Happy Halloween!

I got my modified Little Bit of Boo ( Quilt Sampler pattern Little Bit of Boo (Fall/Winter 2010) by Sandra Workman) bound up just in time for the big day tomorrow!

This is my first embroidery quilt so that is a fun thing in itself for me. But the fact I finished in it season is a win. I also ended up binding it without a thimble as mine has run away. Again. I suspect it's hiding out in all the scraps on my sewing room table but so far the searches have only resulted in a bigger mess on the table. 

 I've set myself the goal of Cheryl Arkison's lecture, at the London Modern Quilt Guild, on November 5th to have the sewing table cleared of scraps. We'll see if I make it, but at least it's a goal, right?

I did it again...another jelly roll lone star!

  This time I used Claremont Farm from Minnik & Simpson. You can see the Pom Pom de Paris by French General version here.
This version only took 18 jelly roll strips to make and I've finally figured out matching the diamond seams so it goes together really quickly. For the center lone star I recommend Hopeful Homemaker's tutorials.
Now to do something with the whites and tans that are left over...

Fast Hexies

 Hi I'm Cara from CaraQuilts and I really like hexies and mini charms.
 I've collected a lot of mini charm packs and wanted to be able to see some of my favorite lines so I created these hexie mini quilts.

Requirements

 1 mini charm pack
 2 sheets water soluble paper (I use C&T Publishing's Wash-Away Applique Sheets)
 1 water soluble glue stick
 12x12" fusible batting (I use Pellon)
 12x12" backing
 Coordinating thread for top stitching

To start

We need to cut out 42 1" hexies from the water soluble paper.

Use a dab of glue to place the hexagon paper in the middle of each mini charm square.
Another swipe of glue and fold down the fabric to the paper.

Repeat going all the way around the hexagon.

 Repeat for all 42 from the mini charms.

The original one I made I fused each individual hexie. The second time round I stitched them into rows first and I found it easier to fuse them with less risk to my fingers so I suggest first laying out your hexies so you know you like the colour placement etc. and stitching them into 7 rows of 6 using a small zig zag stitch in a coordinating thread.

Lay your first row near to touching the edge and follow the directions for the fusible batting (if using regular batting pin down).  Place the next row right up against the first and fuse. If you have tails from stitching the rows together just tuck them under the row about to be fused.
It's a bit like piecing a puzzle only here forcing the issue is just fine. Continue until you have fused each row.

 Lay the batting and top piece onto your backing and gently press. This normally keeps the quilt sandwich together without needing to pin on such a small piece.
 Using the same thread zig zag the rows together, stopping with the needle down and turning with each point.
 Once your rows are stitched down press the entire piece.

Lay a ruler across the edge of the quilt and trim to a straight edge.

Bind and enjoy!

More A Little Bit of Boo!

I stitched up another couple of the blocks from the Quilt Sampler patter Little Bit of Boo (Fall/Winter 2010) by Sandra Workman.

Finding the pattern was a perfect remind to go look through all my stashed magazines, of which I have waaaaay to many. But there are some great patterns I'd forgotten I'd wanted to make in them so I'm thinking the next rainy day I may have an old magazine flip through.

Rainbows

Sometimes a girl just needs a lot of colour. And having a stash of thread helps a lot.

Pumpkin time!!

With Canadian Thanksgiving in October it's a great time for pumpkins!!

English Paper Piecing

I used a bunch of mini charm packs from Kate Spain, Sweetwater and Aneela Hooey to make this fun little triangle rings top. I have to say I'm really happy with it. I just have to finish the edges so it will be mostly straight binding except for the "corners".

 I've set myself to using up a lot of my smaller precuts so I will hopefully have lots more to show soon!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving! So to my fellow Canucks Happy Thanksgiving! May it be blessed and peaceful for you and yours and continue all year round.

I also want to take a sec and nag any Canadians to make sure you are registered to vote in the federal election Oct 19th. You can do it easily here if you haven't received your voter card in the mail by now.
Voting is a great way to show how thankful you are to have had others fight for that right. I passionately believe that as a people our votes matter, regardless if you like you comes out on top.
Try CBC's VoteCompass if you are having trouble deciding or just even to compare where you stand to the party leaders.

Fall has arrived!

The leaves are becoming brilliant and the air chilly so October had to come to my sewing room too!

Critter Embroidery

I'm really happy with how this one turned out!! I used the free pattern from Penguin and Fish and more of the amazing 12 wt thread and just kept stitching away.

I did a great deal of it before, to and from a trip to the apple orchard, which is an annual tradition here.

We picked a ridiculous amount of apple and I even found a pink and teal pumpkin!!

Do you have any fun fall traditions?

Happy time

When the worries get too much it's time to colour!

Season's Embroidery

I've been really enjoying playing with some embroidery and the 12 wt Aurifil thread collection Bari J did a few years ago. The colours really work well together and I've found it easier to stitch with the 12wt, even doubled up, then I ever have with embroidery floss.
Weird how stitching is more enjoyable when then back doesn't keep becoming a tangled mess. Although it also means I can't blame my less then perfect lazy daisies on my tools!

A work in progress!

A million years ago I started this Double Wedding Ring wall hanging using the Ring's That Bind, which I found via Kaye Wood's Youtube video.

I'd made the individual blocks and then chickened out on the whole putting them together part. I sewed them together and now just have to figure out the whole top stitching and matching points thing.
Yay for progress!

This one is important to me so I know I will eventually get it completed if not perfected.