in stitches & seams

Friday, May 31, 2013

EQ 7 Summer Draw Along

Well today is the day for the posts and link up for the Summer Draw along.EQ 7 Summer Draw Along
I have the first block done and made up.

I have worked on the 3 variations and will work them up soon. I missed the post at mid month that had the variations .... something to note for next month. It has been great practice in using EQ7.
I do have a tip for piecing the little outside half square units.
I cut mine at 2 1/2" instead of 2 3/8" and then trimmed them down to 2"units. There was not much trimmed off , and they were nice and square.

Having fun making the button for the side bar...... not. I'll keep working on it and maybe I will remember what I did the last time.

Bags are packed and still on the fence about the stitches conference this year...... just waiting for a phone call to see what I am to do.

Pop over to the EQ7 blog to see the other blocks created this month.

in stitches

Annette

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

I'm Back

I'm Back!
We had a health scare here sew I was not able to post / sew / think for a while .
All is well again, and I hope to get a post together a little later this week.
stay well out there

in stitches
Annette

Monday, May 13, 2013

Watrous Art Show

My space in the show

Well this week here in town we had an Adjudicated Art show. I was asked if I would like to display a few of my quilted creations.After thinking about it for a few days I thought why not. I had to finish a couple smaller pieces to have the 5 required items to be adjudicated and with that done I sent in my submission.
I entered Jewels of the Night, Holding On, Star Fish all that I have posted in the past and then I finished Summer Jewel and Spring's Promise. Star fish and Summer Jewel are both Blue Printing Cyanotype and Springs' Promise is Sun Printing.

I have found that I enjoy tiring new was to play with fiber and painting is differently one of them. I had fun adding beads to these three as well , just a little extra dimension.
Sew with out further adieu here are a few pics of my entries.

Summer Jewel

Springs Promise
Hope you like my little show
in stitches
Annette

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

EQ7 Draw along ... and more

If you EQ but have not done much with the drawing element of it here is a great place to get started. Lesson one was May 1st and you have all month to complete and sew up your block and then show it off by linking up with the others and the end of the month.

Hot off the press/ aka computer

I have my Daisy a Day Tote pattern ready to send off to my two winners from the Shake your Pompoms Blog hop. LJ and Carla I hope to get them in the mail in the next couple of days.

I am also getting the last minute things done to have my quilts ready for the art show that starts on Thursday here in town. Labels and cording I think, is all that I need to do now.

I sure have been enjoying the nice weather and getting a few swims in at the spa ..... warm mineral water feels sew good on the knees.

I hope you are enjoying your day as well.

in stitches

Annette

Thursday, May 2, 2013

W.I.P. for this week

Well my W.I.P. for this week is almost complete. I have been making a wheel chair quillow for a gift for a young lady who is about to graduate from high school. I have it finished and I have a weatherproof slip cover cut out and ready to sew. I have made a couple before and the last one I made the slip cover and my daughter said that it worked well for the student that I made it for.
I had talked to the mom of the young lady to make sure it was something they would be able to use and not to offend. She was sew happy that we asked and said that they would be using it as soon as she receives it. I did not think I would get it done before grad , with only getting it started this week but I am happy to say she will have it on Friday.

The pattern is from Valley Piecemakers Quilt Guild in B.C. where I ordered the pattern but I have also found the same pattern on line. I know that if you order one from them the funds go towards the projects that they support.
I will be linking up with The Needle and Thread Network and also checking in to see what everyone else has been up to.

I have made my draw and will contact the winners before posting ..... thank you to all who stopped by for my day of the hop.

on another note...

just a peek

Next week we have a art show here in town and I was asked to put in an entry ......sew I have those finished and ready to go ( they request 5 pieces ). I will post pictures of my entries next week. This is another first for me.
Here is the gown I had been working on all done. The halter ties up with a 3 foot type scarf the falls to the back and a 2 foot train was added to the pattern

Thanks for stopping by today.
in stitches
Annette

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Shake Your PomPoms ....

