I'm Making Wallets - in my spare time

I'm making 8 wallets.   These along with a few others will be heading to Nova Scotia in 2 weeks.      I'm working on them in bits of my spare time.    Last week, just by working a bit in the mornings, I have the outside covers and flaps of the 8 wallets done.  

Today, I'm sewing the tabs on to the ends of the zippers.   If you have taken my wallet class, you'll recognize this step.    I thought this was a neat picture of my zippers.  It clearly shows the assembly line work.

Tomorrow I'll sew the zipper sections.  I would say it'll take me an hour and a bit to complete the 8 zipper sections....

With a quiet week ahead, I expect I'll have these wallets done by next weekend.

Presenting - My First Mini -

The great thing about doing a mini is that they're quick to finish. The name of this pattern is Sunshine and Shadows by Joyce Newman.   As you know, even though it was a jet lagged week, I took the class from Joyce.     She had such helpful techniques.    Since the fabric requirements are minimal, it was easy to pull colors from my stash...

I finished it off at home by adding borders and then machine quilting.  It was done just in time to take to our guilds show and tell.

I like it.  I'm planning on making another with different colors.

Making a Cake with Mitchell

Grandson Mitchell, now a teenager, was here yesterday after school.   I was helping him with his science project.   He had to make and decorate a cake that depicts a cell.    After some research Mitchell came up with a plan.  He needed a rectangle cake and many colors of icing.  Light, Medium and dark purple, pink, light and dark green, black, tan, orange, blue and yellow.  

See all those years of practice of decorating Christmas cookies has paid off.  (See as early as 2008 here, and then later on here and here).   He decorated this cake all buy himself.    It's a cell.   As you can see there are many parts.   Who knew!!

After the cake was done and we were all admiring the artistry, Grampie said he should have made a cake of his iPhone.  "That's a cell!! " he said.  Mitchell and I both thought that was hilarious.   Mitchell is known as a comedian at school but I'm afraid, he might not have a got a good mark for the science class if he brought an iPhone cake.

Sunshine and Shadows - Making a Mini

I took a mini quilt class this week with Joyce N.   It was called Sunshine and Shadows.   It's like a trip around the world quilt.   I've been wanting to make a mini quilt for some time now.  

I pulled colored strips from my stash and with Joyce's help, she helped me arrange the colors so I would get a dramatic effect.   As we sewed, Joyce gave tips on ironing and pinning and used a neat tool to arrange the blocks to transport from the ironing/cutting board to the sewing machine.   I really enjoyed this class and learning neat techniques from this master sewer.

This center part is only about 9" square.   I plan to put a small border and a larger border on it.  I'll finish it this weekend to bring to guild on Monday for Show and Tell.    I'll show you too on Monday.

Squirreling away Quilt Kits

This time of year, it's fun to watch the squirrels gathering for the winter.  When I watch them, I can kinda relate... I'm in the mood for preparing for winter too.    Preparing for winter sewing that is...

This Late Bloomers quilt is on the cover of the April 2012 American Patchwork & Quilting magazine.    I had put this quilt on my to do list some time ago.  I like it because it has a little applique, and it is mostly pieced.  There are several star blocks but the overall design is one massive star.

The guild set a challenge this year, and it is to make a star quilt.   So when I found that out at the meeting last week, I knew exactly what I would do.  The Star challenge is a great reason to move this quilt to the top of my to-do list.    Over the past week, I've been pouring through my stash, and I've cut a complete kit.   I've even traced and fused the applique the flower parts and cut them out.   It's now all packed away in a nice kit, and it'll come south with me this winter.  

That makes two kits that are now squirreled away.   What are you doing to prepare for Winter?

Making Badges for Model Train Enthusiasts

A golf buddy of my husband loves model trains.  He belongs to a local club and they put on volunteer displays.   He has looked into having a train design stitched on to sweater/vests for the himself and the other train enthusiasts.  They would wear them when they do public events and exhibitions.   At the local embroidery place, the setup fees and the low number required made it too expensive.

In talking to him, I suggested that a patch might be the way to go.   He thought that was a great idea and the guys could buy their own sweater or vest, then simply apply the patch.  So, with his help in picking out the right train design, I stitched out a sample.  He was thrilled.

