SSCS and Xmas

Hope every one had a great Christmas, mine was pretty quiet. Friends pop over for a quick visit Christmas eve, and it was just the three of us for the big day. A friend from out east order us a cater Christmas supper, so no work required on my part, and it was very good. I thought this was a thoughtful gift for our first Christmas as a family.

I was good, and didn't open my SSCS gift until yesterday. Lynda made me this wonderful bag.

I do have a bit of a thing for bags, so can never have enough bags, I love the colours used in this one. She also made me this sweet little wall hanging. I am planning on putting my mini up in my sewing room, so this will be a great addition. Thank you Lynda, I love both of these.

For the swap I had made a larger wall hanging for Robyn, I hope she likes it as much as I like my gifts.

This is such a fun swap, thanks for organizing it again Chookyblue, I look forward to joining in again next year.

The swap isn't the only place that I get quilting thing from, I think my family has worked out that if you don't know what to get me for Christmas then quilting stuff works, here are some of the other quilting items I received as gift this year.

That pretty much covers my Christmas,

Best wishes to you all in 2009.

Floss

Baby Arrived

Well I wasn't due until after Christmas, but my beautiful baby girl arrived last week, she was 5lbs15oz at birth . I am still trying to learn my new sleeping (or lack off) pattern, and I think I am slowing starting to get use to it. You may have noticed that I am a private person and do not normally post pictures of people on my blog, but thought I needed to make an exception.

It may just be that I am her mother, but I think she is adorable.

Floss

Fabric

This week was my birthday, and I received some fabric from DH. He gave me these 25 - 10in square of blue and brown to mix in with my Nearly Insane fabric. I have to admit the picture he order from show closer to the colours that I am using, but I think some of these will add some interest to the blocks, when I finally get going on them. I did add on of the blocks I started to remind you of the colours that I am using.

My guild also had a sew day and although I couldn't go, one of the girls had brought in her scraps to giveaway, even though I wasn't there they did think of me and I now have more strings to add to the collection I started. I also have most of a quilt done, I think I need 5 more blocks to finish it.

In the mail today I received my SSCS gift. I was surprised at how early it came, now I just have to not open it until Christmas. That's the hardest part of this exchange.

On a personal note, I am now at home on doctors orders, resting, and I must admit I am surprised at how little I can do in a day and still be tired. They are keeping a eye on me and the rest is doing me good. I really haven't been on my computer until today since I finished work, I may have to bring it upstairs, as I think its the coming downstairs that is stopping me.

Bye for now.
Floss

SSCS Sent & PIF Received

The mailman been busy around here, on Saturday I finally got my SSCS in the mail. WooHoo, I even had a couple of days to spare.

On Friday, I received a PIF gift from Jodie, I signed up for this a while ago, but it was worth the wait. I love the colours in this bag and sunglasses case, so summery. Quite the change from the winter colours I have been seeing lately. I also received a few pink flower fat quarter. This made my day. I just love it.

Snow

It Snowed over night, not a lot, but enough to leave a layer of snow on the ground and be leaving the roads sloppy today. Winter is on its way so it was bond to happen sooner of later. Here is a picture of a birdbath in my garden.

I have done a bit of sewing this last week, but it was all on my SSCS so no quilting photos to share. I should finish it this week, I just have a bit of finishing work and a label to make. I am hoping to complete it at our guild meeting tomorrow.

I keep getting tired, Had a doctors appointment Thursday and he is saying that I should not work in December, even thought my due date isn't until the 28th of December. I think it will do me good to get some rest. The house is starting to look like a small person will be coming to live here soon.

Hopefully I have some quilty stuff to show you soon.

HST & SSCS

Last weekend my guild had an in-town retreat. It was at one of the ladies home, her dinning/living room made a great work room. A lot of the girls when both days, but one of the good things about it being in-town was that if you couldn't go for the hole time, you could pop in. I was only able to go for a few hour Saturday afternoon and evening. In the afternoon I started work on my SSCS and after a wonderful supper I changed to working on the last set of HST, pinwheels for my floral quilt. It was nice to work on this as the last time I worked on it was at spring retreat. Of course I didn't get as many done as I would like, I must have been chatting too much :)

The biggest thing I notices is that even if I'm do not have the energy to work on quilting I need to make time to play with fabrics. At the retreat all I wanted to do was pat everyones fabric.

I did some more work today on my SSCS but of course I can not show you photos. I am feeling a lot better about getting it done by the deadline after today's effort. I finished the top today, so should have no issues. I am quite please with how it is turning out.