Can you see my pompoms......
I had to think for a little while and ponder what would I like to make for this hop......
When I think of pompoms I think of the slippers I would wear as a child that someone would have knit for me and then the ones I would knit later on. But I knew that this should be made with fabric and quilted of course.
Sew what to do .....
Make a cute spring time tote....
Sew I made up a little pattern using some Daises with little pompoms centers. The teeniest pompoms I have ever made.
I have a before and after pictures of the tote with the pompoms.

before

the Daisy's are smiling

I really like how the Daises look after they have the pompoms added. Just adds a little cuteness to them, and some fun too.Almost like they are smiling.

I'm Ready to go Shopping, are you??

Thank you for stopping by my hop today. Be sure to follow along and check out the other blogs to see how everyone else shakes their Pompoms!!

April 24

Pig Tales and Quilts

in stitches and seams that me!

CherrysPrairiePrimitives

Blooming Where I am Planted

A special thanks to Mdm Samm and Thearica..... for putting this hop together and keeping us in a creative loop all year long. As well as some great give aways as well. Theraica has some Pompom makers in her shop sew stop by if you are sew inclined to give some of the ideas share a try.

To show my thanks I would like to have a little give away myself with the pattern for this little tote ( almost ready to print) and a couple other goodies . I will draw an extra winner this hop as this hop is happening around my birthday. Just leave a comment and let me know that you want to be included and good luck to you all.

I will try to reply to all your comments as I do read them all but I know that sometimes I do not have enough time to reply to each and every one. I just love how we all connect through the blog hops.

Enjoy the hop ....

in stitches

Annette

supply list in hand

Today I received my supplylists for the classes I am taking at this years Stitches Conference :)
now to go through my stuff and see what I have and what I need to get.
I am sew looking forward to the classes. I love to learn new ways to do things. You never knows when you will find that ah moment and find a much easier way of doing part of your project.
And just a reminder the the Shake Your Pompoms blog hop start in the morning.
Take care
in stitches
Annette

Monday, April 22, 2013

New bolg hop this week

Here's the schedule for the next hop SHAKE YOUR POMPOMS starting this week. We have such great ladies that keep us going with the hops. Sew whether you are participating or just stopping by, be sure to check them out .... you just might find a little inspiration to get creative while we wait for spring to get here. I hope you come back on the 24th to see what I have been up to for this hop.

April 24

Pig Tales and Quilts

in stitches and seams

CherrysPrairiePrimitives

Blooming Where I am Planted

April 25

Get More Done...Today

April 26

Cherry Valley Designs

Life in the Scrapatch

Felt free på Åsly

Love it Sew it

Patchouli Moon Studio

Dreaming In Patchwork

April 29

Scrapbook-chickadoodle

In The Sewing Basket

life, quilts and a cat too

Debby Kratovil Quilts

April 30

Thimblemouse & Spouse

Cate`s Linens

Around the Homestead

Buzzing and Bumbling

les passions de Cliodana

Bumbleberry Stitches

Sew We Quilt

Take care and sew a little something today.

in stitches

Annette

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

just working on my scraps ....

Well it's Wednesday again .... what have I been up to

scattered blocks in the sunshine

well I have almost 40 of those crazy scrappy blocks made and then I whipped up this little post card to sent to a sweet little girl that paid us a visit at work with her grandma.

I thought I would send her a little spring time posy in her favorite colors of pink and purple. Hope she likes it.
I will be linking up with The Needle and Thread Network ..... do stop in and see what everyone else has been up to.
in stitches
Annette

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

W.I.P. Wednesdays

Sew what have I been up to this week....
a little mending for my son while home for Easter and getting a start on a few crazy blocks for another scrappy quilt. The grad gown is ready for a fitting, sew I am just waiting for the young lady to call to set that up.

2 scrappy blocks

I have been trying to finish up a few other quilts started last year. I have been asked to enter into a art show with some of my smaller art type quilts.

Now that is great incentive to get them done.

