Floss Quilts

WIP Wednesday - Focus projects

2012-02-08T10:32:00.002-07:00

Since my last WIP Wednesday I have completed piecing the blogs for my jungle quilt. This was the main focus as I wanted to free up the design wall. I have now remove it from the design wall and I have to admit that this is were a lot of my quilts become UFO, waiting for me to add the boarders. For this one I'm am just planning simple black borders to frame the blocks, lets hope it doesn't have to wait too long.

I put the red and white blocks up on the design wall and to my surprise I had miscounted ( a few times) and actually had 32 blocks instead of the 30 I needed. I thought about making 3 more to make it longer but decided I liked the size that it was so will use the extra blocks on the back. Then the sewing stopped. It took a couple of days to work out why. I am not the biggest red fan and I needed a break from red. The quilt is still on my design wall and I distracted myself with a couple of smaller projects.

This is one of the things that made me decide that I need a group of focus projects. This is a few projects that I can work on so I don't get stuck, and stop sewing, but still not loss the project in the pile of UFOs. I decided on having 9 and trust me there are more ready to be added when some of these get finished.

So here the 9 are including any progress since the last WIP Wednesday post 2 weeks ago

1. Red and While - on design wall

2. Jungle - blocks and sashing sew together

3.Doll quilt - started.

4. Bear stitchery - border added

5. Mouse stitchery- border added

6. Tall stitchery - still stitching

7. Guild BOM - no progress (waiting for borders)

8. Growth chart - no progress (need to finish quilting)

9. Jar table runner - no progress (ready for quilting)

Stats
Completed projects - 0
New projects - 1
In progress - 9

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

Stitchery and Doll Quilt

2012-02-05T21:05:00.003-07:00

Were did the week go, more to the point where did January go? I found the last couple of weeks to be quite busy, I seem to book all our physicals and Dentist appointment in January so it make it a little more hectic than normal.

I haven't done much sewing, still working on my home sweet home stitchery, but I did manage to do a little sewing this weekend. I made a quick doll quilt top, and added borders to two stitchery from when I was on vacation. I stitched the bear while my mum did the Christmas mouse for me, I didn't think I could get his face just right. I also pieced the batting from my small scraps so should hopefully finish these up quickly.

WIP Wednesday 2

2012-01-25T12:22:00.009-07:00

This week I finished my bonus doll quilt and worked on my jungle quilt.

On the jungle quilt I completed all the vertical sashing and have started on the horizontal. I love the change in appearance of this quilt as the sashing is added. I'm thinking of doing a plane black boarder and have started to think about the quilting. I'm normally a just do enough quilting to hold it together kinda girl, but I think this will need more, but I have no ideas at this point as to what. I would welcome any suggestions.

I have also been working on a stitchery project, which I'm about half way thought the stitching. I'm not the fastest at this and often do a bit to keep my hand busy when I'm watching TV.

Projects-
Red and white - no progress
Jungle - sashing
Doll Quilt - finish
Tall stitchery - in progress

Stats
completed projects - 1
New projects - 0
In progress - 3 (will add more when I mention them on here, but currently no progress on anything else)

To see what other are working on check out WIP Wednesday

Dolls quilt and Bookmark

2012-01-24T19:19:00.004-07:00

My first two finishes for 2012, they are both small, but a finish is a finish.

The first is the bonus doll quilt made out of the extra triangles from my Red and White quilt. My friend daughter will be 3 next month so I will be adding this to her birthday present. I am very happy with how it turned out. I love how fun the polka dots boarder is, but I love polka dots, so not surprise there.

Next finish is this bookmark. I did the stichery awhile ago (about 6 months ago) and then its just been sitting there waiting for me to applique it to the felt backing. I'm not sure what took me so long.

This was from a kit that my friend brought and after making one she passed it onto me, and there was enough floss to make this one, and I think there may be enough floss for another one too. Will see if anyone at guild would like to make one or I may make another to use as a gift.

Floss

WIP Wednesday 1

2012-01-18T22:20:00.007-07:00

Since 2011 was a slow quilting year for me and so far 2012 is off to a good start, I wanted to do what I can to keep it going. I have been lurking watching other WIP Wednesday, so to help keep me on track I have decided to join in.

I finished the last of my blocks for my red and white quilt. This is a guild challenge that need to be completed by the end of May and I have to admit that I'm making better progress than I expected. I am also enjoying working with the red and white more than I expected. This is my third quilt that is mainly red and white (one also had black) and I think as I was a little lax in what I consider red and white I'm enjoying the greater variety in the fabrics, and much to my surprise I'm liking the more country reds As I when along I got better at making the required numbers of half square triangles, but still got enough extra to make this bonus project, I will add a border with the pock-a dot fabric for a doll quilt. As I'll need room on the design wall I have also started adding the sashing to my jungle quilt. Note to self: When putting things up on the design wall try staring in a corner and not in the middle and you may be able to have more that one project up at a time.

To see what other are working on visit WIP Wednesdays here.

Floss

12 Days of Christmas

2012-01-14T20:55:00.009-07:00

My guild does a 12 days of Christmas. We pull a name and then we provide 12 little gifts for them to open in December. With the last gift you give away who you are so they knew who to thank for they lovely little gifts. We do a total dollar amount for all the gifts, so you can spread it out evenly or build up to a big gift. You may be asking why am I posting about this in January, well I had wrapped my gifts when I realised that I hadn't taken any photo of the ones I made, so I had to wait until we had show and tell of our gift to grab a photo.

I sew the Tree while on vacation, madly cutting the fabric the night before we left. I think I may have to make myself on, and my mother also put a request in from one too. The needle case was made from a few charm squares.

Red, White and old WIP

2012-01-08T17:00:00.008-07:00

Here is the second batch of block for the red and white quilt. I decided that I needed more true whites than the first batch. I think one more batch and I will have enough for the top. I want to keep working on this as it has a deadline.

I know I will also have to do the sashing on the jungle quilt prior to laying this one out as there not enough room for both on the design wall.

These are my current focus projects, and I also have two small stichery that I want to add borders to, making them into wall hangings. I think these will make a nice change when I want a quick finish.

While cleaning up the sewing room, another task now that I have storage, I came across the focus WIP I had been working on prior to the flood. Hopefully you see more of these very soon.

Top left - New Christmas place met -I guess there is not rush for that at the moment.
Top right - Growth chart - this is half quilted and shouldn't take very long to finish
Bottom Left - Guild BOM - The top just needs it blue boarder, if I can just find the extra fabric I put aside for it.
Bottom Right - Jar table runner - The top is base to the batting, not sure why the backing it not based too. Still need to decide how I'm going to quilt it.

I'm not just putting stuff away but sorting ever thing so it taking longer. I do like workable space once more.

Good start to the New Year

2012-01-02T21:39:00.003-07:00

I'm starting the new year with new storage. I think this may be less storage than what I had before, I will find out when I try to put all the supplies in it, but it open up with other wall.

Finally a space in my sewing room to hang a design wall. DH wasn't keen on the idea of the anywhere else in the house. Of course I had to test out the wall. Some may have opted to put away the stuff that has been hanging around it bags on the floor while I didn't have the storage cupboard but where is the fun in that. These are the blocks I made out of the fabric from the jungle fever kit. The sashing will be black and the same size as the lines in the block. I saw this on someones blog, sadly I can not remember where so cannot give credit for the idea.

I think a good start to the new year.

Red and White

2011-12-18T21:03:00.004-07:00

My guild is doing a red and white challenge, lucky for me we are not very tight on the rules for challenges so these all count as red and white. At the moment I'm thinking a crib quilt, but I still have time to change my mind.

Back from vacation.

2011-11-29T17:51:00.007-07:00

I am back from a wonderful vacation, visit with my family. I had wanted to share some photo as we went but things didn't work out quite that way. The first week of vacation was spent at my mum’s. A few day trips but mostly catching up.
Then heading to the city (Adelaide) to catch up with some old school mates, a couple I hadn’t seen since we were about 12, but still knew who there were when we met up. We also took in Cleland. Here little miss off to met the Kangaroos, She found the potaroo to be more her size. The off to the beach for a few relaxing days. The back to mum’s for more visiting and day trips.
The last week we were tourist in Melbourne. We took a great tour to Phillips island to see the penguins, and a few other things. Couldn’t believe our luck as there was a baby fairy penguin by the side of the road that had come out to see if its parents were coming home.
We had such a good trip. LM travels like a dream. Still working on getting back into the swing of thing

Casserole carrier

2011-10-15T20:02:00.004-06:00

Yeah, I got the casserole carrier I planned on making for my mum done, before we leave to visit her. I wanted to use a Canadian fabric, and when I saw the bear fabric I remember how exited she was to see a bear when she was here.

The pictures aren't the best. This was the first project I worked on since the room was put back together and I was surprised at how many things I had to go looking for after I though what I needed was put away.

Don't think there will be much in the way of quilting but an hoping to be able to share a few holiday pictures as we go.

Floss

Still here

2011-10-07T10:43:00.005-06:00

Well it has been a few weeks since I posted. These have been a busy couple of weeks. My in-laws came to visit for just over a week and we spent a lot of time trying to enjoy the last of the summer weather. Little Miss really enjoyed having them around.

We did an afternoon checking out a couple of quilt shops. I live in the north of the city and when they are here we typically go to Canmore quilt store. For something different we head south. The quilt store in High River "Chinook Fabric" is very small and this was my third visit to it. As small as this store is I always come out with something. Then we went to "Rumpled Quilt Skins" in Okotoks. This is a nice store, It was larger and had a lot more fabric, but nothing called to us there. The only thing I picked up was some 1/2 square triangle paper. After than we went to a great little cafe for a very late lunch, before heading home. This was a very relaxing day.

