Sunday, October 25, 2009

Pouches




The designer at Lazy Girl Designs is right these are the Perfect Little Pouches. I have been making these as gifts for birthday parties and gift giving, all summer. Sometimes I put some candies in or other times just some cold hard cash. I started stitching the names of the receipents, adding fancy stitches or ribbon too. A great learning project for all the gears and gizmos on my machinge (always learning) Everyone pouch is unique. Great for the folks that have unique names and never get anything with their name on it.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Another Finish...



Well I have been busy trying to get a few projects finished. But it is soooo hard not to start new ones....well really really hard and I couldn't resist, I caved.
I bought these flannel 8 "squares at the Harbour Quilt Company store in Antigonish, NS, when we were there this summer. It was so hot that day and my family was melting in the car, why they didn't get out and sit under the shade of the tree beats me. So of course I had to be quick with my decision and choice. hard to do as the store was so quaint and the owner was baking blueberry muffins in the store kitchen.
I didn't want a full rag quilt so i made the entire quilt top and the back the same size. Used my new Chalkeliner to mark the diagonal lines to sew on. I then used a fancy stitch to sew the edge together, then snipped the outer edge to make the rag effect. I think this worked up a lot quicker then a full rag quilt. I love it and it is so warm and cozy!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Did you see that UFO fly away......????



Yep it is true I saw a UFO fly away to the land of finished projects. I am still wondering what possessed me to suddenly pick this one up and finish it off. What ever it was I am glad I did and got it finished. It has been in the WIP pile since 2003. Now this is not one of my prettiest quilts. In fact I had entered it into the Quilting Gallery's ugliest quilt contest this summer. It didn't win, but that is ok. I used up fabric from the early 90's that includes stuff from earlier quilts and clothing from my kids. I wish now, I had chosen a different layout, but as they say "hind sight is 20-20". The quilt is long and narrow and weighs a ton! I just did an all over stippling pattern to quilt it. There was a day that I would have hand quilted it, but not anymore. Yes that is my Lily in the foreground. She has to be beside me at every move, never missing an opprotunity to get in a photo.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Great giveaway!

wow Brenda over at the Pumpkin Patch Primitives is hosting an amazing giveaway. I almost don't want to spread the word, but if I do it increases my chances. So hop on over to see what I am drooling about......fat quarters galore and maybe a gift certificate too!!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving


I just wanted to wish all my fellow Canadian quilt bloggers a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you all have a wonderful day with family and friends. Drive carefully and don't eat too much. For those not familiar with Canadian Thanksgiving I found a little info to share with you:
"The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean. Frobisher's Thanksgiving was not for harvest but homecoming. He had safely returned from a search for the Northwest Passage, avoiding the later fate of Henry Hudson and Sir John Franklin. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. The feast was one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations by Europeans in North America. Frobisher was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him — Frobisher Bay."
After many dates were used as a day of Thanksgiving, on January 31, 1957 the gov't proclaimed:
A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed … to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October."

Friday, October 9, 2009

Fall Quilt Festival 2009



I call this quilt the "Happy quilt". In May of last year my sister discovered a cantaloupe size cyst in her uterus which lead to a full hysterectomy quit quickly after the diagnosis. As soon as I heard the news I asked her if she wanted me to come out to help her recoup. she said no. But then a few days later she called and said she would really like me to come out. I was thrilled to be able to finally help her, over the years she has always helped me out. I thought I need to bring her something to help with her recovery and what better tgift then a quilt to cover up with as she lays on couch. At first I was going to make one to match her couch with deep plum, forest green and mid browns. But as I laid out the fabric it wasn't calling out to me, seemed kind of drab. I decided to make something more colourful and 'happy'. I managed in a week to get it made, other then the binding hand sewn on. So on the plane we went with an unfinished quilt. That was ok, I would sew it on when she wasn't needing it.
Well i am glad to report that my sister loved it and was definitly happy with the colours and the layout and everything. It did boost her spirits and kept her warm for many nights on the couch (too sore to walk upstairs). Anytime someone came to visit she would show it off saying "do you like my 'Happy quilt' my sister made me?"
Check out all the wonderful creations and stories others have made at Amy's Second Blogger Quilt Festival. You don't even have to get dressed for this Festival it is all at your finger tips. So grab a drink and relax & look at some amazing creations.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Vintage Thingie Thursday

It has been awhile, but I finally got around to taking pictures for Vintage Thingie Thursday hosted by Suzanne at Colorado Lady. check out all the interesting thingies everyone is posting.


This clock was a wedding gift from my Great Grandfather to my Great Grandmother back in 1904 in Marysville, Kansas. My grandfather had the workings inside refurbished in the late 1970's so if I have it wound up it would work and chime on the quarter hour. I have seen these at many antique stores and heritage places so they must have been popular at the time. My sister has a similar one given on an anniversary. Picture quality isn't that great as I was standing on a 6' foot ladder to clean the shelf it sits on and decided to take a picture of it!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Peek a boo!


I few things I have been working on lately. I almost have a very old UFO finished. Just a couple more feet of binding to sew on and a wash!
Stay tuned for these to be finished.....