Blessed Beyond Words

I truly think that I have the best friends in the world - both here in Canada and abroad!! 

 

A while back, I entered a giveaway on Jen's blog called Glinda Quilts - and I won!! We have become friends through the web over the past couple of years and our love of quilting is our mutual interest. I received my sewing machine mat, the left over material as well as a four fat quarters all tied up in a beautiful pink heart ribbon. My, oh my, such lovely fabric and fabulous sewing. She spoiled me!!

 

It has pockets at the front which are perfect for keeping those essentials at your finger tips that are needed for quilting.

So tomorrow is my birthday and I wanted to celebrate it with a little touch of purple hair. You know, you only live once and with life being so short, you have to make the most of it and live every day to the fullest. So in light of that, I have a purple streak in my hair.
 

 

I have been working on my string quilt and now have 3 blocks done. Should have more but you know, life gets busy sometimes.

 

I have to admit that its fun to pick up a piece of fabric and remember which project you used it in and who it was for. Lots of remembering going on here.

 

 

My garden out front is coming in nicely now. I bought flowers this year that I wouldn't normally buy. They were ones that were left over at the garden center that didn't look too beat up or picked over.

My little box is just big enough to have a bit of colour around my little home.

 

Isn't she pretty now that she is coming into her own.

Well that about rounds out my last week other than my daughter was here to shoot a wedding and we had a chance to have a quick visit. 

Enjoy the rest of your week whatever it may entail.

Shauna

 

Scrappy

My scrap pile just keeps growing and to be honest I wasn't sure how to use my scraps up and what would go together so I just kept adding to the pile. 

On the weekend I decided that I should take a look at my scraps and start with a plan. I pulled out several different fabrics that I thought might work together and started a string quilt. 

The jury is still out whether or not it all goes but I jumped in with both feet anyway and made a block.

I had bought a sheet from Ikea and that is what I using for my foundation. I cut my square at 12 inches and then squaring it up to 11 inches. My plan is to put the gold colour down the middle on each square.

So nice that summer is here and I can sit outside enjoying the sunshine and dream of the next quilt. What could be better than that?

 Enjoy your week where ever it may take you.

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

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

Batik Fabric

At the beginning of the year I joined the Batik Lover's Club from Sew Sisters because quite frankly I didn't have enough fabric . . . yeah right! Actually, I have very little in the way of Batiks and thought this would be a good way to up my stash.

Here is the first shipment of gorgeous, deliciously lovely fabric!
 

I can hardly wait for February, March and the rest of the year's packages to come. 

Have a great weekend everyone and remember to Laugh for no reason!

Love is in the Air

I am in love with my latest finish!

Three in a Box

I love everything about this quilt and it really brightens the spare bedroom. Who wouldn't want to sleep under this?

It's been a long journey to get this one finished - as most of mine are . . . I started this a long time ago and I seem to get side tracked all of the time. I'm working on that!

Since today is Valentine's Day I was thinking about the 'loves' in my life . . . so much to be thankful for and to enjoy.  Life is too short to not look and think about the great things in life.

My list includes and is not limited to:

 My Kids

Quilting

Coffee

 

Travelling

Friends and Family

Sunsets

And so much more. Every day there is something to 'love'. Enjoy the journey and remember to laugh for no reason.

I'm linking up with AmandaJean from Crazy Mom Quilts.

Shauna

February is a Time for Quilting!

 "Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:  it is the time for home." 
-  Edith Sitwell

 

Well, here we are at February already. I wonder where January has gone to? 

I feel like I just floated through January. I had no energy due to a cold and of course still had to carry on with work and life in general and here we are in February!

Just a couple of days ago I decided that I was feeling much better and actually had some energy so out came the sewing machine along with some blocks that hadn't seen the light of day for a very long time. 

I am really enjoying sewing and didn't really realized how much I was missing it. 

I was laying out my quilt blocks and realized that I was needing to complete three more blocks to make it 6 blocks across and 7 down. Next hurdle was to find the pattern. Have you ever done that? Put something away and then have to go hunting for the pattern in order to finish. It seemed to take forever but found it finally and had success in completing the three blocks needed. They go quite fast once you have them cut out and really are slick to make. You just have to make sure that you lay them out right before sewing together or you end up with a different pattern. I know this from experience!!

              
I really enjoyed making this block and could see making a smaller version as a baby quilt. The pattern is called 'Three in a Box' and was designed by Julie Herman at Jaybird Quilts. The size of the blocks are 12" square when they are sewn up.

I not only got the three blocks completed but was able to get four rows sewn. There isn't a lot that needs to be lined up so fairly easy and has a stunning result.

This is such a fun, colourful quilt. The material that I used has a bit of a texture to it and I love how it all is coming together. 

I've been waiting for a package to come from Sew Sisters. I joined their Batik Lover's Club where I will receive 4 half yards of material each month. I have been waiting patiently okay not so patiently for my package to come. I imagine that the package probably got hung up in Toronto because of the weather they have been having and many flights in and out were cancelled last week.

The other day we had a beautiful sunset. Can you see the mountains 'peaking' through? When I bought this place I didn't think that I had a mountain view so was pleasantly surprised that I can see them even if it is a far way off.

Hope you have a spectacular week! Keep warm, sew to your hearts content, and laugh for no reason!

Shauna