This 'n That

This week I finished off putting on the borders on my Tessellating Crosses quit.

Not sure I'm enamored with it.  

I had a tough time finding a red that I liked for my first border 

so bought a chocolate brown, then the off white 

and finally the coral red for the large border.

It works well, just not what I had envisioned.

Having said that I totally enjoyed doing this pattern and would do it again!

Looks nice with my red kitchen wall.

My daughter was putting in an order with Amazon and asked if I wanted anything.

I had taken this book out of the library and said that at some point I would like to purchase it.

It came yesterday and I am looking forward to exploring and playing.

I was off work on Wednesday because I had an appointment 

with the dentist to take out one a wisdom tooth 

that she deemed 'should come out.'

In and out in half hour with just freezing.  

So glad that's over!!

The next morning I got up to get ready for work and was greeted with this lovely sunrise.

 

What spectacular colours that were on display.

Stay warm this weekend!!

Shauna

I Fell Off the Wagon . . .

. . . big time!

Where to begin . . . it's been a crazy and unusual couple of weeks.

I had a chance to leave this snowy, cold weather for a week 

and go with a friend to her condo in Phoenix.  

What a good choice as it was very cold here last week.

We basked in the sun at her condo and also did some buzzing around.

We were on the shuttle bus to pick up the rental car 

and my friend realized that she forgot her driver's license.  

Thankfully I had mine!!  

We joked about it that she would then have to go where I wanted to go.  

It was then that she reminded me that I was staying in her condo.  

Guess, we'd have to compromise!

So in doing research, I realized that AQS Quilt Week was on 

in Phoenix at the convention center.

mmmm . . . . . how could we not go?

So we figured out how to take the LRT (light rail transit) 

to the downtown core and spend a few hours drooling 

over the many fantastic quilts on display.  

There was not a bad one in the lot.

The display also included quilts done by the Tentmakers of Cairo.

Fantastic!!

I think most of them are done by hand applique and they are exquisite.

Lots of neat vendors at the show and many were ones that I had read about on the web or blogs.

It was so much fun to see what's out there.  

I visited the booth of Me and My Sister and purchased 4 bundles of fat quarters.

Love the colours!

Another Jelly Roll that I picked up for a fantastic price.  

Pays to go on the last day . . . as some of the vendors didn't want to take 

their wares back home with them and reduced their prices.

 We also went to the swap meet and found some fabric there too.

I picked up these 4 fat quarters and backing so that I could make 4 Christmassy placemats

We found a lovely little quilt shop in Mesa called, A Quilter's Oasis.

 The selection was good but I have to say that I realized 

that our prices in Canada are not that far off 

especially if your factor in the exchange rate. 

I was, however, very tickled to find this pattern.
 I find myself looking at Camille's blog often and have liked this pattern for a while now.

Just a couple of little things that I picked up.

Well, from now on, no more fabric purchases.
I'll restart my diet again.

I'll finish off with just a couple of photos from Phoenix.
If you have never been, it's worth a trip.

Enjoy your weekend and in our case, the long weekend because of Family Day.

Shauna

Feather Your Nest

I can't believe how fast the weeks are pealing by . . .

 . . . and we are already in February.

I have an upcoming trip to someplace warm and it will be most welcome this year.

We have had so much snow, ice and cold weather it will be nice to escape for a bit.

I have had this panel for a very long time 

but never got around to doing anything with it. 

Most likely because I didn't know what I wanted to do with it.

Well, I needed to make a quick gift for a friend and remembered that I had this 

(because I cleaned up a couple of weeks ago!!)

I bought it in a discount bin so didn't pay very much for it 

but thought it had a few cute pictures in it.

Talks mostly about spring and nature.

I decided to cut one of the pictures out in a hexagon shape.

Then I centered it on batting and pinned it to some backing and did a quilt as you go.

I think it turned out marvelous.

I wished I had a left a little bit more space on the sides. 

Next time.

Now when I say quick - I mean quick.

Probably whipped this up in less than two hours - binding and all.

Sorry pictures are not that great at night.

I am loving these colours.

The batiks are beautiful - I won those at one the January retreats.

Hope you are all having a good weekend.

Enjoy the rest of it!

Shauna

Tessellating Crosses

Last weekend was spent at a lodge outside of Caresland

with a group of sewing friends our annual January quilting retreat.

I think this has been my fourth year in a row that I have been able to go.

It's a lodge that is right on the Bow River and is in an idyllic setting.

The sad thing is that the current owners are not 

continuing with the running of the lodge themselves 

so it looks like this will be the last year.

There are other events planned with the some of the same group 

so that's good news.

Just last night I finished the center of my tessellating crosses quilt

that was started at the retreat.

I'm thinking of framing it with a very thin red, a wider cream 

and then perhaps a darker brown border.

I'm very happy with the fabric that I chose for this pattern as I think it suits it well.

What's not to love with a pink and brown combination?

Almost like a valentine theme?

mmm . . . crosses remind me of the ultimate sacrifice of love.

At this point in time, I'm not sure who it will be for.

I am trying to get a few lap size quilts done up this year.

I think they are just right size if you need a gift 

for someone going through a tough time 

or just nice to have on hand.  

We'll just have to see where this takes me. 

From my window tonight I can see this beautiful sunset.

Beautiful mountains peaking through.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Shauna

Motivation . . .

. . . to clean my sewing room!!

Just came back from a quilting retreat 

and before putting everything away it looked like it was time 

to straighten up and reorganize.

It really wasn't this bad until I started pulling all my fabric out to organize.

And here is the finished . . .

I've decided that I need to go on a fabric diet.

I found fabric I forgot that I had and my mind was swirling 

with projects or ideas to use it up.

Wonder how long my fabric diet will last?

In a few days I'll show you what I worked on at the retreat.

'Til later . . .

Shauna

What Could be Better . . .

. . . than to spend your day with one of your kids?

Yesterday Elyse and I spent the day at the Farmer's Market.

So fun to look at all of the beautiful fruits and veggies for sale.

Not to mention the yummy lunch!!

On our way to the Market, we happened to drive right by the Quilt shop.

Imagine that??!!

 

So of course we had to pop in there

 to see what was new and what was on sale.

 

I think what I liked the most was to see fabric through my daughter's eyes.

Well, needless to say we came home with some awesome fabric.

 

She's a very creative one herself who takes beautiful photos and loves to write

so it was fitting that this one was made for her.

I think she even has a typewriter in her belongings 

like one of the ones pictured above.

 

She needed pillowcases to go with her quilt that I had made her last year.

In fact you can check out her latest posting of 

gorgeous photography and musings of an Afternoon in the UK.

Hope you have had a good weekend and that your week is spectacular!!

Shauna

 

2014

Remember when we went from 1999 to 2000 . . .

 . . . well, I can't believe that it is now 2014!!

Wow!! Where did the time go??

Last year I did a blessing jar 

but this year I was given 

this gorgeous Calendar / Diary from my daughter.

I'm don't journal much so have decided 

that I am going to write down a quote a day that resonates with me.

Some will be serious and some not.

The quote I chose for Jan 1 was this:

"Leave the broken, irreversible past in God's hands,

and step out into the invincible future with Him."

- - Oswald Chambers

So I am moving forward!!

The last couple of days, I have had a chance to play with some fabric.

I'm not going to lie, it felt really good.

Top completed!

I'm calling it my 'Mod Sunburst'.

Shauna