Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Rainbow Neighbourhood House Block #9 and Some Hearts

My sincere apologies for being a day late with this post; life has been rather busy and full lately, all good, but I don't work well when I have a lot of interruptions throughout the day even if they are good ones like reading (such a good, captivating book I'm in), Netflix, eating outside, gardening, errands... Anyhow, let's go!

This week we are making our ninth house! If you are doing the throw, this is your last block, and you get next week off.😚 If you are making the twin, you will have one more house to make along with the heart blocks.

Monday, May 29, 2023

Global Garden - Hands2Help Comfort Quilt

Here is my second H2H quilt for this year, the first being my SAHRR which you can see here. Hands2Help, in case you don't know, is an annual comfort quilt drive hosted by Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. I named it Global Garden as a nod to the Trip Around the World corner blocks, the floral fabrics, and the centre garden-themed appliquéd block.

After I rummaged through my drawer of lonely blocks aka orphan blocks to choose one for my SAHRR, it hit me that I really should make an effort to work more of them into a couple of quilts. In the drawer were these five blocks, the centre appliquĂ©s one and four Trip Around the World ones. I ‘won’ them in a bidding activity we did in the local guild I belonged to at that time. That was more than six years ago! Out they came and I let them percolate a bit on the design wall until I ‘saw’ the idea of using big, 15” finished, QSTs to frame and pull them together. 

A note about my Rainbow Neighbourhood QAL: that post will be out this afternoon.

Saturday, May 27, 2023

DrEAMi #73

 


Welcome to another month of Drop Everything And Make it celebrations. Isn’t the squirrel photo adorable? You can watch the whole few-seconds-long video here. Marty had it in her Instagram stories and I guarantee it will make you smile. I like to think that the dandelion seeds floating around the squirrels head, or like those tantalizing projects that we just have to make. This is where we celebrate those distractions because we know that it is just so good for our creative souls.

Friday, May 26, 2023

My First Quilt

Happy Friday! I had hoped to have a finish but life has intervened, as has a good book, and general poky-ness, so maybe this weekend... In the meantime, I'm popping in to let you know that I was asked by Leanne of Devoted Quilter if I would like to be interviewed about the first quilt I ever made for a new series she's doing on her blog and Instagram. 

In case you missed any of the posts, which come out at the end of each month, (I didn't catch Leanne's, so I will be heading over to read it asap!) 
you can read about Leanne's own first quilt here
Laura's, Slice of Pi, first quilt here
and about Michelle's, From Bolt to Beauty, first quilt here.

I am honoured to be the featured 'First Quilt' interviewee today. You can hop over to Leanne's blog, to read all about my first little quilt.


That's a recent photo, taken in February to use in an upcoming magazine publication - eeek.

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Gratitude #75

Welcome to my monthly Gratitude post. All month long I note little things that make me smile, that me feel gratitude, things that I like or love. Several of us write these posts; you can read more at LeeAnna‘s blog Not Afraid of Color.
 
1. I love dogs. When I was in Alberta at the beginning of May, visiting Brianne and Brady, one of the things Brady requested we do is meet up with my niece, Brianne's cousin, Sheila. She has three little dogs, cute little characters, who love going to the off-leash dog park in Edmonton's River Valley. It is a massage for the soul and spirit there: dogs of all sizes, shapes and ages, running around, just being dogs. Some chase balls, others chase each other, still others just amble or race along behind or in front of their owners. There is a huge field where they can run around, there are trails through forest and bush, and there is the river where they can swim. It's a paradise, and always leaves all four of us, well all seven, counting the three fur mops, just so content and at peace.



Monday, May 22, 2023

Rainbow Neighbourhood House Block #8

First of all Happy Victoria Day! I hope, if you get the holiday, that you get to spend some or all of it doing something you absolutely love. I started my day off with some quiet sewing, finishing up my eighth house, in my favourite colour, blue, while listening to the busy birds, singing, calling and chirping. Ahhh.


If you are making the throw, you will have just one house left to make after this week! If you are making the twin, you have two left along with two heart blocks and some pinwheels.

Monday, May 15, 2023

Rainbow Neighbourhood House Block #7

What fun it was to see all the gorgeous house blocks linked up last week! I am thrilled to see all the creativity just bursting forth in your houses. I love hearing how much fun you are having choosing fabrics, fussy-cutting, even purchasing a bit of special fabrics or colours to incorporate.

I was away all last week visiting Brianne and Brady and friends and family in Alberta, so I did not sew one single stitch. It was a wonderful week! Last week was the halfway point with a linkup and two prizes on offer.

Monday, May 8, 2023

Rainbow Neighbourhood Mid-Point Link Up

Welcome to the halfway point of this year's Quilt Along! It is such a joy to see all the pretty, interesting, unique, themed houses popping up everywhere! By now everyone should have five houses made. If you are making the twin, you also have four large tree blocks made.


Did I mention that there will be a prize chosen for those who link up their five houses? Don't stress if you don't have all five done yet; the linky will be open all week, until midnight Saturday, so you've got time, my friend. Breathe.

Friday, May 5, 2023

Strippy Slab Star Quilt Free Pattern

As you know, I’ve inadvertently started a third RSC project this year. This is a great block to use up strips and scraps. In an effort to use up my crumbs and make a dent in my strips (don’t ask how the strips dent is going), I hit upon this lovely large 16” finished Evening Star block. Here is my orange one complete.


I do love looking at these each time I finish one, thinking that I saved all of those bits from the landfill, and I will help keep someone snuggly and warm under the forthcoming quilt.
How do I make these? Let me show you!

Monday, May 1, 2023

Rainbow Neighbourhood House Block #5

We are at the halfway point of making house blocks!


For those of you making the throw, once you have House #5 done, you are more than half way because there are only nine houses to make. For those of you making the twin, you have ten houses to make. This week we aren't making any extra parts for our neighbourhood, so it's an easy week!