Patchwork Sanity-a woman's piece of mind

Audition, cut, sew

2012-01-05T21:29:00.001-05:00

I had no idea what I was going to do to start my Just 2 quilt. Well Sew Sisters is having 25% off her fabric that includes her massive shelves of 6.99 fabric and also her 3.99 fabric. So I went and in doing so found my fabric for the boarders and that decided my on my 2 color quilt. I love those huge flowers and was so happy that now I can start

Sale gave incentive.

I was tired when I got home from work same old story all week kind just coming and going to work and nothing else...after the holidays, knocked me a little I think.
Well I said that is it I am starting this Just2 quilt so I cut the fabrics.
Well it was only 700pm I`m not going to bed yet. So I started piecing I got all my pieced blocks done, and applique is ready to put apply.
Now I am going to bed.
The title of the quilt should say just takes 2 hours to get these done...so these are my 2 colors for my quilt...what are yours??

New Years Day 2012 Hurray!!

2012-01-02T08:19:00.002-05:00

Basket of Posies

Basket of Posies is almost done I am working on the boarders Sandy let me use her design wall to put up the blocks for a preview. I am so happy with the results. It is a great incentive when you are able to see your quilt like this!!

Sandy also is working on a gorgeous quilt as you can see we were not board. Sandy is always a character and totally entertaining. We spent New Years Day quilting of course that is the only way to start a new year...

Sandy with her new quilt made with charms and strips

Sandy`s gorgeous Love Letters

We also got to see her Love Letters on her design board for the first time Sandy picked out all her own fabric from her stash to make this gorgeous quilt. We have decided this will be in her `hope chest`. 2 more blocks Sandy!! We both started at the same time I am on block 4 reason is the first quilt but I will get back to mine.

Sandy and Guido

This is her Guido he sings lots and is very loving as you can see I could not resist this photo of her. Then the quilt below she pulls out, she had pieced this long ago and is still thinking of what boarder, I love this one too...

Another Sandy Quilt thinking on boarder

All is all it was a great day except for the heavy rain that fell all day but that only makes the rest of the year look so much brighter.
I would like to thank those that have followed me throughout the year of 2011 and sure hope to share more with you in 2012, friends till the end.
I have been viewing many of the blogs and I see that many have taken advantage of the holidays and completed some UFO`s I hope you have a chance to surf the quilting blogs.
You will also see some new sidebar buttons go look you may be enticed by the 2012 BOM.

SSCS and just plain glee!!

2011-12-28T20:24:00.002-05:00

My apron from Kerry and basket of goodies from neighbours and my gift from honey dearest

Kerry was my SSCS she not only made my SS gift but also followed my blog and made a special BD gift. I am wearing it. Don`t you just love my apron! I do those bells are precious lucky it covers that belly (that is my new year resolution, get fit!! this picture is embarrassing but I couldn`t get my DH to model)

The other gift was left from my neighbours many goodies and essentials were inside it is on the chair and then the package on the table was from DH I got the best pj`s from Marks Warehouse that I wanted you know the jersey fabric just love it.

Below you can see the fabulous hand bag Kerry made as well as my pincushion and needlecase. The buttons are gorgeous. Kerry also sent me one of her books with great patterns and signed by herself...isn`t it just awesome!! The 2 cards are quite unique as well the one that has a quilt on it is created by Roalie Quinlan, the other with the picture of bales of hay is actually a card designed by Chookyblue very cool I would say a little bit of everyone.

I was even thrilled by the wrapping paper it made me giggle the one with the cats and dogs would make a great little quilt hanging.. a thought..

Kerry`s wonderful bag and needlecase, pincushion and signed personal book

I loved the wrapping paper she used too

Kerry I just can`t thank you enough for all the thought you put into these gifts thanks again.. and thanks to Chooky for letting me join at the last minute cause they needed another international..I was lucky my fingers typed fast enough

This is something that I am working on one more swap...just one more

I am working on one more swap for the new year this is what I have so far it is nothing like what it will turn out like you will be surprised
Remember those earrings I was talking about well these are it..Storm at Sea pattern you can go to Metal Arts to see what other earrings they have. I really love these. Then to add to the bonus Mom pulled out these gorgeous snowmen aren`t they just precious.. 3 more weeks...just 3 more and I can where them.

Remember my incentive for my ears, the top are what I can`t wait to wear the snowman are a bonus from mom too.

See below.. this is the audience that was in front of me at mothers house as you can see they are all waiting...for what you ask...the big giant toy from Toronto...me with the kitty toy that is like a fishing pool with raffia or fabric at the end...this picture is deceiving the one in the middle Fuzzy is a very big cat his brother Toby is right beside him on the right then there is sweet Ruby closest to me.

Ruby nearest to me was having Debbie withdraw, Mom said she was sleeping by my door when I was gone...poor girl. Dad said that it was just to quiet in the house now...I am a little noisy.
The best Christmas gift for me was the neighbours dog Trixie has gone to a good home, she was neglected for long periods of time and this stressed my parents which stressed me. Life is wonderful!

Ruby, Fuzzy and Toby

Prepping for Christmas at Mom`s

2011-12-21T03:45:00.002-05:00

Boarders for Basket Quilt

I have just finished prepping for the boarders on the basket quilt. I am very excited. I always get nervous when I get to the applique boarder part I am not sure why. I have 2 other quilts that are done but need their applique boarder. I think I will get them ready too. I am ready for the challenge...VBG. I don`t think this turned out so bad.

a wee too much stemming going on

old new holes

another Frill Seeker!!

One of them could use this stemming as well. I think I may have made a little to much...as you can see it is a huge pile...stem anyone...all bias now to press it and wrap it

I also got my ears repierced the girl that did it was really super. I had 2 holes and wanted them reopened. Didn`t hurt much, she was very patient in stretching the holes and put these sleepers in. I have incentive to do this Mother bought a pair of earings she cannot wear. They are sterling silver and they are quilt blocks, I will show you when I get back

Then I have also been knitting another Frill seeker scarf it is different the frill is much shorter and these are mothers colours so you know who this will be going to!

See ya in the new year looks like a green Christmas for us....good for the travellers

Merry, merry, merry merry

2011-12-14T05:32:00.001-05:00

I belong to Kathleen Tracey`s Yahoo Group Small Talk it is mini`s that she designs and it is very very productive. We had a mini swap, this came last night as I was going out to a Christmas party. I am not a social-light so I was apprehensive about going. (gained 30lbs and only have one dress that fits I miss walking my dogs) Well DH heard the door bell as I was trying to get ready and yelled down there is a parcel! With all the decorum that I have I stood in the stairwell and opened this gorgeous gift. Faith made this for me is it not incredible...yes incredible

I also did a little background check and found that she was from a town that Lucille Ball is from and Faith sent me some Vitameatavegamin`s do you not remember Lucy`s show on these!! I was so happy to get something that made me remember such great happy times Lucy was one of my icons.

Then I see these wonderful Xmas magnets and a fantastic thread holder look how well made all these items are and see 2 spools of applique thread. (well I think they are for applique cause I use that thread for such purpose, they will go in my Thread holder I bought when I had a class with Karen Kay Buckley but what is interesting Faith picked 2 of the threads I did not have (you don`t know my thread collection) perfectly planed on her part.

The best part of it all is this huge decorative box she had put everything in see that great hand cream Faith also sent! it is perfect with this weather and washing my hands all the time a work. Here is me trying to post a picture to be a little more presentable. I took, Emily down (she was my Grandmothers doll) Emily wanted to present everything she kept looking down at me and said can I touch the quilt? it is so beautiful I need to touch it...I told her she can hold it, she does a great job presenting it is the photographer who needs some training..LOL

Now I know I said I wasn`t going to post until after the holidays but I have one more swap item coming and so you may see another one. I got up especially to show you the treasures you can receive with online swaps and friends..hugs to Faith which I am sorry to say has no blog!

pieced, applique and knit

2011-12-12T18:24:00.000-05:00

Gentleman`s fancy mini

I tried to hand quilt this baby but it looked horrible so I had to take out all the hand quilting and then machine quilt it..the blocks were just to small with the seam allowances. I never thought i would say that machine quilting looked better on a quilt but..never say never

more flowers to applique I started pressing more flowers for the flower baskets that I am working on

a nice change from quilting great scarf to make in a day

I hadn`t knitted in years but found this gorgeous yarn Frill Seekers google it and you can see the many scarves with tutorials on how to do it. This only took a day to make and it is lovely. Almost...now I said almost makes me want to knit again.

I don`t think I will have to post again till the new year. So please have a wonderful Holiday Season with family and friends, stay safe and healthy. I am surely looking forward to 2012! you will see on the sidebar what my challenge will be please click on the little house and it will tell you more!

2011-11-29T19:42:00.001-05:00

I thought you all would like to see what was in them there packages. Major spoiled I am .

Dish clothes crocheted with a wondeful hand towel for the holiday`s flat pins FQ`s needle holder but my favorite is this wonderful wallet I just love it. can I ever be so lucky. Oh there was a magazine there too but it is already by my favorite chair getting lots of page turning. And pot holders that are lovely angels, watching over my stove already. I put the nail file over the wonderful tag she put on my wallet it is made especially for ME...VBG

Go click on the hand quilting button there are a group of women that are signed up on the blog that are posting what they use for hand quilting I think I will enjoy the different tools that everyone uses and you might learn somethin`

well I hope that everyone is trying to keep dry this is the wettest I have seen Ontario for a while. I am glad we got that pool filled in we don`t have to worry about it overflooding! and the rain will soak and and get that dirt settled.

surprises!!!

2011-11-27T16:44:00.001-05:00

WE had sewday at my place about a week Thursday and this is what my friends did very very unexpected!! Now my birthday has long gone (Nov /)but they felt the 50th just could not be celebrated quietly. They even got DH in on it and he brought it downstairs when we were chatting. This was very unexpected! Mary is celebrating her 50th in a couple of weeks but does not have a blog. Any ideas on what I can do to her??

Deb`s surprise 50th!!

2 Hobbo`s comparing bags

Then Mary had gone to the Houston Show and come back with some goodies. This is the best idea ever! she put them in Hobbo bags are then not darling? RoseMarie and I both got one with a needle holder (wooden and beautiful and toblerone bar a small one to tide us over and a stapler that is stapless...does that make sense? then the fat quarter it was all tide in awesome I think but that is not alllll.....

Look Below!! OMGoodness Gracious ME!!!!

Rosemarie presented me with this gorgeous gift made by her it is all done in French Knots!! I thought it was needle punch but no there are zillions of French Knots...she got this form the Kim Diehl Book Simple Graces. it is just perfectly awesome
(if you click on her name you will see she is doing another wonderful project from this book)

a gift never forgotten

oh dear there is deer in my garden

I went to my mothers last weekend and she gave me these gorgeous deer to put out in my garden I love them so much!! have to keep an eye out for vandelisms though near Halloween they had kicked over that bench and broke my bird bath the culprits..
I did move them closer to the house but had to let them play in my garden

I also had sent off the Chooky swap and am now working on another one. This is the last that I have to mail as you can see I am using my trusty Mini Quilts mag and found this old fashion pattern the Gentlemans fancy...those nine patches are 3/4in finished...Once my Chooky swappee gets hers and unwraps I will be able to show the end products....VBG

Well back to sewing I do have a pile of dishes to get done but I think they will wait a little it is hard to quilt when you have dish pan hands. That is my excuse and I am sticking to it!! so sad the weekend is almost over already

sharing

2011-11-26T16:19:00.001-05:00

This is what I got in my SSW on my Canadian Group. look at all those packages and love the cutie card. These packages just got opened and I am totally amazed will post the picture next time but I got great VIP fabric blendables, quilting needles, crocketed dish clothes and hand towl for the kitchen with pot holders..always can be put to good use. I got a great mag with wonderful patterns for special designers, flower head pins great for paper piecing and stack and whacks. a needle case magnitized. A meter of great background fabric and the best is a wallet that was made especially with me in mind. it has a loonie in it to start off with a wealthy year and a name tag made especially for me. Sylvia from BC really thought about what she was sending and I am so very very thankful

I also have been spending time with great friends. We are sitting every Thursday and sewing it is working better so that we can give each other inspiration. Rosemarie (left) and Mary (no blog...yet) always have so much to share this was at RoseMarie`s house. What a wonderful setting she puts on doesn`t she? We drew names and will trade our little treats in the new year.

This swap item is now finished and gone to the swapee once she receives and opens it I can post what it looks like. I am nervous and hope she likes it...

I have loads more to show but downloaded pictures and can`t find it.. getting a little problem with remembering things right now but will post soon. I am told I need to update my blog more. Only cause they know that I am always doing something
I am working on my next mini the nine patches are only 3/4 of an inch for this pattern it is another wee one... will post later. Have a great weekend hope everyone on the American side had a great Thanksgiving weekend. by the posts in the blogs there was alot of family events.

Ahhhh hand quilting and an old swap

2011-11-10T19:26:00.001-05:00

I am finally at the point of hand quilting, everytime I start with hand quilting I just think how wonderful it is to work on these stitches. I have so many quilts to quilt I am wondering if this winter will be finishing some tops....I wonder

I had been in a swap at the beginning of the year and could not post the mini I had rec`d first I could not find the camera and then I couldn`t find the mini, had done some rearranging and there it was. I am not sure if you remember Micki of Irish Muses (not posting on her blog anymore) but she was my swappee and she sent me this mini sampler

This is the one that I had sent it was hand appliqued and quilted 1/4in crosshatch. I didn`t get a finished picture of it before I sent it in the mail.

I am off to a quilt show tomorrow in Toronto with Rosemarie, then we are going to sew some after and talk about our lovely adventure.

Yorkheritage Quilt Show Nov 11, 12 13 click to find out more info

Canadian Designer Rocks-Dorothy Baker

2011-11-09T15:28:00.001-05:00

Dorothy Baker one of our quilting Canadian designers (love love love her stuff) made a quilt last year and now Lecien is posting a BOM for free!! This is a gorgeous quilt called Vintage Tiles if you love to hand applique this is for you to do. The first requirement page and block one is up please go and visit Lecien`s site by clicking on the name it will take you there.

When you are done downloading then go to Dorothy`s site just click on her name and see what other patterns she has designed she is one of the best Canadian Designers all you teddy bear lovers would love the quilts she has designed and she had a free BOM last year of embroiderie...so go visit and say hi. You will love her blog.

word got out!!

2011-11-07T16:00:00.000-05:00

I had turned 50 last Thursday, I forgot that Facebook makes you put in your DOB so I had loads of happy birthday`s Thanks to all those that were thinking of me, and sent me wishes I know too many people I think!!
Mom and Dad sent me a wonderful Basket of goodies I took a picture but can`t find it will post it when I find it. It was done in Halloween colors and there was a bounty of goodies. My DH gave me a GPS that will upload updated maps without having to buy a new chip yahoo, he knows how I love to travel the back roads

I also went to a wonderful Quilting retreat (Oct 19th weekend) with a guild I belong to, it was a first time in a long time that I was comfortable on going, as you can see we had just perfect weather. This is Rice Lake, Ontario

You see where that picnic table is that is where I was staying look how close I was to this gorgeous view. I roomed with 2 really great girls it was lots of fun considering one had just lost her mother the week before but she really has a heart of gold..Ann H. I was very glad to be able to be with her at this time her mother had gone into hospital the day before her 90th BD celebration

This is most of the gang picture taken at our last meal together do you think we where all happy?? everyone of these ladies was special and wonderful to be with. We ate at different tables, and socialized with each as a whole group it was so fantastic. The meals were excellent, they were buffet style and there was so much food I had to bow out of Sat supper cause I was still full from lunch. (I am in the one in the very back 3 from the right with some kinda funny face)

Ann had picked the Sampler blocks up at a garage sale and had made the flying geese blocks to go with them, this was her challenge she brought and I think she is doing a fabulous job

The picture above is a great pattern sorry I can`t remember the pattern but it was the rave for the longest time. Lynn did it with halloween fabrics don`t they look awesome she had all her blocks pieced but needed to put them together, I had never seen such a calm quilter at work. she was just so relaxed.

