Some more work finished......

and another block received in my Blockswap.... This is from Kathy in Australia.....

I also finished a couple of projects over the last few days.... I completed the last project for the Stitcher's Angel Swap.... this is going to .... well, I can't really say... but it is going overseas..... I have really enjoyed making the three projects for this swap....and I can't wait to receive mine; and last but not least, I completed my House Block for my guild. We are all making a Christmas House Block and then there will be a draw in December and the winner will receive all the blocks... that would be a really nice Christmas present....

Thought for the Day

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

Dr. Seuss

Forboding Sky.........

this is what the day looked like today.... so I decided to spend some time in the sewing room.... as it turned out, the clouds went away and the sun came out... but only for a little while.

I made some cards today.... I need a few for different swaps... plus for birthdays... so I spent about an hour making these...

I also have been wanting to make a disappearing nine-patch quilt for awhile. I really should be working on other UFO's, but .... I just wanted to do something quick and easy today. I received 7 fat quarters in a give-away from Bluebird Quilts and thought they would be great for the disappearing nine-patch. - and I was right! The 7 fat quarters made a quilt about 35 X 45..... and this is what it looked like before I added border...

and I fiddled with the setting and added a small red border and then a green border... and now I have a lovely lap quilt for my mother in law...... hope to quilt it up tomorrow....




Thought for the Day
Nowhere so busy a man as he than he, and yet he seemed busier than he was.
Geoffrey Chaucer

I received...

another of my Blockswap Blocks in the mail today... all the way from Connecticut.... I am getting quite a collection of civil war reproduction blocks.... I should be getting 3 more from this swap and another 3 nine patch blocks from another swap..... my quilt should be ready to put together after Christmas...

3 months till.....

Christmas!!!! I can't believe it... but, as I have said before, it is my favorite time of year... and since I am working on a Christmas class for the LQS - it is putting me in the mood.... I am also working on a couple of stocking swaps and that, too, is getting me excited.....stay tuned for news of the snow!


Lots and lots of wind and cold weather the last few days.... AND the forecast says we could get wet snow today or tomorrow..... Good thing the farmers in this area have their crops off.....

Thought for the Day
He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.
Roy L. Smith

Happy Autumn.......

Taking a walk the other morning.... I just had to snap this picture...... today we have rain and it is very cold......... can winter be far away????

I have been working on a class sample for a Christmas Table Runner. I made two - a small one with applique and a larger one with a great Christmas print that I only had a Fat Quarter of..... let me know your thoughts..... This worked up very quickly and it is a beginner project. Most will be able to finish the top in two hours or so..... I now have Christmas gifts for my neighbours!

Thought for The Day
Every man has a rainy corner of his life whence comes foul weather which follows him.
Jean Paul

Binding tutorial...

Here is a great Binding Tutorial.... with pictures!!.

Not too much going on today... made some ginger snap cookies with blackstrap molasses. Blackstrap molasses is supposed to be filled with Iron... and I am anemic, so I am always looking for an iron boost... plus, hey, who doesn't love cookies.... I looked it up on the net, and Yup, Blackstrap molasses does have lots of iron.. and they recommend one teaspoon each day in the morning..... WHAT???, I'll stick with a couple of cookies - I just can't eat a teaspoon of molasses...LOL.

Oh, I am working on a table runner pattern to teach at the LQS - I finished two of them - one is ready for binding and one has to be layered and quilted... each log cabin with a little applique or focus fabric..... pics to come.

Thought for the Day
Eating rice cakes is like chewing on a foam coffee cup, only less filling.
Dave Barry

Cafe Latte..........

I haven't had a Latte for about 3 months....!! not that I had them every day, but once a week I usually found myself getting one at Starbucks or Second Cup. Well, there is no Starbucks or Second Cup in Athabasca! (sheesh) but... I found a cute little bistro that serves them... and this morning I had a Latte... and as I left the bistro I gazed upon the beautiful Athabasca river valley... and realized.... where's the heck my camera - LOL... you will have to imagine all the fall colors!



Yesterday I quilted a quilt that I made from vintage shirting blocks.... I think it turned out pretty good - I just love vintage fabrics... and I love quilting feathers!!



Thought for the Day
Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats.
Howard Aiken

A new week.......

came upon me rather quickly. I have had some great walks over the past few days.... here is some of our wonderful scenery......every day the leaves are more beautiful and there are more colors....











We have had bears around the last couple of weeks, as there are many many little berries just waiting to be feasted upon.... so far I haven't seen one.... but there is lots of "poops" around, so I am careful not to walk too early in the morning, and if I do I carry a whistle and an air horn, just in case. Magpie, the Boston Terrier, almost had a run in with a porcupine a few days ago... she was investigating in the shrubs and I noticed something moving that I thought was furry... but it wasn't furry... I think we were exceptionally lucky... she didn't get too close but if it had been any closer we might have had a nasty accident. My adventures in the wild!!



