Wool penny wall hanging

Back in April/25, I came across this inspiration on Pinterest.  I can't remember exactly, but I believe this person was making a rug.  The beige is burlap and the circles are in wool.  They are all attached using a blanket stitch around each individual circle.

I thought this was a great idea for using up all the smaller pieces of wool that I have from various wool projects that I've done over the years.  There was no wool purchased specifically for this wall hanging.  I started my version May 1/2025.  I am going to use a black cotton backing/background.  This is only part of the design.  After I complete all of these circles, I'm going to also add tabs all the way around the piece with a penny circle at the end of each tab.

Because of the leftover wool that I had, my version is going to be brighter than the inspiration piece.  Above is the overall effect with the black background.  I removed the black fabric and put the circles directly on the design wall, as seen below.  

The missing spots are the few circles that I've completed.  The one above is the centre of the piece and I've already attached that one to the black fabric.  Basically I've drawn a grid on the black fabric and where the grids horizontally and vertically meet is where I will place a circle.  This way the lines of the grid will all disappear behind the circles.

I've taken pictures of each quarter of the wall hanging, so I know where each of the circles go when I've completed them.  I've since taken all of these off the design wall and put them in four baggies to keep them safe and contained.

These are a great take along handwork project, and I've taking them with me this weekend, as we travel 2 1/2 hours both ways to our family reunion.  Hoping to make a dent in them.

Take care everyone.  Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends!! 

A fruit panel

It all started with this fruit panel.  While in the process of cleaning out drawers and containers, I came across this panel.  All the small sections are of fruit.  I don't know about you, but I just can't see using fruits in a quilt.  Placemats maybe or a table topper for a kitchen, but not a quilt.

Between everything else I've been working on, I was also working on these potholders.  That's what I decided to do with the fruits.  Aside of the mixed fruit blocks, all the other fruits have a matching pair.  So I decided to make potholders as gifts.  

I went to the store to get the special batting with foil between the layers for heat resistance and an extra layer of 100% cotton batting for extra protection.  While there, I also found this green fabric I used for the borders, to make the potholders larger.

Then I found this second fabric that I used for the backing and binding.  This fabric is a bit darker to help with making food stains less noticeable.  These are not intended for show pieces, there are basic utilitarian, practical potholders. 

All quilted up and bound!!  One completed and 13 more to go.....lol.....  They are all quilted.  I just have to attach the binding to them all.  That takes me a bit of time and it's not my most favorite thing to do...

Good thing there is no deadline on these.  I'll just continue to work on them between other things.

Take care everyone.  If you are in Canada, have yourself a great Thanksgiving celebration!!

Mom's Muskoka wall hanging, cottage theme

My mom and I get together every Friday at her place and have dinner together.  While I was off work, I would often go earlier and we would do stuff.  Sometimes cooking or canning, and other times quilt making.  Several years back, at a guild meeting, we had a speaker who did faux stained glass pictures using fabric.  My mom and I each bought our own pattern to make.  We started back in Sept/2024, though we only worked on these from time to time and my mom finished hers just recently in Aug/2025.

This is my mom's completed wall hanging.  Her pattern had several pictures that made up the whole design with some confetti looking colourful pieces to frame the designs.  Her pattern is called Postcards From Muskoka (pattern details in the last picture below).

I asked my mom what her favourite pictures were and she chose these two.  This first one is iconic of a cottage scene.  The two Muskoka chairs out on a deck overlooking the water and in this picture catching the sun set.  This is synonym for relaxing cottage life.  It's no coincidence that I am posting this post in advance for today.  If you are reading this the day I posted it, then you are reading it while we are all at my sister-in-law's cottage for a family reunion.  How fitting is that...lol. 

This second choice is another event that evokes the feel of cottage life.  Sitting by the fire at the end of a day with family and friends all gathered around, catching up on life events and enjoying each other's company.  My mom and I would occasionally have a fire at her place on a Friday, to unwind.  I can see why this pictures is a favourite for her.  It's one of mine too.