My basement is finally back together, yay. We did the painting ourselves, so that was a bit of a mad dash between when the drywalls were done and before the carpet went down. Then last weekend started moving every thing back into the room. I still haven't replaced the storage cupboard so there is still a fair bit of homeless stuff. I did try to sew a project but was getting frustrated with trying to find stuff, as its a gift and I want to have it done before we go on vacation will try to get it finished this weekend.

And now I'm trying to get organized to go on vacation. We will be away for just under 5 weeks, visiting family as well as tourist stuff. LM is looking forward to going on the plane. She has been on them before, but think this is the first time she old enough to understand. She also wants to see Kangaroos and Kolas, luckily we are planning on going to a wildlife park while there so she will get to see them. I always get a little stress when gather up stuff before going on a long trip, so hoping to get that done this weekend too. If I leave it till the following weekend I would be a basket case.

Footprints

2011-09-07T21:15:00.005-06:00

Haven't done any sewing the last couple off weeks, August just got very busy with BBQ and summer time stuff, so haven't been home much.

Here are some of the cat foot prints in the floor of the sewing / storage room, last week the drywall when up so hopefully we get the walls painted soon. was planning on doing it over the weekend but after being out Friday and Saturday didn't feel like doing it Sunday. (I knew we should have done it but that's how things go sometimes)

I was hoping the carpet layers would be in this week but haven't seen them. As soon as that's done I should be make a sewing space. The storage room is done so most of my sewing stuff has been gather and is packed in there as we have house guest coming for a week and needed to clear some space for them. Not sure when but hoping to get some sewing done soon.

Floss

In City Retreat

2011-08-19T21:59:00.004-06:00

Last weekend my guild had a in city retreat and I was able to make it for some of Saturday afternoon and evening.

I started work on my Jelly roll quilt as I needed to lay it out and here there was lot of space. I sew all the row together and half of the center of the tops. Then I felt the need to move onto something else.
I pulled out my nearly insane and played with the fabric, I need to do more planning on this before I'm ready to work on it at retreat. So I started sewing the jungle fever kit with a smoky black I found in the one bin I can get to from my stash. I think this will look great. Sorry no photo as my battery on my camera had dies by this point in the day.

Not sure if I will get to pull out any sewing this weekend, hair cuts in the morning then of to a 1st birthday party. But I'm very exited as they are meant to be coming to fit my sewing room this week. yeah. :-)

Floss

Change of plans

2011-08-12T22:33:00.002-06:00

A few years ago during retreat I picked up a jungle fever kit at one of the near by stores, I just loved the fabrics. Since then I have see a few of the kits made up and I did not love the quilt. So my kit sat and sat.

Last week I was looking at blog and saw a pattern I would like to make, my jungle fever fabric would be perfect - the kit is no more. I took the fabrics and cut them up into rectangles and squares, now I just need to find a nurture to go with them.

Progress

2011-08-07T16:54:00.004-06:00

I had managed a little sewing over the last couple of weeks. My guild had a sew day on the Monday of the long weekend and I was able to go for a couple of hours, during which I got the last eight blocks done for the jelly roll quilt. Then on Friday night I went over to a friend for a quilting evening and finished the setting triangles. After which I just visited and played with fabric.

Sorry no photos, the guild is having another sew day next weekend so hoping to get it laid out and photo then. But can't have a post without photo, so here is Max cuddling with LM's Elmo.

Finally some sewing

2011-07-29T21:46:00.003-06:00

My sewing stuff is still spread all over the place but I really had the need to do some sewing. So I found this jelly roll project I had started at retreat, and my feather weigh and clear a spot of the table. I'm not sure where the iron is so had to make do with finger pressing, but I think the blocks turned out great. When I get the chance I will get them pressed.

Hopefully there will be more sewing very soon.

Floss

Country Quilt Show

2011-07-23T23:34:00.009-06:00

Last weekend was Lorraine Stangness Quilt show. I always enjoy this biannual quilt show, I think a large part of that it the country setting. It was a beautiful Saturday sh myself and LM headed out for the mo ring. It was busy that when I've been other years but I have typically gone in the afternoon. A lot of the quilts are Lorraine's, her students or a local guild.

For the first quilt I love the scrappy fabric choices.

Most of the quilts I'm sharing today are from the guild display. I'm not sure other than how bring it is why I liked this next quilt, I just know I did.

I love this forest quilt, make my think I should learn to do picture quilts. I just love it. The block on this next quilt were quite small. I like how the use of only two fabrics make the blocks stand out. This nest quilt is just a fun quilt. I'm always brawn to fun, simple patterns dine in cheery fabrics.

These next group of quilts were a challenge, I believe for a retreat. I'm not sure if you can see but each of these has a bit of cereal box pinned to it. Before the retreat they picked or pull a cereal box that had to be the inspiration, or colour choice for the quilt they were going to make. The quilt for this range in size from table runner to large lap quilts. I thought this was such a neat idea and I love how these quilt turned out, some of the ladies must have great imaginations.

Canada Day & Drumheller

2011-07-10T20:45:00.009-06:00

Last weekend was Canada day and we enjoyed the day at the island park down town where we meet up with friends. Having little ones we spent most of the day at the playground before moving to the paddle pool. Little Miss loved running around in the park and playing with her friends. A fun day, every one was tired by the end so we all want out to dinner. Have to admit I enjoyed being out with other little ones, LM was so tired she spelt thought a lot of dinner but woke up in time to eat my ice cream, lol.

For the rest of the weekend we did an overnight trip to Drumheller. I never knew my little girl would be do into dinosaurs. The dinosaur T-shirt I picked up for her she has been wearing every second day, hopefully this doesn't last much longer. We been for so many day trips over the years to Drumheller I didn't take as many photo as I should. The photo above was taken on a side road near Rosebud. A very pretty spot.

It had been a few years since I had been out to the Hoo Doos. They had fence off the main Hoo Doos but added stair up to the rocks behind them.
I enjoyed looking at them, but really enjoyed getting up behind them. LM was off to explore, no need to wait for mummy. I was very glad that DH was quicker on his feet than me. She can be very independent, and quite the mountain goat. Once again she had more fun here that I was expecting her to.

We also looked a various dinosaur around town, including the big dinosaur, when swimming, visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the little Church. All in all a very nice family weekend.

Quick Bag

2011-06-19T21:19:00.004-06:00

With the flooding in my sewing room we needed to totally disassemble the sewing room so work could be done on installing a sump pump. We were taking the sewing room apart on Saturday, so it may not have been the best plan to decide to make a bag on Friday.

LM and I were invited to a friend's daughter birthday party and I had decided to give her books as she has tons of toys and clothes.

On Friday I decided the books would be nicer if they were in a book bag. I knew her favorite color was purple as it mine so with out much time I started by looking in m stash for purple fabric, none of it seemed right, or the bits that did were not big enough for a book bag. So I started looking around for other fabric when I came across the green butterfly fabric. Now to come up with a pattern. It had to be large enough to hold the large book. I decided I wasn't going to line it but wanted that lined feel at the top so I knew it would have a band around the top. After that I just started cutting, the purple fabric was a fat quarter so that determined a lot of my choices. The bag came together nicely and luckily quickly.

Now the toys when over better at the party but I'm still happy with my choice to give books and a bag

The sump pump was put in this week. Now it's a case of putting the room back together, from redoing some drywall, painting and relaying the carpet. I am thinking of having some one in to help do this otherwise it may be a long time before I can get back to sewing.

Quilts from Guild members at HP

2011-06-09T19:36:00.008-06:00

Here is my purple square quilt on display at the show.For a guild group display we enter our Winding ways quilts. I love seeing the same quilt made with different fabric. I found this extra fun as the patter and leave are all free form.Here are some of the quilts other guild members entered. This on was made by Janet and you can read her blog about it here. The lady who made this next quilt is making a group of small quilts to hang on a "washing" line around her sewing room.

I love this next sunflower paper piece quilt.

This next quilt was a pattern share with the group a couple of years ago and these quilts keep showing up, and the fabric choice really makes the difference.

Floss

The Park

2011-06-05T13:52:00.014-06:00

I though I would share a couple of photo from around Heritage park. The week before the show it had rained every day here but the forecast was for sun over the weekend. My friend and I normally go on Saturday, but based on this we decided to go on Sunday to increase the change of the park being dry. It was a good decision. Fewer people go on Sunday and we could have asked for a nicer day, so as well as taking pictures of the quilts I found my self taking photo around the park
The first house we came to is Princess House, this is a beautiful house which always have quilts inside and out. This year no quilts were upstairs in any of the houses, which was nice as it can be tricking with lots of people trying to get up and down narrow stairs.I had to take a picture of the horse and I though LM would love them.
This is the view as we walked to wards the farmhouse, this is one of my favorite areas of the park, there are always animals in the small fields around it.

These ducks made us laugh as they were busy cleaning themselves.

Quilts hanging on a fence
The hotel covered in quilts. As you can see in all these photos the sun is shining and it is a wonderful place to send an day.

Tulips in the Garden Quilt

2011-05-30T21:08:00.006-06:00

This weekend was the local quilt show at the historical village, this is an open non judge quilt show. This year I had enter three quilt, one of which wasn't finished. Nothing like a dead line to get things done.

I will share more about the show in later post, but I wanted to share today was the completion of my tulip quilt. I think I started this in 2007. I think it aged well.

The center was a kit and I added the boarders. I think the purple looks like pathways in a garden. Of course it is cat tested and approved.

Zoo

2011-05-19T23:13:00.003-06:00

I always find May to be a busy month, with more things to do that there is time. I think it's because it's the first month we get any real sunny weather here and I just want to get outside and enjoy.

Last weekend my guild had a sew day, but I had to miss it as it was also my churches kids group day at the zoo. This was a really fun outing, there are a few kids in the group that are within 6 month of LM ages. So a bunch of 2 year-olds at the zoo, so much fun. then there are a few older kids too. I think the kids had as much fun rolling down the hill after lunch as they did checking out the animals, but it was so much fun as this was the first time I had LM at the zoo where she was very interested in the animals. I think we are going to have to get a season pass. LM cuddle toy is a giraffe so we made sure to visit them.

