FNSI Sunflower

 I belong to the Assiniboine Circle Quilt Club and our quilt show is on September 25th. The theme for our show is sunflowers and I had planned on entering 2 sunflower quilts. One is only a background so far, and the other was just a bunch of petals cut out. Time to panic. Thank goodness for the FNSI. I finished cutting out some leaves and have temporarily placed the sunflowers on one of the quilts. The sunflowers are not sewn together, just lightly tacked together with Elmer's glue. Once the placement of the flowers and leaves is final, they will be tacked into place with the glue, then raw edge appliqued in place.

I had started this quilt in a class. I believe this is based on a Phil Beaver's design. In the beginning I was cutting out the petal pieces exactly as the pattern but that was way too finicky for me, so I just freehand cut the rest. The pattern had a rooster in it - too barnyard for me. I love roosters but not for this quilt. As of yet I have no idea how to do the stems. The original plan was to use some kind of braided trim but I think it will end up being just fabric. The sunflower centers will probably have some beading (if I can get my act together!). I'm completely drawing a blank on how to free motion quilt the background. Any suggestions?

I always think I know what I will work on for the FNSI, but invariably change my mind by the time it rolls around. Maybe I have a fear of project commitment!

Happy Stitching
corina

Vintage Patterns, Wins & Where Did the Time Go?!

No, I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth. This past month was super busy and blogging took a backseat (more on that near the end of the post). There has been no sewing but I did come across some vintage patterns when I was tidying up my sewing storage. I bought these at a garage sale a few years ago. My idea is to put them in frames and hang them in my sewing room. I really love the Jacki O style pattern.

 

Guess they had pretty tiny waists back then!

 I was lucky to win 3 giveaways this past few weeks! The first was lovely fabric from Tilda's Twisted Life. to celebrate her 100th post (she has designed a lovely quilt called X Marks The Spot, you should pop by her blog and see it). Thank you so much Melinda!

Check out this lovely prize I won from Lynne at Lily's Quilts (great site - lots of tutorials too).

I thought I won a sample pack and a simple little color card for Aurifil thread. When I opened up the package I was blown away by the color card. The colors are actual threads wrapped on the cardboard and it is huge. It came with a pack of 5 spools of different weights of thread. One of them is a variegated black and white (they must have seen all the B&W quilts I've been making!)

The last giveaway was a bundle of fresh lavender from Sue Hauser of Alderwood Quilts.

They have a wonderful online quilt store (especially love the selection of patterns they carry) and they also own a lavender farm!! I couldn't actually receive the lavender myself as I live in Canada (you know - shipping plants across border issues), but I was able to give the bouquet to a blogging friend, Linda from Stray Stitches. I'm sure many of you are familiar with her wonderful blog. It is because of her that I've won so many giveaways! Instead of searching out giveaways, I just go to her blog and there is a list of them for me to check out! Hmm, maybe I shouldn't have said anything - might diminish my chances of more wins!

The reason I haven't been around lately is that my best friend who has bravely endured whatever cancer has thrown her way these last 12 months has had another major surgery. Actually she had 2 within days of each other, as there were complications and they had to go back in and fix it. I'm happy to report she is out of the hospital and doing better!

Between the hospital visits I was painting the trim on our house. Not the best thing to do if you are afraid of heights! It's also pretty hard to paint when you are glued to the stucco in fear! I wanted to surprise my husband though, so I bravely made it up three rungs of the ladder, knees a knocking all the way (you can stop laughing now).

Now that life is a little more settled I am gearing up for more sewing. The FNSI is this Friday and I am sooo looking forward to it. Don't forget to sign up!

Happy Stitching!
corina