A Year in Review

I was quite surprised by what I actually accomplished last year.

Sometimes it doesn't seem like much is happening,

so was very happy when I started looking and pulling this post together.

It also highlights how many projects 

need to get finished too! 

Here is my pictorial year in review.

How fun were these cute bags.

Pillow cases - I think 16 in all.  Phew!!

All so different, interesting and also fun.

Different pillows completed in all shapes and sizes.

I tried my hand at some firsts like

printing on fabric and paper piecing.

Cute little projects.

Great tutorials out there to help me achieve my finishes.

I have lots of unfinished projects . . . .
For 2014 I will try to complete them.

Some of these I haven't even blogged about like the Coffee hanging.
This is appliqued and not my favourite method of quilting.
The stars started by me but completed by someone else
- they were a project we did at the retreat last year for the hospital.

But here are my bigger finishes . . .

A couple of baby quilts.

A queen size, double and single quit.

All bring back memories -

some happy, like a wedding gift or a quilt for a friend
and some not so happy,
like a quilt made for an Aunt who is dying of cancer

With every stitch that is made, I reflect, pray and have gratitude
for the ones I make my creations for and for myself.
I am learning to not worry where I am in life or my circumstances.
Things change in a heartbeat, for good or bad
but that which is in your heart is what will
carry you through all the ups and downs of life.

Wishing you all the best for 2014!!
 

Last Projects of 2013

I finished two little projects just before Christmas but

couldn't blog about them because they were for gifts. 

One was for my mom.  

I knew she was getting an I Pad Mini for Christmas 

and wanted to make her a pouch for it.

 

I used a tutorial online from Just Lola.

She was most helpful with all of my questions.

Here's a look at the back.  

It has a little pocket for the cord and / or Stylus.

I had been saving this fabric for something special for my mom as I know she likes blue.

The second project was two rice bags. 

They can be heated in the microwave to put on aches and pains.

Both of them were made with identical material.

 

Again, a really quick easy project for a last minute gift.

I again used a tutorial online.

This time from Sew Mama Sew.

It has a removable bag so that it can be washed.

These bags are so nice to have.

Christmas was spent at my mom and dad's place.

My two sisters and their families were there so we had a house full.

I pretended that I was a kid again and stayed over two nights.

Just playing around and took a Christmas selfie.

Neither of my kids were home for the holidays 

but I had a chance to talk to each of them.

That will suffice until we see each other face to face.

My daughter who has been in London 

for close to 2 years is moving back home to Canada.  

I'll be picking her up at the airport on Monday.  

So Very Excited!! 

I hope you all had a great holiday season enjoying the company of those close to you.

I'm looking forward to 2014 and all that it has in store for me.

Shauna

Adorable Mini Pants Bag

I followed the tutorial on Jen's blog to make this adorable mini Pants Bag.

The instructions were easy and as she promised, you could finish it in an hour.

I had a few dresden blades left over from another project 

and thought this would add a punch to my bag.

  

Very happy with the results!

And here is the back of the bag.

Make sure you go and visit Jen at Glinda Quilts.

She's always doing such neat things.

Must run!

Shauna

 

Survival of the Fittest

Last week that definitely was the tune around here.

The temperatures ranged from anywhere from -15 to - 29 

and it even felt colder with the wind chills.

Not to mention the loads of snow that fell.

Just over a year ago I moved into the city and 12 blocks from work.

The roads were so bad and I have a thing about 

starting up the car and wiping the snow off

and I figure by the time I do that, I could be half way home.

So I bundled up and walked all except the one day.

It really is refreshing and only takes a half hour.  

I think I should be 20 pounds lighter due to all this effort but,

alas it doesn't seem to work that way.

I do feel better for it though.

Last time I posted, I was debating on putting up the Christmas tree

since I'll be the only one home for the holidays.

Well, I caved and decided to put it up.  

I truly do like sitting by the lights of the tree.

 

I only put about half of the ornament up on the tree 

and only a couple around the living room.

A good compromise, I would say.

Since last week, I was exhausted with all my walking, 

I watched lots of lame Christmas movies while cutting out material.

I now have all of my material cut out for my January retreat 

and also an extra kit that I had bought a long time ago.

So it hasn't been a waste of time.

My blogger friend, Jen at Glinda Quilts, put up a tutorial to making her 'famous' pants bag.

Drop over to her site to check it out.

I have been very lucky in that I have received one of her pants bags.

I'm about half way done in making one. 
I'll post once I have it completed.

Not sure where this week has gone. 
It'll be Christmas before we know it.

Have a good rest of this week,
enjoy your weekend,
take time to breath
and enjoy the season and all that it means to you.

Shauna

Still Dancin'

Have had a bit of time to work on my Square Dance Quilt this weekend.

