At LONG Last: An Update!!

Once again, life just gets busy with caring for 2 boys.  Preschool is now finished and so are soccer lessons... and just in time for water parks, swimming, play dates and camping (which means ?less? time to update).  Sigh  Oh well.

Despite the lack of blog updates, I have been sewing.

Sometimes I have 5 minutes and do what little I can.

Sometimes I have a few hours to really catch up on things.

Usually my catch up time is in the evenings or on a Sunday afternoon...

but sometimes I actually manage an hour in the afternoon when...

wait for it... BOTH boys are napping or are quiet!  That is a treat!

Whether it is 5 minutes or a few hours, each opportunity to sew is soooo relaxing! 

Definitely Mommy Therapy!

So... here goes the list of items I have been sewing:

A baby blanket I made for Samuel last fall/winter... but I am not sure if I posted a pic of the quilt itself.  Backing is a brown chenille.  (My older son loves to snuggle under it, too.)

I got this mystery quilt pattern a year or two ago from Sheila @ Blue Patch Quilter, and I FINALLY finished it.  I love it!

61" x 63"

We visited my family in BC in April, and I lugged 2 quilts along.

This small quilt was for my parents.

They had asked me for a quilted tablecloth for their 5th-wheel so they have something nice to look at and touch while playing cards!  LOL.  

They even gave me specific dimensions!  

My niece "A" had requested a quilt.  These are the "Freebie 15" quilt blocks from the 2012-2013 year and the theme was "Vintage Plates."  My niece loved her quilt.

Gifts for the preschool teachers:

Flower pot with glove flowers.

Inside each flower pot: flower seeds, DIY sugar hand scrub, hand cream and a thank you card.

(Thanks to Pinterest for the idea!)

I decided to sew a bag for my stroller baby change pad... and then I decided to sew a baby change pad as well.  The whale fabric is cotton, the blue fabric is a waterproof PUL.  The bag interior is also made of PUL.  It was my first time sewing with PUL fabrics... and yes, I did use polyester thread. 

The change pad has a poly fill batting inside and I machine sewed the binding on the change pad.

Since I was working with PUL fabrics, I decided to also sew some bags.

I tried a few different styles.  

I made some PUL swim bags.  

The bag on the top right holds my son's towel and swimming trunks no problem.

My friend J has 3 little girls.  The baby was the recipient of one of my favourite baby quilts, and I whipped up 2 pillowcase aprons for her 2 eldest girls.  I didn't use a pattern, just winged it (which is pretty good for me!!) and I love the final look... but the aprons look so nice on these 2 gorgeous, precious little girls!!

Too bad you live so far away, J!!  Miss you!!

I had another baby quilt that I made lying around the house and I donated it to some friends who had a fund-raiser benefit to raise money for a private USA adoption.  They have 2 biological children, one adopted from Florida, and they are now in the final stages of adopting another child from California.

I paid for the annual block of the month from Prairie Chicks (Saskatchewan) and I am enjoying it so far.  Each month I make two 8.5" blocks.  So perdy.  

February blocks

March blocks

April blocks

May blocks

I am not sure I took pix of all the "Freebie" blocks from Traditional Pastimes, but here are a few of the latest blocks:

The cream fabric is "Osnaburg" - I TOTALLY detest the fabric!!  This block is so NOT match up, and I didn't like the cutting/sewing instructions.  I might rip this block apart yet.  

This quilt block looks quite orange, but it is actually quite reddish.

I didn't feel like being piddly with this block so I improvised.  

All the blocks so far for the Freebie 15 blocks:

I participated in the annual Spring Mystery Quilt by Heather Spence.  

I think this is the 5th or 6th or 7th quilt I have done one of her quilts, and they are fun!

Here are the fabrics I selected... earthy tones which remind me of a beach then looking toward a tree.

This quilt is called "Elevation" and I finished it just this past weekend.  

While digging around in fabric, I found this John Deere fabric and made 2 bibs, one for my little one and the other for his little cousin cuz my baby sister loves John Deere items!  (Yup, they live on a chicken farm in BC.)

Another quilt: "Diamond in the Rough", a Freckled Whimsy quilt along.

This was a fun quilt.

Measures 42" x 42"
Backing is a fun, modern blue striped fabric.

And finally...

I got so tired of my ironing board cover.

I bought this ironing board at Walmart because it was a lovely 18" wide board, and I like the wheels on the bottom, but the ironing board cover was made of thin, crappy fabric.

I have been procrastinating doing anything about the worn cover and the holes on it, but I found my energy and made myself a lovely new ironing board cover.  

Ta-da!!!

I put a piece of batting over the original yucky blue cover then this bright, fun floral cover.  

Best part?  

It was easy-peasy.

Getting Some Work Done!!

I have plowed ahead and got lots of sewing done in the last few weeks!  Woohoo!

First of all, I finished this purple/pink/grey star & thus was able to finish the purple/pink/grey (design by Blue Patchwork Quilts) Quilt top!

(I want to use the leftover pinks and purples in a scrappy quilt... using my scrap fabrics.)

Not a vibrant-coloured photo but at least you can see the quilt top done.
Approx 61" square

I also finished the top for Heather Spence's Spring 2013 Mystery Quilt, and this quilt is called "Connect the dots"

Fabric is "Pieces of Hope" by Riley Blake - "inspired" by autism.

 

The finished quilt top: 74" x 57.5"

Binding done on a scrappy quilt.  I used scraps for this quilt, just a crib size, but I like the designs.

