Back at it with the houses

After taking a bit of a break from the houses to work on an idea that struck me yesturday, I decided to get back at it with the houses.  I was a bit curious regarding how many houses I needed to do this quilt that I was thinking of.  This quilt is intended to be 40" x 40" and I had a specific idea that I wanted to do for the borders and such.  I took out the houses that were already completed in pairs and the new ones that I completed on Friday's sew and chat day.  To my surprise, once I calculated how many houses I needed, I realized that I had more than enough houses made to complete this small quilt.  There is definitely another house quilt in my future, as I have three stacks of house parts, still to make.....lol

Today after work, I drafted up a diagram for the houses and decided where I wanted to put in some trees.  Then I started assembling the trees.  This one I thought was cute.  I didn't realize it until it was almost complete that there is a frog, smack dab in the middle of the tree...lol.  How funny is that!!

This here is the second version of a tree in my neighborhood of houses.

I was on a roll, so kept assembling the trees, then added the spacers between the houses where needed, to have each row measure the same.

I was having so much fun, that after groceries and dinner, I had another burst of energy, so came back to complete the construction of this neighborhood.  The grass is in, separating the rows of homes, and the first border is attached all the way around.  Take a few minutes and explore this neighborhood.  Did you see what's peeking out of the doors?  Check them all out and see what you can find!!

The next border is going to be the icing on the cake.  Wait until you see what I have for it!!  It may take me a couple of days, but just wait for it, it will be cute!

Take care everyone and don't forget to take some time for yourself.

My heartfelt extras

Through the process of making the Heartfelt quilt, there ended up being a couple of extra blocks that did not make the cut, when assembling the original.  They were added to the orphan blocks containing.  Recently, I went through this container and pulled out a total of 18 various combinations, to make quilts for charity.  

Yesturday, a thought came to me about three blocks in particular.  You may say that they were speaking to me....lol.  I had put them aside and counted them as three individual items, but the thought was that they are all red, white with some pink.  So, why not put them together and make one quilt.  This instantly reduces my list by two, which is a win, win, for me.  

When I am using orphan blocks, I never really know what the quilt will look like in the end.  It's more of a try this here and that there, or reverse the position....  You know what I mean?  Until I actually start sewing them together, anything goes.  Even then, it's not finite.   

Here is how the process went.  It started with a drawing and two blocks that both measured 9" square, so that was a good start.  I decided that I also wanted this to be in the shape of a heart.  I placed them side by side and added the third block below them.  This third block is a cake plate block, which just so happens to be on a diagonal, so it naturally finished off the point at the bottom of the heart.  At first the heart looked a bit boxy, until I decided to add the small bits on the side of the 9" squares.  

By this point I figured I had enough of a pattern to start sewing.  Then I needed the two humps at the top and decided a simple hour glass unit would do the trick.  I also wanted the perimeter to stand out with either red or dark pink.  That is when the cake plate block received the pink borders at the bottom edges.  I had to keep this simple, so instead of trying to fit small blocks to fill the space between the middle section and the cake plate block, I just did a square in a square effect, so that it would be easier to work with.

 

Then I needed to bridge the gap from the dark pink edge of the cake plate block to the lower edge of the section above to close off the heart shape.  Again, keeping it simple, I decided to do a half square in red strings.  I did the white part bigger then I needed so that I could take my time and match up the most important parts, to form the heart shape.  Then cut away the extra white.

All quilted and bound!!  What do you think?  Do you like it?  I'm happy with it.  Three orphan blocks used in a quilt and off my works in progress list.  Now I am down to 57.  I am hoping that, as I go along, there may be some others that can be combined to reduce the list faster.  This quilt is going to Project Linus.  It's a NICU quilt and will go to a hospital, to cover the small baby incubators, to keep the bright lights down.

Take care everyone.

Friday's sew and chat day with the HHQG

I had a very nice time at the Friday's sew and chat day with the HHQG.  We were six of us, that showed up for the first sew & chat of the 2025/26 Guild year.  Everyone working on their own thing.  I brought a few things with me to work on.  Didn't know how much I could get done in the day, so preferred to have more, then run short of stuff to do.

