A Christmas finish!

I seriously have a box load of table runners that I rarely use, but that didn't stop me from doing another!

This is a Christmas table runner, and yes, I already have several of those too! LOL!

I used the Sunbonnet Sue paper piecing  pattern from Jennifer @ sewhooked.

The Ho! Ho! Ho! I just made up myself, then added a piece of ribbon and a button for the exclamation marks!

The text fabric is called Christmas traditions, and I really liked reading it!

It measures 12"x 54".

Look Fiona!

 Riga, Latvia!

Here it is all ready for the cats to play with when I'm not looking!

WIP Wednesday

I've had a busy and productive 2 weeks since my last WIP post!

This past week has been all about the bags.....the For Pleat Sake bags to be exact! This is a tutorial from Lisa Lam, and I made two of them!!

One for practice, and to work out the kinks I usually put into things!

it turned out amazing!!!

love the Echino fabric, and I added a much needed zip pocket.

For the second one, I put in 2 zip pockets! I also interfaced the outer fabric as well as the lining to give it more of a substantial feel.

I also added an invisible magnetic closure.

I am thrilled beyond words with this one.....

Love this fabric so much! Are those glasses not the cutest thing?? I love the red leather handles too!

As I said, two 7" zip pockets and I also added a key hook.

I think the lining is a Japanese print, but I didn't have any of the selvage to check! it sure is gorgeous though!

I think I am done with bags for a long time now!

*********

Another Curve It Up QAL block was ready to go this week, and once again, another spectacular take on a traditional block- this one is rail fence!

Isn't it amazing what a curve will do! I'm sure liking this Bella collection by Lotta Jansdotter too.

*****

Naturally, Christmas crafting has to work it's way into the mix as well!

I did a little wall hanging from a pattern by Sonja @ Artisania, and it can be found in Quiltmaker Nov/Dec 2012.

It was a near disaster! You can read about it here!

I also have started a new table runner. The Sunbonnet Sue blocks are from a pattern by Jennifer @ Sew hooked.

The Ho! Ho! Ho! in the centre is just simply pieced, with a strip of ribbon for the exclamation mark. I just need to do a bit more quilting on it, bind it, and call it a finish!

I am working on a block for Nicky in our Star of Africa bee! Almost  Nicky!!

It is supposed to be Anne of Green Gables!

I tell you, these ladies raise the bar every month!

Other than the Curve It Up QAL, my UFO quilts are sitting idle on the sidelines until after Christmas probably. Unless I get a spurt of energy! As if!

*********

We will be having our second meeting of the Saskatoon Modern Quilters Guild on Sunday!  We are certainly in the growing stages, but it is so nice to meet local quilters.

Today, I'll be linking up with Lee @ Freshly Pieced.

And with Monika @ The Needle and Thread Network.

Have a great sewing week everyone!

Blogathon Canada winner!

A big thank you to everyone who left such nice comments on my Blogathon Canada post! This was such an amazing and fun event.

Also, thanks to Carol who contacted me and asked that I participate and represent Saskatchewan!

The biggest thanks goes to Sew Sisters Quilt Shop for sponsoring this event and providing the prizes! 

Without further delay.....

out of 253 comments,

the winning comment was #219 who is Regan!

regan said... 19 And I'm a new follower!

I have sent an e-mail to Regan! Congratulations!

Bear with me...

It's no secret that paper piecing and I have issues at times!

However, once in a while, it goes really well........only to be hi-jinxed by my own stupidity!

Case in point...

I did this great polar bear pattern by Sonja of Artisania, which can be found in Quiltmaker Nov/Dec 2012 issue.

The piecing was quite easy and I was planning to gift it to my Aunt and Uncle who are moving into a Senior's complex after over 50 years in their same house!

So, here is the finished product after multiple fixes!

 The finish turned out to be okay, but OMG! what I went through!

This is only a little bit of the remaining pink after a bleaching!

Oh yeah, as I wet it down to remove the marked lines for the dense straight line quilting, the red in the backing bled through big time!

bleach to the rescue, and it worked well except that I think it weakened the fabric and when I was sewing on the ribbon, the fabric ripped!

So, the charm went on to cover the rip!

Good grief!

The bear isn't discoloured from bleach!

 I use Basic grey grunge in vanilla for the piecing.

I haven't decided yet if it is gift worthy or not!

Now that's it's done, he is pretty cute though!

Blogathon Canada In full swing.....

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you
 Blogathon Canada started on Monday and continues all week, so check out all the host bloggers( there are 14 of us!) across the country, and their giveaways! Open to everyone!
You can find the list with this link, or the button. Go ahead and back track to the earlier bloggers and enter their giveaways too!


