More Greenbrier blocks and Kansas Spirit blocks...

These are the seven blocks i have finished for my Greenbrier quilt - I only have four more blocks to do!! I love to applique these blocks watching TV, or at my guild - they go together so quickly.

Check out Sue Spargo's site if you like Folk Art Quilts - especially those with wool applique.

I also received two more blocks for my Kansas Spirit quilt - these will go great with the rest of my blocks! Oh, and NO I didn't pose Tooie - he always likes to be in any quilt pictures that I take - LOL - for whatever reason he knows I am snapping a quilt picture and just has to get in the action!



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A favorite (BOSTON TERRIER) thought for the day...

One of my most favorite " Thought for the Day" 's is one that I heard on the Rabbi Schmuley show, on Oprah.com radio.
"Morality is determined by how you treat the people you don't need"
Wow - when I heard that quote I really really was impressed... cause I really believe it.... and I thought about how I treat people every day... or perhaps how I treat people I met on the internet... or just comments I may have left on blogs or sites on the internet.... makes me think everyday - and I realize that I really do live by that quote - what a blessing!! to recognize and appreciate!

Oh..... and Canadian Gail.... BOSTON BOSTON BOSTON BOSTON .......BOSTON
T E R R I E R ...... I sure do LOVE my Boston Terriers....and I sure do LOVE Boston Terrier RESCUE!! :)

We have a bright and sunny day here and I am tearing up carpet in anticipation of new! I had done some of my wool applique blocks over the weekend and will post some in a day or so... have a super day!

8 MONTHS TILL CHRISTMAS!!!

That for sure got your attention!!!

While I was contempating this today, I finished two more blocks for my

Kansas Spirit quilt - the block on the left is called Tonganoxie 9-patch and the block on the right is called Kansas Dugout. I have 8 blocks so far, including the three that I have collected in my block swap. I will make the quilt with 12 or 16 blocks, depending on how many I receive from my block swap.

We are currently fostering a little dog named Buster. He is 8 years old and has some health issues - but he's a cuddly little guy. He will be staying with us until the early part of May and then will move onto a foster home in B.C., where his health issues can be taken care of. Please support Boston Terrier Club of Canada Rescue - so we can help the Buster's of the world! Buster loves to cuddle under my quilts !! - usually where we find him during the day.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Think of what you have instead of what you want

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Swap Received...

I received the nicest swap today. It was a mother's day swap and all the lovely goodies that I received from Amandalee are wonderful! The book looks hilarious and I can't wait to read it... perhaps with a cup of tea in the new tea cup. I have joined Swap-bot and I really have enjoyed the variety of swaps that I have been in. This parcel came in handy today cause we still have bad weather!... but the good news is that sunny days should be here by Friday.

I am also in a block swap and received two blocks this week - both are civil war prints and will go great with my Kansas Spirit quilt. The swap goes on throughout the year and I should have a nice size quit when it is done.

Annie the Boston Terrier....

came for a visit yesterday. Annie was the first Boston that we fostered in 2006. She was blind and had a bad ulcer on her eye; but the ulcer healed and she found a new forever home! She looked wonderful and we had a great time... I think she even remembered us.

The first picture on the left is the day she went to her forever home... I bought her a new red coat. The other pictures are of Annie yesterday... She looks great!

Please support Boston Terrier Club of Canada Rescue!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it
Helen Keller

AGAIN!!!

Well, we are in the third day of a deep freeze again! This time the snow didn't leave after the first day, and it is expected to continue for another two days. The temperature is -12C (which is 10 F), but with the wind chill the temperature is -23C (which is -9F).



It has been a good weekend for quilting..... and I finally got to use the cutest pantograph that I have had for a while - it is called "Doggie Pit Stop" by Dave Hudson. I think it is just adorable...... and I will use it again. I am not generally a pantograph user but there are a few out there that just suit the quilt!

Thought for The Day
Are you grateful?

Cleaning out the Sewing Room....

Yes, it was time... it had to be done..... and oh what a job it was. I finally cleaned out my "upstairs" sewing room in preparation for painting...... I gave away three huge boxes of fabric and books to a local sale and gave away lots to my friends and stored the rest. It is ready to be painted and for new carpet! The view to the left is while I was sorting and packing items and below is the finished result. I really, really work better in an organized environment.... so I am very happy at the cleanup job!

The view is from the door looking into the room. I also sent out two block swaps last week - I know they both got their blocks and I didn't want to post them here until they were received.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The first element of greatness is fundamental humbleness

Asquith

Quilting Weekend....