OHhhh and to show you the place we got to sew look at all the room! and the lighting was just fantastic, there is a stage in back of me and everyone was standing and showing their quilts or auditioning up there. Ann is there standing with her hands on her hips

Dorothy showing her gorgeous top! it was really exciting watching it come together the same with the one below, can`t remember this lovely ladies name right now but look at all that planning to make these quilts!

see the couch on the stage, I had a nap on that Sat afternoon, I just couldn`t keep my eyes open so crashed for about 15min (snap knap) and then back to sewing.
Shelley made the fabulous quilt below for her son she used jelly rolls I think it looks fabulous. Shelley also made a bag for both her daughter and son on the last day and put some goodies in them. what a nice thoughtful mom

I started a project below as you can see. This was another rage, Lone Star I got the middle together but will be doing the rest at home. I still have more photos but didn`t want to overwhelm everybody. This group is very productive they keep you hopping with wonderful ideas and creativity. I had a fabulous weekend and will do it again next year for sure. I was busy watching what others were doing and socializing really I did do more but it was guild homework. I had to do this at a quiet time so I was the early riser and was able to work on this while others where still snoring.

well back to work on my swap stuff thanks for visiting you`all and for perservering through this long post. The older you get the chatter you get..LOL there is just more to talk about.

Happy Hallow`s Eve

2011-10-31T06:33:00.002-04:00

I think I posted this one last year but thought it needed another presentation on this scarry night. I hope all the goblins stay safe and have great weather.

This is from a pattern Something Wicked This Way Comes. One of my favorite sayings and movies. I don`t see them playing this movie for Hallows Eve and it would be soooo Appropriate.

I am still working on my SS so I am not able to post anything right now everything else is on hold at the moment but loving what everyone is posting for Quilt Mart

Hand Quilting

2011-10-26T18:19:00.001-04:00

I had just added a button on my sidebar of hand quilting celebration. If you click on it you will come to a page where others are showing their hand quilting. I had hand quilted these little mini`s and thought I would bring them back to show you.

they both had gone into auction and I forget to get a finish of the stocking one
If you want a closer look you can always click on teh pictures.
We do need to have a revival on hand quilting. Quilt shows are wonderful with machine quilting but it would be nice if you got half and half.

I have some pictures that I will be posting later. Having some computer issues with getting my adobe to work and Active X (whatever they are) but will post soon.

Don`t forget those in the Ontario area that there is a quilt show coming up soon just Google York Heritage Quilt Guild and you will get all the information you need to get to the show. I know that you will love it

Well I have to get back to my SSS`s the dates are getting close and I need to finish them up.

Loving the rain...loving the fall colors soon we will have a winter wonderland. I have been in the mood for soup and I have been making everykind of lentil soup there is. Great for freezing and bringing to work for lunch.

I am not supposed to be here

2011-10-19T20:12:00.000-04:00

in the mini world right now

I am busy working on a few things been busy going to quilt shows and dealing with some real life things.

I had a V8 moment this week. Knew I had a guild meeting, thought for sure it was Wednesday, all organized, report for Office, baked a cake, had some show and share and my triangles to hand it only to find out that it was last night.

now you see why I had time to post, I thought I was to be somewhere else, is this what happens when you get close to 50?

Why?

2011-10-06T19:45:00.002-04:00

Dawn would like to know why you picked the name for your blog. I think this is great to understand about the person behind the blog. It is a wonderful idea.
So my reason is just what is says patchwork is keeping my sanity. I find that when I go to my quilt room and play that when I come out I am refreshed and ready to face anything so it has kept my sanity.

Hope to see others go to Dawn`s blog and post their name and let us know what made you think of that name

we three quilters

2011-09-26T18:02:00.001-04:00

We went out and had a great time at the Yorkshire Rose quilt show. I have set up a little slide show so you all can see...from left to right you see Mary, Me and Rosemarie. we are standing in front of my house and we got DH to take a picture...this was after the show do you think we had a good time?

A slideshow design by Smilebox

beee varwy careful wabbit

2011-09-25T20:30:00.000-04:00

i could only think of Elmer Fudd and his cute voice whispering in my ear as I sew these 3/4in strips into blocks for my mini Irish Chain (oh I see my table is a little dusty with fairy fabric dust)

I spent Saturday sewing this mini quilt together and had a great time doing it...with these mini`s you really need to be careful when sewing those 1/4 in seams

i really love how it turned out..I used snowflake fabric and it really added some texture with white on white strips!!

Finished size 8x9 1/2in

Blocks are 3/4in each

machine quilted you can click on the picture to enlarge.

pattern from Miniature Quilts Mag No23 May 1996

All that is left is the binding

56 FQ`s on the wall, if one of those FQ happen to fall

2011-09-12T07:58:00.000-04:00

I made a mistake and opened a Kim Diehl book Simple Graces and saw this gorgeous quilt. So taking a little itty bitty break from applique I started cutting FQ`s till I had enough to make it. This was only since Thursday. I can`t believe how much I got done!

This gave me a chance to dip into the FQ`s I have been buying and not done anything with.(a 20 year collection) I know I will be making another one of these. Each block that gets pieced I love. and no matter what fabric is used it is just the value that makes the difference. I really love how it is turing out. The sashings are with the squares that are in between the blocks and also there will be 2 rows of the blocks on the outside. I have made it bigger than what has been printed to fit my queen. Yes it is going to be mine, all mine..LOL. There will be a simple dark binding for it no prairie points for a change.

You wouldn`t know it but I just love very scrappy quilts and have the scraps but not the quilts to prove it. so this is very exciting to me. I have already decided that I will be quilting my favorite pattern on it the Baptist Fan and I am going to quilt this as a winter project.

The picture above is the start of a fantastic quilt show that I went to this weekend in Bobcaygeon Ontario Canada. I will post more pictures in the next post. I loved the Walking stick post. In the background is the first place I hit. That is were the members bring stuff from their needlework sanctuary to sell. I got loads of mags with great incentive.

This was a monster sampler that I just loved I did get another picture from the other side as well. isn`t it just great!!

I will say one thing when you go to a quilt show you are never alone. Quilters are so friendly and I met the best lady when I was there. We exchanged numbers at the end but we saw most of the show together and had coffee and had a wonderful chat about everything and anything it was like we had known each other for years....LOL

I also met some online girls that belong to the Canadian Quilters Yahoo group and they were a hoot too.

This was the perfect weekend weather wise I could have driven all over Ontario it is finally coming to the season that I love.

I`ve been having a little fun

2011-09-05T16:19:00.000-04:00

This is a finish got the binding done just have to bring back to my friends to give away. it was fun to do and we are going to make one for each other as well.

Then I put some prairie points on this lovely quilt will post a picture sometime this week and give you a little story behind how it came about. I do love it though

Also have a few more blocks put together. I thought I would have to make it bigger but I think it will be a generous queen quilt. There is still an applique boarder that has to go on and another row of basket blocks. I am really liking the antique look we are getting.

Then I did some shopping Evelyn`s quilt store had 50% off and so I just had to go. you can see a little pile of fabric there. the quilt with the prairie points is folded on the top there.

So it has been a little fun and I have got a few finishes under my quilty hat. I am sure you all thought I just started things...LOL have a great day.

Angels in Action

2011-09-05T07:34:00.000-04:00

I thought you would like to see the Angels in Action. This was set up on one side of the room as you can see that we had dragonflies and Penguins as well. The design team did a great job setting up the room. This runner will go to the Head lady of the organization.

Then you can see the smaller runners are set up on the chairs each color in their appropriate station. Each person that sat at these stations will be going home with these runners as a gift from the Head Lady.

It was great to make these wonderful angels but I think I am going to take a break from any commissioned work. I have 2 more to do and then I would like to finish my own stuff.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe Long Labor Day weekend

Like a rolling stone....

2011-07-24T19:33:00.001-04:00

I decided to give the applique a break today. I am starting those gold circles and they are a little tedious. I love my new iron though to work with them you can see it on the right of the portable ironing board

So I decided to start on a project that I had already cut out a while ago that has been sitting on the quilt frame...

Do you remember the Stonehedge fabric that I bought that I thought I would never buy? the pattern that talked me into buying this fabric was calling me so I started putting the blocks together.

then I needed a little break

so this is what is done so far...not as easy as it looks there are a few `Y`seams in there..but I love what is happening. I have 11 blocks pieced and I have about 7 blocks to finish and then I go to the celtic block. and then there is the celtic boarder...do I really have to work tomorrow??

Hope you all had a great weekend..as you can see we have left no stone unturned...LOL (honestly I am surprised how bright the blocks look they don`t look that bright in real life)

Pinch me!! am I dreaming!!!???

2011-07-21T20:12:00.000-04:00

I only wish

Rosemarie stopped by and brought my most favorite quilt all done, hand pieced and hand quilted it is so, so stunning! I had promised if she brought it and it got into my hands it would not be going home...I tried all night but the closest I got was wrapping myself in it and enjoying the moment.
Visit her blog by clicking on her name. Rosemarie does great tutorials that I am sure will keep you busy for hours, her show and share is just awesome remember most of these quilts are hand pieced and all hand quilted.

Do you remember this quilt. Monica came by last week and we put the rows together...well I thought we did. The next evening I was looking through another project (baskets and flowers) and on top was another row so I put that last row on and then dug through the stash found a little boarder strip and the kitty boarder around. I really can`t believe how much kitty fabric I have.
This quilts is meant to be a comforting lap quilt. I pieced the backing and now Monica will quilt it by machine. I will put the binding on so you will see her quilting. I am getting so excited about his project

Theeeennnnn there was a fabric sale and so Rosemarie and I went. The store was packed I was not going to stand in the crowd, Rosemarie was right in there...so I looked at some books that were 3 for $25 and that was all I got.
Rosemarie had an arms full of fabric and then we were on our way 2 blocks on to our next journey (Dairy Queen and another fabric store around the corner) Rosemarie liked this book that I got so we went back. The crowd had lessoned and so I ventured into the sale fabric...just look what happened!!

If that were not enough we went from Oshawa to Sew Sisters and got MORE fabric I got the 2 choice fabrics on the top for another project in mind...That`s okay Rosemarie did well there too...not only that she emailed me the next day and she said she went back for more!! LOL I can`t wait to see what else she got!
do you see that snow man fabric do I have a plan for that...you know the redwork quilt that has been so popular, that fabric will be perfect for my backing and prairie points in that quilt...have the pattern (thanks to my mom...I made the mistake and told her how much I loved that pattern and she bought it for me. Isn`t she the best?)
I am still working on the basket blocks just starting to applique circles on the centers of the flowers it is going to look very vintage with the Red and Gold (cheddar) flowers.
I will be finishing up my angels this week they have to be done for the conference at the end of August I don`t want to be rushed.
I am watching my plants wilt with this aweful heat soon summer will be over and I will enjoy the fall weather...it cannot be soon enough.
Keep cool for those that are wilting and for those that are enjoying their winter be lucky...

I was a winner!!!

2011-07-04T18:26:00.000-04:00

As promised my friends and I are celebrating with our new flag that I made last night. the last post has the link if you want to make it.

This flag is about postcard size if you would like to make it and send to a friend. This will remind me of 2011 and my start to a new job today...I think I am going to like it..yeah hooo!!

This big bag was sent to me through The Quilt Show. I had won it with 4 others they had picked my profile picture out of thousands. It is so full of things such as fabric, patterns, rulers, freezer paper, a rotary cutting board that rotates round (perfect for my mini`s when cutting)

Look at this awesome bag you can see inside that it was packed. I also got a Gammil hat but I have been wearing it so it is upstairs. That pen on the side is a Gammil pen too. Just an awesome goodie bag with loads and loads of stuff.. Thanks so my The Quilt show it was a wonderful surprise.

I thought I would show you this mini that I have hanging in front of my ironing board this was something I made from the left overs of another mini I had made earlier...just thinking that I need to get it quilted. I have a friend that really likes it..

Well off to get somemore of my baskets and flowers done. Slowly piecing the baskets and getting the flowers ready.

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T06:13:00.000-04:00

Click on the Title I found a wonderful little flag I made last night to celebrate it is by Temecula Quilt Co.
I will post a picture tonight but just grabbed some itty bitty scraps it was done in an hour and now I can wave my 2011 American flag.

Have a great day, and play safe

Oh Canada, our home, our native land

2011-07-01T18:54:00.001-04:00

I want to wish a Happy Canada Day and Congrats to those 40 citizens that have been sworn in to be Canadian citizens on this day at Black Creek Pioneer Village

I found this clip from the Globe and Mail Paper

Click on the header to hear our national anthem, it was a perfect day here to Celebrate!!

little by little

2011-06-29T19:56:00.000-04:00

my baskets are growning...i have not appliqued them but they are prepped to start. I still have to put the centre in the flowers as well...I love how they are turning out...

This is my mothers gorgeous garden (a very small portion of it) This is a Dogwood she has and it just flowered beautifully check out the hostas...

I had worked a night and mom had to drive us back to her house along the way she surprised me by stopping at this beach. I can`t remember when I took time to stop and put my feet in the sand. This was wonderful we laughed and the waves were big enough to get our pants wet...this was Lake Erie we found rocks and picked up a few to take home as a memory.

Today is my Dad`s birthday, I hope he had a wonderful day, I was not able to reach him personally but sang my Birthday song (he will tell me to keep my day job I am sure). It was a perfectly lovely day here not to hot but it is supposed to get warm for our wonderful weekend

HAPPY CANADA DAY everyone!! and also a wonderful Independence Day to all our American Friends...stay safe and hope you get a day to do a little quilting.

no is not the answer

2011-06-13T06:16:00.000-04:00

when a friend says lets make a quilt together. I don`t know if you all remember Monika but she suggested we make a quilt for a friend of ours and we have trouble getting together due to shift work we were finally able to set a date. We got together yesterday and sewed some of these kitties that we are making as the quilt, as you can see it is very very scrappy. We want our friend to be totally entertained with each of these kitties, she has kitties herself so she will love it.

As you can see Monika is holding up the pattern it is from an old McCall`s Magazine Oct 2000 (that is why I don`t get rid of my mags)see what we did so far what is great is we are using both our fabrics and we are very different yet they go together so well. I love this picture of Monika she looks so summery and happy.

After Monika left I kept going and finished the ones I had cut so we have a great head start on it. Monika has gone home with her little pile of background. We are using Muslin so that there is some resting area..LOL
do they not look cool!! if you want you can click on the picture and see what fabrics you probably have. We only have about 46 blocks more to go 1/2 way there already. I know that not one block will be the same...

Then we have this poor poor tie. My DH has asked me if it is done yet. He gave it to me to put a couple of stitches in about 3 weeks ago...no it is not done yet.. maybe tonight (I have only said that for the last 2 weeks) Don`t they know what priorities are when quilting??

Well have a great week...

This is a very late post. but just found my camera (had been using DH) I had this picture on it. When I lost my Dear Brit in Mar my friend Mary sent this wonderful bouquet of flowers. It was totally unexpected...but that is what friends do it was perfect at that time because it really brought spring into the home.

Don`t I have great friends!! well there is going to be a couple of quilty friends coming over on Thursday and then I have my mom so probably will not be on for about another week. I am getting better with the posting though. I guess a little more time...whew...no the garden has not been touched yet but maybe tonight.

is it just me

2011-06-10T06:45:00.000-04:00

time is just flying by almost the middle of the year already!
Today is my mothers birthday so I would love to wish her a Very Happy Birthday and we will be soon celebrating together. This is a picture of mom and I together getting ready to go out to a meeting. She had not seen me in glasses before and wanted a picture with me wearing them..LOL
I may be a tad taller but everything else is just like mom. Thinking of you all day Mom talk to ya later

I have all the basket handles on the 24 baskets now just appliquing the top half. I do these at work by going early and sitting on an outside terrace it is just lovely. I have 4 of the pieced baskets done...I think I will have to buy ALL the tickets to win this one.