Getting there - just about half way done now. 

Takes a fair amount of concentration to lay out the blocks 

and then when you really look at it 

you can see where they are doubled up 

. . . am I going to worry about it.  

Nope!

I really like this pattern and having fun with it.  

 

121 blocks of 'happiness'.

Today, we had a celebration at church after the service 

to celebrate reading through the Bible in a year as a congregation.

My work team was on to cook dinner for 200 so I'm a little tired tonight.

Amazing what a group of women can put together.  

We had chicken cordon bleu, rice pilaf, salad, buns and cake for dessert.

It was inspiring to hear stories about how lives were impacted this year.

A great way to start Advent.

Thought about putting up the Christmas decorations today 

but I don't think it's going to happen.  

I'm even considering not putting up the tree. 

Is that bad or not?  

It's only me - no kids home for the holidays 

and everything I drag out has to be put back. 

 On the other hand, it's awfully nice after a long day at work to sit by the lights of the tree.  

Something soothing about that.  

I guess we'll see what happens.

This was from a couple of years ago.

Stay warm this week - we're getting another blast of cold with snow.

Shauna

Revolutionary

 Back when I went to the tutorial / workshop 

on the double wedding ring quilt,

Brenda was using the thinnest pins to hold the curves together

and . . . .

leaving them in to sew the curves.

So I went and bought a box of pins - they are not cheap

but . . . 

believe me they are worth it, not only for curves, 

but for most everything where you don't want to yank the pins out.

Things don't shift around like they do when you have to remove the pins.

Anyways, you learn something new everyday.

So to me it's 'Revolutionary'.

I am revisiting my 'Square Dance Quilt' 

now that I have finished sewing all of my obligations.

Am grateful that others like my sewing enough 

and have faith in me to ask me to put something together for them.

I think I have most of my 'little' blocks ready to go.

I got this pattern from a library book but had to return the book.

Now I can't remember what book I got it from, and silly me,

I forgot to write down some of the dimensions needed.

This is what I have reduced the pattern to. 

I think I can figure it out but it has been a while.

I have to close with a beautiful sunset picture 

that I took when I got home from work today.

Can't believe the beautiful, vibrant colours that God painted the sky.

Gorgeous!!

Hope you are having a good week so far 

- tomorrow will be half way through the work week!

Yippy!

Shauna

I have been busy sewing but have nothing to show for it.

I just finished up 5 sets of pillowcases for a friend 

and have half of the last one completed.

In my excitement to deliver the 5 sets, I forgot to take a picture.

Oh well . . . .  

you'll just have to take my word for it that I actually did the work.

I did start to sew my arcs together for my double wedding ring quilt.

Remember all the cutting I had been doing . . .

 . . .  well my back needed a break and I was so wanting to get sewing

SO . . . .

I started on the arcs and just started stacking them up . . .

 

. . .  then when I looked at them I thought they looked like Ribbon Candy.

What do you think??

That is about all that has been happening on the quilting front.

We have had crazy cold, wintery, blizzard weather here this week.

Walking to work has been a little chilly but not too bad if you dress for it.

It's looking a lot like this right now . . .

 . . . and

 . . .  I wish it was looking more like this.

 . . .  or better yet, that I was the one walking along the beach.

They say there is an end in sight and that the weekend should be a lot warmer.

 Enjoy your week!!

Shauna

Itching to Sew

I'm itching to get to my sewing machine but as you can see 

ALL 

I have been doing is cutting fabric!!

Will it ever end???

Since I have been borrowing the templates, 

I feel that I must be most prudent in using them 

and getting them back to the owner in a timely manner.

Almost there though!

Perhaps this evening I will take a break and do a little sewing.

What are you up to this evening?

Today the weather was nice and walking home from work it was 

a balmy 10 degree C.

Much nicer than the -13 the day before 

- no wonder I've been battling a headache.

Round Robin Charm Table Runner

Do you have a go-to pattern that is tried and true?

I sure do!

If I need to whip a quick something, 

I have gone back to this particular pattern now three times.

Each time I have been happy with the results.  

I have modified the pattern a little just because 

there were parts that did not make sense but over all happy with it.

It's call Quilted Quickies - Charm School - Lesson Three

Designed for using 5" charm squares but of course you can use FQ or scraps.

So in my case, we are planning to have a craft / bake sale at work 

and this is what I whipped up.

It took me a good part of the weekend and a evening.

Didn't really plan that it would be Christmasy 

but with the red and green it certainly could be . . .

 . . . or you could use it all year long.

The line of fabric is from Moda called Round Robin.

I did mention that I've made it a couple of other times.

The possibilities of colours and fabric are endless.

This was the first one I made.  

