Left Overs Made Into A Sweet Baby Quilt

 I had bought some sweet Daisy Kingdom fabric a LONG time ago. 

 I finally made a crib sheet from the Daisy Kingdom fabric and 

had some leftover fabrics that I cut up into squares. 

 I decided that one of the things I want to do this year is use from the fabric I already own so I dug in my stash to make this one.
You may notice some fabrics from previous quilts in this one too.  

The blue was used in the Dorothy's Journey quilt and the gray and 

the gold and white stripe were in my stash.  

The purple minky on the back was used as backing for the purple quilt

 I made for my SIL a few years ago.

I decided to try to quilt this one myself.  I just did simple in the ditch quilting.

I was able to use leftover binding for this quilt too.

I also got to use one of my new labels on the back too!

It's been a long few weeks.  Chris has been really sick. 

 He has been sicker that I ever remember in the last 40 years! 

 He got a rapid Covid test and it came back negative, but I am not sure it was accurate.

He had a cough, fever, headache, sore throat, ear ache, body aches, and exhaustion. 

 We are heading into week 4 on Sunday. 

 Most of the symptoms are improving, except his sore throat and ear ache. 

 He is enjoying using his new quilt though.

I hope you are all managing to stay well.

More soon!

~XOP~

Christmas 2021

 Christmas was pretty low key over here at chez Lincoln.  

We didn't have the grandbaby but our other 2 kids were here. 

 I forgot to share some photos of the Christmas stockings I made for my great nephew Charlie.

  Thought I would share those now.

This Santa one was made for Charlie's grandma and grandpa's house.  

I had a devil of a time finding that green for the name. 

 I usually put my fabrics for a project into fabric jail. 

 Somehow this one became an escapee.  

GRRRR. 

 Luckily, I happened to find the order form for the fabric I had used so could get the name.  Unfortunately, the fabric is an out of print fabric, Moda Bella Peppermint. 

 I managed to find some in Canada, so ordered it.  

Then the next day I found some in the US and ordered that too. 

 NOW it is in fabric jail, until this family is finished having babies!

This stocking went to Charlie's house.  

It matches the stockings of his folks and his brother.

You know that I was working on a "Canada" quilt for my husband for Christmas.

  I got it finished in time!  

I had my quilter quilt the word "Canada" into it. 

 You can see the loons below the word too.

I did this on the top and bottom of the quilt.

I put fishing lure flannel on the back.

I have other Christmas quilt gifts to share but in another post.  

I thought I would share a family photo.

Every year my 3 kids take the clip-on candles I have and see who can put theirs the highest on the tree.

My eldest put hers where she is pointing. 

 My son was so tired he decided that he wasn't going to play.

So she put both his and her sister's upside down on the lowest branch, LOL.

The same daughter made those cinnamon rolls in a tube in her waffle maker and they were AMAZING!

One quick photo of my sweet boy who had Christmas in NC.

Gigi and Papa sure did miss him!

More Christmas tomorrow!

~XOP~

Canada Quilt Top Progress

 I finally got the top all put together but was not happy with how wide vs long it was.
  I was not sure I had enough background fabric to make it the way I wanted it to finish so I took a photo of it as is, so to speak. 

 It was ok, the way it was but I was still not happy with it.

I thought I would add some maple leaves to the top and bottom.
  I had to piece the background but I was thinking I would have enough.  So I added them.

I was still not happy.  

I didn't like the leaves going all the way to the edge.

So I added one more border of the background.

There we go!  NOW I am happy with how it is finished!

I am thinking about how I want to have it quilted and here is what I am thinking.

Woodgrain in the mail part, like the animals are looking through the trees.

I had the baby bear quilt done with that pattern and I loved it.

Then a line of loons on the top and bottom first border, the plain one.

I think I would love the Word Canada in the top and bottom Maple leaf borders, possibly surrounded by maple leaves to make the block letters of Canada stand out.

I might need s micro stipple though or something small to make the word stand out.

I may have her quilt maple leaves into the small plain side borders too.

I am hoping my friend can execute what I see as a plan for this quilt.

I will have to talk to her once we get home.  I am hoping that she can have it done for Christmas.

I would really love to be able to gift it to my husband for Christmas.

I have 3 projects left but realized that I have no background fabric for one of them.

That is the halloween one I really wanted to start next.  

May have to see if I can find an open quilt shop near by.

Or maybe just order it online and have it delivered.

What would you do?

The other one is a Christmas quilt and I could work on that.

The last one is a case for my Oliso mini iron.

I'm always nervous about making 3D things but maybe that will be the next one.

If it were you which one would you start on next?

1-Christmas

2-Iron case

3-Halloween

~XOP~

SPOOKY

 Now that I have finished all my animals (oh wait, I haven't shared the procupines have I?) 
 OK, so here are the porcupines.  

The spikes are not how they are supposed to be and where they join up to the head unit isn't perfect

 but DONE is better than perfect, right?

So my porcupines have rogue spikes.  

Real life porcupines aren't perfectly symmetrical are they?

