Cozy Critters Quilts

Vicki made 3 of these cute Cozy Critter lap quilts, using a panel and fabrics by M.J. Merrill.  The pattern was free at shops that carried the Cozy Critter fabric line by M.J. Merrill for Wilmington Prints.

I quilted them with the Snow Winds pantograph, used light blue So Fine threads and Quilters Dream Blend batting on all of them.

Vicki also brought a sweet Halloween Quilt she made with Too Cute to Spook fabrics by Me & My Sister for Moda Fabrics. The pattern was from Primitive Gatherings, listed by the same name as the fabric and was for a wall hanging.

I quilted it with the Gossamer pantograph, used orange So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.

Vicki brought an orange Minkie for the backing which shows off the quilting nicely. These fabrics are pretty cute and a very tiny designs.  

Wood Mandala Project

I have been working on this project for a few months now.  I was drawn to the design as soon as I found it on Etsy while searching Laser Vector Files after Tim bought his laser cutter. We sourced the 1/8" wood from Windsor Plywood in Winnipeg.  I needed a dark and a light wood so picked Ribbon Mahogany and Baltic Birch.  Little did I know at the time that Ribbon Mahogany was hard to find, except at the one store location.  I now stock up every time we head to Winnipeg to visit, its just as fun as shopping for fabric! ;)

The project is made up of six 9" blocks and each block has 9 layers of wood.  Once Tim cut each layer I sanded and oiled each piece.  Used a Hemp oil to finish the wood. That stuff is great, no smell and brings out the grain of the wood.  Once dry I then carefully glued each later together.

Here was the first block I made.

You can see the depth in this angled shot.

Now this piece welcomes everyone into my quilting studio! 

You many have noticed the quilt hanging to the left of it, that is a quilt top I have been working on and hope to quilt over my December break! Still debating how to quilt it but had to hang up to enjoy.

Purple Embroidery Flower Wreath

I finished another embroidery project.  This one is a Purple Floral Wreath, pattern by Momentoell.  I was showing my mom some of the embroidery patterns that I recently purchased and she really liked this one so I said I would make it for her for Christmas.  I used a soft green Essex Linen and a Beechwood hoop to display it in. 

I discovered a few new tips online for working on embroidery.  The first one was to mark your design on your linen with a Frixon pen. I don't usually like to use Frixon for quilting as the lines never truly disappear but for this purpose it worked well. Once I had finished the stitching I used a hairdryer on the piece and the Frixon lines disappeared.. No need to wash or iron the piece.  I don't like ironing my work as it can cause the threads to compact so this was the perfect compromise. 

Then a friend sent me a link to a great trick for stretching your linen into the hoop.  It showed how to use Double Sided tape just along the inside edge of the frame and then gently pull the linen around and secure. I have tried this with glue but it was quite messy.  I usually just make a running stitch around the extra fabric and pulled it tight but you can see the extra fabric pushing from the back into the front giving it a bumpy look.  So trimming back all the extra fabric and using double sided tape was a great fix for that and the front is very smooth.  I then add a piece of cardstock to the back to make it look neat.

Trip Around the World Quilt

Coleen made this fun quilt for her grandson using dinosaur and reptile fabrics.  She cut 5" squares from the selected fabrics and used the traditional Trip Around the World layout for the blocks. The blue print border really compliments the design. 

I quilted it with the Popcorn pantograph, used beige So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.

So Many Projects!

I realized I haven't been sharing my personal projects here lately, most of those were going onto my Instagram but now that my Instagram account was hacked and I can't get back onto it I think I'll put my focus back into my blog.  If you follow my tamarackshack1 Instagram account please report it and unfollow. I have had no luck getting it back.  If  I decide to go back on it I'll let you know my new account name.  I really have no desire right now to set up a new account.  Instagram is not the photo sharing app it use to be and is trying to compete with TikTok.  Hate all the ads, reels and suggested content. So I'll take a break from it all and see if I miss it or not.   

Now to the good stuff!  I have been having fun this summer and fall using my husbands new laser cutter/engraver.  As you can see in the picture above I have been making inlayed Barn Quilts using Ribbon Mahogany, Birch and MDF.  I have been adding Fusion Mineral paint on some as well.

The three above are for sale but I'm keeping this next as it sits on the shelf in my office.

Then I designed a holder for my embroidery floss with a magnetic needle minder along with acrylic floss bobbins.

One thing I noticed with other acrylic bobbins on the market was there was no place to write your floss number so I added a etched box at the top, used a fine tip Sharpie to write the number and when its done I just wipe it clean with some Windex. 

I then got into cutting cork labels!  

They can be used in bags, on rope bowls and knitted items.

I have some of the floss holders and cork labels available at Fabriculous quilt shop in Brandon, MB.

 I made a few more Ruby Totes using Waxed Canvas and the blue floral linen Rifle Paper.

I'm keeping the grey one but would like to sell the brown one.

I added the labels after the pictures were taken.

Finished a few more embroidery projects this summer and fall.   Here is a pattern by Momentoell called Welcome Autumn.

This one is very appropriate to how I feel about my Instagram account being hacked. If you like sweary embroidery patterns you can find some great ones at Get Stitch Done Designs on Etsy.  

And next is my latest bag obsession, the Norfolk Pouch by Sotak Handmade on Etsy. I made 10 so far and most have sold when I showed them to my sewing group.

Then I was at a retreat last weekend and Lori suggested we both make a Catch All Caddy, pattern by Patterns By Annie.  It is a really good pattern and I'm very happy with the result.

We also made the Flipping Out pouch, by Patterns by Annie as well.  I have a few more cut out and ready to sew at my next guild meeting sew day. 

So that's what I have been sewing/making this summer and fall.  I have another wood project I just finished that I can't wait to share but it gets its own post. 

I am getting close to my December break and still busy quilting away.  The weather has been mild which is not the greatest for outdoor quilt pictures as it is wet and slippery out.  

Cobblestone Wave Quilt

Nyla made this lovely batik Cobblestone Wave quilt, pattern by Pine Tree Country Quilts.  I believe this was a kit from Up North Quilt Shop as I admired it hanging in the shop before Covid hit.

I quilted it with the Mimosa pantograph, used light beige So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.

Nyla brought a pretty blue Minkie for the backing which shows off the quilting.

Now I really regret not buying that kit!