Sunday, October 27, 2013

#31 Winter Has Arrived

So this week in Ontario, Canada winter  arrived......It was cold all week and wet, but this is what I woke up to Saturday! Our first snow storm!! (don't worry, I was the passenger for the road picture!!)


And along with the cold weather comes colds and flues, which I have been battling this week.....oh well. But better this past  week than this coming week!  because my daughter gets married this week!!! And this week is going to get crazy!!



What I've Been Up To:

I received a very lovely bundle of Art Gallery Fabric from a dear friend Frances Newcombe, newest Art Gallery designer!! Her first fabric line, Safari Moon, comes out in December.  She wanted me to try some of Art Gallery's fabric out and see what I thought!! It's lovely fabric, really nice to work with. It must have a high thread count too because there was minimal fraying, which is fantastic.             

Lunch Tote:

 So I promptly made a lunch bag tote,  with a tutorial I found online at Pink Penguin (There are a few things I would change about the pattern the next time I make this tote, but over all the tutorial is great). Just read through the whole tutorial before you start, because some information you find out later in the instructions would be useful to know before you cut your fabric.





Baskets:

I found a pattern for crocheted baskets over at Crochet in Color.   I found it a great project to keep me occupied while I was feeling a little under the weather, and I needed a baby shower gift (the peach ones) and thought this would be perfect! So of course I made one and than another one the larger size, which turned into 3 sets of baskets!!! 











Christmas Gifts:

I finally started quilting  my nephew's quilt! I wanted to echo the wave pattern but quickly learned it wasn't that easy. I needed to use a ruler to stitch the angle, so I ordered 2 rulers. The rulers came and I realized I needed an extention table for the throat of my long arm, so the ruler would sit properly!!! I am learning a lot.....so now that will be ordered....but I needed to get this done...and I wanted simple lines, so what is simpler that straight!!! lol My machine locks in veritical and horizontal so this is going to be easy and I think it is going to be perfect!!                                                               
13 a bakers dozen placemats for my Mom! I need to bind them still, but the quilt as you go part is done!! If you look close you will see that they are all made with the same fabrics but not one of them sewn the same!! Making 13 of them I didn't want to have to think about it too much, just sew, and I think they are so fun and bright! Christmas Cheer!! All the backs are the same though with a fall theme, making the placemats 2/4/1!!




Tester Block/BOM:

I also tested a new block for Kristy at Quiet Play . I can't share the block with you, but below are the fabrics I chose for the block, and I can share....

Kristy is going to be doing a Retro Kitchen BOM starting January 1st 2014. I can't wait, you should check it out!!


City Sampler:


31 comments:

  1. Ooh looks like Winter is well on its way at your place!

    Love the tote bag you made!

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    1. The ground isn't frozen enough for the snow to stay yet, so it is mostly gone! But it is starting early so we could have quite a winter!
      I was very happy with how the tote turned out too!! Can't wait to make another one!!

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  2. Oh no, not snow!!!! =) I have friends in Ontario...I wonder if they had snow too. =)

    You've been busy, wow. Thanks for sharing all your creativity with us.

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    1. Thanks Sewing Mom!! Snow is mostly gone now, the ground isn't cold enough yet for it to stick around, but it could be a long winter!!
      I have been having a lot of fun with the tutorials I found online! I'm glad you enjoyed your visit!! Stop by again!!
      Love your intro about yourself!! Believer too!! Have a great week!!

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  3. Wow! You got way more snow than we did! I'm in Guelph and it didn't even stay on the ground at all!
    Love your lunch bag tote!, it's been on my to make list for a while, so thanks for the heads up about reading through the whole tutorial first. And i so wish i could crochet, your baskets are fantastic!

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    1. too funny we are neighbours!! I'm in Fergus!! Not that much further north but it seems to make a difference!!
      Crocheting really isn't that difficult, because you are only working withe one stitch at a time!! I'm making another set in variegated green!!
      The drawstring casing I would make bigger and if you want the cover part of the bag to not have raw seams you need to cut the cover pieces bigger than she states at the beginning.

