Time Flies...........

and May is gone.... LOL... not that I wasn't busy creating in May - I just haven't blogged for awhile..... I made this jacket for Boston Terrier Rescue..... they will use it as a fundraiser.  I finished quilting my two 4 Patch Stack quilts and now I am packing for two quilt retreats in June - they run back to back this year - so I have a whole week of quilting!

Thought for the Day

Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment

Oprah Winfrey

UFO finishes.....

I got a lot of my own quilting done last week..... very glad to get some of my quilt tops done.

This is a second Dresden Plate quilt made from some blocks that I received from a retirement center.  The prints in the Dresden Plates are 40's or 50's and are appliqued to a cotton/poly background (I did this because some of the blocks were appliqued to this type of fabric already - I used the same fabric to preserve continuity).  The border is a Reproduction print.

This quilt is a quick lap quilt made from some leftover blue minky from the Horse quilt that I made my sister last year.

This Braid quilt was made from a jelly roll - love these country colors.

And the last quilt is made from a new line of flannel called Kitten Kaboodle.... I just loved it and had to make something....

Crazy weather.......

we have had such crazy weather the last week or so; rain, snow, high winds.... at least we no longer are in a drought situation.... This picture is of the sky the other afternoon - Thought we would get a huge storm.... but it passed right over us.... very pretty tho.

This piece of pottery is a yarn bowl - used to keep a ball of yarn in while you knit or crochet.

I had some time to spare so I put together my swap blocks from the House Swap hosted by my Florida friend, Betsy.... very happy with these and I think the quilt will be a great kids quilt.
Thought for the Day
Before you agree to do anything that might add even the smallest amount of stress to your life, ask yourself: What is my truest intention? Give yourself time to let a yes resound within you. When it's right, I guarantee that your entire body will feel it.
Oprah Winfrey

Rainy Friday.......

we FINALLY have rain!! Everything is turning green.... and hopefully the forest fires in the area will be put out!

I spent the afternoon making a fabric bowl from the book It's A Wrap II by Susan Breier...... lots of fun.  These will be great for Christmas presents!

The small pot to the right is another of my pottery projects - a dragonfly container. 

Happy Weekend!!!!!!!

Thought for the Day
That which you push against, you create
Abraham Hicks

Happy Friday......

I have been really enjoying pottery.  This is my first piece of pottery done on the wheel.... I had lots of help from an instructor... and my subsequent pieces aren't so great... but I do love working on the wheel.  This pot has not been glazed (other than the black stripe); the color is the natural Athabasca clay found where I live.  I love the look of this clay - I have done 5 other wheel pieces that are in the stages of drying/firing.  Pottery is over for the summer... will be back at it in September.  I hope to be able to combine this with my love of quilting.

I finished a quilt that I am donating for a door prize for my annual quilt retreat in June.  I love the teal colors in this one.... and I quilted it with the Raindrops panto. 

I have been enjoying some doing some custom quilting lately.  Check out my quilting site for what I have been doing - lots of feathers in a wonderful hand appliqued quilt.  This is how I LOVE to quilt!


Thought for the Day
A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament
Oscar Wilde

UFO's...

I know, as quilters, we all have UFO's (I haven't even begun to list them on my blog - LOL); I have been busy trying to complete those before starting new projects.  Of course, that doesn't always work - I seem to accumulate projects on a daily basis and I am sure this comes from working at the Quilt Shop and teaching classes.... This is a quilt that I made from swap blocks and I am quite happy with it.  I just love pink and brown....

I also completed a charity quilt for my retreat in June - I just love nine-patch quilts!  This one is backed by yellow fleece.

I am continuing my Vintage Valentine blocks.... still on block #3



Thought for the Day
Give yourself permission to succeed by surrounding yourself with loving mirrors
Noah St. John

Hockey Season is just about

ended... but I have a customer who wanted  a Hockey Christmas Tree Skirt made for Christmas.  I finished the top at my retreat and quilted it up today.  I had fabric left over so I made her a couple of pillow cases.  I quilted a hockey player into each corner... I am quite happy with it.

Back from my holiday......

and we are well into April.  I had a great time in Vanouver... the sun was shining and the flowers were out.  I just love the ocean and spent a few afternoons on Granville Island having tea, an afternoon or two in Gastown sipping a glass of Reisling..... and some time in Yaletown shopping.

My retreat at North Bow Lodge was great, as usual.  Since we meet once a year we have decided to call our group, Same Time, Next Year.  I finished a tree skirt, an appliqued jacket for Boston Rescue, and two oven mitts. The picture at left is of my room.





Thought for the Day
Set your goals high enough to inspire you and low enough to encourage you.
Unknown

Just when we thought it was Spring....

we had snow today!! Not a lot; just a light dusting.... but reminded me that it really is still Winter in this part of the world.  I have been working on purses and oven mitts..... I think I will make some oven mitts for Christmas presents... this one is far too Springy.....The bags are for my sister and my mom.

