What have I been working on....................

Wool Applique- this is a great new pattern from the Wool Lady.

A fun baby quilt in great greens and purples.....this will be backed with lime green minkee...

A fun pattern by Indygo Junction.......

It's Snowing....

today (will we ever see Spring ???) .... and a great day to finish off some projects. I made two bags - a tote bag and a smaller bag with wool applique. I also completed a couple of customer quilts and am now caught up with those.

The wool applique bag pattern is by a favorite designer, Sue Spargo.

Check out Shirley's blog - she has pictures up of the class she taught at our LQS last weekend.

Thought for the Day
There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow.
Orison Marden

April...

just snuck right up on me. I have been working on a variety of things.... quilting mostly and some piecing and applique. My never ending quest to complete my Baltimore Bunnies is humming right along - I have the borders almost complete, just appliquing the final bunnies and flowers on the borders. I wished I could have completed this for this Easter... but, it will be done THIS YEAR at least, LOL. I am also preparing to teach some classes at the LQS and finishing my University course, which I will take a break from over the summer to get a bunch of UFO's done.

I have completed two more blocks in my wool applique "Chestermere" quilt. This quilt was designed by Laurel Frances Everett of Shaggy Dog Designs - formerly of Calgary, now of Pincher Creek, Alberta. I hand appliqued this quilt in homespuns about two years ago (it is the picture in my blogger profile) ... and I wanted a project to work on in wool and thought this would be great. These two blocks are number 4 and 5, so now I have to decide if I want to do another six for a complete large quilt or just one more for a smaller wall hanging. The other blocks are here and here.

Thought for the Day

I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.

Jimmy Dean

Catching up.....

I have been catching up the last few days on sewing that I need to get done.... and since it will never be Spring here - LOL.... I thought I would stitch up a little Easter table penny rug in wool and wool felt...I also made another bag... I just love these bags and they stitch up soooo quick... this one is in a new fabric that we got at the store I work at - it is very Spring-like. Since I'm not a "brand kinda gal" - LOL... I have no idea of the name of the fabric.

My toe is healing and is not as sore as it has been - although once in a while I sure feel it.

Thought for the Day

Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble.

Frank Tyger

Some Sewing....

I did some sewing during the weekend and put together my ornament blocks from the ornament swap that was hosted by Betsy. This actually turned out a bit larger than I thought, but I did add a few of my own blocks. I found just the best border fabric at Craft Connection AND I got it about a week after I ordered it - which is really great considering the time of year. Thanks to all the ladies who participated.





I also have one more block finished in my wool applique rendition of the quilt, Chestermere. This is the third block. I find that I enjoy having a hand project to work on at guild or at night when I am watching TV, so it might not take too long to get a good sized quilt made. The background fabrics are homespun.. so this quilt will be very very prim.

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

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

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

5 MONTHS TILL CHRISTMAS!!!.....

once again, that got someone's attention! I was thinking that this a.m. and in the course of the afternoon decided to start one of my UFO's - Reindeer Frolic. I have decided NOT to do needleturn applique - mainly because I would never get it done :) ... but have decided to make the appliques white wool and to machine button hole stitch around the them. I have completed two blocks.... the middle block, and one of ten of the other blocks.... a good project to work at slowly, but surely....

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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WOOL APPLIQUE...

I have four more blocks done on my Greenbrier quilt - the wool for these are hand dyed by me, with the exception of a couple of pieces that I purchased. This past few days I dyed a few more pieces as I didn't have enough background blocks. The pattern called for mostly red but I decided to go with some purple and light purple blocks also. The quilt will definately be bright. The instructions also call for mixing some cotton fabric in with the wool and this is a really nice touch for the quilt.

PLEASE don't forget to make a donation to Boston Terrier Club of Canada Rescue - you might win that gorgeous wall hanging!!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It is more blessed to give than to receive

Act 20:35

WOOL APPLIQUE

I am just in love with wool applique and have started a project called Greenbrier, pattern by Sue Spargo. Here is a picture of the centre block :







I have hand dyed all the wool using an acid dye bath. My friend Anna Hergert provided me with dyes and directions on how to do this. I really enjoyed the dye process, although it is a little long to watch boiling dye and wool on the stove! The end result is going to be a lovely quilt - I have a few more blocks to put around the outside. I decided not to use a traditional blanket stitch on all the blocks as i really like the primitive look that a whip stitch gives. This is a really good winter project - fingers are crossed that it will be done by the time this winter is over!