Its a Mystery

I've had lots of sewing adventures over the years.  As a lover of fabrics, I very much enjoy the quilting world and all it has to offer.  Having had the opportunity to have some my quilt patterns published in The Quilt Pattern Magazine  I very much appreciate the time and effort that's required to test them.    

Since I'm definitely a fan of a new quilting adventure, I recently joined their group of pattern testers.   As a tester with The Quilt Pattern Magazine  you only choose the pattern you would like to test.  Nothing is mandatory.  

As well, I do love mystery quilts.  Perhaps its the excitement not knowing exactly what the end product will look like?  Or maybe its about the element of the surprise?   So when the opportunity to test a mystery quilt how could I refuse?

Meet the first block in "Star Explosion", a four part mystery which starts in the May issue. 

Here are the colours I've chosen and the end result is definitely worth the wait.   Full disclosure the lightest grey in the picture is not the actual grey in the finished product.  I guess I used it all in the project :-) 

 

 

It's Sew Exciting.......

Little did I know

Little did I know how our lives would change when I started this quilt Starbright.  My scraps were getting out of hand and I needed a long term project.    I've done miles and miles of stitching on my machines but decided it was time to try hand piecing.

The pattern  looked perfect.  Mostly squares and rectangles with just a few triangles.   Three finished sizes to choose from so in order to use up the most fabric I decided on the largest size.  

In  late 2019 I started cutting up pieces from the stash heap.  Several people have asked how I sorted my colours.   It did not even occur to me to try.  I just cut up whichever I pulled out of the tote. The only exception to this would be the stars, whites, and even those came from the scraps.   If memory serves me correctly I think I cut those first.   Did I mention there are more than 1000 pieces?

Millions of hand stitches and about 6 months later the top was finished.  Into my frame for hand quilting with a wool batting from Lynn's Quilting Studio. 

 

  

 

 Our small dining is perfect for setting up the quilt frame and especially during a pandemic.  No guests to come for a meal so I can just keep stitching.    Steady hand quilting, sore fingers and three weeks later it was compete.

 

   I confess when I took it out of the frame I put it away for a few weeks before I added the binding. 

My Sewing Machine and Me

With the onset of Covid-19 in March of this year I doubt any of us would have ever imagined how our world would change.  I know I anticipated we would all be back to normal by the time fall rolled around.  Obviously that has not happened.  

As a mother, wife, grandmother, quilter, stitcher, etc I have no shortage of things to keep me occupied.  Fortunately I do love technology almost as much as I love sewing and am often absolutely blown away by how lucky we are to be able to connect and create virtually.   Through FaceTime my granddaughter and I were able to establish a "Book Buddies" routine when we were all in lockdown.    She would read to me and then I would read to her.   Even though we are now able to connect in person she does not live close by so we continue to enjoy the virtual time together.   Technology is indeed amazing.

Very early in 2020 I had happily agreed to offer a trunk show to the Mahone Bay Quilt Guild.  Ordinarily this would consist of me filling up my "trunk" with my quilted items and presenting in person.  Clearly with restrictions in place this would not happen.   Many quilt guilds have simply not continued to meet but The Mahone Bay Quilt Guild took up the challenge of meeting virtually.   

So it was time for me to embrace another new adventure and present a Zoom "Trunk" Show.  My Sewing Machine and Me was created.   One of the wonderful options here for me was the ability to include some favourite pieces which are no longer in my possession.   It was just a matter of finding the photos.   I'm sure you all can relate to the frustration of trying to find pictures on cameras or computers.  If someone would like to give a workshop on that I'll be the first to sign up! 

The very capable co-ordinators Krista Garber and Mary Gray agreed on a trail run a few days before the event.  Gotta get the kinks out!  

Although I didn't have to load up my car and drive I do confess I missed the personal greetings we as quilters really enjoy.  The resulting show however worked like a charm with lots of positive feedback.  

I would certainly recommend investigating the options available to your groups and guilds to keep connected.  Nothing ventured nothing gained.

It is definitely "Sew Exciting".

Sometimes

Sometimes a quilt just seems to create itself.  Earlier this year I wanted to create a baby quilt for a very special friend.   This was her first grandchild and we knew a little girl was on the way.  Traditional or modern?  Which way to go?  

One day while my mind was on something else entirely I stumbled across fabrics in my stash which I  knew would be prefect.  The background was a good as done and I knew the applique design would come as I stitched.  It did.  Here's "Pitter Patter" now gifted to my friend and and the new parents.

 

 

 

 Can you just hear those little feet getting ready?

 

Now Its Your Turn

Almost exactly 50 years after I graduated from Nursing School my great niece graduated from UPEI with a BScN.  How very excited we all are and so very proud of this delightful and caring your lady.

As a quilter I wanted to give her something.  But what?  My sister (her grandmother) was likely making her a quilt so that was out.

I started to create a small wall art to depict the four years of study using some of my old nursing school uniform bib and aprons but my muse had gone AWOL so I went to bed!    When I awoke through the night I knew exactly what I needed to do so happily went back to sleep.

The next morning I selected one of my old nursing hats and made her just what I knew she would love and which would be memorable.     I chose a font from my computer and matchstick quilted all around the letter A.

The binding is plain black to signify the black band in the hat of a Registered Nurse

Her name is Aricca and I was right, she loves it.

Perky little Pouch

It's Sew Much fun to stitch up a little pouch and its even funner to embellish it using your Brother Scan N Cut applique.  Quilted with a channel quilting design (one of my favourites), its a really easy and attractive pouch to stow your treasures.  And you can make it in any size you wish.  I do think it would be perfect in a size to fit your tablet.

This fluffy sheep pattern is from an Electric Quilt pattern but it would be equally as nice with a built in pattern from your SNC.  

  

Adventures with the Brother Scan N Cut and Electric Quilt

Lucky me, I live not far away from a lovely fabric shop Lynns Quilting Studio who sells and services Brother sewing machines.  Brother also makes an amazing machine the Scan N Cut and since I am definitely a gadget person, I was delighted to accept Lynns invitation to learn the machine and then teach others.

Frankly my first attempts at learning the machine were a dismal failure!   YouTube was helpful but one person would do something their way and the next video would show a completely different route.  With a large dose of patience and a stern talking to myself I mastered the fine details of cutting fabrics and happily teach the amazing potential of this machine.


I'm also an avid EQer and these two products were made for each other.
Here's my Sunbonnet Sue design from Electric Quilt 

 

Stay tuned!

Bucket Hats

Although I do love to make quilts, I started my sewing life making clothes.   Inspired by my sister-in-law,  I decided to stitch up a bucket hat.    Quilts are flat - bucket hats are not. Will my sewing a three D skill return?

And what about a pattern?  I live in a rural area so don't have an option to purchase a pattern locally.  Internet to the rescue and here's the result.

Thanks to Oliver + S for the free reversible bucket hat pattern and the my stash for the fabrics.   And yes this is a kids pattern so I used a 1/4 inch seam rather than 1/2 inch as suggested.  Fits me perfectly.

I do love to sew :-)

My first quilt

Remember when we used cardboard templates for making quilt patches?  Those were days when it certainly took many more hours to make a quilt.

I have no idea how long it took to make my sampler quilt but I still love it.   Machine pieced and  hand quilted, its pretty thin and not many of the stitches are intact but it's still cosy and soft and a perfect quilt under which to snuggle.    

My First Quilt