My quilting has evolved mainly during two maternity leaves and during the year I spent waiting for Permanent Resident status here in Canada before I could legally work. But on Monday I'm back to work, so the pace of my quilting is sure to slow down dramatically.
That's why I'm so thankful I discovered MMQG - being a member has been SO motivational and inspiring and I've done a lot more quilting in the past year than I ever have before. Knowing that show and share is coming up really keeps me going.
I'm about to start spending a lot more time with this guy (CH-149 Cormorant Search and Rescue Helicopter) and a lot less time with this guy ("the boy"). Hopefully I'll still have some time at night to keep my quilty works in progress moving forward. I'll be Tracy the aerospace engineer by day and Tracy the quilting MACHINE at night.
Here's my little sewing area in the basement where I'll be working away. In the name of keeping it real, I took a photo this morning without touching a thing. Looks like the fence needs repair after getting clobbered by winter... groan. My current quilting project (a quilt partly made with my daughter's old t-shirts is laid out in another room right now). My small stash is on the other side of the room sharing space with tools and other stored... stuff.
I sew with a Bernina 330 which I got in California while I was on maternity leave with my daughter. That was when I started getting more into quilting. I had done a bit before, but then I happened on Fons and Porter on tv which I would watch regularly while nursing. THEN I started browsing blogs while nursing.... and the rest is history!!
The Bernina is ok, but piecing is best done with the Featherweight, which I've had forever - a hand me down from my mom.
Here's a WIP from (gulp) 2004. I pieced it with the Featherweight while I was in grad school and I started hand quilting it. I really want to finish hand quilting it but I keep finding excuses to put other projects ahead of it. Still I'd like to have it finished some day. It's king size, what was I thinking? Oh, I know, I was putting off working on my thesis, tee hee.
Here's my newest little treat - a new rotary cutter. And my other favorite tool, the square ruler. If I had a rotating cutting mat to go with it I could be like Edward Scissorhands....Tracy Rotarycutterhands... I'd be slicing and dicing WAY faster. Maybe I can afford it after I get some paychecks :)
See? I've cut the pieces for the last set of blocks for the t-shirt quilt. There's going to be a lot of pink, which should make the girl happy. It's not going to be done before I go back to work, but maybe in time for show and share in a few months? I am SLOW compared to some MMQG ladies!
And... I make other things too. That's part of the reason I can only come up with a quilt finish every few years. A little embroidery, a little cross stitch, sewing kids clothes and playthings, a little knitting.
In any case, I hope you'll come back from time to time and leave a comment on my blog - I appreciate comments and find them so encouraging. The blog is lots of fun, fills in little chunks of time and doesn't require TOO much concentration. Great for me and my mommy brain.
To get the comments going, I'm offering a small giveaway: a 6.5" square Omnigrid ruler like the one in the photo above (but smaller, drrr). To enter, just leave me a comment telling me what your favorite new fabric is. I just saw some really cute new Anna Maria Horner that looks amazing for kids' clothes. I might have to bust out my All Set pattern (also by AMH) and finally make that jacket for the boy. Giveaway closes Friday the 15th at midnight Atlantic Time (copying you Adrienne!).
And don't forget to follow along on the rest of the blog hop. You will not be disappointed by these ladies, I promise!
Tuesday, May 5 - Jenn @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge
Wednesday, May 6 - Adrienne @ Chezzetcook Modern Quilts
Thursday, May 7 - Tracy (that's me!!)
Friday, May 8 - Anja @ Anja Quilts
Saturday, May 9 - Val @ Purple Boots and Pigtails
Sunday, May 10 - Linda @ Scrapmaster
Monday, May 11 - Jeanette @ Stamp Stitch Create
Tuesday, May 12 - Dominique @ The Running Thimble
Wednesday, May 13 - Aimee @ Candy Coated Quilts
Thanks for participating in the blog hop, Tracy! I'm always amazed by the things I learn about people... and yes, the rotating cutting mat is a game changer. I treated myself to one recently!
