My Version of Square Dance

I've been wanting to make this quilt for a while 

and what better time to start it when one is blue and out of sorts.

Kids are back in their respective places, 

an anniversary has come and gone.

A time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.

I forgot how satisfying it is to cut up fabric into little pieces

and sew them back together into a pattern.

Don't you just love 9 patches?

 Bought this fabric this summer and I love it.

So crisp and clean looking.

When I look back to when I first started quilting my seam intersections have gotten better.

I think it helps when you are careful with your 

cutting, ironing and sewing.

Every step of the process is important.

Of course it helps to chill out with some great music!!

Here are some unexpected off cuts . . . 

 mmm . . . what to do with these??

The beginnings of a quilt.

I thought I should get organized so off to IKEA I went.

I purchased this set of drawers to house desk type stuff.

I was surprised as to how heavy this was (60 lbs).  

Phew . .  3 flights of stairs I must have burnt a few calories don't ya think?

I felt like I had accomplished a great deal in putting this together  . . . 

 . . . drawers actually open and work great!

I also finished reading a book that I picked up from the library.

I enjoy reading James Patterson books.

Good old fashioned who done it without being scarey.

I think I hear the ice cream treats calling my name . . . 

I hope you enjoyed your weekend 

and trust that you have a wonderful week 

(even if it involves going to work)!!

Shauna

Hexagons Revisited

I forgot how incredibly relaxing and rewarding working on my hexagons could be.

I've had a little bit of time this weekend to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air while dreaming, reading and working on my hexagons.

 As you can see I have it really good; 

iced coffee and the perfect bag to hold all of my supplies 

made by Jenn at Glinda Quilts.  

If you haven't visited her blog, take a peek around.

 I'm trying to be real random in sewing them together.

I have one row together and a good start on the second.

It's starting to look good.  The blank spots will have a neutral background with embroidery in the center.  Looking forward to getting all of my supplies out to pick out colours.  I haven't embroidered for a while - well actually a few years now.  

I used to be a hard core crossstitcher in my former life!!

It has been busy around here with kids home and two weddings.

Lovin' it though!

I even talked my son into mowing the lawn for me . . . it took all of 5 minutes!!

I am so blessed to have two very wonderful kids 

and I miss them when they aren't around!!

 . . . but am so grateful that they have grown into very independent 

and incredible members of society.

Who could ask for more?

Thought I'd finish with a couple of flower pictures from my summer.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend so far.

Shauna

Finally a Friday Finish

It's nice to be able to report a quilting finish . . .

It is very colourful and bold but 'happy'.

I chose to do a scrappy binding - kind of ties everything together.

The size is:  87" x 99"

Pattern is from Quilts and more - Spring 2009 edition.

This is the biggest quilt that I have done from start to finish.

Linking up with Finish Up Fridays with Crazy Mom Quilts.

Hope you all have a great weekend!  I know I will with both of my grown children home,

two weddings and three days off work.

Shauna

If You're Not From the Prairies . . . .

 . . . is the name of a children's book which has a beautiful poem about the prairies written by David Bouchard and illustrated with beautiful pictures by Henry Ripplinger.  A true Canadian book.

I just got back from a trip to Vulcan, Alberta which is in southern Alberta on the prairies.

**Warning I have posted lots of pictures**

(there are some quilting pictures further down)

 I love the old buildings and the wide open spaces.

The sky is always so beautiful in the prairies.

 

Vulcan is celebrating it's 100 years young the long weekend in August.  

Lots of activities happening so if you happen to be in the area, pop on down.

My friend, Wendy was part of the group of quilters who got together 

and put a 100 year quilt together.

It's made in three panels and has a lots of old pictures to hold your interest.

They did a beautiful job and it shows the pride of their town.

I have a soft spot for Vulcan as our young family used to live there. 

Both of our kids were born while we were there 

so there are many wonderful memories, friends and good times.

 Just look at the details and fun pictures.

The quilting is beautiful too.

 

The back of the quilt is almost as exquisite as the front.

 

 Wendy had worked on this panel.
Can you see the wheat?

 A couple of pictures around Joe and Wendy's farm.

Joe has an old Nash sitting on his farm so I took the opportunity to take a few pictures.

Of days gone by . . . .

 

 

I'm sure I have bored you enough so I will end with a couple of sunset pictures 

from Joe and Wendy's farm.

 

Hope you enjoyed your trip to the prairies 

and if you happen to be down in the Vulcan area 

the first weekend in August, enjoy the celebrations.

Happy birthday Vulcan!

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

Sweet Dreams

Feels so good to have a finish to show this week.

Sweet Dream quilt top finished and I'm lovin' it!

I originally blogged about it in this post.

It's for a friend at work.  This is her first baby and so very excited to share in her joy!

 It was very quick and easy to put together and I'm very happy with it.

I've decided not to put a border on it (a first for me) and had it confirmed by a couple of my blogging friends.

Started quilting this quilt and still not 100% sure how I'm going to quilt it 

nor how it's going to turn out.

I need to get it done by the August long weekend and have a week of holidays coming up so . . . .

I know what I'll be doing.

 I do love the bright colours in this quilt . . . it's happy and that is just what I named it - "Happy".

 I'll leave you now with a quote I read recently.

In our daily lives, we must see that it not happiness that makes us grateful, but the gratefulness that makes us happy.  

- Albert Clarke

What are you grateful for this weekend?

I'm linking up with AmandaJean at Crazy Mom Quilts.  I'm very appreciative that she allows us to link up our finishes on Fridays. 

Shauna

The Ice Cubes are Looking for the Nearest Freezer!!

That's because it is very hot here in Calgary today.  

It's a mere 33 degrees Celsius!

For maybe some of you, you are used to this kind of heat but there are usually only a couple of times during the year that it is this hot.  

My condo does not have air conditioning

so . . . 

going to bed at night where the thermometer in the house registers at 27 - 28 is a tad hot.  

This too shall pass though and one must remember this . . .  

. . . when we are in the dead of winter and it's -20 celsius.

A friend from work just had a baby and I had planned to make a quilt for her.

They chose to not find out what the gender was so silly me, I couldn't make a quilt that could be for either sex, instead I made a 'girly' quilt and wouldn't you know it, she had a boy!

So I went shopping on Friday and bought something that was more appropriate for a boy 

rather than soft pinks, greens and a sprinkle of yellow.

And here is what I put together over the weekend.  Just put the final stitches on the top before 9 o'clock last night.  Just in time to clean up before thinking of heading back to work.

 

I think that I am not going to put a border on it 

- strange for me as I don't think I have done a quilt without one.

Your opinion - does it need a border?

I have been reading this book called Paris, Paris - Journey Into the City of Light.  

It's written by David Downie who delves into some of the history of 

different people and places around Paris essay style.  

Have enjoyed it immensely and wished I had read it before heading to Paris last November.

 I would recommend this book and have fallen in love with Paris all over again.

On that note, I'm going to lay on the couch and watch 'Midnight in Paris.'

One of my favourite movies of late.

Enjoy your evening!

Shauna