Moda Blog Hop

Did you know... Moda is having a blog hop called Spell it with Fabric!

I am so excited, I just had to share the news with you.

I just love all the quilts out there using letters.  I especially love the little minis people make using the word LOVE.  Everywhere I look, it seems people are just improv piecing these letters or they are paper piecing them.  I don't like paper piecing and I just don't find improv piecing relaxing... just the thought of it makes me nervous and stressed.  So needless to say, this blog hop is just perfect for me!

Moda has assigned a letter to different blogs.  Every day, 3 or 4 bloggers are sharing their letter and the instructions to make the letter.  They are also having a giveaway.

Today I printed out the letters a, b, and c.  I am so looking forward to getting all the letters and making mini quilts for friends and family!

WIP Wednesday...or Thursday 02/06/2014

I am still feeling under the weather and yesterday I was so busy trying to rest that I forgot to post my update on my BOM.

So I finished the appliqué on the first block and here it is:

Now I have to add embroidery stitches on the raccoons and the house. I don't have the right colour embroidery floss so it will have to wait till I can head out to Michael's to get some.

I have started block number 2. I pieced the background on the weekend and traced all my patterns on to the freezer paper. I am having so much fun picking the fabrics for these blocks!

I have prepared the appliqué pieces for half of the block and I already basted them on using Roxane's basting glue. The other half of the block is made up of little animals. They are looking at the trees at the tree farm, trying to decide which one to pick. So cute!

This is where I am at. I have started stitching down the first tree. I am having so much fun with this quilt. I hesitated in the beginning, but I am so happy I decided to jump in and do this. I hope you are having as much fun watching my progress.

 

WIP Wednesday - 01/29/2014

I had a lot of time on the weekend to work on my BOM. I am happy that this block is almost done and I will be able to add the embroidery stitches and start the next block on the weekend.

(It will look prettier when I iron it too.). It is going better with the basting glue rather than the pins. I highly recommend the glue. I also recommend Jan Patek's needle turn appliqué videos on YouTube. She is a fantastic teacher!

This is the video I watched to help with all the points on those stars!

 

I also finally got the binding on my Granny squares quilt.

I have a really bad sinus cold so I have been stitching the binding down by hand this week. I am hoping to get it done and blog about it next week.

It's also a big day in our home... It's Rosie's first birthday! The girls are very excited and I think they are hoping for birthday cake!

Linking up to The Needle and Thread Network

 

Retreat update

Warning: this post is photo heavy.

 

So I told you I went on a retreat last weekend, and it was fantastic! We had a great time, chatting, sewing, eating, and sharing.

It was the first time we stayed at the lodge. It is a fantastic place in Buckingham, QC.

There was so much room! There are 8 of us in my quilt group and we each had our own room. We also had our own table for sewing. Here is a panoramic photo of the sun room where we did our sewing:

 

On Friday, I worked on 2 baby quilts. I finished the top for this one:

 

The second one is missing a top and bottom border. I will post a photo when I get those sewn on. One of these baby quilts is commissioned and the other will be listed in my Etsy shop when it is done.

On Saturday, my mom and I each started a Swoon quilt. We had a hard time with the first block but once you get the hang of it, these blocks are so much fun to make! I managed to finish 2 of them on Saturday and another Sunday before leaving. These blocks are made with fat quarters and there is no room for mistakes as you cut up the entire fat quarter. Unfortunately I made a big mistake on Saturday night and used the wrong fabric for 4 flying geese units. I noticed only after I had trimmed the corners off. I did manage to order another fat quarter of that fabric when I got home so I will be able to finish the block. I was so mad at myself... I guarantee you I will not be making that mistake again!

top: my first block, bottom: my mom's first block

We all brought our BOM for show and tell. Some put the top together at the retreat, some were already put together. Here are a few of them:

Sherrill's blocks

Dale's quilt top

Pat's quilt top

Rita's quilt top

Here are a few more photos.

Pat's Raspberry Parfait

Betty's African blocks

Dale's batik quilt

 

Mom's (Alice) scrappy trip along blocks

Cheryl's Fairy Frost Jacob's ladder blocks

Pat's bags

I love getting away and enjoying some sewing time with my friends. I am very lucky to be able to share my passion with a great group of ladies. What an inspiring weekend!

 

WIP Wednesday - 01/22/ 2014

I did a lot of sewing this past weekend but none on my BOM. I was having too much fun at my sewing machine. I am working on a post to share our wonderful retreat with you, but in the meantime...

I did get the windows stitched on to the house yesterday:

I know they are crooked... I will be using Roxane's basting glue for the rest of this quilt. The pins just aren't working...

The windows will stay crooked because I am not un-stitching. I figure the house is out in the woods and looks a little rustic.

I am still having fun making this quilt. I look forward to working on it whenever I get the chance!

Linking up to The Needle and Thread Network