Bee blocks and wings......

Sew, today I've been sewing like crazy.

First, I made two of my Bee Blocks that are due.

For Michelle, I made this one.

I love this block.

It's in my favorite colors too!!!

And for Sara, I made this one.

I struggle with this kind of block.

I hope she likes it.

Also, my daughter is in a school play and needed a costume.

She is a bird.

Sew, I needed to make her some wings.

I got this set done today and brought it to the school to see if they approved.

Well, they liked it so much, they asked if I would make 2 more sets for the other two girls who are birds.

I kinda figured they would want the other girls to have the same kind of wings.

Sew, I bought enough material to make three sets.

I'm almost done the second set.

Sew, back to the sewing machine.

Hugs



More Crumbs.....



Hope you all had a great day!

Hugs

I'm moving......

my sewing room.

I was finding it too confining working in the little 5x8 sewing room.

It didn't have a window, or air circulation.

I wasn't feeling inspired in there.

I had also noticed that my husband was really missing his music room.

He liked hiding in his little room and playing his music.

He had almost completely stopped playing.

And I could really tell it was affecting him.

So, we had a little discussion.

I told him I needed to move out of there and he needed to move back in.

He instantly agreed.

We worked together to rearange our family room in our basement.

It took all day Friday.

We bought a used desk that I could use for my sewing space and set it up.

I worked all weekend and didn't get to move anything over until today.

I like it because I have some daylight.

I can open a window if I want.

The desk is right behind the couch, which is facing the TV.

So, now I can cut, sew, iron, spend time with the kids, talk to them, watch them playing and watch a movie or TV too.

Love it!!!!

This is going to be much better.

I don't like being in my corner all alone.

The only thing is that I don't have alot of space for storage.

So, I'm trying to go through my scraps, cut them up into usable pieces so that I can store them better.

I've been cutting them in 2.5", 2", 1.5" strips.

I've been using my GO! cutter to cut the 1.5" strips.

I've also been using the value die to cut 2.5 inch squares, and triangles to make 2.5 inch HST's.

I've been cutting 3.5 inch tumblers too.

I really struggle to throw any fabric out.

I kinda hord it.

But, I know I can't now.

So, with all the crumbs that I've been left with, I'm sewing them into blocks right away.

Here are some of the crumb blocks.

I don't know how I'm going to use them yet, but i like them.

I'm still moving my stuff out of my little room.

I still have a lot of scraps to go through.

But I will get it done.

I hope you are all well.

Thank you so, so much for all the well wishes for my birthday.

It really means a lot to me.

You are all so sweet.

Hugs



It's my birthday today!!!

Well, today I celebrated my 34th birthday!!

I had a great day!

My husband took me on a quilt shop hop of the three Kingston quilt shops, and the two shops in Brockville.

He didn't come in the stores with me, but patiently waited in the car while I did my shopping.

He was so great!!!

I bought a lot of stuff!

First, I bought two GO! dies, the 1.5 inch inch strip die and the 6.5 inch HST die.

I already started using the 1.5 inch strip die.

I really love this die!

I was leary of buying the strip dies because I had heard some negative comments about them.

But, let me tell you that this die is amazing.

You have to be careful to make sure you put it in the machine straight.

But it cuts so perfectly.

I started making some blocks with my cut up strips. 

Here they are.

I'm using this pattern.

So, that was fun to sew.

But, you are probably wondering what else I bought.

Lots of fabric!!!!!

Most of it was on sale. 

I got 10.5 metres of fabric.

I never buy that much fabric at once.

I usually just by 4 or 5 fat quarters and that's it.

But, it's my birthday, so I'll shop if I want too!!!

Here's my fabric.

Some reproduction fabrics,

These are from the Hope collection,

A few Minick & Simpson fabrics,

And some Kona Cotton Yardage.

The Kona Cotton is for a quilt I'm making for my brother's wedding quilt.

I haven't started it yet.

But, I have the design.

So, I thought I would update my photo.

My other photo was taken several years ago, and I've changed.

I don't take a lot of photo's.

I'm kind of camera shy.

But, I thought since it's my birthday, I should have some kind of record.

And you know what? 

I'm good with it.

So, this is me!!

I hope you all had a great day!

Hugs

Ariane

My little quilt is all done!!!

