Measure Twice, Cut Once or Twice!

I started working on these log cabins in November, at my quilting retreat. When I got home I put away and just took it out again in July. Many of the blocks were wonky and when I took a closer look I realized that I had not cut a lot of the logs correctly. I had already made a note to myself for next time not to do a bunch of cutting at a quilting retreat and now I had proof. I had enough fabric left over that I decided to start all over. I will find a use for my other blocks; I am thinking about using them for the backing.

Linking up to Work In Progress Wednesday!

To New Beginnings

For me, today is a time to think and reflect. One year ago today, I lost one of my closest quilting friends in a sudden and tragic accident. I still miss her, and it has been odd to go to my guild meetings knowing that she will not be there. She was wonderful with my children and very encouraging of their quilting. I feel there is so much I could say, but at the same time don't know how to explain how much she meant to me.  I think of her often when I am in quilting.

Around this time last year too, I had some very good friends leave at my work for better positions elsewhere within the company. It was hard to be without them, but we have kept in touch and I have made stronger bonds with others at my job. Just recently, my position was declared redunant but I have been given another position which I have never done before, in the same company . I am excited and scared at the same time. My old position was a huge part of who I am. It was my passion and not just a job. Change though is not always a bad thing, and I have much more support than I ever thought possible.

 
So for me this is going to be a year of new beginnings and possibilites. This quilt I bought in June with birthday money. I was told it was bought at an antique auction. It was basted and given batting by the person who had bought it, and she had stenciled on some quilting designs. She decided that she was not going to get it done, so she sold it through my LGQ shop. I happened to be there later in the day when she brought it in. I got it for an extremely low price and as part of my new beginnings I am hoping to vastly improve my hand quilting, and taking my time enjoying it. I have gratitude for everything I do have, and I am excited to see what my future will bring.

Stress-free quilting

One of my favourite things about quilting is that it helps me with stress. One of my least favourite things about quilting is that it can also cause stress. To combat this, I like to work on a quilt that I call my stress free quilting. It is always something to make for myself so there is not time limits. It is never a needs to be completely scrappy so I have to be careful not to have the same fabrics touch each other, nor it is one that can be done in a few hours. I try to choose one that has sections or blocks that can be put together in stages so that I can see progress and not feel as though I am losing any pieces.

I got this one out a couple of weekends ago. I started it a while ago and then left it for a long time. I originally bought a lot of the fabric as a kit, but I decided I did not like the pattern so I looked for something else. I found the pattern called Churn Dash and Stars by Mary Quilts. It feels good to be working on something again with no deadlines; just the pure enjoyment of quilting.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network.

Happy Birthday Canada!

Happy 147th Birthday Canada!

Flown Away

My owl quilt has flown away off my design wall now and travelled to the quilter's. I hope it has a safe travel and comes back much improved. I have people in my life who are flying away, okay driving away for a while and I wish them safe travels too. I hope that they find all that they wish for, and come back improved too!

Linking up to Design Wall Monday.

Teacher Appreciation

It is that time of year for teacher appreciation gifts. My children had outstanding teachers this year. We always like to give homemade gifts or books. I love seeing how much my children have developed and grown over the year. They gain so much confidence in what they have learned. I think that if I had to play Am I Smarter Than Them, I wouldn't be.  Some of my closest friends are teachers, and I appreciate how much dedication and effort they put into teaching students, even if they don't always get the recognitition.

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday, Can I Get A Whoop, Whoop, and TGIFF!

Rainbow Bright!

I have needed some brightness to my days as lately there has been a lot of gray so I am very happy to have finished this quilt. I thought that it might go to someone else, but my daughter claimed it as hers. She was not around when I finished it, so I got to take it for a test run before giving it to her. I am glad that it is staying in the family. I have a lot of quilts right now that need to have binding on them and then they are finished. Hopefully this is the start of a great deal of progress. My friend gave me a beautiful gift yesterday and it has inspired me to make a quilt. She is always an inspiration to me!

Linking up to Finish it up Friday, TGIFF and Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop!