Hi-Ho... Hi-Ho... a quilting I will go!

Hi friends! I'm sorry it's been a couple of weeks since last update. I've been keeping myself real busy since my home nurse signed off, and my foot is officially healing so well now that the wound is closed, I don't need home care. I have the wound specialist coming, for the (maybe) last time just to make sure everything is still good.
So, what was I up to last time we chatted? Oh right, I had finished both my girls quilt tops. I ordered the backing fabric for both of them. It should be in this week some time. Hopefully next pay I can afford the batting.
At the same place I ordered my first 'kit' to make my best friend of 35 yrs a quilt. this is the pattern and the fabric I chose (with her approval) The only difference is I chose not to have black sashing, and opted to use the darkest color in the fabric palette shown. I think I will look around for some type of embroidered butterflies I can add for a special touch

  

March 27th Quilt top complete! 

I'm ordering this panel, and will use three of the squares to dress up the back :) 

I certainly wasn't planning on spending anymore money, but I needed thread so went online to Fabricville. I ordered most of my fleece and flannel there when making stuffies. At that time they didn't offer much in the way of Quilting cotton, and what they did have then was very pricey.

I asked my sister what colors she would want a quilt made with, so I could keep my eyes open for something on sale at some point. Guess what store is stocking a very nice selection of cotton now online? I bought this fabric at $6.99 yd (Canadian dollar) Not too bad, when the average cost in Canada right now is $13.99 yd and up.

I had my sister choose a block pattern she liked out of a few I had found.She picked this Solstice Star. They all seemed to be something I could pull off......and below are the 1st 3 blocks! I'm super stoked and I think there will even be enough to make another quilt top using the same fabrics for her 16 yr old daughter.One of my new quilting buddies sent me a pattern that might be perfect! I do love the online quilting community. For the most part, made up of women with hearts as warm and big as the beautiful quilts they make. 

That reminds me, I still have my very own quilt to look forward to. My secret quilting buddy is gifting me it all precut as a kit for me. I feel so totally blessed.

It is time for me to lay my head on my pillow and dream of quilts, quilts, and more quilts ♥

Sew much to learn , and loving it!

Elle's quilt top is complete. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Will have to wait for the $$ to purchase batting and backing for both the girls' quilts



So, my sister-in-law gave me a couple of bags of fabric and stuffing.... and these 2 baby panels already sandwiched. I am attempting to hand quilt the barnyard one right now for practice and if all goes well, I will do the lions and tigers... for a dear friends' 1st Grandbaby, a little girl in June. Wish me luck!

I started a conversation in Canadian Quilters (fb group) about what batting I should use and best place to purchase. Well, lets just say, quilting is no longer a poor womans' hobby, The most cost-effective way to buy batting would be by the bolt. The least expensive place so far is Sew Sisters' in Toronto.  They don't carry what I want, a bolt of Hobbs 80/20 but will gladly order for $300 -  25% (boltreduction) = $225.  That means I am paying $7.50 a yd, considerably less than buying one quilt at a time for at least $50 a pop. Time to start saving my nickels and dimes.

Catch up with you again, real soon,




March 20th Update
I  finished quilting both panels.
I only have the binding to finish on the barnyard one.
I doubled the batting in the inner square, so when I quilted certain parts of the animals it gave it an almost 3D effect. Pretty happy with how it turned out as it is the 1st quilted project I did on my own from start to finish. It is going to my dear friend Kim, who is having her first grandbaby this summer. A little girl ♥

Full steam ahead

Busy, busy, am almost finished putting together Elle's quilt.. It was a little more difficult than the 1st quilt, but is turning out pretty nice, I've already set my sights on the next quilt, which will be for me. Here's a pic of it, The pattern is called a french braid.

I'll probably post Elle's quilt top at some point today, 

Have a good one! 

My very first Quilt top al sewn together :)

This is my very 1st quilt top all sewn together, It will be for my youngest daughter,Laura. I am so pleased with how it turned out, but the best thing about it, is my daughter loves it too! next pay day will order the fabric for the back and the batting. 

I am going to try and quilt this myself using chalk and stencils hand stitching it. I hope to have enough dollars to buy pounce and stencils as well as a lap hoop. 

In the meantime I will be starting to put together my daughter Elle's quilt top.

 I'll post a picture when I finish hers. 

Sew long! ;) 

Moving forward....

I've been playing with the fabric sequence for my girls quilts. For Laura's I had her lay it out on the floor and do the order the way she'd like it. I think she did a great job!

Elle's quilt. 

The sashing will alternate using these 2 fabrics'

Laura's quilt. 

The sashing will be in a black pattern and 

white speckled pattern (looks like splattered paint. perfect!)

I need to wait until payday to buy some cotton thread. I plan on sewing in one hour sessions. I'm going to totally stop sitting at the machine if it starts to hamper the healing process of my foot. I want this healed once and for all so I can sew to my heart's content! 

Just in Time for Christmas!!

My Jaay Bears are available for purchase. If interested or if you have any questions, you can email me at LegzToyz@gmail.com , leave a comment here, or the fastest way is to leave me a private message via my facebook page. 

Hats and scarves were handmade by my daughter, Elle ♥ 

Do you know of a child in hospital or with serious illness that could use a surprise gift of one of my stuffies?? I would like to give back this Christmas by sending out a few pkgs to children in need of a serious bear hug *wink  You can contact me the same as above with info on the child you'd like to see receive a gift like this from a Secret Santa. 

Kitty-Kats x Seven 7 - Need 4ever Homes

The Kitty-Kats have landed. There are only Seven available, so if you want one you might want to send me a message asap. They will soon go up on my Etsy store when it opens in the very near future.

For you, I am asking $15 + shipping. The price will change when they go to my store. 

I think they turned out real nice. I hand-stitched each one out of flannel and stuffed with 100% poli-fill, as well as, safety eyes and noses makes them kid-proof. lol

Jaay Bear in fur, 1st sample.

Here is the 1st Jaay Bear using the low pile faux fur. This is the Camel color. A little tweaking left here and there but over all I am super pleased with how Jaay Bear turned out. Imagine a Christmas color toque and scarf, and that is how you can order your Jaay Bear . There will be a limited number available in the four colors.

I will be making pajamas once I have these completed, My nurse gave me a blast yesterday when she saw how swollen my feet were.  She ordered me to stretch out with my foot elevated if I wanted to it to heal in a reasonable amount of time. Sooo, like it or not I am listening to her, with my daughter making sure I do lol.

I'll keep you up to date. I can't use my sewing machine right now. It helps if you can feel your foot when it's on the pedal lol.

Hope you like Jaay! If you have any suggestions, or spot something amiss, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Pajama Trim Challenge

I made these pjs and for something a little different I substituted the ruffle for a fringe. I think it's a fun change... practical? Not so much. I asked for opinions on a fb sewing group and the general consensus is, fringe is cute, but a' fire hazard , wouldn't wash well, tangles etc Sooooo here it is with the ruffle. I;m working on the nightie in the corner how. I had the fabric forever and didn't know what to do with it. I'll post a pic when it's finished. Time to take some 'time' to clean my house today lol Seems like nobody else is going to do it for me... sigh.