Quilts, Chocolate and Fabric

It's been quite the week!

Exhausting really!!

 

This weekend was the Quilt Festival at Heritage Park in Calgary.

Always lots of inspiration.

 

I think there were less quilts than in previous years,

but nice none the less.

This year the weather cooperated and it was perfect!

 

I met up with some quilting friends who go to the same January retreat.

Always nice to catch up over a free breakfast.

It really is the most perfect setting to hang quilts 

- lots of old buildings that lend itself to a nice cozy quilt.

  

This year they had a display of civil war quilts made by current day quilters.  

Amazing!!

My pictures are not that great as they were in a darker building 

but you would not believe how small 

some of the blocks were in the full size quilts.

 

They also had a display of antique quilts.

 

Here's one that caught my eye.

Looks at that cool border - gives you ideas, doesn't it?

 

 

Some of my favourites modern quilts.

Look at the quilting done on these two.

I guess I gravitate towards the bright and cheery quilts.

Took this picture of this heart one for my friend Reta.

 I looove the colours in this quilt!

A quilt of half square triangles.

My friend Jen sent me some of my favourite UK chocolates last week.

What a treat to get them in the mail!!!

And in such a pretty tin too!

 

 

The same day I got chocolate I also got some fabric that 

I ordered from Sewing Sisters with my gift certificate.

If you haven't checked them out, 

they have a really nice selection of books, fabric, notions. 

 

Their prices are very reasonable as is their shipping prices, at least in Canada

and they are very quick in sending out their packages.

Can't wait to play with these.

Must finish up some projects first though.

 I resisted and did not buy fabric from Heritage Park. (insert sad face here)

They had some really good buys but could not justify anything.

Next year!!!

Hope I didn't bore you with my many pictures and stories.

I'm looking forward to my week - hope you are too!

Shauna

 

 

 

Working Hard or Hardly Working

I don't have much to show for all the work I have been doing.

I have been working away on my double wedding ring quilt.

It seems that if you start working on a stage and have it figured out,

 you should keep working away at it before you loose your skills.

Doesn't look like much but this picture represents a few hours of work.

 I think I have half the amount of melons needed for a second row.

I also took time this past week to caulk my bathtub.  

 had to go online and review a youtube video 

which was most helpful and got the job done.

About a year and half ago, I went to visit my daughter in London, England.

I had heard about Liberty London and took a trip down there by myself and just 

gawked at all of the pretty fabric and other items in the store.

I was on limited funds back then and came away with nothing.

Then on my last day in London, I went back with my daughter 

and she encouraged me to buy 'something'

or I would regret it.

I found this little pack of hexigons with 50 different fabrics and papers.

I brought them home with me and have been sitting down here and there to work away on them.

The colours and patterns are all so diverse.

This one is such a cutie!

Wouldn't you agree?

I hope that one of these days that I will have a finish to show.

I bought backing at the last quilting retreat
for my Tessellating Crosses quilt so am going to stretch it out
and put it under the machine to quilt.

 I guess I like having quilts at all stages. 
I like having the choice of different projects to work on,
or maybe I deceive myself and really only have ADD.

I am enjoying my long weekend and I hope you are too if it's a long one for you too!

Shauna

A Mother's Love

A Mother's Love

There are times when only a mother's love
Can understand our tears,

 

 

Can soothe our disappoints
And calm all of our fears. 

 

 

There are times when only a mother's love
Can share the joy we feel

When something we've dreamed about
Quite suddenly is real.  

There are times when only a mother's faith
Can help us on life's way

And inspire in us the confidence
We need from day to day. 

For a mother's heart and a mother's faith
And a mother's steadfast love

Were fashioned by the angels 

And sent from God above.

 

-Author Unknown

Happy Mother's Day 2014 Mom -

Thanks for being a rock over the past year.

I love you !!

Shauna 

My Friends are Talented!

This past weekend I had a chance to go down to a quilting retreat 

just south of Cardston with some really talented ladies.

What a nice set up the Mountain View Lodge has with lots of room to spread out.

 

 I was able to get a lot done on projects that were already in the works.

Worked on Graham's quilt (my son).

Just a couple more rows, a border or two and quilted and it can be his.

I also worked on this insanely small block quilt but  . . .

I love it!!

 Not too much more to go on it.

 And for my third project that I made some head way on is my double wedding ring quilt.

One row put together - only 5 more to go!

A picture to keep it straight in my head how to sew the curves together.

 And here's what some of the very talented ladies at the retreat were showing off.

 It's always so much fun to see what everyone else is working on 

and to catch up what has been happening in everyone's lives over the past year 

or half year if you are lucky enough to go twice a year to this retreat.

This retreat would not be complete without the snow coming down outside 

and making it a winter wonderland.  

Thankfully it didn't stick around and the roads were fine to drive back on.

Unfortunately we didn't get to see Big Chief Mountain this year.

This picture was pulled from last year's retreat.

Have a good week!!

Shauna