I finished a great little table runner a few days ago... it is wool and hand appliqued, using a blanket stitch.... I bought it as a kit and I think it looks so cute.... I spent most of this afternoon quilting.....








and received this great swap in the mail yesterday.... it was a "craft" swap, from England, and I was so excited with all the goodies.

Thought for the Day
Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; And only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

And the winner of my give away.......

is Silverhartgirl - Jessica .....from Iowa.... An email is on its way to her for an address. Thank you to all you who left a comment...I really enjoyed seeing comments from old friends and reading comments and blogs from those that may be new friends..

Thought for the Day
Just tell yourself, Duckie, you're really quite lucky!
Dr. Suess

September 11....

just a note to remember all who perished on September 11, 2001. I will never forget that day..... and my thoughts, prayers, and love go out to all those who lost loved ones on that day.

Thought for the Day
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
Albert Camus

Fall Days.....

....another pic of the beautiful fall morning today..... although it is raining this afternoon.

If I walk early enough there are still little spider webs in the grass..... these webs must disintegrate when the sun comes out. Some days there are lots of them..... the bad part... you don't want to see the furry creatures that make them - LOL

I received another block for my civil war quilt from my August Blockswap partner..... as always, it is just perfect and the quilt is getting closer and closer to being put together.

Don't forget to enter my give away!!

Thought for the Day
I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.
Nathaniel Hawthorne

Happy Monday....

today is my son's 18th birthday!!! Happy Birthday Alex.... I can't believe my baby is all grown up......

This little guy was enjoying the fog this morning... we did have a touch of frost last night so the leaves are turning by the day....

Don't forget about my 100th post giveaway...... AND don't forget to leave me an email address if you don't have a blog... If I can't get in touch with you I will draw another name...

I finished another of my Stitcher's Angel gifts on the weekend, also. It is a really cute bag... and I think I will make some more for Christmas presents.

Thought for the Day

We've had bad luck with children; they've all grown up
Christopher Morely

Give-Away Sunday.........

As this is my 100th post, I am having a give away..... the rules are pretty standard - leave a comment and if you post on your blog about my give away, you will have an extra chance to win.. I will draw on Friday, September 12... This is what I will send you if you win. This is a small machine appliqued wall hanging - made of hand dyed fabrics, except for the print which is from Japan. Good Luck!
I must be able to email you if you win.... so leave an email address or blog address. If there is not way to contact you.... I will have to draw another name.

Happy Sunday... The leaves are falling.... this picture is from our morning walk yesterday...

Thought for the Day
I have been lucky enough to live on my obsession. This is my only success.
Francis Bacon

My good friend Shirley.....

has started her own blog.. Shirley is an exceptional art quilter and has taught classes all over the country. She has an online group that offers FREE, yes, you heard it, Free..... fiber art classes... If you are looking to learn something new, check out her blog and her group - there are people from all over the world.

Shirley and I have spent many happy (and messy) hours in my kitchen hand dying fabric. She has an exceptional sense of color and absolutely delights in seeing the colors emerge from our dying sessions....

Today is a quilting day for me. I have an absolutely huge, king size, customer quilt to do.... so it will take a couple of days... but I am excited..... I have been given the green light to "do what I want" and I have been envisioning all the wonderful patterns i want to put on this quilt....

Thought for the Day
The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.
Ferdinand Foch

My morning walk.....

the leaves are starting to turn color in Northern Alberta. This is the road that Magpie and I take on our morning walk..... I am sure as the weeks progress that we will see some beautiful color. I just love Fall - I love to quilt using fall colors too...




I spent the Labour Day weekend in Calgary and the weather there was a tad on the chilly side also... it was so great to see the wonderful mountains!! .... they are starting to be snow covered.... it was an extremely pretty site. This view is looking west from Crescent Road - the bridge over the Bow River is 14th Street Bridge. I grew up in this area as a child.....



I have been busy the last few days also... getting some UFO's done... this quilt is made from some vintage blocks that I purchased on Ebay a few years ago..... I put the quilt together with some homespun fabric... and I think it makes a very nice quilt... I am going to quilt feathered wreaths in the plain blocks.... and???? in the pieced blocks.... The pieced blocks are all made from old shirting fabrics and are hand stitched...


I also put the finishing touches on a few items that I am donating to the Boston Terrier Club of Canada Rescue. They are having a craft sale in Eastern Canada in October and I am sending these items to them for their sale. The little quilts are actually crate blankets.... made raggy style.....






Last, but not least, I completed a nine patch block to be sent to Australia and quilted up a lovely little Fall panel that I have had forever...... The next few days will be spent with a customer quilt......


Keep watching my blog for my 100th post!! I have a great give-away (well, I think it's great - LOL)

Thought for the Day
The essential question is not, "How busy are you?" but "What are you busy at?" "Are you doing what fulfills you?"
Oprah Winfrey