Summer

We had a nice visit to our cottage last month. The weather was cooler and wetter than normal but we still managed to have fun! As always!

The garden was in bloom.

Caitie and Matt came up too!

We tried something totally out of our box  - and went ATV riding! We had a blast!

Don't we look like Power Rangers in our gear?

Cousin Paul came to visit all the way from Saskatchewan!

We visited Algonquin Park and saw some moose!

A female eating maple leaves.

Here she is with her twin babies!

Lake of Two Rivers

We found a tree-hugger along the way :)

Later on we saw the bull moose.

Tea and a book on the dock

How lucky we are!

No time for sewing at the cottage, although I did bring my machine and some projects along.

I have been working on a few projects since I got home but you'll have to wait til next time to see what they are!

Round Robin

This spring, Three friends and I embarked on a "Round Robin" adventure!  This week, we all got together to reveal the results!

We all supplied a centre block which was then passed around to the other three to be added on. My block, actually four "Road to Kansas" block, was inspired by an antique string quilt I saw in Gwen Marston"s book, "Liberated String Quilts" It was quite large, approximately 28" square.

There's Piper - she likes to help me when I sew!

Jacqui did the first round.She made string snowballs. Aren't they cool?!

Next up, Gail used her "Hex-and-More" ruler to make these neat string triangles. They remind me of little mountains!

 The quilt got its perfect finishing touch from Cathy.  She made diagonal string squares set in a zig zag formation.

I am so pleased with my finished quilt! I couldn't be happier!

It was quite a challenge working on this project, one which I enjoyed and hope to do again.

Here we all are, happy quilters, with our finished quilt tops.

Visit Jacqui, Gail, and Cathy's blogs to learn more about our adventure!

Threads of Memory, some finishes, and a Stash Report

This year I decided to participate in Barbara Brackman's Civil War Block of the Month "Threads of Memory " . In addition to making the blocks, I am especially enjoying the stories behind the blocks. Barbara posts a new block on the last Saturday of each month. So far, I have completed three, all made out of stash! The first block is called the "Portsmouth Star" It is representative of George Washington's ladies maid Ona Judge who successfully gained freedom and the many people who helped her on her way.

February's block is the "Mercer County Star" for  Quaker Susan Lowe Wattles who, along with her husband, Augustus, opposed slavery and assisted them in achieving education and land ownership.

The third block is the "New Garden Star" for Catherine White Coffin who established the New Garden Meeting House where she, her family, and friends offered help to fugitive slaves.

April's block is in progress.

If you are interested in learing more about "Threads of Memory" here is the link. http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.ca/2013/11/2014-civil-war-block-of-month-threads.html

I have finished some quilts lately.

I took these pictures of one of our rare warm days this spring out on our newly fixed clothesline.

First off is "Scrappy Halloween Trips". I began this one at Beaver Island Quilt Retreat.. I had a nice collection of fun Halloween prints and this was the perfect way to use them.

"Lazy Sunday", started last spring is now complete! I like the bright cheery fabrics in this quilt.

Despite some shopping (I am making a quilt for my nephew and his new wife) I am still in the black for 2014!

Since my last Stash Report:

Total in : 21.5 yards

Total out:: 14 yards

Net fabric out of my stash: 14 yards!

Well hello! It's been awhile....

I've been a busy girl since I last posted. Last month, my daughter and I went to Toronto to check out this guy's stash..

Oops! Not that kind of stash! This kind of  'stache!

This is Irish singer-songwriter, Foy Vance. 

We went to hear him sing in concert. Some of his songs have been featured on the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack. This is "Guiding Light".

 Foy was actually the opening act for another musician, Brett Dennen from California.

Here is Brett singing his upbeat tune "When We Were Young".

We had a really fun time - still humming and smiling after a great night of song.

My next post will follow shortly with my quilting activities and Stash Report - there has been a lot of action on that front!

Quilt til You Wilt

Last Saturday, our guild hosted our semi-annual Quilt til You Wilt day. About 20 members gathered for a day of sewing and friendship. The day, however, did not start out as planned! I had great intentions to head over at 8am but those plans went out the window because of these two!

I let them outside and soon after I began to prepare their breakfast I noticed a smell emanating from what I thought was the sink. Then I thought, this is smells odd, like skunk! So I walked over to the the window and there they were! Two little white doggies with yellow heads!  So instead of sewtime, it was bathtime!

Here is Daisy waiting for hers!

I eventually made it to the church later that morning. I spent most of the day making two backings, one for a wall-hanging and the other for the Lazy Sunday quilt.

One more border will be added to Lazy Sunday. The strips are ready to go!

 It will be a biggie- 82" x 102" -a generous double, almost queen. I added leftover blocks as well as a label to the turquoise flannel backing. I am quite pleased with it. Here it is folded up.

I've also been working on a quilt for my sister. I am making a disappearing 4 patch using Amy Butler's "Soul Blossoms" fabric line. Here are a few made up.

 And a few more to go. 

All in all QTYW was a successful day. I accomplished a fair bit and felt pampered . We were treated to morning and afternoon refreshments and a wonderful lasagna and salad dinner. Thank you Lorna and Debbie for all your hard work!

