Spring into a Project!

Today was a gorgeous, warm, spring day with the birds twittering in the trees and new growth in my garden. At least I hope spring is finally here as we woke up to an inch or so of snow on the ground yesterday. However, by lunch time it was all gone.

We have had more snow this year than the previous three winters since moving to Nova Scotia in 2017. The up side (if you can call it that), there was no wind to speak of. Of course, coming from St. John's, NL, that is no joke. According to a CBC report a number of years ago, St. John's takes 3rd place for having the most wind on the planet. In fact, I bought my first jacket without a hood when I moved here. 

Anyway, I'm a bit off topic but such is life! In February, I needed a spring like project and settled on Birds of a Feather from Kim Schaefer's book, Cool Cotton & Whimsical Wool Quilts. This book has 12 contemporary folk-art projects using colourful whimsical characters. The largest wall quilt in the book is only 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 inches, so very doable. Unless, of course, you decide to do your own thing! Which I did.

I don't have my Birds of a Feather finished yet and the next photos show why.  I decided to use this piece as an embroidery sampler. In other words, I'm hand stitching every leaf and critter with a different set of stitches. Instead of using felt for the branches, I embroidered them with pearl cotton. I still have a fair amount left to do but I'm pleased with the results so far. It keeps me out of trouble in the evenings.

 

 

Here is  the stitching so far.

 

This will eventually be quilted and hung on the wall for spring. However, at this time, I'm not sure which spring that will be. When it's completed, I'll post more about it.

Have a look at these links:

• Buzzworthy is a cute free pattern using wool felt applique
• Lots more ideas from Pinterest HERE
• Check out the felting HERE.
• Hungry anyone! 
  

Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day

 

A delightful drawing from my granddaughter, Gale.  The humming bird is the focus as I get them visiting the deck garden all summer. The pinkish lilly, shown below the blue flower, is the plant she just gave me for my garden.

• Flower Wall Hanging - pattern
• Poppy Quilts & Wall Hangings on PINTEREST 
• Bird of Paradise Block   
• Quilted Stained Glass Flower  
• Mother's Day Quilted Flower Hanging  
• Quilted Flower Blocks - free

Enjoy & Stay Safe!!

Spring!

Well, it finally moved from early spring to mid spring - I think! The spring weather here in Nova Scotia hasn't been as warm as last year and there have been lots of gray days. However, when the sun did shine, it was warm. On one of those sunny days, we made a trip to a couple of plant nurserys. 

Last fall, all the grass was stripped off the lawn between our two driveways  -  75' by 40' (and that doesn't include about another 40 feet on the other side of the driveways)! All the sod and a foot of clay was taken out and replaced with new topsoil and compost. There was also a layer of rocks put in front of the 'lawn' to keep the soil from running down the slope.

This year, the soil and compost were rotor-tilled together. We now have a two foot wide strip filled with ground cover plants across the front. I'm hoping these plants will spread down over the rocks. Of course, we get visits from deer and bunnies, so that determined the types of plants we used!

The next warm day, black ground cloth covered with mulch, will be installed around these plants. At the moment, we have no plans to replace any of the grass. I believe this endeavour will be a work in progress for the next couple of years. 

Four Gold Star Juniper - 3' x 6'

Five Blue Rug Juniper - Genevrier Wiltonii - 8" x 6'

Four 'Wiltonii' Juniper - 10 cm x 2.5 m

Twelve Periwinkle

Embroider a Garden:

• Kathy Thomas has lots of ideas on her Pinterest page 
• Stitch your own garden  Mary Corbet 
• More Pinterest ideas HERE,  HERE, 
  
• DMC - free embroidery patterns
• How to Hand Embroider Flowers    
• YouTube: 10 Gorgeous Flower Ideas  
• How to Embroider Flowers

Enjoy!!

Stay Safe 

 

Don't forget to check out my new website https://judycooper.ca  I've been adding photos, blog posts, etc. Take a look around!

 

Happy Valentine's Day

 A day late as I forgot to publish it! Darn!!!!

My granddaughter loves 'stuffies' as she calls all stuffed animals. She's never been one for dolls but has lots of stuffed creatures. Here's her Valentine stuffie bear. (we had a sleepover so she got this when she woke up)!

Tonight I also uploaded Lesson Two of Four, Garden Sewing Box, to the Virtual Threads group (Embroiderers' Association of Canada). They will have a busy two weeks.

