Escaping Town and a Quilt Top Finish

Last week the weather has been wretched!! It's been hovering around the - 17 C (1 F)  mark but with the winds it felt more like -22 C (-8F) or so. Trying to stay warm while walking to work has been a challenge. Thankfully we had a bit of a break as the weekend went on and I can report that it is currently a balmy -8 C (17).

Doesn't this picture just make you shiver a little?

Well, that's enough about the weather - not worth talking about.

I had a great weekend and I hope you did too!! 

My weekend started early as I took Friday off work and drove out to Vulcan to visit a friend. I am so fortunate that I have another dear friend who lives in High River which is on the way to Vulcan. So nice that she was free and we were able to have a good but quick visit. I truly have the best friends in the world!!

My friend Wendy got me started in quilting so it's always fun to visit and catch up on the latest projects. We both were working on place mats. I got the binding on one my modern place mats and half of another. Good progress!! 

You can find the post about making the place mats here.

Saturday found us making meat pies at another friend's house. Lots of work but enjoyed the company. Later on in the evening we started to sew again. Had a heck of a time trying to get the borders put on Graham's quilt. We measured, cut, pinned and then found out they were the wrong size. I'm not too sure what was wrong but it was not working well - probably too late and the old brain wasn't working well. Thankfully the next morning all went well and I was able to get the two borders sewn on before leaving for home.

Very happy with the results and that everything fit!!

I do hope that Graham likes his quilt.

Next step is to get some backing and get this quilt quilted up. I am planning to do it myself and have it finished in time for Christmas.

This is the view from my friend's place. You can actually see the mountains peeking through. What a lovely colourful sunset we saw.

Enjoy the coming week!!

Shauna

Little Offcuts

My Dad was a printer by trade and whenever he cut paper he used to get little offcuts of paper and would often let us kids have them. I always looked forward to grabbing them and using them for all kinds of projects. It's amazing what we came up with using those little pieces of paper.

I was reminded of that today as I pulled out my little fabric offcuts and started playing with them. Wonder what they will turn out to be? Watch for another post to see . . .

Have a beautiful weekend!

 Shauna

Modern Christmas

This week I whipped up 4 Christmas placemats called 'Modern Christmas'. Not your traditional red and green.

The material was purchased at the flea market in Phoenix when I was there last February. 

 

 The pattern is called Line in the Sand. It is from Alissa Haight Carlton's Blog. If you like the modern look you should check out the rest of her blog. She has some neat posts.

I had seen the pattern earlier and when I saw this material I thought it would work perfect.

I'm quite fond of the quilting that I did on the placemats. It really gives it texture.

All that needs to be done now is to put the binding on. The weather is closing in tonight so I see a good movie while I work on that.

I can't resist showing this last picture. This morning I had a hard boiled egg in my egg cup that I've had for a bizillion years. I got this as a young girl one year for Easter. It always puts a smile on me face as it brings back warm memories from a time gone by.

Hope you all have a terrific week and that you find something that makes you smile this week.

Shauna

A Gem of a Place

 **Warning - no quilting reported in this post**

Last Saturday I spent the day with my mom and dad leisurely traveling the backroads of Southern Alberta. It was such a beautiful October Fall day.

We were going back to my dad's growing up years. It was so fun to hear the stories and see the places. In all my years growing up I had never been there.

We started out at the Crowfoot Cemetery. The Cairn is all that is left of the cemetery itself. It is in the middle of a farmer's field and in the middle of 'nowhere'.

 My dad's brother (Ernest Koop) passed away when he was only one.

What a special memory to be there with my dad!!

We then took a drive just down the road from the Cairn to the old ferry crossing which has been shut down since the floods of 2013. You can see where the water came up to and how it cut into the bank.

The sky was unbelievable that day.

From there we went to the Bassano Dam. Dad recounted school picnic outings there many years ago.

Even there you could see the evidence of the floods. Look at all that beautiful sand from the river bottom.

Then it was off to the old homestead. Can you imagine raising six children in a house this size? I don't think those years were particularly prosperous.

Dad told stories about sliding down the roof of the old barn. Looks perfect, don't you think?

Just a hop, skip and jump from the old homestead was the Gem Cemetery. Apparently, the church used to stand in the same yard.

My grandpa's cousins are buried there. I think dad said that the Dyck's sponsored Grandpa to come to Canada from Russia.

One last stop in the hamlet of Gem. All that is there is a bank of post boxes, a church, a couple of houses and a school. I see on the sign that they just celebrated their 100th birthday!

My mom and I had been talking for quite some time about stopping at the cemetery where her grandparents (my great grandparents) are buried. Again, I had never been there. Took us a while but we found them. (sorry mom, was the only picture I had of you by the grave site)

The only thing that I regret was that I didn't take some quilts to photograph with some of the old buildings and gnarly trees we saw!!

So after a busy day, travelling the country roads, I can't resist but end with another beautiful sunset picture taken the very next night.

Make happy memories this week!

Shauna

Around the World Blog Hop

I was nominated by Britany from Pickles Quilting

to take part in the 'Around the World Blog Hop'

If you have never checked out her blog, 

please take a moment to do so. 

