It's the Season

Lots of Christmas activities going on here. A couple of weeks ago my guild exchange our 12 day of Christmas gift. My secret Santa seems to know that I like purple.  I was good and didn't open my first gift till yesterday and it purple too. Will take a photo of all the present once they are open.

On Monday we had our guild Christmas party and it was a night full of laughter. We also do a Chinese present exchange, but we do the stealing while the presents are still wrapped. This has led to some very creative wrapping over the years. I got a book and some fabric that matches a charm pack that I already have.  These are fun exchanges, and we have to be creative as we keep the $ value low.

I put up my Christmas decoration. DH doesn't pay them much notice but  this year I found on he loves, he is a big Dr Who fan.

Here is a new one that my mum sent me, I think I'm going to have to try to work out how to make these.

Snowmen

These snowman went in the post today, hopefully they will make it in time for Christmas.

Two more to go, but I have till Christmas day to get those done, but hopefully I get to them before that.

My first Christmas party of the year this morning (kids party), followed by helping to decorate the church. I think I'll have to decorate at home tomorrow.

Still Here

Well my recovery was slow, but that is normal for me. I have been back at work for a couple of weeks, the first week was so hard.  Then Monday this week I finally felt better. Only to start fighting a cold on Tuesday. Arrg!

I only did a little sewing while I was off work, I had planned on doing lots more.  I made a little something for my secret Santa so will have to wait to share that with you. I also made these coater for a couple of my friends who helped out while I was out of it.  I still want to add a couple more items to these gifts. I just need the time and the energy to make them.

Health update

I also wanted to share a health update. You may have noticed that my blog updates are a bit sporadic. When I'm feeling good than come more often, when I'm not they can be weeks between. I am having surgery later this month (still a weeks away) and hopefully after the recovery I will feel better all the time. This surgery was planned a few moth ago but I wasn't sure I really needed it, but since then the number of bad days has increased so now I'm almost counting the days. Its nothing too major and I should be back at it in after only a couple of weeks.

Hopefully I manage to take a couple of photos of what I have been working on to share soon.

Floss

Going Backwards

Sometime you have to go backward to move forwards.  up to a couple of days ago these blocks where joined together as the top half of a "Hot Chocolate" BOM quilt. It had been in the same state for about 5 years.  About 2 years ago I realized that I was never going to finish this.  So it sat, unloved, there nothing wrong with it and if it was finished I'm sure someone would love it. A few weeks ago I gave myself permission not to finish it as a quilt and decided that I would take the 5 finished blocks and make them into wall hanging. I may even do the same with the 3 partially finished ones. Any one want to guess what the girls in my family are getting for Christmas.

I finished a couple more blocks for my herb pillow, I think this pattern has too many french notes, they really slow me down. LOL

My in-laws have been for a visit so last Friday my MIL asked to go to Sugar pine for a day trip, I was happy to drive her, but wasn't going to get anything, but this is my favorite purple and it has polka dots how could I resist and I looked at this cute little wall hanging many times. 

I really must get to doing more sewing if I'm going to keep shopping.

To see what other are working on visit Freshly Pieced

Herb Pillow

I wish after so many weeks of missing WIP Wednesday I had more to share, but over the summer I have not had much quilting time.  I have started stitching block for a herb pillow.  These are quite small, I think these will be cut to 3 1/2 inch blocks. There will be 9 herd blocks plus more stitching in the boarder.

To see what other are working on visit Freshly Pieced

And there was Shopping

As this trip was about a family vacation I wasn't planning on getting much quilting related shopping done. I was planning on 2 stores. Now things didn't go to plan and I didn't get to any store on the way to Seattle. DH may have felt a bit guilty and made sure I got to 4 quilt store.

 The first store I visited was in the Seattle area.  I didn't know much about this store except a friend had told me about how much LM would enjoy the shopping area it was in (see last post). 

It was Keepsake Cottage Fabrics.  I have to admit from the outside I wasn't sure that I was going to find anything, they had a lot of country fabric outside, but once I was inside this store there was lots to choose from. It was packed with different fabric selections. I picked up some fabric for my Farmers Wife and a pin cushion with tread garbage attached.  I had been planning on making one for at least the last two year. I thought this one was cute and the best part, no assembly required.

