Going on Vacation

Today I laid out the Pirate Quilt on my design wall. I think it is going to look really cute. I might even purchase the accompanying fabric for the back. Will wait and see when it is finally sewn together, if I am going to invest the extra money and do this. I usually try to purchase good fabric for the back, but it is usually in neutrals. I also like doing this as you are able to see the quilting better when finished. The accompanying fabric in this case is a little busier, but could be used on either side.

My daughter and husband made me my design wall many years ago when I first started quilting. It was a Christmas gift. They made it together and it has followed us through 2 houses. It is absolutely something I could not live without. It really helps you to see the final product before you sew it together. You also have the advantage of leaving it out as it is up and out of the way. Lots of time to thinking about it, and get others opinions. The floor was good, but the wall allows you to take a step back and see balance and flow. It really was a special gift.

Our oldest daughter is going to try and get four squares together for a Christmas Table Runner for the store. It is a little paper pieced star of sorts. She is going to substitute some of the fabric that I purchased as she doesn't think it has enough "yellow" in the neutral. She really has a wonderful sense of colour and balance. A lot of customers come in the store just to see her and get her advise.

Hopefully when we return from vacation I will have a bit more time to finish off my some quilts. Might even have a little something to add to my stash if I am lucky.

Today I was busy working at the quilt shop. I really enjoy helping customers pick out fabrics, chatting about quilting and sharing new ideas. It really is rewarding. I truly would love to open a store one day. It is so positive and creative.

The shop was quiet from 6:00 on - so I got busy cutting up the squares for the my children's jelly roll quilts. One is for little boys using pirate fabric strips cut at 3.5" and 2" strips, the other is pink and green using 2.5 " strips. When sewn together they make a Rick Rack Pattern. It is really cute and a quick way to use up fabrics in your stash. I will post as soon as I am finished so you can have a look.

Away next week for our summer vacation. The girls will be working and hopefully have time to finish off a table runner for the store. It is paper pieced and quite pretty.

Busy working on the binding the fall jelly roll quilt for the shop. The fall colours are beautiful. I used a purple as a boarder as my sister loves this colour and my daughter picked it out thinking it looked perfect with the pattern. Not usually my colour of choice - but I really think it sets off the quilt nicely. It is a Streak of Lightening variation. Can't believe that I have just found a mistake though. Hopefully no one else will notice. I really thought I was careful as well. See if you can find it.
I was once told that no one was perfect except GOD. The Amish made quilts with an intentional mistake in it because of this belief. I do make an awful lot of "Amish" quilts if this is indeed the case.

I had so many extra pieces - that I created another quilt variation ; A little this and a little that. I just sent it off to my favourite long- arm quilter. Her workmanship is incredible. The tension is always perfect and her choice of patterns always enhances my quilts. I have never seen any of her work that it wasn't amazing.

I gave her my this and that quilt as well as my Second Jelly roll pattern for the shop. Both are variations from patterns found in the book Nickel Quilts and Nickel Quilts and More. I find the jelly roll strips a great way to speed up the process as well as using up your stash. Will post pictures once back.

Austrian Square

Today while doing errants together - My husband and I went to the sailing shop to purchase boat parts. What was to take only a "few" minutes actually ended up taking much longer. Great for me - as I sat in the car and listened to the vinyl channel 95.3 and stitched some of the embroidery for the Austrian square we purchased on our vacation last year. Nice pastel colours with lots of green stems and petals. Very relaxing and enjoyable. Lucky for me no one was around to hear the rock concert going on in the car. It was my own personal dance party.

You should note that when I was little I was part of the Sunday school choir. The church choir conductor said to me once that I should stand in the back row and mouth the words only. My voice was very "special" and should only be used for these occasions.