The first finish for 2013

This quilt is for a friend of ours who is having cancer surgery shortly. It was started in November at a jelly roll workshop and the design was called Pandora's Box. It was a very easy to assemble pattern and I would be tempted to make another one. The quilt is roughly 47" by 62". My hubby thought it should be larger than the original size so I used the bits left from the workshop and cut a couple of 2 1/2" strips from a couple of fat quarters to make the extra blocks. Piecefully, Joanne

Resolutions, Goals, UFO Challenges, oh my

The photo shows a reasonably close view of the "tiny blocks". These were done with the 1 1/2" BY 2 1/2" bricks. My sister wanted a wheel chair quilt for a friend of hers so the over all quilt is 36" by 44". I have not made a quilt for that specific purpose before so I have requested feedback. I also added ties near the top.
As the year winds down I tend to look back before looking forward. I have accomplished a lot but there is always more to do. For two years now I have managed to make the 50 quilts from stash challenge. I think after looking things over I will try for what the sports fans call a threepeat. I am certain there is no such word. There are a couple of interesting looking BOM's and quiltalongs coming up. I am considering them but do not want to create more UFO's. I will add the buttons to my side bar once I have firmly joined in.
We went to see Lincoln last night. We both thought it was a terrific movie. Although having not been brought up in the US we did not know how factual the story was. The acting was great. Wishing one and all a peaceful or should I say pieceful new year.  Joanne

I am just peeking out from behind quilt number 50 for the 50 quilts from stash challenge. This quilt is called Just Squares and is a Mystery for Relays quilt. Various challenges are beginning to emerge for 2012. So many are tempting I need to do some careful thinking before jumping on too many band wagons. Joanne

50 quilts from stash challenge nears the finish line

This little baby quilt was made from "waste" triangles and from fabric samples that consisted of black and white squares. All the sample pieces were individually cut to make certain they were all the same. The borders were the strips left after the original pieces were cut. I donated the quilt to Project Linus with the Kincardine Sunset quilters guild.

I have reached 43 in the 50 quilts from stash challenge. The goal is definitely within sight. Sadly I do not think I was overly successful with the Rainbow Stash challenge as most of my quilts seem to have more than one focus colour as part of their design. Joanne

Back to sewing again

This little duffle bag was made for my grandson. There is a blue one for my other grandson. During my first visit to Charlottesville, Xavier found some bee fabric at the local quilt shop. He thought I should buy some and make something for him with the fabric. Hence the duffle bag. They are apparently just the right size for a sleep over.


My quilting "mojo" was lost in the shuffle of cleaning out my sewing room. I can say that my sewing room has been cleaned and everything has been sorted. The room is ready to be used. At the last Kincardine Sunset Quilt Guild meeting one of the members approached me at the break. She told me how her niece had been given one of the quilts I donated to Project Linus last spring. The aunt, a member of the guild, recognized it from show and tell at the quilt guild meeting. She had taken a picture of her niece with the quilt and told me how much the quilt meant to the niece. I was mighty close to tears. So often we make quilts and give them away hoping they will end up in a good home where someone cares for them. This time I got the proof in a picture and the story from the aunt.


I felt reinvigourated after the guild meeting and have been in my sewing room daily since then. I have a line up of over 8 quilt tops ready for quilting and several others close to being tops. The fun has returned to this activity. So over the next month as I get these quilted I plan to post pictures and I think I just might reach my goal of 50 quilts from stash this year. Joanne

A Flurry of Finishes

These two tiny brick quilts are my most recent finishes. I tend to get "stuck" on a particular design and go with it in a variety of colour ways or sizes. So three tiny brick quilts finishes and three more have the bricks cut out. They will be donation quilts when my guilds resume in September.

The final Scrap Bag Quilter session of the season was last Wednesday. We tied 10 quilts and sent them home with different members to have the binding completed over the summer. I only have one to do. In May I enjoyed a variety of quilting experiences. The Quilt Pocket (a yahoo group) held Jambo 2011 in London and I attended that. What a fabulous time. The organizers had thought of everything. We stayed in a Community College residence. There was time for sewing, time for sharing, time for fun, time for eating, especially chocolate and time for shopping. And a couple of us even managed to sleep a little.

Then two weeks later Quilt Ontario happened in London. I signed up for two classes. Karen Combs More Patchwork Illusions and Ursula Reigels QAYG Apple Core Table runner. Both classes were great. I have one project almost done and the other is close to finished. The shows associated with the event was inspirational. Although I have come to terms with the fact that I will never be an "Art Quilt" type of quilter.

Then in another ten days some friends locally organized and held a retreat. Again a well organized event with lots to do, sewing time, eating time, a couple of games and just great fun with friends.

I have hit the half way mark on my 50 quilts from stash this month. The list just needs to be updated.

That's about it for now. I want to get the binding attached to my Scrap Bag quilt so I can stitch in the evening. And my nephew is getting married next month so I would like to actually finish his quilt before the wedding.

Piecefully yours, Joanne