Here is all the required details in the picture below, if you would like to make your own.

Have a great day everyone.  Take care and don't forget to take some time for yourself.

Working on odds and ends

Yesturday was all about working on odds and ends.  After work, I started to work on the samples, for photos, for the guild workshop.  Making pieces in different stages and taking the pictures to go into a handout.  That's all done.  Now another executive member is taking the pictures and adding them to a booklet with all the instructions that we worked on together the day before.  There were just a hand full of remaining pictures to take.

Then I had to go shopping for groceries, as I am in charge of the Thanksgiving weekend Sunday bunch.  I'm going to be making a couple of sweet potato, brussels sprout, sausage and bacon quiches, with breakfast sausages on the side, various cold cuts and cheeses for the buns, Caesar salad, veggie tray and fruit tray.  We usually have around 18 of us there, give or take.  I am looking forward to it!!!

After I got everything that I needed to get done and organized, it was time to work on my Smith Mountain Morning quilt.  I am still very behind, compared to a couple of the ladies.  So I sat at my machine and worked on these points that go in the border.  The other half of the points are blue and they were not cut yet.

Once all the brown pieces were sewn, I moved on to cutting the blues.  This is a slow and tedious task.  I have to pay attention to the direction of the points.  The ruler cuts the righthand side, then you have to either turn the ruler upside down, or flip the fabric upside down, in order to get a left hand point.  The pieces on the right of the picture below shows you what I mean about left and right points.

On the left hand side of the picture are the half square triangles (HST), that I am also cutting from the same strips.  Doing them both at the same time, so as to not handle the fabrics more than once.  Whatever is left of the strip after cutting these pieces, gets trimmed down and cut into logs for the courthouse step variation.

I still have a lot of cutting to do.  Even after I finish with the blue, I have to go back to the brown to do those logs too.  I guess if I had to choose one of my least favourite tasks, when it comes to quilting, well the first would definitely be the binding and then 2nd runner up would be cutting.  But it has to be done!!!  I'll have to take care of it after I get back from the weekend reunion.

Take care everyone.  Happy Friday of a long weekend if you're in Canada!!  And Happy Thanksgiving!

Finished the 2nd houses quilt

Back in September I finished this quilt and just needed to quilt it and add the binding.  I did it not long after that, but kept forgetting to get pictures to post about it.  This is the 2nd houses quilt.  The first houses quilt was done back in March/2023 and the post is called, A scrappy houses quilt, if you're interested in reading about it.  This one is even cuter!!  

I love the borders on this quilt.  It was a piece of yardage that had several rows of houses with the houses sitting in a row across the width of fabric.  So, needless to say, I have more rows, just slightly shorter with more houses.  These rows contained mostly the retail/commercial side of things and the slightly shorter rows are primarily the residential side of things.  You'll likely see them in the next/3rd houses quilt.....lol.....as there are a lot more than I thought already cut out and ready to make.....lol.  Even the green border has huts all jumbled together across the with of fabric, though this green was part of another fabric line.  Do you see them?

The backing fabric for this quilt was also part of this neighbourhood fabric line, as well as the stripped binding.  This line of fabric came out during a summer quilting shop hop a few years back, at least.  It was the theme at the time.  The backing is also cute.  The scene is of the roads that would have been travelled during the shop hop and the buildings are all quilt related with a play on quilting words.

Here is a close up of the backing.  Can you see the top blue spot is called Binding Cove, and the bottom one is Lake Rotary....lol.  Then you have Sew Timeless Bend, Featherweight Freeway and Twisted Thread Turnpike for the roads.  You have signs that read Quilt With Me, Sew Busy and Holy Scrap!  Plus there are a lot of sewing accessories and little critters too, and much more!!