Yeah!!!

I finally have a finish for March!!!

I wasn't sure I was going to have a finish.

But last night I decided to quilt my little valentine's quilt.

I got the pattern from the Small Quilt Yahoo Group.

I had the top done in February, but that's it.

I love this little quilt.

It's in my favorite colors.

It's all scraps from my stash.

I even sewed 5 thin strips of leftover batting.

No waste here....

It's very simply machine quilted.

And it's done!!!

That's the best part.

I'm spending time with the kids today.

It's so beautiful out again.

Love this spring weather.

Hugs



It's beautiful out and Katrina's GO! Baby Giveaway!!

Look what is growing in my flower bed!!!

You know what that means right?

Spring is here!! Almost!!! LOL!!

It's gorgeous out today.

You need to get outside and enjoy the sunshine.

I found out that a fellow Canadian is having a GO! Baby giveaway on her blog.

Katrina from Sunshower Quilts has made such cute projects with her GO!

Love it!!!

So GO! over to her blog and enter for a chance to win.

She will pick the winner on Friday, March 25th.

Hugs

Happy St. Patrick's Day, and I'm a guest on Stash Manicure!!!



Good morning everyone!!

It's 7:10 am and I just got in the door from work.

I just finished a 12 hour midnight shift,

and I'm off for the weekend.

YEAH!!!!!

I worked 7, 12 hour night shift in the last week and a half.

If you have ever worked night shifts, you know that your brain takes a holiday during that time. LOL!!!

I always worry that I've forgotten something important that I was suppose to do.

Oh well!!!

My hat goes off to anyone out there who works nights.

They are tough on the body.

I'm guest posting at http://stashmanicure.blogspot.com/ today.

So hop on over there and leave me a comment telling me what you think.

I put up a little tutorial.

Nothing fancy!!

Well, I did get some work done on my hexagon star quilt.

For the March UFO challenge, project #1 was selected.

And that's to finish my hexagon star quilt top.

So, right now I have 9 rows all sewn together.

Two more rows done, but need to be attached to the main piece.

I ran out of cut fabric, and I'm making this quilt the old fashion way.

I'm using a cardboard template and cutting all my fabric by hand with scissors.

It's not a fast process.

But it's a relaxing process.

I love that!!!

I needed to cut fabric for another 68 stars.

Just a few.......

LOL!!!

So, I got 34 cut and I started hand sewing some of the stars.

I have 14 done.

I'm not sure I'll finish the top this month, but I will try my best.

Wish me luck!!!

And since it's St. Patrick's day,

I should be very lucky.

I just need to find that four leaf clover.......

Hugs

Accuquilt Barn Quilt Contest!!!



Guess What?

 

Accuquilt is having their 2nd Annual Barn Quilt Contest.

 

You could win a $1000 dollar Accuquilt Shopping Spree.

And a trip for two to scenic Fremont, NE, to visit the Accuquilt head office for the unveiling of the winning barn quilt design.

 

Isn't that amazing?

 

Canadians can enter this contest too!!

(Note: Quebec is not elegible)

 

No purchase is nessasary!!!

 

Key dates to remember

Contest entry dates: March 14th – April 10th

Winner announced at AQS Quilt Show & Contest in Paducah, KY April 27th-30th

How to enter:

No purchase necessary to enter, entries submitted via the “Submit Your Entry” button on the accuquilt Barn Quilt landing page.

http://www.accuquilt.com/barnquilt

Go check it out!!!!

 

Hugs

 



A little of this, a little of that.....

Hi everyone!!

I know, I know, I've haven't been blogging much.

I haven't been sewing much.

I've been doing too much!!!!

Yup!! Too much other stuff.

Well, I thought I would share a bit of inspiration from Flickr.

I just love the quilts below.

They are mostly traditional small quilts.

Aren't they gorgeous?

1. First Place-Schnibbles Contest, 2. Doll Quilt Swap III from Lori, 3. Bowtie Doll Quilt, 4. Strawberry Fields Doll Quilt, 5. Grandmother's Little Garden, 6. Civil War Baskets, 7. "Waste Not, Want Not" Doll Quilt, 8. Friendship Star Quilt ~ Jan 2011, 9. Lonestar table topper - set of 3, 10. Pink 9-patch baby quilt, 11. Doll Quilt, 12. Hourglass Doll Quilt, 13. Doll Quilt 200914. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

I also wanted to give you my review of the quilt novel I won.