In fact she is having her one year blogiversary with a giveaway.

She considers herself a newbie but certainly has tackled

and completed some unique and fun projects.

I have been quilting now for six years and have been blogging

for just over three years now.

My how the time flies!

So to get down to the following questions I need to answer.

What am I currently working on?

 I am currently working on a quilt for my son. 

He as been very patient with me as I often get side tracked with various other projects.

I only have one more row to put on, a couple of borders

and then to quilt it.

I also need to put a border on my Arkansas Road Quilt.

And I am in the midst of sewing this one together. 

Another favourite of mine.

I just recently finished the top of my wedding ring quilt, probably 

my most challenging project to date.
Another one to add to my completed pile but not quilted yet.

How does my work differ from others?

That's hard to say and I'm not sure it really does.

I am a person who loves what I consider 'happy colours' 

and most of my work reflects that.

If I like it, I generally will try it.

I've tried my hand at several different techniques.

Printing on fabric from my computer . . .

Paper piecing  . . .

Hexagons . . .

I like to try new blocks and new techniques.

I have yet to put in a zipper (been dragging my feet on that one)

and set in seams but I had no problem learning to sew curves.

Why do I write / create what I do?

My need to quilt came out of a time

that was not so happy for me.

I was looking for an outlet to combat what what

transpiring in my life at the time.

I think that is why I like 'happy' colours!

A natural progression took place in that I started to blog.

I wanted a place to showcase my quilting and record

what I had accomplished or was doing.
Some posts are sprinkled with family news and holiday reports.

In some ways it was more for me than the general public,

however, it is a nice boost when others take notice of your work.

How does my writing / creative process work?

I have always been a creator of sorts and look for inspiration

in books, magazines, blogs, friends and yes, even while watching

a movie.  I have seen many a pattern in which I declare that

it would make a lovely block or quilt.

I have designed my own place mats out of a panel 

and I have been know to tweak patterns

a little here and little there. 

I have never designed anything bigger because the math involved
stumps me little but if I would just take the time to think
it through I could have it figured out.

Too busy sewing I guess!!

While quilting I often listen to music from a Paris radio station 

(my favourite place on this planet) 

and dream of going back someday.

 

Sometimes, I have a person in mind that I want to make a quilt for 

and love it if I have the fabric on hand.

I often find myself thinking of and praying for the recipient as I quilt along.

This was one I made for my aunt who passed away earlier this year.

I hear that she never had this quilt off her bed.

Other times, I don't really have anyone in mind but when 

the time comes, the right person pops into your mind.

This was one that I had made long before it became a wedding

gift for my niece and her husband.

I aim to have a few quilts ready so that when a need 

comes up I will be ready.

I have a rolodex in my head of quilts or block that I want and need to try.

I figure I'll never live long enough to do all that is on my list . . .

I've really enjoyed writing this blog and I hope you enjoy reading it as much.

I failed in my quest to find three people to tag. 

I do, however, have one lovely blogger, Alice from Alidiza Blog.

Alice, by her own admission, considers herself

a Compulsive Quilter and Fabric Addict among other things.

She has an awesome blog and is truly an accomplished quilter.

I especially like her Weekender bag and can 

only hope to one day make a project like that.

Thanks for stopping by and "Happy Thanksgiving" to all.

 Shauna

Finding Joy in Hexagons

It's been quite a while since I picked up my hexagons

but they seem to be bringing me joy these days.

Funny how it's the small things in life that can really tickle your fancy.

Since the evenings come earlier and Fall has settled in, 

it seems fitting to sit and watch t.v. and do some handwork.

Over the past two weeks I have seven completed flowers done

and these lovelies ready to go.

 

Somehow they just make me smile.

Hope you all had a great weekend and that the week

ahead brings you much joy.

Shauna

Victory

“Victory belongs to the most persevering” 

– Napoleon Bonaparte

I am so excited to write this post as it means that 

I have finished the top of my Double Wedding Ring quilt!!

  

There were days that I would not have believed that it would be 

or could be possible to finish this off. 

It wasn’t that it was terribly difficult but it seemed a long time with little progress.  

Once I really put my mind to it though, it was a sweet victory. 

When I look back at my first post about my Double Wedding Ring quit it was late October 2013. 

I guess that’s not too bad considering I work full time, hosted my daughter for 8 months this year 

and had a couple of holidays away from home.

  

This quilt gave me much agony right at the beginning. 

I had a very difficult time in pulling fabrics for this quilt and after a few failures, 

I finally settled on the greens and pinks with a pop of yellow. 

Very happy with the outcome as I feel it was very close to what I envisioned – a definite success.

This quilt is not perfect and I had to keep reminding myself that 

it is a ‘homemade’ project and not mass produced. 

I was very happy to learn a new skill – sewing curves. 

 This will open the possibilities of other quilts that I have in mind.

As mentioned before, I plan to have this quilt quilted. 

Definitely well worth it considering the work involved.

Phew . . . . now I get to move on and finish up my son’s quilt. 

Perhaps it could even get done before Christmas. 

Wouldn’t he be surprised?!

Savouring my finish this weekend and linking up with

AmandaJean at Crazy Mom Quilts

Have a fantastic weekend!

Shauna