Cascade quilt

My sewing room and I are both in a transition. The messy work in my studio is done and the walls are painted a soft grey. The former closet space is awaiting the cabinets and countertop which should be in this week. Then I have to wait for the carpenter.

This is how I’m working right now. The pic is a bit dark because I took it towards the window. Can you make out the white? Still a yard full of snow.

The in wall ironing board has been ordered and should also be here soon. What I give up in ironing board size, I’ll gain in room space.

Gradually, I’ve been picking  away at what came out of the room, a seemingly growing pile of stuff. However did it all fit? I know it’ll never all go back in but a nice freshly organized room where I’ll also have space for my glider rocker will be nice.

This afternoon it’s damp outside (no gardening yet with the snow) and I felt the urge to do a little sewing.  The Cascade quilt from Victoria Finley Wolfe’s book was calling to me.

Before all my renovations got under way, I started a sample to see how it would go and I really liked it. I think it’s much like piecing a braid only with gentle curves. At the time I set it aside  because I have another quilt started (who doesn’t) but then I liked it so much, I decided to make it baby quilt size.

Girl colors.

I recommend this one. It’s very addictive once you start cutting and adding colors.

Inexplicably, I’m suffering such a great amount of pain right now in all my joints, especially my back. I haven’t been able to do my usual length of sewing, walking or yoga. Although maybe it’s a phase - I’m hoping so - perhaps my doctor will have some insights when I see her Tuesday, I do know my iron is low. 

Also, space isn’t quite conducive to artwork yet,  so I’ve been relaxing a bit more and doing some knitting. I’m lucky to always have something to do. Sometimes too much! 

At a workshop several weeks ago I started this Twister bag and Finally finished it. Well, except to sew a button onto the front. I really had fun with this too. It’s a bit of a change for me.

 As is usually the case, I’ve been designing art quilts in my head. I have to content myself with that until I get my space more settled and my body healed. 

Studio Reno

I haven’t posted here because my studio is emptied and undergoing a Reno. I did bring one sewing machine to my kitchen table so I could do a bit on my twister tote. Since I’ve been away for a couple days for another doctors appointment and with the running around I’ve had to do for supplies, I’ve  not done a lot. 

I finished putting the front and back together. This is one side with the twister template.

Here is the front and back all done with batiks. We have a quilting day this Saturday so I’ll get it mostly done I hope.

My studio started out like this after the closet dividing wall was ripped out and it was opened up on the top as wel..

The holes got patched and the flooring was added. Lucky we had enough extra leftover from when we’d originally laid it.

And today the paint was done. It’s a very light grey.

Now, I’m waiting for cabinets to go atop the closet space along with a counter top. Coming later will be a larger window to replace the existing one. There will be a new ceiling light and an in wall small ironing board. 

I’m so excited!

Twister tote

I can’t believe that it’s April 4th and we’re having another snow day. Schools are canceled and I rebooked a dentist appointment. I’m having @ very domestic kind of day, changing the bed, washing clothes, making a roasted vegetable soup and sewing.

At lunch time, I chopped and roasted a tray of veggies—tomatoes, red peppers, zucchini, onion, and garlic sprinkled with sea salt, basil, oregano and no salt herb mix.

After roasting it went into the pot with some broth and frozen corn. I semi puréed it using a hand held blender.

I’m craving a grilled cheese on whole grain bread to go with.

Last Saturday at our guild UFO a generous quilter was giving a workshop on making a Simply Charming Twister Tote. 

http://aroundthebobbin.com/tote-12-simply-charming-twister-tote/

I was so inspired by all the themes and varieties, I decided to try it myself. She’s doing it again this Saturday. In the sewing room I’ve been cutting 30 5 inch batik squares to be sewn in rows, 5 by 6 to prepare for cutting the twister blocks.

 I chose 3 fabrics for bottom, handles and pockets.

When I need to rest my back, I can put my feet up and do some knitting. I’m working on a merino wool Gingerbread Hat, pattern found on Ravelry.

The yarn is a pure merino superwash worsted weight, Mecha, by Malabrigo in Peru. I picked it up in Amherst, NS last week atDeanne Fitzpatrick’s Studio. 

www.hookingrugs.com

I thought you might like a look at the books I’m reading right now.

And finally this magazine.

Show opening, final swoon block

Three small trips in the last couple of weeks have kept me from posting. My most recent one was to the opening if the SAQA Atlamtic show at the Craig Gallery, Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, , NS.

Here I a, near my Waterfall piece.

A very old friend from high school university days met me for dinner and the opening and my son and his wife also drove up from Halifax. I was as e cited to see them as I was to attend the opening.

 I’ve been sore and tired, catching up, getting outside and I haven’t done a lot of stitching. One nice thing about the longer spring days is I can get out later on the trail.

The evening light is so pretty.

It also means the light is good for a little more evening free motion stitching. While I haven’t felt like any serious stitching, on Saturday night I did a bit of black free motion on a small leftover piece of painted canvas. Just for fun.

I will use it up in some little projects.

I’m working on the 3rd and final swoon block. I’m finally getting the hang of it! Geometric pieces often confuse me.

My plan is to use 3 vertically and add to the sides with a few stars in a border.

I happened to notice on Facebook that I hung out my first line of clothes well over a year ago. How I love a line of fresh dried clothes. You can see why this year is later!

The small items barely clear the snow.

This afternoon I’m off to my knitting group.