January Fun

I've been doing some sewing, making a zippered pouch for a swap I participated in. I will show you my pouch and the one I received after my swap mate receives her parcel. However, I thought you might like to see my mailbox adventure, when I went to pick up my parcel from the swap.

We had 3 days or rain, freezing rain, snow, and frigid temperatures. This resulted in the door on my community mailbox freezing shut. When this happens, you can inform Canada Post, and they will send someone (eventually) or you can do a bit of DIY.

A zipper bag full of hot water, held to the door, will eventually thaw the ice, and allow the door to open. The ledges at the bottom of the doors on all the boxes had a buildup of ice. I will admit that after I got my door open, my neighbours were on their own. I also took a towel, and dried off the ledge and the door, so it wouldn't freeze again, after I closed it.

My friend Maggie reminded me that I haven't yet posted pictures of the fall retreat, so here are a few, from October.

We had the biggest laugh of the weekend over this.

It was suppose to be a flying geese block, but the quilter didn't even notice that she had sewn the second piece on the wrong corner. We decided this "new" block she created was called Downward Goose. things get pretty silly by the end of a long day sewing.

In other news, after 9 months in our care, our foster cat, Mystique, has found her forever family, and gone to live with them. We are so happy for her, though we keep looking for her in the house.

Spring Retreat III - My Projects

I started my retreat weekend with what I thought would be a quick and simple project. I had a kit for a little block for Quilts of Valour. I opened it, and was surprised that I seemed to have an extra piece of fabric. I started cutting and discovered that I didn't have enough fabric to make the block. I am not sure what happened, but lacking any other fabric to supplement that kit, I just tucked it back into my bag.

So, instead, I made this top.

I did it following the technique for the Jelly Roll Race quilt, but used strips 4.5" by 22". It needs a border. I don't think I have anything that will work in my stash, so I might have to go shopping.

Saturday morning, I started on my major project for the weekend. I made a Roxy clutch.  I had the frame for awhile, and decided the time was now. I found the perfect piece of cork fabric, for the outside, while shopping for something else, of course.

Bright, cheerful, and very much my style.

I still need to attach the frame, but I got most of the work done.

I had the batik in my stash, and it looked like the perfect lining for the cork.

At the last retreat I made this case for my tablet, using some wonderful Tula Pink fabric. It was an envelope style clutch.

After my terrible tablet accident,  my tablet, with it's heavy duty cover, no longer fit into the case. I couldn't bear to waste that lovely fabric, so I had to do some alterations.

I removed the binding, added a pocket for the tablet, and replaced the binding with a longer one. After repositioning  the velcro, I have a new cozy for my tablet.

Finally, I made another Bendy bag.

It didn't come home with me, because its new owner became clear, while at retreat. I gave it to a friend who needed something to keep her cords and chargers in. The fabric is left over from my brief Oriental period.

Just before I left, I finished a pair of socks that I think had been on the needles for nearly a year. I know I took them to Victoria with me, last June.

Not sure if anyone needs wool socks now, but I sent them to their intended owner.

Spring seems to finally arrived. I found these little micro daffodils in my yard. I added the tennis ball to give you an idea of scale. They are just so tiny and so cheery.

Spring Retreat II

Just in case you fear I am still under ice, I have a flower picture.

This is Hepatica, growing next to my front door.

Back to retreat.

Doreen was making a  landscape quilt called "Hidden Path". Sadly, I missed the pieced border.

Joanne was making a thread catcher.

Maureen was making a flannel quilt in plaids. It was lovely and soft.

Helen was making these lovely little bags with hand applique embellishment.

This is the centre of Judy's 1930"s style quilt.

Kathryn was paper piecing and getting a head start on her Christmas gifts.

Judy kindly sent me a picture of her completed top, that I missed catching a picture.

This is another of Judy's tops that I missed.

Spring Retreat I

My retreat posts seem to be very popular, so I will repeat these. I am breaking them into 3 posts because I have so many pictures.

I started preparing for retreat days ahead. Leaving things until the last minute doesn't work well for me, and I end up at retreat missing some necessary component or tool.

