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

Road Trip

After my son went back home after our visit, I had a few days and was able to go on a road trip to visit a wonderful friend of mine in a place called Vulcan. 

Vulcan is a small farming community south east of Calgary where my husband I used to pastor a small congregation of wonderful people.  

It was in that small town that our children were born and I formed some life long friendships.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am the richest person on earth.  I have the most wonderful friends who are always there in good times and in the bad times.

When you are in Vulcan, you must visit the Star Trek display and have your picture taken as one of the crew members.

Clearly, I am looking too happy to be a crew member!  

Must make a note to be more stoic next time!

I love the prairies . . . they speak to me.  Maybe it's the open spaces and beautiful green grasses,

 

the gorgeous sunsets,

 or the yellow fields of canola.  

 

I'm not sure, but I feel at home there.

While on my trip, I dropped off two of my quilts to be quilted and I can hardly wait to get them back.  

This one is for my daughter in London.

And the other is for a house warming gift for myself.  This is by far my favourite quilt and I'm sure will remain so.  The colours are so vibrant.  I can hardly wait to get it back.

Lastly, while I was down it Vulcan it was nice to show off my quilt that I did at a retreat a couple of years ago.

Thanks for visiting and going along on my road trip with me.

Hope you are all having a wonderful, warm and special summer!

Shauna

Quilt for a Friend

I seem to be a place in my life when my friend's children are having babies so what does a quilter do?  They put a quilt together.

I was very happy with the way this one turned out. 

The pinning process - thank goodness for space on the kitchen floor . . .

It's girly, pink and cheery. 

 I did the quilting myself and am pleased with it. 

I decided that I would sew on the binding by machine instead of hand sewing it.  I was amazed and very happy with the way it came together.  

I hope the recipient enjoys this as much as I did putting it together.

Since today was valentine's day, I thought I would show you the note and flowers that my daughter delivered to me at work today.  She's very sweet and I will miss her greatly when she moves away to London, England in March.

. . . and hubby and I went to dinner and a movie.

Shauna

Quilt Show in The Country

Country Creations out of Strathmore had their annual quilt show on Saturday.  Weather was perfect - hot, dry and sunny!  Here are a couple of pictures from the show.  Sorry, some of my pictures are a little fuzzy.

Have been looking for ideas for a Christmas quilt . . . this one might be fun to do!

 Love these funky chickens . . . .

Wildflowers anyone??

Quilt on the right is made by one of my best friends at the quilting retreat we both went to in January.  Isn't it gorgeous?!  Unfortunately I didn't get mine quilted yet.  Perhaps soon.

Quilt on the left is done by another friend from Vulcan . . . met her at the show on Saturday.

Look at that gorgeous sky.  Couldn't have asked for a better day!

Hope you all enjoyed my trip to Strathmore with me.

Shauna