On Sunday I had some time in my sewing room, its not put back together yet but its back to where I can sew in it so hopefully I will get the quilt that I enter in the show at the end of this month completed.

Retreat

2011-05-04T21:05:00.006-06:00

When on retreat last weekend, this is the same retreat I went on last fall. Found packing hard as my sewing room isn't put back together yet, so it was a case of grabbing what was on the top of the pile.

I didn't seem to take very many photos this time. I do like seeing the different things people are working on, at this retreat it looked like a lot of us were making mesh bags. I made these three. The middle one I am keeping and the other two are Christmas presents, so I'm ahead on my Christmas shopping. LOL.
We mad a small take away, aren't these cupcake pin cushions fun. Mine is the tan bottom with the blue top that still needs stuffing.

After finishing my bags I started working on the only jelly roll project I have brought. This is so outside what I normally work on. I really enjoy picking my fabrics, so this feels like I missed that step. I also normally prefer the look of a bit more scrappy quilt. That said I am very happy with how this is turning out so far.This is from Moda and I can remember the name of the line I think it was something Victorian but am not sure. Now that it has started, and am liking it, I'm sure that I will finish it.

Hopefully I get the sewing room somewhat organized this week and will have more to share next week
Floss

No Sewing

2011-04-25T19:49:00.006-06:00

A couple of weeks ago LM had the stomach flu and she was nice enough to share with us. So it had been a few weeks since I had been in my sewing room, so I was happily going down to there on Friday morning, when my plans were interrupted by a wet floor.

I think I have mentioned before that this has been a long, wet winter. Well that water had to go somewhere. So plans for the weekend were changed. On Friday, we did the best we could cleaning up the mess, in the big scheme of things, there was not that much water, but a lot of things had to be moved and the cheap cupboards I was using for storage soaked up a lot of the water. On the bright side the items stored inside were fine.

On Saturday we had cleaners in and they were able to tidy up the rest of the water and dry it right out. They will be coming back so we can determine where the water is getting in and what we should do about it. From what they were saying, with it being this wet there are a lot of basements that are having issues that have not had issues in the past. Then it will be a case of putting it all back together again.

On Sunday we just relaxed and enjoyed Easter with friends.

In the mean time my sewing stuff is piled up on top of itself on the other side of the room. I am going to a retreat next weekend so it will be interesting what I can pull out of the pile to take, as I think I'll just go with what is easy to get at.

But even when there are no issues I can't always get close to my sewing machine, as LM likes to "help". Floss

Winding ways finished

2011-04-12T14:58:00.002-06:00

I found this to be simple, quick and fun to make. The leaves were all from the Moda charm pack 9. This will be added to my sewing room wall.

Red Deer Quilt show

2011-04-03T21:00:00.011-06:00

It had been a couple of years since I had been to the Red Deer quilt show, myself and the Quilting Canuck both had the day off, so road trip. We had planned on going in the morning but had to delay our departure to lunch time, so I decided that LM had to come with us too. We still thought we would be home by 7. How wrong we were.

The show seems to have grown in the last couple of years. I enjoy it being the first show of the year as at this time of year I am normally looking for a reason to get out of the city. LM napped on the way up, which meant she was ready to run when we got there, she is very active. I did still get to see the show and managed to spend more money than I had planned, so guess she wasn't so bad.

Here are a couple of quilts from the show. I like the barn animals, I think this is as LM likes making all the noises and this would be a fun quilt for a kids room.

I also really like these circle quilts, I have seen bigger version of both of these but I like how these show the technique in wall hanging size quilts.

I just love these tree quilts, would have liked to be able to get a closer look at them, but that wasn't to be.

This flower quilt was a kit at one of the vendors, and I think this, or something like it, is what I would like to make next for LM. She has lots of quilts for her crib so I was thinking more in line of a twin quilt for when she moves to a twin bed. This kit did not come in twin size and the only patterns they had were for the kits, so I will have to keep my eye out now I know what I want. DH even liked it.

My first purchase of the day was this nice charm pack, thinking this wasn't planned but it's small. I had been planning on picking up a couple of meter cuts to make mesh bags and I found three I liked and that was enough to get a free meter. So far so good; then we stopped for a snack and this bundle started calling to me. I have no idea what I am going to do with it, and I typically don't make quilts from the same line. But I had to have it and it was a good price. LOL. After that I picked up a couple of Canadian cross stich patterns which I think will make nice gifts for my family once I have them made up.

By the time this was done it was around 7, and it was time to find real food. Luckily, LM was ready to sit so we could enjoy supper before heading home. When we got back to Calgary it was snowing so were glad we spent the day out of the city, where we got to enjoy a bit of sun, some quilts and good company.

Floss.

Where is spring?

2011-03-27T23:02:00.005-06:00

If this photo was from the start of winter I would just think how pretty the tree looked, but sadly this photo was taken yesterday. I think spring is never going to come. Hopefully it will be here so. This winter has been a long one.

On the bright side I finally got all my 3D petals made, here they all are. At the moment they look like little finger covers lol. They will look more petals when I applique the flowers onto the quilt.

Floss

This and that

2011-03-16T20:49:00.011-06:00

I have done some sewing, just no blogging. A couple of weekend ago I when to friends for a sew evening, I had planned on working on the guild BOMs from last year, but I didn't take enough background fabric with me. I still played with the blocks for a bit as it had been a long time since I had seem them.

Luckily I had taken along another project. Its Christmas in March. LOL. Over Christmas I decided that I needed new Christmas place mats that go with the table runner I received as part of SSCS a couple of years ago.

I made 6 of these. As I have a narrow table and the runner is quite wide I made these shorted than I normally would, but I had some old ones this size so I know they will work. I love the blue snowman fabric.

Last weekend I put the blocks form the BOM together, as I would have felt bad if I put it back with the UFO s.

I think I will add a border with the lighter of the blue fabrics, this is the only one, other than the background, that I started with more than a fat quarter. Will have to play as I'm not sure if I have enough fabric. I am liking the effect of the different corner stones.

I have also been a bit lucky and have receive two lovely parcels in the mail.
On the left is a pattern I won on Teresa blog. I still have to go and get the templates photo copied before I can start, but thing this will be a great hand sewing project.

On the right is a gift from Andrea for guessing how many hexagons were in a pile. I love the little bag and will need to keep it away from Little Miss. The card is very cute and I think the fabric is very me. I not sure what but know I will find a great project for it.

Thanks again to both of you.

Floss

Winding Ways

2011-03-04T22:45:00.005-07:00

Last Monday night at guild one of the ladies shared with us how to make winding ways. This is a fun, quilt as you go project. We were told to bring a quilt sandwich about fat quarter size, and scraps, I used a charm pack for my scraps.

To start I cut leave shapes out of my charms, just free hand, so they are all a bit different shapes and sizes. Then marked the background fabric with spins to put the leaves on, next I just started quilting the leaves on. This is how far I got that evening.

I think the back is looking pretty cool too. This is a great project for practicing free motion quilting, as there is really no wrong way to make it.

Today I quilted the rest of the leaves on. It doesn't look like much now, but from seeing the sample I know this will look great when I add the spine. I just need to go shopping to find the right rick-rack or ribbon.

This is a fun project.

Floss

Distractions

2011-02-24T20:39:00.006-07:00

It has been a busy couple of weeks and I have not be working on 3D flowers. OK, I did a little but don't have much to show for it. I do have a couple of very small projects to share.

On the right is a small quilt I made for LM, it was a fun little kit. Its an odd size, too big for a book mark, too small for a doll quite and the material is fuzzy so don't want to use it as a wall hanging.

The heart was a quick no-sew demo that was shown at guild on Valentine's day. I think I will make a few more of these, as they are quick and fun.

Floss

On the wall

2011-02-13T15:21:00.005-07:00

I have been working on some 3D petals for my floral quilt, and they are taking forever. It doesn't help that I find them a pain to do, so I can always seem to find something else that needs doing. One of the thing that I found to do instead was to finally put my wall hangings up in the sewing room.

I have been making wall hangings with the plan of having them up to see while I am working on new projects, but as they have been finished, they have been added to the pile on top of the cupboard containing my stash. Finally they are on the wall.

I split them into two types. The smaller softer colours are mainly stitchery, which I put on the wall behind my sewing table. This includes one that was a gift (the one with the nice hanger).

The others were bigger and brighter and these went up behind the ironing board and cutting table.

This makes the room feel so much brighter. Now back to 3D petals, unless I find something else that needs doing.

Floss

In-city retreat

2011-02-04T14:41:00.005-07:00

A couple of weeks ago my guild had a in-city retreat, and I was able to go on Saturday. It was such a nice day to spend visiting and sewing. LM cane with me for a bit in the morning so DH could run some errors. I was able to set up and do some visiting, which was a nice way to start the day.

Once DH had picked her up I started work on my jar table runner, and was able to get the top finished. It turned out bigger than I was thinking. That was a bit of a theme for me that day. I love the colours in this and I think the center fabric works perfectly.

Some of you may recognize the red fabric I used. I can't remember what quilt this was first used in, but i have been using the left overs for many years, I think this turns up in more of my quilts than any other fabric. I am not a big red person, but I really like the tone of this red.

Then I worked on a charm quilt. I had an idea of what I wanted to do with this charm pack (sorry I don't remember the name) and quickly drew up what I was thinking and when from there. I was thinking it would be a nice small wall hanging, but this too is bigger than I was thinking.

I would like to add a piano keyboard border, but will need to measure it and see if I have enough charm pack left. I have a fat quarter of one of the fabrics for the binding, and the setting triangles fabric is from my stash. The longest part of this project was waiting for me to take the photos.

Floss

Purple Square quilt finish

2011-01-18T21:37:00.005-07:00

This has felt like one of my quickest quilt for a while, but it still took over a year to complete. OK there was only a few days when it was worked on.

