Stitches for the New Year

As this year is coming to a close, I remembered about a mystery quilt from the Quilt Bug site. I checked it out and she has another one lined up for tomorrow night morning. I have my fabrics all picked out and with a early release of the first clue some cutting and sewing has begun.

I also found a cute little bag to try out. It uses 2 fat quarters and a bit of ribbon.

Sew that's a wrap for my post and for 2017.

Thanks for stopping by stay on stitches until next time.

Annette

Info for both are at www.quilting.com

Going to the home page tab and then find the newsletter and you are there.

Have a Happy New Year

Seasons Greetings 2017

Belated Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year ... 2018 is just around the corner.

It's been a while since my last post.
Life has been just a little crazy.
I will give you a little update on life in our family.
This summer we lost my Mother in law , had a lovely wedding and gained a son in law,  had 2 family members diagnosed with cancer ( my hubby and sister in law) both have had surgery and are doing great. A bother in law needing surgery due to a blood platelet disorder called ITP  ( a name as long as your arm) the brothers both had there surgery on Friday the 13th at 1 pm in October. And then my mom was placed into a nursing home as she is needing more care than what can be provided at  home.  we are very grateful that the 3 with surgery are all doing great and will be starting off 2018 healthy. Life is slowing down and we are counting our blessings in our family and friends,
I am grateful to have a passion ... my quilting ... to help me focus and find a clam place. It did take a while until I felt I could sew again and I did miss it. Sew glad to have friends and family around while I was in limbo.
I was able to get 4 more quilts done for Victoria Quilts Canada, made a few runners for Christmas gifts as well as making some stockings for Christmas 2 for our daughter and her hubby for their home and one for a baby gift.  I even created a bed jacket for my mom for Christmas , a special request to keep her cozy.

loved how this one turned out
with the button centers

for a Christmas traditions
post card swap

10 degree ruler runners

Bed Jacket from a SweatShrit

I am going to try to post at least once a week in the new year. Wish me luck
I hope to plan out a few more classes to teach and make a few more Vic Quilts always something to do .
Right now we are having crazy cold temps -29c and a little breeze which makes it even colder.
It is quite at home now with the last of the kids on the way back to their home miss them. I enjoyed the games darts and just visiting with them all.
I hope you all had a nice Christmas with family and friends and have a safe and healthy New Year.
In Stitches
Annette

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing all my fellow Canadian family friends and blogging buddies a happy thanksgiving.

We spent a wonderful weekend at our daughter's and husbands home.  They made a wonderful meal. They even tried making a smoked turkey this year ......yummy.
I am sew very thankful for my family and friends far and near. It's been a busy year and we could not get through it all without you.

I am thankful that I have a passion (some call a hobby)  I have done a little stitching in the last week or sew. Some quilt tops for Victoria Quilts and today a post card for a challenge.

Pot holders for a gift

OCTOBER CHALLENGE

Stay in stitches
Annette

A start with fall.

The garden is productions lovely tomatoes again this year. And canning has begun.

I came across a nice quick quilt on the Moda bake shop site, where staring with a four patch you end up with a 9 patch block with only 2 cuts. The first one I pieced for Victoria Quilts and then I grabbed a couple charm packs as the pattern asked for and did one that size as well. I want to add borders to it and then get at quilting about 3 quilts for myself and a few more for Victoria.

Awaiting borders

Here are the 2 other tops I have ready to quilt, that is after a good pressing I see a few wrinkles there.

Well that's all for now, off to work .

Have a great day.

In stitches

Annette

Summer cold

Well today is a cool and cloudy day. A good day to do s bit of sewing. Sew glad I did laundry yesterday with the sun and breeze.
From my header you can guess the you I've caught a summertime cold up to today just a sore throat and a scratchy voice and today just feeling a tired.  But I will try not to let that stop me..... too much.
I have gotten a good start on a Victoria Quilt . The goal is to have  50 x 70 inch quilt . I am trying to make one that is not to feminine, as you know our guys can get sick with cancer to.
This is what I have sew far. I used the lighthouse print to pull colors and a pebble print for stepping stones and top and bottom boarders.

I am hoping to work up some of my stash and leftovers into a few quilts for them. Heaven knows I have a bit of fabric to get used up.
Happy stitching and take care
In stitches
Annette

A little sewing for a little guy

Well I am slowly getting back into the swing for sewing again.
Today I got started on a little project for my great nephew.  I have been asked to make a quiet book which I am still planning. But to get going I thought I would make a little road trip book. On the back side I included a pocket for cars and chalk for the chalkboard back center panel.