And now for the Stash Report:

Total fabric purchased: 13.5 yards

Total fabric used: 32 yards ( donation to rummage sale, pillowcases, two backings, binding, borders)

Total fabric out of my stash this year: 28 yards

Stash Report

I made some pillow cases last week. One was for a friend's birthday. She has two cats that she adores so hers was made with a cute cat print. The other two are for my kids for Valentine's Day. My son was quite dismayed when I brought his Christmas pillow case home back from university. So I told him that Valentine's Day was coming up and that maybe he would get a new one then. I have two more kids so I will be making more of these.

Stash Report::

Fabric used this week: 3.5 yards

Fabric purchased this week: 3.75

Total fabric out of my stash this year: 9.5 yards

Some finishes and Stash Report

Some projects that I'd been working on for a while are nearing completion. Last week I tamed the beast know as "Lazy Sunday" by getting on the final of the three pieced borders. I picked up my Halloween Scrappy trips quilt from the quilter. I began this one back in September at Beaver Island Quilt Retreat. Next up- purple binding! I also started a new project - a quilt for my sister.

And now for the Stash Report.

Fabric used this week: 3.75 yards

Fabric purchased this week: 2 yards

Total fabric out of my stash this year : 8.75 yards

Fun Busy Week

Last weekend I attended a guild workshop on wool applique by Jill Buckley. This class was all about working with wool on cotton and embellishing using embroidery stitches and by adding beads, buttons and found objects, like a cool chain belt from the 70's. I could only stay for the morning because I had a party to go to.  This is what I was able to accomplish before I had to go....

It was a super workshop - thank you Jill! I will be working on this project over the next few weeks and hope to show some progress soon. My friends at Quilt as Desired and The Cozy Quilter both attended the full workshop. See what they did with their projects by clicking on their respective links.

The party was a very important one. 

It was my husband's and daughters' birthdays this week! Look closely at the picture and you will see how old they were turning. It was a big one for someone! 

It was great being together to celebrate!

Once the weekend was over, I finished my basket quilt. One of the quilters at Beaver Island Quilt Retreat showed me how to make this cute little basket block. I set them in a "streak of lightning' and , in  liberated fashion, chopped off the tops and bottoms.

Here are some close ups...

For fun, I added some random blocks, like the churn dash...

...and the shoe-fly...

...and a wee westie for our Daisy & Piper.

Kay at the retreat kindly gave me some vintage feedsack material to make this beauty.

Liberated Stars finished off the corners. The final destiny for this quilt is not yet determined. It will start out as a wall-hanging but may end up as a baby quilt. Time will tell.

Up next: Lazy Sunday Mystery! Green Borders are on. Purple are ready to go. I have a feeling that will be challenge!

Music makes me smile...

Music has always been a part of me. As far back as I can remember, and to this day, there has and is always a song playing in my mind. Music has gotten me through the good times and bad, and all in between. Tonight while baking birthday cakes(!) my daughter declared that some music was in order. She shares my love of music and this is the song she played.  It is called "Hearts on Fire" performed by Ed Sheeran and Passenger. Sometimes a song  touches your heart and this one did mine. 

Scraps

This little quilt was made out of floor scraps I got when attending a guild sewing day. One of my fellow quilters was making a number of snowball blocks. In the process, triangle bits of fabric are chopped off. I was the lucky recipient and turned them into hourglass units for my quilt. I designed the center wreath and appliqued it in wool. It measures about 12" square and hangs out in our family room. It is amazing what those little bits can be turned in to!

Finishing Up

Today I made the binding for this quilt I made at Beaver Island Quilt Retreat. I learned how to make these little baskets there from one of the other "retreaters". Every now and again I would make a few, and this fall they were assembled into a quilt. There will be a full reveal of the quilt once it is bound. The green half square triangles are being put together for the border of my "Lazy Sunday" quilt. The pattern was designed by Bonnie Hunter for Quiltmaker magazine last year. Like all of Bonnie's quilts, it has a million pieces but I am finally on the home stretch! Look for this one to be finished before month's end (I hope!)

Meet Daisy and Piper!

Our Westies always put a smile on our faces! They are a perfect pair and we can't imagine our lives without them!

Back in Action!

After a long siesta (going on seven years!), I have decided it is time to revive my blog! The last few years have been fun and exciting....and there have been many changes! My two oldest kids are now at university, and the two younger are in Grade 12 and 9. I am looking forward to sharing some of the things I have been up to quilting and otherwise. The blog will also help to keep me on the straight and narrow! Like some quilters out there (you know who you are!), I have an extensive stash. This year, as last year, I will be doing a "Stash Report"... but this time it will be out there for all to see! I didn't do too badly in 2013, I used 20 more yards than I brought in.... but considering the size of the pile at the top of the stair, I  am determined to do better!

For the past few years my friends Carol, Gail and I have attended Gwen Marston's Beaver Island Retreat in Elk Rapids, Michigan. This past fall was Gwen's 30th and final retreat. We decided we wanted to make her a special quilt to thank her. She gave us confidence to fearlessly break all the rules and  provided us with endless inspiration to make our own unique quilts. Here we are with Gwen, second from left, with the quilt we made together. I can honestly say that this is one of the quilts I am most proud of.

Now on to the stash report:

Total fabric bought this week: 0 yards

Total fabric bought this year: 0 yards

Total fabric used this year: 7 yards.

The seven yards is a backing for my Scrappy Trips Halloween quilt. The backing was made by piecing a bunch of flannel scraps. The quilt is now being quilted and will show up here before long.

Well that's all for now.. tune in soon for more!