A return to Flowerville

It's been such a busy couple of weeks. I haven't been able to find any time to prep some applique work.

I have completed all four bunnies on the two borders of Down the Rabbit Hole...

....and completed the embroidery on this Life is Beautiful block, which just so happens to be read Life is Beautiful...

Life is Beautiful happens to be my go-to project when I have no applique ready to work on. 

My secondary go-to is the Flowerville blocks, so that is what I worked on this morning for my slow stitching...

I had an exasperating time at my local Canadian Tire store this week while I was getting an oil change, emission test and winter tires put on my car. As I sat fuming in the waiting room I was distracted by the tile work on the floor and thought it would make a great quilt border...

...but I can't even begin to figure how to do the math on it!!! Maybe I'll have to sit with a piece of graph paper one day and figure it out.

We had an errand to run this week and decided to check out the RetroFestive shop in Oakville. It was a blast...if you can, check it out!

My goal this month is to finish the applique on the bunny borders for Down the Rabbit Hole. Each of the two borders gets a tulip in the middle and some random flowers around the bunnies. So, not too much for December when life is so busy with Christmas coming up very soon!

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching and with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal.

I'm going to take this opportunity to direct you to Yvonne's blog post for today at Quilting Jetgirl, entitled Why I Quilt. I found it quite thought provoking and hope you do, too :)

If I wasn't already in the Christmas mood, I would be this week. I have my two guild meetings.....one will have a catered turkey dinner and the other a huge potluck lunch! Bring it on!!!

Have a wonderful day...hopefully with some slow stitching of your own.

It's been a while....

Wow, it's been a while since sitting down to write a post!

I've had my nose to the grindstone since the beginning of August to make sure I had clients' quilts done on the longarm that needed doing in time for the Fair. 

I was trying very hard to stay on-track so I'd have time to custom-quilt my Happy Days quilt and enter it into the Fair...

Well, a week ago I gave myself "permission" to leave the quilting of this one until another time.....and what an instant sense of relief I felt! This one can be in the Fair next year.

I haven't even had time to prep any applique...so it's just been a bit of embroidery lately with my morning coffee. I was able to complete this block and begin the next...

Somehow I've managed to complete Step 1 of the PEI Mystery quilt...

....and the Magnolia Mystery...

I am taking part in a KAL or a CAL (knit-along/crochet along). Not sure which yet until the patterns are released on October 1. This is part of a Facebook group devoted to Outlander and the patterns will be somewhat associated with the show. Honey Girl Farms has specially dyed wool to co-ordinate with characters from the book/show and I've chosen Brianna....so I've rolled a skein into a ball and am ready to start...

Last week, I had the pleasure of presenting my trunk show for the Grand Quilt Guild in Fergus. What a great group...lots of fun! 

Here's a picture someone from the guild sent to me with my "Moonlight Thru' the Trees", or as my husband calls it, "The Hack Job"...

And, finally, a picture of one our puppies. This is the weekend that they go to their new homes. Boy, the time has flown by!

That's all the catching up for now....it's a busy weekend. Tomorrow is the Run for the Grapes in Niagara that I'll be running with quite a few of my NorthShore family. When I signed up for this one, I took comfort in the fact that it would be easier since the weather will have cooled off.....but, of course, that is not the case!!! It's supposed to feel like 40degrees this weekend!!! (which is 104 for you farenheit people!)

I am linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addice for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop!

Have a nice weekend....and stay cool and hydrated!

Many slow stitches....

I've had a nice start to my Sunday with my slow stitching....as usual!

The last couple of mornings I've listened to an audio book while stitching and I've quite enjoyed it. I wasn't sure I wouldn't start daydreaming while listening to an audio book, so the first story I've chosen is an old favourite so I wouldn't worry about missing some...but it turns out it is quite easy to keep up with the narration!

This morning I've had a few pieces to put finishing touches on.

The first is an applique quilt that I gifted many years ago and has been well-loved. I think the quilt is called Prairie Flowers and I would love to do this pattern again one day as I still love it.

I was asked to repair the applique that has come loose. I know that none of us likes mending, and I've been putting this chore off all Summer, but to my surprise it was quite pleasing re-visiting this old favourite!

Most of the applique is still intact...but there were a few places that needed attention...

....and, all fixed....

Many parts of the vines around the border need repair. Surprising to me was that it didn't take too long to fix things up. 


Another bit of stitching this morning was putting the final stitches into the first Flowerville block. 

This is a project that doesn't see the light of day too often, but now that I've finished the first block I'm looking forward to starting the next.

Pretty, isn't it??


Then I turned my attention back to Down the Rabbit Hole. Here is what is on the design wall at the moment...






























   The wedge design at the top is what I am working on now...just three more to go...