More Bunnies

The bunny blocks are slowly multiplying. Here is a couple more completed bunny blocks.

This is all I've done on a quilty front for the past couple of weeks. To tell the truth I did start a Nearly Insane block, but cut my finger on the rotary cutter, not badly but decided that I need to wait until I was more with it before doing more, so hopefully I get more stuff done soon, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

I'm Back

Its been a while since I posted, I came down with a nasty cold/flue thing. It whipped me out for a week, and the following week was spend trying to catch up on sleep as just going to work made me tired. I am feeling much better this week. I am off work this week, I had booked it off to try to start and get organized for when the baby comes. After being sick I thing the timing is perfect to have a more restful week.

Up to this point really had not done much towards when the baby comes. A friend had offered to paint the room for the nursery, I like the colour that is in that room so I asked her if she would mind painting a different room instead. She said yes. So had our fount room painted. Our house has a open concept main level with the kitchen open to the dining and living area, and one other room on that level. Up to now we had use that room as a office and it was painted a light beige. We have move the office stuff to a room in the basement, and will be using the front room as a second sitting room, or some where that baby stuff can go with out filling up the main living area. I was brave and when with a dramatic colour to give this room more life, and I must say my friend did a wonderful job painting it for me. I love the way it turned out. Most of the furniture for this room will be moved from else where in the house, so it still has a bit of work, but I love the colour.


I have done a bit of work on my bunny quilt, so I will have a few blocks to share in the next couple of days.

Bunny block and fabric.

I decided that I wanted to make a special quite for my baby. Once I found out that I was having a girl, I decided that the kit I picked up last year was just what I was thinking off. Now I have only previously done one small stitchery, so doing a whole quite on a time line may not be the best plan, but that's what I am going to try to do. Here is the first bunny block completed. I need to trace out some more as I have a few appointment this week and his is a great project to take with me.

I think I must be really crazy, as I just signed up one the Nearly Insane blog to make a block a week to make this quilt. So yesterday I stopped by my local quilt store and picked up the book and some blue and brown fabric, I am also going to use cream fabric. I often find this quilt a bit busy, so I think by controlling the fabric will help. I wasn't thinking of making it until I saw a two tone version completed.

And here is a sneak peak of the fabric for my secret Santa gift. Just a bit of a tease.

Have a great week.

Charm-pack quilt

Woo Hoo, another finish! This is a cot quilt that I made using the left over green and purple from a guild project, a long with a charm pack in the matching line. I am happy with how it turned out. We were having a sew day on Saturday, which I didn't quite make it too, but I did make sure I got some sewing done, so I didn't totally miss out. I just quilted this in the ditch which took no time really, and added the binding, which I sew down last night at our guild meeting.

For the back I did a big 4-patch out of the last of the green and purple fabric.

It feels good to actually be sewing again. I can sit as long as before, but it is nice to feel like I am making some progress.

Vacation Purchases

While I was on vacation, I did manage to stop at four quilt stores. The first on was in Pentiction and I picked up a couple of fat quarters and a kit for a small wall hanging, which is the fabric at the back of the photo. The two ladies working in the store were very funny, so a very enjoyable place to shop. The other store where stop as we were travelling, so I'm not sure where they are. One was very small but had lots of thing packed in, when I was there a group had stopped so it was hard to see every thing, but I did pick up a charm pack. At the next stop I didn't buy any thing. It was a nice store, it had lots of art quites that where great to look at, but didn't see any fabric that called to me to buy. At the last fabric store we stopped at was in Creston and I picked up the Bali Pop. This is just my colours,and DH kept telling me to buy it, so who am I to argue.

A finish

Its seem like a long time since I finished any sewing project, so I am happy to report a finish regardless of how small. This is another bucket bag, I started this at retreat back in the spring and thought that I would have it finished long before now. It is a gift for my mothers birthday. I need to get it in the mail, at least I can say it was finished it time, even if it will not arrive in time. I hope she like the colours, she hinted last year when she saw mine that I should make her one. This made deciding to make one easy.

More vacation

I thought I would share a few more of my vacation snaps, we spend a few days in Kelowna, before heading to Penticton. We both like Penticton better, as it was less built up. On the way we we when for a small hike in Peachland to this waterfall (I have a thing for waterfalls)

What I found really cool was watching the Salmon. They were running and we could watch them all trying to get upstream. It was quite fun to watch them struggle and get pushed back down stream.