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  4. I found your blog through the Stitch by Stitch link up party. Love all of your projects and am now a follower via email.

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    1. Ooh don't you just love the quilt Marelize is working on right now!!!!

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  5. Love the bag and the christmas quilt with the trees. It looks to me as though you have been very busy.

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    1. Thanks Penni!! Very busy, but so much fun!! Hope you stop by again!!

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  6. Ooh, yay for Art Gallery Fabrics!! They're my favourite to feel, lol.

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    1. Hi Alyce!! They do feel good don't they!! And I made a purchase today...green and purple bright florals, I think was the line!! So pretty!!

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  7. Those city sampler blocks are gorgeous, I am not up to 67, 68, 69 yet but when I get there I hope mine turn out that well!

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    1. You are so sweet, Marianne. thank you!!! I'm sure yours are going to be awesome!! Fun I was glad to be done with the half square triangles, but I wasn't much enjoying all the 1" pieces this week either!! lol

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  8. Too early for all that snow!!! I really need to make myself a lunch tote, but just never seen to get it done.
    Hope everything goes well with the wedding!

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    1. hey Paula!! Snows all gone and couldn't agree with you more, too early!!
      I know not enough hours in the day!! But it is cute, just read all the instructions first.
      My daughter us fighting a cold and I am battling the flu, this could be interesting!! eek

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  9. Love the placemats and baskets! Would love to know the pattern for placemats!

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    1. Hi Julie, thanks for stopping by and sharing!! The place mats are a version of a tutorial I watched over at the Missouri Star Quilt Company on a quilt as you go table runner. I just cut mine place size. Trick is to cut bigger than the finished size so you can trim and make sure you start straight of things can get wonky. Good luck!

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  10. Loved your lunch bag, but then my jaw dropped when I saw your crocheted baskets! So beautiful!

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    1. Thanks Jennie! I love the baskets too! The pattern is fantastic and the tutorial is well written! You should try one if you crochet!

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  11. All your baskets are wonderful! I love crochet and am always enamored with useful items... I may have to create my own baskets! I am about to head up to my own upstairs sewing room to make some Christmas gifts and your lunch bag may just be an inspiration! This is my first visit to your blog, love it!

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    1. Thanks so much Susan!! I hope you do try either of these projects, they both did turn out, well!! If you try the lunch bag make sure you read the instructions fully as you get information for the closure late in the instructions that could affect the size you cut your fabric.Good luck with your Christmas projects!

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  12. We have got unseasonably warm and dry weather this side of Canada! No snow in sight!! I love Kristy's patterns, can't wait to see what pattern you have tested for her! A castle?? You have certainly been very busy! I love the colours of your City Sampler blocks, so bright and warm! I have the book, just another thing on my to do list!

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    1. Our snow came and went! Yesterday was warm and sunny, today foggy and rainy!! We are getting it all!! lol
      Not a castle, though I think I may at some point try all the fairy tale patterns, so cute!! I tested a retro kitchen pattern!! Can't wait for the BOM to start in Jan.
      The City Sampler QAL has been great, 3 a week!! It is going to be a very bright and warm quilt or a few very cute baby girl quilts, not sure yet?

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  13. That snow is amazing. Love your projects....you have been very busy. Stopping by from T/Threads. Marie

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    1. hi Marie!! Thanks for stopping by!! I'm glad you enjoyed looking around. The snow is gone, it didn't last long, now we are wet, cold and very windy!!! we are getting it all!! Can't help but stay busy, there is always another fantastic project to try or new fabric to buy!!! : )

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  14. oh, I hope we get lots of snow this winter, but in Tennessee, that's definitely not a given. Snow days are the best for sewing, and it looks like you made great use of your time! love that lunch bag!

    Thanks so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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    1. Thanks, Kelly! I was so lucky to get the fabric and the lunch bag turned out so well!!
      I hope get your snow! And your great sewing days, together or separately!! lol

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  15. Brrrrrrr! That's a lot of snow for October!!

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    1. Tell me about it!!! It's gone, but the cold remains!!

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  16. Wonderful fabric design. I found another fabric store which is Broadway Fabrics.

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