Year in Review Part 3

Another mini quilt from the Kim Diehl Simple Whatnots Club One. The simple four patches are appealing to me.

A little hand stitching from a book by Gail Pan called Patchwork Loves Embroidery. I really enjoy the hand embroidery. Haven't decided yet what project these blocks will become. I was thinking of somehow incorporating them in a hexagon quilt.

Another picture from the summer, Boo Boo sitting on the front stairs. He sits out front and greets anyone walking by on the sidewalk.

Stitched and framed for fall. A little freebie project I finished. I couldn't find the original site for this pattern but you will find a link on this Pinterest page to a blog with the imagine that can be printed.

Layer cake quilt using Bonnie and Cammille fabrics called Hello Darling. Fresh and pretty colours in this quilt. Soon to be machine quilted, so I'll post more on this quilt.

The Bunnyhill Christmas Wheels quilt finished and on the wall for 2015. I bought the kit for this quilt which included a jelly roll and charm pack of Bunnyhill Designs fabric. It was very disappointing to discover the red fabric bled badly in this line. I did use colour catchers (3 sheets I believe) which wasn't enough. After my disaster by friend used the whole box of colour catchers with good success. I was able to get most of the pink colour out of the white using Oxiclean but unfortunately I think the red faded a bit.

A mini using Snowmen and snow flake buttons. A kit I bought at Folktales Quilt Shop open house in Dec. If you are in the area this shop is full of many surprises.

Lula is looking annoyed at getting her picture taken. So that's it for 2015 in review. Many more pictures can be seen on Threadtales Instagram site. Or the blue button at the top left corner of this blog.

Happy New Year and I'll see you in 2016.

Secret Projects

This isn't a secret project but one that I started a few years ago. I've brought out the Wish quilt AGAIN!. Maybe I can finally get it finished. This stitched block isn't officially part of the Wish quilt but it will be part of my version. The Wish Quilt is a free pattern from Red Brolly.

I made this into a 6" star block, I changed the stitchery in this block.

This little wallhanging is the first of two secret projects. I've given this to my Secret Sister, I should make a second one for me. Soon I can reveal the other project.

Happy Quilting!

Stitching

Not much to share this week. I finished this blue bird stitchery potholder. I wanted it to look almost vintage and I think it does kinda look from the 50's. I made it like a oven mitt where your hand can go inside.  Probably won't use it right away, just use it for decoration for a little while. The embroidery was a free pattern I found on Pinterest and I made up the ovenmitt pattern.

Pulled these out and working on what I should do with them. I little quilt most likely. They are all trimmed and ready to go. 

Happy Quilting!

Little Bits

It's been a quiet start to 2014. I'm working on machine quilting my 4patch quilt. I'm happy with how it's looking so far.

Quilt Mania has come out with Simply Vintage in English starting with Issue No. 8 which I found at Chapters book store on Christmas eve. No I don't shop on Christmas Eve but my daughter was working that day and we stopped in to see her.  While waiting I was browsing the magazine section and found the Autumn Issue. Last week she found the Winter Issue for me. This magazine is FULL of projects, you won't be disappointed.

Doing a little redwork. These are Sunbonnet Sue's for each month. I'm working on June now, they go pretty fast.

Happy Quilting!

Last Minute Gifts

I finished up these redwork ornaments for my girls, I left the edges raw and did a running stitch. I hope to make this a tradition of making something different for them each year. It's never too late to start a new tradition. Owls are very popular this year, I think they might like them.

Some progress on the Le Jardin block, Christmas has made it slow going right now. I think there are 3 more blocks to go.

Boo Boo is saying Merry Christmas!

Simple Quilt

I've been doing a little bit of this and that. I love my little Lori Smith applique block. There will be one of these each month from Lori's Quilt Squares.....at least that's the plan today.....we'll see how it goes. This one is the 12" block pattern #10.

