Freebie 15, Block 11, Upcoming Challenges, Aprons (entry 17)

I absolutely loved this block – it is so cheery and fun!!

I was a bit worried by the amount of pieces we had to piece together but in the end, step by step, it worked out awesome.

Here’s my pile of pieces after I cut them following instructions…

Here’s my finished block – I love it!!

Valerie

 

Now that September is upon us…all of the Guilds have started back up again and I belong to 2: Lakeside Quilters (my home town Guild in Chestermere, AB) & Flying Needles which is out in Millarville, AB. 

Lakeside Quilters I’m working on some of their projects – mystery quilt (this is when you get cutting instructions, amounts/values of fabrics and block instructions but you don’t know what the final quilt will be), Raffle Quilt project of some sort as we do this one every year.

Flying Needles Quilt Group I’m working on quite a few things – maybe over extended myself just a little 😉

Mystery Quilt – which I don’t know what it is this year as in the past I have helped with them, Jan B has redesigned this one and will be sending the instructions to me to lead

This is a mystery that we did a few years back – I embellished with the bias vine around the outside border and leaves but you get the idea.

 

Pizza Box Challenge: this is when you come up with the first block or the “theme” of the quilt you want add .5m of fabric and pass it onto the next person. There is usually about 9 blocks completed at the end that are yours, then you come up with the finished quilt. Here’s a pic of mine from several years ago.

9 blocks in total, the block I started with is the top left

This was my very first time with free motion quilting, here’s the close up – I’m pretty proud of my first time;)

Here’s the back I strip pieced it to use up the rest of the fabric. I also have this one for sale on Etsy if you are interested.

Apron Challenge: I made this one apron a while back and it’s hanging in my kitchen but I’m going to go hog-wild with this new challenge – not sure yet what I’m going to do but I love how big aprons are now – don’t you?

 

Here’s the one that is hanging in my kitchen.

 

My mom loves to make aprons and I know she is making a whole bunch more when we go on our retreat Oct 2nd to Rustlers Lodge, Sundre, Alberta. but here’s a bit of a preview of some of her other aprons..


Left to Right: SIL Colleen M, MIL Sandy M and me. Arn’t these the cutest aprons!! Thanks Mum!!

More to come…Valerie

 

PastimesOnline.ca, Freebie 15, Pinky Lee, Tig, Garden Flowers (entry 11)

So for the last couple of months I’ve been working on another business venture since I sold Exhibit Studio and this one is one that will come from the heart – my passion. Pastimes Online Ltd. – I’m already incorporated and waiting on Business Number, Licenses etc. This will be “A Canadian Online Quilt ‘n Stuff Source” – I’m still working on this tag line – any suggestions would be great!

Here’s my new logo – the colours pastel pink, periwinkle blue and the greenish spool of thread with needle.

Since my new business is going to be an online business I wanted to use online sources for my logo design and web needs. I used a site called elance you can put in a request for many things like corporate id (letter head and business cards etc) logos, web design, programming, etc.
So I picked a company called OhSnap because I loved her designs the best part about going into business with OhSnap was I found out after we began the project that we have the same name and spelled the same – how fun is that!! I’m already in the process of posting another job online with her to help us with the background of our website. DH is getting back into programming for his wife and I’m very grateful! Here’s a preview of pastimesonline again this is just in testing phase…but I’m still so excited!!
I’m also working on a few quilty things (of course) the new block from my freebie 15 program – I think there is only one block left and so far I like some of the 12 or so that I have completed but in the end I’m sure it will turn out great.
Here’s my latest block – this is the second round the first one I cut all of the triangle corners too small (but I will use these for my label or something) so Traditional Pastimes gave me a new kit so I could get it right – I of course completed this the morning of the 15th with out a minute to spare.
I’m also working on that dresden fan project that I mentioned in my last blog entry. This quilt I love – I love the brown, pink and green paisley prints I used and I’m so happy with the quilting method I used to echo the shapes of the dresden fan. I also did free motion machine quilting around the border – still trying to figure out the green circle centers and what to do there. One of the ladies in my quilting group commented on this white waffle muslim (which I purchased on our holidays through Portland and Seattle last year) I bought so much of it as I think it was only $5 per meter – here it would have been at least $12 +. So I used the rest of this waffle muslim on the back and I think it worked well.
I had went back to take a few more of this quilt but Tig found a home for her morning nap – didn’t she just have one??
I think she started to get a little self conscience here as she opened her eyes to see what was staring at her…yes the D80!!
I have been doing a 6K run each morning for the last couple of months (since I sold ES) so I signed up to run a 12K race called Loop Around the Lake here in Chestermere, September 19th. This is the same date as our fall fair (September 18-19) – which the Lakeside Quilters also have their quilt show – should be a busy weekend for me.
I have a few new projects to show and a couple to get finished for the show so I’m working hard getting these done including labels *smile*.
I also wanted to share some pictures of my flowers in my yard with you as I think they are so beautiful:
If you have a blog – send me your url I would love to read it.
I’ll be in touch in a couple of weeks!!
Valerie
Oh and here’s Tig looking for her latest quilting book to review…

 

 

Threads in Hand Club, Freebie 15, Grace, Sheets Set (entry 9)

So I’ve been working on a BOM by Lynette Anderson http://lynetteandersondesigns.typepad.com/

here’s a picture of one block that has the embroidery stitching completed and the triangles around the perimeter (which I changed from the original pattern) I still have to complete the applique for the homes.
This 2nd image is the center of the alternating blocks with solids, 9 patches (52) and these cute little heart with swirl center blocks (13) almost finished just need to stitch the hearts in place.
One of the girls in this club said that one block took her approx 10+ hours to complete…some of them I believe that!:-)
The Freebie 15 project – for those of you who don’t know what this is it’s a Block of the Month (BOM) this is given out by the stores as long as you get your block completed each month the next month is free!! It’s a kind of mystery quilt project as you don’t know what it will look like until it’s done. see a few of the blocks from this challenge that I have completed thus far. This is through TraditionalPastimes.com
I did finally get to give my niece her quilt – the quilt for Grace and she was so happy as well as the rest of the family – overwhelming response which was awesome!!
These aren’t that great as they were taken with an iphone but my SIL Colleen will be sending me the better ones – thanks in advance Colleen!!
Here’s some pics of the quilt setup on her bed what a perfect match – Auntie’s just know 🙂
I’ve also spruced up our sheets and pillow cases for our holiday trailer – I just thought that they should be a little more fun and I’m pretty happy with how they turned out here’s the pics:
First pic is the bow on the top band of sheets with bow ties.

Second Pic is the ties to close the pillow cases after the pillow goes in them
Third one is showing the complete set.
I think that’s all for today…
Happy Sewing…Quilting…and Crafting
For the next entry I have designed a laptop bag for my mac as well as working on a design for my ipod so I can strap it to me when I’m jogging in the mornings…I’ve also started covering my old cookie tins with fabrics for my sewing room shelves and to store fabric stashes in.