This picture is of me and my Dad we are currently in this wonderful Heritage Lodge that he had orchestrated to be built. It was alot of work and pulling together lots of volunteer time to put this together but on the May long weekend they had their grand opening. I am so proud of my Dad for accompishing this landmark it is the first in Ontario and he was a big part of it. It really takes a great dream to see it through to the end. People will now come to the Heritage Village in Southern Ontario and see this beautiful building. I know when I see that I will see the pride and joy that went into building this monument for Masonic Lodges in Canada.

Way to Go Dad, High Five and big hugs

WOW`s are late again...LOL

2011-06-03T19:43:00.001-04:00

Well it is Friday and I am posting my WOW it just shows you how fast this week flew!! This quilt had been done a couple of weeks when I had been QOTM (quilter of the month at guild) I had this as a UFO for a couple of years and when mom and I got together I cut the boarders and she was nice enough (great mom!!) to sew those flannel boarders on for me. Not easy lots of weight on those arms. Then my friend Sandy a fantastic LAQ was able to get this done in time for me to show at our guild. I put all those prairie points on and Sandy still got it quilted for me within 24hours she had to stop and start at each end and that is called custom she did fantastic!! Love the pantograh and thread that she used...always got a big hug for her.

Then I am working on these baskets I have my fabrics all cut for the background and have started the baskets. I also have all the handles cut and am now putting them on the background I love how they are turning out. Can get this pattern from June 2011 Fons and Porter mag.

I also wanted to show you this glorious view that I get to see every spring. My mom gave me this as a sapling a couple of years ago and each year it is prettier and prettier. look at all that gorgeous pink!!

Red Bud Tree sapling was from my Mother

I also am a very big winner!! I won a package from The Quilt show and will post everything Sunday the bag is packed with goodies that I just have to share... will take pictures and post. I didn`t want to post to many pictures at once for those on dial up...

Past Wednesday WIP`s

2011-05-26T21:27:00.000-04:00

in my head is still Wednesday but it is already almost Friday where did the week go!! so I am a tad late but better to start the show.

Angels are taking wing

I am currently working on these runners that are almost done wonderful angels that are soon to be in new homes. They are a Pam Bono pattern and lovely to piece.
I changed the layout a bit to match with the instructions of the person these are to go to.
The pattern gives you one of the ideas on how they can be laid out.
There is a great tree skirt to make with these angels. I had put them away for a bit because I was not sure how I was going to work them and to quilt them as well...I posted about these a while ago

A new project is on the start this is from the Fon`s and Porter mag June2011 background baskets and some of the florals are being audition at present.
Butterflies for the background and perfect basket fabric.
This quilt is being made for someone else but I think I have to make 2 more at the same time one for Mom and me.. love it.

Then I made the big mistake and browsed Connecting Threads they had books on sale for 40 % off and so I bought new projects that I want to work on... Karen Kay Buckley, Piece o`Cake and Kim Diehl, KathleenTracy geesh then the Farmers wife and a redwork pattern that I feel in love with.. do you think I will be busy..yes yes yes but they are so delicious!!

sidebar additions

2011-05-24T02:33:00.000-04:00

Hey I hope I have not been given up on it has been a while I know but lots happening. I think I have a way to try to keep up a little though Ester has decided to have us blog on Wednesday`s about WOW`s so I can post progress. I have been quilting but just have not been showing the progress it has been mostly applique and piecing quilts for others.
Check out the sidebar!! I have added Ester`s button and you can check her out you will also see that she had started another BOM but it has been going for a couple of months.
You will also see a chance to win the most adorable Bee bear, like this is just so adorable go sign up for this treasure as well. Bears are so lovable and they are your best friend forever.
So tomorrow you will see some works in progress...finally

Stonehenge fabric

2011-04-22T10:28:00.001-04:00

I never thought that I would ever buy stonehenge fabric till I saw this pattern click on the title and it will bring you there. After I saw this I went to Sew Sisters they have a wide range with great prices bought the fabric and have cut out what I needed.. all I need is the time to start sewing it.
Right now I am working on a project that requires cutting up some dresses of long ago and sewing them into a quilt. I am using a quilt as you go method. As soon as I find where the heck I put my camera I will post.

This weekend is for the Bunnies and Earth Day hope you all are able to celebrate in some way.

Stop the world and let me off

2011-04-10T06:39:00.001-04:00

March surely came in as a lion. I have spent most of it back and forth to my mothers. She had eye surgery on each eye and it went really well. In between that time we pieced 2 sampler BOM`s into tops and made a stack and whack. Finished a flannel quilt top which is at my friends house she will machine quilt that one...no way am I hand quilting flannel!!. pictures will be next time.

These are swap blocks from 2007 that I have finally been able to get together. It was so big I had to lay it sideways so the iron is not floating. The log cabin pattern was from one of the BOM's my mother was doing at another store I liked it so much I decided to use it for this layout of my siggy blocks. It will be called "Friends around the block". I see with this picture it is not together but it is now..LOL

This was the mini I had made to go to Ireland, I forgot to take a picture of it done I had quilted 1/2 inch grid on it. Micki has not received it as yet the mail is taking forever!! I had cut it with the swag so that it is curved binding around it. This was fun to make but alot of work for a short time. I know Micki is making a big Rose of Sharon and thought this would go nicely with it.

These are the blocks I just got back from my canadian yahoo group are they not gorgeous!! I am going to put 4 1/2in maple leaves in the sashing with the siggy squares we all made to go with the blocks it will be fall like.

I also had some sad news my poor Britnee has finally gone to puppy heaven Mar 29th. She was 13years old and had a great life. I thank God for letting me borrow her for a while. DH and I have decided no more puppies. This part of their lives is just to hard to take.

Well I am going to be quilter of the Month at one of the quilt guilds I belong to York Heritage there are over 150 members and they all know me but what is really exciting is Becky Goldsmith is going to be there so I am bringing my Flourishes quilt and my Aunt Millies...they are both still flimsies but I am sure she will love to see them.

In Memory of Judy Hopkins passed Mar 9 2011

2011-04-04T21:47:00.000-04:00

I just read very sad news today a great quilter has passed I have used her books many times for different projects I am sure you have read when I have made my swap blocks using her fantastic books for reference.

I had emailed her late last year to say how much I had enjoyed her books not expecting a response cause I am sure she received many but she did email back with exciting news that she would be coming out with a new book I couldn`t believe that I got a reply it was so kind of her...this is a great quilting loss to me.

Keep healthy quilters

I will have pictures to post later this weekend I got my wonderful mini from Micki and some other stuff will be posted.

Sneaking another peak

2011-02-08T18:06:00.003-05:00

Well as you can see I tried to be a little designer with the cut but of course didn`t work...
I had to do this that Micki is just a tease and only posted a bitty bit of hers oh what is a quilter to do!! it looks fabulous go take a look and also see her new furry adorable friend

back to work just thought I would give you another taste to see what I am up to instead of cleaning up before my quilty friend comes over...she`ll understand...quilting is just so much more important than housework!! all I can say is I have a clean bathroom but there are dishes in the sink and I am typing instead of vaccuuming...

See ya later

Mini update

2011-01-31T19:49:00.005-05:00

I am being watched, this tree is just across from my computer chair and this is the sign that Nosey wants a treat, looking at this picture I think that I am in `wild kitdom` toys everywhere

I am trying to think of ways that I can show bits of my mini without giving it away as I am making progress, so here is all the fabric that has been cut to get it prepared, my bitty pile of scraps

okay, okay this is a corner. I have all the pieces prepared and on the background now I am just appliquing it all then quilting it...I know she will like it, those circles are the size of the eraser at the end of my pencil.

still working on my other stuff while I am on break at work but this I am working on at home.

Have a great 2weeks cause that seems to be the way of posting right now.

We are getting ready for a big snow storm tomorrow...oh I wish we could have a snow day but that won`t happen in Toronto I will tell you that!!

Blueberries are in season!!

2011-01-21T16:18:00.005-05:00

Well I may have got a few peoples attention, blueberries are in season at my house anyways. I just finished getting the basket blocks ready for applique using the no melt templar method. Since I was already making the berries for the basket blocks I made them for the tulip blocks. I didn`t realize that I had been missing leaves as well on these tulip blocks and had to make more!! a quilters work is never done so now to applique these
This pattern I had started 2 years ago and it is from the Your Invited Book by Adams and Allen Black Bird designs, this quilt was designed by Lorraine Hofmann it is called Country Sunshine, every quilt in this book is worth making so get the book.

I also have the Aunt Millies blocks all pieced together with the lattice work sashing I am also going to piece the boarder like long brick work in different off whites and beiges to keep with the really scrappy look then I have to start the applique on the boarder..I am not using the same applique boarder there will be some changes to that as well since the boarder will be a bit wider.

I am also in a doll quilt swap and my swappy already knows what she is going to do it is Micki

Irish Muses, she has been a faithful follower of mine and I am so fortunate to get her. She lives in my most favorite part of the world, click on her name and read her wonderful and creative blog.

Thanks to Christine of Once Upon a Quilt who has hosted this swap and also holding auctions of her wonderful quilts to help the Australian flooding organization. You can visit her blog to read more about it.

I have a great idea for a doll quilt for Micki but can`t post anything about it cause then she will know what it is right away. I hope she doesn`t guess when we post bits and pieces as we go along.

well back to quilting work..thank goodness it is the weekend!!

Love Letters with a Friend

2011-01-12T09:06:00.003-05:00

here is Sandy`s lovely blocks she loved the pattern so much she bought the book and started working on hers, we are keeping each others incentive up when we visit each other we stitch on our blocks. I think we should visit each other more often. Sandi was not sure on how to needleturn so I gave her some pointers on how to and she just ran away with it and look at the super work she is doing
Here are my blocks..oops sorry the chair edged its way over...

here is Sandy getting block 5 ready it is so funny when she comes over she has about 2 bags of fat quarters and all her equipment needed to work on her project plus her phone her kids are all over the world right now Washington, London, Calgary so she always has her phone handy.

Sandy had moved into a beautiful home and has her new LAQ machine all set up and ready for quilting she is amazing!! just like her work as you saw earlier on my applique butterfly quilt where she Mctavished it all..

Weather wise it snows here but I would rather that than the flooding my thoughts go out to all Austrialian friends that are affected by this terrible trauma.

One way to get incentive

2010-12-30T10:40:00.001-05:00

One of my gifts was a wonderful pack of 5in squares from my SS (Secret Santa)

Then I found this Blog which brought me to Kathleen Tracy`s blog which brought me to her Smallquilttalk yahoo group which had the pattern posted for a challenge they were working on from Moda

So now you see the trail it is amazing what you can find for incentive to get you motivated. I love mini quilts and this pattern was perfect I did not waste 1 ioda of fabric

Below I had started to make HST and found them too big so made them in half again and now have a doll quilt that is only 7in x 9in. I don`t think I will put a boarder on this one but just some binding.

I am going to machine quilt this little one but hand quilt the 1800 vintage one.

as you can see below a little spooning going on with mother and daughter that is their kitty quilt I made that by hand about 22 years ago now…geesh time flies when you are having fun.

Happy New Year to you all and hope to see your new creations for 2011

Santa`s sleigh is empty!!!

2010-12-24T14:01:00.007-05:00

cause I think it all came to my house!!!

The first gift I received was this wonderful old world Santa panel all made up and ready to hang from my Secret Santa she also gave me a wonderful kitchen towel with Christmas candies on it.
She lives in Ohio and is still waiting for the one I sent her 2 weeks ago.... Thank you so much Marion it is a great Christmas treasure

The parcels above are just amazing all except the package on the left bottom of fabric came out of another huge envelope from my Secret Santa while I was emptying out the package DH and thought it was never going to end, it was an avalanche of presents. I didn`t want to bore you with the wrapped gifts so DH and I opened them so you can see all the prezzies.

The package on the left bottom is gorgeous William Morris fabric I had won (which I am still pinching myself I can`t believe I won) on Michelle`s blog just click on her name and you will see these gorgeous peonies she is sharing with us right now she has a fantastic blog.

The other gifts are from another group I belong to that is just Canadian`s and is on yahoo. It is called Canadianquiltersonline
My SS was MIA and that is understandable cause life happens she was having some health issues but I just got this yesturday and you have to click closer to look I got a whole quilt store of goodies I tried to take a picture of everything. Even that homemade scarf on top which is perfect a Mug Rug and Glass bottom stem holders just unbelieveable....and I am telling you that is not all click on the picture and you will see everything more clearly

I have not had a tree up since I got the cats and now you can see why this tree has only been up for 5 min and Miss Molly had to check it out the last time I had one up she climbed it . Under the tree is the most thoughtful people in the world. Knowing that my SS was under the weather I did not expect anything next thing ya know I am getting these little squishes in the mail marked SSE. and in it were tokens of these wonderful gifts SSE stood for Secret Santa`s are Everywhere. These are all from the Canadian quilters on Line group they are very thoughtful. I can `t thank them enough this could not have come at a better time.

They could not have been more thoughtful so for about 2 weeks now I have been getting squishes and I don`t think there are any left for you others waiting out there..I got them all!!
Look at all this loot amazing!!

I had been working on a quilt and this was a piece that was left over that is flannel so I have sewn it into a little case for my camera. I can`t take a picture of the camera in the little case cause I am using it..LOL

Also on the Canadian Group we have decided to do a swap on Maple leaves and like the eager beaver I am (pun intended) I have already made 12 of the blocks..I hope you can see the fabric it is very very cool they really look like leaves

Well I want to thank all the bloggers that post their quilting journey`s and their free patterns and their whimsy ways. Your travels through the quilting world is very enjoyable and I hope that in the New Year we are able to share more.

Merry Christmas to you all and have a safe, happy, and healthy New year

I have been singing here comes Santa Claus all day.

2010-11-07T17:21:00.002-05:00

I know it is early but I saw real snow yesterday and that got me in the mood.

I started my swap gifts on some of the forums I belong to and just finished the binding on this quilt. It is a mini that measures 19 x17 hopefully if you click on the picture it will get bigger so that you can see the wonderful fabrics

I saw the pattern above in a Miniature Quilts Mag No 58 and thought that I would make my own rendition of it this one is 17x17

Both done in the last 24hours hope you like it. These will be part my swap package. It was just such great fun to work on quilting again. I just wish that I could work some real machine quilting magic.

I am almost finished my block 4 of the Love Letters BOM

When I am at lunch I pull out this beautiful block and add a few stitches.

I had also started working on a BOM program at Quilters Palette they have it where you pay 10 dollars to start and then you bring in your finished block. If it is finished then you get the next one. If your block is not then you pay again. I also had DH sign up which I am glad I did you will see why

There are 2 patterns one for the 12in block or 2 6in so DH`s blocks are 12ìn and mine are the 6in. so far so good eh??

Well as you can see it is busy busy now with quilting. I have a row robin to put together for one of the guilds I belong to that has to be done next week and I think that is about it.

I will post my baskets that I got back from another group I belong to next time, everyone of them is just fabulous.

Our First Snowfall

2010-10-31T17:14:00.003-04:00

this is what happens when I go to the computer it becomes a lap cushion for this particular girl..if I stop petting her she decides she needs to knock things on the ground or starts to kneed my leg..most times as I am typing she is lying her chin on my arm which makes it difficult to reach some letters..LOL
Below is my first snow fall...we are lucky as quilters cause we can make it any season we want when it is the dead of winter and we need some bright flowers to cheer us up we can make a bright quilt and that is our summer... right now I would love some snow so this is my first snowfall. I bought this kit at the Orangeville quilt show 2 weekends ago and had it all together in 2 days that is with working too... click on it and you can see it closer.. I am not a batik fan but this one really caught my eye...

So being in the mood to sew I had picked up a book at one of the guild meetings I go to and got incentive to make an antiquy quilt..I didn`t have the red`s that it had but I loved this guild fabric I got from Sewing Machine Factory and the background for another 2 tone quilt...hmmmmm

looks like there may be a theme behind this post.. 2 tones...I started this on Wednesday and have 5 x 7 rows done already....getting out into the quilting world had helped get my mojo back I am also working on my Love Letter blocks and almost have block 4 to post...am also working on a BOM from another quilt store Quilters Palette.

