Yoko's House!

Those of you who have come to the shop have seen the 4 blocks I've completed from Quiltmania's Quilt Mystère 2012 designed by Yoko Saito. I have blogged about them here too. (check the labels list to the right of the blog and click on Yoko Saito) I love every block of this quilt but time and other circumstances have taken me away from this project! 

Preparation of the pieces is time-consuming and I wanted to show how I go about it.

For me, the longest part of recreating the block is choosing the fabric. That's my focus today! 

The first step is to trace the pattern on freezer paper and cut out each part. I like to keep each house, tree, church etc separate. 

Then I lay out the fabrics I want to use for each building starting with the background fabrics... here you see it as a finished whole with the building templates on top of each pile. 

This "playing with fabric" session may take as little as a few minutes for a house to hours of placing and replacing choices all the while looking at the finished blocks that join the one I'm creating. I frequently go to those finished blocks to see what fabrics were used as I have several fabrics that are close in color and pattern. 

The next step will be to iron the templates to the back of the fabrics and cut them out. I love seeing them take shape... I will spread out the choices again after they are cut out to reassess the color combinations and how they play with each other within the block.

Before the work of turning the edges begins, I will bring down the other blocks and lay them beside this one and reassess the fabric choices.

It takes me awhile, especially with interruptions to play war and go fish... when was the last time you played these games? So fun... but not much quilting getting done... :) I don't mind... the days will be long and lonesome without him! Best to enjoy these times while he's here...

Grand Papa brought him to the County Fair today... What a blast!

Toodles,

Lorette

Visitors and Visiting but little quilting...

It's been fun at Spruce It Up Quilt Shop this last week and a half. First off, we have our grandson with us for 2 weeks; this is the first time he visits us here at the farm without either of his parents. He's such a great little boy (don't all grandparents say that about theirs?); he's also a great entertainer, full of ideas, facts about wildlife, and also full of rules he makes up as he wishes his world to be. What a character! 

Have you ever heard of a 6 yr old ask for a tomato sandwich with lettuce and mushrooms? He will instruct you on how to build such a sandwich too. LOVE this kid!!! He eats very well and often. One wouldn't think so by the look of him... he's tall and lean! 

He's getting lots of practice driving the tractor...

So far, the weather hasn't been warm enough for him to play in the water at the beach. He came equipped to practice his casting... and you should hear about the big one that got away!!! The secret is: there's no hook on that line!

Those who have visited will have noticed that the old farmhouse has gotten smaller... the reason we separated the back shed from the main house is that the far wall on the north side was sinking into the ground and as a result, it was pulling the "lower" roof away from the main building. The shed will be torn down and the wood from the walls will be salvaged. 

DH is in the process of moving his wood from inside the shed to the lean-to... it's a big job!

Two of my sisters visited last weekend... I missed taking a picture of them riding the wagon to the shore as I had customers in the shop. I also missed this champagne!

Jocelyn gets to try out Lolah after meeting her! :) we had a great time Friday night dining on lobster and drinking wine; Saturday, the men went mackerel fishing; the women took Oliver on an excursion to the farmer's market and some garage sales. 

After they left for home on Sunday morning, we attended a special occasion; Happy 50th Anniversary Roger and Mary! Brunch with family and friends was organized by their children and grand kids. It was a wonderful party!

 

The barn project is in full swing; we visited the site... this happened Friday...

Monday...

Tuesday...

This morning... no flies on these guys! They arrived at 7:30 and by 8am the forms were all off. Impressive!

We hear the electrician is coming to install the temporary power pole later today!

Oliver loves the "mountains" created when they dug the foundation... 

Had to soak in the tub for quite awhile to remove all the dirt... but that's what the farm is for... a place to run free and get dirty!

We had an incredible sunrise this morning; the wind has been pretty constant and powerful! We're grateful the buildings were separated a week ago instead of this week... I'd hate to see the contractor on the roof in these winds. 

Hurricane Cristobal will be threatening our shores sometime this weekend. By then our little visitor will be home safely delivered to his parents by his Nana from Halifax! We will miss him... he's such great entertainment! He eats and sleeps well and is in non-stop motion-commotion!

Next week it'll be time to restart my quilting projects put aside to play war, go-fish, or pitch a ball... 

There are new fabrics, threads, patterns, supplies such as scissors, glue dispensers, starch spray bottles etc... For those who love to bring projects to class or travel with their supplies, there's a new thread bag you need to see... so come on in for a visit and bring your projects with you... DH will install a table for us on the sun porch. 

Ask to see the "new" Lazy-Susan Valdani and Kimono Silk thread holder... you might want to make one for your sewing room!

Toodles,

Lorette