I think that even though this quilt is being donated to Project Linus, the adults of the children will equally have fun playing "I Spy" with the border fabric and the backing fabric.  I spot a possum on the grass by the "Holy Scraps!" sigh.....do you see it?   Fun, fun, fun!!!

Take care everyone.

Miniature granny squares quilt

Here is another finish that I'd like to share were you.  This one has been done since June/25 and was going to go into the Acton Fall Fair, however I missed the deadline for that, so maybe next year....  This is a mini quilt.  All of those squares measure only 1/2".  The sashing and first border are also only 1/2".

I really enjoyed making this quilt.  The fabric selection was time consuming, as I wanted there to be pattern on the fabric, so the pattern needed to be smallish, but still have variety and not read as a solid.  The design of this quilt is a traditional pattern.  The blocks are called Grandmother's square or Granny square (two rings of coloured squares around the centre block).

Here is a close up of a square including sashing.  I'll just say that I have never, machine quilted a quilt, to this intensely on such a small scale!!!  But that was fun too!!

I did, in the past, do a Great Granny Square block quilt (three rings of coloured squares around the centre block).  This one below was NICU size.  The quilt measured 25" square.  There is just something about this block that I am drawn to.  I quilted this one on my domestic machine in a crosshatch pattern. The below quilt was donated to Project Linus back in May/2020.

Maybe eventually I'll make this in a regular quilt size.  I do enjoy making them!

Take care everyone.

Stacking bricks quilt complete

Yesturday, I did finish up the pinwheel blocks for my Smith Mountain Morning quilt.  Didn't take a picture, as there's nothing new and interesting there.  I also finished up the table topper that I was working on, for an up coming workshop, for the guild.  I did take pictures, but I can't share those pictures with you yet.

So, instead I'll show you this quilt that I finished back in Sept/25.  If you'll recall, I started this one and posted about it on Aug 15th and then again Sept 21st.  I finally got the border on, made a pieced backing for it and quilted it.  

I think it didn't turn out too bad, especially for something that all came from my scraps and the border from my hard to use up yardage.  This piece of yardage is now completely finished and out of my stash.  The background batik fabric was curtesy of a friend who was cleaning out some of her smaller pieces of fabric.  There's none of this background fabric left either.  Couldn't have planned it any better.  It was meant to be!!

If I make this one again, and there is a chance of it, I think I'll make it in just fall colours for an autumn quilt.  I have lots of those colours to use up.  We'll see.....I still have to work on my works in progress list, in hopes of bringing it down to a reasonable number.....it's not reasonable at the moment.....

Take care everyone. 

Trying to catch up to the others...

Well.....I'm not caught up yet, but I made some real progress yesturday.  I cut into the 3 1/2" strips and worked on the browns.  I got all the brown points cut out for the stars and the one half of the border points (the other half are blue).  I also got the brown HSTs cut for the corner units on the star blocks.  So, I am getting there...

I had to give my hand a rest from cutting, so I moved on to sewing.  Managed to finish all the brown HSTs.  They're all pressed and ready to sew into the blue star blocks.  If you remember from a previous post, I also have all the centre pinwheels done for the blue star blocks as well.  No blue points though...

Once these were done, I then moved on to working on the remaining pinwheels.  These pinwheels will be for the brown star blocks.  As you can see in the picture below, I have them all sewn into pairs and those pairs are attached, web style to their mates.  So all I have to do to finish these, is to sew the one horizontal seam between all 25 sets.  I AM getting there...

What I didn't get a chance to sew yesturday, was the brown points seen in the first picture on the bottom left hand side, which are for the brown stars, and the brown points on the border units.  I'm ok with that.  All in all it was a very good and productive day yesturday, with my Smith Mountain Morning quilt.  Even with the few distractions I had throughout the day.

Today after work, I have groceries and an executive meeting in the evening.  I'm not likely to get a chance to do much quilting wise, but just maybe, I'll have a chance to at least finish these pinwheels.  Wish me luck!!

Take care everyone.