In 2009 when I was on mat leave I saw the pattern in a magazine and knew that it was the pattern I had been looking for to use the purple rose fabric. As I hadn't picked up anything for a while I headed of to the QS and picked up all the fabric for the top and binding.

Then it sat until the spring of 2010 when I was going on a weekend retreat and I decided that it would be the perfect project, so I got it all cut before heading out and finished the top.

In the fall I took it to the quilter and I got it back just before Christmas. I think she did a great job. We picked a patter that was quiet curing and included flowers and butterflies to match the images in the purple fabric but contrast with the straight lines of the quilt patter.

During my week of over the holidays I got the binding ready to go and finished in time to take it to my first guild meeting of the year. It feel so nice to finish a bigger project.

I am still not sure what I plan on doing with this quilt, but it is very me. It also looks great in my living room so it may have to stay.

Floss

Sewing Corner

2011-01-09T20:49:00.008-07:00

This was my last finish last year. My mum gave me the stitchery pattern and buttons for Christmas 2009, so it was nice to have it totally finished before the end of 2010. I think the button really make it, I love the sewing machine button.

I picked up some border fabric during a weekend getaway. I think it finished it of nicely. I kept the quilting simple, just around the zinger and then large stippling in the boarder.

I also wanted to share this great fabric my mum gave me this year and cute bag my brother sent, the best part of the bag was it came filled with some of my childhood favorite treats - all gone now.

Here are a couple of cute dolls quilts that my mum made for LM.

This rail fence she already had made, I really like it. Some times these simple designs just appeal to me.

This blue one she made special. It is so pretty, sorry not the best photo.

I had a frustrating time in the sewing room today. I was working on my jar table runner and was about put it all together when I found out that I had made the center an inch too short. I have enough fabric to redo it, but have not decided if that is what I am going to do. I should have stop earlier as I keep cutting things the wrong size. Oh well these things happen. Time to work on something else.

Floss

12 Days of Christmas

2011-01-02T20:25:00.007-07:00

I wanted to share the gifts I got as my 12 days of Christmas from one of the guild members. I had a guess when I saw how they were wrapped and I was right, not that it mattered but its fun trying to work out who your secret Santa is.
I was very happy with my gifts, there were also a couple of ornaments, but they were on the tree when this photo was taken. The hand made gifts include a bread basket liner, candle mat and pin cushion. This was so much fun to open every day. The black rolled up fabric is chalk broad fabric, I had never even heard of it, so glad she put a note what it was, I can't wait to find a project for that. She even included a dolls blanket and bag for LM. (Not to mention the chocolates for DH - eaten by time of photos)

I think these gifts were more creative than mine, I just hope the recipient of my 12 days liked their gifts as much. I only made one homemade gift and you may see a pattern here. I made a table runner. This is based on the same pattern but instead of rail fence blocks I did squares with the blocks in the center being fussy-cut Australian animals. This was my last gift and I hope it gives away that I was the Secret Santa.
For once I even made one for myself. The fabric for mine were all aboriginal prints, but its hard to tell once they were cut up. I had to be a bit more careful with the placement on this one to get the pinwheels to work. I love how they all look different from each other.

Floss

SSCS

2010-12-30T15:56:00.007-07:00

I felt very spoiled this year with my gifts for Choockyblue SSCS. I received this wonderful wall hanging (or table runner) from Shari. It really is the perfect quilt for me, The thing I miss most about not living in Australia (other than my family) is the ocean. I love all the details in this quilt. For better photos visit Shari post here. I think I am going to use it as a wall hanging so I see it more often, I just need to find the perfect spot for it. I live the look of the spot I took the photos, but as it covers the kitchen light switch I don't think it would be very particle. I also think it will look better with out DH holding it up.

She also included other goodies including this cute Kola bag that she picked up at the local school fair for Little Miss. Like I said I think I was very spoiled this year.

Here is the table running I made for Sue as my SSCS. Its uses the same snowman fabric as the ornaments.

This was the only online swap I did this year and I look forward to joining it again next year.

Christmas Eve

2010-12-28T15:30:00.003-07:00

True to form, I finished this gift for our Christmas host late Christmas eve.

You may recognize it as a free pattern from a couple of years ago. At the time I had started to make two, but was having issue with one so put it aside and finished the other (was a gift for my mother in-law). The second one was going to be for me, but it had sat for a long time. When a week before Christmas I decided that I wanted to make a home-made gift for our host it seemed like the perfect guilt to finish. I have to admit that in my head it was a lot more done than it turned out to be in reality. The triangles were cut, and the green border strips were done. The triangles were a bit on the skimpy side, so I had to be creative with my seem allowance and quilting. I found time to sew late at night (who needs sleep anyway) and was able to finish this Christmas eve. Out host was so please to receive this, and that always makes this quilter happy.

I will have more Christmas presents and swap gifts to share soon, I just need to get a bit more organized and take a couple of photos.

Floss

Ornaments

2010-12-14T20:03:00.004-07:00

It has been a while since I shared anything that I had finished but now that Sue of Charlotte's Cottage has open the ornaments for SSCS I can share. Here are the ornaments I sent her.

I was very happy with how these turned out and have started making one for myself. I still have a gift that I hoping to have done by Christmas so not sure when my ornament will get done, it may have to wait until next year before it can go on the tree.

1st day of Christmas

2010-12-12T22:16:00.002-07:00

LM birthday was Saturday and it was a fun day. I have learnt that if you want someone to open all their gifts not to let them open the doll stroller first. It was her favorite gift and had to come with us when we went out in the afternoon.

Now that is done I am much more in the mood for Christmas. Had carols night at church this evening and my guilds Christmas party tomorrow night. I am really looking forward to Christmas this year.

I open my first day of Xmas gift and so far I am very happy with my Santa. Up till now I had left the present in the big bag, but now they are loss under the tree. All the brown present are from the 12 day swap and the other present you can see are from SSCS, and DH always wonder why there are more present under the tree form me than him. The two ornaments were loss in the bag, and the first gift contained the baker and fat quarter. I think I may have to put more in my 12 day gifts next year.

Floss

Bag & SSCS ornament.

2010-12-08T20:43:00.006-07:00

It seems like forever since I have been in my sewing room, unless you count using it for gift wrapping. Would love to get some sewing in, I am sure that my machine feels very neglected.

But I do have a couple of quilting things I can share. Last week was my birthday and my mum made me this beautiful bag. Some of the lace is not showing up very well in the photos. I love it, both side have work on them and are very similar. I feel very spoiled.

I think Fritz is trying to catch the spider lol.

I have also received my SSCS parcel today, and open the ornament. I think this is so cute and have been trying to work out how to make it. The main gifts are safe under the tree waiting for Christmas.

These were sent to my by Shari of Mumsyblossom, she even included a gift for Little Miss, which I think is so sweet. Her gift is under the tree too.

Floss

Ixtapa

2010-11-28T22:11:00.006-07:00

I wanted to share a couple of photo from our recent trip to Ixtapa, Mexico. The first is the main building at the resort (club med) This is where we had most of our meals. This resort has large grounds with low building we took a boat out to the island and this really is the only building we could see of this resort. Here is one many of our sun set photos, the boat in the picture was flying a Canadian flag. And here is Little Miss running on the beach. She a bit of a water baby.

The only issue I had was that we should have stayed longer. It was a great, relaxing family holiday.

Floss

The start of the season.

2010-11-26T12:19:00.006-07:00

Well its that time of year, where there is more to do that you have time to do it. Our first Christmas party tomorrow, we are taking LM to my works Children's Christmas party. Hopefully it will be a good afternoon. Got my SSCS parcel in the mail earlier this week and am trying to get my family's gifts off today.

My guild does a 12 days of Christmas swap, where we buy / make 12 little gift to the person who's named you have pulled. The $ cost is meant to be low, with the last gift giving away who the giver is. Can wait to start opening mine. We all use the same bag to make it harder to tell who your secret Santa is.

I will have to share a picture off all my little presents once I start opening them. When we open them is up to us, some do on ever second day starting on the 1st of Dec, other one every day starting on the 13th( think this is what I will do), and some save them all for Xmas day.

Amongst getting Christmas stuff ready I finished this split 9 patch wall hanging. It is mad from a charm pack. It had been sitting waiting for binding as I had in m head that it should be green, but couldn't find the right one. Going to retreat I decided just to grab something that would work from my stash, just to get it done. I think this purple binding works well. It can be funny how we get ideas like that in our heads.

I am very pleased with how this turned out.

Floss

Still here

2010-11-21T12:20:00.002-07:00

Just letting you know that I'm still here. Got busy, then have been on vacation for a week. I was great to get away. Not so much fun coming home to all this snow. Will have to go check if I have to dig the car out later.

I did get my Christmas swap present finished before leaving, just need to get them wrapped and then the will be on there way.

Will share more soon
Floss

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T19:12:00.003-06:00

Ready for Trick or Treaters.

Retreat

2010-10-20T20:35:00.010-06:00

It was a good retreat, I still haven't finished unpacking, I'm sure I'll get to it soon. I was running a little later Friday than I had planned, but still got there in time to set up before super. Friday night sew the machine part of the binding for a wall hanging and a couple of table runners. I will put there by my chair and finish then off in the next couple of weeks.

On Saturday my plan was to work on my floral quilt. I started with the corner stone on the last boarder.
Once these were completed I moved onto setting the pinwheels for the same border into bigger squares. Now I just have to make the applique border and all bits will be done.

After this I just worked on a small stichery as I wanted to get off the machine. It was the first time I have taken any hand work on retreat and I must say I like the change it gave me.

