One way to get incentive

 

One of my gifts was a wonderful pack of 5in squares from my SS (Secret Santa)

Then I found this Blog which brought me to Kathleen Tracy`s blog which brought me to her Smallquilttalk yahoo group which had the pattern posted for a challenge they were working on from Moda

So now you see the trail it is amazing what you can find for incentive to get you motivated. I love mini quilts and this pattern was perfect I did not waste 1 ioda of fabric

Below I had started to make HST and found them too big so made them in half again and now have a doll quilt that is only 7in x 9in. I don`t think I will put a boarder on this one but just some binding.

I am going to machine quilt this little one but hand quilt the 1800 vintage one.

as you can see below a little spooning going on with mother and daughter that is their kitty quilt I made that by hand about 22 years ago now…geesh time flies when you are having fun.

Happy New Year to you all and hope to see your new creations for 2011

Santa`s sleigh is empty!!!

cause I think it all came to my house!!!

The first gift I received was this wonderful old world Santa panel all made up and ready to hang from my Secret Santa she also gave me a wonderful kitchen towel with Christmas candies on it.
She lives in Ohio and is still waiting for the one I sent her 2 weeks ago.... Thank you so much Marion it is a great Christmas treasure

The parcels above are just amazing all except the package on the left bottom of fabric came out of another huge envelope from my Secret Santa while I was emptying out the package DH and thought it was never going to end, it was an avalanche of presents. I didn`t want to bore you with the wrapped gifts so DH and I opened them so you can see all the prezzies.

The package on the left bottom is gorgeous William Morris fabric I had won (which I am still pinching myself I can`t believe I won) on Michelle`s blog just click on her name and you will see these gorgeous peonies she is sharing with us right now she has a fantastic blog.

The other gifts are from another group I belong to that is just Canadian`s and is on yahoo. It is called Canadianquiltersonline
My SS was MIA and that is understandable cause life happens she was having some health issues but I just got this yesturday and you have to click closer to look I got a whole quilt store of goodies I tried to take a picture of everything. Even that homemade scarf on top which is perfect a Mug Rug and Glass bottom stem holders just unbelieveable....and I am telling you that is not all click on the picture and you will see everything more clearly

I have not had a tree up since I got the cats and now you can see why this tree has only been up for 5 min and Miss Molly had to check it out the last time I had one up she climbed it . Under the tree is the most thoughtful people in the world. Knowing that my SS was under the weather I did not expect anything next thing ya know I am getting these little squishes in the mail marked SSE. and in it were tokens of these wonderful gifts SSE stood for Secret Santa`s are Everywhere. These are all from the Canadian quilters on Line group they are very thoughtful. I can `t thank them enough this could not have come at a better time.

They could not have been more thoughtful so for about 2 weeks now I have been getting squishes and I don`t think there are any left for you others waiting out there..I got them all!!
Look at all this loot amazing!!

I had been working on a quilt and this was a piece that was left over that is flannel so I have sewn it into a little case for my camera. I can`t take a picture of the camera in the little case cause I am using it..LOL

Also on the Canadian Group we have decided to do a swap on Maple leaves and like the eager beaver I am (pun intended) I have already made 12 of the blocks..I hope you can see the fabric it is very very cool they really look like leaves

Well I want to thank all the bloggers that post their quilting journey`s and their free patterns and their whimsy ways. Your travels through the quilting world is very enjoyable and I hope that in the New Year we are able to share more.

Merry Christmas to you all and have a safe, happy, and healthy New year

I have been singing here comes Santa Claus all day.

I know it is early but I saw real snow yesterday and that got me in the mood.

I started my swap gifts on some of the forums I belong to and just finished the binding on this quilt. It is a mini that measures 19 x17 hopefully if you click on the picture it will get bigger so that you can see the wonderful fabrics

I saw the pattern above in a Miniature Quilts Mag No 58 and thought that I would make my own rendition of it this one is 17x17

Both done in the last 24hours hope you like it. These will be part my swap package. It was just such great fun to work on quilting again. I just wish that I could work some real machine quilting magic.

I am almost finished my block 4 of the Love Letters BOM

When I am at lunch I pull out this beautiful block and add a few stitches.

I had also started working on a BOM program at Quilters Palette they have it where you pay 10 dollars to start and then you bring in your finished block. If it is finished then you get the next one. If your block is not then you pay again. I also had DH sign up which I am glad I did you will see why

There are 2 patterns one for the 12in block or 2 6in so DH`s blocks are 12ìn and mine are the 6in. so far so good eh??

Well as you can see it is busy busy now with quilting. I have a row robin to put together for one of the guilds I belong to that has to be done next week and I think that is about it.

I will post my baskets that I got back from another group I belong to next time, everyone of them is just fabulous.

