Excitement

I'm getting really excited . . . why, you ask?  I'm off to a quilting retreat this weekend with a really good friend of mine.  It's going to be hard to work this week but what a reward at the end!  This is the second year that I have been able to attend and what fun it will be.  Project that I'm doing is called Bramble Berries "Berry Vines" by The Buggy Barn.

Love, love, love the colours in this project!!!  It has been hard to wait to get started.  I have all the material cut and ready to go so I can start sewing right as soon as I get to the retreat.  

I'm hoping that I will be able to finish the top this weekend.

 

On another note, I have been working on a table runner with these colours for my kitchen table.  Even though it is red and green with a bit of gold, I should be able to use it longer - at least that is what I'm planning to do.  My kitchen counter tops are kind of a mossey green and I have this wonderful wall that I painted more of a brick red and have never regretted my choice.

This is how it starts . . . with a basic four patch.

And later this is what you get . . .

I've been wanting to do this one for a very long time . . .

. . . and I love it!

Well, I guess I should go do something with my house -.  Thanks for checking out blog!

Shauna

Snowflake Table Runner

Put together this table runner for a dear friend of mine.  

She 'loves' the snow and I thought this would be most appropriate for her.

 Love how all of the snowflakes were different.














Would probably do this runner again.

I like the fact that this is not necessarily Christmassy but will do for most of the winter.  Which if you live in Calgary, know that this can last for many months! 

Shauna

A Little of This . . . a Little of That

Christmas has come and gone and so has the the beginning of 2012.  I hope all had a great holiday  celebrating the wonder of the season.  

My youngest sister has a two year old and my other sister is a foster mom of little children.  Always adds a neat dimension to Christmas celebrations to see things through a child's eye.  They were all so cute!

Thought I would post a picture of my Christmas Tree.  I think it was quite lovely this year.  It's been around the block a time or two but reminds me of a victorian christmas tree.

What would be a Christmas break without a puzzle to do?

I have been busy quilting too . . . here are two cathedral window pin cushions that I whipped up over the break.  They were quick and easy once I got my machine whipped into shape.  Amazing how well a machine will work when it is all cleaned and oiled up with a new needle.  Don't know why I don't do that more often!

I got the tutorial from Kim at My Go-Go Life.  You ought to try your hand at them.

Wishing everyone the best for 2012.  Only look ahead - never back!

Shauna

Busy!

I've had many projects on the go and these are just a few of the ones that I have been working on.  

I've made 5 of these scarfs - so much fun and quick to do.  I like to maximize my time so I wondered why I couldn't do two at a time on one set of needles.  Just had to try it and it worked like a charm.

 

Next thing I accomplished was to do a baby card for a young couple at church for their first little one.  Took the card to work to show some co-workers and wouldn't you know it - left it there and I was planning to drop off my gift that evening.  So I came home and whipped up another one which I thought turned out much better than the original.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the second one which I ended up giving the couple but here is a picture of the first.  The bear in the second one didn't turn out looking so 'angry'!

 

Then I had the privilege of having my 12 year old niece come and spend Friday night and Saturday with me to do some sewing.  She wanted to learn to quilt and not that I am an expert but I shared what I know with her and we had lots of fun.  She did everything from sewing to designing and ironing.  The only thing that I took care of was the cutting.  I didn't want to end up spending our time together in the emergency.

I think Alyssa did amazing in designing and putting together all of the pieces that we had to work with.  She kept measuring it by laying beside it to make sure it was long enough so now my job is to get it done before she outgrows it! lol

Great job Alyssa!!  I can see a future of quilting for you.

Shauna

Colourful Supper

Just had to take a picture of the supper I cooked last week.  It was so bright and colourful and full of flavour.

Enjoyed every mouthful!

Shauna

Design 'Floor'

I'm using my floor as a design 'wall' - works.  Thought I would lay out what I have completed so far on this quilt and it looks like I need to do a few more blocks.  It's going to be a decent size and I am thinking that it would make a good 'spring' quilt because of the colours.  So having said that, I will aim to have it all complete by then. 

The colours don't fit into my current house colours so  . . .  perhaps some lucky person will be the recipient of this quilt. 

I like this pattern and will probably do it again in different colours.

Long Time - No Post

 
Between holidays to Mexico - yes, Mexico with my sister and working . . . there has been little time for playing on my blog. 

We went for one glorious week to Puerto Vallarta.  Beautiful and hot!!!  No rain and not a cloud in the sky.  Worth every penny we saved to get there!

It felt so good to laugh and giggle and leave all the worries of home at home.

Our hotel room was on the fifth floor so we like to think that we wore off some of those calories that we obtained during our 'imprisonment' at the beach. 

Sure did enjoy the Spanish Coffee that we had most evenings.  Better than any fancy drink you would get elsewhere - could be that that atmosphere contributed greatly to the experience!

This is a view from our hotel room - doesn't it just exude warmth, happiness and joy!

Here's to next year's holiday!!

Shauna