We also made a take away. These fun hedge hogs, they look more like it with pins in them. Some are still in progress at the time of the photo, mine is the pink one. On Sunday the retreat finished after lunch so I pulled out my jars, which were in the same state as I left them at the last retreat, and was able to get the blocks finished. I just love how these blocks turned out. Now I look forward to finishing some of my Christmas items, so I can make the jars up into a table topper. It was a fun to get out of the city and be able to sew. I am happy that I am able to do this a couple of times a year.
Floss

Stowaway

2010-10-18T20:57:00.006-06:00

Had a great weekend at retreat, am quite tired today. We are only 15 minutes from the city but I always feel like I'm in the country, I think a lot has to do with the drive though the trees to get into the camp.

LM helped me pack and I had a little stowaway. This little elephant normally like in LM crib but I guess she wanted to get out and see a bit more of the world and maybe LM wanted to make sure I had company.

Once at retreat she tried sewing but found that to be a bit tricky so moved over to supervising, making me work late into the night LOL.

LM was very happy to see us both back home.

More soon with the projects I worked on at retreat.

Floss

Heading out the door.

2010-10-15T15:51:00.003-06:00

no quilting these past couple of weeks, have had bronchitis and then a busy Thanksgiving weekend. Should get some sewing done this weekend as I am heading out for a weekend retreat.

Floss

Working away

2010-10-03T20:31:00.003-06:00

Spent Friday afternoon in the sewing room, but can't share very much of it. I was mainly working on Christmas exchange present so I can not post on the blog. I got three small project quilted and two are based ready to go.

On one of Christmas presents I am stuck on how to quilt it but cannot ask for help. I'm sure something will come to me. While I was thinking about it how to quilt that , how to quilt this wall hanging came to mind. I had been stuck on how to quilt it too.

It very simple quilting, I had been thinking of something fancier, but I think I prefer simple when it comes to my quilting. Hopefully I'll be able to finish quilting the last two and get the binding done in the next couple of weeks.

Sew Day

2010-09-19T18:20:00.004-06:00

First I wanted to share my purchases from Sugarpine on our road trip. I think I should have had the flash on the photo as it is a little dark.

I picked up a wolf kit a couple of years ago while on vacation and they were going send me the pattern, lets just say it never happened, at least they didn't charge me for it. Figured the kit would never do me any good without the pattern. The daisy in the middle are a nice little kit. There were some other purchases as well but they may show up as part of a couple of Christmas exchanges so I'm not going to share.

The last weekend my guild had an in town retreat and I was able to go for most of Saturday. I started the day by adding a border to a stichery that I have been working on.

The gaps in the stichery are going to be filled with some cute buttons. See the little un-picker in a block, with cute little bag. One of the ladies had made them for every one, and each one suited the person it was for. I also worked a little on my flower quilt and my SSCS so that all the pictures I can share.

Floss

Weekend mountain getaway

2010-09-08T20:00:00.008-06:00

For the long week end we decided that it was time for a road trip to get out of the city. Was starting to think this was a bad idea with all the rain in the forecast, but it turned out to be a great week end, only raining overnight and a little cool. We stayed in a cabin a Johnston Canyon. We head out Saturday late morning, getting to Canmore in time for lunch, were I visited the Sugar Pine. (I have not taken photo of my purchases yet but will share when I do). And just checked out the street for a bit in the after before heading on to JC.

On Sunday we walked up to the lower falls in the morning, I just love the colours of the moss and water. It was a bit cooler so not as busy as it has been when we gone up in the pass. Its about a mile round trip, and we took a long time as Little Miss walk about half way up, before going in the stroller.

Just a quiet afternoon before heading to Lake Louise for supper. I just love this photo of LM at the lake.

It was also the first time I seen a moose in the wild (sorry not a great photo)

On Monday we went for a bit of a walk in the wood before going to Banff. We find Banff a bit busy so didn't stay that long before heading home. It was a nice weekend, very relaxing.

Quilts off to the quilter.

2010-09-07T21:12:00.005-06:00

On Friday I dropped off two quilts to the long arm quilter. They are not going to be done until early December, but she was willing to have them at her place so decided it would be nice to have them out of the sewing room.
The first one is the tulip quilt. This top is reminding me of an English garden, with the tulips and flower fabric as the garden beds, the purple as walk ways and the green as a hedge. That could just be me. I think I'm going to call this one "Tulips in the garden".
The next one is the purple square quilt that I made at retreat in the spring. I find it interesting picking out the pattern for the quilting, its so different that how I would normally quilt them. In someways I like the look of the simple quilting when I do them, or that could just be what I'm telling myself so that I will do them. At least this way these two will get done this year.

We visited the mountains this long weekend so I am planning on sharing photo from that in the next day or two.
Floss

Folded star

2010-08-28T14:10:00.004-06:00

I have been working away, made up a couple of backs for quilt ready to be quilted and I also finished my folded star trivet.

In the photo I included the yellow and blue one I made in home Ec. class in school. I think the one I made as a teenager is better made. I do remember complaining about what a waste of fabric this was and why would any one what to make one. I have to laugh at that now.

For the new one the second reddish fabric was a bit thicker and hard to fold nicely. I think this is what makes the whole thing a bit wonky. DH likes it so I know it will get used.

This and That

2010-08-14T20:18:00.005-06:00

I had to take DH car in to have a service and the shop is close to a Quilting Store, its been a long time since I had popped into quilting store, it wouldn't hurt to pop in just to look. At that store I picked up the two button & pattens. I think I should have everything else to make these wall hanging in my stash. That was a fun stop, and I had been good taking in DH car, so on the way home I took a small detour passed another quilting store where I picked up the black fabric and the monkey fabric, I have an idea for these will see how it turns out. Not to bad for not having got anything for a while, I did enjoy having a look around both stores.

Last Monday night was our guild summer gathering, which was also a lot of fun. One of the ladies had made pillow cases to give away, I grabbed these for my Australia niece and nephews. Think I will wrap their Christmas present in them.

Not much to show for what I have been working on. Here is a pic of a trivet that we started at guild one night. Mine is a bit wonky but once it's on the table with something hot on it I don't think anyone will notice, lol.

Take Care

Floss

Tulips (still in progress)

2010-08-03T20:52:00.004-06:00

After last week post I realized that I had not shown my tulip quilt for a long time - OK it has sat on a shelve for over a year- it needed to age.

I had all the fabric together, but could no longer find the idea of had scribbled down to finish this quilt. I know this is not quite what I had in mind by the large amounts of some fabrics I have left over and the tiny amount of others. I think it is turning out nice, and am please with the setting. I am haft way though adding the last dark green border. Then I will use the left over fabrics to make a back. I may need to add from my stash, but there seems to be lots of the green Flora fabric left. I also have enough of the dark green for the binding. So this doesn't sit for another year I think it will go for long arm quilting.

Working away

2010-07-23T17:13:00.008-06:00

I have been working on a few different things but not to much to show yet. Last Friday I had a quilt evening with friends. I cut the border fabric for my flower quilt. Was glad to do this while I could chat, its one of the parts of quilting that I don't enjoy that much, but cutting each border as I was going was making for slow progress.

I was off today so I pulled out my tulip quilt and have been working on the setting. Not much to show for it, but hopefully I have the top finished in the next couple of weeks.

Am going to another quilt evening tonight, so I might even get it finished, this may be a bit of wishful thinking. But I think this is what I am going to take to work on.

A small finish

2010-07-11T20:19:00.002-06:00

I picked up these fabric squares on the way to retreat and didn't have any charm patterns with me so decided to just make something simple. The little top came home with me. I kept with the theme and kept the quilting simple too. I used the left over fabric plus a scrap from my stash for the binding. I think it's simple and pretty, the colours remind me of the sand and water at the lake where the retreat was.

Charity Quilts

2010-07-08T21:42:00.007-06:00

Hi, it looks like my computer is back up and running. lost a few photos, but luckily had not deleted a lot of at them from my camera.

I wanted to share a few of the charity quilts my quilt made last year. We decided to display them at HP before donating them.

First ocean quilt we were asked to make ocean / beach blocks which we put together as a group.

These other quilts we were given direction on what to make the blocks and the colors to use.

One of our group aims this year was to make more masculine charity quilts.

I think they look terrific displayed among the old cars. And am sure they have gone to loving new owners.

Floss

Computer woes

2010-07-03T12:22:00.003-06:00

We after my last post I was going to be so good and try to post more often but before I got the change my computer died. We saved it with a new hard drive but taking some time to get it back up to normal and I lost some photos. Was going to put the ones still on my camera back on only to find the card reader isn't working. DH said he would look at it today. Hopefully back up to speed soon.

Floss

HP Quilt Show

2010-06-16T21:45:00.007-06:00

Well I have been a bad blogger, the Heritage Park quilt show was held the last weekend in May and I have been meaning to share a few photo ever since. The weather did not hold out, but all the indoor area were great so still a great show to visit. On the bright side with only quilter at the part the line ups were a lot shorter than other years. I put three small quilts in, I think I have posted all of these quilts before but will share anyway.I am so please with my bunny quilt, I knew that I wanted to put it in, you can see from the photo this was displayed in on of the historic homes child's bedroom.

One of the organizer belong to the guild I go to and she had asked for a few smaller quilts to be enter so I also enter the green table topper and the wall hanging made from left overs.

Hopefully I will be better at blogging.

Floss

Cat Pictures

2010-05-13T19:35:00.006-06:00

Haven't really done much quilting since I have been back from retreat so thought I would share a couple of recent cat photos.
Here is Taz is showing us how to relax and Fritz thinks that we got her a new chair.

Not sure when I will get back to doing some quilting, its has started to get nice here and will need to spend some time tiding up the back yard, and the front yard could do with a little bit of gardening too. Want to enjoy as much of the nice weather as I can, our summer here are so short.
Floss

More Retreat

2010-05-02T20:27:00.008-06:00

Had a spring snow storm here this week, my back is still hurting for all the snow I had to shovel just to get to my car, and here we are a couple of days later and most of the snow has melted.

As promised I was going to share what a couple of the other ladies were working on at retreat.
This is another version of the guild BOM project. I love how bright this is.