 

• Valentine Gnome from Quilt Doodle (idea for next year) Lots of interesting projects on this site
  
• Mary Corbet's review on Making (Embroidered) Boxes - Books & Resources
• Embroidered Boxes on Pinterest   
• How to Make a Fabric Covered Box from Scratch
• Fabric Box and Basket Patterns (free)

Enjoy and stay safe!

Scrap Bucket

Last night, I took part in a two part zoom class with Canadian Quilter on Fire, Brandy Maslowski. This class was sponsored by the Mahone Bay Quilt Guild. Of course, I selected the fabrics needed for the first part of the class. Wouldn't you know it! Brandy decided to reverse the order and jumped to part two. Was I prepared? NOPE! I was going to rummage through my stash on Thursday to get ready for the class that night.

Since I was in my own space, I had access to all my fabrics. I wasn't interested in making a wine tote that was been demonstrated. Several others also decided to do their own thing. I made a scrap bucket, which is a free pattern from Heather Valentine, The Sewing Loft. 

My base fabric is a dyed piece with raw edge strips stitched onto it. I left some of the base fabric visible. The strips were stitched in place using black Superior invisible thread. Black invisible thread does not shine like the clear thread does. Free-motion stitching is randomly stitched over the strips of batik fabrics. I opted to not add decorative yarns, buttons, ribbons or charms.

Base fabric (actually has greens but photo shows up as greys and black)

 Strips stitched onto the base

 

 

Close-up of stitching

Different views of the bucket

Scrap Bucket from last year

• Free patterns: Fabric Baskets    
• Pinterest: Quilted Organizer Patterns
• Tote Bag Patterns from Quilt Inspiration       
• Car Organizer Sewing Patterns     

Enjoy!

Stay Safe

My Portable Embroidery Organizer

Not that I needed another 'organizer' for my stuff! BUT . . .

I saw a free pattern on Sew Can She web site last month and decided to give it a try. The cut-out handles really sold me on this project! A bonus - the pleated pockets are large enough for my phone. AND the interior with its 6 interior pockets, is the perfect size for fat quarters. It's also easy to close with the magnetic snaps.

I choose some Japanese fabrics from my stash. These had been gifted to me many years ago by an elderly lady, whom I visited frequently. In fact, I inherited most of her sewing and quilting stash when she passed away. This sewing organizer will always remind me of Nina.

As I'm not one to follow all the rules (good or bad????)! I did change the type of stabilizer from a medium weight fusible interfacing to some Peltex (fusible one side) that I had on hand. I did not use the flex foam stabilizer (bought some to try but didn't). In any case, the sides were a bit thick. I did manage to sew the binding on by machine on the straight parts but hand sewing, using the wonder clips, finished the organizer.

I decided to do some free-motion embellishment on the fabrics. For the pockets I used Totally Stable and a variegated thread by Superior Threads. I think it added to the project.

I also used these neat wonder quilter's clips to hold the binding in place while it was stitched on.

 

I like the cut-out handles and they are so easy to do.

Magnetic closure

Lots of pockets: 6 inside and 6 outside.

I'm pleased with the result and not sorry that I used the heavier stabilizer.

• Check out Sew Can She for lots of free patterns and tutorials.
• DIY Sewing Organizers  
• Sewing Patterns to Organize Your Life
• 50 + Sewing Organizer Patterns at All Free Sewing

Enjoy!!

Book Review: Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery

I received Sharon Boggon's book, Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery, for Christmas. This book is a visual guide of 120 embroidery stitches. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced embroiderer, this book encourages you to create new patterns by playing with the stitches. For example, to manipulate the height and width of a stitch, to overlap and stack stitches, to combine laced and threaded stitches . . . Page 27 has a list of 21 questions to consider when using a particular stitch, such as

• How does this stitch behave on a curve?
• Can this stitch be laced with another thread?
• What happens if I add beads?

Lots of stitch combinations to consider!

You won't be disappointed with the coloured photos throughout the book.

You are probably familiar with Sharon's website, Pintangle. If not, and you are interested in hand embroidery (beginner or experienced), please check it out. 

Another TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday) challenge started today. So it's time to get your threads and doodle cloth ready for stitching!

More links about hand embroidery:

• Nordic Needle   (free patterns)
• Freebie Gallery  
• Needle 'n Thread Network (Mary Corbet)
• Jo Butcher, artist  
• Emma Mattson, artist  
• Needle Work,  Needle Painting
• DMC free patterns   
• Tanja Berlin, Canadian designer 
• EAC, Embroiderers' Association of Canada   
• 10 Contemporary Embroidery Artists   

Enjoy!

Mittens!