 

This very simple lap size quilt I've been sewing a bit at a time over the last few months. I like this one because of the soft colours of pinks, blues, reds and grey. The blocks look simple but I think there was 5 different blocks to make with changes in placement of fabrics. It should have been easy.....right.....well that's what it would appear until I made a few cutting mistakes....Thankfully I recovered and the top is finished.

A friend has named this one the "Romantic" quilt, I might call it "Simply Romantic".

And then there is a little redwork mixed in, I'm hooked on these Sunbonnet Sue blocks.
I also finished quilting and binding this K Fassett quilt, just need to get some pictures. That's it for now.

Happy Quilting.

Redwork Stitching

I finished the stitching for my Birdbrain pattern called Celebrate the Seasons. I wouldn't have done these with the Sulky product that goes through the printer.....I'm loving that stuff.
Next will be to wash off the Sulky, maybe some tea dying and then framing. I have the prefect frame but it needs to be painted, so you know what that means....it could be a while before I get that done. I'm not saying because I'm slow but rather it's raining a lot now and I would wait for a nice day to do the painting.

Keep Well and Happy Stitching.

Tisket A Tasket Redwork

Do you remember the BunnyHill free BOM from 2009? I did mine in redwork instead of the applique. I had most of this put together last spring but it got put aside without finishing it. Well I finally got it all completed a couple weeks ago. Just a little slow in taking a picture and posting.

The blocks and layout are something I figured out on my own, sorry I don't have a pattern to direct you to. I did a simple meander quilting so I don't take away from the stitcheries. This is a prefect quilt for Feb, all about red!

Happy Quilting.

It's DONE!

First off...I want to give a BIG "thank you" for all your suggestions and comments to finish my redwork quilt, it was very much appreciated and helped me more than you'll know. The timing couldn't have been better, Lynn pointed me to this blog who had recently posted about quilting through stitchery and how anitque quilts have been done in the simple cross hatch quilting. A few comments mentioned invisible thread (invisible thread and I don't get along) which gave me the idea of using InvisaFil thread by WonderFil. The InvisaFil is very fine, almost like silk thread which is what I needed to have the thread blend with both the white background and the red. I used a light beige InvisaFil on top and a cotton thread in the bobbin. Sorry about the blurry picture, I must have gotten a little too close for the camera to handle, you get the idea. It's so great to have a whole world of quilting bloggers to ask for help, thanks again to all of you!!

I hope your weekend was spent with needle and thread.

Redwork Baskets

Okay...I need some help...how do I quilt this? I wasn't to keen on machine quilting because if I use red thread it will show on the white and if I use white thread it will stand out to much on the red. So do I hand quilt or not? And if I hand quilt, how should I do the hand quilting. I could do straight lines in red on the 9-patches but then what to do with the basket blocks? How do I quilt the red border? I have so many unanswered questions. Quilting is not my strong area. I've hit a road block and not sure what is the best way to finish this little quilt. Am I over thinking this a little too much? How can I keep it simple and still get it finished. Any suggestions is much appreciated.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Happy Everything

This week I received a surprise package in the mail. My daughter went out the front door and yelled "Mom you have a big box at the door". Woohoo for me? The box was from my dear friend Darlene, she called it a "Happy Everything" package....how fun is that. We've done a few block swaps and have become good friends. What a spoiled girl I am, there was a gorgeous hand made basket (this will become my stitching basket). There is marking pencil, glue pen, thimble charm, stitchery patterns and 2 wool projects for stitching. Oops...I just realized I didn't get a picture of the wooden block, it's say's "I love to Quilt". My daughter immediately found the prefect spot for it and I forgot grab it for the picture. We both had a big laugh with the cupcake pincushion. We had the same idea with the box and surprisingly we both used a different pattern for the cupcakes. Thank you Darlene, I love it all!!

A little better view with the Easter stitcheries and other happy stuff to fondle. The stitcheries are so darn cute with the basket of eggs and bunnies.

