Jolly Little Bow and another pillow

Spring is always a busy time for me - at work and at home, but I still found a few hours for a bit of sewing. I'm continuing to work on Sew Fresh Quilts'  " Jolly Little Quilt Along". My goal is to use fabric only from my stash. Luckily, I have a nice collection of winter fabrics. How do you like my blue bow?

This week I decided to switch up my fabrics, and made one of my Canada pillows using some fun, cheerful fabrics. To me, the flowers, cherries, and strawberries speak of summer on the porch or at the cottage!

Here is a close-up of the center fabrics.

I've been making Canada pillows in celebration of Canada's upcoming Sesquicentennial (150th birthday) on July 1st. 

This particular pillow is currently available in my Etsy Store, Balmoral Quilt Co. If you would like to make your own pillow, my pattern is also available there as a downloadable PDF

 Everyone is gearing up for the big party! I am seeing lots of red and white flowers in my neighbours' and city gardens. 

This is our hanging basket of red  and white petunias.

How are you preparing for Canada's big birthday ? How do you plan to celebrate?

This week, I'm linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts' Let's Bee Social, and Busy Hands Quilts

Celebrating Canada

Not much time for blogging these days as I have been making lots.....and lots...and lots of these!

 Canada Day pillows!  As most of you know, Canada is celebrating it's Sesquicentennial on July 1st ! 150 years since Confederation. It's a big birthday and the whole country is celebrating!

It's been a bit of a sweat shop, but lots of fun too, when I see people's happy reactions to their Canada pillows!

I drafted out the pattern myself, and after several requests for a pattern for the pillow, decided to create a downloadable PDF !

If  you would like to make your very own 150th Anniversary Canada Day pillow, head on over to my Etsy shop, Balmoral Quilt Co. The cost is $10.00 but for the next few days, until May 31st, the pattern will be available for half price - only $5.00!

                  The pillow is a great addition to home & cottage decor, even the front porch!

                                 

                          


We all need a little variety, so when I needed to a break from pillow making, I made these lovelies!
Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts came to our guild last November . Here is my version of "Elephant Parade". Quilting has yet to be completed.

More recently I decided to join in on Sew Fresh Quilts' "Holly Jolly Quilt Along".

So far, I've got the mittens .....

.....and stockings done.

The bow is up next!

This week I'm linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts' 

"Let's Bee Social" and Crazy Mom Quilts "Finish It Up Friday".

 

Forest Friends

Last June, Gail thecozyquilter@blogspot.ca and I embarked on a "Forest Fancy" adventure!

The pattern is by Elizabeth Hartman. I chose a lovely stack of Denyse Schmidt's "Hope Valley" that had been in my stash for a while. I had been waiting for the perfect project and decided this was it!

We decided to start with the simpler blocks and work up to ones with a gazillion pieces.

First came the foxes.

 Then the thistles

Some hedgehogs (aren't they cute?)

Bunny Rabbits

 Owls 

 

Coming together, about to put the fireflies together -which were a nightmare by the way!)

I did not get a picture of the fireflies on their own.

Finally, the completed Forest Fancy flimsy!

I am quite pleased with the results and am now pondering on how to quilt it!

Hello Again!

Life gets busy and blogging falls by the wayside. I haven't been too busy for quilting though! Over the next while, I will endeavour to catch you up with some of the projects I've been working on.

Woodland Animals reveal! I began this quilt as a way to use up a panel that I'd purchased some 10 or 15 years ago. Save the background fabric, I used fabric that I had on hand, from my stash. The quilt is much larger than I had intended. - a generous throw, almost twin size! The flannels make it extra cozy!

I made the backing by piecing leftover bits and pieces. In some ways, I like it better than the front. 

The label includes a tribute to our dear doggie Piper who passed away last fall. She was a treasure, a true blessing, a friend, who kept me company as I made my quilts and in life.

Little sheep is losing her stuffing...

First up tonight was to fix up little sheep who was losing her stuffing. Sheep belongs to my daughter and was a gift from a special friend. All sewn up, she is now ready to be tied back onto my daughter's backpack and off to school in the morning.

Every year our guild makes placemats to be given to the clients of Meals on Wheels.

The orphan tree block was the inspiration for the placemat. I pulled the bright and cheery colours to make it placemat size. Feeling playful, I added the fork and spoon fabric to the top and bottom, in keeping with the theme.

I brought some extra curved log cabin blocks to Gail's to make another placemat. Gail put the blocks together and quilted it. I finished off the binding. And voila! Another placemat lickety-split! 

This year the guild is making stockings for the women's shelter. We are making 300. They are to be filled with toiletries.  I will be handing these four in this week.

I have started binding the "Woodland Animals" quilt. Cathy did a fabulous job with the quilting.

I will do a big reveal when it is all done!

I am linking up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching

Slow Sunday Stitching and Quilt til you Wilt

My hands have been kept busy with needle and thread of late. The autumn table mat shown earlier this week is now complete. 

I added veining detail to the leaves which I think adds some richness to the mat. This is to be a gift for my SIL who has a birthday next week.

I am working on this winter scene right now. Stitching the pine needles is quite time consuming. I will have to turn on a good movie to get these done!

Yesterday was our guild's Quilt til you Wilt Day. This happens twice a year and is always a good opportunity to get lots of work done. I arrived at 830 am and was among the last to wilt at 800 pm. One of our guild members catered a delicious lasagna dinner for us which was a real treat!

I started out the day by working on a Christmas quilt. The pattern is Disappearing Nine Patch (or D9P , as I call it!) I had some Christmas charm packs that I wanted to use and added some stash that I had on hand. It is a generous lap size.

The colours are bright, cheery, and festive!

I worked on this next quilt which is a UFO of many years. I made it out of a jelly roll but hit a road block when I found one of the strips too dark. So it sat for a long time untouched. I decided to bring it with me and discovered I still didn't like it - the dark strips had to go! There was deconstruction followed by reconstruction. Eventually, by the end of the night I had 9 strips ready to be sewn together.

I was happy to spend the day with fellow quilters, enjoying their company, all while working on some quilting projects in dire need of attention!

I am linking up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching

Autumn Table Mat

Here is a preview of a new project. It has been coming along quickly. By the weekend, you will see a reveal of this autumn table mat all complete.