Thursday, October 15, 2026

Slow Stitching Projects and I Quilted This!

Hi and welcome 😎. I hope that you're all well as the weather turns to fall. The local birds and squirrels are sure busy getting ready for winter. If the rain stops, I'll be outside again, at least to have my morning coffee. So here's what's going on.

Mindful Slow Stitching

A couple of weeks ago it was the fall Making Zen event. There's always at least one project that I gravitate to. This time is was making a smallish pouch. The class was offered by Kate Ward, the host of the event. Here's my jean pouch.

Jean pouch created based on a Making Zen class

Everything is stitched on with raw edges showing (the jean fabric and the strips), I used perle cotton for most of the stitching.

Pouch full and ready to take with me

The back of the pouch, closed with two coiled pieces of fabric

I added a scrappy binding at both ends so that it's a little tidier. The only raw edges that show on the pouch are the side edges of the top closure.

The pouch holds my magnifying glasses and my scrappy needle case.

I created the needle case in last year's Making Zen event. The link is in Related links below.

Not-so-Daily Stitching project

When I was reading Diann of Little Penguin Quilts' post on her daily stitching, I had written a comment and Diann replied that she now had time for daily stitching... which made me stop and think that I do have time, if I make it a priority! Well, it hasn't been daily but I have been having fun resuming my stitching of these little squares. I will often do a few at a time. Here is my latest as a nod to fall.

Fall tree - I like using my fancy silk and linen thread!

I used this stitching time to try out some new thread. I went to a yarn store and bought two balls of Lana Gatto, linen yarn from Italy. It's a beautiful linen that is made like embroidery floss, in that it can be separated in strands. I stitched a couple of squares to try it out.

Trying out two blue Italian linen thread

My problem with not-so-daily stitching is that I often am not inspired to stitch something interesting. So I did make an effort for these blocks.

Playing with linen and silk thread

Trying out different stitches

I have found inspiration from other stitchers who do daily stitching, like Diann and Karen Tucker (see links below). Diann's pretty tree was my inspiration for my fall tree above.

Tonight, before finishing this post, I stitched a new block, playing with two colours, making wonky lines and then threading both the running stitch and the chain stitch. The final row is whipped chain stitch.

Playing with threading and whipping stitches in two colours

What I learned

I discovered that I could stitch my pouch when travelling and visiting. That made the visit so much better.
I've started another project with a larger piece of denim (from a shirt). I kept the larger piece together because I'm not sure that I want to do yet. I've stitched fabric strips on the wrong side at one end. Since JJ and I have been watching the Great British Sewing Bee, I added some ruching as well as pleats. It's cool to add other types of texture on the piece.
At the other end of the jean fabric, on the correct side, I'm stitching up some great dressmaking fabric scraps that my sister-in-law gave me. I just love stitching things up 😍
As I mentioned, I often have no idea what to stitch for my not-so-daily stitching project, so I'll be visiting other daily stitchers for inspiration when it's not coming to me! Thanks Diann and Karen 😊
If you're wondering about Square Dance baby quilt, it's almost done! All of the coloured blocks have been FMQ. Now to add a little something to the centre squares and then the quilt square up and bind. I should have it for you next week. Yay!

I Quilted This!

Welcome to the I Quilted This! linking party that celebrates quilting on a domestic machine or custom quilting on a long-arm. Feel free to link up and share any recent project, even if you're not quilting it!

Here are the posts that included FMQ, ruler work and walking foot quilting last week. Thanks for linking up 😊 and consider grabbing the button.

Preeti from Sew Preeti Quilts finished an improv quilt to help her de-stress. It worked and she got a lovely quilt too! It's called Monsoon. You'll want to check out her post for details and more pictures.

Preeti's Monsoon quilt

Gwyned Trefethen finished FMQ and embroidering her Rainbow Scraps Challenge quilt, Cats in the Attic.

Gwyned's green Cat in the Attic

An almost finished quilt - Cats in the Attic

Vicki from Vicki's Crafts and Quilting has been very busy. You'll want to check out her post to see it all, but here's a wall hanging and runner that she's made.

Vicki is keeping this cool wall hanging for herself!

A Christmas runner made by Vicki

Gail from Quilting Gail gifted this gorgeous bunny baby quilt.

Gail quilted this baby quilt with the Rocket ruler.

