“Create something to do with food. It could be anything from a quilt with a food fabric, to a tea cozy. A mug rug for coffee to an apron. A Corn and Beans Quilt Block to a drying rack for the kitchen. Maybe you are trying to raise money for a charity that supplies food. You decide! The theme is really your own interpretation, surprise us!”
I had decided that it was time to make a fun new apron for my grandson’s wife. She is always creating something fun in her kitchen and Clarke used to always help her Mommy. I pulled some bright, happy fabrics from my stash and just made a simple apron with two layers of pockets in the front. April is like me in one way. She always has her phone nearby in case a photo op occurs. With 8 pockets to choose from she should be able to keep it handy and safe while she is cooking! It was fun to play with some decorative stitching to finish the apron off.
What could be better than ladybugs for a new apron? Hopefully it will bring a smile to April’s face when she opens the parcel.
My decision for a second project was finalized when I was in Grand Prairie. our little Grace has now decided that she needs to be in the kitchen helping her Mom. She sits on the counter and tries to stir things and loves to dump ingredients in the bowl. It’s fun to watch her “helping”. I become obvious that a little bibbed apron might be handy, so I found some more prints (sweet peppers for our girl) and more yellow and after a bit of thinking created a reversible apron with crossover shoulder straps so it wouldn’t need to be tied.
Since Grace is only a year old, it might last her until she is 2 unless she has a huge broth spirt. I think it will give me time to find some cute new prints to make her next one with.
This is today’s list of participants. I’m really looking forward to seeing what they have created for our enjoyment.
I do have to thank Carla from Creatin’ in the Sticks for such a perfect theme to get me back in my sewing corner and having some fabric fun.
Thank you for sharing some of your time with me today. Now I’m off to see what everyone else has made and leave some nice comments on their posts. 😉 Carol
I’ll be linking up with To-Do Tuesday which is being hosted by Linda from Texas Quilt Gal. This is my 100th ToDo post. I started writing them when Roseanne and Sue from Home Sewn By Us was hosting it. I can’t believe my last link up was April 17th. So much has happened since then, but very little was in the quilting department. Instead real life took precedence.
I have been to the studio to spend some time with K and D, but was busy and didn’t have any time with my long arm. I’ll just remind myself that it will be there in a week or so when I hope to get back.
I was crazy busy getting ready for my Guild’s fundraiser. It was a beautiful day, and we managed to raise almost $8,000.00 in 4 hours of seeing smiling happy faces.
Great lunch!Amazing plants!Sew Many Notions and Trims!3 overflowing tables of fabric fun!
I left a few days later after I had recovered from the worst of a nasty cold. With highway closures and road construction and having to take the long way around, I made it to my daughter’s place at 2:30 in the morning.
After 3 hours of sleep, it was time to re-load the car and head to Grand Prairie. It was only 8 1/2 hours drive this time! I had forgotten how flat the northern part of Alberta is.
We had a lovely 2 bedroom apartment to stay in so managed to get a good night’s sleep. The next day was time for Clarke’s Memorial Service which was lovely and so hard at the same time.
My great grandson, Levi and grandson Mason were on door duty. Mason helped keep my great granddaughter, Grace occupied while we were waiting Mom and Dad carried Clarke’s ashes in at the start of the service. Pictures of Clarke and some of her favourite things were shared.
After the service we headed to Ryan and April’s place to spend some time together. It was a joy to spend time with 2 of my kids, their spouses and so many of the grandkids and great grandkids.
So many of the kids just having fun. the yard is a real playground with every toy imaginable!
Then I managed to get a fuzzy photo with my oldest son and my daughter.
All of my immediate family that were present gathered to get a four generations photo. It makes me feel old to have this many progeny around! 😉
Unfortunately one of my granddaughters and her stepsister are missing as they had to do a grocery store run! This crew was hungry and needed to be fed more than what we had ready!
The next day we headed back to my daughter’s place and then I had two days to help her get a few things organized before she has her knee replacement surgery.
