A Travelling Stitching Kit

Posted on by

13

On the weekend, I was given this adorable little travelling stitching kit. It looks like a tiny case for eyeglasses and … well, it was, originally.

However, this little case contains a star made with .50″ diamonds, sets of diamonds to make 3 more of those stars, a bobbin of thread, the cutest little scissors ever and two of my favourite needles with which to piece, #12 Roxanne sharps. I use them as pins as well as needles. They are so fine that they don’t throw off the seam when pinning these tiny pieces.

To give you an idea how tiny these scissors are, the diamonds beside it are the half-inch diamonds.

What else was in the little case? One of the best tools ever — a toothpick with a button glued on top. These toothpicks are the perfect way to hold down a seam allowance when pressing. Keeps my fingers from getting burned.


The little case is just the perfect size to keep some of the .50″ hexagons for the Insanity quilt along with a bobbin of thread and some needles as well as the little scissors. So that any time I’m about to go out somewhere where I may have time to get in a few stitches, I’ll have everything I need!

We were supposed to have quite a storm but, other than a fair amount of rain, we had nothing happen here at all. No snow whatsoever. The longer the snow stays away, the better as far as I’m concerned.

However, today it was quite windy and the boys were very busy watching the few remaining leaves flying by the window. Lester was intent:


As was Smudge:


Yet Another Snow Crystal

Posted on by

6

After getting the SSCS packages on their way, I decided to work on a snow crystal block a couple of nights ago. This block goes together so nicely and quickly once the centre star is made. Thanks to Inklingo, everything fits perfectly.

Now that it’s finally pressed, I can share a photo.

I’m still fascinated by the backs of these blocks after pressing them. The blocks lie so flat when pressed like this.


Lester, shortly after we had combed his ruff. Right after combing, he looks quite majestic. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last long as he is insistent on licking and chewing it.


I Got Mail

Posted on by

7

A couple of weeks ago I won a giveaway on Gail Pan‘s blog and today this wonderful pattern arrived.

It’s called Santa’s helpers and is just so cute!! I’ve traced two of the blocks already and plan to start stitching tonight. There may be a Christmas wall hanging for us before Christmas.

Smudge, framed by the sheers. He basically opens them and peeks out at us.

Happy Thanksgiving to all those in the U.S. who are celebrating today/tonight. It’s certainly been fun reading about all your preparations for today.

A Group Quilt

Posted on by

18

I can now post a picture of the quilt for which the never-ending label was made, the back of which I showed yesterday:


It was presented Monday afternoon. The diamonds were done by a number of quilters and are designs from Quilted Diamonds and Quilted Diamonds 2, both books by Linda Franz. The setting and the quilting are fabulous. The quilt was a long time in the making, and we wondered at times if it would materialize. It did — and it’s gorgeous.

For a while on Monday we got some very wet snow. When we were out we saw a Jack Russell terrier with the cutest little coat — it had a fur-lined hood! It gets cold here, no question, but it was nowhere near that cold yesterday. But it was still cute.

I can’t even imagine getting Lester or Smudge in a coat. Then again, they don’t go outside. Here’s yet another picture of Lester standing over the heat — which is why his fur has that windblown look!


Bits and Pieces

Posted on by

10

The quilt for which the never-ending label was made is all done — ready to go. I can’t show the front of it — yet — but here’s a view of the back. The long-arm quilter did an amazing job on it. There’s a silk batt in it and even with the heavy quilting it’s still very soft and drapes beautifully.

On Friday night I completely changed my mind about my SSCS gift and, after getting my pieces all cut, madly stitched all weekend. It’s ready to quilt and will be quilted and bound by the end of today. I am thrilled to bits with how it has turned out — but can’t post a picture. At least not until it has been received and opened.

Lester still likes sitting on the windowsill, even though it’s pretty quiet on the roof garden right now. We haven’t even seen a squirrel for a couple of days.


