Morning Garden Quilt

I have started a new quilt. It is from one of Kaffe Fassett's books. I am about 5/6 the way through sewing the top. I did a mock layout first using Excel to get a sense of how it would look with the fabric and to get an idea of how many squares I needed to cut out prior. Usually I cut the fabric and play with the layout. The finished dimensions are 95 inches by 62 inches.





For the backing, I'm thinking about doing another patchwork. All the pieces would be big. The instructions call for 6 yards of fabric for the back. If I use some of the left over fabric from the top, I will still probably need another 4 yards. I may pick 4 different fabrics and get a yard in each. I will finish sewing the top this upcoming weekend. I still need to get the batting as well. I'm not sure when I'll make it to the Quilter's Palette.

I need to work on decreasing the size of my fabric stash. I have a coworker who makes pincushions out of fabric scraps. I think I will give her some of my scraps. I have larger scraps that I can use for small projects (e.g. oven mitts and placemats). I think I will pick up some of the ribbon that I need to make some aprons (act surprised at Christmas).

I have almost finished cleaning up the branches that our lovely neighbour cut down and tossed in our yard on several plants. Seven plants were damaged. Most have bounced back. It took a while to cut up the branches. The leaves and branches filled five yard waste bags. I am still trying to think what is the adequate revenge is for such an inconsiderate act. If you have any suggestions please let me know.

More later.

L

Completed Projects

A few weeks ago I finally finished hand quilting Mish Mash. It looks great. When I started working on it again I forgot how bright and colourful the fabric is. It has been warmer at night, so it is getting well used.

Yesterday I finally finished Trish's birthday present. On Thursday I bought the buttons and brown thread at Mac Fab. Yesterday Trish and I figured out the correct length. I hemmed it last night. Just in time for summer.

Today I started cutting the fabric for my next quilt. It is based on Kaffe Fassett's Morning Garden quilt pattern. I 'm using Amy Butler's Lotus fabric for this. This fabric is perfect for the quilt layout. I'll post some photos once I start sewing it.

Trish and I need to spend some time weeding the garden soon. But unfortunately today was a little too warm. I did attempt to cut the grass this evening. I hope we get lots of rain over night.

I should get back to the fabric.

More later.

Spring is here

I have been a little busy the past few months with school and life. I finished school last week. On Saturday I fly to Halifax to visit my folks for a week. I start work on May 4th. I'll work four days a week in the summer.

I have started to hand quilt Mish Mash again. I am almost done. I have less than half of the outside border to finish. Then I'll trim the batting and backing and sew the binding. I cannot believe that it has taken me so long to get working on it again.

I have a sewing project to work on while visiting my parents. I am making Trish a top as part of her birthday present. It is an Amy Butler pattern. Trish picked out Kaffe Fassett fabric.

Have no fear. There will be be no flower or tie on Trish's.

I should go and spend some time tidying up the garden.

More later.

L

Blog Blog Blog

Wow it has been a while since my last post. I have been a little busy. Also the projects I was working on were holiday gifts. Those are my excuses.

Here are photos of Allison's bag in progress.

The above photo is the front panel. There are two pockets in the front.

It is not your eyes. The photo is blurry. This the bottom of the front of the bag.

This is the inside of the bag. There is a place for pens and a wide pocket. There was suppose to be a zipper near the top. The interior fabric is too light for the zipper, so I improvised with velcro.

This is the finished bag. I'm not sure if the bag will be delivered to Allison. I think Mom may try to steal it. It took a long time to make it. It took me almost seven hours to cut the fabric. It also took a while to figure out the instructions. But once the bag started to take shape, it got easier. I have the fabric to make another bag, but that is going to wait until I have forgotten how frustrated this bag made me.

I also knit a sweater for Mom. Tomorrow I'll sew the zipper in. Below is the back in progress. It is a great shade of blue with flecks of other colours in it. Unlike Allison's bag it was ready to be unwrapped on Christmas Eve. Just barely...

Well Canada is playing at the World Juniors and the intermission is almost over.

More later.

L

Almost a month

It has been a month since my last post. So much as been happening. Okay, not really. Well yes it has.

I have registered for my courses. Started to get exemptions from some courses. I have completed reading two texts and have started a new one. I have started a new knitting project. It has been too hot to quilt (at least that is the excuse I'm going with). I have filled in several ideas on my Christmas 2007 spreadsheet.

Here is Royal Tiara. This is the best year for her. Her colouring gets blotchy when it rains.

Here is Gilded Coral. She has had another good year.

Here is Perl. He got a little over run by the Bee Balm this year.

Here is the baby changing pad that I commissioned from Wendy for Nette. It received the cat seal of approval.

Here is my current knitting project. It is for me, again. In the top left corner you can see the quilt that I liberated from my mother. This will be a cardigan when it grows up.

Well, I should get some work done. More later.

