Sunday, January 5, 2025

Lookout Quilt


Our local quilt guild, The Cabin Country Quilters in Fort Frances, Ontario, donates a quilt to a local cancer charity for their biennial event called "The Luncheon of Hope".  They have been donating the raffle quilt for this event for many years and this year we chose the Lookout Quilt.  We purchased the quilt kit from Fabriculous in Brandon, MB. and the pattern is by Elizabeth Hartman.


Our members each made a few blocks and we assembled it at our November meeting. I just finished quilting it and now gets passed on to another guild member to do the binding.
 

I quilted it with the Ombre pantograph, used a light green So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.  The backing is a lovely dark brown CuddleTex.


Its been quite a challenge getting any outdoor picture this winter so far.  It has been very cloudy and mild with freezing rain but now that the skies are blue that means cold and windy!






I have a feeling the tickets for this quilt will sell really well!


Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Looking Back on 2024


Another year has wrapped up and my list of completed projects has drastically changed from quilts to bags. I only made one quilt and three pillows this year and the rest were all a variety of bags.   I participated in 8 craft markets as well as sold many of my makes though Facebook and Instagram.


Lori and I published another Highway 10 Designs pattern called Butter Tarts
And I made 3 Hexi pillows. 


When I'm not at the sewing machine I have my camera in my hand practicing my bird photography and looking to the sky to catch the latest celestial phenomenon. 




 

Paddled ten different lakes this summer which is one of my favorite activities.


 I thought I would add a few pics of my market set ups from this past year as well.




I have been busy with my longarm business and compared my total of quilts this year to past years and it is pretty much the same.  Only difference is I no longer spend the extra time taking outdoor photos of them all.  I have a quilt that I finished for our guild a few weeks ago but I'm still waiting for a sunny day to get a few outdoor shots. Its been mild and cloudy but think the skies should clear soon with the colder temperatures rolling in next week.

I'm looking forward to 2025 and seeing what adventures await us!
Happy New Year!



Monday, December 9, 2024

Christmas Quilts

I had two identical Christmas quilts brough to me by cousins and they even had the same backing so I thought about quilting them identical as well.  But decided to make them just a bit different by quilting snowflakes on both but use different snowflake pantographs.


This first one is Tracy's and I quilted it with the Flurry pantograph, used white So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.  This simple Square in Square design really sets off the Christmas fabrics that have a Scandinavian theme with Dala horses.


I quilted Stacy's with the Snow Winds pantograph, used white So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.


I'm sure they will get a lot of use over the holiday season!


We did our last Christmas Market for the season.  Was great to have a lot of my larger waxed canvas bags sell out and still have some smaller items to take to the local Christmas Store and Hospital Gift Shop to try to sell before Christmas.  


I sold out of my wooden Embroidery ornament kits and am currently making more for orders taken.  Sold 12 of my Cardinal circle signs and have one left which I'm happy to keep if I don't get any inquiries about it. My husband did great with his wooden vehicle kits, with his airplanes being the biggest hit. He has also started custom designing lake signs which has been keeping him busy as well. 







Tim was challenged by one of our friends to make a sewing machine kit and he used my Featherweight as inspiration.  The wheel turns and it can hold a spool of thread on top. :)


Now time to get back to quilting as I have a few more client quilts to finish before I take a few weeks off for the holidays.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Just My Type Quilt


Gail made this fun Just My Type quilt, pattern by Pen and Paper Patterns.  She used a variety of fabrics from her stash to create her floral version of this pattern.  I watched Gail make this quilt over the last few months at our quilting group that meets once a week.  It was fun to see what letters she finished each week.


I took the above picture yesterday, no snow and mild temperatures.  Then today we had 3 inches of rain with the possibility of it turning to snow tonight. So we might wake up to some snow on the ground.
 

Gail ask for the Gatsby pantograph, and I used off white So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.




She will be using this pink striped fabric around the 'P' for binding.



I had a really good Market this weekend selling my bags.  Next one is in two weeks so I have time to make more pouches as those sold so well.  




Monday, November 11, 2024

Christmas Market Prep!


I have been busy making items for the local Christmas markets happening from now until early December.   I'm sewing as fast as I can for my next market on the November 15+16th. Large bags, small bags, pouches, wristlets and my laser cut signs.  My goal it to have different items than I did from the last Spring Markets.

Just finished this sweet Chickadee Basket!  I have been making more Linen Divided Baskets as they are a great seller.


I was working on this Raven themed Aberdeen Tote at a quilt retreat and it was claimed before I had even finished sewing it!  Will have to make more!


I have been focused on making more of the small X-body bags and wristlets in a variety of colours.


I have a good selection of Cambridge bags in a wide variety of waxed canvas colours.


I have a great selection of Corduroy Compass bags.


And my painted laser cut signs. 


The Chickadee is my best seller and I now have a new one that I just finished with a Cardinal.


So I am looking forward to the 3 markets I have book in the next month!