Posted in Uncategorized Tagged

Another Snow Crystal and …

Posted on by

14

… snow. Real snow. It’s too early!! This was the roof garden around 2:30 yesterday afternoon. Just a little snow.

Around midnight last night. A little more snow.

This morning. Lots more snow.

I love the look of the snow on the tree limbs — almost like they’ve been dipped in icing sugar. But that wears off real fast. I’d much rather the snow left now and didn’t come back!

This is my kind of snow crystal. One doesn’t need boots and a coat and gloves, scarf and a hat to appreciate this snow crystal.

The kitties before the snow began to fall. I don’t think they like it all that much either — they have not been in the window watching the snow at all!


I Got Mail

Posted on by

9

The mailbox had a nice squishy envelope in it today and look what was in the envelope! It’s my Another Little Quilt Swap quilt — called “Box of Chocolates” from Charlie at It’s Just Me. The pattern is fun to look at and the colours are so wonderful!


I’ve often thought about making a pink and brown quilt and now I can just think about it some more as I have one! I remember seeing this on Kate’s blog and thinking how much I’d love to receive it — and here it is! I think Charlie must have spent some time on my blog and picked up on my passion for pink — either that, or it was an amazingly good guess!

The squirrels are very very busy tucking away food for the winter and the cats are very very busy watching them!


A Christmas Tree

Posted on by

12

I decided I wanted to do a little embroidery block for a quilt and wanted a Christmas Tree, so this is what I came up with. It was fun to do — other than the metallic thread, that is. That stuff is no picnic to work with! This was a test piece. I’m happy with how this little tree turned out and now have some great ideas for more blocks.


This is one of my favourite shots of Smudge. He looks right at the camera when we take his photograph. Right now he’s turned into the cuddle cat to end all. He loves the cold weather, I think — more opportunity to snuggle up to us. He’s truly a walking heater! And it is cold — we’ve gone from that glorious week of Indian Summer to a wind chill value tonight of -11C. Guess it’s time to stop procrastinating and actually get my winter coat to the cleaners.

1,800 Half-Inch Hexagons

Posted on by

14

Have you ever wondered what 1,800 half-inch hexagons would look like in a stack? Well, this is it! 1,800 half-inch hexagons in 9-hexagon sheets. We’re having another Inklingo swap, this time of sets of 9 hexagons in each of 10 different fabrics. There are 18 participants so that means a lot of printing — and cutting!


I doubted I’d get mine done as my hands have been so bad the last little while but I put on the braces and got it done. As I’m hostessing the swap, I see the swap packets as they arrive and I think there are going to be some fabulous quilt possibilities from this swap.

I got mail on Friday! Another package of pinks from Amy at The Calico Cat. Fabulous, gorgeous, glorious pinks!! I’m planning a double wedding ring quilt in pinks, greens and creams as well as working on the pink and white Snow Crystals — so all these pinks are so appreciated!


The boys lined up at the window. Lester can look so elegant — sometimes. Unfortunately, this was one of the times we took a shot just after he had been licking/chewing on his ruff and it looks rather messy. We comb and comb him, but two minutes later he’s got it looking like this again. I figure he just likes an unkempt look.


It was a chilly weekend and we even saw snowflakes! Big fat fluffy snowflakes drifted by the window for a bit Sunday afternoon. Thankfully, they didn’t stay and nothing accumulated. The Toronto Santa Claus Parade was on Sunday so it was, I suppose, rather fitting that there should be a few snowflakes.

The Finally Finished Label

Posted on by

16

The label is finally done and is ready to applique on to the back of the quilt when it arrives. Writing the names on was almost comical – I kept making errors and had to start fresh each time. It was fun to put this together and I’m thinking that a few done with Oriental fabrics and a really rich centre might be quite striking for place mats — but for show only!

This is the roof garden now — very few leaves left and the one bush has partially changed colour.


Smudge watching — squirrels, birds, who knows?

Lester doing the same.