For my U.S. Friends....

I know that today is election day... and I hope that all of you will vote! I have several friends in the U.S. - some democrats and some republicans... doesn't matter what party you vote for, just vote. I have been watching the election for weeks. I admire the way that everyone is so passionate about their candidate - I loved the debates and I really enjoy the updates on MSNBC. Today, I heard Maya Angelou talk about the first time she ever registered to vote - what an astounding woman she is. I did enjoy Sarah Palin too!! She seemed to add a little bit of excitement to the McCain campaign, not to mention how good natured she was on Saturday Night Live. If we don't see her in the White House this time, I am sure we will see her around in the next election. I wish our Canadian elections had the passion that the U.S. elections have! Our candidates only campaigned for one month - not nearly enough time

I had a nice surprise in the mail from Regina at Creative Kismit. She sent me a package of handmade cards from her etsy shop. Thanks, Regina.

And on a positive note, today I received a hug from a little girl in the reading program that I volunteer in. Totally out of the blue, and spontaneous - made me think why kids are the best people!

Thought for the Day
History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.
Maya Angelou

Wool Applique

Happy November - Christmas just keeps getting closer and closer - LOL. I am working on another few blocks (don't know how many I am actually going to do) from the Chestermere Block of the Month Quilt, that was designed by my friend Laurel Francis, of Shaggy Dog Designs. I made this quilt a couple of years ago in homespun fabrics - it is the quilt that is in my profile picture. You can also see a picture of it here. This was my first attempt at a hand applique quilt - and needless to say, without the encouragement of Laurel, I doubt if I would have finished it. I have decided to do some more blocks in wool applique - and wool applique is a whole lot easier than hand applique!

Thought for the Day

Those who wish to sing, always find a song.

Swedish Proverb

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.......

it is the end of October... and I can hardly believe it. I have been in my new home now for 4 months.... doesn't seem like that long. I finished one more Christmas present - a bag made of horse fabrics. This will be for my sister, who is a horse trainer. The other pumpkin bag will most likely be for me. I had extra fused pumpkin appliques from my last class so I decided to make myself a bag.... The horse bag is the third bag I have made from the class I took on Shirley's Fibre Arts Group. That class was well worth the time... and of course, as with all of Shirley's classes on her group, they are free!

On of the most enjoyable things I did in the last few days was quilt a piece for my friend Laurel Francis of Shaggy Dog Designs. This is a part of the quilting I did. You can see more of this quilt on my quilting website.

Thought for the Day

I'll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween.

Author Unknown

Big Thank you...

to Violette, at Hand Quilting. I won a copy of the book Civil War Love Letter on her blog... and it arrived and is fabulous!!! I have been looking at this for awhile. Thank you Violette!

More Pumpkins....

This past weekend I went to Fort McMurray (which is 3 hours North of where I live) and taught my an applique course using my pumpkin pattern.... these are four of the results. Most of the students were new and I thought they did a great job.

My Little Friend....

this morning as I was finishing my four patch quilt and doing my laundry... and this little guy came to eat his morning breakfast on the ice. The lake is starting to freeze and this little beaver, along with another little guy, comes in the morning to eat... We have a beaver dam just at the end of our little bay, but we only see these little guys when it gets very quiet around here.... I hope they come around every morning!

This is the four patch stack quilt that I finished. The repeat was 12" and I used 1.5 meters of material to get 14 blocks. The finished quilt is 55 X 80 - so a nice lap size. I did have to buy another meter of the flowery fabric for borders and binding. I used red fabric that I had, as I originally bought purple fabric for sashings but just didn't like it when the quilt was finished.

I also received some quilt blocks in the mail the other day, another nine patch and another blockswap. I am very happy with these swaps.

Thought for the Day

I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being.
Abraham Lincoln

Two Months....

till Christmas.... LOL, plus, we had snow today.. not much and it didn't stay on the ground... but it was our first taste of things to come!!! I have some little Santa's I want to make, so maybe today would be a good day to start those!

Check out these pumpkins.....

this is the first pumpkin patch I have EVER seen!! - taken a few years ago outside Abbotsford, British Columbia - we were at a dog show in Abbotsford and we were driving around and spotted these.... isn't it just spectacular!!

Perhaps I am .....

Pumpkin Crazy????? this has to be at least the 4th or 5th item I have done in the last few weeks.... oh well, ...... this is going to be given as a thank you gift....