I'm sew excited...
This has been a great year of firsts for me, with another that is on the news stands or at least in the mail box today.
The May/June issue of McCall's Quilting

it is showing everyone the winners as well as the 9 finalist's in each category from last years Quilt Design Star challenge.

It was a great experience and I would encourage you all to give designing a try and see where it could lead you. I also have been enjoying designing a few smaller items and have been working on the patterns for them as well. The latest one should be ready later this month.
I will be linking up with Monika @ The Needle and Thread Network
Have a great week and sew up a storm.
in stitches
Annette

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter and to welcome Spring

I just hope it is just around the corner as we are all ready
to say good bye to winter and all the snow.
Enjoy your time with family and friends
in stitches

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Snow Day

Well this was a first..... I got to have a snow day.
With the storm system that has and is still going through our area there was nothing for me to do at work today sew it became a snow day for me. But I will be back at work in the morning, I am sure it will be a busy day.
But back to my snow day ..... as I was waiting to find out what I was going to do I worked on a couple more scrap blocks to add to the stack I had started on a while back. I got to my 30 block goal and put them together and even put the first border on. Next I want to do a scrappy border and then another darker border. Here's a pic ...... you know I can never throw out a good scrap.

not the fanciest
but I find that they get used the most

and when I do they become these ...... pet beds. I have been giving the beds to a friend that has a kennel sew I know that they get put to good use.

pet beds

I have also started to work on another pattern that I hope to have ready for the next blog hop that I will be participating in. I'll keep you guessing on that one for now.
The grad gown is looking good , ready for a fitting and then the accents and it will be all done. Here is a peek of the back with the train bustled.

Well that's all for now I hope you all enjoyed your day to whether it was a snow day or not.
take care
in stitches
Annette

Friday, March 15, 2013

shades of gray

I found a shade of gray that I painted our sons old room with. It is a deeper shade than what we had in there before ... but we sure like how it looks. I reminds me of the Modern Quilts out there. They seam to use a lot of gray and I just might have to make one for this room.

a window shot ....now
to put the room back together

I have also gotten my Pom Poms made for the hop for next month now to work out the project I have in mind for them..... keep watching

They are tiny but I hope they have the big impact that I am hoping for.
Off to stitch take care out there
in stitches
Annette

Thursday, March 14, 2013

A different twist

The other day I was hemming a few pairs of Blue Jeans and in order to have the right weight and a blended color I tryed using two different shades of gold and threaded them through at the same time and through just one needle.......

I was very happy with the results and how it behaved in the machine as well.

I am sure I will try this again in other sewing where I would like the thread to be a little heavier.... post cards and quilt details are just a couple that I can think of right now.

I have almost finished quilting the second of my McCall's QDS quilts labels and hanging sleeves to follow as well. I just missed a opportunity to have them hanging in Saskatoon .... maybe another time.

I am about half done a grad gown that I have been working on over the last while.... with any luck I should have it done by the week's end.

Have a great day out there and try out using double thread ...... you just may like the look and have a few uses for it as well.
in stitches
Annette

Thursday, March 7, 2013

time for some R n' R

Took a few days off work,,,, I wonder what I can get done while I am at home.
Sew far I have
finished quilting one of my McCall's QDS quilts and it is ready for a label
the next one is half done
I have two smaller quilts ready for binding
a session of aqua size and massage this morning....... long over due
gone for a few walks in the snow
and mailed my give away from last weeks blog hop, away
even cleaned the bath room ...... it's a start
and I am ready to throw that machine of mine against the wall ( brick that is) I think it has cost a fortune just in gas back and forth to the city. Sew glad I have a back up to work with.

I hope to get back at blogging a little more often . even if I just say Hi , and how are you doing??

I know that I should get to sorting my scraps and yardage. I know that it is amazing how many quilt you can make out of the left over fabrics from quilting. I may dive in later today.
That's about it.....
How about you ??? What have you all been up to.
in stitches
Annette

Saturday, March 2, 2013

All about Me Give Away Winner

Well I have my winner and I am just waiting for her to get back to me sew that I can send off her gift.
My random number generator is and Ice cream pail with the numbers in it and I just line them up to the comments / names when I pull the number out.
Who says being the first one to comment is not lucky ....
as I pulled out #1
and if you check my comments that was Barbara.....
congrats and I will be looking forward to hearing from you.