Hi everyone, and welcome to Blogathon Canada sponsored by Sew Sisters Quilt Shop.

My name is Patti and I live in Saskatoon,Saskatchewan- aka The City of Bridges!
My quilting adventures began exactly 3 years ago when I took a quilting class at a local quilt shop.
I was truly hooked, and once I discovered all the new modern fabrics and patterns, I haven't stopped !
Here are a few of my favourite projects....

Yes, I love colour!

Also love paper piecing!

and cushions...

 and crafty stuff!!

I was so lucky that Who's Your Granny? was a finalist in the hand quilting category of the recent Blogger's Quilt Festival!
I've been blogging for about a year and a half, although after setting up my blog, I didn't post anything for months!
I love the blogging community, and have joined QAL's, swaps, quilting bees, and charity quilting. All things I would never have know about without blogs!
Something fun and new here in Saskatoon is the
 Saskatoon Modern Quilt Guild
The first meeting was a few weeks ago, and I think it's going to be great!
 I actually got to meet some local bloggers!
Are you ready for a giveaway?
Well, if you are anything like me, you adore Kona solids!
Here is a beauty of a bundle....5 colours...each is 1/2 metre!

Leave a comment here telling me your favourite Kona colour.
If you are a follower, leave a second comment.
Be sure that I have a way to contact you!!
The giveaway will remain open until the end of the Blogathon on November 24th
This giveaway is open to everyone!
Thanks so much for stopping by, and here are some amazing  bloggers you can find here in Saskatchewan!
 

Sew. Darn. Quilt

Samantha's House

My Sweet Prairie

Mrs.Pickles Garden

Butterfly Quilting

Quilting Curve

Jaclyn Quilts

In Stitches & Seams 

CitricSugar 

I'm Here. Might As Well Win 
 

Baggin' it

Yesterday, I decided to make myself a new bag! Because I never trust myself to follow directions accurately, I always make a "test run".

I used this great pattern by Lisa Lam @ U-handbag

and some Echino that I have been hoarding.

While, it may be a test run, I definitely want a good bag!

Yup! I love it!

I did have a few issues with it though. First.....it doesn't have any pockets, and I definitely need some pockets!!

Because the bag is pleated, including the lining, it was a challenge.

I wanted a zip pocket and and open pocket, but I ended up with only the zip.

Because of the pleats in the lining, I couldn't sew  a pocket on without either moving the pleats to the side which bunched up the fabric, or having pleats in the pocket.

Didn't want that!
I used Lush Running Stitch for the lining.

The zip pocket was a good solution as it didn't interfere with the pleats. Now I wish I had put one on both sides, and I will do that for the next one.

There is a V opening on each side, and as you can see, I didn't do a very good job of sewing them!!

I also added an invisible magnetic closure, just because I like to have the top of the bag a bit closed.

I also really like the sew on leather handles, and they were easy to put on. They are 23" long and fit over my shoulder very comfortably.

A little key holder and it's good to go!

For the next one, this is what I'll be using......

The handles look a little orange in the picture, but they are red!

Can hardly wait to get started on it!

Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered my giveaway.

I really enjoyed all your comments about the frame purses, and it sounds like many of you plan to give them a try.

Also, welcome to new followers!

Okay, here are the details....

I had 184 comments!

Congratulations to commenter #11  who is...Karen

Karen said... 11

Your coin purses are delightful I am getting the impression hat if I make one I will need a few practices first. Or 5 or 6! They do look gorgeous.
Congratulations Karen! She has been contacted!

WIP Wednesday

I skipped WIP Wednesday last week, as I was doing a post for my first ever blog hop!

UR Priceless ended yesterday, but it sure was fun!

So many cute coin purses...

Here are the 3 that I made.

This was the first time I had used a sew-in frame, and after the initial difficulties, it went really well and I might never do a glue in again!

Except for the big bag of glue in frames I have!

I may have even ordered more of the sew-in variety.......

I also used tap transfer paper to make the Canadian coin fabric.

Thanks Janine! for telling me about it!

*****

Hurricane Sandy Help! on Flickr was busy collecting quilt blocks, and I contributed a few for this amazing cause.

I think there were enough blocks to make 15-20 quilts.

Everyone did the same block, and some were colour specific.

*****

I also joined another QAL in the past few weeks!

This is the Curve It Up QAL

We will be making 12 traditional blocks using the Quick Curve Ruler designed by Jenny @Sew Kind of Wonderful.
Jenny and her sister, Helen are taking turns with the tutorial every 2 weeks.

I have to say, I am loving this ruler!

 These blocks are huge at 16"

Love how the curve just makes such a difference.

The Churn Dash is fantastic!

