This is another fabulous blog hop thanks to Madame Samm. Jane of Jane’s Fabrics and Quilts has been a great cheerleader and organizer for this fun blog hop, so a huge thank you to her as well. There have already been … Continue reading
This idea has been in the works for a week or so. Mr. Q.O. draws some fabulously fun creatures, so I asked if some could be drawn for the little hexagon quilt. So far he has drawn four or five and I’ve then traced them on to 2″ hexagons, which I had already printed and cut out. Three got stitched last night – a turtle, fish and frog. There are other fish and various other creatures who will show up periodically as I turn them into little 2″ embroidered hexagons.
The final layout of this is still far from decided, but I’m thinking it will be a small cot quilt when it’s done. It’s fun to do a few stitchery blocks from time to time.
We ran into a former neighbour who had some really exciting news. She has been accepted into the Nurse Practitioner Ph.D. program at Yale. Mr. Q.O. knew, before I said it, that I was going to decide she needs a lap quilt to take along with her to remind her of her time in Toronto. I think a fair amount of time is going to be spent on the weekend looking at possible design ideas.
Mr. Q.O. captioned this shot, “The Critic.” The minute we start setting up to take photos, Baxter’s right there.
Two more Pickled Ladies blocks are done. I have about 10 arcs ready now to add to clamshells, so should have a fair number of the blocks finished by week’s end. One of the things I want to do over the next week or so is figure out just how big I really do want to make this and then sort out the exact number of blocks I’ll need. Perhaps it will end up as a lap quilt, but I’m having so much fun making them that I don’t think I’ll want to stop there but may just end up turning this into a bed-sized quilt.
Over the past few days some stitches were taken on the Cabin Quilt as well and two more of the stitchery blocks are done.
Tuesday was a grey rainy fall day. The kitties took full advantage of the snoozing opportunities. Smudge got himself really tucked into the kitty bed into an almost headless cat pose.
While Lester curled up with a teddy bear for a nap.
This is the first of 12 stitchery blocks for a lap quilt that is from the other kit that I had mentioned last week. Once the stitchery blocks are done, then it’s a matter of some quick machine stitching. I said quick machine stitching?? It involves cutting some flannel squares into triangles to surround the stitchery and pieced blocks and I’m a bit concerned about the flannel stretching. Mr. Q.O. really likes this quilt, though, so I’m going to give it a try.
I managed to do the first stitchery block last night. When we were at Sew Sisters on the weekend, I asked what they used behind fabric when doing stitcheries and they suggested either a fusible batt or fusible fleece. I got a small fusible batting and I’m sold! It makes it quite easy to travel thread for a bit when stitching without it shadowing through on the front. As the back shows, I took advantage of that capability a few times.
I have always loved doing a little hand embroidery but the hoop has been my biggest issue for the past few years as tightening and loosening it was almost impossible. So I found this hoop and tried using it. What an amazing difference! It’s easy and quick to use, holds the fabric perfectly for stitching and there’s no hardware on which to catch the thread.
This is what the quilt will look like when finished, although I’m not sure I’m going to do the tree appliques on the border. I’ll decide that when I get that far. The pattern calls for tea-dying the stitchery blocks when finished. As I like the look of the stitchery blocks in the photo of the quilt, I think I may try that as well.
Monday, like Friday, was a migraine day. While not quite as bad as Friday when I could barely move, yesterday was bad enough. Today is the bruised head feeling that always seems to follow. So once again I’m behind in replying to comments but hope to get caught up through the week.
Smudge curled up sound asleep.
I have to use an antique DOS program for work so, rather than cluttering up my Mac with any Windows software, I have an older laptop just for that purpose. Lester is constantly trying to “help” and I’m usually on guard for a paw on the laptop keys. I think he watches the cursor moving on the screen.
Not a lot of progress on Butterfly Stars this week, it seems. I’m now almost out of embroidered butterfly hexagons and need to make more stars so will spend a bit of time this weekend on that. This is where it stands right now.
As you can see, Smudge was determined to get in on this picture!
Wednesday night it was bitterly cold here with a wind chill close to -30C. Even though we had the heat turned right up, it was quite chilly in the apartment. I woke up in the middle of the night and piled quilts on top of the duvet again. That makes it very cozy and warm.
This weekend I hope to make the stars for Butterfly Stars and get at least another 12 or 16 butterfly hexagons ready. Whirling Arches blocks are calling to me too — I’d love to get another one of those blocks made and, of course, work on Red Delicious apple cores.
And yet another picture of Lester in his kitty bed.
This is the baby quilt at the beginning of the week. My goal is to have all of row 3 of the butterfly stitchery hexagons and the stars surrounding the bottom of them added by the end of this week. Then I’m right on track for having the piecing completed by mid-February.
It was bitterly cold here on Monday. It appears, from the forecast, that we’ve got 3 or 4 more days of this cold snap and then it starts to warm up. I’m hoping that this is it and that the rest of the winter will be a bit more temperate. I always think once we get through January that we’re through the worst of it. February is a short month and then we’re into March, which means warmer weather can’t be too far off. I hope.
Lester is happy in his favourite spot on the windowsill. 
As is Smudge, curled up. Smudge got a very shaggy winter coat this year. Much more so than previous years, I think. I hope that’s not a sign that I’m way off in my hopes that this is the last cold snap of the winter.
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.
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.
Quilt Obsession 