I do thank each every one that left a comment on my blog for this hop. I am sorry to say that I did not get back to each of you : (
I just ran out of time ..... I will be trying to answer back shortly.
I will do better in my next hop . I did sew enjoy reading each and every comment and seeing the other sites as well. Everyone had done such a great job with there little mini me's.
Thanks again
in stitches
Annette

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

It's all about Me....... blog hop

It's Thrusday the 21st sew.......
It's my turn to share with you what I have done with the fun little pattern that Amy Bradley share with us.
There have been some great projects created sew far and what imagination some of the creators have.
Sew without further ado here is my little project.

I could only fine one stripped fabric in my stash, sew I also quilted on the bias to add a little more.
I did add a couple little touches with the brass spool of thread and of course I seamed to always have a threaded needle attached to myself when working on a project, sew my lady has one too.I changed up the hair just a wee bit with my bangs and added prairie points and buttons to fame her up.

my bias backing

Here is the list of today's blogger's be sure to stop by and have a visit with them too.

Thursday, February 21

Kris Loves Fabric

The Quilting Alleycat

Cat Patches

Bumbleberry Stitches

Chickadees Country Cottage Crafts

In Stitches and Seams ( that's me )

Why-Knot-Kwilt

Quilting Unleashed

Rosemary at That Other Blog

Thimblemouse & Spouse

Sew Many Yarns

I have a little give away sew if you leave a comment and you can get in on the draw, which will be at the end of the hop( if you are a non reply commenter I will not be able to contact you )

a charm pack and a quilters deck of cards

Thank you to Madame Samm, Marlene and Amy for all the work that goes into a blog hop.I know it take a lot of time and talent to get things to run as smoothly as they seam to us out here.
Thanks for stopping
in stitches
Annette

Anniversary give away

and the winner is Flo from Butterfly quilting and I should have that off to her shortly.
thanks sew much for stopping by my blog over the last two years.
in stitches
Annette

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Machine repaired....... again

Talk about trouble with a machine. I have had some troubles with my Pfaff machine almost from day one . I have finally had the mother board change in it and it was sewing much better but then my thread sensore quit working .....back to the shop... and it proved to be a headache for them as well. .... as it would work when all apart but when it was all together again it would not.....sew they replace the mother board again and sew far all looks and works good. I am planing on some sewing tonight to test it out a little more. Finger crossed. It's a great machine and I am glad to have it home again.
I am very glad that it is still under warranty..... make sure you all check to see what type of warranties your machines have especially if they are new and computer based. And make sure you have them tuned up before it's done, as well as a regular tune up and cleaning.

But what else have I been up to ....

still testing out a pattern for Marci Baker ( I'll let you know when the pattern is ready )

and working on a grad gown ( lining done and ready for a fitting) I am liking how it is coming along. It has been a challenging pattern as it came cut to the size they thought would fit with out any directions, seam allowances or hemming allowance , no notion list etc. But I think I have it figured out. It helped when the one night I laid out all the pattern pieces on the kitchen floor to put the puzzle together.

I have another quilt all finished and ready for a new home.I know I have a few more that need to get quilted sew I am sure I will be practicing my FMQ as I test out the above machine.
Now I am off to check out afew of the bloggers in the Hop going on over on Sew WE Quilt
in stitches
Annette

It's All About Me !! Blog hop starts today !!!

and it's all about you too
here is the schedule for the hop sew that you all can see what we have all created with the pattern from Amy Bradley......I'm sure there will be some giggles withthis hop and maybe s few give aways too.

Tuesday, February 19

Just Let Me Quilt

Sunshine Quilting

Karen at That Other Blog

Grammie Q

Gracie Oliver Arts

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Wednesday, February 20