It is a wonderful book written by Melinda Evaul.



This is a wonderful book about love, hardship, and faith.

It reminds us that love can be found at all ages.

Even with all the struggles life brings us, if we have faith in God that we can overcome all things and find peace and love.

It's a truly wonderful book.

I couldn't put it down.

I just wanted to read it right to the end. LOL!!

It's not overly religious.

 It just shares how the characters faith helped them get through their struggles.

I love to see the love blossom between the older couple.

I felt really warm and comforted by this book.

Such a beautiful story.

I will definitely want to get the next one in this series.

Thank you Melinda for sharing it with me. 

If this sounds like a book you would love to read, you can find it on Amazon and on Melinda's web site.

Well, I hope you are all well.

I will try to blog more from now on.

Hugs

Make it Good Challenge!!!!

Well, my sister Michele asked me last month if I was up for a crafty challenge.

She started the "Make it Good" challenge on her blog.

It's all about making fun little crafts with stuff that you have recycled.

So, the challenge was that I had to use juice cartons to make my craft....

And my inspiration had to be from the "work of human hands".

Okay, this was really tough for me.

I used to make all kinds of crafts from my recycle bin.

But it's been a long time. LOL!!!

So, this is what I started with.

I thought I would buy chocolate milk for the kids.

They liked that. LOL!!!

Hmmm.....what am I doing now?

Do those look like shingles?

Well, it's a house!!!

It's a little storage box house.

So, do you like it?

I do, but I wasn't so sure about it.

You know my sister Michele, she is the queen of upcycled crafts.

She makes the most beautiful things.

 I'm panicking a bit.

It's not exactly what I wanted.

Think....think....think.....

What else could I make?

Fabric....it needs more fabric.....

I am a quilter, right!!!!

I have all these vintage little pieces of fabric and laces.

Some of these were cut off old clothing that were no longer good.

But the details on the edges were so pretty, that they were kept for just the right project.

I pulled them out, and started stitching.

I cut out the letter "M" out of the milk carton, and pocked little holes in the letter so that I could stitch it on to my little tiny quilt.

Voila!!!!

It's only 5.5 inches in size.

Cute eh!!!!

Very soft and delecate looking.

The background is a very pale green satin.

The cross stitched trim, came off an very old cotton garment.

I didn't cut it off the garment myself.

I bought all this trim at an estate sale.

The lady had saved all the pretty pieces off vintage garments.

The lace in the bottom left corner was also cut off a cotton night gown or undergarment.

The lace at the top was just so pretty and you could see the background fabric through it.

So, I had to add it.

I used the inside of the milk carton for the letter.

What do you think Michele?

Did I "Make it Good"?

Now, go over to Michele's blog and see what she made.

Hugs

The Civil War Sewing Circle by Kathleen Tracy

Guess what I got in the mail today?

I think the title gave you the hint. LOL!!!

I just had to order this book.

I ordered it at Chapters.Indigo.ca

It got here in only two days.

I love fast shipping.

They didn't have the book yet in the local stores and I just couldn't wait.

I just love the stories and quilts that are shared in this book.

It is truly inspirational.

Thanks Kathleen for making such a wonderful book.

I will definitely make lots of projects from it.

Hugs

Ariane



Playing with my GO! Cutter

Hi everyone!!

Tomorrow I am doing a little presentation about the GO! Cutter at my local guild.

I have quite a few samples that I have made to bring.

But, I wanted to make a little quilt top just using the value die.

I hadn't really used the value die yet.

I didn't really have a plan when I started this afternoon.

I just decided I would use pink and brown fabrics from my stash.

I made 9, 6 inch blocks using the value die.

It didn't take me long to make this.

Only about 2 hours.

That's pretty good, considering I didn't have a plan.

Here it is.

I still need to add a border to it.

I think it's cute.

I will definitely use this die more now.

It is so quick to sew the blocks together.

Once they are cut, you just sew. No need to trim.

I love that.

I'm a little nervous about doing this presentation tomorrow.

But, I'm sure it will be okay.

Have a great night.

Hugs