Holidays......

I have had a lovely few days of rest and sewing..... I didn't quite get everything I wanted to get done in the sewing department....I spent some time just enjoying the days instead.

I am working on a Round Robin and am making 4 1/2" blocks for it - I will be making 20 blocks... and I am not usually a "miniature" sewer - LOL..... so this will take a little longer than I had planned... but it will look great!

I also had some Amy Butler fabric that I have wanted to make a bag with for awhile.... so I got that done as well. This pattern is from Ithinksew.com and is quite cute....Back to work for a couple of days....

Thought for the Day

When we take down the Christmas tree in the New Year, we should be careful not to throw out the Christmas spirit with it.

Heather Kaitlyn Barclay

Merry Christmas...

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;(because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men"

Luke 2

Winter Wonderland.....

we are in the middle of a two-day blizzard of sorts..... roads are bad, temperature not too bad... lots of snow... just perfect for Christmas!


We got the cutest flannel in at the store where I work... I couldn't resist making up a small lap quilt... I am going to back it with black flannel..... I have one more day of work... then off for a few days.... hope to get some UFO's finished.


Thought for the Day
I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!"
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

Happy Friday.....

I started a pottery course in October and have finally received my pieces..... this was a hand building class and I really enjoyed it. The clay is dug and made in Athabasca, Alberta, which is, in itself, a considerable feat. We have a great Pottery Group here who does all of this... so now that I have finished my beginner class I can join the group..... another hobby.... LOL

Thought for the Day

Nick: [slamming a bottle on the bar] That's it. Out you two pixies go - through the door, or out the window.

"It's a Wonderful Life", the movie

I received a

wonderful swap this past week - 4 fat quarters of Christmas Past by Moda.... they are just so wonderful.... I need to find a super pattern to make something fabulous out of them.... any ideas???

I had a couple of days to myself and am trying to finish up some UFO's (LOL). I taught a beginner class and had this rail fence to add borders to..... so I did. I am thinking of putting a brown Minkee backing on this one..... and quilting it with pumpkins....

I also put together this quick quilt made from the Benartex panel, from my previous post.. I just absolutely love this little quilt - I usually do a Christmas quilt and hadn't this year.... so now I have one. I have a piece of pale blue Minkee that I will use for the backing.... I don't know why I love backing my quilts with Minkee lately - must be cause it is so warm.

Our weather has warmed up - only about -10 celsius in the day... it's almost summer!

I spent today thinking about my dear friend, Shirley, as she said good-bye to her son.

Thought for the Day

Ghost of Christmas Past: Let's face it, Frank. Garden slugs got more out of life than you.

Frank Cross: Yeah? Name one.

Scrooged, The Movie

We are still in a deep freeze........

here in Northern Alberta. I just came back from a few days in Calgary where I had an early Christmas with my family. I also had a lovely lunch with my quilting buddies.... thanks Noell, Bobbie, Rosa and Shirley - I had such a nice time with you all... even tho my coughing was annoying. I have been fighting a cold that has really bothered my Asthma.... I rarely get Asthma troubles, but when I do it sounds awful. Our weather is supposed to warm up in the next few days, which I am thankful for.

I am all ready for Christmas.... this is the last of my Christmas items that I made - it is a tote bag for Magpie the dog's vet - Dr. Sandra.

Thought for the Day

A Palace without affection is a poor hovel, and the meanest hut with love in it is a Palace for the soul.

Robert Ingersoll

Taken from the book The Footprints Book of Daily Inspirations.

Baby......

it's cold outside.... We are officially into Winter - it was -35 C this morning......yikes... I am all done with customer quilts and worked on one of my own yesterday - my Olympic flannel. The backing is blue Minkee.... I think the quilting turned out great - it is a pantograph called Flurry.

I am a bit under the weather getting over a cold..... but am feeling better.... at least better enough to sew. Have a great week!

Thought for the Day

To keep yourself focused, keep yourself moving. To keep yourself focused, keep taking on meaningful challenges.