One of the wool projects is a pincushion and the other is a sewing case, they both have all the wool needed to make the project. My daughter saw the sewing case and loved it, she asked me to make it for her.....take your hands off....it's mine I told her.

A bit more progress on the redwork baskets, I still need to add the borders. This is a very small quilt. I'm not sure what I will do with it yet.

I went to a guild trunk show last night and Lauren was was the entertainment, she had some funny story's to tell. She brought a big selection of quilts from her 30 years of quilting. She has a couple of fun wonky house quilts. The fabric combination are not what I would think to put together. She has an incredible sense for putting brights and weird fabrics together. Thanks Lauren for a great show.

Redwork Almost Done

Where has the week gone!. I feel like I haven't accomplished any sewing this week....grrrr. I went shopping for this border fabric and pieced the top of this small quilt, at least that's something done. The size is 34"x 44". I'm very happy with the border fabric I found. It was a bit tricky with the directional fabric, I had to buy extra to line up the flowers in the borders. When I get this one layered and quilted....LOL the binding will be done in a small check but not the same check as the inner blocks. See the small red dots in the embroidery; those are clusters of french knots.

I'm starting on a small bag for a shop sample using charm packs, it's taken me longer than usual to be happy with the fabric combinations....I think when using the whole line of fabric it's a bit harder to come up with a pleasing order for the fabric. I've decided to leave out one entire colour as it's just too busy for me. I think I've got it now and can start making the bag.

Happy Quilting.

Lost Redwork

I was looking through some bins of fabric, not sure what I was looking for at the time. I came across this sweet red check fabric and instantly remembered I was saving that "special piece" for a redwork project I started long time ago. I'm embarrassed to say how long it's been since I started this stitchery. I knew just were the redwork blocks were hiding and quickly grabbed them to put with the red check. I had three and a half blocks completed when I stopped stitching and put it away. Oops...looks like I should have ironed the fabric before taking the picture. There are a total of 6 redwork blocks in this small quilt. I think it's time to finish this puppy...don't you think...lol. The pattern is from Blackbird Designs called "Samples from the Past" part 2. That might give you a hint of how old.

I've done a little prep-work on my Birds of a Feather. I might have 2 blocks to show after the weekend. Wish me luck.

Thanks for dropping by and reading my blog. I hope you'll visit again soon.

Relaxing Weekend

Well the hot water tank got fixed on Friday, so off we went for a relaxing weekend at the lake. To get to the lake we have to drive to the ferry. And the ferry is about 1hr and 40mins trip and then just over one hour drive to get to Lake Cowichan. My DH and FIL got some guy time fishing in each morning. I don't know if you can see them off to the left in the picture. We had fish for dinner last night...yummy.





I made some progress on my redwork ladies, these designs are from Red Brolly by Bronwyn Hayes, really cute. I have 2 more to do. I finished a pair of socks over the weekend but my daughter got them before I could take a picture. Trust me they were a really nice lime green and turquoise variegated yarn. When I was knitting on the ferry one guy said to me "I like the colour of your socks, it's the same colour as my tiles". I'm trying to picture in my head where one would use lime green and turquoise for tiles...hmmm

Need to Focus

I've started a sock class last week and for the next class we are to have 2 socks ready for the heel. As you can see I've got mine done...yippee. The third class will be finishing the toe, so by the end of 3 weeks I'll have a pair of socks. I haven't knitted in about 15 years and suddenly had this urge to learn to knit socks, I haven't even done a sweater. The urge came from reading blogs with wonderful pictures. I see all the beautiful stuff you guys are creating and I get inspired to give it a try. That's why I enjoy reading all your blogs.

It's taken me about 1 week to finish (or not) this one basket block, I feel not focused at all. I even met with 2 quilting buddies on Friday to get the block done but it didn't happen. Don't know if you can see there are still some pins where I haven't sewn yet. The redwork block again I started a week ago and I'm so close to finishing. I think the socks have interrupted my rhythm and was too focused on getting my class homework done.