It's now your turn 😍

Wednesday, October 07, 2026

Back to FMQ and I Quilted This!

Allô and welcome 😊 My studio is a disaster after going away, but that hasn't stopped me from getting things done! I spent a few hours last evening adding more free motion quilting (FMQ) on the Square Dance baby quilt. It's getting there! Since my last baby quilt was given to the recipient just before his third birthday, I'm not too worried - but it would be nice to get it done sooner rather than later. I didn't make it for my September One Monthly Goal (OMG) but I'll be done in a week or two...and then on to the next one 😁

FMQ Square Dance Blocks

So far I've shared three FMQ blocks. Here are more - the ones I quilted last night are shown first while the others were quilted a while back.

The centre square features dinosaurs. I tried drawing dinosaurs based on the images in the fabric but with no luck. Then I found a pieced stegosaurus on the internet. Adapting the image from a pieced quilt was much easier. There's a close-up below.

Dinosaur block with dot-to-dot quilting
and a dinosaur

Close up of the FMQ stegosaurus

The centre fabric on this block is adventuring in the jungle. I FMQ a fern à la Angela Walters and then added vines with leaves.

Adventure block filled with ferns and leaves

The fun red fabric has all kinds of fun motifs. I FMQ rainbows at the top of the block and then a car, sun, cloud and house. There are mostly Lorry Kennedy's quilting designs. I now have the rest of the block to finish.

Rainbows, car, sun, cloud and house

There blocks were quilted after the last post on this quilt.

FMQ stars in the Star Wars block

FMQ flowers, a butterfly and squiggly lines

What I learned

Drawing a realistic dinosaur is beyond my abilities at this time but I was so happy to find a pieced stegosaurus. Since it was simplified to be pieced, it was simple enough for me to draw it. I'll have to remember that as a source of images to FMQ.
The hardest part about FMQ this quilt is coming up with the motifs. When possible, I like making it relevant to the centre block, although geometric designs can also be effective.
I'm going to publish this post early so that I can link up to the October OMG. This quilt needs to be finished soon since I can't wait to start designing the next baby quilt. I haven't let myself start until I finish this one!

I Quilted This!

Here are the posts that included FMQ, ruler work and walking foot quilting last week. Thanks for linking up 😊 and consider grabbing the button.

Terry at Ongoing Projects is still FMQ her butterfly collage quilt. You'll want to check out her post for more details!

Terry FMQ her butterfly collage quilt

Vicki from Vicki's Crafts and Quilting is now working on her fall quilts.

Vicki's Cinderella wall hanging (I just got the joke!)

Vicki finished this UFO fall table topper

Gail of Quilting Gail used to dislike appliqué - a lot! However, as she made some fun projects, she's now grown to like it! Here is one of her quilts. Check out her post for more!

Gail having fun with appliqué after making this tree skirt

It's now your turn 😍

Saturday, October 03, 2026

Iceland Fairy House for Quilter's Cove Linking Party

Hi and welcome to our monthly Quilter's Cove link up. We've been making colourful houses bases on the Rainbow Scraps Challenge colours. We're now on the September house, which is purple. So far, this might be my favourite house. I'm collaborating with Kat of Scrapbox Quilts. She organised it and I'm hosting 😀. It's been a lot of fun and we're planning on creating a Quilt-A-Long for next year, so stay tuned.

If you're looking for the I Quilted This! linking party, click here.

Icelandic Fairy House

I've been wanting to make at least one more Fairy House for my quilt. Since we're planning a trip to Iceland, hopefully in 2027, I was inspired by their traditional turf houses and the fact that Iceland is a magical country where you can find lots of Fairy Houses (and Fairies of course, if you believe!)

Icelandic purple Fairy House

Here is a closeup.

A closeup of the house and Fairy

Finally, a process picture, before I sewed it together.

Process photo before sewing it together

What I learned

I looked at a lot of photos on the internet of traditional houses in Iceland. I couldn't resist making a turf house. While most turf houses where made with timber, I did see a few pictures of some made of stone.
Iceland had many fairy houses. The pictures I saw were not turf houses. They are usually very small wooden traditional houses. I've exercised artistic license in making my purple house 😀. If you're interested in learning more about turf houses in Iceland, see Related links below.
A lot of the turf houses in Iceland are located near mountains and grass, so that's where I place my house. I used different fabric but most importantly different thread to FMQ the grass. You can see from the process photo that the grass was all similar in tone. So to differentiate the areas, I used a light green/gray thread for the areas next to the house, and a brighter green for the area in the foreground.
The colours for the October house is neutrals in dark and/or light.