As a guild we have also done this Indian Summer quilt. Here is one top that was finished at retreat and one the was half completed. I love see how group project can turn out so different just by people fabric choices.

I also though I would share these jar block, I love how different they look than mine, and it's only really the background fabric that changed. We have shared allot of fabrics. It looked a lot nicer when they weren't on the funky couch.Lastly here are a couple of little extra I can home with. One of the ladies had little gift for all of us, and behind that is the yellow fabric that wanted to come home from the store with me. I have very little yellow fabric and I saw this and wanted to make a scrappy purple and yellow quilt. So another project on my to do list. But I did get one top done on this trip so think is OK to put one back on the list.

Retreat

2010-04-19T21:29:00.007-06:00

This last weekend was retreat and it was a fun weekend. We rented a cottage near a lake and it was perfect for the small group. 9 of use had a great weekend. We are thinking of going back in the fall, but make need to find somewhere a bit larger if more people want to come.

I really enjoyed myself and even got a fair bit done. The retreat stared at lunch on Friday, but I didn't get there until closer to 3, but got to work right away.I knew that I would need a pillow for the chair and had one that just needed to be put together so that was the first thing I did.

After that I started on my purple square quilt, which I managed to finish the top for. I am so pleased with how this turned out. It was pretty straight forward and I was done by Saturday evening even with a shopping break in the afternoon.

I will share what I picked up shopping on the next post, except for some charm size square I picked up on Friday (I made a small detour on the way to retreat) and by Sunday morning I had turned them into this simple wall hanging. I think there is even enough left over for scrapping binding.

Not wanting to be done I moved onto some jar blocks for a table runner. I had been sharing fabric with one of the other girl and when she started on her block (which she got finished) I had to start on mine. I think they will be great.

I will share more of what the other girls were working on next post.

Cheers

Floss

Blog Break

2010-04-13T20:44:00.007-06:00

Well it looks like I took an unintentional blog break. Shortly after my last post I come down with a bad stomach flu which had me down for about two weeks. Once I was better there was allot of catching up to do. This last weekend was LM baptism, so we had a house full of people, it was wonder to visit with every one, but it does not allow for time in the sewing room.

I did get a little bit done. I finished the last of the pinwheels for my flower quilt

Her are all the piece, all I have to do now is put them all together. I learnt that I should label the fabric when I buy it, all of the was keep together as a project, but had to rally think about which of these fabric went where. I think I have worked this out, guess I will know for sure one I put more of it together.

And here is the start to putting it all together, as you can see I still have a way to go. I did get a couple more border done after this photo was taken. I am upto the first row of pinwheels. Having most of the pieces made I think this will get large quite quickly.

This next weekend I an going to retreat. So I should have more guilty stuff next week.

Guild BOM

2010-03-07T21:43:00.009-07:00

Well it took longer between post than I expected, but I still wanted to share with you the guild BOM block I finished at the mini retreat. I only made 6 of the blocks and will make this into a small quilt, I just wanted to feel like a part of this project. A couple of the ladies were working on their tops and its amazing to see how different they are.

I can't wait to see them all done, I just love how they are all turning out. I think mine may look a little sad next to the beautiful quilts the others are making.

I have managed to do a bit of sewing over the last two weeks, I pulled out an UFO that has been sitting for a couple of years and started working on the last batch of flower pin wheels. It feels nice to be working on a larger project as I have only worked on small projects for a very long time. OK this is only small pieces, but just knowing that its part of a much larger project.
Hopefully I won't take so long for my next post.
Floss.

Split 9 patch

2010-02-21T22:08:00.004-07:00

This weekend my guild had a in-city retreat. One of the girls found a great new location with a big bright sunny room. I was not able to go both days but did manage to go for a big part of Saturday. It was a super fun day. I had to leave early as going out for supper for DH birthday (which will be this week) and had friends coming over for a games night. It was a long, but very enjoyable day.

I started by working on the little nine patches I shared last week. I made them into a mini split nine patch top. A while ago the group did this as an example of what you can do with a charm pack. I think you can tell which one is mine :) I love seeing how different fabric can make a pattern look.

I also worked on my guild BOM, but more about that next post.

Small projects

2010-02-14T21:32:00.005-07:00

This last week I did manage to find some time to work on a small project. I am finding that I can get handwork done more easily than getting to the sewing room. I had made these small stickery in the evening while watching TV, and managed to make it into a wall hanging this week. I even tried to do the piecing while LM was in the hospital, but the lighting was bad and I still need to work on my hand piecing.. The pattern and buttons were a gift a couple of years ago. I think this is such a cute little wall hanging, its about 6 by 12 inch.

I also stated work on this nine patch project, these are from a charm pack and so far I am happy with how they are turning out. Hopefully you see whats happening to these nest week.

Little Miss update

2010-02-05T22:30:00.004-07:00

LM got out of the hospital on Tuesday and was an out patient which meant 3 trips to the hospital a day. Luckily we were able to go the the closer hospital, but this was still tiring on all of us. Today we went for reassessment and she has a good report. She is onto oral medication and will be able to go back to daycare next week. So far she has made more fuss about taking the new medication than she did about having an IV.

Hopefully my blog will return to more quilting things next week.

Little Miss in Hospital

2010-01-30T22:46:00.004-07:00

It's been a while since I have posted but I have been a little stressed. Last week LM was a bit sick, with a bit of a could and fever. I kept her home one day and the next she seemed better so back to daycare. That evening when I picked her up she seemed find but her ear was red and sticking out. Thought we just go to the doctor on the way home. He sent us straight to the children's hospital. LM has an infection and due to its location they take it very seriously. She has been on IV antibiotics and had the infection drain this morning. Its looking like we will get to go home Monday, but they will want me to keep her home for a week, for her own protection as they don't want her getting bumped by other children. Its the first time she has been in the hospital since the week she was born and it has been quiet stressful. Things are on the mend now so am feeling a bit better as I sit her watching her sleep. I must say what a nice hospital the Alberta children's is, we are lucky to live some where this kind of treatment is easily assessable.

Bunny Quilt Finished

2010-01-10T21:59:00.003-07:00

Yeah - I actually finished this over Christmas, but didn't have a decent photo to post.

The quilting is minimal, but it is done. If I ever get the urge I could come back and do some more. I really wanted to get this finished. I started it for LM when I was still pregnant. I guess starting a stickery quilt, while pregnant, after having only one one very small stickery was probably not the best plan, but it is done now. I am so pleased with how it turned out. LM room is pale blue with pick accents, so this will fit in perfectly.

Cat Quilt

2010-01-07T20:04:00.006-07:00

I wanted to share the quilt that LM got for Christmas, her Grandma made it. I think the cats come from a panel that she cut up and added fabric to make it bigger. I like how its a little girls quilt but has lot of black in it. The quilting in the center is cross hatch and the borders have cats quilted into them (this doesn't show up on the photos).

The back is also fun, the centre fabric has the same cats as the front.

I think my favorite is the cat with the sewing machine.

I am thinking of hanging this in LM room, but haven't fully decided yet. I just love it.

Lucky me

2010-01-02T19:09:00.010-07:00

I was a little spoil by having Lise for my SSCS partner this year. It was such a fun package to open. How did she know that I had a bit of a bag fetish. I love the buttons she used to make the flowers. I think the book will be perfect for reading to LM, and the chocolate cats are so cute I haven't eaten any yet. The soap smell lovely. Of course the magazine she included is not in the photo, I have enjoyed reading it. Thank you Lise.

As I haven't finished much this year I am also including a photo of the miniature I made as my gift. I am very happy that Lyn liked it.

Wishing you all the beat in 2010
Floss

Merry Christmas

2009-12-22T12:59:00.006-07:00

Merry Christmas. This will be my last post for the year. We are going to the in-laws for Christmas and between my FIL and DH I have a very slim change of any computer access. They are also on dial up, so I get impaction.

On Saturday we went and had picture with Santa, and it went well. LM was full of smiles. Then on Sunday she came down with a nasty cold. It is the first time she has been sick and she just wants to be held. Was starting to think we would be home for Xmas, but today she started to get better. I stayed home with her, as she was too sick to go to daycare, and tomorrow DH already had the day off, so I think she be good to go Xmas eve. She is sleeping now, yesterday she wouldn't even sleep unless I was holding her, poor little thing.

Wishing every one a great Christmas and all the best in the new year.

Floss

Presents & December

2009-12-13T21:13:00.016-07:00

Last Monday was my guild Christmas party. we always have this at someones home. One of the girls had recently gotten a long-arm so we picked her house so we could check out her "baby". As always the party was lots of fun and included a gift exchange. We play the game were you pick a present and the next person can pick from the pile of steal you present. We open the presents at the end. This is what I ended up with. The puppy ornament was on the outside of the present and he just called to me. Inside was the lovely hot mat and felt ornament. There was also some peanut brittle but it didn't last to the photo.

December is a very busy month in my house hold, starting with my birthday at the beginning. We quite often keep it low key, with just a nice dinner out and a movie. I just wanted to share these lovely gift I received from my family this year, a couple of Australian fat quarters and this little sewing bag. Both sides are done the same, when you open it up, there is a spot for your little scissors, a spot for needles and a little drawstring bag for any other goodies.

On Friday was LM birthday and Gran sent her this lovely knitted teddy bear. I just love how bright and cheery she is. Don't you just want to give this teddy a hug?

Tomorrow is my first day back at work and LM first day at Daycare. I am stressing over it, I kept trying to tell myself that everything will be fine, but I just can't help it. It's going to still be silly cold. Not the kind of day you want to head out if you don't have to and for the last year I didn't have to, so think I should stay home till its warmer. (Don't think my boss will go for that).

We are hoping next weekend it a lot warmer as would like to try and get picture with Santa and do any last minute Christmas shopping, before we head to Grandma's Christmas eve. I think we have too much packed into December this year, but there not much that we can do, so will just try to enjoy as much as we can.

