The Christmas Bag

My husband and I became grandparents for the first time in 2006. Our granddaughter was born in January 2006  to our daughter and son-in-law, and our first grandson was born in October (nine months less one day later) to our son and daughter-in-law. So, for the babies' first Christmas, I decided to make, and fill, stockings from Grandma (and Grandpa, too). I found a cute, small stocking pattern and went to work. By the time I had finished sewing and shopping I had great little stockings with way too much stuff to ever fit into them. So, the next year I made bigger stockings, and ended up with the same problem. (I really should carry a measuring tape with me.) By the time their third Christmas rolled around I realized I needed a better plan. Enter the 'Christmas Bag'.


I had already discovered that Easter baskets didn't hold a whole lot, either, and had used a pattern from Quilts and more magazine to make colourful lined bags for their Easter goodies. Why not do the same at Christmas. Sometimes the bags are fancy, like these from last Easter, and sometimes they are simple, like this year's Christmas editions.

We have a third grandchild now. Our son and daughter-in-law welcomed a second son in February 2009. We are crazy about all three, and love being able to spoil them with a few extra treats.






And, at last...

The Hello Betty quilt is finished. Just in time, too, as it is to be a gift for my mom (who is a Betty). It is not perfect. It has lots of little tucks and puckers, which I noticed while hand sewing the binding. But, it is done!

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Sandy

My Other Love

I am close to finishing my Christmas sewing projects, although my husband might point out that 'close' only counts in horseshoes (the game, that is). When I am not sewing or baking or wrapping gifts, I am on the computer, catching up on all the wonderful Christmas blogs.

While sewing is my first love (quilting came much later), counted cross stitch has long been a favourite as well. I love the portability of it. I have worked on projects while waiting for my car (oil changes) and waiting for my kids (piano lessons). Most of the pieces I have stitched have been given to family and friends, but I have kept a few Christmas pieces.

Each of these ornaments is part of a set of four. They have hung on our tree for years. (The stocking is embroidered.)








My mom has been the recipient of more than a few counted cross stitch projects. I used waste canvas to embellish this sweatshirt for her birthday this year, and the tulip pillow was a Mother's Day gift.

I wish I had more time to stitch. Perhaps that could be part of a New Year's resolution. For now, I need to get back to my sewing room. I am so close to the finish line.

Sandy

A Work in Progress

For some time now I have wanted to make a boxed square quilt, like the one on the cover of this book. I don't have a huge stash, or lots of scraps, so I decided to wait until the right fabric 'spoke' to me.

I thought I had found the perfect fabric this summer, when I received my Hello Betty layer cakes. Now I am not so sure.

I like the way each block looks, but I am worried about the busy-ness of the overall quilt. So, while all the blocks are made, the arrangement (and re-arrangement) of the blocks has put me at a standstill. I have even asked my husband for his opinion. (I received his usual "It looks good to me" response.)

 

I do have one small finish. Our son-in-law's parents have invited us to their home for a Christmas get-together this Friday. My husband will take a bottle of wine for the host, and I had considered making a wine bottle bag when I remembered my new paper piecing book. I think this is much nicer than a bottle bag. The hostess has lots of pretty votive candle holders, so I have some scented candles for her, too.

I enjoyed reading everyone's Thanksgiving posts. It sounds like you all had lots of good things to eat!


Back to my sewing room to work on my Hello Betty quilt.


Sandy


Hello Betty quilt update:
Thanks for all your thoughtful comments. It seems I had the solution to my problem all along. I purchased some cream/off-white solid fabric last week. After a quick trip through the washer and dryer, it was ready to be cut into sashing strips. The layer cakes contained three solids in addition to all the prints. Now, I wanted to use all of these fabrics, I just didn't know how. With your help, I think I have solved my problem.

Tessa came into my sewing room to tell me that she and Katie are getting hungry.

Thanks everyone!

Let It Snow

This past Monday, November 15, the temperature was a balmy 7 degrees Celsius. Today the high might be minus 12. Winter is here! My dogs love the snow, but even they were cold this morning. Katie, on the left, is part Sheltie and part American Eskimo. Tessa is a purebred Sheltie. 

I have been working on my paper-pieced log cabin quilt. It is slow going. I have decided that I don't like the wide white borders on this quilt. Not very compatible (or practical) with the dogs, three grandkids, or my husband for that matter. (Plus, I'm never sure how to quilt borders.)

I did manage to finish this table mat in time for Hallowe'en. More paper piecing! The stuffed pumpkin is a favourite. It comes out in early September and hangs around until the Christmas decorations appear. (It was a birthday gift six or seven years ago.)