We did some sewing and chatting from about 9:30am-3:00pm, and I primarily worked on the houses that I spoke about in a previous post.  All together, I made 28 of them.  Whoohoo!!  That is good progress.  I started with 5 stacks of house parts, and finished one full stack.  So assuming they all have about the same amount, I have another 100-112 left to go.  I know I will not need this many for this current quilt I have planned, so there will definitely be another house quilt in my future....

Did you see the HST (half square triangles) above, in the bottom left hand corner?  For each of the houses, constructing the roof, yields two HSTs.  That makes 56 HSTs to add to my Ocean Wave quilt pile.  This is the best way to accumulate them.  You just keep making them, as leader/enders, and they continue to pile up.

I also did a sample block of a Jean & Plaid quilt that I will be making.  This is the third item from the recently added items.  I'm off to a good start!!  Tackling 4 quilts all at once, in one day.

Yesturday was very productive!  My sister came and painted the ceilings in the quilting studio.  I installed the last of the casings around the windows, lightly sanded the first coat of paint on the peninsula, then painted the last coat.  Yeah!!  After my sister left, I spent the rest of the day cleaning up all the tools, paint cans, vacuumed, put furniture back in place and an overall clean up.  I am so happy with all that was accomplished.  Today I have some quilting to do, then maybe I can play some more with these houses.  We'll see.

Take care everyone.

Quilt-as-you-go reversable quilt

Continuing on with the post of Thursday, about tackling the orphan blocks.  By the time I sorted all the orphan blocks in the container and other bits and pieces in the other containers, I had a total of 18 items, primarily quilts, to add to my list of "works in progress".  However, when I was cleaning out some more, I came across 5 small drawers of miscellaneous panels and bits and bobs, that are waiting to be turned into something.  

Now I have to add yet another 19 more items to my list of "works in progress".  If I keep this up, I will be buried under a mountain of quilts, table runners, etc.  I'm still waiting for some of them to speak to me, about what they want to be when they grow up....lol.  In the meantime, I'll work on the stuff that I feel confident, can be put together relatively quickly.  Get them out of the way, as my brain works out what to do with the rest.  I am hoping there are no more hiding places for these things, as I am now at a two page list and that to me is a bit daunting...

The first thing from the newly added items was the houses that I spoke about yesturday.  The second item from these newly added items is this reversable quilt.  I call it quilt-as-you-go, because the blocks are already quilted, and now I am going to assemble it, in the quilt-as-you-go method, with the binding type sashing to attach the blocks from both sides at the same time. 

It looks plain right now, as it does not have the sashing on yet.  I'm hoping to cheer it up a bit with the green fabric on the left side, as the sashing for the top, and a medium solid blue for the sashing on the backside.  The sashing will form a grid on both sides.

This was laid on the "design floor" on Tuesday when I needed a break from sorting stuff.  I had these squares for a while.  They are from my samples that I make for quilting patterns.  For whatever reason, these ones were rejected, maybe due to size not fitting right, or it was a trial pattern.  Rather than throw these out in the garbage, as they're really not good for anything else, I decided to cut out all the good parts into small 4 1/2" squares and make a mosaic pattern of various quilting designs.  They are cut small enough that you don't see the whole design, so they become more of abstract art.

Below are the two separate sides.  I finished the top on Wednesday and Thursday and finalized to binding yesturday/Friday.  This quilt measures 40" x 40" and is being donated to Project Linus.  It didn't turn out too bad.  Simple, but nice.  I am sure some child will love it, to snuggle up to!

One completed of the 37 newly added items......36 more to go......lol.

Today, my sister is coming over to help me paint the ceilings in the sewing space and longarm area.  Once that is done, I can get on with things and start catching up on quilting.  It's going to be a busy day with moving furniture from here to there, so that she can paint, then back again for the second coat.

Take care everyone.

----------

For my own purposes.  Tally of works in progress:

A second house quilt from leftover pieces

Back on Mar 17/2023, I posted about a scrappy houses quilt, that I finished.  I just kept cutting and cutting.  I believe I still have enough pieces to make another entire quilt.....lol.  This was in a container that I used to keep beside my machine to use as leader/enders, but got put away for some reason.  Maybe because I had enough to do the first quilt, that I figured I'd take a break from them.  Either way, in my effort to clear out things around here, I pulled the pieces out and added them to a project container to be worked on. 