I'm just happy that I can move on getting this put together.

  I did NOT like the directions on cutting the spikes for this little guy. 

 It wasted a LOT of fabric and was not the easiest to follow. 

 I get why they did it the way they did but

 if I were ever to make these again I would do them differently.

Moving on...

I bought a kit from Jedi Craft Girl for Halloween called Spooky. 

 I fell in love with the pattern, probably because of the black cat, LOL.  

The mini top is all finished. 

 I stitched around the cat and the letters using the blanket stitch.

I took a photo of the back so you could see the blanket stitch from behind.

Of COURSE I had my "Spooky" helper.  

Isn't he looking so great?  

He has gained a full kilogram from when we started his treatments!  

That's 2.2 pounds!!! 

 Of course this means his medical costs have also increased, sigh.  

It's always a double edged sword isn't it?  

It's ok though, as long as he is improving I will find a way to continue his treatment!

I am moving through the quilts I brought with me which makes me happy. 

 I finished the Christmas Bear top, this Spooky mini and just need to assemble the Canada quilt.  

I have 2 more with me to work on plus a case for my Oliso mini iron.  

After I assemble the Canada quilt, I will work on the jelly roll Halloween quilt I brought. 

 I have to do some design work for the Canada quilt as

 I want to assemble it a little differently than the original pattern so stay tuned!  

We are home today and will get to see baby Avery again tomorrow so time to work on some quilts!

What are you up to today?

~XOP~

Some More Sewing

I have been doing some more sewing and am so anxious to finish up these blocks.  

I now have just one last block to make and I will have all the blocks for the Canada quilt finished.  

Then I will need to assemble the quilt. 

 I need to see if I can use the 2 rulers I have to make the porcupine's back so we shall see.  

Here is what I have done now.

For some reason these raccoons reminded me of the two Siamese cats from Lady and the Tramp.

 I thought you might like to see a few more pics of the cats in our camper.  My block helper.

They love looking out this back window!

He found a stink bug on the faucet, LOL.

I have begun working on another little Halloween quilt

 while I mull over how to go about making the porcupine block.

~XOP~

A Few More Blocks Finished

 I finished a few more blocks for the Canadian quilt.  
These blocks have been so challenging to make.

This one is my favorite!

It has been POURING rain for the last 2 days so I have spent my time sewing!

I need a few things to finish the last three blocks but I am hoping to figure out a way to use what I have to get them made.  

What are you all working on?

~XOP~

Canada Quilt Block 2, The Bear

I had time to work on the second block in the Canada Quilt today. 

 It is a black bear and he is SO adorable.

I only had to re-cut a few pieces (was I on drugs when I cut these out?? LOL) 

 I do love the blue heathered background I chose too but it is directional so 

if you make this you need to think about that. 

 It made cutting a little tougher, but worth it.
 I introduce you to my bear!

That face!  I wish the background showed up better.

You can see the color a little bit better in this photo with my handsome model!  

He is doing better every day. 

 It is not fun to give him a shot that hurts every day but his improvement is worth it.  

I am hoping to start on the third block tonight.  

~XOP~

 

Wonderful Woodland Quilt (aka the Canada Quilt) Progress

A year ago or so I bought the Wonderful Woodland BOM but had not had time to work on it.

I cut it out and have been taking it to me every time I travel.  

I thought that it would be a good one to work on while we wait for baby. 

 The first block is the moose with the Canadian leaves on it.  

Back story, my hubby goes FAR into northern Canada ( about 150 miles N of Soo Sault Marie, MI) to a cabin owned by his uncle. 

 It is very remote.  No electricity, running water or indoor plumbing.  

They have to take everything in and out when they go.

  They load everything into a boat, go across a lake, portage into the next lake and then motor across the lake to the cabin!!  I've gone there one time and that was plenty. 

 It is beautiful but I would rather stay home and sew!

He LOVES it up there so much.  He can fish and fish and fish! 

 So I decided that he needs a quilt for Canada.  

When I saw the Wonderful Woodland BOM I knew this would be the right quilt for him!  

I bought all the fabric and as I said, recently cut it all out.  

Yesterday and today I sewed on the Moose block. 

 I think I un-sewed almost as much as I sewed!  

Of COURSE I chose a directional background, 

so that made things even more challenging when I cut it out.

I got this far yesterday:

Of course I had loads of help <insert eye roll here>

Today I had a lot of sewing time!  I managed to get the whole block finished!!

Of course as soon as I put it on the table for a picture, my helper appeared!

At least you can see how BIG the block is with Finn in the photo.

Cole is doing better, thank you to all who have donated to his go fund me page. 

 I have his blood work scheduled on the 22 here in Chapel Hill.  

Thankfully I was able to find a vet that would work with us!  

I will likely have to order another  $1000 of medicine before we leave too.  GULP! 

 He takes the shots so well. 

 I am really proud of him (and his human, needle phobic helper).  

Please share the link for his page if you can or donate if you are able and want to.

No baby yet, but we are hopeful he will be here soon!  Stay tuned!

~XOP~