I thought I would have a great slide show of pictures with all the quilt shows I went to this year but I only have 1/2 of them my chip in my camera malfunctioned...( big disappointing sigh) but I do have half of them so will see about getting alittle time to load them

Right now quilting is keeping my sanity work is challenging at the moment but I take each day as a new day and try again...I just keep thinking I am lucky to have a job...I am lucky that I am well and healthy and able to go to work everyday...I am very lucky to have an outlet.. my quilting...

Great Buy-LAQ`S or wanna be`s

2010-09-30T18:03:00.002-04:00

My friend Sandy is selling her HandiQuilter to upgrade on another machine (she made a mistake and went to a weekend LAQ`s convention...and found the perfect machine to upgrade too..)

Her machine is in excellent condition and is perfect for anyone interested in buying/or thinking of buying a machine. You can email her at slindal@hotmail.com . I have seen the quilts she has done on this machine and believe me they have been beautiful.

HandiQuilter-Fusion 24in if you have dreamt about LAQìng this is an excellent buy...it is only 1 year old...tell her Deb sent cha...

On the other note I have been so crazy busy working many hours and getting used to my new job...quilting has taken a back burner at the moment so that I can adjust to all the life changes.. one thing I noticed working days is that more people are holding there heads...but I love my job and know that I will finally settle down there... thanks for your patience I have lots of pictures but no time to show them off...

remember there are 3 quilt shows this weekend. Ingersoll, London and Essex check the Canadian Quilters Association link for all the details I was hoping to hit one of them but I am working nights this weekend and really don`t have time to travel that far it is 2hours from me...Essex is the farthest almost 5hours....but I can dream... I am hoping when October starts up life will be a little more normal...I can only hope

Fallen Angels

2010-08-27T05:58:00.005-04:00

RUTH

ESTER

MARTHA

ELECTA

ADA

OUR WONDERFUL STAR POINTS..the one on it`s own at the bottom was a sample from scraps...she is mine (nun) these colors are specific to each angel. the fabric is specific to the coming year...snowflakes...now to hunt for a gold star for the angels to carry and lead them on their way

I found this pattern by Pam Bono in our Guild sale where someone threw it in the free box...it could not have been more perfect timing

off for the conference...loving the day life starting to get used to being out of the fog

Pets on Quilts

2010-08-13T18:17:00.005-04:00

SewCalGal has a great idea on people posting pictures of their pets on quilts... I had many pictures on my pc but am not able to get them as you know earlier with all the problems I had. so I dug out my disks and found this one on it.. it is one of my fav`s... as you can see Joey loved to help with laying out the blocks embarrassing to say but this poor quilt is a flimsy and has not been quilted yet...but it is together...LOL he was a handsome gentle kitty...

Brit and I went to the Groomers today..an old one we used to go to till they moved...it was great seeing them again Colleen and Paul they own the pet shop called Muddy Paws..what a great name I know!!!...well they handled my geriatric girl with great care and let me stay with her as she was groomed. I sure wish we had a before and after shot but Colleen took this picture.. Britnee and her chunky mama...and as you can see she is gorgeous...my what big ears you have girl
We were going to Petsmart in Pickering Ontario for a couple of years there was a girl that was grooming her and did a great job.. but the last time I am not sure what happened but they had really chopped up her hair even the girl at the counter told me to bring her back and get her cleaned up...well I guess they didn`t like that cause they had refused us this time...saying that because of her condition that they don`t think that they could be liable for her...
Muddy Paws had no problem I was with them the whole time (only took 1 1/2) and Britnee did exceptional.. so I was very disappointed in Petsmart they thought they were thinking of the dog but in reality when a dog gets comfortable at a groomers it is not good to change.
Lucky for Brit and I Colleen took us in we were long time clients when we first started our life journey together and now we will continue with her in our geriatric journey ahead...so glad that we have wonderful people like her on this earth.
Colleen took this picture of Brit and I after the grooming..Happy Pup..

and not to be left out in any way would be this favorite picutre I found of Molly or should I say Princess Molly... those awesome eyes and bushy tail...

I am working on some quilting projects that are almost at their end will post them soon.. have patience and have a great weekend...

Picton Ontario Quilt show 2010

2010-07-31T13:30:00.003-04:00

I composed a little slide show of our adventure to the slide show... I see that date on the side ooops it is actually 2010..LOL

Photo album generated with Smilebox

It was a great time perfect weather and fabulous company

On a personal note. I have been working shifts for many years and now will be working days with a new position that I am excited about so there will less time on the PC...usually I sit here when I have worked nights and feel like a zombie, I am not able to function and work around the house for fear of falling over...so it will be nice to actually join the rest of the world with their chaotic lives of rush hours and line ups...LOL
I am even sure that I will be able to get more quilting done now that I might be able to see right
It is the long weekend in Canada this weekend I am working my last night this weekend so celebration is in order...you all have a great weekend and celebrate my good fortune

dancing the night away

2010-07-19T09:13:00.003-04:00

we went out for the first time in ages and had a blast met some real cheeky people and had a great time dancing..

What was great is they liked the same dances and music it was a fantastic time!!
above is the view from the boat we were on downtown CN Tower

Waiting to board the bot..me in the red...

This gentleman above boarded us on.. isn`t he friendly looking...

This is the sky while we were waiting...very stormy weather looking but it all cleared up and it was just perfect...I get sea sick so glad it was all smooth sailing... thanks to new friends and a wonderful DH..

shop til ya drop

2010-07-18T14:10:00.003-04:00

I went to a sale a couple of weeks ago where all these kits were 50 percent off.. now I could not resist them!! this one I will use the fabric for something else but you could not get these for the price I did on their own.. so I nabbed it...

the one below I have been eyeing this kit at another store for ages and ages and they wanted way to much money for it...so I only pet the picture as I walked out the door well...guess what I had bought so much from this store she let me have it for almost half so I was very very happy..you will see the date since 2006 believe me I have been eyeing this since then.. I want to make it in the turquiose colors but I also want to make it in scrappy civil war so now I also have the pattern. if you would like to visit her store just click on my title it will link you there...they have some very gorgeous fabric there....like I mean gorgeous!!!

this is my yo yo village as you can see we are coming along it takes alot of thought when you are limited on the amount of fabric choices. I would have these kits made up of fat 1/8`s fabric choices than 1/4`s for more variety.. but it is coming along

I went out on a boat cruise with my honey last night around the Toronto Islands...we had a great time meeting other people and also dancing....but boy it was hot and today I am suffering from hip pain...to much of the old dance moves in a body that hasn`t done it in a while...will post some pics for next time with other goodies I bought...

I am so in love with another applique quilt that is hitting the bloggin circuit..not sure if you all are following Janet (quiltsalott) but she is appliquing a wonderful Kim Mclean quilt that you have to go visit...this is the second Aussie designer that I have fallen for...these ladies on the island are just so talented...I am soo sooo soo tempted.

Want to Learn Handwork

2010-07-16T04:34:00.004-04:00

You should go visit Crispy on the left of her sidebar you will see an icon Hand Piecing with Crispy she is an excellent quilter and does ALL her quilts by hand...yes all the piecing and quilting and applique. Crispy has done alot of work in preparing for these tutorials which took precious quilting time away from her. Take a moment and go visit I am sure with this fast pace world we can all slow down for a minute and work with our hands again.

So if you want to visit her site you can click on her name to see what quilts she has lovingly created if you want to go right to the tutorial click on the headline of this post I will also add her button to my sidebar.

Thank goodness it is Friday!!!

the priceless items continue

2010-07-15T16:51:00.004-04:00

I was in a block swap earlier in the year through a yahoo group of Repro Fabrics these are the wonderful blocks I got back...now it is not often that you are in a swap where every block is to the correct measurements, the 1/4in is exact all around the outside perimeter and that the piecing is so perfect. Each of the swappers really paid attention to their work and fabric choices...All of the blocks were fabulous.. that to me is priceless...

I have 30 blocks and now have found the perfect pattern that I will use to put these gorgeous blocks together. This is found in the McCalls Quilting magazine June 2007 designed by Sarah Maxwell and Dolores Smith each block has a sample block I will have to make a few more but oh this quilt will be so worth it!!!

Well I think that is the end for now in the priceless department...for now...LOL

a special note if you would like to read more on my LAQ that quilted my applique quilt 2 posts back you can read about Sandy Lindal just click on her name the store did a little feature on her today!!

more priceless items

2010-07-13T05:49:00.005-04:00

This is another quilt I had started about 8 years ago...it was a workshop...I got as far as making all the baskets but didn`t get in the mood to make the flowers
I mentioned this to my Mom and she piped up with I`ll do them...sure okay...this was her first project in applique...she dug through my stash of mostly scraps at the time and started with these gorgeouse blocks

she counted them and said you don`t have enough baskets you need to make more...okay so I have just pulled out the fabric and made 6 more baskets she is now going to take them home and make more precious blocks to go with these others below.

are they not gorgeous she was a beginner at the time and her work was fantastic she just followed Eleanor`s instructions in her book. I love them all and they are dimensional too!!

I was lucky enough at a guild garage sale to pickup another book as above for a $1 with Eleanors siggy in it...I am giving this one to Mom since she likes her so much.

Mom is here with me this week so you know what we are doing. I will post when she is back home what we have done.

Priceless

2010-07-12T03:28:00.003-04:00

One Long Arm Machine...15000.00
One Applique top wall hanging....25.00
One Friend....PRICELESS

Look what Sandy did for me!! she wanted to try a Mctavishing techinque in LAQ and this is what she did....thanks so much Sandy for a priceless heirloom. I have to finish the binding, put the antenna`s up and then it will be on the wall

I don`t have to say much more I will wait till you catch your breath...

I`m live!!!!

2010-07-08T21:43:00.006-04:00

and what better way to show it by giving a little garden happiness.. I had taken some of these pictures at 5am so that is why the background is so dark

my clematis one of them

my climbing hydrangea the first year it has flowered so much last year I got one at the top...LOL notice all the hostas bowing to this tower of flowers

this is one of my favorite climbers but not sure what it is I love the thingy that holds the bloom it is oval and the flowers are so different to me..

in my glory (don`t mind the grassy weeds in front) they left after the photo was taken

My first post on my new hard drive and I am so happy next will be some quilt shots. My friend Sandy had Mactavished (machine quilting design) one of my applique wall quilts I will be picking it up tomorrow...I didn`t sleep well all day I am so excited cause I know it will be exceptional...
well off to work...bye bye my wee hard drive I just want to hug it right now...

oh and I will be going to the Picton Quilt show this weekend.. I never miss their show really worth going too that is Picton Ontario

I am almost live!!

2010-07-06T08:29:00.003-04:00

well I broke down and bought a new harddrive...got all excited and posted the joy I felt on facebook...chatted with a few buds briefly (this on DH pc) now to run down and get set up. The bargin was that they would upload all my software that I had on the old hard drive...DIDN'T HAPPEN.

So I am on the phone and now I am really perturbed (politely saying) what are we going to do?? I started uploading my d-link so I could at least start uploading myself and I get a .dll message.. anyways enough Geek jargin...I am now patiently waiting 2 more days so that I can play in blogland...

I am so happy that I can read the blogs and do push it a little by posting a little on my blog but would also like to join blog parties....right now I am hooked on this blogger Jen she is the cre8tive blogger and her posts are of Barns that carry Quilt Blocks in WI.. Well I love barns and then to top it off she shows their blocks...but she also goes one step further and posts a beautiful BOW (block of the week) you can piece them or she also posts another alternative.. paper piecing. Go have a visit believe me you will love it.

Soon quilt bloggers soon. I know I have been promising but now that I have a new hard drive my promise will be fullfilled.. 6long months is just to long.

This picture was taken a while ago it is the quilt pox..LOL..no I had made the yoyo's and appliqued them to the squares...it is all put together now and am now just finishing the houses to applique on the boarders. 2 boarders are done. This pattern is from Bunny Hill Designs but I am making it for Sew Sisters if you would like to get the pattern.. the yo yo maker really makes it easy

well it is almost 10am and I want to be at Best Buy's doors when they open

posting a little something

2010-06-06T14:56:00.005-04:00

How about this quilt!! my mom was in a BOM and she made 2 of them (my Dad's blocks) to my surprise and delight she gave me (Dad's) blocks we spent one Saturday putting all the blocks together (both quilts) with the corner stones and sashing...we hadn't decided on a boarder yet..I told Mom we needed something billowy, big flowers...well I went to Sew Sisters she had the boarder fabric on her 6.99 shelf..so I bought the whole bolt so that we could use it for both our quilts and the lovely green fabric as well..used for the inner boarder...

I started cutting the prairie points and ironing hoping to have them done by the next time Mom and Dad came..but didn't...well I must say there was a little quilter in my home while I slept and worked.. she got allllll the points on both quilts!!

Awesome job Mom.. those points are perfect and they really make the quilt...
Don't they look great with that boarder fabric....we couldn't get so lucky the boarder fabrics was perfect for the quilt..I can't help but admiring her piecing too... my mom is really a beginner but I think now she should fall under intermediate.

I have been busy making baskets as well for .....yes another block swap I am in... I have to make 30 of them in repro fabrics 10 of each pattern.. I love the hanging basket one.. those little triangles are 1in finished!! I have started the other one...

These are the 3 baskets I am now on my third ones and it is called Tulip in the basket..this one is trying my patience..I have so sew very very slowly..but it is also my favorite one. All these patterns are out of the 501 quilt blocks by Judy Hopkins this is an excellent resource to have in your quilters library

I am using scraps out of my barrell and as you can see the recent scraps of the quilt above....kinda designing it as I go along... poor top was sitting for so long I thought I would put a boarder on it and practice my hand quilting on it...those hearts are on 1 1/2in squares...

I was working on a "misfit" quilt these are some of the blocks I had hanging around.. I did some work on it and have put it away again...it has changed since this picture already will pull it out and see again.. this one will be something to really contemplate on..it is from scraps in the barrell too...

an introduction to my girl Britnee.. she is now 13yrs (part Bouvier/Sheppard) she is my little geriatric girl...this is her station when her Da is there eating knowing some will come her way...her hearing is going, she is on anti inflammatories and urinary retention pills...she has lots of grey and her eyes are cloudy...but when I get home from work she is like a puppy running in circles happy to see me home...I love this girl she has been through thick and thin with me...I know I have talked about the cats but I don't think Brit got her debute...later I will show you were she likes to sleep..

Well my PC is back in the shop and they are going to work on it for free.. so hopefully whatever they do it is fixed.. my EQ7 is coming soon and I want to play...

DH let me use his pc to upload shots and give you an idea of what has been going on... thanks for your wonderful patience please stand by we will be in commission soon enough...

New BOM -Carol Doak

2010-06-02T05:05:00.004-04:00

If you like paper piecing you are going to love Carol Doak's new BOM free in Yahoo click on the title of this blog. Carol is designing wonderful BOM (June is up) and connector blocks that are just going to absolutely be a perfect start for those that want to use them for other quilts as well..
Join in... it is free and there are numerous other patterns she has with swaps, and other free patterns. This is a very active group all to do with Carol Doak patterns and products they always have something(s) going on.

My pc is still not functioning but I am going to "borrow" DH pc and get some pictures up.. I have been going crazy with making somemore Swap blocks.. I know I know but I can't help it!! I had said no more but really I can't help it.. this is irresistable

now I don't know if you want something simple to do you have to go and visit Molly she has a wonder BOM going on with different primitive trees I am sure you would love to do for summer

Well just wanted to let you know I am still here and to bring some good quilty news...pc goes back in the shop and so we will see if we can get'er fixed right!!

EQ7-don't miss this

2010-05-06T22:55:00.003-04:00

EQ7 upgrade for only 49.95!! that is the best deal ever!! you will need to visit this blog and order now she has this till May 25 even the shipping still makes it worth it!! you can click on my title and it will bring you to her blog and then she has the link to her site.