I'm off work today and it so happens to be the sew and chat day with the HHQG (Halton Hills Quilters' Guild).  I haven't been to one yet, as I was usually working.  So I've decided to go today and hang out with some of the guild members to sew for the day.  Fun!!  Guess what I'm bringing to work on?  You guessed it!  I am bringing my houses to see if I can make a dent in the construction of this quilt.  I'll also be bringing some 2 1/2" plaid squares, for another quilt to use as my leader/ender, but more on that one in another post.  

As for this one, I will make all those little kitted houses, then I'll cut out some parts to make trees and the grass.  For this quilt, I am also going to use up the "neighborhood" line of fabric that I have, for the borders, backing, and binding.  That ought to be cute!

I'm off to go have some relaxing time with friends, as we sew and chat.....pun intended.....lol.

Take care everyone and don't forget to take some time for yourself.

Tackling the miscellaneous orphan blocks

Yesturday after work, I took it easy for a bit.  Needed to calm my brain, have a cup of tea and chill.  As I sat in my sewing space relaxing, my eye catches on a container on the floor that I have to deal with.

As I am putting my space back in order, I'm going through what I have, to see if I can minimize what I have hanging around.  I found I had a few almost empty containers that had left over fabric, from quilts I've already finished, so that was a pleasant surprise.   One container had quite a lot of left over fabric that was already cut into 2 1/2" strips, so I pulled out a pattern that I have been wanting to make and put it with the fabric.....lol.....quilt is all cut out.....I like when that happens!

Then I reached the orphan blocks container.....the one that I spotted on the floor.  I've been avoiding this one.....for a long time.  Do you do this, or is it just me?  I don't like waste and I like to see every block have the chance to grow up and become a quilt.  Some of these blocks are extras from previous quilt projects and some have been given to me to sort out.  

I pulled everything out and sorted it by theme or colour first.  Then I tried to think of layouts.  Some were easier then others and some are still a thought being processed.  All together, I sorted the above pile into 14 different quilt possibilities.  At least half are already figured out and a few others are somewhat sketched out, with the remainder that will be worked as I go.

From a bulging container to an almost empty one....  This feels great!!  There are still a few bits and pieces, of blocks and units, left to figure out what to do with.  That will be for another day.  I'm going to concentrate on what I pulled out so far, and then come back here and see what else may have made it's way into this container.  I think that 14 will keep me busy for a while....

So over the coarse of time, you'll be seeing the progress of these little baggies.  I'll keep you up to date.  I am gearing up for the challenge!

Take care everyone.

A bit more progress on To Grandmother's House We Go

This will be a short post.  Still working away on getting back in order.  I did a "work in progress update" a couple of weeks ago on Aug 19/2025.  At the time this is where I was on the last panel to complete the blocks of the wall hanging.

From the above picture to the below picture, in a couple of evenings of chilling in front of the tv, watching a movie.  Note that the below picture shows my handwork that is not pressed, it's wrinkled, pinned and just draped over my lap.  I promise, it will look better when I finish it....lol.  When I do handwork, I don't use a hoop, so my hands easily wrinkle the fabrics, as I work.  

So as of now, I'm going to say that the tree is about 2/3 of the way complete.  From then to now does not seem like much, but it's a good amount of progress considering the time it takes to do handwork.

As for machine sewing.....well....that is going to have to wait, just a bit longer.  I have my sister coming on the weekend to help finish everything, so that I can call it done.  In the meantime, I still have a bit more painting to do.  Also, I am taking this time to revisit all the things I have in my space.  Going through the boxes, bins, shelves and cupboards.....oh my!  I am going to be at it a while yet!  

I'm doing what most people do in January to start the new year by reevaluating.  I have so many panels and left over blocks, that I can work into a quilt.  The problem is I don't remember them all.  So I am going to be making a list and resolving to get them done and out of here.  My New Years resolution, in September...lol.

Take care everyone.

Experimenting with a mustard background

I recently spoke about leader/enders in a previous post.  This too started out as a leader/ender.  This was Bonnie Hunter's July/2024 Leader/Ender Challenge.  You can get the free pattern from her blog here:  https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2024/07/2024-leader-ender-challenge-county-clare.html

I wanted to get out of my comfort zone with this quilt, so I decided to use a mustard colour for the background.  Very unusual for me!  I used scrappy raspberry through to pink colours and a variety of scrappy greens.  I decided instead, that I would do this as my primary project, or at least when I was able to do some sewing.  I did lots and lots of blocks.....then all of a sudden, I decided I didn't like it enough to make it king size.  I think the colouring is more for a younger crowd.  At the time, I saw these colours in a magazine, as a new colourway, so I'm thinking someone likes it.  But not for me.

