Reveal day!

A while ago (maybe two years?) a group of us started what we were to call our Shoebox exchange.

Everyone was to choose their own themes and make a block to start. We put our blocks in a shoebox (or something like it) and it was passed through the group once a month. Everyone added to your quilt and after a year (since there were twelve of us in the group) we were presented with our own shoeboxes, full of blocks everyone had contributed. 

In that year, we had not seen what was being added. At the end of the year we had a Reveal Day get-together where we finally saw our blocks. It's been a while now, but we set today as a day to try to have our blocks assembled into a quilt top!

To remind you of my Shoebox quilt, you can look back to post here. 

Here is a picture of the finished quilt, Moonlight Thru' the Trees....

I had hoped to host today's Reveal outside with a bit of a Garden Party feel. Well, Mother Nature has other plans with heat and humidity to feel like the upper 30's! I have a feeling we'll end up in the house with the lovely A/C!

I've always liked to bake, but sometimes success doesn't happen when it counts....for company!

Today I have prepared a treat from Pinterest, Berry Pie Bars. Luckily it has turned out delicious and looks just like the pictures on Pinterest!

 Of course, we had to do quality control....yum!....

I'll take pictures today during the gathering and hopefully the ladies will agree that I can share the pics later in my next blog post. 

It will be so fun to see what everyone has done with their blocks. We had so many themes....snowmen, an I Spy quilt, trees, baskets, fairy gardens, etc.!

I have to show a picture of how my border of FlowerGarden is doing. I'm loving the big beautiful flowers. The one at the top measures 8 or 9" across.

Puppy update

Today the pups are five weeks old. I can't believe how fast the days go! 

We have set the pups up in the living room in a small wading pool to keep them contained when we don't want them wandering about. Now they are getting big enough that we've had two escapees already. 

We've had a challenge starting them on kibble, but now we've found an answer and they are taking to it...

So much cuteness around here this summer!

I am linking up to Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social to see what others are up to today.

Have a great Summer's Day!

Quilty365 Update

Well, it's that time again.

Time to check in with the monthly update on the Quilty365 project, or as I call mine, A Year in My Life.

It's been difficult to catch up as I've been enjoying my FlowerGarden applique, but at least I don't think I'm any further behind than last month!

I'm still determined that I won't give up on this quilt. I will perserve until November when the year of hearts will be complete!

At times it is feeling like a chore to continue, but I've stuck with it for so many days and am still enjoying it. I definitely want to see this one through!

I've had friends donating fabrics they think may be useful. This one for the last day of school for children this past week...

...and the tomatoes....

...this one I actually asked for from a friend to commemorate Canada Day this past week...

I have been sewing them together in date order and everything is looking great. I'm surprised that this has happened twice....

....after sewing the hearts into rows, there are background fabrics matching up to the row previous. I try to use so many different fabrics, it's hard to believe this has happened....twice. Oh, well.

Here is what I have so far....

There are 14 rows of 15 hearts, adding up to 210 hearts. I started on November 11th. I still have some hearts to prepare to be caught up. I think I'll take a bit of time today to do some prepping.

This past week I talked about the ironing table we were working on in this post here. It is complete and being used...

I wanted it fairly tall so we've started at around 37", approximately the same height as my cutting table. I've worked at tall ironing boards on Retreat so knew I wanted something a little taller than the average ironing board. This may be a little too tall but I'll live with it for a week to see how it feels....it will be an easy fix if I decide to lower it a couple of inches if need be. There a couple more shelves to install....I'm just not quite sure what will be stored here yet. Love it!!!

On Saturday I listened to an interview on NPR with Norman Lear (creator of shows like All in the Family, The Jeffersons, etc.). He is in his nineties and still smart and funny to listen to. He was asked what word meant most to him. I always want to remember his reply....he said two most important words in the world are "over" and "next". How nice it would be to just be able to let something go because it is "over". 

Puppy update

The pups are able to scamper around now, so cute.

I was able to get a picture this morning of our cat giving one of the pups a little grooming...

....and here's a picture just because it's adorable...

I am linking up with Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts, and with Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh,Scrap, and with Audrey at Quilty Folk to see everyone else's monthly progress on their Quilty365.

I'm also linking with MolliSparkles for Sunday Stash to show off my new ironing table....I'm pretty sure I was inspired by a blog from there last week to check out Ikea for the cabinet!

It looks like it's going to be another glorious Summer's day and I intend on enjoying it. I hope you can, too!

A Pressing Situation

What a beautiful morning! I wish I could spend the day outside puttering in the garden.....maybe later.

I've been stitching away at my FlowerGarden and really liking how it's shaping up. I think I'm on track to have the two borders complete by the end of Summer.