I found out the pictures I took were on my DH camera so please wait a day more for some pictures lots of downloading has occured on the pc..

for those inquiring minds D-Link is a wireless link to the home computer..I didn't want more wires and holes in my wall for the cable to run down.

Hugs Blogging friends.

I'm finally back

2010-05-05T22:09:00.002-04:00

well I know it has been a little while but I finally am back ...stay tuned for posts and pics..but for now I want to say thank you for your patience...
and thank you to http://www.techvedic.com they were very patient and walked my through on how to reset my d-link...
tomorrow quilting adventures will return

the happy dance all over the house

National Quilting Day Celebration

2010-03-21T20:45:00.006-04:00

I know I am late..but I figure that the celebration is for the weekend and what better way then visiting blogs and working on your own projects

Do you remember when I said that I won't be doing any more swaps for the year? as they say famous last words... I initiated the one below a yahoo group Cyberquilters posted a pattern

Snowglobes!! well I could not resist so I brought it forward to one of my forums. Quilters last resort as a theme "Christmas in July" these are wonderful to make and easy we are only fusing them and the recipient will be able to applique them this way you can be continuous in your thread and stitch..are they not adorable!! I used Laurel Birch fabric
The fusing is called soft fuze and it is fantatic to work with I was able to get some at Cockadoodle quilts
Jo Ann was teaching a wonderful class go to her site and you can click on her blog she has great pictures of show and share and what's always new at the shop!! Here are all the snow globes on the wall I would like to make these as another type theme too...like maybe a travelling them...

Next I needed a carry all for my applique I bought this gorgeous fabric at Sew Sisters for only 5.99 a meter so I bought enough for the backing of my Reaching for the Stars quilt and thought I would also make a applique carry case too..as you can see I made it large enough to fit my Love Letter blocks...

Now don't shake your head at me this IS the last swap that is it..I could not resist this gem either the same forum Quilters Last Resort another friend of mine initiated these blocks for a swap. There are 3 different blocks I chose this one cause I had a wonderful blue for the boy we are fusing but not sewing this way we can again use what thread we would like for uniformity.

Now how easy is that??

Here is the design wall with all the guys together...I just love them!!

So in between working nights this weekend I was able to get these done I have until the end of June for these but I still have to sign them

By reading all of the blogs I am following everyone is busy getting their last bit of sewing in before the nice weather comes and we have to be outside.. I start my 2 weeks days and tomorrow I am hitting the gym to try to get ride of some of this winter fat... thanks for visiting.. I hope everyone else had a great weekend

Swaps are such fun!!

2010-03-08T08:44:00.004-05:00

Well I have also signed up for a couple of swaps and got my blocks done...a while ago I would say but now I am posting them as well
I belong to a Repo Fabric group on Yahoo trying to learn as much as I can and we were to make 6" block a group of ten without using a muslin or plain background...these are the three blocks I made.
My resource was the Judy Hopkins book 501 Quilt Blocks it has many of the old blocks designed in many sizes. I just love this book...

the one above is called Farm Friendliness...

The one above is called Picket Fences

the one above is my favorite I love how the block makes a secondary pattern when put together. it is called Crosses and Losses I know I should have displayed them better but they have already gone to the swap coordinator

I am also in a stack and whack swap on Connecting Threads we were to make 50, 10in blocks and send them in so you can see some of them below..the fabric is by Designer Carol Doak- Floral Affair -Autumn.. I know I loved it cause I bought the whole bolt at Sew Sisters I am going to make a Star of Elegance quilt as well with this fabric and do some Broiderie Perse on the outside this fabric is perfect for it...beautiful Broiderie Perse swags!!!

Well I think that is about it for now I will be showing some applique sometime this week..it was nice to cut and sew some fabrics and see some accomplishment..applique can be a little tedious when you don't see results fast enough. I have one more quick piece I will show you later in the week.

Now to go downstairs and get my dlink working.. this is about all the pictures I have uploaded on my DH pc' the thing is just so slow.. I got places to go people to see and blogs to visit!!

If you want to visit any of the places I mentioned just click on the lightly colored text it will bring you there..

Until next time stay healthy and hope you are able to get some show and share in..

I can't stand it!!

2010-03-06T11:41:00.004-05:00

I have to borrow my DH pc and download pictures for you all to see I got my Reaching for the Stars quilt pieced together. This is a pattern by Minick and Simpson they published it in the Oct 2008 American Patchwork and Quilting magazine. I fell in love with the quilt right away..it is a king sized quilt..no I don't have a king sized bed..but how can I resist. (I love this magazine)

I pulled fabrics from my stash the only fabric I bought was the Background it has some pinkish stars on it and is not as bright as what it shows here in the picture
When I hung this thing there was no wind but then you know how it goes the breeze started to blow...so I ran to stop the quilt from dragging on the semi melting ground and took a big spill!! DH came to help me...LOL what we will do to dispay our quilts
Well I hope you like it now for the quilting. I debated about getting it machine quilted but have changed my mind and will be hand quilting this one it will be simple. I want to admire all those fabrics..don't ask how many there was.. the corner blocks are 32" inches I didn't measure the quilt... because there is no backing on the quilt the fabrics are brighter than they seem.
I would like to thank Minick and Simpson for a wonderful pattern everything fit together like a glove...I am going to make another one.. I am not afraid of "Y" seams anymore!!

next blog...

2010-02-12T02:20:00.002-05:00

this blog is doing the most fantastic BOM for applique lovers.. http://erinrussek.typepad.com/one-piece-at-a-time/ now you will have to get it from the sidebar I am not able to put it on my sidebar till I get my pc.. but she is currently demonstrating how to make a feathered star..so get on over and take a boo..

I am off to my parents this weekend for a visit and will be sewing up some sampler blocks mom has done through one of the stores.. 10$ Saturdays.. if you make all your blocks your quilt will cost you only 10$ I wish we had that in Toronto... Saturday Samplers were always fun!!

so have a great weekend looking forward to the opening of the Olympics and a nice visit with mom and dad..

okay I can't show you but I can lead you...

2010-02-11T04:05:00.002-05:00

If you want a great new blogger to view and see the great tutorials she is doing you gotta go to http://quilton.blogspot.com/ she is making the row by row by http://www.fatcatpatterns.com
and it looks so awesome.
Then there is this wonderful applique BOM going on the Civil War Bride Quilt http://thecivilwarbridequilt.blogspot.com/ and the blocks are amazing there.
I will be back with another one but have to find where it is...

I miss you all!!

2010-02-10T04:20:00.002-05:00

I am not able to post pictures to my blog of what I have been doing..my poor pc has been in the shop for almost a month..I brought it do to some viral issues and then they didn't fix it so brought it back and now there are other issues..they are fixing it but it is taking some time.
I have been making things 30 6" repo blocks for a swap for a repo group on yahoo, 50 4 patch posie blocks for a stack and whack group on http://quiltwithus.connectingthreads.com , and now on to 10 Asian girls from http://www.fatcatpatterns.com just scroll on her side and you will see all her wonderful patterns and free BOM's..this is with a group http://quiltersresort.forumotion.net/ I have taken pictures cause I fear that when I get my pc these will all be done and gone...probably have my new ones..
So I miss you all but have been following your wonderful winterlands and BOM, quilts and also quilting.
I am down to 2 of my AMG blocks and have started # 4 of Love letters...

I need a break!!

2010-01-14T14:47:00.005-05:00

this picture won a quilt photo award in the Connecting Threads Quilt with Us forum.. I am just stunned. there are over 13,000 members on this forum and they have only been open for a 1yr... they have had an online store for ages though with really excellent buys. I just bought books from them with 40% off their already great prices! (when I get them I will post them you better hurray one if them is Petal Play I have been drooling over this book since I saw it on someone elses blog!!)
As an anniversary they had a voters choice for different catagories. I was very surprised to see my name there in the first place(betweens is what i go by)but to win too!! The photo below is what everyone voted on The Aunt Millie's Garden quilt. What a great incentive for me to finish this quilt!! but this is what they will be sending me
Each winner will receive a $25 Connecting Threads gift certificate and a hand painted, specially designed, one of a kind, Golden Ripper Award! These fabulous plaques were designed and made by our own very talented MaryJo Tuttle, and the seam rippers (yes, they are real), were generously donated by Clover. what a wonderful keepsake...just put yourself in my shoes and you will know that I am just in quilting heaven right now!!
I am thanking the members and CT for their wonderful votes and comments and for having a great site take a visit.. there are thousands of quilting pictures thousands of quilters starving for quilt talk and great deals!! but you don't have to buy to join it is all FREE!! very clever eh??

Over new years holidays I went to my mom and dad's stayed a couple of days and then was ready to go but couldn't...why you ask?? my brakes seized!! the back wheels were locked!! being in a small town the parts were not to come till Tuesday so I had an extra 3 days with them. (blessing in disguise since my dad had lost his best friend and we had a service and funeral) we were telling everyone that they sabatoged my van to have me stay longer!

But a quilter never leaves home without hand work well I don't I carry a case with me all the time that people think is a laptop until I pullout my applique. I was able to get 3 AMG blocks done. I took photos of them but messed up and deleted them these 2 are all done I have a little of another one to do which I will post.

Working nights I have odd hours in sleeping and staying awake so at 3am I was awake and couldn't really do much cause I didn't want wake my Parents.. but I would pull out my applique and I was very happy on how much I got done. I didn't need the television...their neighbours have a sauna and being New years week and young.. they were partying and I could hear them since the sauna was next to my bedroom window.. these people had never last week to call my parents to turn down their television..now I know that t.v. is not on after 11pm..after my parents didn't complain of their partying from 2am to 730am during the week of New years...geesh.

I have also started my sewing and cutting to get a break from applique....every appliquer knows that it takes time and patience and sometimes you don't see results on a quilt becoming closer to finish for a while.. for a quick fix it is always nice to piece something inbetween for a break...this is the BOM that I have posted on the side Fall Fancy
if you are making this gorgeous pattern or want to click on the button to get to her site or if you want the Yahoo group click on the title of the blog

last I wanted to show you my Christmas decoration I have had this for many years it is a lava lamp I love lava lamps..it amazes me what a little warmth from a lightbulb can do. This is as far as I got with the decorating..to see it in movement is lovely.. oh I see that I got my new shelves in there for my fat quarters..bought them at Canadian Tire and they are perfect.. they fit all my FQ there is actually 6 shelves there..

Well thanks for visiting always great to hear from you.. I am behind on my blog reading been trying to keep up but January has brought on a flurry of activity and you bloggers are just full of energy. There are numerous BOM for 2010..gotta love those designers!!

It is silent...

2009-12-28T13:55:00.001-05:00

I got this just before the holidays!!
I was in a mini swap a while ago and there were problems with my swappee and sending my wonderful mini.. but she perservered and sent it again..I am so glad she is patient cause look what I opened my parcel too.. this adorable wall hanging..
I had to do some close ups cause all the stitching is by hand looke at the basked how she traced the patterns with her stitches and those tiny itty bitty circles..then there is the embroidery around the fabulous fabrics used to make these flowers..

Hand quilting throughout!! and to use a different color thread just added to the great dimensions of these beauties!! The maker doesn't have a blog but is a member of our on line group Quilters Last Resort

This blog is not to be written about my furbabies and I hope you don't get bored but sometimes pictures are just to hard to resist...as you can see below
our moments are peaceful at this time mother and daughter show me contentment. This was taken Christmas eve before I went to work. I hope that your world is at peace and that the New Year brings good cheer and health...and of course quilting

New and old...

2009-12-12T08:30:00.002-05:00

I was in a wonderful Secret Santa Swap and we were not allowed to open our gifts till today...what a time trying not to open this gift since i know who it came from. PAWS from one of the sites I chat on sent me this adorable wall hanging mini..a great keepsake we have been friends for a couple of years now..so glad she got my name!! the cute little bows and buttons are a treasure..I even loved the wrapping paper and the cute card..thanks so much

I had "misplaced" my Aunt Millie's Garden blocks but found them and have been working on them. Got this one done and have started another one. They were on a roll and fell behind some material in my cupboard. Now they are all on the design wall and I just take one down and start workin' on it.. ain't lose'n them again!!

about half way done on my 3rd Love Letters block and am going to lay out 2 more...

and then look at this!! what did I do?? I joined a BOM with Stitchin Heaven Affairs from the Heart.. is this not adorable!! I haven't done the embroidery but have the applique of the first block done. This is a perfect choice for winters blues if people get them.. I don't I love winter and wish I could get snowed in for weeks!

Well Happy Holidays to all and a wonderful New Year...not sure when I will be posting again. All this applique is keeping my fingers busy and it is a slower process.. plus I have a quilt on the frame I have to get quilted!!

peek-a-boo I see you...

2009-11-22T08:28:00.007-05:00

I could not resist starting with this face...she is so animated that I hope she has brought a smile to your morning as she has done mine..that silly little Nosey...LOL...our job is done if you started out with a smile.

Sandy came by during the week..she loves the Love Letters quilt as well and wanted to make one. She has not done alot of applique so I am showing her the ropes. Sandy has ordered her book through Sew Sisters and using fabric out of her stash..next time I will post what she brought.

Sandy also loved the mini I had pieced earlier in the year and that she had quilted so she has made her own version with these wonderful beiges remember these strips are cut 7/8ths of an inch!!...wait till you see the finish..I imagine it to be a spectacular. I will post the finish when she is done..but I couldn't wait to show you what she has done already

I didn't want to post until I got my next block done..so here is block one of my Love Letters BOM that I am getting from Stitchin Heaven

I don't know why but I started applique'n block 3 and now have that one done block 3 is below

And had a chance to start block 2 you can see at the bottom right of the screen.. I have blocks 4 and 5 as well but are not pinned and ready yet. After I finish 3 I will prep them to get going on.

Here is a picture with all 3 together.. massive!! just 3 blocks and they take up my whole design wall!

I have not been at machine very much due to the applique and prepping plus been having quilting friends over... they give you so much incentive!! I will get back to my Reaching for the Stars quilt in the next 2 weeks.. got some great FQ's to use for the fill in stars...
I thought I would leave you with another sweet and happy face not sure if you can see the big smile she has, you can sure see some of her mother in her..dearest sweet Molly

Also thought I would show you a little harvest of Hydrangea's that I have dried to view during the winter.. lots of beautiful color with different kinds. The kitties will nibble on this during the winter months as well..but really don't hurt anything

Back to working on block 3 thanks for the visit love what you are also doing and following along.

this was another quick post.. hope to dwell on everyone else the next post. Hope you were able to visit the post before this one. Lekaquilts is also working on Love Letters as well but from a different BOM

New friend with great Giveaway!!

2009-11-15T20:21:00.006-05:00

I am posting a great giveaway from a Blogger named LekaQuilts she is a new blogger to me (Crispy introduced us...thanks) but what makes me so very happy is I have finally found a quilter that is making Love Letters!! I am so thrilled and she is on the same block I am well she just finished it.. I am still working on 3 but only have a couple of stems to do.

So hurry over to her blog just click on her tags above or on her name or on her title you can win Piece of Cake's new book, or these darling change purses she made!! not only that I love her blog!! great quilt's she is working on.

"Sweet Nostaliga" block for November is posted by Dolores button to her is on the sidebar another great block!!

Freebie Friday's block has been posted you can see the link on the sidebar for her as well..it would make a wonderful Christmas gift for anyone!!

Burning the Midnight Oil has posted her instructions for fabric requirements. These you have to make sure you get or you will need to purchase her patterns after the month is up.

and I must say the list goes on. there is so much going on for BOM's a quilter can never get idle!!

I have to download my pics so hope to have some soon this is my week of meetings every night..hope I make it.. my throat is killling me today and my ears are itching been fighting this since Thursday went away and now coming back...but it is going around here so we'll see I am fighting it.. ain't going to get sick!! to much quilt'n to do

continuation of what's going on...