I went with the layout that Bonnie provided with sashings and cornerstones.  It makes like a grid in the raspberry colour across the quilt.  This quilt measures 43" x 57".  Below you can see a section of four blocks and sashing.

I had so many sub blocks made, that I was able to make this next quilt as well, and I only needing to assemble 2 additional units to finish it.  This one resembles the Chandelier pattern, with additional smaller green squares running down between the raspberry squares.  I don't remember just how big this one was, but is was close to the original one above.

Here is a close up.

Believe it or not.......I still have pieces left from this leader/ender challenge.  I just don't know if I should keep them separate to make another quilt with the raspberry and green, or add them all to my stash of precut blocks.....we'll see.  I'll let you know, when I know...lol.  These two quilts went to HHQG to be distributed to someone in need.

Take care everyone.  Don't forget to take some time for yourself.

Healing Star quilt, for Vanesa at Quilts for Survivors

I am just about done with painting my sewing space.  My room is currently an obstacle coarse with all the furniture scattered throughout the room, away from the walls.  I don't have access to my machine to do much sewing.....  That is tough for me, but it will be short lived.  In the meantime I dream of quilts.

I've had to dug deep in the archives of pictures to write this post.  This quilt started out as a way to say thank you to Vanesa, who established Quilts for Survivors.  She has a heart of gold and gathers quilts for those who were affected by what happened in the residencies. 

When I first heard of what she was doing, I offered to help.  When I met Vanesa, she was going to Mel Lastman Square, with completed quilts, as part of a presentation/ceremony.  I took a box of tops from her, that she had collected from various sources along the way from her home to Toronto.  Most of which had backings and Vanesa gave me the batting.  I admire everything that she does for those who need a quilt, as a form of a hug, letting them know that there are people out their that do care.

I wanted to do something for Vanesa.  She gives so much, and I wanted to give her something to let her know that what she is doing is special.

I drafted this quilt Jan 14/2023, from something that I saw somewhere (I didn't design the star).  I can't tell you much about the design, as it was some time ago that I saw it.  A star, has meaning to the indigenous people, which is why I chose to use it.  I then chose the colours red, yellow, black and white, as those are the healing colours, in the indigenous culture.

It has taken me some time to get this done, due to many distractions and life situations.  I finally finished this quilt on Dec 10/2024.  I changed it up a bit when I got to the border, and went with a string of bricks along the perimeter lengthwise.  When I took this picture, it had just come off the longarm, so you see the batting and marking tape.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to take a final picture with the black binding to finish it off, before it got shipped to Vanesa.

She loved it!!  I am so glad she did.  She deserves it for all the work she does.  She contacted me to thank me and asked if I had a pattern.  There were many others that liked it and wanted to make one for themselves.  It's not a difficult pattern, as this quilt is assembled in HST block form.  You just have to pay attention to the colour placement.

Take care everyone.

Progress on Welcome to the North Pole wall hanging

I posted about this quilt on the Aug 25/2025 post, showing the layout and the first block I did, the Ice Cream Shoppe.  After finishing that one, I started to work on this next block.  This block is called North Pole Bakery.  Another cute one!  The deep teal coloured fabric behind the block is the backing fabric.  I plan on quilting these in the quilt-as-you-go method.  The one that has no sashing and once you quilt it you carefully assemble the block, excluding the backing and then later turn under the backing edges and hand stitch it down to close off the seam.  Done this way, most people can't tell it is a quilt as you go, unless they take a look at the back and see the seams.

This block also needs the circled signage added above the door.  I did the labels later on.  Not sure if you can see it, but I'll draw your attention to the windows, which were done as reverse applique.  I don't do it this way often, but I feel that windows and doors especially need it.  For a refresher, I visited Piece O' Cake by Becky Goldsmith's blog.  She has excellent tutorials and all sorts of methods regarding applique quilting.  Plus, she has many different designs and some free patterns too. 