ReplyDeleteAnd P.S. If you didn't tell us, we'd never know you only finish a quilt a year. I'm always wowed by what you make... no matter how long it takes!
Really enjoying the hop so far. My fav fabric right now (there are so many) is The Steel Collection By Gerri Robinson For Red Rooster Fabrics.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely to have you for a guildmate! And nice to learn more about you. You are a busy lady! I know what you mean about being inspired by Show and Share. It usually spurs me on too. Everything you make is just wonderful! Love that you piece with a FW. My favourite new fabric is everything!
ReplyDeleteI have a degree in aerospace engineering, too, and would love to know more about what you and that handsome CH-149 will be doing together! I hopped over from Jenn @A Quarter Inch form the Edge. My favorite new fabric right now has to be the Alison Glass Mercury prints. I hope going back to work is a smooth transition for you and your family. :)
ReplyDeleteHello Tracey
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your blog. What fun with little ones around the house. My little ones grew up and now the next generation is coming along. Your sewing time will be less I am sure but will be ever sew much fun!
I've been sewing as long as I can remember and lately I am really interested in the solids. Imagine having hundreds of solid colours to play with....Yummy!!
It's been great getting to know you, Tracy. You do great work. Hope to see you at the next meeting.
ReplyDeleteI'm on a Kona roll right now.
Favorite "new fabric"? Hard one. I am enjoying the new kona colours. I also found a line with chemical formulas on it (not sure what it's called). I'm collecting science fabric to make a whole science modern quilt for my daughter who is working on a PhD @ MIT-Woods hole in Mass. I laready gave her a noodlehead bag in chemistry fabric. Just so much fun.
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderfully busy life... Sounds like everything a person could wish for!! I just spotted a new line from Kate Spain but am forgetting the name at the moment.... But anything by her is always awesome!!
ReplyDeleteHi, I am next door in NB! :-) I saw some Cotton and Steel Halloween fabrics coming soon that look great.
ReplyDeleteYou are a busy lady. Enjoy the little ones while you can because you turn around and they are grown up. No favourites here. If a fabric catches my eye I usually buy it.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, I'm very slow too. I'm trying to cut back on buying, so therefore I cut back on looking at all the new lines. I'm loving the new Cotton and Steel basic. I might need to add that one to my stash.
ReplyDeleteHeard about the blog hop through Quarter Inch From the Edge and Chezzetcook, I'm excited to see other blogs from the guild! I try not to look to closely at the popular fabric lines, my budget doesn't allow for it. :P But anytime I see Cotton and Steel, I can't help but get excited. Lol.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about your different roles. I am enjoying Zen Chic's Reel fabrics. I am working on building up my low volume stash.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS FOR SHARING!
ReplyDeleteLIKE THE STEEL COLLECTION!
HAPPY SPRING!
msstitcher1214@gmail.com
Love the Cormorant. It us so great getting to know the people in your neighborhood, I mean, guild. I am trying to stay away from new lines but I am in love with the new colours Carolyn Friedlander is using for reprints of her Architexture line
ReplyDeleteVisiting from St. John's, NL. Nice to meet you. Please drop over my way when you get a chance. Thanks for the giveaway. I like batiks and use them in my 3-D fish.
ReplyDeleteFabulous post! So great to get to know you even more! My quilting is slowing down too, so I am with your girl..but we will show and share when we can :) I LOVE that little owl you are stitching - sweetness
ReplyDeleteoh and crap forgot - my favorite crave for fabric is currently Leah Duncan Morning Walk
ReplyDeleteHello from across the harbour in Halifax! I'm very much looking forward to Summer Song 2 by Riley Blake - we deserve some summer after the winter we had! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI really like Kate Spain's "Horizon" which has been out for a few months. I just love the blues and greens.
ReplyDeleteI've learned so much about you just from this post!! Your job sounds very interesting, I hope the return goes smoothly. My favorite fabric right now is any sort of low volume text or script print. I seem to be using it a lot lately and always looking to add to my collection;) See you next week.