Then it was time for the 16 1/2 hour drive back home. Once home, it was so nice to get a hug from DH and sleep in my own bed! 😉
Since I’ve been home I’ve been busy cleaning, rearranging furniture, grocery shopping and then having to go back to town for some of DH’s meds. Still no sewing has happened, but tomorrow is a new day.
Last To-Do list:
1. Keep working on my hand quilting and EPP projects. Made some progress on both projects.
My little quilt is progressing. I’m doing the borders now.
2.Finish my Wonderful World of Color Blog Hop post with better photos now that our weather has cleared up again.Done and published.
3. Start cutting and piecing fabrics for a new pattern test now that I have decided on fabrics.Cutting is done and sewing has commenced.
4. Finish my next Blog Hop project for May being hosted by Carla from Creatin in the Sticks, get some photos and write my post.
5. Check to see if my plan for my project for the Here Comes the Sun Blog Hop being hosted by Carol from Just Let Me Quilt will work.
6. Keep working with the other Board Members of our Guild to have everything in order for our fundraiser on the 24th.
7. Keep working on re-organizing my sewing space to see if I can get a better working arrangement.
So many more tries at rearranging things. I just might finish it up tomorrow so I can start sewing.
8. Do not allow any squirrels to distract me this week. 🐿
This week’s goals:
1. Keep working on my hand quilting and EPP projects.
2. Make the time to get my photos and post written for the Foodie Blog Hop.
3. Pull my fabrics for Here Comes the Sun Blog Hop in June.
4. Start the new pattern test.
5. Get to work on a new commission due in 3 weeks 😳
6. Do not allow Samantha or any other squirrels distract me this week. 🐿😉🐿
Stitchin’ Time
Kate from Kates Life in Pieces hosts a weekly linky party to help us keep to our goals of stitching every day.
I’m trying for at least 30 minutes a day this year, but also want to at least spend 30 minutes a week tidying up and dealing with scraps.
Since my last To-Do List I have managed to keep to my goal of stitching every day and even got to play with my machine this week, and even emptied the 3 units I keep my less than a yard pieces of fabric in to re-fold and re-sort the colour families since they had really gotten messed up lately. I’ve also been busy putting in 4-8 hours most days working at the Guild to be ready for our fundraiser next weekend.
January 31/31
February 28/28
March 26/31
April 6/30
this week 1/7
This month 1/8
Total:92/127
Percentage = 73.4 %
To see how our blogging friends are doing check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
Stash Report:
I like to link with Donna @ Quilt Paint Create to keep track of fabric in and out of my stash.
Fabric previous balance: 76 Yards
Fabric Used: 0. yards
Fabric Bought: 0 yards
Balance in stash to use this year: 76 Yards
* my goal is to lessen my stash by 100 yards this year. I haven’t managed to actually figure out how much fabric I really have in my stash so it just seems to be reasonable to set a goal to continue working from my stash.
* any fabric used from the scrap bins, was gifted or a prize; doesn’t count as stash
Quilting Gail is hosting her PHD in 2022 Challenge again this year. 😄
I do enjoy sharing some of your time when you read my posts and reply to each comment. 😄 Carol
Again I can’t thank Joan and all of the participants in the hop enough. I’ve added a couple of new projects to my Must Do List, enjoyed seeing all of the colourful projects and best of all, started spending quality time with my machine again. Carol
Joan from Moosestash Quilting is hosting this month’s hop. Isn’t it just the perfect theme for spring? Here is the list of bloggers scheduled for Thursday:
Just after the Polar Bear Plunge Blog Hop, I received a lovely email from Selina from Selina Quilts letting me know I had won her sweet little hand warmer rice bags.
Aren’t they just the sweetest gift?
They sure work well if you keep them in your pocket and just slide your hands in your pocket to warm them up. I tested them when I was out shovellng some snow a couple of weeks ago.
Joan from Moosestash Quilting is hosting this month’s hop. Isn’t it just the perfect theme for spring? After the very long winter and never ending spring we all need Color to get us n the mood for sunshine and summer!