My husband made a great find at Ikea yesterday. He went to find a certain cabinet to be made into an ironing station for my studio....but, no surprise, he wandered thru' the discount section and found a similar one. This one was basically the same but doesn't have doors. The original one was $205....and the discounted floor model...

Here it is in the sewing room waiting to be modified...

I got the idea from another blogger I came across on the weekend. You can visit Lori at Crossquilt to see her awesome ironing station!

I am linking with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social. Check her out, she is having a great giveaway this week!

Puppy Update

We bought a kiddie pool to provide a new "nest" for the puppies. They have very much outgrown the box they had been in....and are more active every day!

Have a great day!

Relax and Rejuvenate

I have to say, I'm ready for some down-time. Life has been so full of excitement in a short period of time I've felt anxiety welling up inside :(

Of course, what always helps is hand-stitching, my personal "yoga".

The last few days I've worked on a flower for the border of FlowerGarden. The long stem is basted on but I thought it would be fun to do the occasional flower. There are some beautiful flowers on this border. This one involves reverse applique....which I find a little tricky but the effect is worth it. I started by doing the reverse applique "off the block"...

....and a bit more...

...and, done....

I'm taking part in the SummerSolstice QAL with Happy Quilting. It started Thursday, so still plenty of time to join in. There will be two weeks between segments, this week was all the cutting. I've decided this will be a baby quilt for grandchild #5 due at Hallowe'en. I've been inspired by some of the Modern quilts I've seen lately and have chosen to work with Kona solids...

Does this happen to anyone else?.....every time I put a new blade in my rotary cutter I realise just how dull the old one was. I'm sure I've been using the old blade long after I should. Then the new one goes in and it seems like a revelation every time as to how sharp the blade should be! 

So far, I'm on schedule with the cutting done....

Puppy report

Up 'til now, Cooper has been leery of the pups and Minnie hasn't really been friendly about letting him near. 

Now that the pups are getting their "legs" things have certainly changed....

Something that's come in handy is the basket I bought at Quilt Canada. Great for taking the pups out all at once to play outside...

Actually, that is a picture of them all tired out after being outside. At three weeks old it only takes 15 minutes of playtime for them to conk out again!

Saturday evening it was so nice the we decided to eat outside....and we fed Cooper and Minnie out there also. Olaf decided that something smelled good...

Maybe it won't be long before the pups are eating puppy food!

On a hot day I do like to sit outside with a cooler and this year there is a new flavour. I give it two thumbs up!

It looks like another hot day ahead....so maybe some outdoor stitching is in order. I do have the binding to finish for our new grandson, but I don't fancy sitting in the heat with a quilt draped over me! Maybe a bit of catching up on my daily hearts.

I am linking up with Happy Quilting with Melissa for my Summer Solstice, and with Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh, Scrap (for my scrappy FlowerGarden). Because I've added to the stash, I am linking up with Molli Sparkles!

I'll also be linking with Kathy's Quilts where Kathy is celebrating a fourth anniversary of Slow Sunday Stitching!

Have a great Summer's day!

Babies and Puppies and Weeds, Oh my!

So much going on in our little part of the world lately!

On Tuesday we welcomed the newest addition to the family, my grandson, Lachlan!

Everyone is happy and healthy! But how can time have flown so fast? This seems like only yesterday!.....

Of course, I have made a quilt for Lachlan...it just need quilting. I think I've put it off because I'm not happy with it. Oh well, he'll receive plenty of quilts in the future!

We have another wee one due in November. I know I want to try something a bit more modern, inspired by my visit to Quilt Canada last week.

As luck would have it, I've come across a Quilt-along that starts this week and the quilt is done in many sizes so I will join along and have a baby quilt in the end. I think I'll do mine in Kona Solids.

The quilt is called Summer Solstice and you can see it here at Happy Quilting. Maybe you'll even want to join along!

I also have a "button" over to the right of the post to take you there.

I've been making progress on the right border of my FlowerGarden. I have the leaves appliqued and the long stem basted on. I'm so happy to be back to this quilt.

Hmm, I said long stem, but it doesn't look like it in the picture! This is a short segment, the rest of the vine is about 60" long!

I have to say, lately I've been having more and more qualms about using the Frixion pens for my applique. They are soooo nice to use but I am on the look-out for the next best thing. Any recommendations would by greatly appreciated!

I love how the perennial garden changes from week to week. Two weeks ago everything was purple. The colour of the week this week is white. 

Included in the white flowers is this invasive weed...

Usually I yank this out as it tends to choke the intended plants in the garden, but I'll leave them a few days because they are kind of pretty. I guess it's a matter of perspective....because I didn't plant this, it is considered a weed....if I had purposely bought it as a groundcover I'd be so happy with the results!!! 