Ralph Marston

Well.....

it is finally December!!! I have had a busy few weeks getting customer quilts ready for Christmas - I am all caught up and have one to do this weekend (if it arrives) and then I am done.

I spent a weekend at our guild retreat a couple of weeks ago - finished off my Christmas Aprons and a few other gifts. The table runner to the right, is a class I taught at our guild last month... and I made a small bowl to go with it.

We got some great "Olympic" flannel at the store that I work at. It has winter sports and the Inukshuk on it - I made a small lap quilt that I will back with Minkee... might send it to my son who now lives in Vancouver - the Winter Olympic host city for 2010.

Now, I really don't need any more fabric - but I saw this great panel with coordinating fabrics... and just had to have it. It is Winterscapes by Benartex. I love the pastel Christmas colors - of course, if I really put up all my UFO's on the sidebar - I would need another blog!

I am anxiously awaiting delivery of my Cottage Swap blocks to my partners - hopefully they should start arriving soon.

Thought for the Day

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.

Peg Bracken.

My Cottage Block.....

Swap blocks... are done... here's a sneek peak..... I am glad to be done becaue I want to send them off early so that my fellow swappers get their house before Christmas..... cross another off the list!

Thought for the Day

Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors.Try to be better than yourself.

William Faulkner

Secret Stitcher Gifts.....

I received my Stitcher's Angel Swap from Lucia today... and am quite pleased. The items are lovely and I really appreciate her thoughtfulness.

I really enjoy the Stitcher's Angel Swaps that are put on by Helen Stubbings over at Hugs N Kisses. She is a great Australian designer... check out her blog.

I also finished a table runner that I am sending off to a swapper in a table runner swap. I will get back a table runner, so can't wait to see mine.

Tomorrow I am off to the first of the Christmas Craft Sales in the area - hope to pick up some stocking stuffers.....

Thought for the Day

Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you also have an obligation to be one.

Eleanor Roosevelt

A great blog.......

I have been busy, busy working on my cottage blocks for the Cottage block swap that I am in.... pleased to say.... I am almost done. YEAH!!
On another note.... I found a great blog that has FREE patterns for many, many items.... It is called Among the Gum Trees. If you need some great ideas for Christmas this is the place to go
My good friend Shirley also has FREE instructions on how to thread paint various Christmas themes... these are great on quilts, postcards.... anything you want an extra "zing". Check her blog out.

Thought for the Day
So remember while December brings the only Christmas Day, in the year let there be Christmas in the things you do and say.
Anonymous

End of another busy week....

Well, we are now into November... which means Christmas is not far away. I made this little bear this past week - she was quick and easy... I love making these little bears but always end up with so many of them. Two years ago I had a craft sale and sold all my prim dolls with proceeds going to Boston Terrier Rescue of Canada... I guess I will start collecting them again.

I had a busy week - teaching a beginner quilt class, working, and of course, quilting. My customer quilts are getting caught up, my swap blocks are done... and now my goal this week is to start and finish my cottage block swaps.... wish me luck

Thought for the Day

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible

Dalai Lama

Happy Halloween........

I cannot believe it is the end of October!!!! Since we have snowy weather today, I spent the day quilting..... and I was quilting holly leaves on a customer quilt- since Christmas isn't so far away.

Last week I finished quilting one of my own quilts - this quilt is vintage fabrics that I completed from a set of Dresden Plate blocks that I received from a retirement centre in Penticton, B.C. I just absolutely love the way it turned out. I have another smaller version of this quilt to quilt, also. There were a couple of Dresden Plates left over... that I sent to a special blogging friend.

Thought for the Day

Knowing others is wisdom,knowing yourself is enlightenment.
Lao Tzu

A little detour....

from sewing and quilting.... I am making a few necklaces for some of my younger nieces for Christmas.....

I also was very fortunate to win a copy of the stenciled table runner from Esther Aliu's blog. She is an Australian design and does really fantastic work. I am looking forward to trying this technique.

Thought for the Day

There is enough.

Anonymous

End of the week......