We also took in the Kettle valley train outside of Summerland. This was fun, I like riding in old forms of transport, it sure was a gentler pace.

I will finish this post with a picture of the beach in Penticton, it was a lovely spot.

Now we are heading back to Calgary, but taking a different route and taking side trips along the way, I did find a couple of quilt stores to stop at, so will make sure to take photos of the purchases to share once we get home.

Vaction

We are a couple of days into vacation, we had planned on going to European but on doctor orders have changed plans to a more relax vacation. We have headed to B.C for a few days, we have kept the dives shorter and are taking a couple of days to travel what we would normally do in one. So far we have made it too Kelowna. We took the more scenic route off the main high way to get here.
This picture was taken at Nakusp where we had stopped for lunch yesterday. It was a lovely spot. Today we took a bout tour and just relaxed. So far its has been a nice get away.

On the baby front at the last ultrasound was told it would be a girl. I was sure it was a boy, show how much I know.

Present

Last night was a summer guide meeting, we keep these pretty simple, meeting a coffee shop to just chat and catch up. I was quite surprised to see that one of the girls had a small gift for me. Back at our spring retreat a lot of the girls when out Friday morning and I when out later that afternoon. One of the girl forgot her main project, so I picked it up on my way, as a Thank you she gave me this package of purple fabrics, knowing that its my favorite colour. I am these will get used.

I was so happy the other night to get some sewing done, but I was happy too quickly and when I thought something may be wrong I kept sewing, well it was all wrong, so now I am in the process of reverse sewing. So it may be a bit longer before I have quilting pictures to share.

Christmas swap

I can not believe how quickly chookyblue's Christmas swap filled up, but I am very happy that I managed to sign up in time. I even have a couple of ideas as to what I am going to make, will wait until I know who I am sending too before I make a final decisions.

I actually did a bit of quilting tonight, not enough to have any picture to share, I don't even have a kitty picture to share. Oh well one thing at a time.

Announcement

You may have notice over the last couple of months the number of post and the amount of quilting I have done has dropped off. There is a good reason, I am pregnant. Currently I am 19 weeks and have sent a lot of those weeks being tired and not feeling that well. This has been getting better over the past few weeks, they changed a medication that I was on and that made a big difference. Still more tired than normal, but much better. Who knows I may even feel like getting back to quilting soon.
Here is an ultrasound, back from week 12.

I didn't get any pictures at my 18 week ultrasound, but I have to go back this week as we couldn't get the measurements that where needed, as baby was curled up in a ball, so couldn't tell if it is a boy or girl either. Hopefully will find out this week.

Charm Quilt

I did work on my charm pack quilt. I think it's turning out. I tried to make the nine patches very scrappy. I am planning on adding a small green boarder, follow by a purple one. Will have to play a little to see how this will look. Its been nice after not sewing for a few weeks to work on something that go together so quickly. Although this is not what I was planning, I am happy with it so far. Hopefully I will find the time this week to finish this top.

Aaarg

Finally get it to my sewing room after week and cleaned of the cobwebs and start to cut a charmed square quilt. Sound fun, but I am cutting the first charm square and I must have cut it wrong, let me check, no these charm squares are not 5". Frustrating they are not even the same size as each other. aaarg! now what. I can no longer make what I had been planning to do, most patterns assume that the charms will be 5". Finally decided to do a scrappy nine patch, can see any thing else to do, other than put it aside in discuss. So frustrating.

Post are better with photos, so here one I took of my mother-in-laws cat when we were out a couple weeks ago.

S-I-L Wedding

Send the last week in Ontario, got back very late Wednesday night, or was it Thursday morning. Our flight was cancelled, so they bused us to a different airport to catch a later plane. I have had good luck with travelling so I guest I was due.

Had gone out for my sister-in-law's wedding. They really lucked out with the weather, as they had a garden wedding, and the Saturday was defiantly the best day weather wise. Here is a picture I took from my seat in the tent, while I was waiting for the ceremony to start. It was a lovely wedding, the ceremony was nice, the food was good, and couldn't be happier for the couple.

Being outside they allowed they dog to come, he was so well behaved and I think he enjoyed it as much as everyone else. Forgot to take a photo of him that day, he was all dressed up with a bow tie, so cute. I love his ears, one is always up and the other is always down.

I gave them the Bears paw quilt from the last post. I had spent a lot of time trying to pick out a quilt to make that was there taste, and am happy to say they loved it.

