Puppy Love.

The Island Batik Ambassador challenge for Nov. is to use the log cabin pattern in a quilt.  Log cabin is one of my favourite blocks but I wanted to use it in a different way.  Our little dog is an important part of our home so using the blocks as the border surrounding her seemed to work.  I haven't had time to quilt it yet and won't until we get back from our trip south.  I will post when I get that done.

I won't be posting now for a few days. Stay well and safe.

January is blog hop time again and will involve prizes so be sure to keep following along.
Blessings,

Black and White.

In just a few more days, we will be spending some time with the grandchildren.  It is our favourite Christmas treat.  I have as much quilting as I have to get done, finished, Thurs. I will do some baking and get the house tidied for my friends stay .  Friday is packing and assisting at the Art Centre for our Christmas sale.
We were in North Bay (an hour north of us) yesterday as I had a doctor's appointment.  The weather wasn't the best with wet snow and slushy roads but we made it safely there and back home.  I continued snowing through the night and we work up to a lovely scene of black and white.  We got nearly 10 inches of wet, heavy snow that had to be removed from the deck and vehicles.  Our snow guy did the drive way so hubby was able to get to the village and get some more shavings for the chickens.

This is the table runner and placemat set that was made for a customer.  I might do this again for myself using Island Batik.

Blessings,

Misty Morning.

Something different today.  This is one of my husband's paintings.  Not completely finished but I like it so much that I wanted to share it.  He still has some work to do on the upper left corner but the rest is finished.  I don't think he has a name for it yet but doesn't it remind you of a misty morning just as the sun is starting to break through. I am so proud of him.

I got a lot accomplished today.  I stayed at the sewing machine the whole time except for a break to eat and multiple trips to the bathroom also know as stretching breaks.

According to the Canada Post tracking, it seems that my fabric has reached my mail box so I will be picking it up tomorrow.  I will then be able to finish the last quilt for my Toronto customer.  I only have the two twins to do after that and it isn't imperative that they get done before Christmas.

Blessings,

The Little Prince

Comment response:  Farm Quilter, we seem to have well trained pets.  They know just what to do to get us to do what they want.

I sometimes think I may go a bit overboard in how much I care for animals but, if I do, I don't care.  I don't care any less for humans and all living creatures can use as much love and care as they can get.

More quilt photos:  The first two are a customer's quilt.  The various pictures depict scenes from the book 'The Little Prince'.  This is the second time she has done this quilt and, while it is challenging to quilt, it is lovely to work around the appliques and see how a bit of stitching can accent them.

This picture is the border for this months Island Batik challenge.  We are to make something using log cabin blocks.  I have the rest of it cut out but not pieced yet.  Hopefully it will be finished next week.

Blessings,

Winter Scenes.

Some photos of our lovely winter days and an (almost) completed project.  The first picture shows the 6 foot table runner and one of the place mats.  All I have left to do on them is the quilting.  I have been doing the binding on another quilt today and should have it finished by the time I am ready to turn off the machine and spend a bit of time with my hubby watching TV.  Tomorrow, I plan to get to the binding on another quilt.  I am still waiting for my fabric to arrive via post office so that quilt may not get done on schedule but only have one other to finish before the end of this month and it is just the quilting.  A couple more things for a sale and I will be done until we return from our holiday visiting the grandchildren.

I will post a photo tomorrow of more projects including a teaser for this month's Island Batik quilt.

 I took these evening pictures from the deck.  The camera never quite captures the light but it gives an idea.

Speaking of the deck, our Heidi has found that it is a great place to do her bathroom duties.  There is a couple of inches of snow at one end and she seems to think it is just for her.   At least it is in an easy spot for me to clean.  I could have saved myself the trouble of digging a path through the snow for her!

Blessings,

Island Batik Ambassador Application.

I finished quilting my customers vintage top today.  I didn't want to do anything to obscure the design so I just stitched in the ditch around the blocks and in between.  I am pleased with the way it turned out.  Now to get the binding done.  This is the first time I have done this pattern with my long arm and it was easier than I thought it would be.  I will definitely do it again.

We have had a lot of snow fall overnight again so snow removal was one of my chores.  It isn't very cold so the snow was heavy but most the removal was pushing it off the deck.  I did a path to the car and for the dog and that was it.  Our snow plow guy came soon after and then hubby got the blower going and tidied everything up.

If you are a regular reader, you know I am an Ambassador for Island Batik.  I get to play with these amazing fabrics and promote them on my social media sites and to my friends.  If you are interested in becoming an Ambassador, you can apply here.  A full description of what it means to be an Ambassador is included.

https://www.islandbatik.com/news/index.php/2019-brand-ambassador-application/?fbclid=IwAR2wiXcVz1YwjooIoD05nt8gYkAIOD5MDcT6WehtZnF0U8x3G4a9hqGsPs4

And, speaking of Island Batik, I am working on my Nov. project which is to include the log cabin pattern.  I have worked out my design and am just making the blocks.