I am spending this lovely end of the week... quilting.... and quilting my favorite thing... feathers.... getting caught up on customer quilts... and then off to the City for shopping..... time to start the Christmas boxes for kids, friends, and relatives.....

I am also continuing with my aprons.... I don't think I will ever get done... the list just keeps growing and growing.... I should have bought bolts of Christmas fabric - LOL.... Happy Friday!

Thought for the Day

Better to be one sided than two faced

Unknown

Lovely Sunday.....

I have had a lovely Sunday.... quilting and relaxing. On my recent trip to Pincher Creek, I picked up some additions to my stash - some great reproduction prints and some colorful prints.....

I also spent some time this weekend making Christmas T-Towels..... this will be added to my stash of Christmas giftees--- hopefully I won't have to buy too much...

Thought for the Day

Be joyful in all you do.

Winter.....

boy, oh boy, I didn't even get to post about Fall... I got home from my trip to Las Vegas to this..... YES..... snow.... and it has been snowing for two days now.... today we are sort of "snowed in", although the temperature itself isn't too bad - about -4 Celsius.





I taught two machine quilting classes to the Lebel House Quilters in Pincher Creek, Alberta before my trip. This is a picture of the Lebel House - it is an old mansion that has been used as a rooming house, hospital, school, etc... and is currently used as an Arts Centre. I just LOVE old buildings like this and I really enjoyed the classes I taught - met some great quilters.

Last week at this time I was in Vegas... and the temperature was 20 Celsius..... LOL.... at least I have gotten lots done today.... snow days are productive quilting days...

Thought for the Day
Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.
The Buddha

Fall......

has begun where I live - as a matter of fact we might even see some snow flurries in the next day or so..... > I made a cute little purse out of some fabric that we got in at the shop that I work at.... reminds me of the fall harvest.

Thought for the Day

In the depth of winter I finally learned there was in me invincible summer

Alberta Camus

3 MONTHS TILL CHRISTMAS......

LOL... and I have finished 20 of my Christmas Aprons - now all the family will have one.... and my dilemma now is whether or not to make a few more for friends..... well.... I do have some time.

Tooie, the Boston Terrier, has an owie..... he had to have a nail removed as he ripped most of it off.... so he has been taking it easy for the last day or so.

I have been busy organizing quilting classes for work, quilting for customers, and getting ready for a Machine Quilting class and lecture that I will be doing in Pincher Creek, Alberta on October 3/4..... then it's off to Las Vegas for my 50th birthday trip with a friend that I have known since Grade 1...... and then... well I better get my houses done for the House Swap(right, Betsy??).....

Thought for the Day

Let your expectations be the driving, directing force behind your actions. And take the committed, persistent actions that will achieve what you expect to achieve.

Ralph Marsten

Some time off... and a great find....

was lucky enough to have 5 days off (in a row) and got down to some serious quilting!!! BUT.... I was also lucky enough to purchase a second hand serger for a great price... I have wanted one for awhile, but couldn't justify the price of a new one; and, when you buy second hand you never know what you are getting. I was able to buy this from a trusted source and try it out before I bought... so I am the proud owner of a Janome serger.... WooHoo!!

I spent the last 4 days doing my first Trapunto quilt (well, LARGE size trapunto quilt - LOL) I have done smaller pieces but was asked by a friend to do a larger piece as a gift for a family member. I am sooo pleased with the result - I followed Karen McTavish's instructions and I think it came out pretty well. The greatest amount of time was spent marking the top, not the actual final quilting. This first picture is quilting around the motifs with water soluble thread.

The picture below is of the quilt before I soaked it to remove the blue marking line and the water soluble thread..... and the final picture is of the quilt being blocked. As it was wet and can shrink up it is important to block the quilt but pinning it to the correct length and width. I will definitely be doing more of this type of quilting... as I really enjoyed it.

Thought for the Day

And finally, I want to acknowledge that making changes in your life is never an easy task. The key, however, is not to get caught up in the distance you have to go to get to where you want to be. Nor should you despair over the amount of control you have over your circumstances. Progress is made in the small, intentional steps, and chances are, you have more power than you think. By focusing on little steps you can take every day, the progress you make will motivate you to continue your journey, and eventually, you can go wherever you want to go. The important thing is simply to begin. Stephen Cherniske

Happy September.......

