Quilt Themed Fiction and Machine Quilting

I've been doing lots of Quilt Themed Fiction reading lately - three in one week, and I've started on my fourth.  I would recommend any of these:

And after hearing so much about this book on podcasts over the last month or two, I started reading this:

I did get my quilt basted yesterday, and started quilting it last night.  I had everything required - quilt, sewing machine, iPod loaded up with podcasts, and wine coolers.

Some Sunday Stash and Slow Sunday Stitching

Okay - there was some serious stash enhancement this week.  After all - there was a big sale on at The Greenwood Quiltery. I snuck in there on Tuesday, looking for a little linen, and left with a rather large bag.  But, I also found a great thrifty find on Friday!

I needed pink and green thread for my B.L,D towels, so my plan was to check a couple of thrift stores which are on the way to the Lens Mills store, and see if I could score some cheap thread. I had a coupon for 30% off thread that I printed from the Lens Mills website, so I was willing to go with "new" thread, but because I only needed a little, well....you know how cheap I am.

First stop was St. Vincent de Paul store.  Some quilter has made a significant donation here, because I've been scoring quilty stuff every time I visit.  This time was a brand new table runner kit.

 Linking to Dreaming in Patchwork

You can see that the Copyright on the fabrics is 2013 - and all six of the fabrics are from a collection called "Neutral Love" from ConnectingThreads.com.  The kit is not on the website (I had to know what the retail price is!) but I still think I got a great deal for $5.

But no thread.  So next stop was the BFM, where I did find two sandwich baggies full of threads - pink AND green - and a 1/2 yard of a white on cream print - a neutral always finds a home in my stash, and a couple of hard cover quilting books. 

I was up at the crack of dawn this morning and immediately sat down with my morning coffee and some Slow Sunday Stitching.  I stitched the centre appliques in this Dear Jane block:

Linking to Kathy's Quilts

The stars are appliqued as two separate pieces.  Thank goodness for "That Quilt" or I'd never figure out how to have made this block.

Yesterday was a good Dear Jane day.  Here are two more blocks I finished:

I'm very happy with how Starburst came out. The points are as perfect as I am likely to ever get!

....which sort of makes up for Papa's Star.  I was dreading this block (likely why I left it to almost the very end)! At least two if not three of the star points are going to get snipped off when I add the sashing.  But it's good enough for me.

No big plans for Fathers Day here - we walked down to a neighbourhood restaurant this morning and treated Hubby to brunch.  Now we are ready for a nap. 

I did warn Itty Bitty that he was helping me baste a quilt today.  I've accomplished all of my goals for June (with the exception of the next two BOW's from Grandmother's Choice). So I'm gonna DO it!  I am going to finish a quilt!

A Couple of Grandmother's Choice Blocks

I can't believe I'm keeping up with this BOW!  

This week's block is Cats & Mice 

Last week's block is Contrary Wife

Zakka 2.0 Week 2: B, D, L towels

Linking to LRstitched

Because I used these great patterned linens by Parson Gray, I chose not to put binding on my interpretation of this week's project.  

Friday Finish - another UFO Bites the Dust!

A partner for this pillow:

The House by the Side of the Road

by Sam Walter Foss (1858-1911)

There are hermit
souls that live withdrawn
In the peace of their self-content;
There are souls, like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran;-
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house
by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by-
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner’s seat,
Or hurl the cynic’s ban;-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I see from my house
by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife.
But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears-
Both parts of an infinite plan;-
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened
meadows ahead
And mountains of wearisome height;
That the road passes on through the long afternoon
And stretches away to the night.
But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice,
And weep with the strangers that moan,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in my
house by the side of the road
Where the race of men go by-
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
Wise, foolish- so am I.
Then why should I sit in the scorner’s seat
Or hurl the cynic’s ban?-
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Lost my Linen Virginity!

I went shopping for linen the other day, in order to make this week's Zakka 2.0 project: B, L, D towels.  I came across a new product I'd never even heard of: Parson Gray World Tour Utility Linen.   I chose three of the available prints, and have already got the breakfast towel 90% finished.  

I tried using my rolled hem foot to hem the linen - I decided I didn't want to use cotton binding as shown in the book instructions.  Yeah - that didn't work.  I ended up having to cut the end off of my first trial - it was a big stretched out mess.  

If you visit the Parson Gray website - you must check out the Skullduggery Quilt Pattern!

 I totally stole this image from this link.

I made a thing!

I've had this project, with a great tutorial pinned on my Pinterest board for some time, and been on the look-out for an inexpensive table so I could have one just like it!  

On Saturday, Hubby and I went out to Shedden, ON for "Rosy Rhubarb Days"--an annual event we look forward to--and I announced before we embarked on the village-wide yard sales: "All I'm looking for is a foldy tabley thingy, and a Stevie Wonder CD."  (I have very specific desires).

Well, no CD, but I did find a table for $3.  I had some old polished cotton in my stash, scraps of quilt batting (I bought a chunk at a yard sale the same day for a dime!) and between the three of us - - Hubby, Itty Bitty, and me - - we successfully created a small pressing table!