FNWF'S Report

It is time to report on FNWF hosted by Cheryl . I did something a little different this time round , I spent my time handquilting a very old UFO that sadly has been on my quilt frame for over a year , I am almost afraid to  see what it will be like when it is removed . I love this little quilt Henrietta whiskers , such a fun quilt , designed by BunnyHill . I'd love to finish it for our upcoming quilt show but not sure that is possible but i will give it a whirl and see how it goes .

 Last week this time I was at our guild retreat,  what a fabulous time we had , there were just 13 of us that took part and we each just worked on our own thing which I quite enjoy doing . Classes are nice but I really needed the unstructured do as I please time away . So what did I work on , well I didn't want to go unprepared so I took along a few projects . My initial plan was to work on the Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt but I changed my mind , just felt it would be a little too stressful . I chose a log cabin runner pattern that I have made a few times and quite like and I need a new runner for my hutch so I got busy and cut all the components needed . Next was a kit I was so generously given by Annette  two years ago , it is a row by row from a quilt store called Haus of Stitches in Humboldt Saskatchewan . I also got this all cut and ready to stitch but couldn't wait to start so actually did all the stitching at home and only needed to quilt it and bind it . Another kit followed me there , a rather  old one , it is at least ten years old and is for a wall hanging . I traced off all the applique bits and got those ironed on but left the rest for the retreat . Now I know you are wondering if I actually finished anything , well yes I did finish the log cabin runner , even the binding got sewn down .

This is a very large runner so I had to use the floor trick to get it all in the photo . The row by row was almost completed , I had three quarters of the quilting done and obviously ran out of steam as I started sewing down the backing onto itself 😥

 

I finished it when I got home 😁

And here is the applique project which isn't finished , I have all the applique stitched on and the borders added but just haven't gotten back to it yet . 

I did change the background fabric for this project , the fabric included was a deep beige with tiny flowers which I just didn't care for . 

 So overall I feel I was pretty productive along with lots of talking and laughing and good food and a little sleeping too . 

 Thanks for stopping by today , so nice to see you .

 Hugs Sheila 

Postcards and a flimsy

Good evening ,it was a gorgeous spring day today , sunny and very comfortable temperatures . Early this morning it was a spectacular frost covered scene out the window,  everything just sparkled .
  I recently taught a postcard workshop in Tatamagouche a lovely town about an hour from here . It wasn't a big class but those present were very enthusiastic and raring to make some creative cards .

  

This is Carol and myself at the end of the day. 

Here is the class minus a couple who had to leave early.  Such a lovely group of ladies and very creative too . 

 I brought along lots of postcards I have received over the years in swaps which they really loved and It was the perfect inspiration . 

A few of the postcards created 

I have been working on some scrappy checkerboard blocks that were inspired by a weekly challenge by Darlene of a Needle Pulling Thread Quilt Shop .  I enjoyed making these blocks so much I kept right on going and made this quilt top . It still needs some borders which I am still thinking on .

I am proud to say this was completely sewn on my vintage Singer machine which I just love to use .  

I could share some postcards I have made recently but will save them for another post.  

Thanks for stopping by it is always a pleasure to have tour visit . 

 Hugs Sheila 

FNSI Report

Well I know I have been missing for quite some time and sometimes life just gets in the way but let's not dwell on the negative . I decided to join in on FNSI hosted by Wendy
 At our guild we have a UFO challenge and each year we sign up and pay $1 for each item we would like to finish up ,so this year I have three to try to finish before our deadline . When we finish an item we must share it at our show and tell at the  meeting then it is checked off our list and our name then goes in the hat to win all the money collected from those participating . I have never won the money but it has been a great incentive to finish up some long overdue projects . I am sure my list could have been longer but i think at this point I will do well to  finish the three on my list.  So what does that have to do with FNSI , that is simple , I worked on the oldest of those three projects a crazy quilt that I started at least 7 but probably closer to 8 years ago . I had the top in one of my drawers and each time I would come across it I would say to myself you really must get this finished . I took it out the other day and decided in order to finish it I would need to add another row to make it a little larger , I wanted it to be lap size. This meant I would need an extra six blocks so I got busy and made them then attached that new row to the existing rows and a quilt top was born 😊

 I used a very thick flannel backing to make it extra cosy then simply stitched in the ditch between the blocks . I sewed the binding on Friday  and that  evening I sat and sewed it down to the back . I am quite pleased with how it turned out and I know it will get plenty of use . 

