Gnomes and Minecraft characters

This was a block of the month last year from Fat Cat Patterns called Gnome for the Holidays. I had finished several blocks but had to leave it because I went on holiday and then other, more pressing projects came my way. I finally knuckled down and completed it. The instructions called for another border but since it will be a wall hanging, it would have been too big for the space I have allocated in the hall. It's not yet quilted but at least the top is now done.

Since the gnomes were a bit intense and needed quite a bit of work for each block (tracing onto fusible, ironing onto fabric, cutting out, ironing in place and then sewing around each fused piece,) I decided to do something that required less work to complete a block. These are a continuation on my Minecraft quilt for my grandsons. The figure on the left is Ocelot and the purple eyes belong to Enderman.

These have joined my previous blocks. Easy cutting and sewing because they are all squares and rectangles.

I then decided to do Villager and Wolf.

And this is cow. If I went in order, then cow would have been the 5th block but there were so many pieces to it. I, once again, knuckled down and got it done.

There are more Minecraft blocks to do but I need to finish off a few other things and I am making the twins some culottes - now that the weather is getting warmer.

Knitting, hemming and sewing

Way back in March, I purchased some yarn that was on sale. My idea was to make a quick baby blanket with it since I haven't knitted with that particular yarn before.

It took a while but here it is.

I used two balls of Bernat Baby Blanket in Lilac Dove.

It is so soft.

Here's a close-up of the colour and texture.

It was just knit in garter stitch with size 8mm. needles.

I just made it to keep in reserve in case one of the little ones needs a blanket.

It seems I am always busy doing something.

I hand hemmed a bridesmaid's dress for my daughter-in-law, Davina. The outer layer was chiffon so I hand sewed the rolled hem. The knit lining was hemmed with my serger.

For Mother's Day I made a mug rug for the same daughter-in-law from her little girl. Davina is expecting her second baby next month and these little hand prints are of her little girl Wren, who is a year and a half. If you look closely, the print has little birds on it.

Week 19 of 52 Blocks in 52 Weeks is complete. As you can see, it was a super easy block and took very little time to complete.

Continuing on with 52 Blocks in 52 Weeks

We have just finished week 18 of the 52 Blocks in 52 Weeks.

This is the block for the 18th week.

The 17th block and the first of the yellow blocks. I didn't mean to use the same fabrics in both this and the next block. It just happened.

This is the 16th block and the end of my orange blocks.

The 15th block.

The 14th block.

And here they are, all of my orange blocks.


It's a long weekend here and today is one of my little granddaughter's birthday party. Darcy turned two on Friday. Little Teemu turns four on Tuesday and his sister, Esme, turned two on the 3rd of May so it's been a busy, hectic month so far. Victoria Day long weekend always has fireworks and last night I heard firecrackers. There's always someone who gets a kick out of the noise. Today it's supposed to be a high of 26C and tomorrow is a trip to the zoo but it's supposed to only get to 15C or 17C depending on which weather network you're looking at. The tulips, hyacinths and daffodils are out and the leaves are starting to show up in the trees so I guess spring is slowly showing itself. It's about time.

Little things

I am trying to keep up with the 52 Blocks in 52 Weeks and so far, I have managed.

Block 12. Still working my way through the oranges.

Week 13's instructions actually yielded two identical blocks. If you are on facebook and happen to look up this group, you will see how very ingenious and original some people were with this block (and others.)

Hole in the Barn Door is block 14.

I also managed to put these together for Quilts of Valor.

Once I have taken more photos of the projects in progress, I shall post them.