Now I am working on this next block.  It's only partially completed as I got distracted, as I usually do.  This block is called Santa & Mrs. Claus' house.  I am looking at it now and wondering if I stalled out because of the very, very thin roof line.....lol.  I don't think so, but true fully this roof is challenging, as it is less then a 1/4".  I am sure it was the fact that I had a few things going on at the time, like getting back to work and getting back in the rhythm of work, household stuff and playing in my quilting studio.

So now I have 2 1/4 blocks done, out of 16!  That makes me happy, as I've only started this one recently.  Some of the remaining blocks are small, but a couple for sure are much bigger than these ones.  One block at a time and it will get done.

Take care everyone.

Fidget Quilts

For the May/2025 meeting at the HHQG, we did a sewing day, where we all worked together on fidget quilts.  Kits were made in advance by our Outreach coordinator with fabrics and odd bits and pieces to help get us started.  There were other thinks up at the Outreach table that you were welcome to use, that people brought in from there homes, which they thought may work for this purpose.

For those who may not know what a fidget quilt is, it's a small quilt that has little activities to keep hands busy and different textures to satisfy the senses.  These ones will be going to the residents at Extendicare.  Below I was able to get a couple of examples, with some close up pictures of the different activities.

This first one was from my group.  We had four in the group and everyone did what they could, to organize things and come up with ideas for the block's activity.  Then I would follow their instructions and sew what I need to, to get the block done.  They do take time and planning and once all the blocks are done, you kind of want to space out the colours and different activities.  Our group received a kit that was primarily orange with the bright colourful square grid fabric.  I believe the squares finished at 4" square, for a lap quilt that measured 20" x 28", as these are often used for people in wheel chairs. 

We used buttons, beads, ribbon, rick rack, badges, velcro, tassels and more.  In this section, a four patch, we had a reddish orange textured ruffles fabric, another block has a ribbon that I sewed a little stuffed toy to and the other end sewed in the seam to secure it, plus a pocket was made to put it in. On another there was upholstery trim that was sewn to the block for texture and the last one was ribbon and rick rack, that was folded into a loop and sewn into a flower shape, with a badge for the centre to secure all the ribbon.  I think these are my favourite blocks.

This one was also special.  We did buttons that go into loops, beads that go from side to side, a key secured to a long ribbon, some tassel, more textured fabric, a flap that has a ribbon loop to pull that has velcro between the flap and the fabric, and lastly taking up two blocks is the colourful square grid with a zipper that actually works, and is in fact a pocket that they can put something into.  How cool is that!!

 

I'm not sure which group did this next one.  It turn out great!  Their kit was primarily greens with some blue and a diagonal design.  They also had various things that they used to make the blocks.  It amazes me how the ideas differ from group to group.  

Here is a sample of some of the blocks up close.  We have a ring on a ribbon, a buckle on ribbon that can be moved up and down, some tassel, different textured ribbons sewn in strips across the blocks, beads on a string, and they also have a block with a stuffed toy attached to ribbon that can go into a pocket.  So cute!!

I'd have to say that these were fun to make.  Time consuming, as every group did have to take their quilt home to finish, but a good portion of the blocks were done, so it wasn't too bad to finish up.  They are all so playful.  I am sure that the recipients will enjoy them.

Take care everyone.

Two large leader/ender quilts finished

I've said it many time before, but for any newbies here, I'll explain that I am a big fan of leaders & enders.  I learned this technique from Bonnie Hunter, through her blog.  Leader/enders are an opportunity to advance on a quilt bit by bit, while working a quilt that is your main focus.

How it works is, if I am making a quilt, we'll call it quilt A, I will always be working on quilt A, as that is my focus.  Now, if for any reason I have to take the pieces out of the machine to do the next step, instead of cutting my thread or putting in one of those thread bunnies (piece of scrap fabric), I will put two squares together finished sides facing together, we'll call this quilt B.  Those blocks I just put through are called the ender (ie I just ended my quilt A piecing).  Then I can just snip off the quilt A pieces.  

When I am ready to start on quilt A again, the blocks that are currently in the machine holding the thread ends, is now considered your leader.  You leave it there and start sewing your parts for quilt A.  Once that is done you can just snip off the blocks of quilt B.  And there you have it.  You just did a leader and an ender.  Press them to the dark side, and you have your first 2-patch.  