Nothing fancy just plain fun. Hope the little guy enjoys it.

One other project that.I worked on was recovering a small ironing board.

Even though these are small projects they are giving me the desire to get back into my sewing room and create a little more.
That's all for now thanks for stopping by.
In stitches
 Annette

A July to remember

We have had a very busy July in our house this year . The most memorable moments would be our daughter's wedding. Just last weekend she and her hubby were wed .

As the mom of the bride I forgot my camera and the couple pictures on my phone are way to fuzzy to share . As soon as I get a good one I will post it. We seemed to be too busy being in pictures and running around visiting to take many.

I did manage to finish a quilt for the happy couple and have a picture of it just before doing the applique. I will have to get a photo of that one on their bed or in the back yard.

It fits their king size bed with a drop just past the top of the box spring.

The colors go well with the room. And they were surprised that I got it done because at one point this year I did not think it would happen. It's amazing what you can get done for your loved ones one stitch at a time.

We will remember this July and all  the joy that their wedding brought us all.

In stitches

Annette

Hello summer!

I have been enjoying the warmth and sunshine the last few days. I even enjoy it in the shade when I get tool warm. And then go down to my sewing machines to cool right off.
As I have been heating up my machines I have finished off 3 more Victoria Quilts for the Saskatchewan chapter.

Oops I see I got in on this one too.

If any of you have some time and talent to spare throughout the year check with your local chapter and help put a quilt or as I like to call them a warm hug in someone's l9fe who is dealing with cancer. I know Canada and USA both have this organization in each country and it may be in others as well.my friend Carrie and I find that finishing the quilts with the quilting , binding and a wash is a good way to help get the quilts out to those who need that hug.

In the other parts of my life we are in the last month ... less than a month to our daughter's wedding. A few more alterations some more baking and we should be ready. Time sure seams to be flying here. I know there will be extra hours at work sew others can enjoyable summer too. And a request to make a quiet book for a little guy we know and love aka great nephew. Now to get started on some pages for that ... Here I come Pinterest to see what you can inspire me to sew.

Enjoy your week , happy stitching

Hugs.     In stitches

Annette

Hey I almost missed this ... it's Wednesday.  WIP and a hook up to The needle and thread network

It's a wrap

Just finished up the last lesson in the on line crazy quilt class. Adding some embodiments and a little more sparkle.

Now to decide what to do with it. It may become a little wall hanging, or one for my little wire stand.

A lot was learned over the last 12 lessons.

In stitches

Annette

Lots of little stitches

Over the last 2weeks I have been working away at my crazy Quilt Block. I am now on task 8, following along at my own pace and seeing who ever one else is doing. We have a couple of super stitchers, with at least one finish the last time I checked the blog.
Here is where I'm at with my block,

It's great to work at your own pace , no race just get done what you can and enjoy each others progress along the way.
Next is ribbon work. I am looking forward to this as I have not done any ribbon embroidery for a number of years. I made this little guy about 15yrs ago.

I did share a couple organising tips
Using a 3 x 6 piece of recycled cardboard with holes punched make a way to keep your floss tidy.

Some of the pearl cotton was size 5 and in a hank and taking a working length off just seemed to make a tangled mess. Sew I opened it up , placed the loop over the back of a chair and then wrapped it onto an empty spool ( you never know when you are going to use that stuff you have saved to recycle)

Well that's all for now....... Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there.
In stitches
Annette

Trying something new

Actually something very old. Crazy quilting. Kathy Shaw teaches online classes for crazy quilting . She starts you off with the beginning steps and work on a 8 x 10 inch block. You work at your own pace and can see what and where the other participants are doing. I will get the link for Kathy's blog see you can check out when she is offering it again...... you have to start at the beginning :-)       www.shawkl.com    is where to check it out
Here's my base block ready for the next lesson

Yesterday I finished up the flower girl dresses, ready for them to try on. Only 3 months until the wedding, I'm sure the time will fly by..

Have a great day.

Hugs and stitches

Annette

P.s.

Thanks Shelia for hooking me up with this great class

Runner revealed

Well I can reveal a mystery runner that finished up last month. Quilters Connection magazine had a mystery runner contest this winter. It was featured in the magazine as well as in there newsletter and blog. We have not heard who the winners are just yet.
I had fun working on it and look forward to using it this summer on the picnic table.