SSCS

2009-12-04T20:37:00.005-07:00

Good mail today, DH came in with the mail and there was three thing in it for me: something non quilting, my regular quilting mag and my SSCS package. I was expecting a couple of little thing, but not this many packages. I open the lovely heart ornament and it will go on the tree when I put it up next week. Once I am done this post I going to sit down with the magazine. Should be a nice relaxing evening.

I have got some quilting done, I finished putting the bunny top together and started quilting it. I am keeping the quilting simple as I am still trying to get it done by LM birthday, which is the 11th, so running out of time.

We are having a birthday party for her Sunday. Hopefully people will be able to come. A lot said they were, but the weather turned nasty today. DH came home at lunch as the roads were already bad. There is meant to be 20cm of snow and it's real windy. By Sunday its meant to just be cold, hoping that is the case. With DH home this afternoon got a lot ready, so tomorrow will be a little more relaxing. Shouldn't complain, the winter has been pretty mild so far. I am glad I didn't have to go out in it.

Bunny blocks

2009-11-24T20:24:00.006-07:00

I have a little bit more done on my bunny block, they now have the first border and a few have stars added. Still slow progress, but any progress is good.

I have been busy trying to get things ready for birthday, Christmas, etc before I go back to work in a couple of weeks. I feel bless to live somewhere that I can take a year off, but it will be hard to go back to work. I had so many things I was going to get done this year, and I am not sure where the time has gone. Hopefully I still find a bit of time to do some quilting.

The Last Bunny

2009-11-08T21:48:00.003-07:00

I finally finish the last bunny block on the quilt I am making for my daughter. Now if I can get them trimmed to size and made into a quite by December, it will be ready for her first birthday or Christmas. Still a lot of work, but I think it will be doable.

I also finished my SSCS present (yeah), so now that that's done I should be able to focus on the bunny quilt. Its so nice when you finish something.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T17:11:00.001-06:00

It's this poodle first Halloween.

My block for BoM

2009-10-23T15:13:00.004-06:00

I have got a little quilting in this week, but nothing really to share. Tomorrow my guild is having a sew day so I am looking forward to that.

I have been showing you the few block I have made for my guild Block of the Month, October was my month to pick a block, this is what I picked.I always find it hard when you are picking a block for a group project, I made this a few months ago before I had seen many of the other block. It come down to this block or one other, so I had to laugh when one of the other girls picked the other block, so I got to make both of them anyway.

Jamaican Vacation

2009-10-18T10:12:00.013-06:00

Well no quilting this week, but hopefully I will have some to share next week. As promised here are a few shoots from my vacation. This was our first "family" vacation. The resorts we stayed at had a great kids program that even included the smallest guess. It was the first time LM had been to any kind of day care and I was very sad on the first time we dropped her off and she saw the toys and crawled away with out looking back. At least she was happy yo see us when we came to pick her up. It was nice, we put her in for a couple hours each day, but still had lots of family time.This was the view from our room. I think anytime you can see the sea from your room it's a good view.

We did leave the resort twice, once to go to Mystic Mountain, the photo is from the chair lift on the way to the top. This was a really long chair lift ride and the views were great. I felt fine, except when the chair lift stopped then I didn't like being so high.
At the top we road the Jamaican Bobsled, which is like a one person roller coaster where you control the breaks. This was a lot of fun. After this we zipped line halfway down the mountain. It was a series of 7 zip line and was quite the rush.

We also swam with the Dolphins, this was quite the experience and I highly recommend it. This was more fun than I expected. Something DH really wanted to do, but I am so glad that we did it.

The rest of the time as spent on the resort where they had lots of activities for the kids. although a little young, we took LM to one of the Sesame Street show. She bounced to the music.

We also took her out on the glass bottom boat ride. She spent most of her time trying to eat the hand rail. There were some great views both above and below the water. DH and I were surprised that we used the same boat when we went snorkeling.

Most of the time was just spent relaxing by one of the pools.

A very relaxing time was had by all.

Tenth Wedding Anniversary

2009-10-13T20:23:00.005-06:00

We had planned our Jamaican Vacation to coincide with our Tenth Wedding Anniversary. We did what we could to make the day special and memorable, starting with side by side massage in the morning at the resort spa, and I stay on for a lovely facial. In the afternoon we (including LM) relaxed and played at the pool. For dinner DH and I had a lovely candle light dinner on the beach.

I really enjoyed this dinner, we had picked our menu earlier in the week and watching and listening to the ocean as we ate was so relaxing. I think I will remember this dinner for a long time.

Being on the resort the staff did what they could to make our day special. From bottle of sparking wine to this lovely way our bed was decorated.

I will tell you more about the rest of the vacation later in the week.

This and That

2009-09-30T21:45:00.006-06:00

I treated myself to a new quilting book, I was at one of the LQS and they are offering a club were you work on a quilt or technique for this book. I looked at the book and was quite interested but don't feel I have the time to join the club, so I picked up the book. I can see a lot of these quilts in my future. I think for the next couple of years wall hangings and minis are what I will most likely to get finished.

I started on my SSCS, mainly just cutting it out, but it is a start. I am going to show you a sneak peak. This will be the only one as I don't want to give away what I am making. I think it will be pretty.

I also got another BOM done. If I only make six I will have one to go, but now I am think I might make nine, will have to check how much fabric I have, as that may make the decision for me.

I will not get any quilting done next week as on Friday I am leaving for a week in the sun. Hopefully I have a few vacation snaps to share with you when I get back.

Only one to go

2009-09-20T22:48:00.007-06:00

I think I am getting slower at sticking rather than faster, or maybe I am more easily distracted. I see lots of blogs where stickery are done quickly, but I am still slowly working on my bunny blocks. I have completed another 2, so only 1 to go.

Not sure why I had left the ones with writing until near the end. The last block is bunnies again, so hopefully I will get that done quickly. Then onto the making of the quilt. I think my new goal is to get this done for LM 1st birthday.

As this is a post about my bunny quilt I thought it would be a good time to share this photo of the bunny (Hare) that spend time in my front yard. He will be around for a few days then I won't see him for weeks. I like seeing him, but don't like what he does to my lilies.

Sew Day

2009-09-13T21:11:00.005-06:00

My guild had planned a sew day on Saturday, unfortunately it was canceled. I had done some prep and had a baby free afternoon, so I decided to have a sew day at home. I had thought about working on my SSCS but decided that I was in the need of a quick project. I had three charm pack projects in mind so I picked one and cut it out Friday so it was just sewing on Saturday.

I love how bright and cheery this turned out, but I think it will make a nicer pillow cover than wall hanging. I even have a pillow that I was planning on recovering, its just a little bigger, so I would need to add another small border. That's the plan at the moment, but I have been know to change my mind.

After finishing this top I decided that I wanted to work on a couple of blocks from the guild BOM. I got the first one finished before super, and the second one completed after LM bed time.

I think these are turning out nice. Since I am only doing a few of the blocks and I am having a hard time choosing which blocks to make. There is still a couple more months of blocks to come, so I also don't want to pick my blocks too early.

I think this was a good sew day. I have gotten a bit slower, with the reduced amount of sewing over the last year but I enjoyed my day. It would have been nicer meeting up and sewing, but this was still a nice afternoon.

I Spy Finish and Drumheller

2009-09-08T08:29:00.007-06:00

Its been a busy couple of week, and as normal I got less quilting done than I would like to. I did manage to get the I spy Baby quilt finished, all I need to do now is get it in the mail. I really cut it close to not having enough fabric, I had to un-sew a bit I had done for the Shadow effect to make the binding long enough.

My in laws had come to visit over the long weekend so we did a bit of the tourist thing and when to Drumheller, part of the badlands, on Saturday. First we stopped at Horseshoe canyon.

Before going to check out the HooDoos After this it was time for lunch and in the afternoon we went to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. I just share on picture from there, I love the way this looks like Little Miss is looking at the baby dinosaurs, I think she is actually trying to eat the hand rail.

It was a lovely day. It as so nice to have family here, as we don't live near any family I really appreciate any time we get to spend with them.

Bunnies

2009-08-23T21:39:00.004-06:00

We have had a few nice days here, so not much quilting has been done. Last Monday was my guild's summer pot luck and I took along the I spy that just needs the binding added, and I think its still in the same bag as I took it in. I will hopefully get to it soon as the little girl that it is for was born on Tuesday.

I did pull out my bunnies to work on, I am not sure why but these seemed to have been put aside. I finished this block.

I just have three left. I need to trace them first, and for some reason when I cut out all the blocks last year I missed cutting out two of them. There is plenty of fabric, so I think this is just as case of getting it done.

Garden and BoM

2009-08-04T22:40:00.012-06:00

I was planning on starting the post with a picture from my garden as for the first time in two years both the front and back garden are weeded at the same time -yeah. I was going to take the picture on Monday, but there was a thunder shower with hail on Sunday night, so will not be taking any picture of the garden any time soon, but at least I know it was done. So here is a picture of Fritz watching me weed. My guild has been working on a Block of the month. Each month one of us picks out a block to make. I am so far behind and I know that I will never catch up, so I decided that I am going to make a smaller quilt with just a few of the block, so I at least feel a bit involved. I have made the block for my month, which isn't until October, so will hold of showing that one until then. I also made my first of the other block. I picked to make the card trick, when I first became interested in patchwork this was one of my favorite blocks, I think I even made a couple of pillow using this pattern before I knew how to make a quilt. I decided that I wanted to use black and batiks, and when I was in my batik stash, the more masculine colours were calling to me. Here and here are examples of some of the colours and blocks a couple of the other ladies have made. I love seeing these when they are all revealed.

I also pulled out my scrap book of the quilts I have made, this is pretty simple with picture of the quilts, sample of the fabric and who I made it for, or gave it too. This was a bit out of date, but I should have it up to date in one more session. It will be nice to have it all done. I do like to have a record of what I have made, and find it nice to look back and see the improvement in my quilting.