 In January I taught a class at our guild on curved piecing , this is my second time doing this workshop and it is always popular especially once the others see the masterpieces created by the students . I had a full class so it was a busy time but I really enjoyed it even if I am not a born teacher .  Of course when you teach you must have samples and ways to explain the process so I brought along a piece I prepared especially for this class and I just recently finished it .

Sorry for the not so great picture , the sun was streaming in and I couldn't get a decent picture without the reflection showing up on the picture . I have another one that was also started for this class but I have a little more I'd like to add then I can share it .

 There is probably lots more I could share but I think that is it for today . Thanks to those who have stuck by me even in my absence . 

 Thanks for stopping by today ,  hope you have a terrific day .

 Hugs Sheila 

Christmas is just around the corner

Can you believe this year is almost over and Christmas is just two weeks away , how did that all happen ?
November was not a great month for me ,  first off my knee was acting up so I had to have a cortisone shot , then my go to machine a 20 year old pfaff decided it had enough , I cried a little that day , I love that machine then just a few days after that we had a flood . We decided to change our internet provider and the young chap who was doing the installation hit a waterline in the wall and there was water everywhere . I don't know who panicked more , me or him . After a phone call to my hubby we found the shut off valve which was a huge relief . It totally ruined the flooring in one room , the other areas have ceramic  so no damage . However we did have a restoration company come and had dehumidifiers and huge fans going all that weekend . So needless to say I am glad November is over.
 Now did I do any sewing last month , yes of course , that keeps me sane or close 😉 . My first accomplishment was completing the Splendid Sampler quilt top , it will take a while before it is quilted as I plan on having it hand quilted.  This photo shows it before I added the last two borders but I don't have a more recent photo to share .

I added a narrow red border then a wide blue border which really compliments the rest of the quilt . I am so glad I stuck it out and finished this top , there were times when I thought I needed my head examined lol . 

 I have been busy making Christmas gifts but haven't photographed too many of those but here are a couple of pillows I made for my granddaughters using some blocks I had made a few years back as part of a Bom with Raspberry Rabbits .

I think the girls will like them , they are such cute little rabbits . 

 I have started the mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter , hmm, am I crazy or what , perhaps so , but it is something I have wanted to do each year she announces her mystery so this year I decided was the year to have a go . Now there is a ton of work in these quilts I have discovered but I am okay with that as it isn't a race and I don't plan on keeping up each week although I may have tried if it wasn't so close to Christmas. I did manage to get the first clue as well as the second clue completed but when the third clue came out on Friday I decided it was in the best interest of my health to just leave that until after all my Christmas sewing is done. 

Here is my stack of the first clue , I guess I didn't take one of the second one so will share that later on,I will just tell you it involves a lot of flying geese blocks  . I am being really good and only using what fabrics I have on hand and the best part is I am using some realllllly old fabrics that have been around since making dresses for my granddaughters.  This will be a very scrappy quilt , my favorite kind .

 I am doing a curved piecing workshop in January so I decided I should refresh myself on this technique and I stitched up a couple of landscapes.  Here is one to show you what I did .

Such fun 😊

 Well thanks for the visit,  I hope your holiday preparations are coming along well and you are enjoying the process . 

 Hugs Sheila 

Friday night with Friends

Time to report my FNWF happenings. On Thursday evening I stitched along with my friends in the Southern Hemisphere and finished off this little stitchery which will become a postcard.

Then on Friday evening I worked on this stitchery that I started last year around this time . Not too much left to do now .

Sorry it is still wrinkled from the hoop .

 Have you ever had a situation that you just had to do something even though it wasn't your colours or even your style . Well this happened to me , I had bought some bits and pieces from a friends estate sale at our guild and in the bag was some four patch blocks and these pink polka dot pieces sewn on each side of a beige piece . What was her intention , hmm , no real idea but after much thought and contemplation I came across a photo of a block and the light bulb went on . I think this was Carols plan for these pieces or I hope it was . I have been sewing these together as leaders and enders off and on this summer and found I had created 13 blocks.  I chose the best 12 of those and made this quilt top after searching through my stash for borders and sashings . I was happy to find some fabrics I felt matched these blocks fairly well so proceeded to get it all sewn together and here is the result.  I hope Carol would be pleased.  It is the size of a lap quilt .

I actually quite like it now and I think it is good to sew fabrics you don't normally use it makes you think outside the box a little .
 At the moment I am busy sewing the Splendid sampler blocks from last year together , well actually I have that part completed plus I have sewn all the sashing strips together for between the rows so the next job is sewing those to the rows of blocks . Wow , this is a ton of work !
Thanks for stopping by today and be sure to stop by to see what others have been stitching on for FNWF , Thanks to Cheryl for hosting us .
Hugs Sheila