The next store was The Quilting Bee in Spokane. This was a large store with tons of fabric. It would be very easy to decide that you wanted to do a new project and buy all that you needed while at this store. I was good and stuck to my list of fabrics I needed for current projects. I picked up more of the pink I'll be using as first boarder and binding in LM quilt. As well as a possible main boarder fabric.  OK the magazine containing the kit for coaster was not on my list, but everyone needs something to read when you're on holidays.

The third store was in Bear Paw Quiting in Coeur d'Alene. I picked up a lot of notions at this store. I think I could of picked up more if my little helper was not being so helpful.

A while ago I picked up "Salt Air" charm pack and instead of making a small wall hanging or pillow I decided to make a lap quilt, so I found a background at a LQS but wanted more fabric from the "Salt Air" line for the boarder and binding. I thing the flowers will be the border and the strips will make fun binding. The best part about this store is I found the last of the items on my list.

So I could look just for fun when we stopped in Bonners Ferry at Alley Fabric Nook.  This seemed a little strange after making myself be faithful to the list. I did pick up another candidate for the boarder on LM quilt.  I am planning on piecing the back so the one not used as the boarder will end up in the back. 

I was still good a pick up a charm pack, with a couple of fat quarter so I can make something out of it.  I not big into the traditional Christmas fabrics, but like this line. I think it more transitional, as it not really modern or traditional. Not sure which Christmas I'll use it by as I have to come up with the right project first.

All in all I was happy with these stores and would happily go back to any of them. I was very pleased that I could find the items on my list, so now I won't have to wait to find fabric for some of these projects.  I am also happy with myself as I could easily have picked up fabric for lots of new projects.

Seattle

This was my first time visiting Seattle and it is a nice city.  I loved how green everything is.  We picked up a city pass and enjoyed doing tourist things. Like the space needle.

Spend lots of time at the science center.  DH like seeing king tut, LM like anything that was interactive. I like the butterflies.

We took a harbour tour and here is a sea lion resting.

I think my favorite day was a shopping day. We went looking for a quilt store that was at this fun shopping area.  LM loved the ducks and chickens that were there and we had trouble getting to to eat her lunch as she wanted to feed it to the ducks.  She also loved the train that went around the parking lot and the play area.

I still need to take photos (unpack) my shopping but will share soon.

Road to the Sun

 We are back from our trip. We went to Seattle but took the indirect scenic route, which meant a lot of driving.  Here is the border crossing into the USA. This is the cut line that is cleared along the boarder.

On the way down we took a detour to the "Road to the Sun" in Montana. Here is a lake near the start of this scenic road.

The road hand to the edge of a cliff most of the way though the pass. The line you see on the side of the mountain in the picture below is the road.

There are tour in red old fashion buses you can take if you don't want to drive. Here we are stopped at one of the pull off to take a couple of photos. 

 There is always a little bit of snow in the pass. You can see it in the photo below. Most of the snow near the road has melted this late in the summer, but we still found some we could reach.

This really isn't that far from where we live, not sure why we hadn't been before, but think we will go down and drive it again when we are not on our way somewhere. This was a long detour.

On the road

We are off on a road trip today. We are driving to Seattle, but taking an indirect route.  We left a lot later than we had planned, but we were only planning on going to Waterton today.  It may be a bad sign, that when we told a local our plans for tomorrow they groaned, so it may be a long day.

 Here is a photo taken from the entrance into the park.

 We also had to stop here so LM could go and see if there was a princess inside.  She got a little upset that we wouldn't let her climb the tower to check up there.

This is the quilt on the bed at the B&B we are staying at tonight.  So I didn't even plan anything quilty and I still found something. 

Middle of August

Well, I'm not sure how it got part way though August without me realizing it. I was sick for a few days but that doesn't explain how the rest of the time flew by.  I still haven't done much sewing, I've been too busy spending time outside.

My guild had a sew day on Saturday and I was able to go for a couple of hours. The rest of the day was full, as a group of my friends were taking our kids to the circuits in the afternoon. It was a bit odd going to a sew day and only taking one project. I took the background for LM quilt. I sew the first two columns together and started work on pairing up some more blocks. I am liking how this is turning out. I know it;s black but its not this dark, just bad lighting for the photo.

Not sure how much sewing I'm going to get to in the next while as on Friday we heading out for a week vacation. This will be our first road trip with LM. After how well she did flying I think she will do well.  We are going down into the states and I'm hoping to get some great photos to share.