Our First Snowfall

this is what happens when I go to the computer it becomes a lap cushion for this particular girl..if I stop petting her she decides she needs to knock things on the ground or starts to kneed my leg..most times as I am typing she is lying her chin on my arm which makes it difficult to reach some letters..LOL
Below is my first snow fall...we are lucky as quilters cause we can make it any season we want when it is the dead of winter and we need some bright flowers to cheer us up we can make a bright quilt and that is our summer... right now I would love some snow so this is my first snowfall. I bought this kit at the Orangeville quilt show 2 weekends ago and had it all together in 2 days that is with working too... click on it and you can see it closer.. I am not a batik fan but this one really caught my eye...

So being in the mood to sew I had picked up a book at one of the guild meetings I go to and got incentive to make an antiquy quilt..I didn`t have the red`s that it had but I loved this guild fabric I got from Sewing Machine Factory and the background for another 2 tone quilt...hmmmmm

looks like there may be a theme behind this post.. 2 tones...I started this on Wednesday and have 5 x 7 rows done already....getting out into the quilting world had helped get my mojo back I am also working on my Love Letter blocks and almost have block 4 to post...am also working on a BOM from another quilt store Quilters Palette.

I thought I would have a great slide show of pictures with all the quilt shows I went to this year but I only have 1/2 of them my chip in my camera malfunctioned...( big disappointing sigh) but I do have half of them so will see about getting alittle time to load them

Right now quilting is keeping my sanity work is challenging at the moment but I take each day as a new day and try again...I just keep thinking I am lucky to have a job...I am lucky that I am well and healthy and able to go to work everyday...I am very lucky to have an outlet.. my quilting...

Great Buy-LAQ`S or wanna be`s

My friend Sandy is selling her HandiQuilter to upgrade on another machine (she made a mistake and went to a weekend LAQ`s convention...and found the perfect machine to upgrade too..)

Her machine is in excellent condition and is perfect for anyone interested in buying/or thinking of buying a machine. You can email her at slindal@hotmail.com . I have seen the quilts she has done on this machine and believe me they have been beautiful.

HandiQuilter-Fusion 24in if you have dreamt about LAQìng this is an excellent buy...it is only 1 year old...tell her Deb sent cha...

On the other note I have been so crazy busy working many hours and getting used to my new job...quilting has taken a back burner at the moment so that I can adjust to all the life changes.. one thing I noticed working days is that more people are holding there heads...but I love my job and know that I will finally settle down there... thanks for your patience I have lots of pictures but no time to show them off...

remember there are 3 quilt shows this weekend. Ingersoll, London and Essex check the Canadian Quilters Association link for all the details I was hoping to hit one of them but I am working nights this weekend and really don`t have time to travel that far it is 2hours from me...Essex is the farthest almost 5hours....but I can dream... I am hoping when October starts up life will be a little more normal...I can only hope

Fallen Angels

RUTH

ESTER

MARTHA

ELECTA

ADA

OUR WONDERFUL STAR POINTS..the one on it`s own at the bottom was a sample from scraps...she is mine (nun) these colors are specific to each angel. the fabric is specific to the coming year...snowflakes...now to hunt for a gold star for the angels to carry and lead them on their way

I found this pattern by Pam Bono in our Guild sale where someone threw it in the free box...it could not have been more perfect timing

off for the conference...loving the day life starting to get used to being out of the fog

Pets on Quilts

SewCalGal has a great idea on people posting pictures of their pets on quilts... I had many pictures on my pc but am not able to get them as you know earlier with all the problems I had. so I dug out my disks and found this one on it.. it is one of my fav`s... as you can see Joey loved to help with laying out the blocks embarrassing to say but this poor quilt is a flimsy and has not been quilted yet...but it is together...LOL he was a handsome gentle kitty...


Brit and I went to the Groomers today..an old one we used to go to till they moved...it was great seeing them again Colleen and Paul they own the pet shop called Muddy Paws..what a great name I know!!!...well they handled my geriatric girl with great care and let me stay with her as she was groomed. I sure wish we had a before and after shot but Colleen took this picture.. Britnee and her chunky mama...and as you can see she is gorgeous...my what big ears you have girl
We were going to Petsmart in Pickering Ontario for a couple of years there was a girl that was grooming her and did a great job.. but the last time I am not sure what happened but they had really chopped up her hair even the girl at the counter told me to bring her back and get her cleaned up...well I guess they didn`t like that cause they had refused us this time...saying that because of her condition that they don`t think that they could be liable for her...
Muddy Paws had no problem I was with them the whole time (only took 1 1/2) and Britnee did exceptional.. so I was very disappointed in Petsmart they thought they were thinking of the dog but in reality when a dog gets comfortable at a groomers it is not good to change.
Lucky for Brit and I Colleen took us in we were long time clients when we first started our life journey together and now we will continue with her in our geriatric journey ahead...so glad that we have wonderful people like her on this earth.
Colleen took this picture of Brit and I after the grooming..Happy Pup..

and not to be left out in any way would be this favorite picutre I found of Molly or should I say Princess Molly... those awesome eyes and bushy tail...

I am working on some quilting projects that are almost at their end will post them soon.. have patience and have a great weekend...