'Happy'

I have had many mixed emotions over the past several days.

My life has gone on unscathed and yet many in Southern Alberta have lost their homes and in some cases their loved ones due to the flooding that has occurred.

The good news is that in some of the communities, they are able to start rebuilding.  There are many ways to help out our neighbours and one just has to seek them out.

Still a long ways to go, but on an upswing.

I am truly thankful to God that all of my friends and family are safe and dry 

- even a friend in High River.

My place of employment has been closed for the past few days so I have taken the opportunity get a jump start on working on my son's quilt and also getting a quilt that has been sitting in the pile to completion.

As you can see I have Graham's quilt well on it's way.  

All of the HST have been cut and laid out.  It was really hard to find a place to lay them all out but did find a place beside my bed.  Funny thing is that I now have to get out of the 'wrong' side of the bed.  So I told a friend that if I was 'grumpy' it was because I got out of the wrong side of the bed. 

 Once you lay this pattern out though, you don't want to be messing with it as it would be too confusing to figure out what needs to be sewn together.

 I have this quilt in various stages.

Four rows have been sewn together, 

two more ready to join them,

two pinned and ready to sew into rows 

and the rest of course, laid out.

I also resurrected this quilt top that has been sitting around for a while.

It now has a place that I can't reveal at this time but can show you a couple of pictures.

The story with quilt is that I started it during a very unhappy time in my life so I chose bright, cheerful, delightful fabric.  It was fun to put together and I have named it the 'Happy' quilt.

As I pulled this one out and knew where it was going I thought I would have to purchase backing and batting but low and behold, I had all of that.  

I am astounded, as of late, that I seem to always have what I need when I need it.  

I know, I plan ahead but still if you knew what has transpired in my life over the past year I can truly say that God has been there for every turn in the road and has provided for me most abundantly.

I am going to attempt to do continuous bias binding as I think I have enough of the backing left over.

  Any advise out there?  

I have perused many of the youtube videos out there and think I have handle on it.

Right now it is laid out and currently being pinned on my dining room floor.

Any ideas on how to quilt this and what colour thread to use?  

I have limited ability and am on a time budget too.

I have to head back to work tomorrow so hopefully can get this all pinned by the end of today.

Hope you are having a wonderful day where ever you find yourself today!

Shauna

State of Emergency and Day Off

And it continues to rain!!

Calgary, Canmore, High River and many other small places in Southern Alberta have declared a state of emergency. 
25 communities in Calgary have been evacuated
and they are still in the process of evacuating downtown. 

At the saddledome, where the Calgary Flames Hockey Team play
has water now reaching to row 10. 

Most of downtown is covered with water and many of the roadways are closed down. 
They are now talking about closing the Deerfoot which is a main artery through Calgary.

I walked to my neighbourhood grocery store. 
Shelves were empty and there was no bottled water.

How things can change in the span of 24 hours.

I am really fortunate that I am in a higher place and have no threat of water coming my way but I feel for the 10's of 1000's that have been displaced from their homes.

You can google Calgary Flood 2013 to see pictures or watch it on Global. 
They have been televising all day.  

As a result, city officials and my work place had advised that we should stay home
and stay off the road.  Therefore I am home and have gotten a little bit of sewing done.

I have made some progress on my HST's and almost have enough for the top. 
Just a few more to do and then to sew it together.

I also got one more block made for my Triple Irish Chain quilt.

Please pray for all of the people who have lost their houses and possessions. 

Shauna

Pillow Cases

It's not a very imaginative title, is it?

Perhaps I should be thinking of something more witty but the brain isn't cooperating this morning.

These again are small finishes.

Please forgive the photography as these are taken with my iphone and are not the best quality.

Really like the colours of this one.

This one still needs a mate but it's coming . . .

I like the Art Nouveau look of this one.

 These ones are just plain sweet.

Look at the beautiful flowers that my daughter sent me for my birthday.

I got a lovely phone call from my son . . . that meant so much to me!

I am still working on my Triple Irish Chain which you can see blogged here.  

I have two block done up now and loving it.

I have also been working on more HST's for this quilt that is going to be for my son.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend 

doing what you enjoy doing 

and being with who you enjoy being with (especially our dads).

I'm linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.  Thanks again AmandaJean for hosting us.

Shauna

Today is a Gift

I am so fortunate that I was able to book today off from work

just because I can and today happens to be my birthday!

With so many things going on in my life, some good and some not so good, 

I am putting it all aside to enjoy this day to the fullest.

It will definitely include some kind of specialty coffee, 

some quilting, 

maybe a movie 

and supper with my mom and dad.

Today I'm going to be working on some quilting for me . . .

most everything I have on the go is for other people.

I have always wanted to do an Irish Chain quilt.

I have admired those for years.

 

Of course, if you know me at all, 

I wouldn't choose the single version nor the double.

Going all the way for the triple!

 I finished one block and hoping to get at least one more done today.

I know I should be working on getting more of my WIPs done but not today.

Life is too short!!

Enjoy you day and embrace every moment!

Shauna

The Beginnings of a Quilt

Quite liking this layout so far - it's one possibility of many with HST.

Not much else going on here on this Monday evening.

Shauna