Returned yesterday from a wonderful retreat weekend - I got lots of sewing done - all in the peace and quiet beside the Bow River at North Bow Lodge. I finished my son's high school graduation quilt - it is a simple machine applique done in oriental red and black. The quilting is simple in the center, but in the borders I quilted Chinese words - Peace, Harmoney, Happiness. I am quite happy with the quilting and think that I will put the Chinese words on the back with an explanation as to what they are. He is the last one in the entire family to graduate!

I also completed the blocks in my "All Things Christmas" machine applique quilt - I am quite pleased with them - and now I have to button hole stitch the blocks. The border also has an appliqued scalloped edge . The class I am teaching at Traditional Pastimes is coming along very well. Most students have completed the blocks and are learning to applique.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Rudeness is a weak person's attempt at strength.
Casey

Winner!!!

the winner of my Prim Santa Pay It Forward is.... Emma.... but since there were only two entries - Jonna will get something too!

Thought for the Day
The distance doesn't matter, only the first step is difficult
Deffand

Yesterday I was going to rake up my lawn....

and this morning look what I woke up to!!! Yesterday there was absolutely no snow in my front yard. It's a good day to stay in and quilt! This is probably the most snow we have seen all winter!

Even more on quilt backings....

My never ending quest to educate about quilt backing continues!! The following quilt back was two lengths of fabric sewn together to create the larger piece. Upon first examination, the back looked fine - look what happened when I placed it over my quilt frame rails to check if it was really square!! It wasn't square at all, although one side was a bit better than the other!, so that meant squaring it up - BUT, the quilt back was only an extra 5-6" to begin with..... SO, that meant when I finally did square it up the back only had an extra 2 or 3 inches - not good, but it was workable. So, if I had put this quilt on the frame without checking it - the quilt would have rolled up uneven - which could mean puckers and other problems when quilting..... I guess the moral of the story is.... if you don't square, leave some spare!!

One of the best tutuorials I have ever seen on squaring a quilt top can be found here, on YouTube. Take a moment to check this valuable piece of info!

My Pay It Forward contest is still on. You must post a comment on this post to win my prim Santa!

THANK YOU, Oprah Winfrey for a great show on puppy mills on April 4, 2008 - Please support Boston Terrier Club of Canada Rescue by purchasing a donation raffle ticket.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Make yourself necessary to someone.

Emerson

PAY IT FORWARD...

I was very excited to win a Pay it Forward prize on Just Jonna's blog, in February. So, in the spirit of Pay it Forward - I am hosting my own prize draw. All you have to do is comment on this post on my blog and I will randomly pick a winner on April 10, 2008. (which by the way coincides with The Boston Terrier Club of Canada Rescue Raffle draw date) . What will you win???...well, I have a lovely little prim Santa made from osnaburg and attached to an antique bobbin spool. His hat is made of an old quilt piece, and his beard is needle felted. Please feel free to pass this on!

Thought for the Day

Pay it Forward!

8 DAYS LEFT...

to purchase your donation ticket for the beautiful Crazy Patch Wallhanging!! PLEASE help support Boston Terrier Rescue in Canada. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets. This wonderful art piece was crafted and donated by Canadian Fibre Artist, Shirley Paterson.

Boston Terrier Club of Canada Rescue is a non profit organization made up entirely of volunteers. Our funds come entirely from fundraising. Please visit our website for more information.


On another note, tomorrow, April 4, the Oprah show is going to feature a show on Puppy Mills. While this is going to be incredibly hard to watch - I encourage everyone to watch the show - and think about all those poor little dogs being sold in your local pet store. Believe me - there are puppy mills ..... and they are in your town! I have had first hand experience with puppy mills, as we have had two dogs come into Rescue from a Puppy Mill in Alberta. The devastation these little dogs faced was enormous - they now are healthy, happy and in good homes... thanks, of course, to wonderful BTCC Rescue volunteers and to adoptive parents. Without fundraising and donations - BTCC Rescue cannot continue to help these wonderful little dogs!!!!
PLEASE DONATE!!

Wonderful Swap Parcel ...

I received this wonderful swap parcel today from Amanda C in Ohio. It has some lovely reproduction fabrics in it which will go towards my Kansas Spirit quilt. What a great surprise on April Fools Day!!

Thought for the Day
Speak kindly today, for when tomorrow comes you will be in practice!
Anonymous