Blessings,

Excellant Service

I had a bit of a nasty shock yesterday.  I had received notice via email that one of the 3 items I ordered recently was at the Post Office.  However, when I went for the mail, it wasn't there.  After I got home I rechecked the notice and saw that it (and all the others) had been sent to the wrong post box.  I know I had the correct address both on my account and on the label when I paid for it through Paypal.  I phoned the post office and they told me they would look into it.  I followed up this morning and the dear lady told me they had removed the notice from the wrong box and placed it in mine.  Further, they would watch for the other parcels and do the same.
I feel that I received service that was beyond what was required from them and am so glad I live in this kind of community.  I have now sent an email to Paypal to get them to check what had gone wrong from their end.
Unfortunately, that isn't the end of the story.  The fabric I ordered has been held up because of the rotating strikes and I need it to finish a customers quilt.  The package I did receive only contained one item rather than the pack of 4 so another email was sent to that company.
I have been trying something new on the top I am quilting.  I usually do an all over free motion pattern but this time I am doing stitch in the ditch.  I have to go very slow and keep a good grip on both handles especially when going over the bumps made where the seams join but am pleased with how it looks.
Most of what I have to do now on customer quilts is top stitching and binding so things are moving along.
Blessings,

First Winter Photos

First photos of this winter season.  It has been lovely here with the snow so pure white. The only thing that would make it better would be some sunshine.  I did get out for a walk with Heidi for a bit and that was enjoyable.  I have been sewing pretty steadily so it is good to have a break.  I am not sure if I am  ahead of my quilting schedule but I am making progress.  The biggest quilt is about ready to come off the frame and one of the smaller projects  only have a bit more piecing to do before it gets quilted.

If I can get all but the 2 twins done before going away to see the grandchildren, I will be happy.

I came across this pattern today and thought it was a great idea.  I will make a couple to use as bags for gifts.  Hubby and I use very little wrapping paper preferring reusable.  

The pattern was very reasonable and easy to make..

https://www.craftsy.com/quilting/patterns/santa-sack/222340

Blessings,

Snow Covered Trees

I got my snow tires installed today and, right on cue, the snow arrived.  The trees have a light dusting but the lawn isn't covered yet.  We are supposed to get some more tomorrow and I hope that it all stays this time.  I took Heidi for a walk through the bush and the trail was so covered in leaves you couldn't see the small sticks and rocks underneath.  I always take my cane so if I trip on something I am able to stay upright. Looking forward for the leaves to be replaced by snow.
I was able to get quite a bit of quilting done today and have almost finished doing a top for a customer as well as cutting out the squares for a T Shirt quilt.  I really feel as though I have accomplished something and I may, just may, get everything done in time for Christmas.
Whenever I have a lot of things to get done as I do right now, I make a list setting out the order in which I will do each item.  It helps keep me on track and feel less harried.
Tomorrow I am going to make my dear hubby some cookies while doing the laundry.  It has been a while since I did any baking.  I also thought I might do a bread pudding.  I have some gluten free bread that I don't like so will use that.
Have you started your Christmas projects yet?  I have some Swedish stars to make for stocking stuffer gifts as well as covers for the back of my new chairs.
Blessings,

One Quilt Done, Another Almost Done

We have been getting quite a bit of rain the past few days.  That combines with lack of sunshine is making for some dreary days.  However, It is cheerful indoors with the wood fire making everything cozy.  I had yet another medical appointment today but was home by lunch so have been able to get a bit of quilting done.  I have almost finished the memory quilt top so have brought out the fabric for the TShirt quilt.  While I am working on those projects, I have loaded a top onto the frame so I can be doing a row or two on it in between cutting our blocks.
I don't think I am going to be able to get all the projects done before Christmas but the ones that I promised will be.

This photo is a section of the memory quilt.  As you can see, there are a lot of velour fabrics as well as others that aren't cotton.  I offset the squares to give a bit of interest.  The one dark square on the left, second last row was cut from the top centre of the clothing so it has a zipper and some decorative stitching.  I did that with a number of blocks.  A little harder to work with but I like to include unusual blocks that will also remind the customer of their loved one wearing that article of clothing.

Tomorrow I deliver a completed quilt so can mark that one off the list.

I have a pattern idea buzzing around in my head using log cabin blocks.  Hope to have a chance to work that out and make it.

Blessings,

Where O Where Has my Little Brain Gone.

I had a number of quilt name suggestions yesterday that included the word lavender.  I have decided to call it Lavender Lullaby.  I appreciate all the ideas as I hadn't thought of lavender at all when trying to come up with the name.
I got the result of one of my test today and all is well.  One more to go.
I hope that when they are done and my schedule slows down that I will get back my brain.  I left my cell phone in the restaurant where we had lunch.  Fortunately, the staff found it and a friend is picking it up tomorrow.
Sunday, I am going to have lunch with my sister who is here from England visiting her son.  We do this every fall when she comes for her second visit of the year.  It is a nice time of relaxing and catching up on what is happening in each other's lives.
Tomorrow, I have no appointments either in the day or evening.  Can't remember when that happened last.  Studio, here I come.
Blessings,

Just realized today is Thurs. and I have my newspaper column to do.  Aaargh!