SSCS

I received the most wonderful SSCS gifts from Lorraine H from Australia. Two beautiful wall hangings that are absolutely perfect for my quilting clothesline and some wonderful fabrics. Including an amazing one with all sorts of Australian animals. I'm going to have to figure out something to do the fabrics justice.

This is what I sent off to my partner. I don't know if you recall the fabrics from earlier? I really enjoyed playing with the colours and pattern scales.

Advent Sewing

We had our guild Christmas party last week and now I can finally unveil one of the projects I've been working on. A part of our Christmas party is a gift exchange. I made an advent calendar for a gift. Here it is hanging out on the mantle.

A close-up. If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll post a tutorial.

These were the wonderful Christmas presents I received. I don't have a picture of the amazing knitted stocking. It's now hanging out and I've been hinting that it should really be filled for Christmas. :) My present was in the stocking and wrapped in the chicken fabric. Another guild member was doing the best sort of stash busting (for us). She went through her stash and cut fat quarters from her Christmas fabrics and gifted them to us.

When I unwrapped the fabric, I found this wonderful moose and cool ornament. I can now go around the house saying 'the moose is loose'. :)

Last week I wasn't all that thrilled with how block 50 turned out on the Nearly Insane quilt, so I made another one. Yup, I'm that insane, tackling Y seams not once but twice!

Christmas is in the Air

It's snowing and snowing and snowing today! It's the light fluffy snow that makes me think of Christmas every time I see it.

I've been working away, but there isn't too much to show right now. Just like everyone else, there will be more to show after Christmas.

Beyond Christmas secrets, I've been pretty focused on the nearly insane blocks.

I also caught up on my guild's block of the month. Even though I've posted one before, it's neat to see all of them together, so I've posted all 4. What I'm finding funny is our last BOM is the left hand block of the first picture and this weeks block for NI is block 50. Can you tell that they're the same block?

Time Passes

Wow, I can't believe how long it's been.

I've been busy working on lots of things that can't be shown just yet. (Christmas and SSCS) Though, I do have a few things. I finally got to visit my little nephew a couple of weeks ago and now can finally show you the I spy quilt I made for him.

This is a little sneak peek of the secret project(s)....

I've also been away to a couple of sew days and a retreat. I was needing a bit of a Jane break, so I made some miniature quilts instead. :) The blue quilt measures about 15"x15". (You can see the 'muddy' quilt hiding out. I've now got the three tops waiting for quilting. (After the Christmas projects.)

I didn't take a complete Jane break. I did manage a few blocks. Including the toughest Jane block. (The star inside the larger star is 1" square!)

 

Quilting

Between work and illness I've not been doing too much quilting these days. But I do have a few things to show.

A couple more Nearly Insane blocks.

And a few more Dear Jane blocks.

All Jane All the Time

That's what things have been feeling like this past little while. I guess that's why I started a few more projects. At least, that's my story and I'm sticking with it. :)

In keeping with tradition, a few more Dear Jane blocks.

I finished the top for the "muddy" quilt. This quilt is 14"x14". (Since it was recently pointed out that scale does not translate well in pictures. :)

The second nearly insane block.

My guild has decided to do a Block of the Month this year. Each person is picking a 12" (finished) block for us to do. At the end of the year, we'll have the unveiling of our very different quilts made from the same blocks. This is our first block. As I was making it, I kept thinking "Well, I double checked measurements as I cut" The block was soooo big. I measured it when I was done just to confirm it was 12" and not 18". I think this is a sign I've spent too long doing miniatures. :)

Wow. I've been much more prolific this week than I thought. (I've also been working on my SSCS gift too. I'd post a teaser but can't figure out a picture that doesn't give too much away. I will say that I'm liking how it is turning out so far. I'm a little tempted to keep it for myself. I may just have to make one for myself. :)

Sew Days

My guild had a sew day this weekend. We're lucky to have this wonderful work space with great lighting and comfy chairs available to us. That blue square quilt in the background was one of our guild projects last year.

One of the ladies brought her cousin to our sew day. Her husband suddenly passed away almost a year ago and they are making 3 quilts from his old clothes.

 I managed to finish a couple more Dear Jane blocks.

And... Since Dear Jane wasn't small enough :) When I needed a bit of a Jane break I put these blocks together. The blocks are two inches finished. I managed to get the blocks together and the rows. Now I just need the border fabric and I can finish the top. This quilt isn't exactly my colours, they're a little muddy but I love the pattern the blocks made when they were put together and the price of the kit was right.

And, just to admit to the world I really am nuts, I've started the nearly insane quilt. Yup, certifiable.

Almost Half Way!

