Sunday, January 15, 2012

Reminding Us It's Winter

January arrived for real some time last night, with snow and blowing snow, temps of -22C with a wind chill of -31C.   My furry companion, Diesel, knows exactly how to deal with this weather: turn one's back on it and catch a few z-z-z-z-z s.

Blanket Buttonhole Stitch Block - TAST Week 2
Me? I've been in the Sewing Studio.  Last evening I set my mind to this week's Crazy Quilt Block for TAST, and this morning, while listening to the podcast at Nonnie's Quilting Dreams, I finished it.  I had great fun with this piece, and got a bit carried away with the beads.  My in-line blanket buttonhole stitch is quite good, but it proved a challenge to use it for couching and on velour.  And yes...my 'wheels' need work if I am to do them on fabric that's not specifically laid out for embroidery (silk is quite different than aida cloth or even-weave linen!)

Then, with Peter Tongni and CBC 2's Choral Concert as accompaniment, I headed to my sewing machine and made up a couple more rows on the Orca Bay Mystery Quilt top.  So large that it now fills my design wall, hanging down to the floor, I've decided to make a separate unit of the last 8 rows.  I'll attach it to the first 9 once I'm finished.  Measuring for the borders will be tricky -- I'll have to move furniture to lay it out on the kitchen floor!  This is not the largest quilt I've ever made, but I lived in a larger house the last time I did something like this...

Certainly this top has more pieces than any I've ever created, and will have to be very densely quilted to deal with the bulk of all those seams and junctions!

What's in the plan for this afternoon?  As it continues to blow, I'm staying warm with The Quilt Show, (always lots to see on that site!), perhaps an episode of Antiques Road Show, my knitting...and maybe -- just maybe -- I'll curl up with Diesel.  Stay warm!

10 comments:

Roberta Warshaw said...

it is cold here too in New England. 7 degrees this morning when I woke up.
I am staying in until it gets warmer. April?

Stay warm and keep quilting!

monika@mysweetprairie.ca said...

You make such pretty things! And yeah - we got winter overnight... finally! : ) minus 30C while shovelling for two hours.
~Monika

Bee said...

Sounds like a lovely way to spend a cold winter day! Give Diesel a pat on the head for me! : )

Gari in AL said...

Love your Orca Bay and I'm impressed with your crazy quilt. You are doing all the stitching with your machine? Here in AL it has gotten down to 23F and we thought that was way cold enough.

marcella said...

Stay warm! Love how your Orca Bay quilt turned out. Still can't get over how much piecing is in that one.

Rabid Quilter from California said...

I saw your Orca Bay thumbnail photo in Judy's blog and wanted to congratulate you for it (it's beautiful!) THEN saw your crazy quilt block--stunning. THEN, saw your cute kitty who looks just like our Bobo--who is laying in a thin ray of bright sunshine streaming through the living room window at the moment. Happy quilting!

Sue Daurio said...

Your Orca Bay looks wonderful!

Linda A. Miller said...

Diesel does have the right idea! Wonderful stitchwork..keep it up!

LuAnn said...

Your Orca Bay quilt is just gorgeous. Congratulations on finishing the top.

Art by Rhoda Forbes said...

Your Orca Bay is looking beautiful. ANd I love the crazy quilt block. Do stay in and stay warm. -37C here today.