I started off thinking of flowers and sunshine, rainbows and prisms when this blog was announced.
I’ve been playing a lot with bright happy colors this winter which isn’t my normal palette.
I pieced a few quilts from leftovers or my scrap bins:
These two quilts are part of my H2H donations to Quilts for Survivors and Victoria’s Quilts Canada.
Instead I thought of Clarke’s little sister, Grace. She is rapidly growing, but not yet ready for a big girl bed, being only 1 year old and a bit of a wanderer.
I thought I would like to have a handy way for her Mom and Dad to record her height as she grows so I pulled out my scrap bins and orphan blocks and got to work.
The idea originated from re-arranging my sewing space and finding a cloth tape measure which had a tear in it. I used some orphan blocks and some scraps to make a bright panel (all colored fabrics I could find were used) which will be hung at the appropriate height. It is complete with a hanging pocket in the back and I have it parcelled up with a new acid free permanent marker to take with me when I go see them at the end of the month.
Our little Grace has become very attached to her babies since her sister passed away and she always has one in hand. I thought a fun little quilt for her babies would also be a great little something for her to play with.
I always enjoy doing Bargello quilts so it was a fun, quick little finish (36” square). It’s quilted and squared up and I’m ready to attach the binding.
Just needs the binding now.
The final project I wanted to share just because of all the pretty colors is this quilt top which I’m working on. It’s made of donated blocks from Denise. The batiks just make me smile every time I look at it. The border fabric I want to use is at the studio so this will be added to my WIP list until I can get to the studio to finish it.
Aren’t these blocks just incredibly colourful and pretty?
This is today’s schedule of bloggers. I’m heading over now to see what they have created to share with all of our inspiration.
I’d like to thank Carol, Carla and Joan, the fabulous threesome who take turns hosting our monthly hops and keep coming up with such fun themes to challenge us to come up with projects to inspire you to come up with your ideas or versions of our projects.
I’d also like to thank the bloggers who take part in the hop. I try to visit each and every one to show some quilty love and appreciation for their work to inspire us, by commenting on their posts.
I’ll be linking up with To-Do Tuesday which is being hosted by Linda from Texas Quilt Gal. Every week I find myself looking forward to seeing what everyone else is working on or have finished.
Last To-Do list:
1. Keep working on my hand quilting and EPP projects. Made some progress on both projects.
I have 5 EPP blocks finished. I think I still need one more for the project I have in mind. My little quilt is progressing.
2.Try to finish my Wonderful World of Color Blog Hop project. Just need to write my blog post.
3. Start pulling and cutting fabrics for a new pattern test. My inner squirrel led me to read post by one of my favourite quilt designers who was talking about an upcoming QAL on her blog and of course Samantha and I decided we needed to offer to test the pattern. So my squirrel convinced me I needed a DrEAMi project to kick start my mojo again. 🐿😉🐿 and then Samantha did it to me again! It’s a twofer DrEAMi month. Not only is the test done, but the project is sandwiched ready for quilting.
This fabric pull worked as well as I thought it would for this pretty project.
4. Start planning my next Blog Hop project for May being hosted by Carla from Creatin in the Sticks. There might still be space if you want to jump in. My project is almost finished.
5. Start planning my project for the Here Comes the Sun Blog Hop being hosted by Carol from Just Let Me Quilt and again, there might be slots available. I have an idea for this one I think.
6. Give Samantha permission to find things to keep me going. 🐿Samantha convinced me I needed to start on another pattern test, join a QAL, make a fast overnight trip to the studio to help K. and D. with a couple of chores, and be at my Guild a couple of days to start getting things in order for our annual fundraiser.
This week’s goals:
1. Keep working on my hand quilting and EPP projects.
2. Finish my Wonderful World of Color Blog Hop post with better photos now that our weather has cleared up again.
3. Start cutting and piecing fabrics for a new pattern test now that I have decided on fabrics.
4. Finish my next Blog Hop project for May being hosted by Carla from Creatin in the Sticks, get some photos and write my post.
