Find the Magic in the Ordinary

Thank you for visiting my stop on Preeti's blog hop last week.

It was so nice to see so many old friends.  

 

One of my goals this summer was to complete as many UFOs as possible.  In June, 2019, The Crafty Quilter, hosted a Disappearing Nine Patch QAL.  Once the top was completed, it was time for my annual migration south, so it was tucked carefully away.  Well, we all know what happened next.  I wasn’t allowed across the border into Canada again until August, 2021.  The border opened up, with restrictions, on August 9, and I was on a flight north the very next day.  

Fast forward to summer, 2022.

No longer willing to climb around the floor on my hands and knees, I thought I’d be smart and purchase some tables like we have at the 'hall'.  I ordered the tables that fold in half for easier storage.

The joke was on me.  They are so heavy, I can’t lift them!  Living on the ocean, the best time to layer a quilt out on the deck is early morning, before the wind picks up.  So, if I give Ranger Ron, not a morning person, plenty of notice, he's more than willing to set them up for me.  He even hangs around, and helps me layer the quilt with spray baste, so it goes very quickly.  

With the Serpentine Stitch, 

this one quilted up pretty quickly, too.

I named this quilt “Find the Magic in the Ordinary” not only because it started out with just ordinary nine patch blocks, but also because I’m gifting it to a young acquaintance who is struggling right now, and it’s my secret message to her. 

Today we started battening down the hatches.

Hurricane Fiona is heading right at us on Saturday.

It’s difficult to know just what to expect at this point,

but it could be ugly.  

I do admit to being little nervous.

I'm within that little red circle.

One thing for sure is I’ll lose this 8+ foot tall sunflower!

What joy it has brought me!

Thanks for stopping by.

Now that I’m figuring how to post using my iPad,

maybe I’ll be around a little more often!

XO,

Karen

Tops Turvy Blog Hop and Give Away

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 It is truly my pleasure to return to my blog to share this delightful, new quilt with you today.  Sew Preeti Quilts has created yet another fun beauty and I found it very difficult to resist when she asked me to be a pattern tester.  Despite my dwindling stash, and the lack of shopping opportunities up here, I eagerly accepted.  And then I spent the next few weeks second guessing myself and wishing I had told her I wouldn’t be able to do it.

Finally, on August first, I cleared my sewing space, dug through fabric remnants and scraps that were stashed away high and low and lots of places in between, and set to work.  I had exactly 1/4 yard of black, and fortunately had some silver gray Free Spirit yardage tucked away high on a shelf to use for the background.

I am notoriously famous for choosing a simple pattern when I need a quick quilt, and then spending hours and hours stitching to the moon and back.  That was NOT the case here!  In exactly 2 weeks, it was completed.  Label and all!  Since I always have someone to send a quilt off to, this quilt could only be destined for one very special young lady.  (My quilts speak to me.  Do yours?)

I did not sew every day, there were no marathon sewing sessions, and I was having sew much fun!  The instructions were clear and precise and before I knew it, the blocks were all made and it was time to arrange them on the design wall.  Next time I need a quick quilt, I’ll be revisiting this pattern!

Thank you, Preeti, for asking me to test your new pattern.  I absolutely love it!  I am already collecting fabric scraps for my next one!  The possibilities are endless.

I have it on good authority that one lucky comment will win a free copy of this pattern.  It is also available for purchase at Preeti's Etsy Shop .  Preeti is offering the pattern at a reduced introductory price through 09/15!

Visit the other pattern testers for more Topsy Turvy eye candy and extra chances to win a copy of this delightful pattern.  You can construct it from your stash, your scraps, or using that one lonely jelly roll that’s been sitting on your shelf.

09/09 - Preeti

09/09 - Nancy

09/11 - Turid

09/12 - Wendy

09/13 - Yvonne

While I was working on Topsy Turvy, I was also working on a scrappy leader/ender project.  

This is Weaving Stars by Nancy Mahoney Designs.  If I don’t have a leader/ender project in the works, it just doesn’t feel right.  I thought this would be a good stash buster.

Thanks for stopping by!  Good luck in the give away!

~The give away is now closed.  Congratulations to the winner, Bonnie, from Institches With Bonnie!~

Is My Blogging Mojo Making a Return?

Oh, my goodness!

I may have figured out 

how to create a little blog post

from my iPad!

Before I left Texas,

I redressed my daughter's table,

upcycling a pair of my son-in-law's jeans.

It was time to start packing things away for the summer,

but I wasn’t quite ready to stop sewing.

I freehanded the curve onto a large piece of paper,

and cut it out to create the pattern.

A little walking foot quilting,

and voilà!

Today, I’m off to the Massachusetts shoreline

to revisit my old stomping grounds.

Hope I can embrace the changes

that I’m sure have occurred 

over the years.

I’m not big on ‘development'.

Enjoy your day!

Stay sweet!

XO

 

I'm Still Out There

 To all my blogging friends,

For some reason, blogger is not allowing me to comment on your blogs, even though I’m signed in.  So, I want you to know I’m still reading your posts, and enjoying each and every one.  I’m still sewing myself to the moon and back.  I’m on my way to the island as I type, bouncing up the east coast, visiting family and friends along the way, and looking forward to spending my 20th year in Cape Breton.  

Happy sewing,

Karen