What I would really like to be doing about now is working on some holiday projects. Perhaps I'll play my new Michael Buble CD (Let it Snow) and wait for inspiration to strike.


Sandy


Note: 7 degrees Celsius is approximately 45 degrees Fahrenheit 
    -12 degrees Celsius is approximately 10 degrees Fahrenheit 

It's Hallowe'en

So many of you have posted photos of your Hallowe'en projects. I decided I had to make a few goodie bags for my three grandchildren. The pattern in 'Quilts and more' made the small bag in front. It is cute, but not quite big enough. So, my version is a little larger. (After all, Grandma has a book and quite a few treats for each special child.)

I was still in the Hallowe'en sewing mood when I remembered the jack-o'-lantern pattern in my new paper piecing book. Here is the little table mat made with four of the blocks. Now I need to get back to some serious sewing.

Happy Hallowe'en

Sandy

Blog Hopping and Mug Mats

I enjoy a little blog hopping from time to time -- usually at the end of the day, after I have had a chance to catch up on my favourites. I start by looking at someone's 'Blogs I Follow' list and go from there. I have discovered some wonderful tutorials and interesting information, mostly about quilting and sewing, and have even found a few new favourites.

During a recent late night excursion, I found myself in foreign territory. It seems that a lot of quilters are making and blogging about 'mug mats'. These mats are not your typical fabric coasters, at least not like the holiday ones I made a few years ago. These mats are larger, more rectangular than square, and are, in some instances, more like exquisite mini quilts. Some quilters are even taking part in mug mat swaps, which might explain the fancy quilting and incredible attention to detail that I saw.

I found an orphan block while I was cleaning my sewing room last weekend. It was somewhat frayed and crumpled, and I could tell it had been paper pieced. It was also a bit bulky and a little 'wonky' -- obviously a reject. I was about to throw it away when I thought of the mug mats. I added the dark green border, did a little 'in the ditch' quilting and bound the block. Without further ado, here is my version of a mug mat.


Sandy

Second verse, same as the first!

I love that line from an old Herman's Hermits song, but I might be dating myself with that admission.

My second whirlygig baby quilt is finished. I enjoyed working on this second quilt just as much as the first, but completing it was a bit of a challenge. My mind has started to wander.
                             
I love autumn, with richly coloured leaves, spice scented candles and pumpkins. (Christine has posted wonderful recipes for 'Pumpkin Orange Spice Bread' and 'Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies'.)  Canadian Thanksgiving is right around the corner -- Monday, October 11. We will feast a day earlier as the 10th is also our daughter's birthday. We have so much to be thankful for.

I have made a few trips to my local fabric and craft stores. A 'Stack and Whack' quilt has been on my wish list since "Love" first posted photos of her Stack and Whack blocks last year. The paisley fabric was purchased with that quilt in mind. No plans yet for the 1930's reproduction prints. The counted cross-stitch kit would make a lovely gift once it is stitched and framed, and the book seemed to be calling my name.

More reproduction prints were delivered yesterday. The 'Hello Betty' layer cake would make a super throw, and I can see an apron or two in the yard goods (inspiration from Kathleen).


Back to the whirlygig quilt. It was made for a baby whose parents wanted a birth day surprise. I was convinced that this baby would be a boy, so I decided to play it safe and swapped the three pink fabrics in the first quilt for three less girly prints. I need not have bothered. Baby number two is a beautiful little girl. I'll have a chance to meet her soon.

Once more, with the addition of a book and this time a bib (pattern from Quilts and more, and inspiration from Kathleen), my gift is ready.


Now I can really enjoy autumn.


Sandy

Summer Fun With Some Whirlygigs

When I saw a whirlygig block for the first time earlier this year (thank you, Katie) I knew it would make a fun baby quilt. I followed the tutorial from Cathy of 'Quilting on Turtle Hill', substituting lots of colourful half-metre pieces of fabric for the charm packs in her materials list.

This quilt was made for a baby girl due in mid-August. The fabric for a second whirlygig quilt, for a 'surprise' baby due in September, is cut and waiting to be sewn.

I had originally planned on adding borders, but the quilt is 48 inches square, certainly big enough as is.

I like to tell new moms that this is the blanket they put down when baby is ready for some tummy time or play time.

With the addition of a couple of books, my gift is ready.

