All Aglow

All Aglow

This is the quilt that mom, Betty Manuel, and I worked on together this past year. We worked on the piecing together and spent lots of time picking out the fabric for each block. To start with I drafted about 5 different log cabin pineapple blocks. We then did paper piecing. 

We entered it in the Canada Quilter's Association National Juried show. We were very happy and surprised as our quilt won  Excellence in Workmanship in Piecing.  We won some cash so it meant I could do some shopping at the market mall. 

I did the machine quilting. Some was on my long arm and then I did some stitch in the ditch on the domestic machine. I used red thread on the black for the free motion feathers. I just love how that red thread added to the glow of the quit. 

We also entered the quilt in the Edmonton Quilt Guild Show And it also got a ribbon. 

Pineapple Crazy

I got the next batch of Log Cabin Pineapple blocks done. I finished another 27 (26 shown) 1 needs a little hand fix up. There is lots of pink scraps in these blocks so I am adding this to Soscrappy's link page for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2015. Pink is the colour for February.  

I find I like to do these in assemble line order. Add the red center to all and the first bit of white, then the next piece. However it is taking me many many days and hours to do a set of 25 to 27. The pattern is from Bonnie Hunter's book String Fling. I got my mom, Betty, the book for her Birthday over a year ago, it is signed by Bonnie. I think that mom and I may end up making most of the quilts in the book.  If I make the quilt the size in the book, I need 224 of these little 4 1/2" blocks. So I thought I would do sets of just over 25 (in case one block gets lost or cut). So far I have 52 blocks complete out of the 224. 

I got started on the next 27 blocks. I have been doing this in the living room on my older singer in the cabinet. I can watch TV with the family and dogs. I do not let the dogs in my sewing room. Best go, I have Rally obedience class with Gemma later today. 

Happy Valentine's Day to Everyone. 

Brown November Saturday

Sorry for the  fussy photo. I wish I had taken a photo before the rows went together. 

This is a very very old UFO. One of my oldest UFOs. I did a row by row and a class with 3D trees way back in 1998. I also added the dogs maybe in 1999. Then I took another class on UFOs and dug out some of these rows and blocks and started to put them together. Well then it sat for 10 plus years. 

Every once in a while I dig it out. 

I once put it on my UFO list then forgot what project it was because the name was just old UFO. I could not find it at one time. 

While I took it to retreat last month and did some work on it.

 I wish I had taken a photo at the start of retreat. 

Well here is mid way. 

Here of some of the browns. A brown dog made years before Lex my brown dog came in to our lives. The brown Bear and bears paw blocks. The the sweet little brown log cabin blocks. I got this row together at retreat. Before retreat they were only blocks. 

At the end of retreat mostly in rows. 

It is almost square. I do not want square. I think I would like a few more rows of simple patchwork added in. Maybe two 6" rows like the snails trail but add them in above the tigers and under the Zebras. And not snails trail again but maybe geese or mountain blocks. Then it would be 12" taller then the width, say 62" by 74" with out boarders. I am sure I will add boarders. Maybe dark blue, brown?

Brown ?

November ?

(sorry it is white here tonight)

While my plan for Brown this month is to work on some of the needed rows. And they will have some Brown scraps, maybe some green and red and Blue. But Yes Brown Scraps!

I have added this to the Linky party over at Soscrappy.

You can go see what other are doing for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2013. 

Ok if this month is brown, You will have to see some Brown Dog photos. I have lots. 

Lex and I at Dock Dogs this past August. Photo by Darcy Evans. 

Gone to the Dogs

I have signed up for my very first Online course. It is not about quilting but about Dog Training. I have signed up for Susan Garrett's Recaller's 4.0. Wednesday was the first real day but there has been tons of reading and precourse work and dog games. I have spent the last 10 days reading and working with my dog in this new(new for me) way of dog training. I see a few changes in my dog already. I am hoping it will help with our Agility runs. 

 The books in the above photos is only a small part of my reading. The course forum has had lots to read and videos to review. I have had homework to write out like, what are distractions for my dog. What reinforces my dog. I still need to go add more to this lists. 

The blue binder is my book to keep records. I think I may make a fancy quilted cover for the binder. I found this old paper pieced block I designed about 10 or 14 years ago. It is a brown dog sitting and being good. The block is stolen from an old UFO. So I may have to remake it so the old UFO is still complete. 

I really hope to get in some personal sewing in tonight and Friday night after work. I need to get back to my orange scraps or some old UFO projects.