I mentioned a few posts ago about a great little tutorial on making fabric baskets.... As I am still not feeling so great, I spent some time sewing today... and I made two.... the one on the right is the size from the blog... and the one on the left is made just a tad bigger. These will be great for Christmas gifts, I think.... or even as hostess gifts, or secret sister gifts... well, the list goes on.

I have also spoken about Shirley's group a lot - her Learning Fiber Arts Group is a really great little group. I made a tote bag a few posts back and really loved it... so I thought I would make another one for a family member for Christmas... I think it turned out really great and I hope ???? likes it. LOL

Thought for the Day

People with glass Pumpkins shouldn't throw gourds

Pumpkin Nook

It's the time of year...

for a Harvest Moon!!! This brilliant moon appeared the other night and I just had to have a picture of it... I just love the fall!!!

I have been keeping busy with quilting... At present, I am quilting a customer quilt that is just absolutely stunning.... I am having such a great time with it... I would love to share pics... but.... isn't fair until she sees it... so stay tuned..... I am on day 3 of quilting...lots of intricate free motion quilting... which is what I love.

My friend, Shirley, has some exciting tutorials on her blog. Check it out, you will definately learn something! I am battling a cold at the moment :( ..... the first one I have had in almost a year... so that's pretty good.... taking it easy - lots of sleep.....and orange juice...

Thought for The Day

A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses.

Hippocrates

Stacked 4 Patch....

which is similar to a Stack N'Whack, except that is done as a four patch, is a pattern that I have been interested in. I made some blocks and then set them on point into a table cloth, with fabric that had a very small repeat (about 6")... the design is very intricate and a little hard to see... but I really like the design. The second picture shows the green squares a little closer and you can see the differences in the design .... plus the quilting... I had fun with this little piece.

So, while I quilting this little piece - I thought I would like to try another print... so I found another print that had about a twelve inch repeat... and came up with these little blocks. I like them too!! Might take a week or so to get these stitched up and quilted... but will make a cute little quilt. I was really excited making these blocks... you never know what you are going to get!!

Thought for the Day

The result is often disappointing, but the process is highly exciting.

Francis Bacon

Reading....

at the beginning of summer I re-read a favorite book, The Thorn Birds, by Colleen McCullough.... and really enjoyed it. I first read it as a teenager... and of course, there was the mini-series way back then. Over the last few weeks I have been reading more of her books... I just finished Angel, and I loved it. What a quirky, heartwarming story. I also read The Ladies of Missalonghi before that... and that book was also quirky. Colleen really has a wonderful gift. I am going to continue with her books for a while, as I like her style of writing. I didn't realize that she had been writing entertaining stories for so many years - off to the library today to find another of her treasures.

Thought for the Day
We are what we think.All that we are arises with our thoughts.With our thoughts, we make our world.
Buddha

Stocking swap...... a little teaser....

I am involved in a Stocking Swap on The Robins Nest, and I worked on my partner's stocking the other day.... I know she reads once in a while... so I am giving her a little tease...... it's a little blurry too.... LOL......

Happy Thanksgiving.....

This is the frost I woke up to yesterday morning.... it was cooolllld.... but today it has warmed up to above freezing, so Magpie and I can have our daily walk. We did walk yesterday in the afternoon, but the wind was biting. This view is out my front door..... As it is Thanksgiving weekend end Canada, I want to wish all my friends a happy "turkey" day... I am thankful for my wonderful family and friends, and the new life I have found.


I made another pumpkin wallhanging when I taught this class earlier in the week. I like to "quilt" along with my students.... sometimes I end up with a few of the same things! I like this darker colorway... and I added a crow on the pumpkin...



While I was working away on this little wallhanging... I decided I needed a little "Autumn" jacket of some kind... so I used my applique pieces and made a jacket out a sweatshirt. I really enjoyed making this... took an afternoon....

Thought for The Day
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy

To My Canadian Friends......

If you are saving Canadian Tire money and don't know what to do with it...... you can help Boston Terrier Club of Canada Rescue by sending the money to them. This group works tirelessly to help Bostons in need. I have been involved with them for about 4 years now. You can also contact me if you need any more information.... Thanks in advance!

And.... look at this great tutorial for making a fabric basket!.


Thought for the Day
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
Mahatma Ghandi

Autumn Wallhanging....

I have finished instructions for this wall hanging that I am going to teach at the Local Quilt Store.... it's a quick project and should be able to be completed within 2 hours or so.... I used some felted wool in the taller pumpkim and I think it turned out pretty good.

Thought for the Day

You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.

Clay P. Bedford