Sandy

My dilemma -- or, too much of a good thing

The Start -

    This quilt top was started in late January. It was made from a kit purchased from Fons & Porter. The pattern appeared in the May/June 2009 issue of 'Love of Quilting'. I was attracted to the pattern because the Log Cabin blocks (all 100 of them in the original quilt) are paper foundation pieced -- a technique I really enjoy, and I like the variety of fabrics that are included in a kit.

The Preparation -
    The pattern called for the centre squares for each block to be cut to the exact size needed, and all the 'log' strips to the exact width needed. Mine were cut slightly oversized to allow for the shifting that inevitably occurs when I sew fabric to paper (a decision I might later regret). Now, 100 Log Cabin blocks seemed like a lot of blocks, but I was cautiously optimistic that I could make 4 or 5 in a day (hah!). I was sure that all 100 blocks could be completed within a month. Did I mention that I really enjoy paper piecing?

The Block Assembly -
    I tried putting all the fabric strips in a large bag and then randomly selecting strips for each block, and I tried (and settled on) grouping small piles of each fabric around my sewing machine and selecting strips in a more controlled way. Regardless of which method I chose, I was taking an hour or more to complete each block, and I found that after two blocks I was exhausted. The blocks all looked great, but I was taking much longer than I had anticipated, and by now it was mid February and watching the Winter Olympics was seriously eating into my sewing time. Still, the blocks were adding up.
    Finally, I had 40 blocks stacked on my ironing board -- almost halfway there! My exhilaration at achieving this 'milestone' was cut short when I realized that although I had sufficient centre squares for the remaining 60 blocks, I certainly did not have enough fabric strips, and even worse, some of my favourites were in very short supply. (What can I say, I was drawn to some fabrics more than others.)

The Dilemma
    I had a big decision to make. I could maybe buy more fabric, but it wouldn't be the same and I would always be aware of that, or I could make a smaller version of the original square quilt. So, 10 rows with 10 blocks per row became 8 rows with 8 blocks per row -- only 64 blocks. I was 2/3 of the way there, only 24 blocks to go. I am still amazed at how quickly I was able to complete those remaining 24 blocks.


The Finish -

    The 64 Log Cabin blocks were sewn into rows with sashing strips and cornerstones, and eventually wide borders were added. My top is 57 inches square (the original was 74 inches square) and was finished in early March.
    I know it is too early to celebrate -- I still have my 'quilting the quilt' struggle to contend with, but the finish line is almost in sight. I really do enjoy paper piecing, just not 100 blocks worth.

Sandy

Make Mine a Mini

-My Problem-

I have always enjoyed most aspects of quiltmaking, from selecting a pattern and fabric to the cutting and piecing and eventual assembling of the quilt top. I don't even mind layering and basting as that puts me one step closer to a finished quilt. What I struggle with is the actual quilting of the quilt. I am not a hand quilter -- that leaves the rolling up and scrunching, the pushing and pulling and fighting that seem to go hand-in-hand with my machine quilting efforts.

-My Solution-

I love making mini quilts. For me, they provide all of the enjoyable aspects of quiltmaking without the struggle. Minis require very little fabric. They are relatively quick to complete, and they make lovely little gifts. Although most of the quilts I make are given to friends and family, I have managed to keep a few minis.

1. 'Hole in the Barn Door' was made five years ago. Each block is one and 7/8 inch square. It hangs in my sewing room and reminds me that: 

                             a. Bigger is not always better

                             b. Less is more  
  

                                            

2. 'Tulip Mini' (foundation paper pieced) is from the March/April 2006 issue of 'Love of Quilting'.  

3. 'Colorwheel' is an Ann Hermes design from the Spring 2010 issue of 'Easy Quilts'. This wall hanging has a companion table runner.

4. Last but not least is another Ann Hermes design. This little sawtooth star quilt will also hang in my sewing room.

I know that minis will never replace a full sized quilt or throw. For me they are simply a reminder that good things do come in small packages.


Sandy

'Katie's Challenge' brought me back

Some of you may have seen my blog when it first debuted in mid January. It was to have been the story of my creative journey -- my life in fabric. Sadly, I felt that it was not at all creative. I had nothing new or unique to add to the blogging community. End of blog.

That was then, this is now. I still have nothing unique to offer, but I do love sewing and quilting. I draw inspiration from all of your wonderful stories, and one blog in particular has really inspired me. Katie's scrap quilt challenge seemed to be something I could do.

My scrappy string quilt was started on March 18. The top was finished in early April, and in late May I decided to quilt it. The quilting was finished late Monday evening (June 14) and the binding was finished the following day. So, thank you, Katie, for the inspiration.

Sandy