The courthouse step block variation

While I was at my sister's place yesturday doing renos, some of the ladies from our sewing group still got together to sew.  Many of us are making the Smith Mountain Morning.  A pattern from Bonnie Hunter.  All the details were given in a previous post.

Here are some pictures of the progress that has been made since the last time I posted about these quilts.  This first one has these two blocks done, plus a bunch of other companion blocks that she intends to use in lieu of all the stars.  I'll have to get some pictures of them, at another time.  This person, in my opinion is the furthest along in making this quilt.

Then we have this eager beaver, busy at work.  She made these four blocks yesturday and has many other parts done too.  I think she is the next in line for the most completed.

Along with the above pictures, these two ladies have a lot of their other units cut and made, ready to be assembled into blocks.

And as for me......I still only have the one courthouse step variation block done.....lol.  I did this block back in Sept/25.  I'm still working on my pinwheels and will need to cut some fabric in order to move forward with any of the above blocks.  I don't have any of the star points cut or any of the logs for the courthouse steps.  I best get a move on it!!!  

In comparison to the other two colour combinations above, mine looks kind of dull.  My quilt is being gifted to a male (who will remain nameless for now, just in case he reads this post).  So, I can't use pretty pinks and purples.  I really do like their colour choices though!!!

Let's see what I can get done today, before I have to step out and help my sister at my mom's place, later in the afternoon.

Take care everyone.

Simple pattern that can be used with a panel or large print design

I didn't get to do much yesturday, as I was away for most of the day helping my sister with some renos at her place.  By the time I got home it was past tea time and almost time to start making dinner.

I did give myself a rest from the crazy blocks mentioned in yesturday's post.  Instead, I quilting the three quilts for my mom.  The three quilt I quilted for her, are for Project Linus, so she needed them quickly to bind them, before our pick up date of Oct 19th.  Nothing like cutting it to the last minute....

I guess there is always tomorrow for straightening up around here and cutting parts for the Smith Mountain Morning quilt, though I now have a deadline for a table topper.  I designed a simple table topper to be taught at a Guild workshop coming on Oct 25th, for beginners.  I am making it to test out the sizes, technique, and for instructions on how to make it.  It's turning out pretty good.  I'm enjoying making it.

I'm going to be keeping the pictures for this one under wraps, until we do the workshop.  So instead I will share with you a quilt that I made back in Aug/2025.  This was a piece of yardage that someone gave me of cranes.  I decided to use the yardage as a panel, so that I wouldn't have to cut it up into small pieces.  I wanted the whole scene to be visible.

I adding in some borders, in coordinating colours, to enlarge the quilt.  I believe the quilt measured approx. 60" x 75", give or take.  This quilt was given to the HHQG for them to donate where they see fit.  The panel has an oriental feel to it with some gold highlights and the first border, the cream, also has highlights of gold swirls running through it.  Come to think of it, the green corner blocks and the small dark burgundy strips also have specks of gold.

I'll apologize for the quality of the photo.  It was a last minute snap shot, as I forgot to take a picture of it while I had it.  This was taken at night, while we were at an executive meeting, so not much time to set up the shot.  

Take care everyone.

More colour crazy blocks

Well, I had more purple solid colours than I initially thought I had.....lol.  On Wednesday, after work, I ironed all the purple scraps, cut out all the solids and started sorting into shades.  It was going so well that I even had a chance to sew, and got a few more blocks done.  Here are a couple of the purple blocks.  The rest are in the basket with the blues ready to be sewn....later.

I cleared off my design board in the back and started laying out the completed blocks.  This is not the order/layout, just putting them up to keep them safe and out of the way.  It's getting pretty messy around here, which is usually the case when being creative and working with scraps.

I think I am going to give these a rest for a couple of days, as I want to straighten up around here and get cutting parts for the Smith Mountain Morning quilt, as well as the borders for the floating hearts quilt and various other miscellaneous things to finish up quilts and get them off my list.  

