Wip Wednesday

I have been quilting and binding my values quilt.  This was a bit of a marathon.  It was especially challenging to sit with a quilt in my lap, hand stitching the binding, when it has been so darn hot.

This afternoon I tackled the Lucky Stars August Block.  It went together swimmingly.  I just followed the directions and got busy.  I find it really helps to keep all the fabrics that I am using for this project in a plastic shoebox so I don't have to look at them all month but they are still altogether and organized for the next go round.  I also make notes on the cutting directions regarding colour.  I check the picture of Elizabeth's finished block, and then make notes like...text, dark, light, medium blah blah blah.  It helps keep the contrast happening with the block.  This was block number 8 or 9 if you count the practice block.

All finished!

I also finished the big work in progress which was the stack of boxes in the downstairs living room.  Yep.  Got that done.  My office is now all set up in my new school.  I have to say that it took one trip to move the boxes over but when I brought all the stuff home, it took me 3 trips.  That is because Husband is a master packer.  How he got it all into the vehicle, I have no idea!  He says it is a guy thing.  Harumph!  I did appreciate his help that is for darn sure!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced and The Needle and Thread Network.

I am a lucky swapper...

Oh man!  I am a lucky swapper!!!  This came in the mail today from Pam in Florida for the Modern Scrappy Bits Swap!  SQUEAL!  Pam blogs at Uberstitch and has a online fabric shop!  Oh man.  Back to the wee mug rug which is just packed with coveted Heather Ross fabric!!!!!!  Check out the other side... fish in bag!!!!  Thank you so much, Pam!

and the scraps are awesome and she sent me a package of Steam a Seam too!

Even the wee paper bag for the scraps was decorated!!!!  So cute!  So I am a lucky swapper.

I love her cards too.  So I am a lucky swapper.  Yes, I am!

This is what happens when a bunch of quilting ladies make a quilt...

This is our guild quilt on the barn after Cynthia quilted it and then I did the binding.  It looks so awesome!  We were inspired by Denyse Schmidt's anyway you slice it pattern.  The colours are all those found in our guild colours.  Lots of Kona solids and supplemented with bits from our stashes to make it sing.  There is even a little bit of Cynthia's Kona Modern Quilts fabric.  And wouldn't you know it?  I forgot to take a picture of the back which was equally awesome!  Cynthia quilted it in wavy lines in Aurifil 50wt in orange.  It is fabulous.  And can you see down below how she did some writing in the quilting????  Fraser Valley Modern Quilt Guild British Columbia Canada 2013 runs up one side.

The quilt will be on its way to Portland for the Northwest Guild meet up.  Representing us well, I would say!

Done and Delivered

I should say that I took a lot of pictures.  This is the tote bag I made for the Pacific Northwest Guild Meet Up in Portland next week.  It is made using Robert Kaufman denims and a bunch of other lovelies and I used Elizabeth Hartman's pattern for Perfect Quilted Totes.  Awesome pattern.  Seriously.  I warned Mum that I think everyone is getting a tote bag for Christmas.  So this all started when I got the facebook message that the fabric was in last week.  I zoomed over to the university library, walked purposely up to the circulation desk and gave the code word, "fabric."  The young lady at the desk handed over the package and the rest is now history.  I will hand the bag over at the guild meeting tonight and hope that the recipient likes it!  I cannot attend the meet up but I will send all my happy wished off with the tote.  And I should say that the fabric hand over was done like this because one of our guild members is a librarian at the university.  It was all very James Bond in a quilting kind of a way.

Here is the other side.

And a close up... See all the different denims?

Oh... I used a magnetic snap.  Squeal!  That was a first.  The zipper was a breeze.

Oooo. pretty fabric inside the pocket.  I think that is scribbles from the Noteworthy line.  And some Echo as the main lining. And the other accent fabric is Vintage Notions, I think.  And the facing, is Joel Newberry.

Why is there a thread lurking on my label?????

I remembered to add in a key thingie... that was not in the pattern but I like them.

So there, tote bag.  It's a wrap.  Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish it Up Friday.

Random Thursday...summer

Summer brings all sorts of lovelies.  Mum came to visit because she needed to load up on blueberries so that we would have room for something other than blueberries in our deep freeze.  While we live in the land of endless blueberries, she lives in the land of endless "tree fruits."  She came armed with cherries, apricots and peaches.  Yum.  Is there anything more wonderful than apricot jam?  I left a bowl of the jam skimmings (we call it pond scum) on the counter.  I came back to the kitchen later to find that Husband had eaten it all with a spoon.  That is pretty amazingly high praise because he is not someone who typically likes sweet stuff.  But oh man, apricot jam is just pure awesomeness in a jar.

Then there are these...  I am now finding random people who I can give beans to.  I might take beans a s a door prize to the guild meeting tonight.  Or blueberries.  Or both.
 

And this circulated the inter-web the other day.  I love it.  Apparently Chris Hatfield, Canadian spaceman, tweeted it or something.  So incredibly optimistic!!!!!  Linking up with Cindy for Random Thursday!

Doing... works in progress

Today I took possession of the Guild quilt from the lovely Cynthia who came to pick blueberries.  Cynthia quilted the quilt and it looks amazing!  Just saying.  And I am binding.  It is already for hand stitching tonight.  Hopefully there will be something good on the tv!  

I also got seriously busy today with another project for a swap.  Several modern quilt guilds from the Pacific Northwest are meeting in Portland in 2 weeks and having all sorts of quilt fun.  I sadly cannot go but I can participate in the tote bag swap.  We were supplied an assortment of the Robert Kaufman denims, which are really lovely, and asked to make a lined tote bag.  I want to hand my tote bag off at our meeting on Thursday.  I had to get 'er done!  I picked up this drop cloth at Canadian Tire to use for the interlining.  So cheap when you buy it this way and as you can see it is "super robuste."

I am using Elizabeth Hartman's pattern for Perfect Quilted Totes.  I have to say that her patterns are just so detailed!  And in a good way.  The bag is coming together swimmingly and I will do all the lining and stuff tomorrow.

And my Values quilt is now a quilt top awaiting a back.  I love it!!!!

Linking up with the Needle and Thread Network and Lee's Work in Progress Wednesday.

Sunday Stash... mmm yummy!

I ordered some Briar Rose by Heather Ross.  How could I not?  I love the frogs in the pond never mind the sweet bees!  It is just all so lovely!  Fabric yum!

And then I received a lovely gift in the mail from Brenda who blogs at Scraps and Strings.  Brenda noticed my I Spy quilts and sent along some great I Spy squares for me!  Thanks Brenda!!!!!  These will totally get put to use!