5. Check to see if my plan for my project for the Here Comes the Sun Blog Hop being hosted by Carol from Just Let Me Quilt will work.
6. Keep working with the other Board Members of our Guild to have everything in order for our fundraiser on the 24th.
7. Keep working on re-organizing my sewing space to see if I can get a better working arrangement.
8. Do not allow any squirrels to distract me this week. 🐿
Stitchin’ Time
Kate from Kates Life in Pieces hosts a weekly linky party to help us keep to our goals of stitching every day.
I’m trying for at least 30 minutes a day this year, but also want to at least spend 30 minutes a week tidying up and dealing with scraps.
Since my last To-Do List I have managed to keep to my goal of stitching every day and even got to play with my machine this week, and even emptied the 3 units I keep my less than a yard pieces of fabric in to re-fold and re-sort the colour families since they had really gotten messed up lately. I’ve also been busy putting in 4-8 hours most days working at the Guild to be ready for our fundraiser next weekend.
January 31/31
February 28/28
March 26/31
this week 7/7
This month 17/17
Total: 102/107
Percentage = 95 %
To see how our blogging friends are doing check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
Stash Report:
I like to link with Donna @ Quilt Paint Create to keep track of fabric in and out of my stash.
Fabric previous balance: 89 Yards
Fabric Used: 13 yards
Fabric Bought: 0 yards
Balance in stash to use this year: 76 Yards
* my goal is to lessen my stash by 100 yards this year. I haven’t managed to actually figure out how much fabric I really have in my stash so it just seems to be reasonable to set a goal to continue working from my stash.
* any fabric used from the scrap bins, was gifted or a prize; doesn’t count as stash
Quilting Gail is hosting her PHD in 2022 Challenge again this year. 😄
I do enjoy sharing some of your time when you read my posts and reply to each comment. 😄 Carol
The timing was perfect to be seeing that Kim (Persimon Dreams) and Kim (Go-Go Kim) are doing a Craft Room Overhaul.
For those of you who know me, it’s no surprise that my craft space is a little corner just inside the entrance to our suite. It’s basically 4’ square with supplies tucked in wherever I can stash them. I’m keeping it real here with actual current photos with several projects out all over, trying to get something done.
My exterior door is immediately to my right. This is what you see on your right hand side when you walk in the door.
The white cupboard is my stash of fabric yardage and backing fabrics. It’s also my display of fridge art from the grandkids or great grandkids. The dark corner is the “pile” where things get put that are UFO’s, WIP’s or stuff that has no other home. The multi drawer contains my stash of buttons, lace, beads, stencils and office supplies.
As you can see my sewing table often has 2 or three projects on the go at a time. My little roller cart always has leader/ender pieces on top, and the other two baskets have upcoming projects, my quilt labels and a tray of Hera markers, fabric markers and odds and ends.
I have a bin here for flimsies and their binding and backing fabrics so if I can get away to the studio, it’s ready to go. The bin often becomes a place to stack WIP’s on!
The outside door is now to my back. The door to the left is the bedroom. These bins contain my stash of fat quarters and less than a yard pieces of fabrics. I did have a squirrel attack on Thursday and emptied the drawers and re-sorted and recorded everything tI see what I have for fabrics for a couple of scrappy projects I might get done soon.
My chair sits right beside my sewing table. My basket of hand quilting and knitting projects sits here. I’m right opposite the teal drawer bins. You can see how close the tv is.
This is my view when I’m standing in front of my chair looking towards the kitchen area. I have a bit of storage under the filing cabinet and freezer for my scrap saver boxes of pre cut squares and strips. The kitchen table often becomes my cutting table or basting station. Just past the little freezer on the left is a desk which was my cutting station, but will hold the Mac my daughter gifted me.
Looking at my little suite I will once again acknowledge that downsizing from a 14’ x 20’ sewing room to this little space was a challenge, but I keep telling myself one day I will have it set up as a perfect working space. At least my machine doesn’t have to be put away before we eat dinner (but yet the pin basted quilt will get moved).