2009-11-07T08:11:00.007-05:00

I was able to see the launching of a first quilt show by a group called the Twisted Sisters. there are only 40 members in the group and their show was plenty. I know a couple of photo's where posted on other blogs but I was lucky enough to talk to some of the members and makers on some of the quilts so I chose to upload these.. they had some special meaning and i thought you would like to know.

this one was made by many quilters... each made a block and then the blocks were put together in memory of a member that had passed in their sewing group. I thought it was well done with great fabric on the boarder which was from the member's own stash that had passed.

the one below is one of many wonderful quilts made from a challenge fabric that was picked. Their imagination was astounding!!
This was one of my fav's in that catagory

This one below a women's mother collected cat book markers and was pinning them to the wall. the daughter decided she was going to redecorate which meant painting the walls.. but what to do with all those book mark's ...look at the wonderful idea she come up with for her mom.. I thought this was a fantastic idea!!

Now this one I picked because I was lucky enough to buy the pattern a couple of years ago at our guild yard sale and then to see one made up and hanging at the quilt show just gave me so much incentive.. no I am not starting another project!! but it is waiting in the wings. I thought the maker did a wonderful job on the applique.. not easy patterns that is for sure!! and look at her boarder treatment!! You can click on these pics to get a closer look I am sure you will want to just like I did at the show..

Below is Jennifer with her poor broken arm visiting from Austrailia and her DIL which she was staying with in Toronto..then myself.. Rosemarie was the one holding the camera.. she also took us everywhere and made sure that Jennifer had a great quilty time here in Toronto. Then there is me at the end.. no sleep after a night shift and coasting the day away with friends and a quilt show...LOL a little rough looking I would say.

As for me I took advantage of a little sale that was going on at Stitchin Heaven they had buy 7fq get 6 for free..and look what else they sent a rubber ducky but PINK with the ribbon isn't he adorable!! when you purchase from them you also collect "points towards a purchase" so I collected enough to get this LED ear light for applique when the light is not spectacular. Also they always send these wonderful thank you cards great people one day I hope to visit their store
I had sent them a link to the Civil War Bride and said when you pic the fabric please keep this quilt in mind.. I think they did pretty great!! you can see that nice new icon on the right there.. that quilt is going to be my 2010 to start quilt and finish!! I love it so much!!

I could not resist this picture..when I am sewing I have the joy of looking at this beautiful face chatting at me to stop and sit in the big chair to pet him. This is Joey when my machine starts to roar he will get on his haunches and start to wave his paws up and down as if he were catching butterflies in the air.. sometimes I pretend that I don't notice at first then I burst out laughing cause it is so funny to watch.

Did you notice the pink belly?? from day one when he came here he has taken all the hair off his belly sometimes the others will do it too.. but they will have it grow back not him it is always pink... i have tried all kinds of food but now i think I have found one that works the only trouble is the other 3 don' t like it... so I am now mixing 2 foods together.. and slowly I am now starting to see peach fuzz coming in.. he does love when I rub his bare belly though...

so I am off to get a new thimble that has come out and also to drop off Rosemarie's camera.. she came by for a bit yesturday.. we looked at quilting books and sewed a little but talked alot!! next month it will be my turn to go to her place.. I didn't pull out much show and share with her.. mostly we drooled over books and patterns... it was an excellent time and it flew by very fast.

I am always trying to catch up!!

2009-11-04T11:25:00.004-05:00

there is always so much to tell!! I wish I could snap my fingers and these pictures would upload in a flash.. some bloggers are using that Windows live I have to take a minute and try to work with it... maybe it won't take as much time to upload the pics and then I can load more than only 4 pics at a time!!

I have to show you my mug hug and rug... another group I belong to Quilters Last resort had their own swap of mug hugs and rugs. I have a wonderful set that can be reversible from Fiberbabble lovely machine quilting now this was a couple of weeks ago so I am very behind!!

the button to hold the hug on my mug was from her great Gramma's button jar.. how cool is that!! I have some of her history!! So FiberBabble and her Gram's is hugging me very morning. I have it wrapped around a pottery cup I had made for me long ago from a friend I worked with she did pottery if fits perfect!! so Thanks a million Fiberbabble it will be cherished.

Next look what Jennifer brought when she came all the way from Australia...luscious fabric, and a wonderful quilt calendar for 2010 she knows the makers of the quilts in here... and of course quilters staple.. chocolate..notice it didn't make it into the picture.. but I saved the box!! " Haigh's Chocolates...Jennifer is back in Australia but not without a mishap shortly after she got here she broke her arm!! and she has hair down to her waist!! her DH soon learned how to "plait" her hair.. (braid..in Canadian terms) I also had to take a picture of the wrapping paper look at those adorable blue birds are they not the sweetest. I couldn't rip the paper.. no problem eating the chocolate though go figure

I meet Jennifer through blogging and am so glad she took the time to see me and Rosemarie
You can read some of the things that she did with Jennifer on her visit.. Rosemarie was a wonderful hostess and they went to many quilt related events!! so glad that she showed Jennifer what we can do in Ontario for quilting fun... Thanks Rosemarie.. you are a very good friend

Now ask me what kinda trouble am I getting myself into?? is this another large quilt?? this quilt is an adaption I saw browsing in quilt in a day book with Eleanor Burns.. she used the Single wedding ring pattern to create this wonderful "Rose quilt"... this looks like roses in a drift of snow. I just finished piecing it and now will be quilting it. I have been practicing my machine quilting...ugh fooooooorget it.. I will be hand quilting this one!! I need more practice!!

I think I fooled you all though this is another mini quilt!! the blocks are 4 1/4in each the squares are 1in each!! but it sure looks like a big quilt doesn't it!! I love how crisp it looks!!

Here it is beside the ruler...so I wasn't fibbing was I?? I am going to start another one and when Rosemarie comes to quilt with me on Friday I will quilt them up.. yes by hand I am starting a Burygone mini...in Civil wars to make it look very authentic...my fingers are itching to start so I will leave you.. thanks for all your great comments your comments are wonderful and very much appreciated...

will be back shortly to post more pics of other great adventures... I mean I did go to a quilt show too.. ya know but I am on a deadline.. you know what those are right?? 8-)

Something Wicked this Way comes...

2009-10-31T03:55:00.005-04:00

these are the blocks I had started about 10 years ago and thought they would be appropriate to share the hollow's eve...

This was a quilt that was featured in one of the Quilt that was featured in Quilters Newsletter on the back and it gave an address where to send for it..I loved the quilt and wanted to do Hawiian Applique.. these patterns made it fun and unique

the book is the title of the post and the designers are Carolyn Lynch and Pat Gallagher (1920-1998) I feel very fortunate to receive the works of these 2 ladies as this book was designed by the both of them and this is dedicated to Pat.

I need to finish this quilt now that I have pulled it out I wonder why I put it away and then remembered it is to try to pick the great fabrics to make it as fabulous as these ladies did...Again I thank the designers in our quilting world you make my life so very exciting with your imagination.
I think I have the stash to accomplish this and think this will be on my UFO list to finish..starting for my 2010 year..
I am almost finished my 3rd Love Letters Block and my 5th Aunt Millies Garden will post pics soon downloading the pics takes some time. I also have a few gifts that I need to show you. I am waiting for one more mini to arrive and then I will show you
Don't forget tomorrow night is the night for the big draw for Pumpkin Patch I hope everyone went and posted on her blog...
Happy Hollow's Eve bloggers!!

finders keepers...

2009-10-27T11:11:00.008-04:00

losers weepers.. do you remember that saying? Well many moooons ago I found this wonderful table on the side of the road in the pouring down rain I mean it was pouring!!..this was before I was to go for a quilting class.. thank goodness I have the sence to drive a Dodge Caravan.. if fit in there like a charm. I love this table and am so glad that someones junk became my treasure. I find wonderful things that people just put at the road side believe me!!

The reason I am mentioning this is my wonderful mini that I rec'd last week from Kari Ramsay it is just perfect for this table!! as you can see. I love it she made it out of a line called "Elleny" which was designed by Barbara Jones (a friend of hers) for Marcus brothers fabrics. It is just perfect with Indian summer colors which are my colors anyways.. I think it is just perfect!!

Here is a better picture of her wonderful mini and the petals she added to the center she even covered her own button!!

... but that is not all folks I got 3 not just 1 but 3 of her patterns as well!! and they are perfect for what I need them for...I have a scrap barrell that said hey I can see me in those patterns very easily...now that won't be till the new year but they are on my short list. Take a look at her site you may see something you like

I have been working on my AMG if you go to Megan's blog you can see a deliciously chocolate background for Aunt Millies Garden.. she did wonderful work on her applique and fabric choices.

I am still working on my Love Letter Blocks as well for applique night a the Doodle JoAnne was nice to take a pic of what we did on Friday and also the show and share go take a look at her blog you will see a better pic of my kitty quilt there... I have other pics but only had time for this little bit for now.. it seems I can never keep up with my life!! will post soon... thanks so much for visiting...
I know with the season approaching and the quilters list of "make me this and that" getting longer it is hard to divide our time...

STOP right there and read great giveaway

2009-10-21T05:16:00.004-04:00

You must go to this link and post say that I sent ya.. if they get 250 posts there will be 2 winners of 27 whimsical fat quarters but if there are 350 posts there is also a 100 dollar gift certificate..
http://pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-happy-halloween-giveaway.html

If you post the link above you will have your name in the draw... give yourself a treat and go quickly closes Oct 31 on All Hollow's Eve... just think you can use the fabric for Kaaren's next Freebie Friday!! or Dorothy's Sweet Nostalgia blocks!!

The link is also the title should lead you right to the post for the giveaway!!!!

Boot scoot and boogie

2009-10-13T14:20:00.004-04:00

over to Molly's place she is giving away a great years subscription to Mccall's quilting magazine..what quilter would not want that!! she has some wonderful ol' time country music to listen to while your browse what projects she is on...

I also found a blog that is posting other broken stars check out Lori's blog she has some stunning broken stars to show you...

Dorothy had asked what I had done on my applique adventure and I didn't post it.. so I will show you..now it may not look like alot but it was really..these pieces are big..big..big!! It's not like I was doing alot of talking and eating homemade cookies or anything...

I also wanted to show you some of those wonderful little brown bird blocks from that night that Virginia had hidden in her box of applique treasures.
Some people had used a pigma pen to draw all the stems but if you click on the picture you will see she embroidered it all

I will leave you with dreamy eyes as you enjoy these blocks..she had more but I don't want to overwhelm you.. Virginia is the one that was doing the dancing bears.
I had to take a picture of her little needle case and goodie bag as well..glad I did cause you can see these are not big boxes..

Going to a quilt guild meeting tonight so not working on broken star quilt hopefully tomorrow

Stash Play!!

2009-10-12T11:54:00.006-04:00

I thought I would post what I have been up to inbetween sleeping and going to work this weekend. I have been on a mission to try to finish some "UFO's" I got the kitty quilt done as you saw earlier.. but now this Star quilt.. it was alot more than I thought I had to finish it.. now don't get excited!! I don't have it done yet..but thought you would like to see how far I got.. I think now I on the home stretch that's cause I can do these "Y" seams in my sleep!!

Under it all are the big, big "petals" or diamonds then on top are the many medium diamonds, then to the side are the Leymone stars..plus the pile of squares and then some of the leymone's still going through the machine

Below is a little auditioning but I think I will see if I can borrow Cock-a Doodle's design board when I want to put the whole thing together.. they have a huge design board!

here are the 4 medium stars, I have the 1/2 stars done too.. but didn't put them all up.. just thought you would like to know all this fabric is from my stash...All of it...I love now that I can creak open my cupboards and see all this glorious fabric to play with!! I love to play in my stash...time to cut into yours...

Below is my great winnings from Dorothy Baker.. look at all the wonderful goodies!! How very generous.. I have already broke open the "blue marker" to mark a design that I am putting together for a mug hug. My friend "Gimpy Cat" on line but her real name is Helen.. designed the precious hugs for me cause I was having such a mental block on what to make.

I got those wonder fat quarters from Dorothy and 4 different size embroiderie needles with the embroiderie hoop.. awesome!!

I also noticed that the kitties are on the design wall and the Single Irish Chain mini I was making.. this is called "Brown Eyed Susan".

It is always weird looking at your sewing room from the other side...LOL

See the light table underneath my Dad made that for me isn't he awesome.. he made a hole on the side big enough for me to slip my Ott light underneath. It is big enough for my love letter blocks!!

Last I thought I would post a little fall color this is a bit of my Alice Oak Leaf Hydrangea..I just love how this changes it's color every year...

Well I hope to have the big picture all done by the end of next week.. meaning my Reaching for the stars quilt... I know that Minick and Simpson would love to see it too.. they pieced this thing by hand!! and used 3 cans of starch.. I will go through what I did at the end when it is complete.. it is piecing all these big pieces together that will be the challenge..

Well it is Monday start of the work week...don't worry the week will fly by and it will be the weekend again..

"Y" seam break!! please

2009-10-11T12:11:00.006-04:00

Took a little break you will see why at the end..but wanted to tell you about a blog that is doing really cool blocks paper piecing of different shoes and her patterns are great. Christine's blog is great to read go take a boo..here

Do you remember the cat blocks well I have the top all pieced together the boarder fabric is kitty prints and then the corner stones are different kitties in different a different poise!

The wind is blowing outside so I couldn't hang it on the line so it is on DH bed.. mine is full of cat hair..his ends up being the "display bed" I love how they turned out.

Now look at this crazy boarder.. when I had my applique session I saw this fabric they were cutting up for kits at Cock a doodle quilts I asked if they used it all they said yes...then I got an email a couple of days later and they had enough for me to make this boarder.. some fussy cutting and it looks like I have 2 boarders on there.. and see all the different kitties on this too.. it was just to adorable to pass up!! wait till you see the backing.. more kitties!! it is the cats meow this quilt.

I am now onto the "Reaching for the Stars" quilt from Minick and Simpson that I had been working on long ago and put away.. now I remember why.. I need'd a "Y" seam break.. this quilt is full of "Y" seams so it is not for the impatient quilter. I am just finishing putting the triangles on the lemoyne stars taking a breath and then cutting the squares to put on. I am hoping to get alot of this done this weekend

The quilt is going to be a king and you can see this is only one of the corner stones of the quilt. I know this will be my favorite the Broken star or whatever you would like to call it this blocks has so many names is a favorite pattern of mine...

I will have to take a little time to learn the writer program it is very frustrating when you can only load 4 pictures at a time.. I have alot to show you still!!

back to the "Y" seams will post probably more later..

Happy Thanksgiving to Canada-welcom neighbours

2009-10-10T06:40:00.002-04:00

I am very far behind but when you applique it just seems to take up alot of time!!
photos below are from my night that I am in an applique group at Cock-a-Doodle Quilt store in Toronto. I am sorry I can't remember everyones name but sure do love the diversity of everyones work!! below this lady designed her own applique from this pic amazing isn't it!!

another lady is doing the Rosemary Makham pattern Woodland Creatures this girl is just a beginner appliquer and I think this is just the right challenge for her

Nancy one of the instructors at the Doodle had a Kim Diehl class and this is what they made love it!! Nancy teaches beginner applique classes at the Doodle

Virginia another applique enthusiast is appliquing the borders on this wonderful Dorothy Baker quilt..isn't it just darling...Dorothy makes gorgeous patterns and you can visit her on her blog she is currently making monthly patterns (free) for Sweet Nostalgia...you will see her link on my side bar.
Speaking of Dorothy I won her free giveaway and she mailed it on Friday I got it on Monday!! amazing!! It was a huge package of eveything you needed to get started on an embroidery project perfect for her Sweet Nostalgia. Thank You Dorothy!!

This lady came in and was not in the mood to do any applique but when she pulled out these wonderful Irisis.. I think she felt the thrill in the room and this gave her great incentive to work on them by the end of the night she couldn't wait for the next session.. which by the way I have already signed up for...

Well I give thanks for being able to enjoy all your wonderful blogs everyday and to be able to share what is going on in our neck of the woods.. the weather is just perfect now with wonderful rain that gives out great fall colors..soon I will have all the gardens to bed for next spring and then I can totally work on quilting...oh the concept is just so exciting.

Happy Thanksgiving to those that are sharing..

the Cats came back....thought they were a gonner...

