I’m taking along some hand sewing to keep me occupied in the evenings.  The sun goes down early, so this leaves time in the evenings to watch DVDs or TV.  I like to hand sew… I can’t  just sit and do nothing!

While away, I hope to take in a quilting class.  I’ve done my research and have found a nearby quilt shop that has a one-day class on Judy Neimeyer’s paper piecing method.  I LOVE Judy’s quilt patterns, so hope I can get into the class.

Here’s a photo of the quilt that I am currently working on…Stars ‘N Boxes.   Since the picture was taken I have added another border (in coral).  I pieced the binding using some of the “leftover” scraps from the jelly roll of fabrics used in the quilt centre. I downloaded a free pattern called “Boxy Stars” that I stumbled across on Bonnie Hunter’s Quiltville website.  This was the perfect pattern and it was so quick and easy!  Thank you, Bonnie!

I’ve started some hand sewing now that my knitting projects are finished.  I have been working on a Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt for the last 5 years (gasp!).  I have all the “flowers” done and I’m working on joining them together with a row of green hexagons.  This will be a queen sized quilt.  Each flower has 37 hexagons and I’ve made 90 flowers, so that is a crazy number of hexagons!  Each hexagon is 1″ wide.  I tend not to focus on the amount of work/time that it will take to complete when I start a quilt.  If I like the way it looks, I will make it no matter what!  This quilt top has quite a few fabrics that came from dresses that my mom made for me when I was little, so this project has a lot of memories built into it.

I hope that the osteoarthritis in my hands will not prevent me from hand quilting this so that it will be completely made by hand and then it would truly be a traditional quilt.  It will probably take me another 5 years to do the hand quilting.  Oh well.  There is no rush.

Here is the baby beanie that I  knit for my great niece…in order to do the motifs I had to do some research to remind me how to crochet!!!  Isn’t it cute? 

I made a receiving blanket and burp cloth for her, too.  Just have to quickly tuck in the thread ends from the machine quilting.  I really like the white and pink giraffe printed flannelette.  Super cute!

I finished knitting the wee beanie for my new great niece, Victoria. Right now it looks very plain, but I plan to do some embroidery around the cuff to dress it up.  Photos will be posted soon!  Over the next few days I hope to get some photos posted on my gallery pages so that you can see what I do.

January 13, 2012

It is beautiful; sunny and warm for a Saskatchewan winter day.  We have been blessed with such mild weather lately.  It makes walking the dog so much more fun! 

Okay, my son, the computer guy, is a comedian, too.  Just because I said I would knit him an icelandic sweater does not mean that I want to define myself as an icelandic sweater knitter!  I said I would give it a shot — and only if we could find a pattern and the correct yarn.  Don’t get me wrong — I do want to knit a sweater for him (it has been about 20 years since I last made one).  He has grown a bit, that’s all.  LOL.

I have been doing some quilting.  ’Been trying to finish up those UFOs that accumulate no matter how hard I try.  I’m making some headway.  I have also been thinking a lot about picking up my paints and brushes once again…it has been about a year since I have done any artwork.  I have lots of ideas that I am itching to try; it is just so hard to get started again.

My hands have been better lately, so maybe the bit of  knitting I have done has helped them limber up.  I find that, for all things, I have to switch tasks often in order to avoid major pain.  This is really hard to do when you just want to get on with it!  Oh well.  It could be worse!

I will post some photos of my recent projects soon, so if you are new to my website you will be able to see what kind of art and quilts I make.  Check out my “About Me” page for a sampling.

Thanks for stopping by!  Be back soon.

Sheila