Too Long and Lots of Water Under the Bridge . . . .

Okay, it's been too long when you have to think long and hard about what you password is. 

Sheesh . . .

I've had a busy couple of months but not doing 'fun' stuff like quilting. In early January, I found out some not so nice news, had surgery in February, am recovering and awaiting further treatments. Yes that's right, I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Unfortunately for me, it runs in my family!! My mom is a survivor and I have a whole new appreciation of the things she went through about 15 years ago. 

Hence, the lack of quilting and fun around here. Just this past week I pulled out the aviatrix medallion quilt kit that I got for my birthday last year. 

This one will be a challenge for sure. Lots of little pieces and I haven't really worked with templates too much so it will be interesting. But just look at all the luscious colours!

 This is my attempt to organize all those little pieces.

I took an afternoon awhile back to make up my bias binding and sew it onto my wedding ring quilt. Still working on hand sewing it down on the back. It sure will be nice to have it finished and on the bed where it truly belongs. I love bias binding! Have you tried it?

I have been given such a wonderful gift from a friend that I met down in the Vulcan area and on the January retreat that I was at. She gifted me a beautiful embroidery machine that was unused. Thanks Ev! I tried it out just a couple of days ago and created this. I can think of many possibilities for this little machine.

Spring has sprung early in our neck of the woods. Generally, we don't really get nice warm weather until after the long weekend in May. Last Fall I planted some irises as they are one of my long time favourites. I was surprised when I saw them coming up because a few years ago I planted tulips and not one popped up. I guess I was lucky this this round.

Weeds and all . . . those thistles always seem to pop up too! Wonder how that happens?!

Just look at how much my rhubarb has grown. I can see stewed rhubarb and rhubarb pie in my future.

Well, I have to say that the hope of spring is very real for me this year. I have made it through surgery and just a round of radiation to go in late May. Looking forward to getting on to the next few months and life in general.

Have a great weekend!!

Shauna

Quilts and so Much More

I think I say this every time I post . . . where has the time gone. April disappeared and May is close to finishing and I haven't posted forever. 

I went to out of town last weekend to my friend Wendy's place to sew and maybe help her plant her garden. Well, the weather was awful - rainy and cold, so we were forced to sew! It was a great time of laughing, talking, sewing and eating. 

I did get quite a few things accomplished when I finally got down to sewing. 

This little table runner finally got a border and is now ready to be sandwiched and quilted. It's a bright and cheery runner that will be an addition to anyone's table or dresser.

 

Then I got the next border on this quilt. It still has one more border in the white needed to finish it off.

I love the look of this quilt.

 

Then I picked up my wedding ring quilt that I had quilted. I look at this quilt and marvel that I actually made it. I am tickled 'pink' with it.

 

The backing was bought when I went down to Spokane last September. I was hoping to use it for the binding but it's a tad too bright for the front so now I will need to find something else. Still debating on what colour to bind it in. Any ideas?
 

A while ago I had a dentist appointment in Cochrane and had a few moments so stopped in at the Addie's Creative Fabrics. Dangerous to say the least!! 

Picked up this new pattern and ruler. I like that you can use Jelly Rolls if you want to make the quilt.

Started playing around with a Jelly Roll that I had on hand and it's starting to look like this.

April was a busy month in that I was away on road trip to Phoenix with my friend Laurie. She has a condo down there and graciously invited me along with her to spend some time driving and staying down there. 

We had a lot of fun!

We were able to go to some major canyons either on our way down or back. First time for me in seeing Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon and Zion National Park.

Bryce Canyon

Grand Canyon

Zion National Park

Such beautiful country. I like to think God had fun creating all these natural places for us to enjoy.

Down in Phoenix we went to a discount fabric store. I picked up 5 yards of this which could make nice backing. I'm in love with this material.

And then this little beauty. Just 1 yard of this. Not sure what I use it for but I'm sure it will call to me when I need it.

Enjoy your Sunday!

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

Best Laid Plans

Really thought I would have finished my double wedding ring quilt.

Somehow working full time, being tired, 

running errands, paying bills, catching up on finances, 

going to the dentist and tramping through the snow

this week has hampered my plans to finish off this week.

I don't mind snow but when it falls on September 8 I do have a bit of a problem with that.

 

 

My big tree out my front didn't fair so well with all the heavy snow.

Looks like I'll loose that one branch.

Such a shame.

Because I had decided to do an extra row on my wedding ring quilt

I had to cut out a few more pieces.

That was a challenge as I had already given back the templates 

to my friend who lives a couple of hours away.  

I didn't want to wait until I could get out there 

so I made my own templates and they worked good.  

Netflix came in handy here.

I hope next week I can report a finish!

Shauna

Crazy, Beautiful, Love Filled Summer

I see again that it has been for-ev-er since I have posted!

How does that happen?!

 

This has been the most wonderful summer for a long time.

It started in June with a lovely visit with my son in Victoria.

I had time to get away on holidays in early July with my parents.

Was wonderful to reunite with family in July and again in August for a wedding.

 

My sister and I went to see Michael W Smith in concert.  So fun!!

I spent time with my lovely daughter throughout the summer.

I helped as she got ready to head off to do her Masters in Toronto at Ryerson.

Watched beautiful summer sunsets. 

That meant little time for sewing but that's okay.

I did, however, manage a day away with friends and a couple of days at a friends house to quilt.

So still working away on the same quilt. 

Perhaps next week I can say I have finished this quilt top.

 

Different seasons in life.  

Life would be too boring if we did the same thing over and over.

There were some very hard and sad moments this summer but all in all, I wouldn't trade it.

At the end of it all there is always a rainbow of hope.

Hope your summer was good.  

I'm looking forward to fall and some time for quilting.

 

Shauna

Treasure Hunting

So today was a fun day.

A friend at work and I went to an estate sale on our lunch break.

Lots of interesting things in an older house,

probably from the 30's or 40's in an older area of the city.

I came away with a few treasures.

Aren't these lovely?

My birthday is in June so pearls are my birthstone.

The colour on this strand is exquisite. 

Very pearly in colour.

Was hard to photograph and get the colour right.

And this little gem . . .

Isn't it pretty?

Again more pearls and the blue stones really add to the piece.

I rarely, if ever buy myself jewelry and here I found two

pieces that I really liked.

And the last item I picked up was these lovely pink pillow cases.

 

 Such lovely work on them and I thought they were charming.

Having done cross stitch myself in the past, I can really appreciate

the work that has gone into making these pretty.

I spent a whopping $12 for all these goodies that tickled my fancy.

I've still be working on my wedding ring quilt - what else is new!

 This week I got the corner stones sewn up for the 4th row.

 

Each row gets better and better and easier to put together.

As much as I complain about this quilt, I am so happy that I am making it.

It really is turning out to be quite nice.

I will once again end with a couple of sunset pictures.

Happy end to your week!

Shauna