I Spy top

2009-07-26T20:25:00.005-06:00

I have not had much time to quilt these past couple of weeks, the summer seems to be quite busy. But I did have a bit of time to potter around the sewing room today and I managed to get the top for the I spy I am working on completed.

As I mention before this is a stash quilt. It is bigger than I was expecting, that is what I get by picking my measurements to use all the fabric I have. The amount of I spy fabric never seems to reduce. I have none of the background fabric left, and just enough of the shadow fabric for the binding. The zinger fabric was another one that I found in the stash. I have even found a piece of purple that is big enough for the back, which was left over from another project. It looks like I will need to pick up some batting, I only have very small bits left and don't feel like piecing that many. But over all very happy with how this stash quite is turning out.

Lorraine Stagness Quilt Show

2009-07-12T20:57:00.016-06:00

Lorraine Stagness Quilt Show was yesterday and LM and I made an afternoon of it. This is a free quilt show put on every two years and it is a lovely way to spend the day. Other year have carpooled with some of the girls from guild but was out Friday night so thought I better play it safe and held out on my own as wasn't sure when we would be leaving. I did run into a few girls from guild and had afternoon tea with them.

Here are a few of the photo I took, I'm not sure why but blogger is not letting me put them in the order I want to, so will have to go with the order they are in.
This year the Dalemead Quilt Guild also had a display, which I think added a variety to the show. Above is one of their quilts. I love the way the scrappy blue quilt looks on the red barn.

This photo is just of the setting and some of Lorraine's quilts. As a country girl at heart I love any change I get to be out of the city and into the wide open spaces, I think I took as many photos of the country side as I did of the quilts.

These are three example of the mystery quilt form the retreat Lorraine host. I love how different all of these look, there were 7 on display, and I like how they were all hang together.

These two photos are more quilts by the guild, I liked the African fabric is the square quilt and the simplicity of it. The sunflowers just made me smile, so cheerful.

Below is another photo of the setting and a couple of nice quilts.

There is also a display put on by "the sister". These ladies make a lot of quilts and were only displaying what they had made in the last two years since the last show.

These two Asian inspired quilts were made for fabric for their sister who had passed away stash as memorial quilts for her children.

This quilt caught my eye as I enter their display, it is just my colours. This was a challenge quilt, fabric from a kit had to be used.

Finally this is the trunk show I first saw when I arrived, I guess it was also the last thing I saw when I was leaving. Hope you enjoyed my look at the show.

Calgary Stampede

2009-07-08T19:02:00.007-06:00

Nothing Quilting to share today, just thought I would post this pic of DH and LM ready for the Calgary Stampede. They were both so helpful when I was trying to get a good photo.

I am not that surprised at DH, if you look at any of our vacation photo you would think I always go on vacation by myself.

I think LM just wanted to eat her new hat.

Stash Quilt

2009-07-05T23:02:00.005-06:00

Decided that I wanted to start on a quilt that will be a baby gift. I think I have lots of time, but I am horrible at remembering when people are due, and this is for a friend who lives on the other side of the country so I will not be getting any visual clues.

Decided that I wanted to try blocks floating with their shadows. Had see a couple of quilts like this but did not have a pattern so had to just see how it when. This quilt is made from the oldest fabrics I have in my stash. I started with the feature fabric, which is left over from the first I spy quilt I made, which was the second quilt I ever made. Picked the largest block I could based on the fabric I had. Then looked in the stash for a background fabric, and found this purple, this was the first fabric that I picked up that did not have a project in mind. It was on sale and I was on a shop hop with the first quilt I belong to.

I could not find a fabric I liked for a shadow so I did pick that up, but over all it feels great to be using the stash. I have made the block and have started on the sashing, I think its will look pretty good.

A finish (Square Quilt)

2009-06-25T21:31:00.008-06:00

Woo Hoo, I finally finished something. Well almost I still should put a label on it, but need to have a name for that, and I just can't seem to come up with one. But a lot of quilts don't have labels so I am calling it finished.

Yes that is LM helping her Dad hold up the quilt for me to take a photo. I didn't even realize that you could see here in the photo until I was loading them on the computer.

DH keeps asking me what I am planning on doing with this quilt, and when I say I have no plans, he seems happy, so I think we will be keeping it. I like it too and I it goes with the colours in the family room.

Had to laugh I knew that I had posted about this quilt before here, and when I looked it up it was in 2007 and I had it at the top of my list to quilt. So if this is how long it takes me to do things at the top of my list I don't think the things at the bottom have a chance.

If any one has a suggestion for the name for this quilt I would appreciate it.

Thanks

Shopping

2009-06-21T21:04:00.005-06:00

On Saturday I decided that I was going to go fabric shopping for a new project. I know I have plenty of UFO and project waiting to be started, but saw a pattern that I just wanted to do next. It is quite simple pattern which is good for me right now, so I should be able to get it done. I also though it would be good for the purple rose fabric that I kept looking at, and had been very good and not bought. So off I when I was thinking maybe green and purple, but could not find a green I wanted to use, but was very set on using purple. So here is what I picked up.

I think it will look nice. I didn't even realize that the store was having a sale so I lucked out, getting all the fabric for the top and binding for $40. So a good day shopping.

I also have done a little bit more on my bunnies and here is the next completed block. I find the bunnies don't take that long but it seems to take me forever to do the grass.

I also got the binding on the square quilt, which I really need a name for. I still need to finish hand sewing it down. Hopefully I will have it done to share for next time.

Quilting Done

2009-06-13T20:20:00.002-06:00

When I was down in my sewing room, I was looking at what I had in progress, as I hadn't done anything for a while though I should see what I had on the go and where I was in the process. My square horse quilt was all sandwiched and ready for quilting. I think it would be at least a year that it had been in this state. I had planned on trying some fancy quilting, with curse to give the quilt a little more play. As I looked at it, I thought "in the ditched and finished is better than fancy and not started" so that is what I did. Then it took nearly an entire evening to find the safe place I had put the fabric for the binning. I am hoping to get that sew on tomorrow so I can stick it down this week. It felt great to make so much progress on a project that has sat for so long. I think I need to find a few more of these type of things that have been around for ages that are relative quick and simple to finish.

A bit Bluer

2009-06-07T21:26:00.006-06:00

My Bargello quilt is now bluer than it was before. I find this a bit frustrating as I did prewash all the fabric for this quilt, not something I normally do, and it is the only one that I have had issue with the color running. I normally brush down or vacuum this quilt, but decided it was time for a wash, I even used dye catchers, they were also very blue. You can see the difference in the photos, there is also a bit of a difference in the lighting, we have not painted the room so the wall should show as the same colour. I still love this quilt and as you can see so do the cats.

More HP quilt show

2009-06-03T20:57:00.008-06:00

Here are some general photos of the quilt show.

I love how simple this one is, yet it is very effective. I think I have the pattern for this, will have to check.

I really like the effect of curve piecing when in fact it just squares and triangles. I like how these two quilts looked together.

This quilt put a smile on my face, it was just so cheery.

And of course I had to include a cat quilt.

I think this bird quilt was my favorite. I just felt peaceful.

This photo was taken from the other side of the track, were I was looking for a spot to give LM a few quiet minutes, it was a lovely spot to look at the quilts in this beautiful setting.

Heritage Park Quilt Show

2009-05-31T22:48:00.007-06:00

This weekend was the Heritage Park quilt show here in Calgary. LM and I went Saturday afternoon and the weather was perfect. This year a lot more of the quilts were outside and the ones in the houses were mainly on the main level. This made it a lot easier to get around and see the quilts with a little one in tow. There was also a lot more none quilter at the park than I had see other years, but I think this was due to the beautiful weather.

This was the first year that I has not entered any quilts, will have to make sure I have one to put in next year, but I thought I would share a few quilts made by some of the girls in the guild I belong to.

I just love this Mariner's Compass, I think I have even show it on my blog before. I think the amount of work that when into this quilt is amazing.

The centre quilt is the one I am showing here, this was a pattern taught at quilt, a lot of the girls make this, and they all looked so different.

I love this star wall hanging. The girl who made it did 4 blocks but decided that it looked better as 3 and I agree. She gave me the last block (mainly as it was purple and we all know that I love purple)

I will share a few more photos from the show in the next few days.

Slow progress

2009-05-27T20:46:00.004-06:00

I when to my guild sew day on Saturday, and it was a great day. I didn't get much done, I had LM with me. It was a day out and I was inspired by what other were working on. LM seemed to enjoy all the attention she got too.

I was looking for a project to take to sew day (other than my bunnies) and I spent more time cleaning up the sewing room than anything else. I decided to start fuzzy cutting the center for a baby quilt I planning on making for a friend.

I also started quilting my square quilt. It's one that had been sitting for a while and I had great plans for how I was going to quilt it, but when I saw it I decided that quilted in the ditch and finished would be better than fancy and not started. I am already half finished. Will show picture when I'm done the quilting. Of course I can not find the fabric I knew I have to bind it with, but am sure I have something in the stash that would work.

I had to share this picture of Taz. Do you think hes dreaming of sushi.

More Bunnies

2009-05-19T22:07:00.007-06:00

Its been a nice week, had our first baby sitter Saturday night so we could go to my girlfriends surprise 40th birthday party, it was such a fun night.

And last night was guild. Its been a while since I was able to make it to a meeting, and it looks like I will even be able to make it to the sew day this weekend, for at least a couple of hours. While I was at the meeting I manage to finish another of my bunny blocks. I also released that I had not shared the last block I finished. I think this block (with the tall flowers) is my favorite from the entire quilt. I now need to trace some more block, so hopefully I can get that done during the next couple of day. I find these nice to work on in the evening, but need to do the tracing while there is still daylight.

I also started to cut out another quilt. I am hoping that it will be a quick baby quilt. This will give me a change from handwork, when I have time.

Its been a while since I shared a kitty picture, they are feeling a bit neglected, so here is Max checking out the new car seat.