Since we been back, I have been trying to find my garden from under the weeds. Three weeks of rain follow by a week of sun has them growing like mad. I manage to tidy up the front yard, but still have a bit to do on the back.

A Finish (Bear Hug)

I got this back from the quilter a few moths ago,and it was time to put some binding on it and call it done. I am so happy with how it turned out. OK I still have to put the label on, but will be doing that tonight.

I was doing some of the hand sewing for the binding at guild and was surprised at how quickly it when. The bit that I did at home seemed to be a lot slower, I think it could be the extra help I get at home.

Sicamous Weekend

I did get some sewing done last week, just adding to the binding so I will so you picture once I am done the hand sewing. No sewing this weekend as we went to Sicamous for a golf torment. Not that I that much into golf, this was the first time I had played in 2 years. The most I ever play is about 3 times a year. This is really just an excuse to get away, there is a group of us that try to go most years, this year 18 of us from Calgary made it. We all stay at the same cabins, and go to dinner and have fire pit etc, so a really fun weekend.

For those of you who don't know Sicamous is in BC and has a lot house boating. Here is a picture looking out over the lake.

We saw so many animals on the drive, we saw 6 bears (this is the most I have ever seen in one trip), elk, big horn sheep, mountain goats. There was still a lot of snow and I think the animals had come down lower into the passes looking for food. We only stop once to look at the bears, not the best photo but her a mum and her cub.

Here is one of the photo from the golf course, this sign made me smile. How often do you see a duck crossing on a golf course.

Heritage Park Quilt Show

This weekend was the Heritage Park quilt show. This is one of my favorite shows, it is a quilt display open to all skill levels, I love seeing all the quilts, this year they was 700 quilts. I love that is not judge, as if it was I would not have the nerve to enter mine and its so nice to see them on display. Normally the quilts blanket the park, hanging from clothes lines, the hotels balcony, as well as tent and indoor displays, unfortunately this year it has been raining lots, so all the out door quilts had to be placed indoors. They do have alternate indoor display area, but it had been so wet that even the quilts in the tents had to be moved. This is the first time I have see that. It was still a wonderful day.

Here is my bargello quilt, I had been hoping to get my first full size photo of it, I guess I will have to be more creative with that.

Can you believe that this is a BOM from one of the local stores, I think this is just stunning.

I love the purple and greens in the circle quilts, I also am inspired about the use of a border fabric in the hanging blue quilt.

These quilts are from the kid section, I love the floral fabric in the nine patch and the frog quilt i so much fun.
This chicken quilts made me smile.
I like the feel of this quilts. I also put in my Australia log cabin. I need to learn how to do a photo montage to show you more photos, as I took lots.

On my last post I showed a kitty quilt that a few of you had asked about the pattern, the girl who made it drafted the pattern, so sorry I can not help you with where to get it.

Have a great week.

Sick and more Retreat

I was hit by the worse cold I had in years this week, it went from a sore throat on Tuesday to feeling like my lungs had been glued together on Wednesday, I spent the rest of the week sleeping and coughing, I thought I was going to go to work on Friday, but by the time I got up and got ready I needed a nap.

So needless to say no sewing, but here are some photo of what the other girls were working on a retreat last weekend.
I just love this kitty quilt, so fun and bright.
This is one of Moda tin box sampler series, I have the same one, so I will be interested to see different mine turns out.
My battery was getting low when I took this photo, the colours are much more stunning in real life. The girl who was making this top was gitty when she finished it. I think I would be too.This tulip table topper is based on the Christmas topper a lot of us made last December, I think this works great for spring /summer.


I am always inspired by the project others are working on, each retreat my to do list seems to get longer.

Retreat

The weekend retreat was very enjoyable, I didn't get away from work as early as I would have liked on Friday, but was there in time to set up before super. Here is a snap shot I took on the drive out to the mountains.

I didn't get as much done as I had planned, spent most of the time working on the pinwheels for my floral quilt. I hadn't read the entire pattern and didn't realize that they had me cut all the blocks for the 1/2 square triangles bigger than needed so they all needed to be trimmed. I felt like I trimmed blocks all day, but on the bright side my point are excellent.

You can also see in the back that I started another bucket bag. And of course we when shopping. I was planning on picking up about 2 meter of fabric. Some black and the blue in the top left of the photo. Then I saw some really nice light batiks. And in the front of the photo a fun kit.

I also made a cute thread catcher, we all made these I think they are so cute. I will share what some of the other girls were working on later in the week.