That's all for today....it's going to be a busy one. I will be giving a trunk show this week and today is the day to get all packed up! It's quite the thing to gather up all the quilts, get them all folded just so so that they fit most economically into the suitcases....all in specific order for the evening's talk. Luckily, I have a very good assistant to help me! If any of you are in Fergus this week for the trunk show, come up and say hello!

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts  for Slow Sunday Stitching and with Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh, Scrap!.

Have a wonderful day!

Slow Stitching

Looks like it's shaping up to be a beautiful day.....and what better way to start the day than with a few stitches!

This morning I felt like a bit of embroidery, so I worked a bit on my Flowerville....

There are nine embroidered blocks for this quilt and at the rate this one is moving along, I think it'll be a block per year. That's ok, this is one of those that is just nice to have around for when the mood strikes.

I go on a Retreat next week to the Elmhurst Inn hosted by my local quilt shop, Quilt Junction. I'm soooo looking forward to it. 

As I work through this week, I'll start thinking of what projects to take along for Retreat and putting them in a box as I think of them. This morning I'm just imagining how relaxing it would be to just pack up hand-sewing projects. The thought sounds so nice....to be curled up in a chair poking away or reading a book. Can't wait!!

I am linking up with Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. 

Have a wonderful day!!

Goal for March

This is the time of month to figure out what my monthly goal will be.

At first I was sure I'd go with appliqueing the next border on my AuntieGreen'sGarden. I even got it out and ready to go....

I have a border started from a few months ago....not sure now if it's the top or bottom border....

....but, I've changed my mind. I'm going to try to finish the top for last year's Sarah Fielke BOM, Happy Days. Her new BOM has just started and I'm hesitating starting it as I'd really like to finish Happy Days first.

Here's a reminder of some of the blocks...

At the very beginning of this particular BOM we were told to make 24 6" Ohio Stars that were to be used as fillers. The idea was that we'd then have all the next ten months to get them done. How many had I completed?.....none!

So I've started on them now....

My plan is to make six each of four different fabric choices. It shouldn't take too long. I think I only have three or four of the 12" blocks to make, then a bit of border work.

So, not bad....in fact, do-able! Right???


I have no applique prepped at the moment....so sad. There has been absolutely no time to get any pieces ready.

So that means pulling out an embroidery project....my lovely Flowerville....

Hmm, I think I'll actually try to finish this block before putting it away again!

I am linking up with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social, and with Patty at Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal.

I also linking with Mama Spark's World for WIPs With Friends.

Blossoms and bumblebees!!

What a lovely time of year!

As the Spring days go on I enjoy peering around the garden to see what has made it through the winter.

I'm happy to see the hydrangea my sister gave us as a wedding present last year is peaking out...

I think it was called Bride's Blush. The flowers first appear white then turn a lovely barely-there blush pink.

...and the lily that our Scottish visitors bought us from the Simcoe market has made it's appearance, also...

In bloom at the moment, among other things, is my Canadian Redbud. Along with the beautiful blossoms it is full of big, fat, noisy bumblebees. They didn't mind at all that I came up close and personal to get a few pictures, they were intent on their job!

The time has come to prepare my "Circle" quilt for it's journey to the National Juried Show at Quilt Canada in Toronto next month. 

I've laid it out to make sure that there are no pet hairs, threads, etc., attached to it so it can be boxed up and ready to ship on Tuesday. It's hard to believe the time for Quilt Canada has come up so fast!

The time is also coming up fast for little Miss Minnie to have her first litter of puppies, I'm guessing in about ten days. She is such a feisty little thing (which is not my usual nickname for her!) but she is getting quite cuddly, so maybe that's a sign that she's almost ready? She is wanting me to hold her and stroke her. I think she's wondering what the heck is going on! Poor little bugger (which happens to be my usual nickname for her!).

...and here is Cooper, not a care in the world....but he does wonder why Minnie doesn't want to play as rough as usual or race around the yard like they like to do...

Last weekend I started a baby quilt for my new grandson who will be arriving into the world on June 21. I've been putting it off and realised I'd better get at it. Luckily, it's an easy one.....not so luckily, there is a lot of bias edges! I still have to add some borders but have stopped to hang it first on the design wall. Hmm, I think my longarmer will have something to say about this one! I sprayed it with starch and it seems to have been tamed...a bit. I'll just have to make sure it gets laundered before baby uses it, to get the starch out.

Hmm, hard to see the piecing in the picture, I think, because of the pastel colours. Quite a different colour scheme for me!

I now have to admit to another "start". What is wrong with me!? 

A few weeks back on one of Kathy's Quilts "Slow Sunday Stitching" posts there was this lovely embroidery shown by one of her followers. I loved it!....and have started it!....It's called Flowerville by Rosalie Dekker. I don't know if it was the whimsical design or the variegated threads...probably both!

So, this is what I was poking away at for some slow Sunday stitching this morning.

Check out Kathy's Quilts to see what others are stitching on today!

Have a wonderful Victoria Day weekend!