With not doing much sewing this past month and a bit, I have spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out how to make my little space more workable. Then I saw Kim and Kim have a fun new challenge so the timing just works for me to get things organized before I have to travel to my great granddaughter’s memorial service at the end of the month.
It seems like it has been forever since I was able to set a goal or two for myself for the month so April will be a new start for me.
I am setting a goal to make a new quilt for my grandson and his wife. I’m hoping by the end of the month they will be moved in to a new home. I have been looking at patterns and books but can’t seem to find anything that tempts me. Where is my inner squirrel, Samantha, when I need her?
These Island Batik fat quarters from Citified which I won just might be the fabrics of choice.
If you have a suggestion for a fat quarter friendly quilt, I’d love to hear of it. Please, do leave me a comment.
I am also hoping to have a quilt started or even finished for Grace and her new big girl bed but haven’t yet decided on fabrics or a pattern. I am tempted after quilting this beauty for one of my new quilters:
This Lori Holt pattern makes me smile and I can imagine a wee one tracing each animal with those sweet little fingers. I had planned on doing this quilt for Clarke, but perhaps Grace will like it, too?
My granddaughter moved to be closer to her brother and sister-in-law after Clarke passed away. She has decided that she also needs a new quilt for her new home and to celebrate her new job. She had interviewed for 6 jobs before moving and was offered all of them. I’m pretty proud of her. She has photos of my finished flimsies and is making a choice from them. It will be interesting to see what she chooses and if I need to add to the quilt to fit her bed.
So the goal is to make one complete quilt, plan another, and if I can get to the studio, quilt one UFO on the long arm before I head to Alberta for my great granddaughter’s memorial service. I do have several days tied up with helping to prepare for my Guild’s annual fundraiser which we are able to hold finally after the pandemic having shut us down for two years.
I’m sure I can make I quilt since I have such a good reason for getting it done and a deadline.
Thank you for reading my post. I enjoy sharing some of my thoughts and plans with you. Carol
Linking with Patty of Elm Street Quilts on the April One Monthly Goal linkup.
Gail from Quilting Gail PHD Report is hosting the PHD in 2022 again. I really enjoy keeping track of things and seeing if I can get 12 of my UFOs finished up.
I can claim a finish:
A travel bag for the final PQ challenge.
While I was at the studio I finished a quilt on the longarm:
One of my new quilter’s in my Guild made this for her granddaughter. I wanted the quilting to be understated so just did straight line quilting in a neutral grey Essentials thread. She has now finished the binding and will have the pleasure of delivering it to the little this week.
I also did a repair job (took the whole quilt apart, repaired popped seams, replaced the batting, backing and binding and then duplicated the embroidery I had to remove to get the quilt apart) and it is now being enjoyed by a son who treasures the quilt his Mom made for him 40+ years ago. I didn’t get pictures because I wasn’t quite functioning. I do see the recipient several times a week as he is a golfer and he never hesitates to thank me again.
So here’s where I’m at with the great tracker Gail created:
I did finish another project, but can’t show it yet. 😉
Thank you for reading my post and thank you Gail for the great linky that keeps me on track.. 😉 Carol
I’ll be linking up with To-Do Tuesday which is being hosted by Linda from Texas Quilt Gal. Every week I find myself looking forward to seeing what everyone else is working on or have finished.
Last To-Do list:
1. Monday take DH to a doctor’s appointment and the go to the Guild for a meeting and work party to clean and organize cupboards and inventory our supplies and equipment.Both done. Our Guild is clean and organized (except for the dye cupboards).
2.Keep working on my hand quilting projects. Some progress on both the EPP and hand quilting the little quilt panel.
I have 4 EPP blocks finished. I need one more for the project I have in mind. My little quilt is more than half done.
