Sewing and cooking have become the focus of my interests and travelling has been put on the back burner for the time-being. I have turned into a really big fan of Pinterest and have had a lot of fun trying so many new recipes.
While I still love gardening, we have had such hot and humid weather the past few summers, that I haven't been able to do much in that direction. I'm hoping that next spring will be a real spring so that I can get a lot done before the heat sets in. Gardeners ARE eternal optimists, you know :)
I HAVE, however, been sewing a lot. Mostly clothes for me and my grandchildren, with a little bit of children's clothing for charity. The odd bit of 'crafty' sewing has been thrown in along the way, and now seems to be my main focus.
Two years ago I bought the material to make a king-size quilt/duvet cover for our bed. The original idea required a ton of fussy-cutting and was rather intimidating, so I didn't start. About two months ago I found a pattern on sale and it seems a little easier (and adaptable), so I think I will use that instead. At about the same time, there was a tutorial on Pinterest for making the basic block for Drunkard's Path using freezer paper, and I thought I could use it for the quilt pattern. Of course, I had to try it, so I did two sample blocks which turned out really well (picture me grinning like a Cheshire cat and muttering "it works, it really works!")... and then I couldn't waste those blocks, so I made myself a small tote bag. I really like it, and it's had a lot of use.
Then, my SIL and I were in a local quilt shop and saw a Row By Row quilt, got very enthused, and I bought the kit and she got the free pattern. Well, that really started the ball rolling. Back (at my) home, we were both on the computer looking for more and figuring out how we could get more free patterns ... "Who do we know who lives near ...?" Turns out that collecting the patterns was like eating peanuts ... you just want more and more. I think by this weekend we have about 75% of the Ontario patterns and a few from other provinces and states. I can't imagine that we will make all of them, and hopefully next June when the new ones come out we will stick to ones we can actually make ... but our plans were grand even if we don't make them all :) So far I have made 4 panels towards the actual quilt, plus two others just in case I need them (they were easy ones and I needed the break).
I sewed quite a few of the 10-minute table runners from a video tutorial on YouTube. I've done Easter ones for me, my DDs, my DDIL, and a dear friend, Autumn ones for us all, plus a whole whack of Christmas ones. I bought all the fabric for last Christmas and didn't get them done (because I was desperately trying to get sets of 8 placemats done for my DDs and my DDIL), so it was nice to use up all that material. After having done all that, I can tell you it still takes me longer than 10 minutes to make one :)
I also used up some of the Christmas material making a few other things. I made a reversible cover for my Kitchen Aid mixer ... everyday side with green ivy material and the reverse side with Christmas gingerbread material. I also tried making a Dresden Plate block and turned it into a table topper for the kitchen. It's not perfect, but it looks pretty good, if I do say so myself !
So now I am back to working on another Row By Row panel and whatever else strikes my fancy for something quick and easy in between.
AND ... I've done something really dangerous ... I started reading sewing blogs. Somehow or other I ended up reading a blog from a lovely lady in Norway (May Britt at http://abyquilt.blogspot.ca) which led to another, then another, then another, which led to more lovely ladies from Australia (one of whom is Chookyblue at http://chookyblue.blogspot.com.au). I love the work that they do. They incorporate a lot of appliqué and embroidery in their quilts/wallhangings. Of course, that set me on another tangent, and now I have some of that hand-work on the go for quiet times. A couple of new books with patterns had to be purchased as well. They are not easy to find here in my part of the world, so I have also digitally subscribed to Australian Homespun magazine. So many wonderful patterns :) But I thank all those wonderful blog ladies. They are such a source of inspiration.
That's it for today. Take care. Hope your day is wonder-full :)
NannyBee
Great reading
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