Quilts for Nova Scotia

Rose made this heart felt quilt to be one of many sent to Quilts for Nova Scotia.

Our Hearts go out...

A beautiful lap quilt that needed no more than a loop-de-loop topstitch with little hearts tuck in here and there.

Meandering hearts.

Matching the thread color to the backing is always a fine idea when you want to show off the features of the quilt and not the thread color.

I heart you!

Someone is going to love this little quilt that says 'our hearts go out to all'. 

back

April Box 2

Not much commentary today just lots of show and tell photos of the remainder of Paulines April box.

Christmas wreath 

Christmas wreath back.

Pauline does such a beautiful job on her pinwheels.

Christmas table topper

Christmas table topper back.

Always fun to mix and match designs and to try something new.

How big.........is my love?   Growing every day!!

Hearts back.

Twisting Pinwheels a statement in black.

Detail.

Statement in black back.

Statement in grey table runner

Statement in grey detail.

Statement in grey back.

And this lovely table covering or small throw.  I loved the simplicity of following the chains.

Simple but elegant chain quilt.

Chain quilt detail.

Chain quilt back.

As you could tell there were a lot of quilts in Paulines April Box.  I had a lot of fun coming up with just the right topstitch patterns for each.  Can hardly wait for the next box to see what she has been creating next.

The Happy Quilt

When Terry brought me Christy's quilt to topstitch the only requirement was that I needed to make it a happy quilt.

Christy's Quilt

And how much happier can you get than having fun with butterfly flowers.  

Butterfly flowers

With lots of loops, echoing and funky little flowers sure to make you smile.

Star flowers

It worked well with the giant star flowers made with lots of little squares showing fabric flowers, butterflies and things to make you smile.   

What a wonderful quilt.

back

All on one of the happiest and richest colors you can find, Purple!!  My personal favorite color.  A fun and very cool quilt, Terry C!!

Big, bold and beautiful!

Terry C's red and white quilt is unique, and gorgeous! 

Red and White

A big and bold statement and a whole lot of fun to topstitch.  A combination of ruler work with straight lines and free hand poinsettias.  At least my version of them.

I also love the little leaves tucked into the small white triangles. 

Freehand poinsettias

Matched with a large border of meandering, matching flowers along the two sides that really framed and popped the red.

Add a matching back and WOW!!

Back

I love it.  Big, bold and beautiful.

The big box.

Pauline always sends me (from Vancouver) these wonderful boxes stuffed full of quilts tops she has made.  It is like Christmas in April  when opening.  She sent table toppers, lap quilts, candle mats, and as always, a little "ok, what are you going to do with this one".

Wonderful lap quilt.

Included in the box is also the backing she wants me to use.  I load as many of the small quilts onto one backing as possible saving Pauline a bit of money as I only charge for the overall dimensions of the backing and not the $50 minimum charge for each one.

These posted today are the first to be loaded.

Pauline also just lets me "go for it" and as she says do my artistic thing!

The lap quilt with all it's colorful 4 patches took on a spiky garden with climbing leaves.

Climbing garden.

So much fun to do.

Fitting onto this back included 2 table toppers in the most wonderful twisted pinwheels.

Look at all those pinwheels!

How do you topstitch a beautiful heart? Well with more hearts of course.

Look at all those hearts!

The second topper was fun to do with a mixture of ruler and free hand topstitching.

The perfect Christmas wreath.

I love having a solid color back to show off the quilting.

Click the photo to zoom.

Then of course comes  the "ok, what are you going to do with this one".  Pauline sent this little strip of 1930's retro patchwork.  Pondering for a bit, decided that a small pot holder or mug rug would be so cute for it.

 

She's going to love it and I am hoping she uses it as a mug rug while she is staying safe working from home and longingly looking at her sewing room.

Stay tune to see what other goodies were in Pauline's April box of goodies.

Just a note: as things are getting a bit busier I am hoping to post 2 blogs a week to be able to show off everyones wonderful creations. 

Open your window

Open your window is the name of this very large and gorgeous quilt of Terry C's.  Spring is here and we should all be opening our windows to let in the sunshine in.

Open your window.

To hang Terry's quilt I had to lay it out on the floor 12" and around the one wall about the same.  I may have to find a larger display wall!

Made for a young man we decided to do a simple straight line meander or as it is better know - circuit board.

Circuit board pattern.

Making straight lines on the longarm is harder than you may expect and I have to admit that there may be a few not exactly straight lines.....but I bet you would be hard pressed to find them and that is the wonderful thing about hand driven and handmade, not perfect but gorgeous and personal.  I am not a machine....lol.

 

Back

A fun quilt to do and I am so looking forward to loading the her next quilt.

On an entire different note....Tyler sent photos of the SOHO quilt to The Planetary Society and they selected it to go out on their weekly newsletter for the May 1, 2020 WOW of the Week.  https://www.planetary.org/multimedia/space-images/misc/uninterrupted-view-of-the-sun.html?autologin=true&utm_campaign=downlink&utm_medium=email&utm_source=20200501
I was just thrilled.  What a wonderful son I have.

A little bit of everything!!

This week it is the week of all the little things going on in the crafting world of Terry.
My faithful Janome decided that it needed a few repairs and in protest quit sewing.  So we have a new comer to the shop. 

Quantum Stylist 9960

I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality and capabilities of this sewing machine.  One heck of a machine for the price ($400).  Lots of features, feet and a large table base.  Best of all, all the unfinished sewing projects got (and get) to be finished.

New back pack.

I was working on a new back pack for myself when the Janome's bobbin holder gave out.  I love these handy bags. Throw it over your shoulder and off you go.  Best thing about these bags is that when wearing both straps the weight is even on each shoulder.  Great for those who have shoulder or back problems.  If you are interested in one give me a call.

Lots of pockets inside (1 large zippered as well as the main)
and out ( 1 on each side and 2 in the front)

table topper

It felt good to finish this bright (not sure why the photo is a little washed out) table topper.  It had been in the "please finish me" pile for a few weeks.  In keeping with trying out all the features of the 9960, this was quilted with the walking foot, then bound with the same.

The pattern was a quick project put together for a few ladies wanting a refresher course with all the tips and tricks of quilting.  A fun little project where the main block is cut to make 2 different blocks.  I shows how to read a pattern and adjust if needed, cut, sew, match corners, pin, arrange and all the little tips and tricks that help everyday quilting along.

First hand applique.

I was able to finish the border of my very first hand applique attempt.  It was fun to use up as many of the left over scraps from the main design.  Gave me a chance to practice my paper piecing (the pin wheels and flying geese), put the new machine through the gambit piecing and sewing thin strips, and do a little machine applique. But I used up most of the fabric and made a wonderful sampler. 
I found that I enjoy sitting in the evenings with a project to hand sew.  Started this applique project...

Block 1 of  9

Look what happens when you take a class.  You might find a new calling. lol

Yesterday I started making a set of placemats with a simple pattern that are going to be gorgeous. 

New placemats.

With all of this flurry of energy, I am still working on the longarm a few hours a day.  Next week you will be able to see Terry's (not mine) quilt she made for her nephew. 

And last but not least... garden season is almost among us.  Here is the start of what I hope is an awesome growing season in Atlantic Canada!