2009-09-25T14:57:00.005-04:00

On Saturday mornings when I was young there was a song that they used to sing on the T.V. that was part of the words that were in the song.."the cat came back the very next day"...LOL I don't know if anyone remembers that song...I hope it doesn't stick in your head like it will mine!

Now are these blocks not the best!! I got these the other day..I have them on the design wall waiting for my thinking cap to go on on how to put in a sashing...what kinda sashing... If you click on the picture you will see them in the Picasa album and view a great kitty parade

I am going to a Quilt show this weekend in Kitchener Waterloo for details on our Ontario Quilt shows please go to Canadian Quilters Association there is one also in Orillia.

Sandy my speed demon LAQ that does fantastic work will be coming with me.. as you can see by her pose we are going to have a blast. You will see she is posted alot on Cock-A-Doodle Quilts
Sandy quilts lots of quilts from the store and also teaches great classes!! as you can see she has "personality".. Sandy also teaches at Sew Sisters Quilt Shop classes you don't want to miss especially if you are scrappy girls. I was surprised the other day she told me she only buys Fat Quarters!! The quilts she comes out with!! I will have to take pics and show you a little later. I have one of her pattern kits with the 1930's fab's in the same pattern that is listed on Cock-A-Doodles blog so go take a look

I could not resist this pic.. i have a hedge that I am trying to grow of Pink Diamond Hydrangea's and they are their peak to be cut and dried. I cut some and put them in this blood red vase I got at a yard sale..now ask Joey are they not beautiful?? These had not been sitting on the table more than 10 minutes and everyone had to check it out...do you think he is a big boy or what?? don't mind his bare underbelly from day one he has licked the fur clean no matter what food I have given him.. it is like he has his morning shave.
Well I have joined a finishing a UFO group and going to try to put three quilts together that are UFO's before the end of the year.. that is my resonable goal...I hope I pray I will. I will post the link and the projects on the next post with the quilt show pics...
I am going to an Applique group tonight at Cock A Doodle Quilts.. I am bringing.. yes you guessed it my Love Letter blocks...
So for tonight happy applique, be it blocks or binding.. it is applique day for me...

Mail Watch!!

2009-09-22T08:45:00.003-04:00

Molly is on block watch patrol.. she heard that the kitty block swap I was in the people are starting to get them in the mail. I was not allowed to post my blocks until they were mailed..so now I can!! yippee!! another reason I am posting it. I forgot to put labels on all my blocks so this way everyone will know which ones were mine...duh!!
The theme was cats.. you had to use cat fabric to make 12 blocks we got the pattern from online it was free (I am so sorry I cannot remember from what site!! please speak if it is your pattern so I can give credit) I made 2 sets cause someone had to discontinue.. life sure does get in the way sometimes.

This was the second batch of blocks I made they are full of kitties and the background fabric is called strings how appropriate I thought.. look at those darling kitty eyes.. yes it was hard to rotary cut through those kitten bodies.. but a girls gotta do what a girl has gotta do

And of course you do have to play with them on the design wall.. they look pretty good..

this was the first set...now if you click on the pic you will see the beige fabric has kitties stretching, climbing, sitting.. and then they were talking about dogs so the back ground has meow and bow wow on it and then there is just writing on the outside what kitties like to do..like lazy days and such.. I had made a mistake on these and put a different boarder on from the "background fabric.. but with all the many blocks I am sure they will be okay

i loved the way this looked cause it was like the kitty was glowing at night on a fence..

One lady is going to make these into placemats and give to a seniors home..I think it is a fantastic idea.. but I am being more selfish and making this for me.. I loved to make the blocks it only took 3 hours to make 12.. once I find the site I will post...i would do this again.. but much later...I found all this fabric in my stash did not have to go out and buy any..I didn't think I had much kitty fabric..but I guess I did.

Take time to join a swap it is great fun. I have not been disappointed yet!! I am waiting for mine when they come I will post what I got.. as you can see I am very very excited.

thanks for your visits working on block 2 of my love letters and my AMG blocks

Love Letter's

2009-09-17T07:45:00.005-04:00

Welcome back like I said I have lots of news and will be posting dribbs and drabbs..below are bags I got at a dollar store are they not cool!! they even have zippers! You will see the hearts with numbers...well in one guild York Heritage quilters guild I am hosting the Special projects chair.
we are going to do sort of like a round robin by making a different size block each month and passing the bag to someone in the group each month so at the end everyone will have back 8 different blocks to make a sampler.... the challenge is to make a quilt from these blocks
I had 32 bags and 32 people signed up I am very excited to see what the outcome will be for this the President of the guild came up with the idea and that really helped me know what to do...we have a great President this year.

Above is what I got in the mail..my dear jane bom, my next block for Love letters and also another bom called Heartland. I have already got my fabric cut and pinned on for the next Love Letterss block Bur Oak for some reason I thought I took a pic but didn't will show it the next time.. but you can see the middle packet with the fabric and the pic above is the next block

above is block 3 ready also for applique..so now I have 2 of these gigantic blocks ready for applique and one done.. Yippee.. I'm working on it I am!! you can see below the finished first block I love it and finding it a challenge with these blocks cause they are so big not used to it that is for sure.

I am not sure if you remember this quilt below.. it was partially done and posted on Quilters Bloggers under ugly quilt. Well it is done, quilted and I do have the prairie points on it..this is before the points darn it.. thought i got it with the points...so this is the bed quilt. It was a Fon's and Porter technique I saw on QNN when it was free and decided to try it...next time I will pic better fabrics but I do like the idea.

Well I got no votes.. I am not a purple lover at all so this is one reason why me thinks its ugly...

but then I look over at my day bed I have a quilt hanging that has purple in it and then the one on the day bed has purple..I don't know what I like maybe...

Well I am going to my friends Sandy's for a bit she is a wonderful LAQ. We are going to chat and sew a little she wants to make a mini star quilt in the beiges and off whites I am going to applique..

thanks for your wonderful encouragment and comments they are always a big welcome. I feel better about the mini now that I read what you all had to say.. I thought it might have been to plain especially with all these wonderful talented ladies that blog and design.. I learn so much from you all.. thanks

my mojo is back

2009-09-15T08:42:00.003-04:00

well I am much happier this time.. I had no idea what I was going to make for my summer mini quilt swap.. I was blank. The person that I have to make this for is sort of a fibre artist. I have no fibre art skills...but I think my piecing skills are good..so I gave her a little of me.

I took an old fashion pattern "Waves" and thought this was a perfect way to celebrate summer. I grew up on the lake for a short time (Lake St. Clair) and loved it. So first come picking the fabric and then cutting and piecing and ironing

Then it was cutting those lovely little corners off... in building this quilt I realized that I didn't have enough wave fabric.. back to checking out the stash...found something!! WHEW!!

above you can see the fabric that I didn't have enough of all those wonderful waves..the off white fabric has little dots that looks like rain drops hitting the water and then we have those triangle as the waves.

This was all built in a day machine quilting is very simple I think the pattern shows enough movement...but if the receiver wants to quilt more in the water blocks they can.. I will not be offended.. I still am not the best machinequilter. The quilt is 18in square..hope she likes it.. this is summer to me.

I have lots of photos uploaded but don't want to overload the people on dialup so will post more tomorrow...just glad my mojo is back.. now i have to make one more project and then I am not signing up for anything els..nothing!! I have so many projects on the go right now.. as you all know.

Don't forget to check out the side bar Dorothy has now posted her first "Sweet Nostalgia" Block

Quilt on ladies and gents and thanks so much for visiting.. I am going to Sew Sisters for their 29 % off birthday sale.

I would not be a quilter if....

2009-09-08T14:11:00.003-04:00

I really don't think you can get stuck in a rut!! not in blog land anyways...there are numerous bloggers starting free BOM's and designing new free patterns...the talent that is out here and the imagination is just incredible.
I on the other hand am one to just follow patterns and am very gratefully for those that satisfy us that love to do their patterns.. if it weren't for the designers..

I would not be a quilter.

I am adding 2 more freebie blogs to the sidebar... it pays to visit other peoples blogs and leave comments this really lets them know that the public appreciates what they are doing and likes their patterns...so that they have incentive to make more!!

Paula has a wonderful new BOM starting "Life's a Hoot"

Kaaren has "Freebie Friday" designs that she is creating and they are amazing!! I just saw the first one and her talent is really a great gift.. this one is embroderie for fall with the black crow and pumpkins

Dorothy Baker Sweet Nostalgia

2009-09-05T14:05:00.005-04:00

check on the sidebar for a new BOM that will be starting and believe me with the little bleeps and peeps here and there you will love it...

I have been finishing quilts and appliquing blocks inbetween going to conference having my parents visit and working...posting of pics will be soon!!

Time to grow. I am also taking an EQ6 class through Quilt University with Fran Gonsalves and it is just fantastic with lots of homework so that takes some PC time...

Until then I try to keep up with everyone's posts but not able to comment...Sept brings new meetings with old organizations reopening.. news will be updated soon.. so for now visit Dorothy
I have my quilt pics in the camera.. so for now you can see we are all waiting in anticipation for this new BOM by a wonderful designer. Check out her blog and see the wonderful designs she has already created.. I have all the bear patterns waiting for me to accomplish!!and these are beyond cute..they look so real!!

from left to right Joey, Girlie, Nosey and Molly a rare photo of all of them together.. but that is what happens when you have exciting news!!

prep work

2009-08-08T16:07:00.006-04:00

I have got the prep work done of my first Love Letters block "The Hedge Apple" and have started to applique the leaves and stems..what a large block to work with!! Stitchin' Heaven made a great selection in their BOM program. Normally I would pick my fabrics but I have been doing so many quilts just doing that and making a mess outta my fabrics. I needed to not think and to enjoy a process.. Stitchin Heaven has great BOM's you can click on their name and it brings you to their wonderful link..

I am needleturning everything except the stems I have the Clover bias maker and I just love it!!

I also wanted to invite you over to one of the girls blogs that is in our group of Aunt Millie's Garden. Her fabrics are fantastic!! go and see Crispy Quilts I just love her blocks!!

When the Cold Wind Blows

2009-08-04T16:17:00.006-04:00

i have been waiting for this BOM Love Letters to start from Stitchin' Heaven Black Bird Designs are one of my favorite Designers.. I think I say that about all of them I am sure.. but I just love this most romanitic Quilt in the whole world and I have started it.

I have my fabrics cut and ready for needleturning on my first block I have already started the blossoms.

you can also see that there have been a couple of UFO's that have landed on my table this is all the stem work that will go on the blocks so I feel that I am a little ahead of the game. In the background you can see that I have also drawn my draft paper for the block layout. I did this on freezer paper so that I could iron the block (only 28") on the paper for stability while placing the pieces. I have never worked with blocks this large.. should be a new adventure!!

I also have the joy of being on a wonderful applique group on yahoo... This group Applique Cafe are involved in many BOM all applique and they keep you so motivated. I am working with them with my Aunt Millie's Garden. If you would like to see variety of Applique blocks and many of the projects different people are involved in you must join and visit it is well worth it. So this one is done now and at the end of the month they have a draw for the winner to get a incentive gift.

These are the current ones different individuals are involved in

1. Vintage Valentine by Verna Mosquera

2. Affairs of the Heart by Aie Rossmann

3. Dutch Treat by Judy Garden

4. Ladies of the Sea by Sue Garman

5. Aunt Millie's Garden by Piece O'Cake Designs

6. Applique Affair by Edyta Sitar (starting soon!!)

You can make a suggestion to the group to start another BOM if enough sign up then you can have your own support group.. isn't it just wonderful!!

Be sure to click on the links you will see that the words are different colors they will link you to the right place.
so now you can see why I am not a steady poster to the blog... there is just to much to do and with work getting in the way I have to spend some time quilting.. keep stitchin' girls

Summer moments in July

2009-07-30T18:53:00.001-04:00

My dad was able to make more quilt holders for me so we put up another quilt this is in my living area. This was the first stack and whack I ever did...and sure wasn't my last doesn't it look great with my dad's great talents

This is what it looks like in with my day bed there.. the trundle bed was his mothers I was very fortunate to get it.. I know the 2 quilts don't go together but I love the brightness of the other quilt. it is called it is a bugs life.. when you see it on a big bed the blue looks like a ripple of water.

Taa DAAAAA.. my mother made this isn't it awesome!! this is her first mini swap and her first mini that she has made hand appliqued and hand quilted even down to her prairie points. She has this done and it is going to be on its was soon.. the person receiving this I think is very fortunate. She fussy cut the fabric you can click on the pic and see the butterflies and hand drew the design freehanded... you can see a secondary design in the quilting.

Here is mom holding her mini.. now you can see that it is a great mini..

mini parade

2009-07-30T18:43:00.003-04:00

These are the mini's that I am working on. I have only to put the binding on... I know everyone knows this is a double wedding ring. I am currently in 2 swaps and one of them won a draw to win a mini that I make. So I will be sending one of these mini's to her but not sure which one.

This one I am just starting it will be for the summer swap for Quilters Blogger the person will get wonderful dimensional butterflies I will post when completed... I just wanted to show the butterflies getting ready to flutter away on this wonderful background.

This one will also go to one of the members in Quilters last Resort as well... one of the ladies in Connecting Threads mini group made a Trip Around the World and I loved the pattern so of course I had to make one. just putting the binding on this as well. Machine pieced and quilted.

I know that I am going to make another one of these for myself. All these are patterns that I have taken outta the Mini Quilts Mags that are now out of print...Maybe if I keep making them and posting what I am doing they will start reprinting them again. I go through their mags over and over. Mother also got her pattern for her mini out of this mag.

thanks for visiting I know the posts are irregular but as you can see my hands are busy. I have not had alot of time to catchup on everyones blogs but will soon.. have a great long weekend.

a few things going on in the quilt'n room

2009-07-19T07:33:00.002-04:00

Good Morning!!
I see that there are some posts on old and new quilts the one below is the second quilt I made the sampler is lost that I had done. This one was pieced and quilted by hand and went to my mom's bed (king size). I found the pattern in a mag (sorry can't remember which one) and it was about 20 years ago. You can see it was well loved. I just got it back this year and wondered what I was going to do with it.. I think I am going to applique new arches on it.. the quilting is still good right now it is folded and on my Lazyboy to curl up in.
The sun had bleached alot of the arches you can see the "real" color along the edges.

The bargello below was a class I took a couple of years ago Monika was teaching it. Monika was the one that helped me with my one block wonder class that I blogged at the beginning. Mom came and I asked her to finish the binding I had it almost done. The color was to match mom's dishes, it will go on her dinning table. The pattern was from an Australian Patchwork Mag that is out of print cause everyone loved it so much. A girl in Newmarket Ontario LAQ it in this wonderful flaming pattern a nice change from those waves everyone gets... and I did want different.
Now who is this below and what is she doing?? I belong to a group that Iam coordinating a mini swap and mom is working on hers. It is really adorable and her hand quilting is perfect. She is confident now to hand quilt her quilts and give them away.

And I am currently working on a mini double wedding ring for a swap that I am in with machine applique..it is a mini that is for sure!!

I didn't realize the pic would also advertise the Bernina...LOL we are having another wonderful visit...

if only you knew

2009-07-11T08:41:00.004-04:00

that pics make a room much bigger than it really is.. I had to hug the wall to take these pics.. but then on reading everyones comments I realized gee.. maybe I do have alot of space.

I am almost embarassed to carry on but now that I opened my doors you might as well just come on in and see some more... I will not overwhelm you, we will do this in sections (so you can breath now)...I will show you more of my cupboards and my "meager" stash (now I do say this with a smile).

So what I did to compensate for no walls I added batting to the outside of the cupboards for my design wall by cutting the batting to size and using 2sided tape to adhere to the door. The tape comes off if I roll it off to replace the batting if necessary (I have not had to replace it and the more you use it the better the blocks stick) you can see some of the things that are on the wall. I never leave it totally empty I will put up a UFO just for some quilters color.