Thursday, October 01, 2026

A Restful and Productive Holiday and I Quilted This!

Hi and welcome 😊 I had a restful but also productive holiday alone in the bush. It was just what I needed to recharge. Here's what I worked on.

New Stitching Projects

While at the cottage, I went to a nearby park on the river. It was so beautiful. The sun was shining, the river sparkling with sunlight and the reflection of the forest from the other side. I found the perfect place to sit, photograph and sketch. I just wanted to capture the gleaming sun, colourful reflections and the wave patterns around the rocks.

This is my first piece. The rocks are made from coiled fabric to make them 3D. In the picture below it's set on a blank canvas. I covered the canvas with two coats of watercolour ground and then painted it with watercolours.

First piece stitched but not finished

Here's a closeup of the wave patterns around the rocks. I used organza to show the reflection of the sun on the water.

Closeup of the patterns of the waves around the rocks

This is the watercolour painted canvas. I'll be attaching the piece to it so the top, bottom and sides will show.

Painted canvas with watercolour

Sketch of the rocks and the wave patterns

Here are three photos that I based the sketch on.

Water, waves, plants and sunlight

Water, waves and sunlight

Water, waves, plants and sunlight - 2

I'm working on a second version of the sketch - this time using the stitching to show the reflection more than the fabric. I hope to be sharing that with you soon.

Advancing projects

The first project I finished was my grandmother's (Mémère's) placemat. I only had a little bit to stitch so it was perfect to finish it and then use it during the week.

Mémère's placemat - all stitched up!

I also finished my watercolour stitching project. I added a bit of fabric to it, wove a bit and then added collage from a paper napkin. I call it Summer Tea Time. I'll be framing it and giving it to my younger brother since he likes it 😀

Summer Tea Time

Here is the morning view from the cottage. There are lots of trees and the temperature was cool, so I would move my chair to follow the sun.

Morning view at the cottage

I took over the table (and most of the living room) for my art 😀

What I learned

I was alone for most of the week and I was totally fine with that.
I did have my phone, so I could take breaks to listen to music or audiobooks and talk to JJ.
I went a little crazy making art the first day but slowly got into a routine.
I would get up late (my usual routine), have coffee outside and then start stitching. After lunch I would drive out to take pictures or go for a short walk. I would then come back, have supper and keep stitching until it was time to rest and listen to an audiobook.
I took many pictures and have lots of ideas for more small pieces.
I'm very thankful to my brother and nephew for letting me have the cottage - it was exactly what I needed. I really hope to do it again next year.
To use watercolour paint on canvas, the canvas needs a couple of coats of watercolour ground. That was one of the first thing I did when I got to the cottage. I now have three canvases ready to add watercolour so that I can mount my pieces on them.
Saturday I'll be posting the linking party for A Quilter's Cove QAL. Make sure to come by to see September's purple houses!

I Quilted This!

Here are the posts that included FMQ, ruler work and walking foot quilting last week. Thanks for linking up 😊 and consider grabbing the button.

Thanks so much for keeping the party going without me while I was gone!

Gretchen of Gretchen's Little Corner is busy quilting baby quilts and here is her second one quilted and bound! What a lovey quilt, simple but beautiful!

Gretchen's second baby quilt

Gail of Quilting Gail rescued a placemat that she had started years ago. The placemat has appliqués from Missouri Star Christmas templates. Gail backed it with a cute bee fabric so that it can be used year round. It'll be part of her guild's Meals on Wheels donations at Christmas.

Gail's Christmas placemat

The back of Gail's Christmas placemat

Gwyned Trefethen quilted two of her Cats in the Attic blocks from the Rainbow Challenge. She's doing some very intricate FMQ and embroidery. It's really stunning.

Gwyned's orange cat

Gwyned's pink cat

Vicki of Vicki's Crafts and Quilting made two lovely snowmen runners. They are so cute!

Vicki's round snowmen topper

Vicki's snowmen runner

Kat from Scrapbox Quilts finished quilting last year's small purple quilt. She quilted it with straight lines diagonally crosshatched. What a cute finish!