I've now got 86 of the 169 centre blocks. If I was only doing centre blocks, I'd be 1/2 done! Since I'm doing the whole quilt, I get to say I'm almost 1/2 way done. It's wonderful to look through my binder and see sooo many blocks done. I'm on a roll now. I've been helped along by spending many lovely evenings with my no longer blogless friend (Hi Janet) chatting and working on handwork. (I'm machine piecing and hand appliqueing)
 

This past week I took a bit of a Jane break. I've been seeing various bags on blogs and fallen in love. I had a pile of charm squares left over from various projects and these seemed like the perfect projects for them. The pattern for the basket was found on ayumills site. I changed the location of the handles from the original pattern just to make it a little easier to carry things.

I went shopping and just couldn't resist a little sneak peek at my SSCS present. If you're my partner, I really hope you like it! Can you guess what it is!!?? :)

Finally, I couldn't resist. I've been having fun with the enders and leaders project. All those little triangles are now twins. I clipped the dog ears and was left with this pile. Looking at this pile, I couldn't help but to think of a lady who is quite famous in our parts. She uses *all* her fabric; including dog ears like this. (She saves them and her grandchildren make cards and pictures with them)

More Jane blocks

It feels like summer is over. We're having quite the rainy weekend. I'd even turn on the heat if we didn't believe that you shouldn't need heating in the summer.

The good thing in all this, it's not too hot to quilt!

I've been working on more Jane blocks and now I'm only 1 block from caught up (H8)! Yeah!!

It's funny. When I was doing the simple cross in the upper right hand corner (J4) I kept rechecking the measurements. I kept thinking they're way way way too big. It's funny how quickly we get used to things. When I first started I couldn't believe anything could be so tiny.

Dear Jane

More Jane blocks done! Though still 4 blocks shy of being caught up with the Jane-a-long. With these blocks, I've got one entire row done! Yeah!!! (Just 12 rows left :)

The hiatus for the Jane-a-long has ended and we're restarting again with a block I've already done (K12). Hopefully this bodes well for the remaining blocks.

New Projects

Yup, I need another new project like I need another hole in my head, but I've started one anyways. I've been wanting something simple (and fast) for in between the Jane quilt.

I started this:

It is something that will be completely random and can be pieced as leaders and enders while putting together Jane blocks.

An Apple a Day

I was reminded of this quilt a little while ago while stitching with a friend. It was started last year while on vacation, it even made it to a post. The apple cores are hand pieced. The piecing was completed while on various planes and trains. I'd even sandwiched and started quilting it. I pulled it out last week while at our guild coffee meeting. There were only 4 apple cores left to quilt! I'm now very happy to say that it's done and will shortly be hung up on the quilt line.

This was my first attempt at hand piecing. I'd recommend a pattern like this for starting. It was so forgiving of my less than perfect 1/4 inch seams.

Dear Jane give away

I just ran across this site. If you were thinking of starting a Dear Jane quilt and want a head start, run over and put your name in the draw. She's giving away 25 Dear Jane blocks that look quite lovely.

SSCS

It's time!

If you'd like to participate in the second Secret Santa Christmas Swap, run over to Chookyblue and sign up before it fills up.

Last year was a blast. It was fun to stalk my recipients blog and filter through the thousands of ideas that came to mind to finally come up with a parcel to send.

Then there was the excitement of discovering my own parcel in the mail and ripping it open. I was well and truly blessed. The person assigned to me flaked out on the swap. Donna and a friend of hers Linda stepped in and sent me not one but two amazing gifts.

This bag which has become the togo bag for my guild meetings. (Donna, if you ever want to come to Calgary, my guild wants you to teach the bag. :) Also a book that just re-enforces my desire to travel to Australia and a lovely notepad that was claimed and used by too many people in the house.

From Linda I received this amazing wall hanging that now hangs on the clothesline year-round.

More Janes

I too was a little worried about the colour, especially after that first coat. But I'm loving that splash of colour more and more. (The rest of the house is very calm and neutral.)

Ennavic - I'm doing traditional colours for Christmas ornaments this year.... (I'll leave you to ponder which country's traditions for a while. :)

I've got two more blocks to add to the roll call. They're really starting to fly off the machine now. Though, these two also include hand applique. That was done at the third sew day (evening) with my lovely friend Janet (no blog, but interested) Please everyone tell Janet that she needs to start a blog and join us in our addiction. Plus, she really needs to post pictures of the beautiful quilt she's working on. (Hand quilting it to boot).

Back to Work

It's back to work time...

I really wish vacations last longer. I think I'll have to try a staycation again. I got to have not one, not two, but three sew days!! I forgot to bring my camera for all of them, but I did take a few pictures at one. Here we are (I'm behind the camera) pretending to be hard at work.
I also was out learning to play canasta with the girls. I really need to win the lottery and retire early.

