Morning Glory, Hello Sunshine or 70's Retro

I recently participated in a 'Pay It Forward' on Facebook and I am a little behind in getting my forwards out. 

Last week I got one of my little gifts made and sent in the mail. 

It was a little table topper.

Wasn't sure what to name it.

I thought of:

'Morning Glory'

'Hello Sunshine'

or even

'The 70's Retro Table Topper'

I love the colours in it.

Again another cheery piece.

For the back I chose to use the same material as was in the center.

I must get cracking on my next 'Pay It Forward' piece.

I have no excuses except that I have been sick with a nasty cold again, no energy and busy at work so coming home to flop seemed to be the thing to do.

Last night the girls went out to celebrate my sister Sheila's 50's birthday at a swanky restaurant. 

What a treat!!

Then we went back to Mom and Dad's place where the guys met us for Raspberry Frozen cake which was very good!

Most everyone contributed with quotes and / or memories 

for my sister. I glued them on fancy paper 

and put them into the jar.

What a fun and neat idea!

There will be lots of reading for Sheila in the next little while.

Well, I have to prepare myself to walk to work tomorrow.

It's been two long weeks since I have because of that nasty cold but it's time to get back into the groove.

Hope everyone has a great 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

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

On Holidays . . .

What does one do when it's HOT out and you are on holidays 

without a sewing machine.

Why you read a good book . . .

You have a glass of wonderfully cold water . . .

You catch up on your emails and FB with your IPhone . . .

And you work on your hand quilting . . .

Hexagons!!

I spent the last week and a bit with my mom and dad.

What a wonderful holiday it was.

Time in Radium and a little trip to Spokane 

where I got to catch up with my cousin 

whom I hadn't seen for many years!

** Warning . . . pictures of my trip coming up.

The weather was hot and the outdoor life was wonderful in Radium.

On our trip up to Radium we stropped and took pictures of this beautiful rainbow.

Breathtaking!!

A few moments later, the sun came out and was out for the rest of our holiday.

Aren't the Rocky Mountains spectacular?

We forget sometimes that we live in a very beautiful place on this planet.

 

Once in Radium mom, dad and I sit back 

and enjoy the view from the trailer.

A hike up to Sinclair Falls was a must this trip with a friend.

Middle of last week we took a little excursion to Spokane, WA.

Our trip took us through Sandpoint, ID where we stopped for lunch.

What another beautiful spot! (Oh and the food was great too!)

Once in Spokane we had a lovely visit with my cousin and her daughter.

So nice to reconnect.

On our way back to the city, we made one more stop at Numa Falls.

Again, another beautiful spot.

Thanks mom and dad for a wonderful trip.

So nice to spend time with you!

 

 

Thanks for joining me on my trip.

One more week left of my holidays and I'm planning to get some sewing accomplished!

Shauna

Puddle Jumping or Ski Jumping

Yes, that's right . . .

We have had another dump of snow so I think I should 

change the name of this quilt from Puddle Jumping 

to Ski Jumping.

Okay, so that may be a little extreme 

because this quilt is really springy in it's feel.

I really love the softness of the colours.

I still need to put on the borders and then of course quilt it.

It even looks good with my new picture hanging above the bed.

I have also been working on this little gem.

The ladies at our church put on a dinner once a month or so.

In May, the dinner is called 'Spring Fling' and I am thinking I may donate

as one of the auction items.

 It says, 'What is there not to love in a butterfly'.

Better not show this to my sister as she just may claim it! 

She loves butterflies!!

This week has been really hard for me with personal 'stuff' going on.

Life can be really tough. 
Sometimes all you can do is take one moment at a time.

"Remember," they say, "that the darkest hour of all, is the hour before day."
I'm hopeful that my 'day' is just around the corner.

It's on weeks like this that I tend to hole up in my quilting room, play uplifting music 

and meditate as my sewing machine hums along.

Our sermon today really challenged me so I will have a lots to think about this week.

Remember this quilt from a year ago?

It was for my Auntie who was very ill and wasn't expected to live a year ago.

I finished it last Mar / Apr and my dad sent it in the 

post 'overnight' so that she would get it.

She surprised us all by being on this earth until now.

She past away just a day ago and leaves a void in all of our lives.

I am optimistic that even though life is hard, God is still good.

There is a lot to be thankful for and if you look around, 

you will see things to be thankful for no matter how small they are.

On that note, I hope you all have a marvelous week

filled with pleasant surprises!

Shauna

Progress

Great progress has been made on the 'Happy' quilt.

I'm pleased with the way it is shaping up but it has been hard on my shoulder.

The size is 87" x 99"

I have done all of the white spaces with just loops

And have done just simple triangles in the coloured  blocks.

 

I'm also doing the happy dance as I will have my daughter home for 3 weeks from London, UK and my son home for a weekend from Victoria, BC at the end of this month.

How can one mother be so blessed to have both her kids home at the same time?!!

Both pictures I have of the kids were taken a few years ago 

. . . but none the less, they are both so cute.

Hope you all have a wonderful week.  I know I will as I am on holidays!!!

Shauna