3. Work on my idea for my Wonderful World of Color Blog Hop project. Some progress.
4. Take DH to get a biopsy done of a nasty looking mole on Thursday. Done and now we wait for results.
5. Plan my next trip to the studio to help K. and D. Get some things organized when he attends the Cancer Clinic appointments to deal with his diagnosis of Mesothelioma. They will be needing a lot of help and prayers to cope with this news and diagnosis.Trying to get organized but life does get in the way of planning.
6. Do whatever I need to to keep calm. I’m giving Samantha, my inner squirrel permission to distract me as she can to just keep going. Samantha kept trying to tempt me with projects and ideas to no avail until I saw an upcoming QAL that will do the trick I think.
This week’s goals:
1. Keep working on my hand quilting projects.
2. Try to finish my Wonderful World of Color Blog Hop project.
3. Start pulling and cutting fabrics for a new pattern test. My inner squirrel led me to read post by one of my favourite quilt designers who was talking about an upcoming QAL on her blog and of course Samantha and I decided we needed to offer to test the pattern. So my squirrel convinced me I needed a DrEAMi project to kick start my mojo again. 🐿😉🐿 and then Samantha did it to me again! It’s a twofer DrEAMi month.
4. Start planning my next Blog Hop project for May being hosted by Carla from Creatin in the Sticks. There might still be space if you want to jump in.
5. Start planning my project for the Here Comes the Sun Blog Hop being hosted by Carol from Just Let Me Quilt and again, there might be slots available.
6. Give Samantha permission to find things to keep me going. 🐿
Stitchin’ Time
Kate from Kates Life in Pieces hosts a weekly linky party to help us keep to our goals of stitching every day.
I’m trying for at least 30 minutes a day this year, but also want to at least spend 30 minutes a week tidying up and dealing with scraps.
Since my last To-Do List I can say I have still managed to keep up with my 15 minutes a day goal. I have managed to keep to my goal of stitching almost every day since I last reported. It has been hand stitching on EPP blocks and quilting a little quilt panel but I’m content with that.
January 31/31
February 28/28
March 26/31
this week 7/7
This month 3/3
Total: 88/93
Percentage = 94.6 %
To see how our blogging friends are doing check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
Stash Report:
I like to link with Donna @ Quilt Paint Create to keep track of fabric in and out of my stash.
Fabric previous balance: 89 Yards
Fabric Used: 0 yards
Fabric Bought: 0 yards
Balance in stash to use this year: 89 Yards
* my goal is to lessen my stash by 100 yards this year. I haven’t managed to actually figure out how much fabric I really have in my stash so it just seems to be reasonable to set a goal to continue working from my stash.
* any fabric used from the scrap bins, was gifted or a prize; doesn’t count as stash
Quilting Gail is hosting her PHD in 2022 Challenge again this year. 😄
I do enjoy sharing some of your time when you read my posts and reply to each comment. 😄 Carol
I’m not sure if I have written about these fun pieces of mail I received last month so I’m going to do it now.
I was so amazed to get an email from Natasha at Island Batiks letting me know I had won a fat quarter bundle for commenting on Week 2 of the Row by Row Blog Hop.
I picked up my mail on the way to the studio last trip. I opened it just as my daughter was calling me to let me know our Clarke had passed away.
These colours and fabrics are stunning and now I need to find the “perfect pattern” to make a quilt for my grandson and his partner. It seems “right” somehow. Perhaps the pretty colours will bring some comfort to them.
Just after the Polar Bear Plunge Blog Hop ended, Selina from Selina Quilts emailed me to let me know I had won a sweet set of her rice bags. It arrived with the IB prize package and couldn’t have been better timed. When I came home from the studio we got another dump of snow and I had some shovelling to do. I heated my hand warmers and tucked them in my jacket pockets so I could tuck my hand in to get warm. They worked wonderfully! Thank you again Selina!
Aren’t they the happiest colour? and yes, the larger bag has been a blessing with the changing weather bringing on migraines. It helps with the heat on the back of my neck.
The mail also brought several cards with sweet condolence messages and a few more packages of scraps and unloved fabrics to help keep me occupied.
Quilt Schmilt 
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