This is not something I would normally do, but this guy has helped us out lots.  And it's nice to return the favor.

Presenting St. Dunstan's Raffle Quilt 2016

This quilt is a two block queen size quilt.   It's made up of the prairie flower block and the snowball block.   I'm trying to think of a name for the quilt.   I've been working on it a little at a time for the past month.   The St. Dunstan's Quilters will hand quilt this winter, and they will sell raffle tickets on it next year.  

Normally I wait until November to make their raffle quilt, but I was anxious to try the block.  I made the block,   Of course that lead to cutting a kit.   And that led to just making the blocks.    Well, here we are a month later, and the quilt top is done.

I've made the binding and when I decide on a name, I will make a label.  

Now, what to do in November?

The Makings of a Spool Quilt

As you know, I worked with Diane at Country Crafts and Curtains this summer on her Row by Row project.   I designed the row, produced the pattern and helped her implement this marketing program.  Neither of us knew how the program would work.   All we knew is what the Row by Row folks had told us about their previous years program.

The Row by Row program is now winding down.  Diane and I had a little sit down to talk about how the program was.  Diane loved the program and enjoyed every visitor she had.  

So, Diane is all set for next year's Row by Row program when the details are released next spring.  

As I sat there, Diane had a big roll of her new beautiful Batiks on her desk.    She handed them to me as a thank you for helping her out this summer.    I am thrilled.   I know exactly what I'm going to do with them.  I'll be using them in a project that has been on my to do list....  It's Edita Sytar's Spool Quilt.  I bought the book a few years ago, and it's now packaged up with the fabric, and will be coming south with me this winter!!

Thanks Diane!

Introducing The Sewing Room Blog

The Sewing Room at The Ville is now ready for Sewing.  www.thevillesewingroom.blogspot. ca.    You will see a lovely room to sew.  The bookshelves have lots of magazines and books for you to get inspiration from.  

Classes for the fall have been scheduled and more are being added regularly.  Class sizes are small, 8 - 12 people.  Class fees are reasonable...most around $25.  Some sewing days are being hosted by quilters you know.   Why not come out to sew with us.  

Let me know what you think.   Do you have a class that you've been waiting for?  Let me know and we'll see if we can get it scheduled.

I've put a link on my sidebar.   It looks like this.   When you find it, click on it, and it will take you to the Sewing Room Blog..   Please have a visit.

St. Dunstan's Raffle Quilt - Week 3 and 4

The St. Dunstan's Quilt has been coming along nicely, in my spare time.  This is an easy quilt.  Every other block is a snowball block.  Of course, that space will show off the delicate hand quilted designs.   The 54 blocks are laid out, and I will pick them up today, in a fashion that Eleanor Burns teaches.   This method is so cool.  That will get them off of my spare bed and when I have time, I'll sew them together.   Next step is to do the two borders and make the binding.   I have a busy fall planned so I'm pleased that this obligation, normally done in November, will be done.     

Lady Ashburnham Pickles

The past week has been busy with making pickles.   Today I made these Lady Ashburnham pickles from Linda H.'s blog.  I've really enjoyed recipe for a couple of years now.  

Linda tells a great story behind this local pickle.  I really love that they are not so sweet.  

When going to the market to get the produce, the vendors usually ask, "What are you making.. Lady Ashburns?"   They can tell because I'm only buying big cukes and onions.   So many people shorten the name.  Over time, I bet most will not know the real name.  

Harvesting Our Garlic

We have been harvesting rhubarb, lettuce, green and yellow beans for a month or more now from our little garden.

This morning, we decided it was time to harvest our garlic.   It was the the first time for us.  We planted it in October last year as we put our garden to bed for the winter.  Since early in the spring, we have been watching it grow ever since the snow left us.   The sprouts came up through about the same time as the tulips came up.   In mid July, on the 3 foot skinny stalks, it was exciting to see the garlic scapes emerge and eventually curl. That is a sign that all is good and the plan is maturing.    We cut them off and made a soup.  

The stalks had started to dry from the top, and this is an indication that the bulb growing is done and they can be picked anytime.  This morning, I was a little surprised to see that there's a purple tinge to the outer skin of the bulbs.   I expect that will go away when the garlic start to dry.  

I will save one to plant again this fall, and we will enjoy the others in some garlicky recipes soon.