The pick up dates for Project Linus in October are approaching and I need to get what I can done before then.  I also have more quilting to do for my mom and myself.  That may happen tomorrow or Sunday.  

Enjoy your weekend everyone.  Don't forget to take some time for yourself.

An extra rhododendron block

This orphan rhododendron block was part of the blocks that were added to my list of Works in Progress.  This is an extra block that I had from making Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt called Rhododendron Trail.  I thought I would use this 10 1/2" square as the starting point for making another NICU quilt.  That means I have to add much more to all four sides, in order to make it at least 24" square.  I did a post called Work in progress update - Rhododendron Trail quilt on Aug 28/25, where I show what the full quilt looks like, if you want a reference point.

In the original mystery quilt, the above block is the primary block and the flying geese in the picture below are part of the borders.  I am still cleaning out stuff around here, and came across the container that I am storing all the fabrics for my rhododendron trail quilt.  In this container is also all the flying geese for the borders.  I know I don't have enough made, as I changed my mind and decided to do a king size quilt instead.  So, I've decided to pull out some of the geese and see if I can use them to expand on the block to make it bigger.  

There is yellow on one side and neutral on the other side.  I am going to have to alter four blocks that make up the corners.  On the last flying geese on each border, I will need to remove the neutral "wing" and swap it out for another yellow, to keep the outer edges all yellow. 

Once I had these geese laid out, I decided I was going to try and put the block on a diagonal and add in some fabric for the corners to make a bigger block.  In the original quilt, Bonnie also uses a turquoise fabric for a skinny sashing.  I think I want to do the same for this little NICU quilt....  I just don't know yet whether I want to put it around the small middle block, or around the final large block, before adding the flying geese borders...  Maybe I can add the turquoise on both sides of the flying geese, so that the quilt will measure 26" square....  Not sure....  I'll have to think about it....

Before anyone says anything, I did notice that the top right hand corner, last two geese, are facing the wrong way.  I'll fix it when I sew them all together.

If you have any suggestions, leave them in the comment section below.  In the meantime, I think this one will be left on the design floor and let to stew in my head some more, until something speaks to me.

Take care everyone.

Colour Crazy blocks

A couple of days ago, I wrote a post called Colour families and using up my solids.  I've been working on the colour blue ever since.  I can't believe just how many shades of blue solid fabrics I have.  You can check out the other post for further details.  

Yesturday, I finally finished going through all of my blue scraps, trying to find enough shades of blue to match all the strips I have.  Some have plenty and others, not so much!  May have to go through my string drawer, fat quarters or even my yardage if I have to.  Everything has been picked up and put in this container, ready for me to sew the blocks.

I had to quilt a quilt yesturday, so I had to clean up all the scraps from off the longarm, but I was making so much progress on them, that I didn't want to put them away...lol...I am really enjoying fondling the scraps...lol.  I just love colour.  To further add to the chaos around here, I decided to revamp my scrap storage, so I have stuff everywhere!!  The floor is very convenient, but not very wise with a rambunctious dog around.....lol. 

I also cut up some more solid strips and worked on the turquoise to teals.  This is turning out to be a long term project, as it entails my ironing all the tiny scraps, matching them up, and then going through my folders of chunks and my drawers of small pieces....for each colour family....yikes!!  

During this whole process of pulling out all the scraps, I came across another started project.  This was an experiment to see if I wanted to make a zig zag quilt.  So.......guess what......yes, you guessed it.  Another quilt added to my list....lol.  I have to use up these scraps!!  I'm calling this quilt Zig Zag Crazy.

Now that this quilt is out in the open, I may work on it at the same time as I'm working on the Colour Crazy quilt blocks, as I'll already have the container of scraps out.  I'll work on these as long as I can stand it in one go, then move on to something a little less intense.

Today, after work, I think I will work on an easier colour, like maybe purple.  I don't have too many of those.  Maybe I can get them all done by the end of the day.  Wish me luck!!

Take care everyone.