Sorry Ennavic, I was teasing you with the earlier bathroom pictures, that was the primer. Here is the finished product. It's not a really rather shocking red and white bath/laundry room now. But I love it! A few little cleanup touches and it's done. (Definitely easier to do without the little helpers. I think your plan of waiting until the youngest is in school is definitely a good idea for maintaining sanity)

And to stay true to the original vision of this blog. Some quilting related pictures! Here are the Jane blocks I finished during the holidays. Seeing them laid out like this, I'm really liking the two colour scheme.

Fun and Games

France was amazing. Since it was for work, I really saw nothing but the office and hotel room, but the little bits I did see of the rose city (Toulouse) made we want to go back.

I've got just over a week off right now. We were trying to go on a trip to Victoria, but it looks like it isn't working out. I've decided to take this time off anyways. It's going to be the only time I can take off for the next several/many months. Things have been beyond insane at work and they will remain that way for the rest of this year. Since I'm not going to Victoria, I'll be trying that new trend of a staycation.

My camera was repaired and came home yesterday! I just had to take piles and piles of pictures...

First things first. The Nun and the Penguin are done! I didn't have my camera before it went off to it's new home. I've asked my friends for a picture of the finished product, so maybe when they get back from their honeymoon. In the meantime, this is what I was working on.

I'm actually able to join one of Judy's weekday quiltatons. Yeah!! I have one quilt quilted and all I have to do is finish off the thread and put on the binding. So, I promptly went to work on something else. Hmmm, maybe this is why I don't have a lot of finishes to show anyone... These are more squares (39 in total) for my blue and yellow scrappy quilt. I've been saving blue and yellow scraps from old projects. (And any stash I wanted to get rid of)

Since I'm on vacation, I decided it was high time for some fun! I've been wanting to paint the bathroom for a while and thought now would be a great time for it. The brown is the old colour I'm getting rid of. The pinkish is the work I've done today. I'll be doing this room in several stages to work around the washer and dryer.

Wow! June!

I can't believe it's already June. This year is just whooshing by.

I've been having adventures, but no quilty pictures to show for it. :( My camera broke and I didn't discover it until the evening of the big quilt show. AAAAHHHHH.

I got to go out too see 700 quilts in one weekend. They've amazing! Plus they're laid out all over Heritage park (historical buildings, people dressed up from the olden days) It's a beautiful setting.

Shortly after that, I was off to France. Yeah! For a business trip. :( It was really beautiful and I wish I could have stayed longer. (Sadly still no camera)

Well, I'm off to drool over a book I got from the library 'Pretty Little Pincushions'. And maybe get that darned camera fixed.

Hi

Not too much stitching, quilting, or anything crafty happening these days...

We may have actually turned the corner weather wise and have +26(C) these days. Traditionally this weekend (Victoria day long weekend) is the first camping weekend of the year and it usually is miserable weather. This year they're predicting warmth and sunshine!

Work and homework will be keeping me busy for too much of this weekend, but some fun (crafty and non-crafty) is in the works.

I did get to do a little quilty shopping, despite no time for quilting (Yup, I know where my priorities are. :)

Retreat

I have no stitching progress to report this week, since there was no stitching completed this week. So, no pictures of nuns yet Ennavic! :)

Instead, I got to go off to a retreat this past weekend. Just to put things in perspective, this is what a regular person packs for a weekend...

This is what a quilter packs for a weekend. (And I was one of the light packers) One person even brought her chair from home!

This is the road into the retreat centre. It's a wonderful place, in the woods and mountains. So, if you feel like a break, you can go out for a walk in nature.
 

This was our work room. There is another row of tables behind me in the picture. Can you see Owloysious and the Jane blocks in progress?

Here are the Jane blocks completed during the weekend. I caught up (again!) from the Jane-a-long and did a few extra to boot. I now stand at 48 done, 121 to go. No rows or columns done yet, but I've got 3 more for row A and 3 more for column 3.

Spring showers

This is why no-one plants anything until after the May long weekend. Though it really helps encourage the quilting bug. :) I tried, but didn't get any good bird pictures so you'll have to look at just the solid sunshine. I was watching little birds swoop down at the bottom of that tree and pick up berries that have fallen off the tree. Robins and snow; not something I really expected to see together.

Despite work attempting to get in the way... I managed a little stitching progress. Much much better than the picture that I didn't post last week. (It was a creepy eye-less face picture). This one is a little funny looking, he looks like he has buck teeth.

I get to go off to the mountains for a quilting retreat in the near future. Yeah!!! They're a blast and I come back with so much done, aching stomach muscles from laughing so much, and a very tired body from not sleeping enough. It's like camping as a girl guide without the tents and hats. :)

I'm doing the take away project and racking my brains on what to do. Any suggestions? I'm looking for something relatively quick and easy to do.