L

Busy Saturday

I had a busy and productive day. I met Heather (http://www.friendsknittogether.blogspot.com/) at the Bathurst subway stop. We went to the Quilter's Palette in Etobicoke. Heather got a few fat quarters of blues. I like the fabric she picked. Oh, if I didn't have so much fabric already. I have fabric for four quilt tops and Mish Mash to finish hand quilting.

I got some fabric for the border of the Ohio Star quilt I'm going to make with Amy Butler's Belle line of fabric. I also got Butler's pattern for High Street Messenger Bag. I think it has the possibility of gifts.

I went to Grassroots and got a new polo shirt. I bought 4 pepper plants. After spending some time with the cats, I returned my extra yarn to Romni for a store credit. Not sure what my next knitting project is yet. I went to Pre-Loved and picked up a shirt for Trish and a shirt for myself.

Tomorrow is time in the garden. I watered the garden today. I'll water first thing in the morning and spend some time weeding and trimming the trees. I'll also hand quilt, while I watch the Under 20 Canadian team play.

I also have reading to do. I have read a little more than half of the course kit readings for one of my courses. It is the kit from last fall. I'm not sure how much it will change. But is giving me a sense of what to expect in terms of readings. September and October will be busy with working fulltime and going to school.

There is a session that I'm attending on Tuesday called "What is Community Work; Highlights of the field". One of my goals is to get a sense of how many hours I'll need to make up at work.

More later.

L

A Quiet Sunday at Home

Trish and I are enjoying Sunday. Trish is busy working (grading papers) and I'm, well not working. I have done some housework (dishes and the laundry is in progress). We did a bulk of the cleaning yesterday. We had lattes and chocolate croissants for breakfast from Madelaine's up the street. I have a few articles I want to read in the Sunday Star, but that can wait. I will need to make a trip to the grocery store, but first I need to figure out what I feel like cooking this week.

I had Friday off. I finally took the old desktop computer and monitor to Re-Boot to donate. The highlight of Friday was finishing the baby quilt for Nette. Yesterday I took some photos for my archives. Of course the cats were happy to help model with it. The quilt is now in the wash. I'll give it to Nette tomorrow at work. I send the extra fabric from the backing to Wendy to get a custom made changing cloth made (I'll post photos when I receive it). Wendy and two friends are in the process of setting up a small business. I have to find out if they have a website yet (I'll post a link for it).

I can now focus on finishing hand quilting Mish Mash. I also need to cut Allison's fabric for her Mish Mash. Once those projects are completed I can start on my next quilt. Allison got me two fat quarters of Kaffe Fassett from the quilt store on Bronte that is going out of business. I need to decide if I want to use the Kaffe Fassett or Amy Butler for my next quilt. Oh the terrible dilemmas I have. I'm going to use the left over fabric from Nette's quilt to practice making the blocks for the next quilt. Trish had the great idea of using the sample blocks and making oven pads out of them.

I still have to take the extra yarn from my Twisted vest back to Romni. Maybe next weekend. I am currently without a knitting project. I think I'm okay with that, I hope the shaking is from an excess of coffee.

Hopefully today we will have time to work in the garden. There is a lot of work to go. At the very least I need to water. Here a clematis. There are two other ones growing on the south fence, but there late bloomers.

More later.

L

Figjam

I have just finished sewing the top of the binding onto the quilt for Nette. Now I have to hand sew the back of the binding and it will be done.

FIGJAM. A coworker recently told me about this term. It stands for F#*k I'm Good, Just Ask Me (FIGJAM).

I'll take some photos once it completed.

Figjam.

More later.

L

Saturday

It has been a while since I have posted. I hadn't uploaded any new photos to my computer and I get bored of hearing myself ramble and figured you would too...

I have been working on the baby quilt for Nette. I have finished hand quilting it today. For the most part I have quilted it with circles. Now I need to work on the binding. I have started to cut the binding strips. It will be finished before she goes on mat leave at the end of the month. Here is Calle helping me baste it.

Things have been quiet. Allison was away for a few days (so she wasn't calling). We have finished watching season four of Monk. There are several options: Rome, Big Love, Deadwood. There is also the possibility of going to see a movie at the theatre (what a novel idea).

I'll leave you with some photos from the garden.

More later.

L

Back Home

I had a relatively quiet flight home from Halifax on Saturday. Allison and Len met me at the airport and drive me home. They brought Harrison and Jackson. We had a walk to the little dog park, then came home for a visit.

I took the TTC to the airport the previous Saturday. It took less than an hour to get to the airport from home. I was worried about being stressed about timing the connection to the airport express bus, but I made it in plenty of time.

I had a great visit with my parents and family. I took a lot of photos of the scenery. I apparently should have been taking photos of people instead according to some of my coworkers.

Here are some of my favourite photos.

Here is a humming bird. They have already arrived in large numbers. I know it is sort of like a "Where's Waldo" puzzle, but there is a humming bird in the photo.

These are from the land behind my parents' house.

These photos are from our trip around the Cabot Trail.

On the way to the Halifax airport. Elizabeth was visiting with me in the front seat.

More later.

L