I am using Bella by Lotta Jansdotter, with Kona Ochre and Curry as background fabrics.
It's not too late to join in. We've only done 2 blocks.

*****

I also made a couple of Open Wide Zipper Pouches using the tutorial from Anna!

I made the small size and sure do plan to try the other 2 sizes.

They are quick and easy to do!

The top one is going to a giveaway winner that I have yet to choose! Better get on that!

****

Because Christmas is coming, and we have the weather to prove it, I am working on a new table runner.....

The text fabric is amazing! I picked it up at Fabricland, and it tells the story of how Christmas tree decorating and lighting came about!

Well, I think that's about it for this week!

Linking up with Lee @ Freshly Pieced.

and

Monika @ The Needle & Thread Network.

Have a great sewing week!

A lazy day...

It's one of those quiet, lazy days around here.

It's a holiday today because Remembrance Day was on a Sunday(yesterday)

We are in a bit of a deep freeze here after getting about a foot of snow over the week-end.

But the sun is shining and the all important wind chill is low!

I love walking, so I bundled up and headed out.

Every time I see this snow fence, I think how great it would be to drape a bunch of quilts over it, and I my own private "trunk show"!

I was pretty impressed that the trail had already been cleared, and I didn't need to plow through drifts!

 Meanwhile, back at home......

Kissa is climbing the walls!!

She loves nothing more that jumping for the rope!

I decided that some sewing was in order, so started on a new table runner for Christmas!

Couldn't do anything quick and easy!! Oh no, wouldn't want that!

So...paper piecing it is.......

Got a bit done at least!

Hope everyone had a good week-end.

UR Priceless.....and a giveaway!

Show Me The Money!

Have you ever made a framed coin purse...?

If not, I do hope that's about to change...
Wednesday November 7, 2012 

Welcome to UR Priceless
blog hop-day #3

The brilliant and talented Madame Samm  has done it again.

Another incredible blog hop! 
She has also enlisted a fantastic cheerleader in
Katherine who blogs at
Sew Me Something Good.
Today, I am going to show you the coin purses I made using the pattern provided by
Madame Samm.
You can purchase the pattern here.
I have made glue in framed purses in the past...

 but this is my first attempt at the
sew in variety.
So, I bought one, two,...okay...more than 3, but less than 10!
The first one I did as a "practice" sample before doing the actual one!!
However, it went together without any problems!

 I used orange perle cotton for the sew-in part, and I must admit, it was not an easy thing for me....nor is it very pretty inside!
I know I'll be taking it apart resewing the frame! 
But I decided to try another one...

I cut out my pretty fabric... and look at that cute frame!

 

 
 Well, the sew-in went so much better on this one, and it helped that the purple perle cotton I used was the same shade as the lining!

The third frame I had was larger than the first two...somewhere around 3.5"
So, I drew out my own pattern for this one.
I also used this amazing tap transfer paper to make my own design on the fabric!!
Since it is a coin purse, I used photos of our colourful Canadian money!

I plan to try it again someday!
and I might even cut it out with the printing going in the right direction :-)
don't judge me! I'm flawed! ;-) ;-)
 

  Oh yeah!
Loving this one too!

and look! no stitches showing on the inside!
I really love the copper colour of the frame too!
There are so many gorgeous frames available, and in every shape and size you could imagine.
These are very addictive, but Christmas is coming!
The perfect gift for friends and family, or a hostess gift!
  Now, if you have gotten through the whole post to this point....I'm going to have a little giveaway! This giveaway is now closed! Thank you!
How about an open wide zippered pouch! I used the grey bottom to offset the
seizure inducing colours on the top!

I'll stuff it with 4 fat quarters of Marguerite by Riley Blake.

   Leave a comment and tell me if you are planning to try a framed coin purse! If you are a follower of mine, leave a second comment! Make sure I have some way to reach you! Include your e-mail if you are a no reply blogger.
Mr random generator will pick a winner on Nov. 13th. 
  Here is a final photo of the three framed purses playing nice together...

 
And after the snow!

 I hope you have had an enjoyable visit here with me today!
Thank you Madame Samm & Katherine.
The complete schedule of bloggers to visit can be found by clicking on the UR Priceless blog hop button!
or on Katherine's blog here 
Now, please go and visit the other amazing bloggers on today's  schedule!
  Day 3 - Nov. 7th

I Love Wool
I Like to Quiltblog
Keep Your Fork There's Pie
Retired to Quilt
Selinaquilts
From This to That
Jenny E.
Domestic Deficit Disorder
Pig tales and quilts
CherrysPrairiePrimitives
Espritpatch
Maria
Count it all Joy!
Creative Notions