Just set these aside.  Don't worry about them, just let them keep piling up.  I have a large jar for mine and I don't always have a plan for them.  I just keep making them.  Currently I am making those tiny HSTs (see previous post for details on that one).  If you prefer a theme, you could chose to do a light and dark block.  In my case I went with random squares, as I had a plan for the first quilt I wanted to make.  I just made too many, that I had to come up with a plan for all the extras.....lol.  I most often work with four patches, so as the 2-patches accumulated, I would start using two 2-patch blocks as my leader/ender to make 4-patches and I would set those aside and let them pile up in the jar.

When I felt I had enough 4-patch leader/enders, I started this 1st quilt, back in Jan/2023.  I then turned this to my main focus and started to assemble the quilt.  I made this Irish chain quilt.  I used black as the first row, burgundy for the second row and light brown for the last row.  These three colours frame the colourful chains and become part of the chain as well, for a nice wide chain.  The background is a dark cream.  The borders are finished with the same black, burgundy and light brown.

I think it turn out nice.  The black tends to define the space and contains the colourful squares.  I finished this top in Dec 15/2024 and quilted it in Mar/2025.  It measures approx. 72" square.

Next, since I had such a large pile of leader/enders remaining, I was able to make a second quilt.  I started this 2nd quilt in Dec/2024.  For this quilt I found this quilt layout.  Not sure it has a name, because it was one of those flash sightings.  You see a quilt and your memory stores the information for another day.  This was the day.  For this quilt, I decided to tone it down some.  I took out all the 4-patch blocks that had bright colours.  I just wanted the muted, sometimes called muddy colours, for this quilt.

I used a lighter cream, the same fabric for the sashing and the divides in the block itself.  This block assembly uses partial seams on the middle 4-patch.  You sew two 4-patches plus a 2-patch together in a row and add the cream strip to one side.  Make four of these to form the perimeter of the block.  Then you sew one perimeter block to the centre 4-patch, but only half way.  By doing this, you have created a partial seam, where you started to sew.  On the edge that is a complete seam, you can now attach another perimeter block to the 4-patch, and this time you will sew it all the way to the end.  Continue this same process with the third perimeter piece and then the four perimeter piece.  Now that you have added the four perimeter piece, you are ready to finish the first partial seam.  Start where you left off at the half way mark and sew it to the end.  Sit back and admire your block....lol.  That wasn't so hard now was it?  

This quilt was also quilted in Mar/2025.  This quilt measure approx. 70" x 97"

Both of these quilts, other than the border and background fabrics, were made using scraps that I had.  I often cut my smaller scraps into usable strips and squares for future projects.  I follow a similar system as Bonnie, but I don't do all the sizes she does.  The system makes is easier to start and faster to finish a quilt.  Plus I saved a lot of time by putting through these pieces as leader/enders too.  To start this method for the first time, I would suggest you have a quilt planned, that has simple blocks that can be used as leader/enders.  Don't make it complicated.  Just sew, press and put aside.

Both of these quilts were recently donated to HHQG.  They have donated the first one to raise money for SickKids neuroblastoma research and the second one is still to be determined.  I would like to send out a big thank you to all the folks who drop off packages of their scraps to me, when they don't want them anymore.  It's with your scraps and mine, that I was able to make these quilts, that are going to a good cause.

Take care everyone.  If your are in Canada, enjoy your long weekend!!

Work in progress update - Rhododendron Trail quilt

I joined the Bonnie Hunter Mystery of Oct/2021-Jan/2022, called Rhododendron Trail.  This was the first time I did one of Bonnie's mysteries.  I enjoyed it and anticipated each of the clues that were sent out each week.  This is Bonnie's version.  If you would like to make this quilt yourself, you can find the link to purchase the individual pattern through Bonnie's blog at:

https://quiltville.com/shop.html#!/Rhododendron-Trail-Digital-Pattern-Booklet/p/442910163

I didn't know what it would look like when I started, but I am definitely NOT disappointed.  I'm not done though, as I was not able to keep up on a weekly bases.  I do have all the main pink blocks done and the pieces for the border, but only part of the secondary blocks done.  Even the sashings are all cut out and ready to be assembled.  This is another quilt that I was thinking should come out to play soon...

I made some extra main blocks at the time and ended up making a NICU quilt with them. See picture below.  I have one more extra block, which I am trying to come up with an idea to use it in a NICU quilt as well, but with a different layout.  Any suggestions are welcome.  Just leave them in the comments.

