Gratitude #69

Welcome to another monthly post of gratitude.

If you are honest, people may deceive you Be honest anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfishness. Be kind anyway. All the good you do today will be forgotten by others tomorrow. Do good anyway.

--Fredrik Backman

One of the highlights of the month was an evening with my friend Nancy. We spent a lovely afternoon and evening in downtown Windsor at the WIFF, Windsor International Film Festival. We saw two great films, Haute Couture, a French film about the fashion industry and the imminent retirement of the head seamstress. The other was Stay Prayed Up, a documentary about The Branchettes, a gospel group in North Carolina. 

Binding a Quilt Using the Backing

My last finish was Soar, and in the making of it, I had a bit of an epiphany when I realized that the backing would make the most perfect multi-colour bright binding. I had enough to actual cut binding strips, but it was late, and I was tired, so I knew enough to tell myself I'd trim the quilt and cut the binding in the morning when I'd be fresh.

Well my brain chugged along through the night and early morning like the little train that could, and I ended up having a lightbulb moment when I thought, 'why not try binding the quilt as I do some placemats, by carefully (that is key!) trimming the batting only, with scissors, and then trimming the backing beyond the edges of the quilt, folding it under twice and topstitching it down onto the front! I've never done a big quilt this way, though I've used the technique on several placemats. I couldn't for the life of me remember how to get the mitred corners, but eventually, it all came back.

So here, for future reference of placemats, minis, wallhangings, or quilts, is what I did.

Soar

I think it was when I made the Postcard from Sweden makeup pouch for my niece that I realized I needed to make a quilt for her niece and nephew (my great-niece and great-nephew!). Both quilts percolated throughout this year.

The wind was a factor today, but I think the billowing effect is a-okay with this airy quilt! Keen eyes will notice Xena sunbathing on the deck behind the quilt.

Heading North Pattern Release

I am excited to release another pattern today, Heading North. This is one that should have been released a year ago, but ahem, here we are. How can patterns be UFOs? Well, I stand here telling you yes, they sure can. Do not ask me how many I have that are UFOs... Okay, enough confessing, here's to celebrating!

This was published in Make Modern #39 in spring 2021. (affiliate link) The design originated as one of the 30 Quilt Design Challenge quilts I did a few years ago. It uses one block from EQ8! It was my first published quilt Make Modern, and I went to town on the quilting, filling up the negative space with lots of texture. It is a super-simple block, and the quilt top comes together in a day or two max. There is a second design option in the pattern, one that is not in the magazine: a baby quilt with a completely different look, using the same block!

Patchy Pumpkin Farm Quilt

It's been a little while since I had a finished quilt to share, but I have one today! Some of you may already have seen it yesterday on Instagram, since I needed to post it there to qualify for the prizes for the second quarter of Leanne's #wipsbgone2022. It's an adorable design from Brittany of White Plains Quilts that I first saw on Instagram.

As soon as I saw this quilt, I thought of Brianne, my eldest. She loves the old farm truck image, and she loves fall. So I sent her the Instagram post. She loved it. As in loved it so much she asked me to please make it for her, "and Mom? (she insists on the 'o', though I am and always have been 'Mum') I never ask for a quilt, but I am asking for this one, so that should tell you how much I want it."

Gratitude #68

Good morning. Yes, I did not write this up ahead of time because I wanted to write it from where I am: the incredibly beautiful Catskills of New York. This was the view out our bedroom window this morning.

That is through the window (as you can tell) with my iPhone, no filter. Clearly, it down't do it justice, and clearly, that view takes your breath away. Mountains are on the other side of the cute little cottage we are staying in. We have mainly come to visit our dear friend John, who has appeared from time to time on the blog with his beloved dog, Brandy, now over the rainbow bridge. I am excited to explore, and watch for more photos here and on Instagram. Can you imagine how pretty it is in spring with those apple trees in bloom? We are staying in Janette and Eddie's (friends of John's and now of ours) cottage on their beautiful property.

Good Grief!

Good grief: how can it be 2.5 weeks since my last post? I've been sewing and reading as per usual, maybe a bit more reading than sewing to be honest. Let me fill you in on what's been happening around here. If you follow me on Instagram you'll have a bit of an idea. I've joined in with Leanne at Devoted Quilter on Instagram for her WIPS challenge once again this year. This year it's just two months, 61 days, so during this second quarter, I set my sights a bit lower, looking to complete two goals. One I met Sunday morning.

This is my knitted selvages rug, the second one I've made over the years. It's bigger than the first one.