33" x 41"

Quilts in progress:

• 2 more quilts to bind
• 3 quilt tops to quilt (need backing for 2 out of the 3, and batting for all 3)

My very BIG EXCITING NEWS is that I have COMPLETED my "SAND AND SEA GLASS" QUILT.  Yup, I just finished the binding last night... but it is raining and it is a huge quilt so I have to wait for a nice day before being able to take a photo of it... I just LOVE this quilt!!!!!!!  

You'll just have to wait for good weather before I can post a pic!!

What's Been Going On...

Life has been so incredibly busy, but we forced ourselves to slow down, bail out on certain events, and I took a few vacation days from my (paid) job ... so that has meant some time to catch up on some sewing.  Ahhh... quilting therapy!!!

In my last post I had added a photo with a "sneak peek" of what I was working on...

Voila!!

The Floating Stars with a Twist quilt top all done!

I have done a few Mystery Quilts with Heather Spence, and she hasn't disappointed yet!  All her quilt designs have been amazing!  Pattern proceeds go toward cancer patients.

For the Spring 2013 Mystery Quilt, I have selected 3 fabrics from Riley Blake's "Pieces of Hope" line.  

Here's some info from the Riley Blake website:

More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes or pediatric AIDS combined. Autism affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys–a 600 percent increase in prevalence over the past two decades.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors.
Riley Blake Designs is excited to team up with Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism.
Autism Speaks also stresses the importance of recognizing the early signs of autism and seeking early intervention services.  The most important thing you can do as a parent or caregiver is to learn the early signs of autism.  Early intervention can make a lifetime of difference.
Pieces of Hope was inspired by a child with autism, whose family are employees of Riley Blake Designs.  Autism Speaks and Riley Blake Designs thank you for your support, which provides hope for all those affected by autism.
To help increase autism awareness and fund more research to help find a cure, Riley Blake Designs will donate a significant portion to Autism Speaks from the sales of this exciting new fabric collection, Pieces of Hope.

I think this will be a fun quilt indeed!

 A long time ago, I downloaded a Mystery Stars quilt top design from Blue Patch Quilts 'n Things in the U.K.
I am finally getting a move on this quilt...

Friendship Star - 9"

Friendship Plaits
3.5" x 15.5"

Ohio Star - 9"

Friendship Star - 9"

Ohio Star - 9"

Block 9 - 12"

Tippecanoe Blocks - 6.5" each

Block No. 8 - 18.5"

Clay's Choice - 12"

Starry Path - 12.5"

Garden Patch - 21"
My favourite block of the bunch thus far

Local quilt shop Traditional Pastimes Freebie 15 has provided new learning perspectives this time round... lots of Y-seams... and I initially did not enjoy them, but I'm getting better at it... certainly not perfect, but that is what an iron is for... and hopefully my mishaps will never be noticed once the quilt is completed!  :)

This year's Freebie blocks are VINTAGE PLATES.

March 2013 Vintage Plate: "Old Sandwich"

Old sandwich is a pattern that was made by Heisey from 1931-1956.  Primarily this pattern was made in pinks, yellows, greens and crystal.  Heisey formulated plans for his own glass company in the 1890s.  He chose Newark, Ohio for many reasons - natural gas was abundant and the cost of labour was low.  Construction on the factory began in 1895 and was completed in April 1896.  The factory had three furnaces and employed about 700 people.  In 1900 a trademark was designed by Heisey's son and became the famous H within a diamond which was registered in 1901.  The Heisey company advertised its glassware in magazines and their product was sold worldwide.  E. Wilson Heisey popularized coloured glass in 1922 but by the time he died in 1942 coloured glass had all but disappeared from the market.

March 2013 Freebie Vintage Plate Block - 16.5"

The first 6 Vintage Plates blocks

Vintage Plate - April 2013 - "Canary Glass"

Yellow depression glass or canary as it was also referred to is a less common colour.  The Sharon or cabbage rose pattern was found in yellow.  This particular pattern has well defined sprays of cabbage roses, stems and leaves of Sharon, cabbage rose, Mayfair and rosemary all used rose motifs...looking at these together one can see that the rosemary pattern is a hybrid of the other two motifs rather than a unique pattern.  Mayfair had scalloped edges and to see who would win the war of the roses, the Sharon pattern became the most popular and continued in production until 1939; golden glow was the most plentiful colour followed by rose glow and springtime green.  During the depression the Quaker Oats Company along with other food companies put pieces of glassware in their boxes of product as an incentive to purchase.  Movie theaters and other business would hand out glassware just for coming in the door.

April 2013 Freebie Vintage Plate Block - 16.5"

Way back (last autumn) I started the companion blocks for the Freebie 15 blocks.  The companions were 2 of the same block but 8.5" square instead of the 16.5" Freebie block.  Somehow the final plan will be to have a massive quilt... but I quit the companion blocks once I tried piecing the following block... it had all sorts of crazy Y-seams.  Now that I have had some experience with the bigger blocks and Y-seams, I decided to tackle this block.  It is totally NOT straight nor perfect, but it doesn't matter.  I think I'll simply make a little table runner with this block.  

Vintage Plate Companion #2 - Hobnail

 Fenton Hobnail glass dating from the 1930s is decorated with a pattern of bumps.  The term being hobnail comes from the nails with thick heads that were used to secure and protect boot soles.  Early hobnail had a certain look with a wooden lid or stopper.  At this time, the manufacturers mark was found under the lid.

Vintage Plate Companion #2 - 8"

Works now in progress:

• Spring 2013 Mystery Quilt
• Finish Blue Patch Star Quilt Top
• Start/Catch up on Plenty of Fish Quilt Along (I wanted to finish the Blue Patch Star Quilt first so I can use leftover pinks and purples in the POF quilt along)
• finish binding on 2 quilts
• find backing for Floating Stars Quilt