dear Jane blocks and Quilted Diamonds. I reread both books, in August and since gathered together all the supplies needed to begin A Quilter's Journey Back in Time. I plan on hand piecing everything. No sewing machine. That makes me a little nervous. Some of the pieces are so, so tiny. Linda Franz has very clear hand piecing instructions in her book Quilted Diamonds, that can be applied to the Dear Jane blocks as well.

Came home with a bag of goodies, on Saturday, after attending two quilt shop sales. A package of Richard Hemming & Son Between needles. Hope they don't bend! Wee Play, charm pack, by American Jane for Moda and lots of other fabric. I've noticed a decrease in Civil War fabrics at local quilt shops. Now that I am starting my Dear Jane blocks, that's not so good. I have lots of Civil War fabric, but noticed I was lacking in "light" fabrics. I was hoping to get some during the sales.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

In Search of Butterflies

Butterflies have captured my interest. So, I went through my quilting books and magazines in search of butterflies and what I found was very pleasing.

Hmmmm......I think I'm seeing a series of butterfly quilts.

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."

~Hans Christian Anderson

Free butterfly patterns on the Internet:

Butterfly 1 , Butterfly 2, Butterfly 3

The Butterfly Garden pattern shown above can be found in the July/August 2008 issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine. Carol made a wall size version of the Butterfly Garden quilt. You must take a peek.

As you can see from the photos above, I selected two different groups of fabric to make the Butterfly Garden quilt. Originally I was thinking of making two wall hangings, but because I have such a wonderful collection of butterflies, I think I should use the second group of fabrics for different butterflies.

Saturday was spent preparing my project box for the Butterfly Garden quilt. Mine will just be a small wall hanging, with six (12 inch) butterfly blocks. In The Applique Sampler book, by Piece O' Cake, they suggest using clear upholstery vinyl, in medium weight to make a positioning overlay. So, I am going to give that a try.

My sister asked me why I was starting another project when I still had projects to finish. Boy, does she have lots to learn about quilters! Anyway, before I begin the butterflies, I will complete the binding around my Japanese Lanterns and finish decorating my Homespun Cupcakes, which came to a stop to get Noah's Ark caught up, then get that pieced. Maybe even get Waste Not Want Not finished. Looks like I'm in for a busy week.

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun

And find your shoulder to light on,

To bring you luck, happiness and riches

Today, tomorrow and beyond.

~Irish Blessing

I finished block 6 of the Noah's Ark BOM and also did the log cabin around each block. So tiny! I think I'm going to need glasses.

The first free Stitchers' Angel project is ready for downloading. Helen made a really nice Armchair Caddy. I better not start that anytime soon. My sister may be watching.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

Spools of Thread

I love thread! Like a kid in a candy store, I must stop and look at the thread. It doesn't matter if I need it or not. I must have a look.

For quilting, I always use 100% cotton thread. Coats & Clark brand was the first cotton thread I ever bought. They have some really nice multicolour threads out now. Both for machine and hand quilting. In my thread basket is a part roll of Coats & Clark hand quilting thread that goes back fifteen, twenty years and it springs off the spool like wire. Today it's hard to tell the difference between hand quilting thread and regular thread.

Gutermann thread is what I use the most, for hand applique, hand piecing, machine piecing and hand quilting. I also have a few spools of Signature and Mettler 40 wt thread for machine quilting, but have not tested them out yet.

My new favourite thread is Aurifil, from Italy. At the Creativ Festival, in Toronto, a few years back, Aurifil was giving out free samples of their 50 Cotton Mako thread. I picked out a wonderful shade of green (No. 2887) and seem to use this one the most for appliqued foliage. They also make a wonderful Wool thread that can be used for both hand and machine Folk Art applique and Penny Rugs. They have 40 Cotton Mako thread for machine quilting and 28 Cotton Mako thread for hand quilting and machine blanket stitch and, I must not forget, 12 Cotton Mako thread for redwork, sashiko, hand & machine quilting and big-stitch quilting.

I was given as a gift, a few spools of YLI Silk thread for applique. Very nice thread to work with. Previously I purchased several spools of Gutermann Silk thread. I didn't realize until later that it was 30 wt. Not so good for applique, but I'm sure I will find another use for it. Maybe for Crazy quilting.

Because I love thread so very much, I just had to make a Spool quilt! I didn't realize until after it was all pieced and I had it hanging on my design board, how well it matched the colours in my quilting room. Isn't that a perfect place for a Spool quilt anyway?

I recently started working on Lynette Anderson's Noah's Art BOM. It has been a long time since I have done any stitchery. I had to dig out my Stitch Sampler book, by Lucinda Ganderton, to relearn the different stitches. I'm using most of the same thread colours as Lynette. A few colours I did not have, so I substituted. I am working on Noah and the Giraffe's right now and will post a picture next week.

Just love the Elephants!

Also, looking forward to the Stitchers' Angel stitchery projects. This one starts August 18th, for seven weeks. Each week a different designer. I'm also looking forward to starting the Polka-Dot Girls, which I purchased from Treasured Threads, this past July.

Bargain of the Week

$4.44

I mentioned about Big-Stitch quilting last week and the supplies you need to try it. Well, did I hit the jackpot. Everything I needed, on sale, at a quarter of the regular cost.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen