The Annual Project

I dragged it out as long as I could, but really, pillowcases only take so long to make.

I was trying to avoid my annual day of torture.  The one row of Double Wedding Ring that happens every year up here.  Diane remarked I'd better sew a little faster so we can see a completed top in this lifetime.  I suggested she delay any planned illnesses.

Shakin' the Dust Off For the Sale (and the stash report and the UFO report)

This is how I spent my day.  So far I've let Mother Nature 'dust' over 30 quilts.  There are at least another 10 to go, but I hit my daily limit of trips up and down the stairs.  It's not like I pretend to be even quasi-fit.

Yes, I have too many quilts and I'm having a sale.  If you happen to be in town for the Christmas House Tour which is run by Grace United Church, I will be across the street in the Kinsmen Hall.  Stop in for cookies!  Bring your credit card!

You will find quilts and pillowcases, made by moi.  Shaker Roads is bringing blanket boxes, cutting boards, step stools, and foot stools.  Vignettes Decorum will be bringing some of her refurbished furniture.  DH will be selling steel quilt racks, steel Christmas Trees, and perhaps one or two pieces of garden art.  Even if you don't find anything you simply must take home with you, you can at least have some refreshments and a free quilt show.

STASH REPORT
I was updating my stash report today, and discovered that I have not even looked at it since August.  What the hell????  Note to self:  smarten up!
Used since last report:    27 m (this is ALL pillowcases)
Used YTD:                     85 m
Added since last report:   6 m
Added YTD:             41.25 m
NET YTD:             (-43.75 m)  Hah!  Such a good girl!

UFO CHALLENGE
If you've been following along, you would have seen the ONE ROW I added to the Double Wedding Ring quilt at the Tobermory retreat in October.  So, I met that quilt challenge for the September/October period.  Now, for November/December I need to complete one block on the Piece 'O Cake applique quilt.  Lord willing and the creek don't rise, I will get a block marked and pieces cut before Friday.  Then as I'm sitting in the Kinsmen Hall this weekend I'll have something to work on.  What's that saying.... "idle hands are the devil's workshop".

Jinny Beyer Moonglow Quilt, and All About Purple

You can see why this quilt is called Moonglow.

Mmm - look how nicely those fabrics play together!

I wanted to add some bubbles to contrast with the spikey star points.

Limited use of a variegated thread - only in the bubbles, the courthouse steps blocks, and the flying geese.

The s.i.d. (and there was A LOT OF IT), circles outlining the stars, and straight line quilting behind the geese units was all done with black thread.  Oh, so much fun to quilt on black fabric, with black thread, at my age.  Can you say "aargh!!!"?

And since we're all about purple today... If you were a three year old with jet lag, would this wee pillow & matching carry-bag (with a special pocket for your book) encourage you to lay down for story-time?  Anticipating a visit from the Singapore family.  Soon.

the Teapot and other stuff

Here is the teapot I painted on Red Hat day.  Honestly - no 6-year-old could have done better.  And it makes a fine cup of tea.

I'm getting ready to head off to Margaret's for a long weekend retreat.  I've cut up more scraps - this time it's yellows and greens.  I still have a couple of UFO's that I should be working on, and I will (!) take one with me, but I have an itch to start something new.

I made a pillowcase to hold the quilt that has gone to Quilts of Valour.  Now I can take another meter off my stash report. Gotta love cheater fabric.

Gardening season is upon us.  Yay!!  Dandelions and grass galore in my flower beds.  The friggin' rabbit is eating my bridal wreath spireas right down to the ground.  Little bastard. My nose is running from adult-onset-allergies, so badly that I just want to stuff a couple of tampons in my nostrils.  But it's warm and my fingernails are dirty.

This afternoon I will be making a ...
CAKE.

Quilts of Valour and Pillowcases

I took the weekend and caught up on a couple of committments.

Dineke gave me this quilt for the Quilts of Valour program, so it's ready now for her to bind. Quilted with Baptist Fan using the Circle Lord. I love the way she pieced the backing! I used a poofy polyester batting which is not my favorite. QOV has made a good deal with a company who will provide wholesale pricing to the program, so I thought I would try the stuff. I prefer my usual Hobbs batting which is much softer.

This is my Stack 'n Whack from many years ago, finished and going to the Quilts of Valour, along with Dineke's. For this I used large leftover hunks of Hobbs 80/20 batting. Three pieces in all - you can't even tell.

Here is the matching pillowcase.

Since I was making one pillowcase I thought I'd contribute my share to the local quilt shop. Sue's Quilt 'n More has committed 100 pillowcases to the All People Quilt campaign. These will be donated to Hamilton's cancer hospital for patients who have to stay. My pillowcase is flannel. Niiice.