Experimenting with WonderFil Threads

Happy Boxing Day!!

I can't believe that Christmas is over for another year! Today we are spending the day relaxing by the fire, watching movies and enjoying the gifts that we received yesterday from our family. Tonight is turkey soup night at the Baker's and tomorrow turkey pot pie (my favourite)!!

This week I am guest blogging on QUILTsocial and once again I am experimenting with WonderFil threads. This week I am using their Eleganza threads to do some wool applique, embroidery and sashiko!! What a nice treat to do some hand stitching after the busy times leading up to Christmas!

Here are some of the previous projects that I have made for QUILTsocial using WonderFil's threads - hope you find something that piques your interest or inspires you to experiment too!!


Tablerunner using WonderFil's Razzle and Dazzle threads:

Hexagon "Back Porch Pillow" with Fruitti threads:

A machine quilting design sampler with Spagetti threads:

A thread painted book cover with Tutti and Konfetti threads:

Fall fusible web tablerunner with Mirage and Decobob threads:

Christmas Tree wall hanging with WonderFil's metallic threads:

As you can see I've had lots of fun in the past experimenting with WonderFil threads - please join me on QUILTsocial this week as I explore more ways to use these wonderful threads!

A year's worth of unfinished projects!

Happy Boxing Day!!

In the midst of holiday preparations I found a couple hours to clean and tidy up my sewing room. The wrapping paper was put away for another year and the remains of my pre-Christmas projects were tidied up. 

While I was doing this I found a staggering number of projects that were in the throws of being finished - my UFO's. They aren't all big projects (one is a pincushion) but they are all started and not finished. Some are extra blocks from a quilt that has already been made, but I couldn't bring myself to throw away - these I'm going to use to make table runners, book covers or bags. Some are punchneedle pieces that I did for demonstration purposes at quilt shows or in a class I was teaching, but never finished into a wall hanging or pillow. Some are are quilts that have been put aside while I quilted for customers and some are actual projects that I intentionally started and have yet to finish.

 For each project I found I put the blocks/pieces and corresponding fabrics together in either a large zip-loc bag or a basket.

All of the projects neatly stacked and ready to finish!!

I then got out my new Passion Planner and wrote out the list on a blank page at the back. After I had written them all down, I realized that I had 26 projects that I should finish up. I also realized that this number conveniently divides into 52 weeks, so I now have given myself a challenge - to complete one of these projects every 2 weeks for all of next year!!

I LOVE making lists - it's so satisfying to check things off as you finish them!

One of my new year's resolutions each year is to blog on a more consistent basis, soooo...part two of this challenge is to document all of these projects in my blog. Maybe this will inspire others to take a fresh look at their unfinished projects and maybe complete a few!!

So here's to 2016 and the "52 week UFO challenge"!!

8 Great ways to use Oh Canada Fabric

Celebrate Canada - our newest book - is FINALLY available!!

In this book Nellie and I show you 8 great ways to use Oh Canada fabric from Northcott. These fabrics are a favourite for most Canadian quilters and we had a blast using them to design three quilts, a wallhanging, a tablerunner, placemats, an apron and a tote bag!!

The book is now available at quilt shops, on our website and on Craftsy! All of these projects would also look great made with fabrics from your stash!!!

Marilee's quilt

Take a look at this stunning quilt made by my friend Marilee Taylor. I've never wanted to make a black and white quilt but after quilting this creation for Marilee, now I do! Marilee is now putting the binding on it, as she has entered it into our guild's quilt show on June 19th and 20th. Now I just have to finish my own queen size quilt that I have entered in the show - at least it now has it's outside borders! I have 6 days to get it finished - NO PROBLEM!!!!