WIP and Shopping

I realized today that I finished 4 quilts in June and with a week left in July I have finished nothing, and it doesn't look like I have anything that is close to getting done. I may have to look around the sewing room and see if there is something I can finish off in the next week.

I didn't get much sewing done this last week but I did manage to do some shopping, LOL. It's my friend fault.  We decided to get together last Friday and normally when we get together we do a little sewing, but she suggested lunch at a place next to one of the LQS.  I though she may need to pick something up, so I agreed. Well she didn't get anything, but the same cannot be be said for me. I picked up this grey fabric (back of photo) for the background for a little quilt using Salt Air charm pack. Which I'm being good and not starting until something else is finished. I also picked up this button of the month and finishing kit. To be true I picked up the first 5 months as there nothing like joining a monthly club half way throw.  I said I had been looking for a hand project, now I just need to find the safe place where I put all my floss.

On the sewing front, here is one more block for Farmers Wife.

Stats this Week

New Project - 0 (doesn't count until I start it)

Project in progress - 7

Finished - 0

Linking up with WIP at Freshly Pieced

Heriatage Park

Well, I finally went to Heritage Park with my family instead of for a quilt show.  I made a point of looking at areas of the part I normally don't go to.  But I still found a couple of quilts. LOL.

This first one was at a little house which was basically a kit house this one had lots of  old fashion toys to play with.  Friend where spending the day with us so we had to stop a while and let the kids play with the toys. Inside in the only bedroom, on the bed was a quilt.

We also had to go to the farmhouse to look at the farm animals and as this is the kind of house I would love to live in (I'm a country girl at heart) we had a quick look inside and this quilt was ready to work on.

After looking around and a picnic lunch we enjoyed a wagon ride before taking the kids to the amusement park.  The first ride was the kid ferries wheel and after that they all wanted to go on the big one, this suited me just fine as it's my favourite ride at the park.  The first time at the top LM was a bit scared but by the end of the ride she didn't want to get off. She seemed to enjoy all the old time rides.

We ended the day at the park by taking a ride on the paddle boat. Here is the  view looking down to where we would get on the boat and then one from the boat looking back at the park.

The kid slept in the cars on the way home. Great day with friend.

Lazy Days of Summer

I'm not sure why they are called these the lazy days, it must be for people who are on vacation, as I seem busier than every but don't seem to be getting anything done.

I was another nice weekend, I took Friday off work and meet friends at the local splash pool. We arrived at 9:30 and for about the first hour had the place to our self, by the time it was getting busy the kids had played themselves out and we were ready to leave. Sent the rest of the day relaxing at friend house and when our husband where done work they joined us  for a BBQ supper.

On Saturday was one of LM friend's had a birthday party and Sunday was the Stampede lunch at church, so as you can see I was busy, just not getting anything done.

The only sewing I did this week was cutting out the background squares for LM quite. As I was cutting these square I was starting to rethink this quilt for a LM. Am I crazy making suck a dark background quilt for her? She currently 3 1/2. I will be appliqueing big flowers on top, see the pink block from last post, so it should brightening it up. It just seem odd when working with these dark fabrics that they are for a little girls quilt.

This week I am hoping to get some hand work set up as this I can do when I'm out and about and I am missing having something just ready to grab and go.

Stats for the week.

Completed projects - 0
New projects - 0
In progress - 7

To see what other are working on check out WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

WIP Wednesday

It been quite hot here this last week, so have to admit that I been taking it easy and not much sewing has happen.

 I done some more work on LM quilt. Here LM was helping me put the pink blocks on the design wall. She had a great time putting these up. I think you can tell which are mine and which she did.

I finished them later without so much help and realised that I had gotten a little carried away I need 1 12x12 and 2 4x4 but for some reason I have 3 extra 4x4. I picked the two I liked the beast and the other will make there way into the back. 

I started cutting the black and white square and worked out that I have just enough fabric so will have to be careful cutting. As you can see this is a little scrappy looking so I could always add another fabric if I really mess up, but let not go there.

Stats for the week.

Completed projects - 0
New projects - 0
In progress - 7

To see what other are working on check out WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Stampede Parada

It's Calgary stampede this week, and last Friday, we got up early to go the the parade.  A couple of us took the train down together and even though it was 7 we were surprised to see how many people were already there. The parade starts at 9. Luckily for us one of our group had gone down and saved our spots, they got there at 5 (yuck). Bless them.