My friend Wendy, who is also a quilter, 

came to visit me one weekend a few years ago and brought this pattern.

So fun to have someone to quilt with.

This one was made for my sister one Christmas.

Notice the scrappy binding.  Always a favourite of mine to do.

I have to say I like all of them for they all have a certain charm about them . . .

. . . but am partial to the pink one.

I'm linking up with AmanadaJean for Finish Up Friday.

Shauna

From Sophistication to Boyhood Fun

Is this not the most gorgeous material?

I found this in a little shop in Invermere, B.C. while I was on holidays this summer.

The store is call Essentials and it is a clothing / fabric shop.

What could be more 'essential' then some beautiful fabric?

They had many wonderful items, both in clothing and fabric to tempt one.

I had a vision of a pair of pillow shams.

They were more challenging to make than I thought 

but in the end turned out beautifully.

I have only one sham made at this point but still love the look.

The colour is a little off due to indoor lighting.

Not quite the same as natural outdoor lighting.

I just did a simple grid pattern over it and I am happy with my choice.

Now the question is: what colour do I paint my bedroom walls?

Switch gears from sophistication to boyhood fun.

COWABUNGA!!

My good friend and I were out shopping one day for material.

In our journey we saw this material.  Her grandsons are crazy about

the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles so she purchased the material

and asked if I would do three pillow cases up for her.

I only have two completed and have yet to do the third.  

It shouldn't take me long and I think they turned out quite cool!

Well, it has been a long week and I'm getting ready to hit the sack.

So glad to have that extra hour of sleep this weekend ... 

... or maybe an extra hour to quilt!!

Hope you enjoy your weekend!

Linking up with AmandaJean at Crazy Mom Quilts. 
Thanks again for hosting 'Finish Up Fridays'.

Shauna

Mini Retreat Quilting Weekend

It's always so much fun to spend a weekend with a quilting friend!!

My friend is part of a group of quilters who get together regularly to quilt in a

community hall in a small town called Kircaldy in southern Alberta.

One of the gals was hosting a tutorial on a double wedding ring quilt.

It was a chance to learn to sew curves 

and have fun with others who share the same passion of quilting.

It started off with a cup of coffee and a lovely gluten free pumpkin loaf.

One would never have known it was gluten free - it was that good.

There was much cutting of material and Brenda was determined 

that we would get to a certain stage in our progress 

so we would know how to sew those curves and put pieces together.

I'm so glad that she did that as now I have a completed first block.

I had agonized over my colour choice and now I don't know why

'cause I am lovin' my choices.

I sewed that with my own hand - curves and all!!

Lunch was a wonderful tasting taco salad 

with yummy chocolate cake and a strawberry frozen dessert.

Quilters not only know how to quilt 

but they also know how to put a lovely food spread together!

Brenda was so generous in letting me take home her templates so that I could finish up my cutting.  

I was going to stay for most of today, 

finish up my cutting 

and drive back later today, 

however, this is what the world now looks like now.  

Yesterday was a balmy 17 degrees in the Vulcan area.

So glad I made the choice to drive home sooner than later.  

As it was, the roads were harrowing and it was not the most pleasant of drives.  

Just was so glad to walk in the front door of my place 

and thank the good Lord that I made it safely.

I won one of the door prizes at the mini retreat.

Isn't that just the cutest tin box!!

Am going to love that little light while sewing 

and to have an extra long measuring tape with 'big' numbers is great!

Yesterday we were blessed with the most gorgeous sunset.  

There is nothing quite as beautiful as a prairie sunset!

Hope you all have a week!

Shauna

Quilting Doldrums

In looking at my blog, 

I realized that I haven't posted anything since the end of September.

Where has the time gone??!!  

And here it is already the middle of October.

I haven't been doing too much sewing the past couple of weeks. 

I guess I have been busy with other things and

have been in the 'Quilting Doldrums'.

I do have a quilting weekend coming up so I had better be getting it together!

I am having trouble picking out my fabrics for a double wedding ring quilt 

which is on the agenda for the quilting weekend.

Here is what I've picked out so far . . .

 I need two more fabrics and then I'll be on my way.

I'm not so sure why I am grappling with this so much.

Since I haven't posted anything for a long time, 

I thought I would show off a quilt I made 4 years ago for my nephew.

It was one of the first quilts that I made and definitely the first I quilted myself.

I used flannel so it would be nice and cuddly.

If I remember correctly, my sister wasn't sure if she was having a boy or a girl.

I remember using a pattern from a book at the library and before I could finish,

I had to return it.

I remember it being challenge working with an all flannel quilt.

All in all, it came together nicely and was enjoyed.

What more could a quilter ask for?

Hope you are enjoying your week!!

Shauna