Leo’s Mane Sew Along

Monday 30 August 2010

Design Wall Monday August 30

Here it is, Monday again, and August is almost gone. The good news is, we go on vacation, finally, in 9 days. I've been sitting here, having my morning coffee, and browsing through other design walls while I wake up. Such a nice way to start the day, and a good way to get the oomph to get started working on some quilts that need to get done. I have a customer quilt that needs to be done this week, so that is one of the things on my to do list for today. In between working on hers, I'm going to play some more with the Nine patch pineapple quilt along. We are now working on the second units for this quilt, and I have 24 out of 120 finished. There is a separate blog here that shows the progress of the 3 of us who are participating. I also spent quite a bit of time this past week preparing another of my Cactus Rose squares for applique, since I plan on taking it with me on vacation. I found a wonderful blog that has very good instructions on how to us non-melt mylar plastic, and starch, to prepare the shapes for applique. She also has a beautiful BOM going that I am so tempted to start. Yes, I know, another project is the last thing I need. Take a peek here if you are at all interested. Finally, go on over to Judy's to see lots more design walls.

Friday 27 August 2010

Road trip

Last Sunday, Scott and I decided that we would go on a road trip. I grew up in Windsor, Ontario, and one of my favourite things to do was to walk down to the Detroit River, and watch the ships. It was always interesting to wonder where they were from, and where they were going. I loved to lay in bed at night and be able to hear their horns, (is that the right name for them?) as the ships passed each other. We only lived about a mile from the river. I've always been fascinated by the idea of the Welland canal, and have always wanted to go see it, so, in spite of the fact that it was raining, Sunday was the day. It is impossible to covey the scale or show the size of this ship in the pictures, but, it was huge. It was amazing to watch this huge ship gradually drop 48 feet, before it was low enough to go out the doors at the other end of the lock. The pictures don't convey this, though. I really wanted to be able to follow this ship as it went through all the locks, and finally sail out into Lake Ontario. But, it was already 7 pm when it was in this lock, and there were 6 more to go, so it would have been too dark to see anything by then. But, all in all, it was cool to be able to see it in this one Just looking at the building beside the ship, and comparing it to where the ship is, is a good indication of the size of the ship, and how much it has lowered.  There is actually a small inn, or bed and breakfast on the other side of the road from this lock. Maybe, someday, we can go and stay there and actually follow a ship from one end to the other.In the lock, and just starting to lower


About midway down now



The ship, at it's lowest, just before it was to exit the lock doors at the other end

Monday 23 August 2010

Design Wall Monday August 23

Wow, it's hard to believe that there is only one more Monday left in August. That is so depressing. Where did the summer go? I know I spent a lot of it hibernating in my sewing room, trying to avoid the humidity. On my design wall today is the first block of the Raggedy Ann and Andy BOM I've been taking the embroidery with me to work on at the hospital during supper and coffee breaks. They are sooooo cute. I love the fabric in the bottom left corner, with the baby animals peeking out of the bushes. To see more design walls, click on  Judy's name and spend some time browsing.          

Monday 16 August 2010

Design Wall Monday August 16

On my design wall this week, is the progress I've made, so far, on the Nine Patch Pineapple sewalong. I have approximately 90 of the blocks made, which is a few more than the 68 I had on Thursday. I was able to get in some sewing before each of my shifts at the hospital over the weekend. This is only a random sampling of the 90 blocks that are done. All totalled, I think there are 24 different blues, and 14 or 15 different creams, so far, in this quilt. I'm totally enjoying it, and the sewalong process, seeing what the others are doing. You can see more about it here I'm not sure how much ,ore I'll get done on it in the next few days. I have a little bit left yet to rip out of that quilt where the tension on my longarm was messed up. The bobbin genies I ordered are here, so I'm going to load one of my own quilts, and try them out. Then I'll put the other back on, and hope it turns out better. There are lots more design walls to see over at Judy's Go take a look.

Thursday 12 August 2010

BOM's finished


I've been doing a BOM sponsored by Shannon and decided to work on the July and August blocks today. I'd forgotten how much I like just doing a block or 2 at a time for these BOM's. It's nice to be able to see a quick finish, after all the mega projects I've been doing lately. Just 2 or 3 more months and this project will be finished. Well, except for the small detail of stitching down all the fusible applique. Maybe I should get it out and start doing a small amount at a time. But, that means changing over to invisible thread, and changing the tension, and then having to change it all back when I want to do something else. More hassle than it's worth, so I think I'll end up marthoning it, at some point, but not today. I think I'll go back to doing pineapples.

Tuesday 10 August 2010

Play time

Yesterday was my birthday. I don't normally pay attention to it, and didn't get to do much about it, since I had to work. I try, on the whole, not to think about them much, 'cause the big 60 is coming up in 3 years. I've been saying, for quite awhile now, that I have 4 years to go before I can retire. But , Scott pointed out to me yesterday, that it's only 3 years to go. Woohoo. That made me feel a lot better. But, it's a good excuse, as if I need one, to sit and play with fabric. I've set aside "Double Duty" for awhile, to work on the Nine Patch Pineapple quilt-a-long, posted about here I think I'm liking it a lot. Becca and Matt might be coming over later this evening, but until then, I think I'll sew pineapple pieces.

Monday 9 August 2010

Design Wall Monday August 9

My design wall is the same as it was a couple of days ago, showing "Double Duty" by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. It's almost done. I had been wondering whether to change out the tan setting triangles for a lighter fabric, which is my inclination. But, when I asked my husband's opinion, he like the tan, says it frames it better than the lighter fabric would. Since this will probably end up as his quilt, I'll leave it the way it is. I've put working on it on hold for a little while, since I'm participating in a sew along hosted by  Teaquilts She posted a picture of this quilt, and, of course, I fell in love, and had to do it. When she proposed a sew along, I ordered the book, and jumped at the chance to work on this quilt. I've always wanted to do a pineapple quilt. Go on over to Judy's to see more design walls.

Thursday 5 August 2010

End of Quiltathon day one

I've been sewing most of the day, while listening to the last 2 movies of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I have all of the log cabin blocks done, the setting triangles all cut, and am starting to sew the whole thing together. It has been a very productive day. Looking at the picture, though, I'm not sure I'm liking those setting triangles. What do you think, should they be lighter, to go along with the lightness of the rest of the cream fabrics? Or is it better to have it darker at the edge?

Monday 2 August 2010

Design Wall Monday August 2


On my wall today, after taking down the Peas in a Pod quilt, which is now finished, is the beginnings of a new quilt, called "Double Duty". It's an interesting variation on the traditional Log Cabin. I like the half square triangles in the centres of the cabins, and the addition of the flying geese. I had a lot of brown, and rust and gold fat quarters, so I'm using them in this quilt. Go on over to Judy's to see other design walls.