Here are the girls dancing in the street while we wait for the parade to start. They did this for most of the parade, every time a marching band when pass they were dancing, then they would sit for the horses and have a quick snack.

Of course in the parade there where marching band, and floats, and being for the stampede lots of horses, but only one cow (or bull) My favourite of the hores are the clydesdales, while LM like the sheplin ponies and she thought they were just her size

Her favorite part of the parade was the tanks, this one did a spin right in front of us, the top stayed still and the bottom spun. She screamed with delight while one of her friends was scared. When it took off it blew smoke and she though this was so funny.

After the parade we had lunch before taking the train home and letting the girls have a little longer play date. I think I may only do this every few years as it's a long day.

Canada Day and new project.

 Last Sunday was Canada Day and we spend the day with friends at a Down-town park. As we all have little one most of the day was spent near play areas. Met for a picnic lunch next to the playground before we had a look around at the festival and heading to the water - splash park.  Here is a photo of LM and a couple of her friends looking at the very high river. They were good and stayed on the path.  The original plan was to go out for supper, but we decided that with 6 adult and 8 tired children this may not be the best plan, so instead we went back to friend's house and order in. A very nice, but long day. LM was still tired on Monday, she asked to leave the table at dinner so she could go to bed.

Wishing my neighbours to the south a Happy 4th of July.

As I had finished a few project these last couple of weeks I decided it was a good time to reward myself and start a new one.  This is a kit that I purchased about a year ago. It was only lap size. I have added more fabric and am going to make a twin size quilt for LM bed.  I think I still need more fabric for the boarder and binding. I not sure if I have enough white and I need some rick-rack, but I decided the best way to work out what I needed was just to start. Once I get all the small pink square done, I will start on the large black & white ones.

I also made a couple of Farmer's Wife block. This is not the best photo, it's a bit bright with the flash, but without they looked very dark.

Stats for the week.

Completed projects - 0

New projects - 1

In progress - 7 (I think, I have lost track and I need to have a good look and work out whats in progress and whats an UFO)

To see what other are working on check out WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Stitchery finish

Can you beleive in, three weeks in a row I have something finished. OK this week is only small, but it is still a finish.

This is the stitchery kit I picked up last year when I was visiting my mum. I used a varigated threat and love the way it turned out.

I think I'll need to iron it before I hang it on the wall.

And here is why I normally don't put things on the floor to take their picture. I only just put it down and Fritz was sitting on it, with Taz line up to sit on it next.

Stats for the week.

Completed projects - 1

New projects - 0

In progress - 7

Growth Chart

LM is now three and a half and I finally finished her growth chart. I will have to look up how tall she was at one and two and add them along with how tall she is now.

This was a panel that I just added borders to the sides. I kept the quilting quite simple as I think this will make it easier to write on. I will find out if this is the case when I start adding her information. I just stitched the outside of the blocks and out lined the vine and the little girls.

This is about all the sewing I got done this week, but my front garden is now fully weeded. On the next nice day I will add the mulch and it will be done.

Stats for the week.

Completed projects - 1
New projects - 0
In progress - 8

Spring and Baby quilts

Were has the time gone.  It has started to warm up here, so I have been desperately trying to win the war with the weed in my garden.  I think I may take the battle in the front yard but they have me on the run in the back.  It doesn't help that it's been nice the last couple of week then rain on the weekend when I have the most time to get out in the yard.

I have managed a little sewing. I finished the two baby rag quilts and will be giving them both away this Sunday.  I love how soft and cuddly these feel now that they have been washed.

I also finished quilting LM growth chart and am working on hand sticking the binding. I also started quilting my jar table runner.  Will take photo next week (I promise)

Floss

Last post about Heritage Park Quilt Show

I thought I would finish out the week with my last post on the Heritage Park Quilt Show.  The first few pictures are from around the park, once again this is such a nice setting. I am planning on going back with the family this year.

Now for a few quilts. I really liked the 3D flowers on this table runner, I think it added a fun element.

And a few more that I liked.

 Just when I thought I was saturated with quilt viewing and couldn't look at another quilt these caught my eye, I was leaving the park at the time heading for a coffee shop until it was time to come back for the dinner.

 Here is a close up of the middle quilt.

Hope you enjoyed seeing  a few quilts from the Show.