Let It Snow

On the weekend I played around with my Let It Snow blocks and the bottom row that I designed to add.  Stacy did a row of pieced trees but I wasn't that keen on it.  I saw one done by Jeanne K. Berry that used elements of some of the trees in the letter blocks that I liked.

 Here is my sewn together version.  I stitched my blocks on 9" backgrounds and then trimmed them down to the 8" that Stacy recommended.  As a result my bottom row needed to be adjusted.  I removed the moon and star from the left and cut them down a bit and moved the placement.  The last small tree, star and snowflake from the right were also removed.  Only the star was put back in place.

My snow drifts are four different cuts that are layered, click on them and they should enlarge for you.

 Here is a picture of Jeanne K. Berry's quilt that inspired my design choices.

The final piece is another Buttermilk Basin design that Stacy West shared during her 12 Days of Christmas blog hop. Here is a link to the page. She has removed the freebie from her blog but she has project as a kit on her website here.

Hope everyone in the lower mainland and greater Vancouver area have survived the recent snowfall.  We are expecting colder temperatures leading up to Christmas so stay safe and warm.

Let It Snow!

Last night I stayed up until about 0130 to finish stitching and take pictures of my Let It Show final snowman block.  I choose to use the wool I used for the lettering on his scarf, mittens and hat band.  I think with his sly shy smile he looks rather dapper!

Here is a close up of his mittens.  I chose to give the darker cuff to show off the stitching.

 His smiling face and more stitching on the hat band.

 Here are all the finished blocks altogether.  I don't think Stacy is planning on any sashing between the blocks but I'll wait on sewing them to be sure.  I think we will just do a final border and bind the quilt.

 I don't use fusible web unless my wool is a very loose weave.  The wool I used for my snow was from a thrift shop found skirt that I felted.  I turned the fabric from one side to the other to give either a vertical or horizontal look to the plaid.

 I use pins and stitch on the layers, I like the feel of movement of the wool against the background.  I find that using a fusible makes things look very flat and lack texture.

 Remember this view from Friday afternoon.  Well it rained most of Saturday and we've now tied with three other years to have had 26 of 29 October days of rain....

 But the sun came out at around three o'clock to pay a visit.

 You can see the clouds getting thinner. Notice how many leaves blew off with the rain and wind.

 And then the sun started to go down and light them up with golden accents.

 More blue skies as the sun came down with hints of purple in the clouds.

 I'm sad that that condo tower was built but fortunately they made it shorter than planned and I still have an enjoyable view.

 Love those two seagulls flying thru the picture.  Didn't see the crows flying off to roost for the night.

 All the gold is changing to orange and darker shade.

 Such a lucky gal am I to have this uninterrupted view of the south arm of the Fraser River and the Alex Fraser bridge in the distance.

 Almost time to say good bye to October.

 Make sure you get your pumpkins and Jack O'lanterns out to celebrate!

Sunny Friday We Could Set A Record!

For the most rainy October!  As of Friday we have had 25 days of rain this October making it the 12th  rainiest October by measurable rain.  But as of today Saturday I can hear we have rain falling so we are tying the most rainy days in October!  So we may break the record after all.  But Friday was lovely and mild and sunny.  This was my view about 4:30 Friday evening.

 A slightly different look, you can see the clouds moving in.

 I decided to challenge myself with some applique and designed a star topper for an ongoing project.  Here I've ironed the star design onto freezer paper and have turned back the edges of the star.  I use the starch and freezer paper style for my applique.

 Looks not to shabby.

 Then I ran a basting stitch around the circle portion.

 Drew it up and ironed it back.

 Checked the look from the right side.

 Then I carried it down the rest of the topper and used starch to hold it in place.

 I then placed it on top of miles of bias strips I've been sewing down and realized I needed to add a bit more background before I could stitch it down.  I did this on Friday at my sewing group.  The top isn't quite finished for a big reveal but inching closer.

 I also prepped the last block for my Let It Snow piece by Stacy West of Buttermilk Basin Designs.  This is the reverse picture that you trace.

 But when I placed how she suggested I realized the recycled wool I used for the bird had fusible interfacing on it and I actually prefer the version of him looking to his right.

 This is the teaser that Stacy released when she announced the 2016 BOM Mystery.

 Here are my blocks laid out.  Apparently she may change the snowman to the left and put the snowflake to the right and shift LET of so that vertically the two T's don't line up.  But then they spell ETO and I rather like the snowman in the snowflake and the large snowman looking at each other.

If you are interested in making this you can get the large Snowman free but the rest of the blocks are now being sold on her website Buttermilk Basin Designs as either blocks or as kits.  Now to get this guy all stitched up.

Give Me A "W!"

Here you go, and what do you get?

 Let It Snow!  Late Wednesday night Stacy West from Buttermilk Basin released the latest letter for the Buttermilk Basin Mystery Block of the Month and yesterday I got it all stitched together.  Here are all my blocks laid out together.

Here was her peek at the layout when she first revealed the theme.  I captured a screen shot from her Instagram feed.  So I wonder what will be in that tall skinny block? Here is a link to her announcement on her blog and her rendition of the W.

Here is the link to the website page where you can get the Free W pattern and purchase the past blocks. They are only free for a month!

Buttermilk Basin Let It Snow.

This Month we were gifted with two blocks from Buttermilk Basin's Mystery Block of the Month.  First was a snowman in a snowflake filler.

Next was the Letter I.

Here they are side by side.

 And here are all the blocks thus far.  I decided to change up the background for the filler block.

Here is a link if you want to check out Buttermilk Basin Blog.

Seems Odd to Say This Today...

Give me a L!

 Give me an E!

 Give me a T!

 What do you get?  LET it snow first three letters all stitched up.  Do they not look great together.  I'm pleased how my adaptation of the female Cardinal to a female Blue Jay turned out.

 I did go out and check out some of the lovely Cherry Blossoms.  Unfortunately the day turned grey and rainy so we didn't have a spectacular blue sky to show off the blooms.

 Here are some huge white star Magnolia trees on the same street.

 You can see the pink Cherry trees farther along.

 A mix of a Camilla Rose, Star Magnolias and Pink Cherry blossom through the mossy trunk.

 Another mix of white Star Magnolia trees and pink Cherry blossoms.  Soon those cars will be covered in petals.  Often there are people posing in the middle of the street for pictures with cars trying to navigate their way.  I had to honk to get one lady to move, she almost got run over by two cars.

 Love the moss on this tree.

 The grey skies and a couple of people standing taking photos.

 Such a delicate pink.

 The trees have been peched to arch over the street.

Cherry Blossom time in Vancouver, breath taking yes?