I am off to Vancouver, B.C., to visit my son and THEN off to a weekend quilt retreat...... I am going to search for new fabrics at Maiwa on Granville Island and look for some pottery inspiration, as well.

Thought for the Day
True courage is like a kite;
a contrary wind raises it higher.
John Petit-Senn

Friday Fibers.......

I have quilted many Yellow Brick Road quilts - but I have never made one myself.  I thought that it was time to finally make one of these quick and easy patterns.  I picked fat quarters from my stash.... so it was a stash buster, too.  I backed this one with purple Minkee.....No wonder the UFO pile isn't going down - I start new things.... but at least this is quilted and ready for a gift.  The sun has been shining for a few days now... could this be Spring???



Thought for the Day
Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows.
Galatians 6:7

Well into March....

and it seems like Spring around here..... I have been working on my pottery, as well as my sewing.... These are two projects I recently finished; a sunflower and a toadstool for the garden (the toadstool is for my neighbor).  I am really enjoying this new hobby.




I will be finishing up several customer quilts this week and... thinking about my applique towels for the towel swap.


Thought for the Day
Life is "trying things to see if they work"
Ray Bradbury

Finishing up some UFO's.....

This has been a great month for me to finish up some of my UFO's (not everything is on my list - LOL).... I finished my Poppies Block of the Month that was part of our Guild program, another quilt that was part of a Saturday Sew Day with the guild ( I had to work that day but managed to get the top done), finished up two table runners, pillowcases for Boston Rescue, a quilt top PLUS customer quilting...

The picture top, right is the "Non Mystery" quilt that we did as part of a guild sew Saturday.  I had some Andover Civil War Fat Quarters that I used in this top. 

The pillowcases at left turned out quite well.  I think I will make a few more.  Below are the table runners that I made.  The sunflowers turned out quite yellow for some reason.... they aren't really that yellow.

Thought for the Day

A Woman is like a teabag.  You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.

Eleanor Roosevelt

We're into February......

and I don't exactly know where January went. lol.... I have been busy..... I finished quilting my Baltimore Bunnies quilt - I worked on this quilt over a two year period at two retreats. It was finished and put together in June, 2009 and now it is quilted. I just love this quilt and perhaps one day I will have a granddaughter to give it to. I quilted lots of feathers in this one... and bubbly background fills.

I also finished a small quilt for Boston Terrier Rescue Canada. This will be auctioned off at a dog show in Edmonton in June, 2010 ( I think). It has the cutest pantograph on it - Doggie Pit Stop.

I certainly hope that Betsy from Florida reads my post today... cause.... I started my Vintage Valentine quilt...... My plan is to hand applique this.... we will see. It is such a beautiful quilt.

Thought for the Day
When I'm not doing something that comes deeply from me, I get bored. When I get bored I get distracted and when I get distracted, I become depressed. It's a natural resistance, and it insures your integrity.

Barbara Hall

Finally..........

When I went to Quilt Market last year in Pittsburgh, I saw the most stunningly beautiful quilt... and I had to make it. I knew it would be a "monster" but I wanted to do it anyways. I had hoped to finish it at Christmas... but that never happened; but, I have been work furiously to finish it aaannnd..... it is finally done. It is called Floreo and is by 4 and 6 Designs. The quilt is 78 X 96 and I can't wait to quilt it. With this off my plate, I can now start some other UFO's..... maybe even that Vintage Valentine.

Thought for the Day

Learn from the mistakes made by others, You won't live long enough to make them all yourself.

Anonymous

Thanks.....

just wanted to post a Thank You to my bloggy friend Betsy (from SUNNY Florida - LOL) for the lovely Cathedral Windows ornament... it's too lovely to put away with the Christmas Decorations... so I will leave it on my studio wall to look at all year long.

As I write this... we are in the midst of a winter blizzard...... supposed to only last for one day tho.. I spent the morning quilting a customer quilt (the first for 2010) and I will spend the afternoon finishing my Snail's Trail blocks for the round robin I am in.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.....

I can't believe that it is 2010...... I remember 10 years ago New Year's Eve was going to be the end of our computers and electronics.... LOL... time changes....

I was so happy to be able to cross off one last UFO on my quilting list - I quilted my Greenbrier Quilt and am happy to say I believe it turned out great. I love the "prim" look of wool applique.

I also quilted up my Christmas 2009 quilt; the one that used the Northcott panel. I didn't really intend to make a Christmas quilt for 2009 - so this will be the official one!

As with most quilters and sewers, I have a busy 2010 planned. Sending best wishes to all my blogging friends for a wonderful 2010.

Thought for the Day
I said to the Man,
At the Gate of the Year:

"What light cans't thou lend,

to those entering here?

I never have traveled,

This pathway before,

Thy help and thy counsel,

I humbly implore.

How can I discover,

What lieth ahead,

That I may walk safely, Wherever I tread"?

Minnie Louise Haskins