I just love September!!! The summer people are starting to leave and the lake is becoming quiet. I can hear the loons when I bike ride or sit on the deck...... I am just astonished at how fast this year is going...... won't be long until Fall.....This is a picture of the lake the other morning when I got up early to start quilting.... just spectacular!!!

I am involved in a Cottage Block swap hosted by my cyber friend, Betsy. These are just some of the lovely cottage blocks that I have received. I am making the December blocks... and I need to get busy and start them.... December will be here before I know it. I am just so happy with this swap... and can't wait to make the finished quilt.

This is another picture of my Halloween quilt - the last picture didn't seem to show the blocks as well as I would have liked.

Thought for the Day

To your dog, you are the greatest, the smartest, the nicest human being who was ever born.

Lois Sabin

Did you know....

that it is only 4 months till Christmas...... LOL. In the spirit of the season, I completed another apron from my stash fabric that I posted about earlier.





I also finished quilting a Halloween quilt that I started a month or so ago - we got some new fabrics at the shop I work at and I wanted to try a variation of the 4 Patch Posie - instead of cutting the blocks square, the blocks are cut on the diagonal and put back together... came out quite nice, BUT, I have sooo many other things I should have gotten to first - LOL... I will have to put this one on my UFO list - as done. I quilted it with little pumpkins....
Thought for the Day
Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.
Thomas Jefferson

Stash enhancement......

sounds a bit like an advertisement ..... but I did add a little bit more to my stash on my recent trip to Vancouver. These fabrics are from Maiwa Fabrics on Granville Island in Vancouver and are hand dyed. Maiwa Fabrics is a great inspirationl store - lots of hand dyes for fabrics and wools. I just love going there when I am in Vancouver.

I also picked up a few new Christmas fabrics to make Aprons with. I just love the subtle colors of the new fabrics. They were purchased at the Cloth Shop.

My beautiful new header on the top of my blog is a picture of my first Sunflower - they are finally starting to bloom..... as the nights are getting colder, I am sure that they won't be around for long.
Thought for the Day
When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person realize his dream.
Paulo Coelho

Vancouver.....

I went to Vancouver the first weekend in August - my son has decided to move there and we were looking for an apartment for him. We found him a great place - a block from the beach. There was also a fireworks festival on that weekend.... the picture below is looking from English Bay out onto the Pacific Ocean - a block from where my son will live.

I also went to the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. They have a wonderful exhibit of First Nations Art and I learned quite a bit about the Haida culture.

I really enjoyed my time in Vancouver - I walked around the city quite a bit and really enjoyed the older houses that have been fixed up. They have been declared Heritage Houses.

Thought for the Day

Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss. Nothing is as rich. Nothing is more real.

Deepak Chopra

Trip to Jasper.....

In July we took a 3 day trip to Jasper, Alberta. While I have been before, I have never taken the road from Edmonton; and needless to say it was beautiful.

The pictures above are of Athabasca Falls. This water comes from the Columbia Icefield Glacier and flows directly to the Athabasca River, which is where I live. The picture below is of a section of this waterfall that has dried up. Thousands of years ago this was part of the falls.

Thought for the Day
My profession is to always find God in nature.
Henry David Thoreau

Where in the world.....

has my summer gone????? I CANNOT believe that it is the middle of August. I have been unbelievably busy this summer with customer quilting. I am happy about that, but I have neglected my blogging!!

My retreat in June was wonderful.... I finished some great projects - two table runners using a four patch stack technique and I got a jump on Christmas and made two aprons. I am going to give these to all the ladies in my family - probably about 8 or so.

These pictures are of some of quilts at the retreat. The far right quilt was the mystery quilt that was taught by one of the organizers - the one beside it is a mystery in progress. This was a fantastic mystery quilt and really looked wonderful.

Thought for the Day

If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves.Maria Edgeworth