Wish Quilt Reveal!

"They" were waiting for me at the post office on Monday morning and I couldn't wait to get home to open the parcel.  

Ollie had a hard time waiting as well.

So are you going to open it?

My Wish and Comfort & Joy quilts had arrived back home!

I found myself doing what I do on Christmas morning...waiting just that little bit longer to open each gift in order to savour the anticipation of what lay inside.

It's nothing to eat, Ollie...see?

I literally ran up to my studio as soon as I unpacked the quilts.  The custom, free-motion quilting is drop dead gorgeous...thank you again, Alice...and I couldn't stop myself from running my hands over them.  They are ever so soft and pliable, even with all the wool appliqued elements and quilting.

I immediately cut and prepared the binding and went to work.  By 9:30 p.m. I had pulled the last stitch and my Wish quilt was finished.  All there was left to do was to add some embellishments but that would have to wait until the next day.

This is the first Christmas quilt I've made and I assure you that the photos do not do it justice.  It's been raining for a week now and the lighting is very poor.

And now...the REVEAL!

I made quite a few changes to Bronwyn's original layout but I didn't alter the stitching designs. What a gifted and generous artist she is!

A few close ups...

The back...

Can I lie on it now?

After that resounding, "NO!", I think I'll go and join Frankie in our bed then.

Move over, Frankie.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed making this quilt.  I changed it somewhat to include the three things I love to do...piecing, stitching and wool-on-cotton applique.  It wasn't a difficult quilt to make but there is a lot of handwork involved.  

I didn't use any Christmas fabrics because I find them too predictable. I pulled various reds, creams and beiges from my stash and purchased a few fat quarters to add a variety of color to the mix.

If you would like to make one for yourself, you may find the free pattern on the Red Brolly blog.  The instructions start here and then you have to scroll forward to the next installment, typically a few posts ahead.  In all there are 30 pages to download and print.

My Comfort & Joy quilt is also finished but you're going to have to wait until next time for the reveal.  Oh happy day!

Stay tuned!

Needle in a Haystack

Being a self taught quilter, stitcher, knitter, appliquer and hooker, much of what I have learned has been by trial and error...and I assure you, mostly error.  

I promised myself that when I retired I would teach myself how to quilt...after all, how difficult could it be?  I have never had the desire to learn how to make my own clothes but I've always loved quilts and have approximately 20 vintage and antique ones that I collected from far and wide when I was travel teaching. 

Of course that number has continued to grow not only with more antique quilts that I just couldn't pass up but with ones that I've made as well.

Many of my antique ones are stored in my quilt cupboard in the living room.

You can also find quilts in crocks...

on doors...

on the dining room table...

 and on end tables...

in addition to many other places too numerous to mention.  

One thing is for sure and that is a quilt adds warmth and a sense of homeyness to any room.

While I was teaching myself how to quilt, I discovered that I also enjoyed hand stitching and fell in love with redwork embroidery.  I found that I could transfer my love of art to creating original designs on fabric and the transition was an easy one.  Many of these I have made available for you to enjoy via my First Friday Freebies which you can link to from my sidebar.

But I digress.

When I first started to stitch, I didn't have a clue as to what needles to use.  

Every time I ventured into a quilt or craft shop, there was always a new and different needle which of course might just be the magic one that would improve my stitching abilities.

My collection includes Clover chenille needles for wool-on-cotton applique...

DMC chenille needles...

and John James chenille needles.

  
There are embroidery needles...

applique needles...

large eye needles...

and all kinds of needles in cute little cases.

But which is the right one?  It was like searching for a needle in the haystack!

Just this past week while working on your December First Friday Freebie, the needle that I was using became bent and why I persisted on using it that way when I have so many to choose from is beyond me but I finally gave in and decided to peruse my needle stash.

I've had these needles for 3 or 4 years now and because I'm so predictable, I must confess that I remember buying them just because of the packaging.

They had me at the word "redwork".

As you can see, size 11 is missing and that is what I am using now.  

Why oh why did I wait so long?  

It took me about five stitches to get used to the length. Embroidery needles are substantially longer than the one I was using before and what a difference!

Heaven!  

These needles cut through the fabric like butter and they make stitching even more pleasurable, if that is possible.  

I guess there is a reason why they are called embroidery needles and that every needle has a specific use.  I'm sold on these Jeana Kimball ones!

  
Mr. Painted Quilt, Ollie and I went for a drive up the valley this morning to my no-so-local quilt shop, about 60 miles away.

I shopped...

and shopped...

and shopped...

and shopped...

and shopped...

and forty-five minutes later, I finally stopped!  Whew!

All the fabric was $6.49 a meter (39") or less...so I did well!

My Comfort & Joy and Wish quilts are on the way back to me from my friend and longarm quilter extraordinaire, Alice.  

I shared some sneak peeks of Comfort & Joy which you can see here and Alice also sent me a few sneak peeks of my Wish quilt that I'd like to share with you.

I can't wait till they arrive!  I'll show them to you as soon as I get the binding on.

Alice is semi-retired but told me that she would consider doing some longarm quilting for those who might be interested.  She lives near Ottawa, Ontario so shipping might be an issue to consider for those living outside Canada.  

If you would like to get in touch with Alice, just tell me so in your comment and I'll send you her contact information.  Please make sure that your email address is included in your comment or I'll have no way of contacting you.

Now I'm off to fold all that fabric I purchased today.  

Such a hard life, huh?  *wink*

Are you hungry?

I wasn't but I am now!

The aroma wafting through the kitchen is intoxicating.  Is there anything better than home baked muffins for breakfast with a fresh cup of coffee?

Just out of the oven and waiting to be devoured...

Mmmmmmmmm...

Easy-peasy and oh soooo yummy!  Here's the recipe if you care to make your own.

Blueberry Muffins

2 C all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 C butter, softened (1 stick)

1 C sugar

2 eggs

1 C milk

1-1 1/2 C blueberries

Combine flour, baking powder and salt.  

In a separate bowl, cream butter with sugar.

Beat in eggs one at a time.

Gradually stir in milk.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.

Pour in liquid and stir just until moistened.

Gently stir in blueberries.

Spoon into well greased muffin cups, filling to the top.

Bake at 375 F for 25-30 minutes or until tops are firm to the touch.

Ollie helped, of course...by hanging around and waiting patiently for anything that might fall on the floor.  

Gee, this waiting is hard work.

I think I'll have a little snooze and wait until later.

Zzzzzzzzzz.

One of the gals from my quilting guild just recently moved to Kuwait to be closer to her children who now live there.  She decided to sell all her sewing and quilting supplies and offered them to the guild members first.

I couldn't resist and the price was an absolute bargain.

Ever since I started quilting, I've been a Bernina gal...but from what I hear, I can quickly become a Janome convert.  Now I just have to learn how to use it!

You're welcome to come on over for coffee and muffins and at the same time, maybe give me a lesson or two?  

I'll even make lunch!