ReplyDeleteHello, nice to meet you! Good luck with going back to work, aerospace engineer sounds like rocket scientist to me!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite new line is the new Kate Spain one, I got a glimpse of it on a blog the other day and I've completely forgotten what it's called! It'll be a while before it reaches the UK though so I've got plenty of time to find it again.
Nice to meet you and see some of your work , I commend you for finding time to quilt with your very busy life . My favorite fabric right now would be kona solids ! Thanks for the chance and best of luck in going back to work .
ReplyDeleteAm really enjoying this blog hop! It's a great way to learn a little more about our quilting "neighbours". Looking forward to seeing where your quilting journey takes you. I would have a head time pinning myself to one favourite fabric but when I close my eyes I see the Tidal Lace collection by Kim Andersson and wish I had designed it..lol
ReplyDeleteSo glad to have met you "the lady with the baby!"
ReplyDeleteWhile hiking last weekend we watched a yellow helicopter strangely similar to your photo doing exercises near Peggy's Cove...so cool to watch people going up the ropes from the sky to the rocky shores....
Being new (when I'm old-ish) at blogging, I'm always amazed at the awesome blogs by our Maritime Modern Quilt Guild...Thanks for sharing your story!!
ReplyDeleteI love the new Alison Glass - Ex Libris. Loving this blog tour - some amazing quilts on show x
ReplyDeleteAm enjoying Riley Blake right now which is also causing me to branch out to new colour combinations. Orange seems to becoming part of my stash.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving this blog hop. It's great getting to know the members of the guild a bit better! I also don't get much work produced, but the guild certainly has inspired me and made my "to make one day list" much bigger!
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying lines from Art Gallery these days. Morning Walk by Leah Duncan and Wanderer by April Rhodes are my 2 new favourites!
I just saw the new Anna Maria Horner too and would love to own some! I also like Message in a bottle by Cori Dantini... There's a lot of interesting new fabric.
ReplyDeleteCan you have a long distance member in your Guild because you sure are an interesting crowd!
I learned to sew on my mom's 301. Nice to meet you but please don't enter me in the draw--i already have that size of ruler.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to get to hear a little more about you, Tracy! Thanks for the peek into your quilting space, too. I also really enjoyed seeing your little man. Not unlike many of your fellow MMQG'ers, my fave line of fabric is - more KONA! Please don't enter me in the draw either. I have enough rulers already.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Tracy! It was nice hearing a little bit about you. I'm enjoying the hop, even though I'm a little late.
ReplyDeleteI love Riley Blake
ReplyDeleteHi Tracy! Just popping over from the blog hop. Did you know that you're a no reply blogger? There's a link on the bottom of my blog on how to fix it (and what the heck it is if you aren't sure). And yes, getting you to sing BNL was exactly my goal. :)
ReplyDeleteLove Anna Marie Horner - just bought three sets of her latest in fat quarters! Love her designs! also her new Loominous is beautiful and lovely textures!
ReplyDeleteMy current new favourite fabrics are some of the Cotton and Steel ones ... the newer black and white are catching my fancy in particular. And I'm attracted to Etno from Art Gallery Fabrics.
ReplyDeleteI don't really follow fabric lines, just whatever catches my eye when I'm at the store. I have a math degree, so I really like the Elementary line for Moda.
ReplyDeleteThe owl is so cute! I don't really have a favorite fabric line --- I'm trying to buy more neutrals but usually color wins.
ReplyDeleteYou are a busy girl. I will think of you the next time a helicopter flies over the house. They sure seem close some days. I love to embroider on my quilts, so the owl caught my eye.
ReplyDeleteI really love Succulents by Heather Givens
ReplyDeleteSince the craft is quite simple, it caught on and spread to other cultures rather quickly. By the middle of the 1500s, the first knitting groups had been established in France. garner
ReplyDelete