Then recently, I came across this version of the quilt from Bonnie Hunter's retreat participant.  Instead of on point, she put hers straight, instead of the small turquoise sashing, she used larger pieces of background fabric, and instead of the pieced border, she did a simple border treatment.  This version has a completely different flavour.  I love them both!

Once the layout clue was revealed, I had decided to put mine straight, instead of on point too.  You can check out my design board in previous posts to see the layout I had.  I think I will still go with the blue sashing, as it adds punch to the quilt and I already have the flying geese done, however since I was going to enlarge mine to king size, I had a dilemma of deciding whether I should do more geese or substitute the rest with simple coordinating fabric. 

Decisions, decisions, decisions......  Need to think on it some more....

Take care everyone.

Scrap Attack blocks gifted by Guild members

In May/2024, I had to step down from the President roll at the HHQG, two months earlier then expected due to my cancer diagnoses.  Someone stepped into the roll and continued on to fill in the position for the following year.  

During this time, the guild was making plans.  One of the executive members organized and led the project to accumulate blocks, made by all the members of the guild.  This was happening behind the scenes.  On Oct/2024, I went to the Guild meeting and was gifted a stack of blocks.  

The block is called Scrap Attack.  It's paper piece.  The instructions the guild members received when they got the paper piece pattern was to think scrappy and bright, as I usually like it that way...lol.  They really got to know me....lol.  This picture is of one block and a copy of the paper template.  

I threw the blocks up on the design board, the next day and organized a layout with what I had, based on how big I wanted it to be in the end.  Just peeking out at the top of the picture below is the border fabrics that I was planning to use.  Now I'm going to work at finishing the remaining blocks needed.

The following pictures are of the progress, as of April 8/2025.  I haven't really had much time to work on them and got distracted with other projects.

I have since removed the blocks from the design board, to be worked on later.  As a guidance, I took this next picture for a closer view of the bottom half, of the quilt.   This way, when I get back to it, I can confirm which block I am making and what colours are in the area to help mess the blocks together.

I appreciate all the blocks I received and find it interesting how each member interprets the instructions given and how well they have come to know me!  Now it's up to me to make a cohesive quilt!!  I'll get back to this quilt soon.  There are others that I want to get out of the way first.....some of the old quilts.   

Take care everyone and don't forget to take some time for yourself.

Remaining party hats

 A bit of content for this post, a clip from a post of June 29/2022 called Celebrating with Party Hats:

The Halton Hills Quilter's Guild celebrated our 30th anniversary just as covid hit, so we weren't able to gather together to celebrate in person.  It is quite a milestone and we didn't want to just let it go by without doing something to mark the date.  

One of the executive members, Susan, suggested that we make these party hats as a group and make a quilt with them.  I thought it was a great idea and agreed, as did several others.  I did the mistake of saying, oh, that is great and I know just the right pattern to set the blocks...which was followed by Susan saying great so you can make the quilt and present it to the guild at the June meeting...lol...I guess I just walked right into that one...lol.  Anyways, I was good with it.  I enjoy doing what I can to help.

Below is the first quilt that was made from all of the blocks received.  Please view the previous post for all the details.

Shortly after this first quilt was made and presented, I received some more blocks.  What to do with them played in my head for quite some time, plus life happened and now we are in Aug/2025.  It finally came to me what to do with them.  I thought simple was what I wanted to do.  I made four hats to finish the design I wanted and put all the blocks in the borders.  It's different....simple, but still cute.

Close up of a party hat.  All I had to do was add the tassel on the top.  I really love strips on a diagonal for bindings.  Strips, plaids or polka-dots are always my favourite for bindings.

Take care everyone.

The start of Welcome to the North Pole wall hanging

At the end of March, I had a second surgery.  I was ordered not to do anything strenuous.  Take it easy they said, as the stitches need to heal.  With my adult kids on patrol, I had to stick to those orders.  Taking walks or sitting and reading books was about all that I could do at the beginning, but come the end of April I was going stir-crazy.  I couldn't take it anymore.

Then all of a sudden an idea came to me.  I received a pattern book from my daughter.....I want to say about 5 yrs ago, maybe 6.  It was at the old house.  The pattern was a hand applique wall hanging called Welcome to the North Pole by Piece O' Cake.  I had been wanting to start this quilt for a while, but I kept putting myself off.  I already had a hand applique project on the go.  But I decided that I was going to treat myself and just go for it.  Who cares how many I have on the go!!  As a friend told me recently, "at least you get them done".  I do get them done.....eventually.....lol.