You can see a better pic of the ironing board I bought it at Quilters Cupboard and found flannel and a great ironing fabric one that holds the heat. The Pic-Nic baskets on top and a few of the containers.. yes are filled with UFO's. I will let you know that since this pic there is a hole next to the whicker basket. One UFO completed.. I hope to have that top cleared by the end of 2010 (if I am reasonable and honest with myself)

then comes the stacks of fabric.. now as you can see I am half organized cause they are put in color sections so that ain't to bad right?? the bottom right are all those miscellaneous that have no catagory.. you know the novelties and such. I have taken all this fabric and refolded it and put it in order and still have not found a fabric that I have asked myself why?? I still love it all..

The cupboards are Rubbermaid and I got them at Canadian Tire on sale I bought six of them and DH and I put them together. I thought I would be able to gather all my quilting gear and put it all in one spot...you never know how much you really have until you THINK you can put it all in one spot...I was wrong.

I love the chair I sit in that and watch T.V. sometimes when I have to unsew (dreaded words) and I guess I must have been cleaning that day cause I see the vaccuum part there.. and it had to be taken before June cause I still see Merry B's quilt there and my mini's on the design board that were for the Mini swap on Quilters Bloggers (which reminds me I have joined the summer swap as well). Today is the last day to sign up so if you are interested get over there and sign up quick...

well back to getting my work done.. I just finished 12 more blocks for the block swap I am entering on.. it is Canadian yahoo site so mailing is a little cheaper.. they are cat blocks and I would love to show you but.. I am not allowed and some of the members are following my blog. Sept I will show you I promise. Plus I am still finishing the binding on the bargello will be able to post it the next time and working on the mini's

I see that others are posting alot more so everyone is getting busy...check out a new blogger she is excellent in her quilting and has a showcase of antique quilts she is going to show is... you can finder her here..
Read her blog and you will find some excellent news but is justly deserved from the Quiltmaker mag

I know to much to read.. I will try to post less words and more pics next time.. chatty cathy today..

It looks like a good rainstorm today I put down the weed and feed and now let it rain.. have a super day quilter friends. thanks for your wonderful and supportive words..

quilters room with a view

2009-07-09T14:42:00.004-04:00

I noticed a few blogs were starting to post pics of their sewing room check out Pat's blog she has a very neat and tidy sewing room..well welcome to my sewing room th pic below is the entrance when turning the corner of the basement..I have quilts that need to be quilted hanging on the doors as reminders..don't look at the top all stuff that don't fit in the cupboards

oh geesh who opened the doors!! oh well this is what is inside these cupboards some fabric some mags and you will see on the very bottom right some Golden Threads mags that I just can't let go of..they are from the 60's 70's and someone gave them to me the stack of fabric on the right 2 shelves are "do not touch" fabrics for projects I have in mind and the fabric is specifically for that project..

the bar is the opposite side and really becomes the "dumping grounds" I have to clean this off at least once a week by the end of the week.. The pic at the end of the bar my Great Gram painted many many moons ago.

this is around the corner of the cupboards I love my big ironing board hard to keep that cleared off too.. and the lamp I found in the garbage. the left cupboard has my "tools of the trade" and then we start getting in to the fabric. so that is what we walk into so far...again don't look at the top of the cupboards that is as neat as I can get them..

I am working on binding a bargello that I made for my mom to put on her dinning table.. a UFO almost completed. I have been appliquing on my Country Sunshine pattern is in the book click on the title and I am currently working on 3 mini quilts and another set of Cat blocks.. so workin' hard to make the quilting ends meet.. will have to slow down soon Sept is around the corner and all the meetings are going to start up again..

Bye bye siggy quilt

2009-07-03T09:00:00.002-04:00

Harold and Fay holding the quilt have come to pick up their signature quilt I made for them last summer at Harold's reception. He was a Grand Warder of our Eastern Star of Ontario Grand Lodge and his wife was his escort. Mom is in the pink and there is Dad in his "Wilson" pose..he does crack me up. Harold is very happy with it.. these were the colors for their outfits for that year. I wrote about the quilt earlier... I will have to find it and post alink..

they are currently on our porch the plants are 2wice the size they were 2 weeks ago with all the rain.. my wonderful Annabelle hydgrangeas in the back and painted ferns and the endless summer hydrangeas are coming out but they are blue and I didn't have to give'em the nitro!!

I had to post this pic. I mad this all by hand it is just a square bow tie that. I had made it as I was making my first sampler for something to do ( I was destined to be working on more than one project from the get go) As you can see it is used on the bed and the kitties sleep on it.. someone mentioned that they wish their cats were so trained.. they acutally wait till I spread it on.. can you see that cute smile she has on her face.. that's my Nosey girl. She is not fat just the way she is curled up...

Your comments on my Dad's hangers is truly wonderful I can't wait to show him that it is not just a daughter's love that sees them so beautiful. Thanks so much (he just celebrated his 81st birthday Jun 29) you can see on my critters blog.

Well I have 3 mini's go get done.. hopefully will visit soon.

lots going on!! Happy Canada Day

2009-07-01T15:57:00.005-04:00

My dad came to my home last week with a wonderful surprise!! Look what he made me hangers for my quilts..he was so worried that I wouldn't like them he was right!! I love them.. he is now sent home with making a couple more and also a few frames for some mini's and a quilt ladder!! you can see that I have my One Block Wonders on Display..oh happy day

I still have my Winter Wonderland quilt on my bed but it is so nice and light that it is great to sleep under for my parents.. this was done in 6 months when we had our SARS scare I was quarentined 2times cause I worked at the ER were it started and then was working at the other hospital where we had a break out.. it was a very scary time for me.. I had bought the focal fabric on a whim (before the scare).. there was a teacher there and she asked what I was going to do with "all" (8meters) that fabric.. not sure yet but now you can see what. I found the pattern in a Quiltmaker Nov/Dec 2002 mag machine pieced and then hand quilted it in 6 months.. it is my memory of walking my dogs in the winter time...at that time I was not allowed to go anywhere.. you don't realize your freedom until it is taken away from you.

This is the other One block wonder doesn't my Dad's quilt hanger's look awesome!! he is looking for orders if anyone is interested that lives close enough to deliver (postage would be expensive) or maybe one of the stores in our area would like to have some there to sell my dad is very reasonable just email if you are interested. Alot of thought and caring goes into these

This is a mini that I am working on.. pattern was from a Fon's and Porter mag last 2008 borrowed the mag from my mother but gave it back

And this is an ongoing project I am working on.. it is my own round robin. The pattern in the middle was designed by someone in a Prim group I belong to and I wanted it as a medallion. The next blocks are an old pattern English Ivy.. it is one of most favorite patterns I have used it before and one day will make a whole quilt with it.. but love the effect it makes as a boarder.. now to think of another round.. it will be applique for sure..

I also have been visiting and catching up on what others are doing in their blogs I really love the design wall theme that is going on!!

Well Happy Canada Day hope you are able to do something great to commemorate.. We went to Montana's and ended up ordering the "Great Canadian Burgers" with sweet potatoe fries.. delicious!!

Ruby

2009-06-20T04:19:00.005-04:00

well I am at the end of the nine patches...I had made 30 to go and lost them in my meager stash of a sewing room so had to make new ones and send them...well some time later I found them so was able to mix them with the ones I have rec'd from others.. here is another almost finished project..I am still adding some boarders..

this quilt is to commemorate my Grandmother..she passed in Feb and she was my last living grandparent..2 weeks shy of her 97th birthday (I do hope I have the same genes as her)

as I started the quilt I got goosebumps and thought this was perfect.. so introducing Ruby. This was my grandmothers name.. I hope you can see the fabrics click on the pic and you will get a closer look (oh btw..don't mind the mess creator at work ya know)

thanks for visiting...I am going to Brockville quilt show today with a lady friend that I meet on line through a canadianquilters group on Yahoo...she doesn't live that far sounds like we will be listening to Cathy Smith (the signing quilter) she has some great quilt songs/lyrics
Thanks for your visit and I hope you have a wonderful quilty weekend...

Cyber treats

2009-06-17T18:31:00.004-04:00

I have a few to show you!! first my mini that I got from Quilting Bloggers you can see the link on the sidebar... this is from Regena and I love it.. you can see it already has a special place on my wall..the thread case was hand made by a friend of my parents that passed away Mom & Dad bought it for me when I first started quilting as a wonderful Christmas gift this really is the best gift in the whole world and then between my fantastic mini quilt and the thread holder you will see another thread holder and that was made by a very good girl friend.. she personalized it by painting my Britnee girl on it and a put a tie around the neck of her.
Looking at this picture there are alot of little memory items and I am so happy to add this great mini quilt (one suggestion though) I don't have a label of the maker on the quilt when I make things for others I put a label on.. I have many labelless mini's and it is hard to remember where I got them all...I am going to make a pocket and apply it to the back and put her little note/card she sent with it in the pocket.

The jam was in this wonderfulr basket that Regena also made and sent.. I am sorry but I cannot produce that hazelnet chocolate bar.. it has evaporated into my mouth before it was taken by someone else..it was devine.. thanks so much Regena.. the swap was great fun!! I have my hair holders in it at my computer desk when I unwind I also "unwind" my hair and leave it a mess.. that is when I am most relaxed..LOL

I also got my quilt top together!! the blocks were from the swap I did on Fon's and Porter Quilters talk the theme was fall and we were to make the blocks 10 1/2 in" unfinished. The nine patches were from the same group of girls (some new ones) but we all belonged to another group Quilters Last Resort after Fon's and Porter's Forum folded. They are a great active group with many ladies that you can laugh, and joke and talk about quilting.

These blocks did not need any fudging for either of the swaps they went together like everyone had been using the same machine, everyone was concious of their measurements and their 1/4" and they all used a wonderful quilters quality cotton... the blocks and the layout I think turned out excellent.. I was kinda missing MerryBee's quilt and now I have my own done.. I already have a great way I am going to use the rest of my nine patches...got the fabric and all!!

I was up at 3am this morning couldn't sleep and had to get it done.. LOL

thanks for your wonderful comments they are so greatly appreciated get back to sewing so that I can see what you have done!! LOL

looking at past photos...

2009-06-14T13:59:00.005-04:00

brings you into a new adventure with old friends. I had done alot of block swaps and round robins in the last 2-3 years since starting on line...(never realized just how many). I decided I had to put a few of them together and then I will quilt the tops when the cool wind starts...

This is the first one I was in when Fons and Porter had their Quilters Talk Forum there were 28 swappers which was a good sign up!! the theme was fall...earlier this year I also had done a swap of nine patches through a group that still exists that I have on my side bar....Quilters Last Resort. The nine patches are a wonderful memory of support that I needed at the time there were 30 swappers...I am starting to piece this quilt together with the 2 swap blocks...It is coming along pretting good.. I have nine patches as the corner stones for the sashing and I have the perfect boarder to go in all the fabric I am using is just from my stash...I will be done the top by the end of the week to post (not quilted mind you..I am not a super quilter!!)

The next one is a quilt a long I had done with the same group we were lucky to have a chance to find each other after the site went down to finish our quiltalong..I had never heard of this term before cyberworld was introduced to me. We picked blocks from a site Quilterscache and that would be a block we all worked and shared techniques on..

this other one below was done through a Yahoo group that closed as well and they we all went to Quilters Last Resort..This one is my favorite..I have finally found a layout that I can use for these wonderful blocks...I am hoping by the end of the summer I will have a few swaps done.

I will warn you this is not all of them but these are the ones that I am going to get together this is my goal for the summer plus the other BOM I am doing with Stitch in Heaven

I hope you have a chance to do a block swap on line. as you can see quilters are concious of their workmanship and try to make the blocks to size. The swap I am working on is going together like butter cause all the blocks are to size the nine patches and the blocks

I have just finished another set of 12 blocks for a canadian yahoo group that are cats but I am not allowed to show them till after Sept...some of the members view my blog..so I can't cheat.

next blog I will post the pics of my wonderful mini quilt I got and who it was from I have to download the pics...

Till later...thanks for visiting.. love your comments love your blogs..

Ranettee's giveaway-mini's for auction

2009-06-12T03:14:00.004-04:00

Some honey buns are being given away go take a look and why cause she is going on vacation
Ranette's blog is here . good luck to you all.. she has a great home page fabric I would love to have ...some of these home pages are so gorgeous I love the effort they put into them.. mine is very plain.. but maybe one day I will dress it up.. right now.. I like just being plain..

My friend Shirley is also having an auction on her mini fibre art quilts.. you will have to visit her blog Here 50% of her monies will go to Wellspring not sure if you have them in the states..but they are all over Canada and are support for Cancer Victims....please visit her blog she has many photos of mini quilts and her art is truly amazing!!

have a great night sleeping..

what to do with a mini?

2009-06-10T09:52:00.005-04:00

everyone wonders what to do with a mini.. well one thing is you can pin all your blocks with the pins you accummulate as you go to quilt shows...the quilt pins I get from these wonderful guilds are gorgeous I hope you can see them when I post the pic click on the picture and it will enlarge so that you can see better.

the cat pin in the middle is what my mother gave me when I was only 18 years old one of the only things I didn't lose. You can see Shrine pins there from my dad and also an angel pin that my mother gave me that is supposed to go in my van to watch over me when I drive.. but I think I am more dangerous with a rotary cutter.. this is in my sewing room.

This mini I won at one of the silent auctions at one of the quilt shows a couple of years ago it was plain and I thought it would be perfect dressed up as my pin saver
....and then we have below..you can see my mini's that i have accummulated here.. this is not all of them but a majority.. some I have made, the heart applique and hand quilting the 4patch mini and the stack and whack mini with the same material pink and chocolate fabrics the rest through quilt shows and their silent auctions and our Yorkshire Rose Guild auction, and Rouge Valley Guild auctions which brings me......(drum roll please)

We raised over $3000.oo for our mini auction this year... I think that is super for the 90 quilts we received and only 1/2 the guild we used to be (now only 75 members) that is a good chunk of change!! I am very proud of our guild everyone was very helpful and when hands were needed I only had to ask once and they were there!! I have to give a big "THANK YOU" to our guild!!

The yellow and green quilt I bought at a yard sale for 2 dollars and the cats love it this is their quilt to lay on the day bed. I have washed it many many times with no loss of color great fabric. The dried Hydrangeas are what I got from my garden last year..hope i have a great harvest this year...thanks for visiting and your wonderful comments you are great!!

I also wanted to post my postcards that I got from my Crazy quilt swap. I have had these since March everyone was on time!! (not me and usually I am not late) but they perservered and I didn't get my name up in headlights for being late.
Aren't they beautiful!!

I have started a critters and things blog you can go to my profile and see it there.. just wanted to keep this one quilt related and the other "life stuff" in the other...you will notice there will not be as much posted on the other one.. why?? my life revolves around quilting!! LOL

Silly Me!!

2009-06-09T08:16:00.003-04:00

How dare I post a dessert and not put in the instructions.. got a few emails so here it goes...LOL

Rhubarb Delight

Base:

2 cups flour

1 cup margarine

2 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

Mix and press into 9x13in pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes

Custard:

1 cup evaporated milk

1/4 tsp. salt

4 tbsp. flout

2 cups white sugar

6 egg yolks, beaten

6 cups rhubarb

Mix custard ingredients well and pour over cookie base add the rhubarb evenly on top. bake 1 hour at 350F

Meringue:

6 egg whites, stiffly beaten

6 tsp.sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

Put meringue on top of baked rhubarb custard. Bake until golden brown 10-15 minutes.

My mother bought me this cook book in 1989 "The United Churches of Canada" Let's Break Bread Together. They have great receipe's that I have used for many pot lucks.

On another note you will see that I have posted some slideshows of the quilt shows I have gone to. I had not relized how many I have gone to till I sat and started putting these slides together. I still have a few more to add!!

Here is a pic of me and a quilt that I had at a show in Whitby. This is a Stack and Whack called White Bird why cause of the birds on the fabric. This church has you sign a book to donate you quilt to show at the next show. I will post the other pics a little latter in another slideshow.
I am not at my best I went right to the show after a night shift and had to wait till they opened!!