A Bright Spot in the Week

Why is that the short weeks at work always seem really long? 

I can't say it has been a hard week, just lots to do at work and we are at a time right now where we are checking students to see if they have met their conditions. Sadly some haven't and it's always hard to have to send the letter to let them know that they can't attend the program that they were intending to for the Fall. Much nicer to send out offer letters than rejection letters.

We have had wicked weather this week too! Hail, heavy rain and flooding in some areas of the city. My garden in the front of my house isn't looking as good as it was at the beginning of the week. Oh well, we are at the mercy of the heavens. This is what I came home to Wednesday after work.

That being said, I have been working away on my Dresden Plates. Probably not as diligently as I could but none the less, working away at them. Definitely a bright spot in the week.

I have this lovely stack of 12 Dresden's just waiting to be sewn up.

I managed to get 2 pinned together.

And finally sewn onto the background.

I have been thinking about doing a hexagon shape for the center rather than the normal circle. I've seen one at V and Co's blog about finishing a Dresden. Gives it a unique and nice finish.

One night this week I had to dash out to the drug store. Right beside the drug store is a florist. They had a bucket with the most gorgeous roses outside the door that said 'Free Today'. So was tempted to take all but I resisted and just took one and it has graced my table for the past few days.

Isn't she lovely?

Time to get this day started. I'm off to a birthday party for my 16 year old niece. Oh to be that young again!

Have a beautiful weekend! 

Red, White and all Dresden Up

Friends are like quilts . . .

They never loose their warmth.

I just got to spend my weekend with a special friend who just happens to sew too! 

Wendy and I have been saving our red and white fabric for quite some time as we both wanted to make a quilt with these colours - but nothing christmassy. Last time we were together, we finally hit upon a pattern that tickled our fancy - Dresden Plates. 

 

We bought the EZQuilting Dresden Ruler. What a great ruler, I would highly recommend it.

We started off cutting the 5 inch strips and then the blades using the ruler. Took no time at all and we had enough cut for 2 quilts and most of a third.

We strip pieced the blades and then sat and watched a movie and reruns of Friends as we cut them apart, turned them, ironed and packaged them up to sew into the plates.

We even managed to squeeze a visit to the local quilting store, "Out of Hand".

My little packages are all ready to be sewn together.

And I have one completed!

This is going to be one fun quilt to put together.

Thanks for the great weekend Wendy!

Hope you have all enjoyed your weekend as much as I have. Have a spectacular week!

Shauna

 

Amidst the Mosquito Coils

Camping .... Or shall I say Glamping.

That's what I have had the privilege to do for the past few days and will get to do for a few more.  You see my mom and dad own a trailer out in Radium, B.C. so it's just a hop, skip and jump over to this beautiful place from where we live.

As you all know it's crazy sitting outside this time of the year with the mosquitoes. My dad is constantly keeping the coils going so my mom and I can read, check our FB account, emails, do our puzzles and our hand crafts.

Here's my mom working on one of her dishcloths. They are sure nice to have. 

I'm working on my life time supply of hexes. Not really and actually I have more an 150 flowers completed. Getting here. I find that I enjoy doing these more in the summer than in the winter time. 

What a delight this place is!! It's so nice to sit out until 10 pm and not worry about having to find a sweater or coat to put on. The weather has been perfect!!

It's taken me a while to get this post ready for publishing because I was doing it on my iPad. Usually I do it on my home computer and I feel proud of myself that I have figured it out on this devise. 

Til next time - 

Shauna

Showcasing my Colourful Strings

I can't believe how fast my string quilt is coming along.  

Six blocks and counting.
 

I am not over thinking my selection too much and thought it would bother me to have different widths of strings but it hasn't. 

For one thing there will be less matching up which will make this a truly easy, fun and freeing quilt to finish up. Not that I don't enjoy those things but sometimes you just want to sew without pressure.

Lots of nice fabrics being showcased.

Last night I had an awesome sleep and feel like a new person and feel like I can conquer the world.

Hope you are having a great Saturday too!

Later,

Shauna

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