#46 Virtual Quilting Bee Finish

I had such a great time participating in the Virtual Quilting Bee with Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter, every designer's block was amazing. I learned so much and grew so much  during the process. Now the big reveal linky party is happening and even though I wasn't able to get the quilting done I do have a quilt top. I love how this quilt came together! It is one of my favourites that I've made. First time doing all solids and wow what an impact it made!!
So here is a revisit to the blocks and the quilt top! And as soon as I am able to get my long arm problems solved I will post pictures of the completed quilt, because this quilt needs to be done right!!

#30 Christmas is starting early....

It's been wet a lot here, which makes it great for sewing and baking! At least that's what I like to do on rainy days, unless I'm bundled up reading a book, with a hot drink close by. So instead of letting the weather get me down,  I started my Christmas sewing projects.
I know Christmas already!?? We still have 65 days till Christmas, but if you plan on making any gifts, like I am, you have to start early!! So my Christmas sewing has begun!!
 Truthfully I love Christmas! I love the snow, the music, the decorations (which I put up in Nov) and baking!! I love making cookies! How about you? What's your favorite part of Christmas?

What I've Been Up To:

Modern Trees QAL My second QAL over at Christa Quilts!! The above picture was the lay out for the wall hanging. You add white strips along each side to make the rows even. I chose to make a lap size quilt and didn't want that much white, so I chose to sash the blocks! (basically I went for the easier piecing layout!! lol )

 Count Down To Christmas QAL I couldn't help myself, I had to jazz it up with a border and even incorporated the Modern Trees Block along the top!! It was meant to be, they are the same width!! I didn't follow the instructions for assembling the calendar to the letter either, but I am so happy with the results!

Blue Wave
I finally have my nephew's quilt loaded on the frame and knew how I wanted to quilt it, only to realize it wasn't as easy to accomplish as I thought!! eek!! I need a quilting ruler!! So that is now on order.....

 This is the back! I forgot to take a picture of it after I sewed on the gray strips top and bottom. I used Kona iron.

Christmas Placemats

I am piecing them, quilt as you go, with a variety of Christmas fabrics. I randomly cut  different widths of strips from all the fabrics, and am randomly placing them together. So none of them will be exactly the same. I was going for fun, and being as I am making 13 of them I didn't want to have to think about it, just sew! The backing fabric however is all the same and has a fall theme. Making the placemats a 2fer!! 2 placemats in 1!! Gotta love that!!

City Sampler QAL

Virtual Quilting Bee
All blocks done. Next up adding the on point triangles!!! So cool, but it maybe a few weeks...or after Christmas before I get there!

One last item....told you I love to bake cookies! These were too tempting to resist. Second recipe shared over at Jacquelynne Steves blog, Pumpkin Spice Cookie with Maple Cream Cheese!! So easy and so good! Too good I ate 3 on Sunday at lunch before I had to put them away before I ate more.

#28 Fall....ing Behind!!

It's fall here in Canada, my favourite season....all the colours are so amazing!! I love those crisp days when the sun is out and I love to snuggling up with a hot drink and a good book (and now I can add a quilt!!) I love the way the leaves fall in the breeze and the way things smell!!! It just makes me smile!

And there are still flowers!!














Better late than never, though truth be told I hate being late!! I would rather be 15 to 20 minutes early!! There is a lot going on right now...  my daughter is getting married in approximately 4 weeks! We hosted a meet the family and friends event on Saturday, and I finally got around to shopping for an outfit, Monday morning (don't really like to shop) and got really lucky and found a dress I really like in the first shop I went to. Went on line ordered 3 pairs of shoes (not keeping them all, just options!! lol) So got that off my to do list, hip hip hurrah!!

So back to......


 What I've been up to this Week:

 Made 3 Halloween table runners! 2 gifts, one for me!!

               

Followed this tutorial I found online and made a handled basket for treats!!

Finished the last block of the Virtual Quilting Bee at Live a Colorful Life and she liked my block enough to post it on her blog!! How cool is that!!

Sugar Block Club October's Block:  Love how this one turned out.

Modern Blocks Quilt Along October Block

 Started to applique the numbers on my Count Down to Christmas , and it was just one of those days!! Was half way through cutting the wonder under numbers out when I realized I was going to be cutting them out again in the fabric and only needed to rough cut them at this stage! And than proceeded to iron them all on the right side of my fabric instead of the backside!! What was I thinking???
Oh well, all fixed and starting to sew them down.

(late addition!!) I forgot to add my City Sampler Blocks

Last but not least I started a new project (because I don't have enough to keep me busy, lol)  for Quiet Play, another pattern test!! This one is called WinterBound! I am testing a full pattern this time not just the block!!   These blocks go together so fast, (I completed 6 in forty minutes today...that is just sewing time, I precut rectangles of the white and colour) and it is such a great pattern. Just click on the link above to see the quilt on Kristy's Blog!

2 of 6 colours completed!

(Hey, Kelly if you are reading this post...this is a prime example of over buying fabric!! hehe!! bought for  Bloom Bloom Pow QAL and I have so much left over I am making this quilt top and will still have some left!! lol)