As our continued lockdown due to Covid continues along with the schools being virtual only. Liam and I worked hard this last week on studies…virtual learning is not easy nor is it for all kids.
We were both thankful for art on Friday, early in the week the kids were told that they would need items from nature. Liam bought into this project right away! He began collection items while we worked on readying the flower beds for summer.
On Friday we watched a slide presentation and video. The students were instructed to create their art outside and take pictures to be uploaded on the school platform.
Starting out in the front yard, after getting out his old wheel barrel only to realize that he has more than outgrown it!We headed into the bush where he found a large stump to use as his platform. Using a robins nest left from last year as his centre piece he added various pine cones and a crocus to the nest then various rocks and a pine bough…he wanted to make a teepee with some branches he found so we tied them with a willow branch.
Then for more colour he found some birch branches left from last falls tree harvesting.
He had so much fun making his art! What a great project kudos to his teacher…who also made it clear that these projects were intended to stay outside.
After a very busy week, he finished it off with a bubblegum ice cream cone.
I remember in grade 7, which would have been around 1975…one of my favourite tops had purple and orange stripes. I loved wearing it!
I also had an art teacher tell me that those two colours don’t go together there fore I was to rethink my assignment. Hopefully teachers today don’t stifle young creative peoples ideas such as back then.
Years later while making my first block of the month quilt…I decided to deviate from the pattern a little with my own idea and an at that time period friend exclaimed that I couldn’t do that! Well I did and I remember liking that mine was more unique!
Two things brought this to mind today first is this customer quilt!
Susan M’s quilt. Here and There Pantograph I just love the colour combo
Next I have been puttering away at my Moda Blockheads quilt and am wanting it off the design wall. I have been wanting to make a sisterhood block so made one for the Moda quilt.
I haven’t done a lot of paper piecing and so this one gave me some challenges when putting the units together esp the centre. I ended up tacking down the points that really need to meet before sewing the whole unit. The paper is still in the block, I am sure once it’s in the quilt and quilted I will be quite happy with it.
I also really enjoyed how nice and round and smooth the appliqués turned out. The tulip brand needles I used were so smooth and easy to sew with along with 60 wt thread. Though in the further I may use 80 wt for appliqué instead.
My customer told me that she really enjoyed making this quilt playing with with both fabric and design. I really enjoyed adding my touch by using the pantograph Feather Grande by Bethanne Nemesh it adds both a whimsical touch and a little formalness with the feathers.
With having to be home so much this last year so many of my customers have challenged themselves to use their stashes as well as to try out new patterns.
This cat quilt definitely fit the bill! When you look at scrap quilts their charm is often how so many different fabrics fit together and look great!
A soft flowing pantograph added a little movement …This leopard print mad a fun backing!
We finished Liam’s spring break with some firsts of the year on Friday
First ice cream cone of the yearFirst ride….last year his feet hardly reached the ground this year it’s the perfect fit. First swing of the year….last year he would have me stop pushing at a point this year it was higher Grandma…higher!We thought that we were saying goodbye to the snow hill!
Later that night He and his Dad met up with Pappa and did some smelt fishing… I wasn’t there so no picture other than the result.
I clean smelts…they are the only fish I clean! Thankfully we have family and friends that love smelts and insist on cleaning their own as we really only enjoy eating a few meals of them in the spring….
Speaking of spring…winter tells us it’s not over until it’s over and we woke this morning to this
I am a machine quilter and piecer. For the most part the only hand sewing that I do is on the bindings on quilts.
For years I have used Bohin size 8 straw milliners and they were great however they have a tendency to bend. Someone suggested Lori Holts needles so I gave them a try but found them too thick and didn’t glide through the fabric as I like. A blogger that I follow had recommended Clovers Black Gold needles…while they are very thin and strong I was still labouring to push the needle through the fabric.
Then I read on another blog that she had ordered and tried and highly recommended Tulip Needles so I decided to give them a try!
They are fantastic! Perfect length very thin and strong. The packaging is different and felt like a little present and the needles come in a cute little tube with a cork top.
Cathy’s version of the one block wonder type piecing was such a perfect quilt to work on this last while were every day brought rainy grey days. It’s bright green was a reminder that all of the rain will bring out the colours of spring before we know it!
This is a picture of the fabric that she began with. I believe it is by Jane Sassaman .
Her piecing was perfect and so effective!
I used the pantograph Rhododendron that Cathy chose and it was the perfect compliment to this quilt.
As promised Liam really enjoyed his breakfast yesterday.
We spent time outside in the woods practicing with the sling shot…he really has this figured out now and was really excited that he can skip stones on the pond with it! We also had fun navigating the deep water on some of the roads in the back of the property due to the large amounts of rain this week. Our rubber boots were well used!
When we came in he enjoyed a bowl of his most favourite thing for lunch…Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup…I don’t tell him but I buy the low sodium version which make me feel a little better about it. He loves crackers and ice cubes in this soup.
Then it was time to head to the studio!
We spent the afternoon making and attaching the binding…I think that I will sit with him and do the hand stitching while we watch a movie.
Thank you Donna from Fuelled by Fabric for donating the fun fabric for the binding and backing!
This week is what was supposed to be March break for Ontario schools it was changed to April due to Covid…with a plan to reopen schools on the 19th. Plans change and now the schools will remain closed and students are to continue with virtual learning until further notice.
Liam and I made a plan yesterday for how we will approach virtual learning when we start again. It has been a very real challenge to keep him in front of that laptop for learning.
Erik taught him how to use a slingshot over the weekend, so we went for a walk in the woods so that he could practice his shot. No critters were involved.
On our walk to the mailbox Liam reminded me that we spent last March break together so now it’s a tradition. He assures me that he will always want to hang out with me.
The mailbox contained a big envelope that caught his attention and he opened it as soon as we got home and read a lot of it!
We took Liam to the Dells in 2019 with a plan to return the next summer…that didn’t happen. Liam still loves to talk about that adventure and we have promised that when it’s safe and we can that we will go again.
We spent the afternoon quilting his quilt.
It was a challenge at first and then I decided to try standing behind him with my hands over his and help guide the machine. By the time we finished he was the driver and had really gotten the hang of it! This morning we will trim it and make the binding.
Liam requested and had his favourite supper.
Years ago my Auntie Marie suggested that we had blueberry pie for breakfast…I mentioned that to Liam so guess what’s for breakfast today! We are making the most of these days together and hopefully get also making lots of great memories!
