Sparkle Sock Yarn and other 'Stuff'

I visited the Alderney Farmer's Market, Dartmouth, on Saturday. Jill, my daughter, was set up there from 8 am - 1 pm. There were lots of vendors, from food (vegetables, fruits, meats, baked goods, jams / pickles, breakfast items, coffee . . .) to clothing, jewelry, carvings, yarns and more.

I purchased some yarn with a hint of sparkle from Elegantly Twisted Yarns, owned by Andrea Hiscock and Connie Dolomount. Andrea is a fellow Newfoundlander, living in Dartmouth. Here's my purchase. The sparkle, called Stellina, doesn't show up here but it's gorgeous! Of course, I won't be knitting with it but cutting it up to use in my art work.

 

When organizing the studio last week, I found a few small projects / samples of work that I had forgotten about. Have a look:

Cross Stitch Quilt Block stitched about 20 years ago

From a workshop I took at the International Quilt Show, Houston, TX, 2001

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I have no idea at the moment what I will do with the about pieces but they are hanging on my design panel for inspiration. Maybe I will have a whopper of an idea.

In any case, here's more sewing / quilting ideas:

• Reading Pillow Sewing Tutorial 
• Fabric Basket (download)  
• Things to make with Fat Quarters
• Reversible Bag Pattern 
• 11 Fat Quarter Ideas for Christmas (next year)   

Enjoy!!

Second Finish

My studio has new curtains! A second finish for me in 2019!!!

I figured I'd buy curtains for the three windows. However, after bringing home three different sets to try, I decided to make some instead. Atlantic Fabrics, Bridgewater, had just what I needed. The fabric looks like linen and the colour works with my colour scheme.

A partial view of my studio. These windows face the front of the house.

Check these out:

• Studio space of Terry Aske 
• Quilt Studios (lots of eye candy too) on Pinterest HERE,  HERE & HERE
• Sewing Room Makeover Ideas, More HERE    

Enjoy!!

First Finish for 2019

The 12 Days of Christmas wall hanging that I started in December is finished! This is a free pattern from All People Quilt. It caught my eye when I first saw it and I saved the link just in case. When I decided to take a quick trip back to St. John's, early in December, this was the right size project to take. All the fabrics and buttons were from my stash. The colourful batik, used for the back and binding, isn't a Christmas print but worked perfectly! The cream background is a linen type weave with gold threads.

The wall hanging is actually straight. My camera taking was a bit off!!

Enjoy!!

3 Pillows

Now that the Twelve Days of Christmas are over, I can show you these quilted pillows my sister, Joan, made us for Christmas. Joan was posting photos on Instagram for the Twelve Days of Christmas and one of the pillows was day 12. I didn't want to spoil her fun. The pillows have 12 triangles of the Flying Geese pattern. You can see more of Joan's Instagram photos @lovemombo. She shows among other things, quilts, knitted socks, children's clothes and garden stuff!

These pillows match two quilts that she previously made for us. The center pillow has stitched and beaded motifs that she found on a piece of fabric at a thrift store in Tennessee. She sure knows how to use such different finds! Thanks, Joan. Love the pillows.

Now for some things I found:

• Pillows on Pinterest HERE and HERE
• 30 Modern Christmas Pillows 
• Batik Log Cabin Pillow 
• Free Modern Quilt Pillows 

 Enjoy!!

Nifty Idea

I was roaming the reduced Christmas section of the Superstore a few days ago, and came across a useful item for my studio. Part of my room has a step wall so this mantel stocking hanger is perfect for using on the ledge beside my machines. It's heavy, won't fall off and can hold a fold up travel case that I found at Dollarama a few years ago. I keep scissors, sewers aid, clips and whatever else accumulates next to the machine. The table top is not as cluttered (for now). I hope they aren't all gone as I need to purchase a couple more!

More Finds:

• I'm going to borrow a nifty link from my friend's last post at Magpie's Mumblings, Sew Free Patterns.  
• A retired St. John's surgeon transforms NL scenes and famous paintings into rugs. His wife (also a doctor) is a quilter friend of mine. Check HERE.
• This Half Round Hanging Basket would be perfect for hanging beside my machine too. 

Enjoy!

A New Year

2019!  WOW
We have spent our second Christmas in Nova Scotia. Mind you, we didn't move in until late October, 2017 so about 14 months. During that time we have built me a new studio (among many other projects). That meant everything except exterior walls and ceiling. Ours is a split entrance bungalow so most of the basement is above ground. However, the basement had a shiny cement floor but nothing else done to it. I now have a comfortable, large space with lots of light and electrical plugs. The windows and door still need trim and baseboard has to be installed. Storage units aren't built yet so I'm still using those stainless steel open shelving from Costco (brought them from NL). BUT, I can work to my heart's content!

I'm slowly getting more organized. At least I can find stuff without too much searching. I'm very pleased with all the space I have. Can you guess, I'm excited about that!! I managed to hang a few of my pieces in the room a few days ago. All the hand stitching pieces are class samples. The quilted piece is from a workshop I did with Libby Lehman, in Toronto, years ago.

stitch sampler in wool

top sampler has 50 different stitches

 

Row Houses in Hardanger - original design

My first work using free-motion, overlays of tulle and sparkly threads

 Enjoy!