Bobbins need to be wound, and one must remember to check the bobbin every hour or so, while at retreat. We have all done considerable sewing with no thread in the bobbin and had to repeat the whole thing. Having your bobbins wound ahead makes things go much more smoothly.

As much as possible, I try to cut, fuse and label my projects, kitting them with a picture of the pattern and all the other notions I need to make it. I'll show you later how successful this was.

I arrived Friday, and Saturday morning the weather looked ominous. This was the view from the window of my first room. ( I ended up changing rooms for the second night and the view was the roof of the next building.) However, rainy weather is always good sewing weather. We don't need to step outside at all, since the residence area, dining area and meeting room are all connected.

Maura finished this Alex Anderson inspired top.

Anita was putting together the rows for her quilt.

She had already made these stars.

Lynn was working on a bright version of a BQ quilt. This is BQ 4 , I believe.

Diane was working on a wall hanging based on the book "Points of View".

Margaret as starting a star quilt, but still had a bunch of stars to make.

Kelda finished this top. Didn't catch the name of the pattern.

I have lots more pictures. Check back tomorrow for more.

BSJ Completed

Spring is still hiding from us. In the past week, we have had snow, ice pellets, freezing rain, and then back to snow. My view of spring has been limited to my kitchen counter.

The picture was taken just before the snow started, yesterday, so it is kind of dark.

So, I put a push on and finished my Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ). The BSJ has been knit nearly 30,000 times by the people who actually report it on Ravelry. The pattern was created in the sixties by Elizabeth Zimmerman, and holds the fascination of knitters, still today.

You knit a wildly lumpy block of garter stitch.

Then, you look carefully at the picture in the pattern, fold your piece, and you end up with this.

You must knit your first one, completely on blind faith, following the pattern exactly, and trust that all those other knitters can't be wrong. I have knit 5 of these so far. It still amazes me.

You need to seam the shoulders to complete it.

This time, I crocheted my shoulder seams, and I think it makes a nice match to the i-cord bind-off.

 Mitred corners!

This one is a bit large for Bear. I should make him his own, in fingering weight. This one is in DK, SMC Bravo Color, which I found in my stash. It still needs a button and a loop.

Bear thought this was a good choice. It was handmade by Cheryl of Grandma Coco's Designs.

Meanwhile, I have started making kits to go to my retreat weekend. I have learned that one should start two weeks ahead, in case something needed is missing, and must be ordered. I need some interfacing, and with luck it will arrive, today.

First two kits. They contain the fabric, hardware, zippers, a picture of the pattern, and the cutting list. The goal is to have everything cut and the stabilizers fused, before I leave, a week from Friday.

This one is still in the maybe pile. I am not sure I like my fabric choices, yet.

The zipper and the fabric are actually purple, but the dull day was working against me. I want to make a tote bag, but I think the panel is too white to use as an outer fabric. I love the polka dots, with the Kona panel, so they may have to become something else.

Retreat Bags @ Retreat

My friend Maggie of The Cheerful Chickadee was at retreat with me, and together we made Emmaline Bags' Retreat Bag.

We added straps and a zippered pocket to the inside.

Mine looks like this.

The inside looks like this.

I mislaid my camera at retreat (it was in the bottom of my suitcase with my clothes, up in my room) so I didn't get a picture of Maggie's bag, but she sent me one yesterday.

This is her interior.

The pictures tell a bit of a story about who we are as quilters.

I also made new tablet cases for the new tablets at our house.

Laurel Burch Elephants and Tula Pink Turtles, both fat quarters, from my stash. Someone at the retreat asked what pattern I use. I actually take rough measurements, layer batting between a piece of flannel and a piece of pretty fabric, quilt the sandwich, cut it to size by wrapping it around the tablet, zigzag the edges together to form a pocket and add binding to make it pretty.  No patter, just a tape measure. They close with velcro, added just before the binding. The elephants is for my husband and the button says Handmade with Love.

Of course, if you put a quilt down, a cat will lay on it, no matter how small.

Ti-Gars left us yesterday and was adopted into his forever home. We are so happy for him!