Status Update Well I am slow but getting there ... 1. Ian's quilt - DONE in Jan 2. Cynthia's quilt - DONE in March 3. Baby quilt - DONE in July - delivered in August 4. Halloween quilt - DONE in October - just in time for Halloween Still To Do 1. Red and Aqua - "Pinwheels" - I have been in two swaps and received only half of the blocks buts its time to bite the bullet and do something with them. I need to take stock of what I have, make a plan/layout, probably make a few more blocks and piece the top. I have quite a few options for backing so need to narrow that down and piece the backing - then square up, sandwich, quilt, bind, label, wash and dry 2. Dresden Block - from Lily's quiltalong - need to redo some of the quilting, maybe a border change???, bind, label, wash and dry 3. Green and Pink Pinwheels - redo quilting - bind, label, wash and dry 4. Raw edge applique - may need to reglue some pieces - quilt, bind, wash and dry 5. Christmas wall hanging - finish quilting and binding (Better get busy on this one!!) 6. Flower Applique quilt - cut my losses - sash blocks to finish top, decide on backing, sandwich, 7. Matthew and Dawn's quilt - "Falling Hexagons" draft pattern/plan, 8. Aqua Circles - take out basting stitches, re sandwich, quilt, bind, label, wash and dry

1. TEAL BLUE-215x215, 2. Kona Jade Green-215x215, 3. Kona Turquoise-215x215, 4. PEACOCK-215x215, 5. Shop button, 6. BAHAMA BLUE-215x215, 7. AZURE-215x215, 8. Kona Bubble Gum-215x215, 9. Kona Dark Violet-215x215

I Want to Ride My Bicycle Quilt

One of Ian's favourite things to do is ride his bicycle. His favourite bike trips include visits to Prince Edward Island, France and Amsterdam. He is also a city planner and loves the big cities. Over the years I have picked out fabrics that might work for a quilt for him, however recently He asked me to make him a quilt. I was thrilled to do so and knew I wanted to somehow combine his love of cities and biking.

Kate of Bike Swim Quilt had sent me a lovely mug rug that was a graphic representation city map http://www.flickr.com/photos/swimbikequilt/5756737764/in/set-72157628644512865 that started me off on the inspiration trail.

I did a google search and flickr search of bike quilts but surprisingly there were not too many. But this one from Krista stood out for me and the idea of linear layers with different quilting styles took hold. >a http://www.flickr.com/photos/spottedstonestudio/6327464042/in/photostream

Then I added roads and embroidered the words of the Queen song. The back I pieced from left overs and added some batik hugs and kisses. Binding stumped me for awhile but black KONA did the trick. I ALMOST had this ready for Christmas but was slow at the hand sewing of the binding so a few days later I gave it to Ian - He was thrilled which warms my heart. But its not done yet - I want to embroider some little bicycles and put on a label and I was a few inches short on the binding. For christmas I got some lovely binding clips which really helped me out and did not stick into me like pins do - Thanks Matthew and Dawn!

This project is my submission for the VMQG UFO challenge - hopefully I can get these last things finsihed by the time of our meeting.

WIPs and UFOs watch out!

Rhonda is hosting a quilting finish incentive program see: http://gapquilter.blogspot.com/p/2012-finish-long.html]

What a great idea and boy do I need the help. The idea is that you post pics of your works in progress or unfinished objects at the beginning of the quarter and then post pics of your finished projects at the end of the quarter. There are even prizes!

Here are my UFOs and WIPs

1. Ian's quilt - "I Like to Ride my Bicycle" - just needs a label, a bit of binding - 10 " or so, corners mitred, a bike embroidery and quilting of the sunflowers - ohh and a good wash and dry.

2. Cynthia's quilt - "Fassett Flower Garden" - top needs piecing finished and squaring up, back needs a piece, then sandwich and quilting and binding and label and washing and drying

3. Red and Aqua - "Pinwheels" - I have been in two swaps and received only half of the blocks buts its time to bite the bullet and do something with them. I need to take stock of what I have, make a plan/layout, probably make a few more blocks and piece the top. I have quite a few options for backing so need to narrow that down and piece the backing - then square up, sandwich, quilt, bind, label, wash and dry

4. Dresden Block - from Lily's quiltalong - need to redo some of the quilting, maybe a border change???, bind, label, wash and dry

5. Green and Pink Pinwheels - redo quilting - bind, label, wash and dry

6. Raw edge applique - may need to reglue some pieces - quilt, bind, wash and dry

7. Halloween quilt - piece backing, fix border on front, square up, sandwich, quilt, bind, label, wash and dry

8. Christmas wall hanging - finish quilting and binding

9. Baby quilt - finish hand quilting, bind, label, wash and dry

10. Flower Applique quilt - cut my losses - sash blocks to finish top, decide on backing, sandwich,

11. Matthew and Dawn's quilt - "Falling Hexagons" draft pattern/plan,

12. Aqua Circles - take out basting stitches, re sandwich, quilt, bind, label, wash and dry

August Camping Trip

Now that Autumn has arrived in its rainy wetness, cool greyness, early darkness, I remember Summer fondly

A Dog's Life

Hi - I am sitting here typing away catching up on work in my home office - aka the living room floor with a big golden retriever on one side and a little shih tzu mix on my other side - each is blissfully asleep. I know that if I get up each will instantly awake - ready for a walk, a treat or just to accompany me to the kitchen - ready for anything. What great attitudes they have!

The little one is Betty Boop and the big one is Softie. Betty was hit by a van and badly injured - pelvis broken in 3 places. She has had surgery to put her back together again. She is so plucky - its day 8 following the accident and she is determined to get around even though her back legs are still weak and one is bandaged up. Whenever she sees you she wags her tail like crazy. If I had been in a similar situation I would be feeling sorry for myself and taking it easy - her attittude is so much better!

Softie is the ultimate chill out dog - and its contagious in a good way. If you are having a bad day he comes over and sits with you and a simple pat or rub around the ear and he is so happy that the good humour rubs off on you.

Research has shown that having a pet results in positive effects on human health and behaviour. I am appreciating that today - even though Softie seems to shed as much fluff and hair in a day that you could make another shih tzu out of it.

Happy Halloween!

Quilt Design

Some neighbourhood girls coloured our path as part of getting ready for the street party. The design would look lovely made up as a quilt using solids.

Quilting

Well I have not posted much lately but I have been busy with family, work and quilting. I am loving that I am actually finishing some quilty projects. The key for me was to make small projects.

A little challenge was what I needed so I am going to make each quilt in Simple Contemporary Quilts. I have made two quilts so far - in a mini size.

I have made some mug rugs - little quilts to go under a mug or cup but large enough to also hold a sweetie or goodie - Yum. One for Pat featuring Softie, one for me with Cath Kidson fabric to go with my CK mug from the CK shop in Edinburgh. Two for a swap partner and three with a Christmas theme. I received two fabulous mug rugs as part of two swaps - their quality and style is amazing and inspired me to keep going. The next round of mug rug swap is happening and I have a great partner, but shh shh shh its a secret swap.

I joined the pork chop swap - an exchange of squares of fabric and made a quilt top. Then I got inspired and made it into a cover for my sewing room chair. Need to finish that - its looking great.

The Old Red Barn Co Quilt Along is continuing and this round is ticker tape quilts. I have always wanted to try this style of quilt so I am giving it a go but again making a smaller sized quilt. I joined another round of the pork chop swap and will use the squares from that in making a ticker tape quilt.

Really good news is being selected in the lottery to participate in the Doll Quilt Swap 10 edition. We find out who are partners are and make a secret quilt for them.

I was so lucky in the last two rounds to recieve fabulous quilts from my partners. They have pride of place in my studio.

Fun times!!

Merry Christmas!!

Well I have not been blogging much but have been creating which feels great.

Its a small but merry Christmas for us.

Progress

Finally admitted that yellow was not working for me and picked a soft robin's egg blue for repainting my office. I love the difference and have gone to just stand in the space because it feels so right. Also took the opportunity to rearrange the furniture and swapped out a high table with free standing cupboard from IKEA. Actually bookcase, table, chest of drawers and tall cabinet all came from IKEA. The room arrangement works so much better too and luckily everything just fit.

I have some art to put up on the walls and need to finish recovering a chair and then the room is done. Can hardly wait to use it.

Now I want the kitchen repainted a similar watery colour

A Walk In the Woods

Pacific Spirit Park was wonderful to walk through this misty Remembrance Day

Quilting Mini Projects

FlossieBlossom set up the Mug Rug Swap and made 2 little mug rugs for my secret partner. "A" indicated green and grey and dots among her favourites, so I used that as a starting point. I used a piece of vintage Key West screen print fabric of a turtle to applique over scrappy squares of greens and greys. I also made a mini wheel of the same fabrics. For the backing and binding I used some grey fabric that I bought in Amsterdam this summer. I quilted the pieces with wavy lines of light to dark grey thread and a grey spiral on the wheel. These are small pieces about 7 inch diameter for the wheel and about 6" by 8" for the rectangular mug rug. These were a lot of fun to make and were good practice for me to hone up on quilting skills.

I also made a Mug Rug for me with some of the Cath Kidston fabric and mug I bought in Edinburgh. I really like that I made it reversible and used some of the oil cloth for the place to rest the mug on. I love the strawberries too!! This is going to be my go to hot chocolate mug - its nice and big and feels good to hold. Lots of room for marshmallows. I think there are lots more mug rugs to make in my future. Its nice that they are small and can be finished relatively quickly.



















And here is the mug rug my partner Kelly made for me. It is so beautifully made, with wonderful colours, design and fabric. I love it.

Kelly also sent me some fabric scraps and a post card with the gees bend quilt pictured - love them too.















I find Kelly's work very inspiring because it is so well done - check out the detail of her stitching --my work has a long way to go to reach this level.

Den Haugue Rose Garden and Kuiper Windmill

Let's Eat - Holland

Say CHEESE in Alkmaar

Ian's Tour de France

Amsterdam Fauna