Puppy update

Today the pups are three weeks old. On these nice warm days, we've been taking them outside a bit so they can stretch their legs.

I took Minnie to the vet yesterday. One thing I was told was to maybe buy some puppy milk to give to the pups as a bit of a reprieve for Minnie.

Here they are trying it for the first time. Well, to honest, this is a picture of them falling asleep on the edge of the dish after they had taken a few sips...

Adorable!

I am linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts for her linky party, "Let's Bee Social".

Have a great day!

Sunday, part 2

I've come across a "new to me" blogger today and thought it would be fun to be part of his Sunday linky.

The blog is Molli Sparkles and the subject is what one has added to the stash, etc., this particular week.

So, here goes....

As I said in my previous post, I didn't buy much at Quilt Canada. As I was almost out the door, though, I stopped at a booth closest to the exit. They had a basket of hand-dyed fat-eighths priced at five for $10. Not bad, I thought.

Well, when the vendor saw I was wearing a button saying I was a member of CQA, she said I then get to pick 15 of them for $10!!!

Wow!!!

I already have a couple of uses for these bits of fabric. What a great deal!

As I write this it's turned into a lovely evening. It was so very hot today....we didn't accomplish much except for planting a couple of rose bushes that someone got as a Father's Day gift.

 After just a bit of exertion I was out of breath. I noticed later on the weather report that we were under a poor air quality alert....that explains it. The heat also explains why I had to take off my rings...my fingers had swollen a bit in the heat!

Puppy report

The pups are coming along great. After dinner, once it had cooled off a bit we brought the pups out for a bit...

I'm linking up with Sunday Stash with Molli Sparkles, whom you can find here.

Have a lovely evening!

Quilt Canada 2016

What an exciting week it's been for me! 

This week, of course, Quilt Canada took place in Toronto. I wasn't sure I would get there, but in the end went with a group of friends.

My big news is that on Monday I was informed that my quilt had won an award in the National Juried Show at Quilt Canada. I was truly blown away! I'm so glad now that I had a plan to attend the show!

My quilt placed second in Quilts from a Pattern, Book or Workshop. 

I have to say....after 36 years of being a quilter this truly feels like a pinnacle to my hobby/career. I'm very proud and thankful for everything and everyone that has brought me to this stage of being a quilter.

I even eavesdropped on Jackie White as she led a tour through the NJS to hear what she had to say...

I have to admit that her words had tears welling up in my eyes. 

I took a few pictures, one of which was the first place quilt in my category...

This one was called Not Now, Maybe Never made by Joan Dorsay. It's a bigger, brighter version of my Tomato Soup, one of my all-time favourite quilts!...

I wasn't sure what I'd think of the show being held in the International Centre, since my only previous experience had been 2 years ago at Brock University in St. Catharines, but it was fantastic!

It was also fun meeting up with acquaintances.....a couple of women that I'd met at Brock, Ruth Kennedy from up Fergus way (and her beautiful quilts hanging in the show), and I wish I had had a few more moments to spend with Kathy from Kathy's Quilts whom I visit with every Sunday on her blog, Slow Sunday Stitching (but it was nice to meet her, however briefly!).

I took lots of pictures, but am not sure what the protocol is in sharing pictures from the show without permission. 

I really didn't purchase much at the merchant mall. There were so many vendors this year and so much to see!

 I came across a vendor called Big Village selling beautiful baskets and jewelry made from recycled glass. When I was a little girl I had an aunt who did mission work in Ghana and she would give my mother wonderful baskets in which to hold her knitting. These were the exact same baskets....and from Ghana, as well! Out of sentiment I just had to buy one. I have always wondered what became of my mother's, but I'm happy to now have my own...

I also bought a beautiful necklace to commemorate my quilt hanging in the National Juried Show!

I always like to come away from a quilt show with something learned. This time it was this....

When Modern quilting first came out, I poo-poohed it. Now, it's starting to creep in and call my name! Who knows where this may lead!!!

Saturday was a relaxation day....I really needed it after all the build-up and touring of Quilt Canada. I regret not being there for classes this year. I'll have to remedy that in 2017!

And, of course, I've started my day with some stitches....this time trying to catch up a bit on my hearts...

I may have to remove the cat heart....he looks kinda mean and I don't know if I can take him staring at me from the completed quilt!

Now over to visit Kathy at Kathy's Quilts to see what others are slow-stitching today! It's going to be a hot day here so maybe it calls for a bit more stitching than usual!

Also, linking with Cynthia over at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh,Scrap!

Have a wonderful almost-Summer day!