Show and Tell - February 2025

 Welcome to Show and Tell. I hope you are enjoying a couple of warmer days. It will give the snowbanks a chance to shrink a bit. 

I thought I would start with these wonderful quilts from QuiltCon in Phoenix, Arizona , last week. These are the winning quilts. When I looked, the viewers choice wasn't posted yet, but it might be there by the time you see this.

https://quiltcon.com/quiltcon-2025-winners/

I always welcome suggestions for themes for the show and tell. Let me know if you have any ideas.

Here are the pictures that you sent me, this month.

First we have Anita. She has two projects that used up her 2 1/2" squares.

Carol finished an embroidered needle book to hold her quilting and applique needles. The pattern is Home Sweet Home from Carolyn Pearce.

Helen finished this embroidered quilt, and made the quilt hanger to display it.

Helen also finished this applique quilt. It is all done by hand.

Nancy has two quilt tops that she is taking to Krista, this week. The first is a Grandmothers Flower Garden, that she started with Lorraine at the Running Stitch.  You might guess that that was in the early 2000's. I took that class, as well, but I only ever finished one block, so I'm impressed.

Nancy assures us that by the time you see this picture, she will have the sashing on and the backing finished.

This quilt is called Rainbow Trip and Nancy bought the kit from Jan Kittle. Nancy has made the lap version, and says she has lots of this lovely fabric left over. BTW, this quilt has already been claimed by a family member.

In response to my request for Canadian quilts, I have a reversible quilt from MaryAnn.

We also have a Canada 150 quilt from Helen, with the provincial flowers embroidered on the brown squares.

I spent the month knitting by the fire, so I will add a picture of my latest finish. These are called Barn Swallow Mitts.

Our next gathering is March 4, 2025.

Kate

Show and Tell - January 2025 Scrapuary!

 Fingers crossed, this will work. The wind is blowing and the power has already been out once, so I have my fingers crossed that it will stay on until I finish this. I have a flashlight next to me, in case it doesn't.

I asked for scrap storage tips and scrap projects, and I have lots of pictures. Just to make everybody feel better about their scrap storage, I'll go first.

All together, stuffed into a storage bag.  No sorting as to size or colour. I have started working on it. I keep a bag next to my cutting table, and last week, 2 of those bags went to a Kindergarten teacher, I know, for art projects. She likes them because they are already cut up small. 

Now to those more organized.

Anita has a very tidy sewing area with drawers for her scraps right beside her.

She cuts them into sizes she uses and stores them by size.

This is Diane Hart's scrap storage.

Joanne Ritchie has a system. The first 2 pictures are all sorted by width, 1,1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2 in, 3 categories for each - squares, lights and darks. Any piece larger is stored in boxes for 3, 3 1/2, 4, 4 1/2, 5, 5 1/2 and 6 inch small mixed value ‘chunks’, one box per category. She also saves any full WOF less than 1/4 yard in a separate box, and  2 1/4 in. binding leftovers in another. 

The baskets of bigger chunks and leftovers stored by colour, no particular shape, but more than 6 in. square.

MaryAnn stores her scraps in clear plastic containers of uniform sizes.

Nicole, who creates so many beautiful scrap quilts, has a great system.

Yardage

Small irregular pieces

Squares and strips

With all this sorting, lets see how they are used.

Anita says this is her favourite scrap quilt.

Diane has two scrap quits on the go.

Judy Case made a tablerunner from a scrap that was too pretty to throw away.

I make pouches from mine.

MaryAnn made the backing for a wall hanging.

And, of course, Nicole has three beautiful quilts.

Are we all inspired to use up our scraps? Thank you to everyone who gave us a peek into their sewing room. I know I am always inspired when I start playing with my scraps.

Kate

Show and Tell - December 2024

Happy New Year's Eve! I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas. 

Here is what I woke up to on one recent morning.

Yes, half the tree no longer had lights. If you click on the picture, you can see the dog looking confused. I think he is hoping he isn't in trouble. However, I believe this was entirely the cat's fault.

Our survey for this month says that most of you don't make Christmas gifts because they can't take the pressure. Personally, hand knit items give me an excuse to watch all those Christmas movies.

Lets look at all the lovely pictures we have for this month.

Brenda Caldwell rug hooked these sheep ornaments for friends in Nova Scotia. 

Carol McFee's Christmas tree looks lovely.

She made a new ornament for her tree.

This is a new Santa she made this year.

And this is a Santa she cross stitched 30 years ago.

Chris showed this quilt at our last in person show and Tell.

I made flannel pillowcases and used them for gift bags.

I also made the Santa hat from the movie Red.One. I haven't seen the movie but I thought the hat was cute.

Lynda Smyth made the table runner in this picture and her sister made the pillow.

Some years ago, a bunch of us made a snowman quilt from Bunny Hill Designs (I think). MaryAnn recently came across her blocks and now has a cute wall hanging. (I might have some finished blocks, too.)

Beautiful pictures of Christmas. 

Until next year...

Kate

Show and Tell - November 2024

 I heard Christmas Carols on the radio this morning, so it must be the end of November. That means it is time for Show and Tell.

First off Judy has a cautionary tale for us. While Temu has lots of great bargains, you need to read the description carefully. 

Judy thought she would like to make a rope bowl, and saw this pretty listing.

This is what arrived.

It looks like it would make nice shoe laces!

At the first November meeting, Anita taught a workshop on making a folded star hot pad. It looks like everyone had fun.

I hope we have some pictures of finished pads for next month's Show and Tell.

Anita wasn't just making hot pads.  I love the colours of this table runner and it is always nice when the Advent calendar is finished before Advent.

Joanne made a lovely baby quilt for a friend's first grandchild. I think maybe it's a girl.

Judy made some 3 yard quilt tops for Victoria's Quilts.

I spotted this quilt hiding under the table, while it's binding was being sewn, and I asked Kamal to show it because it is so pretty. She says her grandson wanted a quilt in lots of colours. The quilt is hand pieced and hand quilted,

I actually sewed something. This is a Reading Pillow, for my grandson. He picked the fabric from my stash without knowing what it was going to become. You tuck your book into the pocket.

Lynda finished a masterpiece, many years in the making. I forgot to ask for the name of the quilt, but it is also hand appliqued and hand quilted.

Wow, these are all really nice quilts. I hope you enjoyed them. Just a reminder that you can click on any of the pictures to make them larger.

Kate