Anyways instead of sitting in my chair upstairs reading, I decided to take myself downstairs to my studio and start tracing the pattern on freezer paper.  It was such a peaceful thing.  I was enjoying the process of working on this, and my kids were ok with it, as it wasn't strenuous.  I did also take my time with many breaks in between.  A few days later I was done with the tracing.

Then came the fabric selection.  As this is essentially a Christmas quilt, I pulled out my stash of Christmas fabrics.  As I said earlier, I've been wanting to make this quilt for some time now, hence over time, I had already collected all the dark blue background fabric.  I placed all of those blocks out on the floor and proceeded to select fabrics for the different elements of each block, working with the large main objects first, to distribute the colour throughout the quilt.  This was also done over the course of a few days.

By this point, I took a few days of rest with some appointments.  Once I got back downstairs, I figured I would just start cutting the pieces.  As I took my time and worked on these pieces, I went on YouTube, to the Piece O' Cake channel by Becky Goldsmith.  What a fountain of information!!  Through what I watched, I learned a few different methods of applique and applied some of it to the way that I cut certain pieces.  That's why you will see below, that some of the pieces are cut properly and others are only rough cut.  All the pieces are now cut!!  I moved it from the floor to the design wall, to keep the dog from making a scramble out of all the pieces...lol.

The whole process was so relaxing and that was good for my mental well being.  I'm just not the type, to just sit around and do nothing all day.  As the t-shirt I have says, Quilting is my Therapy!!  I was quite in the zone of making this wall hanging.  I took the first block out on the back patio, sat under the umbrella and started hand stitching the pieces.  I think it took me another couple of days to get this block done.  It's sooooo cute!!

The block is called Sprinkles Ice Cream Shoppe.  The signage was done later so it still needs to be appliqued onto the block.  While selecting the fabrics for this block, I tried to find fabrics to play up on the theme (ie the cone has the grid that you often find on an ice cream cone, the ice cream fabric looks like they have sprinkles on them, and the tree looks like it is decorated already).  Fun, fun, fun!!  This was so much fun!  By the time this block was done, my spirits were lifted.  It felt good to get back into it.

Take care everyone.  Hope you can find some time to do whatever it is that gives you peace and lifts your spirits!

HHQG Workshop, paper piecing with two finished quilts

I've been busy this past week with getting settled back into work and decided that I needed to finish some stuff here in my studio.  A while back, I got some lights added in the ceiling and I finally got around to patching the holes that were needed to run the wiring.  Just waiting now for my sister to come and paint the ceilings.  There's a fresh coat of paint on the walls after further repairs there and the baseboards are now all in.  It's taking me a bit, as I have to go easy on it.  So over the next week, I hope to have the baseboards painted and my sewing table and accessories put back in place.

As I've been busy with this, I haven't had any time to do any quilting, so I am pulling out some pictures from the achieves.  Below are the ladies that attended the HHQG Workshop of May 13/2023.  I taught the class for paper piece and the pattern was a pineapple block.  

What a happy bunch of ladies.  They made the class so enjoyable.  Most of them were able to finish at least one block.  They had an extra paper piece pattern to take home, in case they wanted to photocopy some more, to make a quilt or some other project.  Below is of the ladies hard at work....  Though it looks all serious with heads down and concentrating on their work, there was a lot of laughs and chats about this that and the other...  

Shortly after the workshop, I received this picture of a quilt finish.  This quilt was on it's way to Australia, for a young boy.  You can't go wrong with blue pineapples, and this one with it's orange center and border, really sets it off nicely.

Then more recently, on Dec 14/2024, I took a picture of this finished top.  This quilt was being made for the maker's husband and I think it was him who wanted a red and black quilt, but don't quote me on that.  This maker customized the perimeter blocks to create a border affect of colours that frame the centre and almost look like a scalloped edge.  It's still part of the pineapple block itself, but she changed the position of the neutrals from centre to outer edge and used the red and black to finish off the outside edge.  I love it!!!

Same block with two completely different appearances.  These make me curious....I wonder if any of the other ladies finished their projects?  I'll have to ask around when I see them.  I would love to be able to share them all with everyone as well.

Take care everyone.