Today the forecast was for 15 - 20 cm of snow. We got about 6cm and then it turned to rain. I'm good with that as I am not a winter person. Give me warm weather. Anyway, my sister sent me a couple pairs of her knitted mittens and asked me to build her a snowman (she's in Tennessee) wearing a pair of the mitts. Didn't happen!! Sorry Joan. But here are the mittens:

The last time she was here, we went to Annapolis Royal to the summer market. One of the vendors was selling the pattern for mitts with the pointed tops. We tried on a pair and were surprised at how comfortable they were as we always had the rounded top ones that our mother made. 

Here are mittens she made for my granddaughter, her great niece. Aren't they gorgeous!

• 36 Free Knit Mitten patterns at All Free Knitting   
• Mitten Patterns from Interweave    
• Herringbone Mittens (free pattern) from Knitting Patterns Galore
• Mitten Ornaments pattern   
• Mittens and Snowflakes Wall Hanging from American Patchwork & Quilting   
• Hanging Mittens to Crochet from Highland Hickory Designs 
  

Enjoy!

Free-Motion Stitching Skill's Day

I have no problem staying home during this time of crisis, as we have lots to do inside and out. But I feel for all those who are forced to stay home due to the shut down of businesses. Here's hoping that everyone will cope in this difficult time. It's important to pay attention to the rules set out by the powers that be, stay safe and wash hands often!

I taught a Free-Motion Skills class on Saturday morning with some very enthusiastic ladies from the Mahone Bay Quilt Guild. It was a lovely morning.

Here's me doing a demo!

I took a few shots from the class:

View a few more shots from the skill's day, HERE. Scroll down for shots from previous events!

• An instructional video for beginners of free-motion stitching with Jenny Doan 
• Tips to set up your machine for free-motion stitching from Quilt Social
• Free-Motion Sewing Machine Embroidery 
• Leah Day's Free-Motion Quilting Tutorial Library
• Quilting Designs on Pinterest HERE

Enjoy!!

In Like A Lamb!!

March came in like a lamb here in Pine Grove, NS. There was a mixture of sun, clouds, a few flurries, some wind (not much) and cool temperatures. It did get above freezing here in my backyard!!

This guy, last year's Dollar Shop find, usually sits on the edge of my piano. It gives me a chuckle every time I look at it.

Last week I was making lamb Shimmer Ornaments on the embroidery machine (click on the links to see more of my shimmer ornaments). Some of these (among others), will be found at Museums by the Sea. Shelburne's Historic Waterfront, NS, later in the spring.

• All Things Sheep  (cute, free patterns to knit, crochet . . .)
• Free Sheep Crochet Patterns 
• Sew a sheep softie (Free pattern)
• Crochet a Sheep Granny Square (cute one)

 Enjoy!!

Snow Happens Update / Mega Storm in Newfoundland

Slow and steady wins the race. Really?? In any case, I have a bit more done to my hand embroidered snowmen. Here's the pieced border that had me say a few choice words over it yesterday.

I have the four sides trimmed and ready to stitch onto the piece.

On another note:

Thinking about my relatives and friends in Newfoundland today with the mega snowstorm playing havoc to the point that the mayor of St. John's declared a state of emergency today. My friend, M, has been keeping me updated on the storm.

To read more about it and to view some video clips, check out CBC HERE .  This weekend is going to be one of digging out for the residents of St. John's and area.

Now for some fun stuff (depending on how you look at it), here's a few links to explore:

• Mary Corbet's Needle n Thread blog has some free hand embroidery patterns for you to use.
• DMC has lots of free patterns for hand embroidery.
• Get a head start on 2020 Christmas by sewing up the Felt Christmas Tree Ornaments at Bugs and Fishes.
• Inspired by the snow, check out the free pieced and quilted Little Landscape wall hanging. 

Enjoy!!

Visitors!

A couple of weeks ago, I happened to notice a "visitor" attached to the brick work on the front of the house.  It was there for several days. Apparently it was a luna moth and this one was a male.  It is considered one of the largest moths in North America with a wingspan of 4.5 inches. My granddaughter was fascinated by this creature and did a bit of on-line research about it. That's how we found out it was a male.

Another large moth landed on the side deck. At first glance, the brown part of the wings looked like dried up leaves. I've searched for this one but couldn't find anything out about it.

• Pinterest has some interesting quilts with butterflies and moths on them. Check HERE, HERE,
• Butterfly Scrap Quilt Wall Hanging
• Butterfly Outlines 
• Iris Butterflies Quilt (free pattern)

 Another quite frequent visitor to our back garden is the deer. Usually a family of them visit but on this day, only one showed up.
Enjoy!!

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

Add caption

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!!