My runner with extra borders

Quilting detail from the backside.

I have also entered the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference 15th anniversary challenge. We had a challenge fabric  and also had to include a maple leaf in our creation
. I chose to paint my challenge fabric and create a scene. All the entries are on display at the gallery in Humboldt until the conference and then they will be at the conference.
Here's my entry
Tire Swing

My label also using the challenge fabric and another maple leaf.

TThanks for stopping by. I'm connecting up the       The Needle and Thread Network           stop over and see what everyone has been up to.

In stitches

Annette

Happy Easter

Just wanted to wish you all a Happy Easter weekend.
And safe travels to you all. Winter/spring storm for some here in Saskatchewan and Albert.
Take care
In stitches
Annette

Oops quilt top done

And added to the stack of tops in waiting...to become quilts.

Even the border came from scraps.Leftovers from a double wide backing did the trick.
This is the quilt I am working on with free motion quilting.

And here is where I have started. I am taking my time as I try to plan out what I want to quilt as I go.

Feathers and petals sew far

TThanks for stopping in to see what I have been up to.

Have a great weekend. I think we will be enjoying some spring like temperatures and Sun shine.

In stitches

Annette

Oops I did it again

I started something new out of the scrap basket ......
Cutting strips , sewing into blocks and now I think I am about half way to a new quilt top.

Scrap strips in my little basket

Now to decide 4 or 8 large pieced block yet to make

I know I should finish all the past projects ,but this one only started with test block on Friday before we left for the weekend....... and it grew some.

Well I think I should go have a look and try to organize my works in progress. Wish me luck.
Have a great week. I hope you get to enjoy some spring weather.
In stitches
Annette

UFO's and other works in progress

Well the weather here is very March like , spring has come and gone a few times. Which only means winter is not done with us yet.
So with the weather so undecided I have been keeping up with my sewing. I've gotten a few more projects finish that were started in the past some completed as well.  I will share with you a few other goodies that I have worked on this month hope you enjoyed my little show. First a quilt of one side and sleepers all ready for some cuddles.

Next a wall hanging ready for spring.

Then another wall hanging that was paper pieced a couple years back for a blog hop.

Then a little scrap basket that I found on !one, it's getting put to work as I cut up some scraps into strips for a scrappy quilt.

I worked up some towels to hand on the stove as well as a sewing machine peddle stop/gripper for a friend.

I have also been working on a quilt , doing hand quilting . Last week there were only 3 blocks quilted now I am on number 12.

i

I do have 3 little dresses for the flower girls to try on before finishing( sorry no picture just yet)
Sew that's what I've been up to the last few weeks. Thanks for stopping by to see what stitching at my house.
In stitches
Annette

Another quilt top

To get finished, just as soon as I get a backing for it.
This one is for a friend, made from baby oneies and sleepers. Frost that I have made this large and with tiny t shirts.

Well that's it for this month.

In stitches

Annette

Workin' up some wool

I'm going to try out using wool balls in the dryer to soften clothes as well as help remove static. Last week my daughter and I worked on a basket of wool balls for her to take home. And since I have a few more balls of wool I thought why not give it a try too. The wool gets wrapped into a ball, then washed and dryer to felt them.
Here's my basket of dryer balls, ready to use. You can add scented oils to the balls to lightly scent your clothes.

Stay in stitches

Annette

February finishes

Well in January I got off to a great start with a few finishes and new projects. This month not as many new projects but a couple of finishes to share with you.

I finished mine Super Bowl Sunday quilt as well as a table runner but I only share just a peek of that for now. I also did up a little mini Runner that looks like a little candy that was shared on the SewCanShe quilt blog.

Perfect for Canada's birthday!

Other than these projects I have a oneis and sleepers quilt under construction. I am getting started on some flower girl dresses for your daughter's upcoming wedding.

This week we were able to get all the runners made and the fabric bought for the 3 little dresses.

After a couple of spring like weeks we have a blanket of snow. Winter is not done with us just yet.

Happy stitching

Annette

Sew super bowl sunday

Well a first for me.
Quilt Bug Quilt Shop did a day long mystery Quilt.
We started with our fabric selection

And then followed the clues at the top of the hour.
Here's my little quilt

Now to get it quilted,and then it could be a baby quilt or even a table topper.

Check out her site shop around and check out the patterns there for you to use.

Have a great day In stitches

Annette