Whew, busy but fun

 I bet you got snow! well we did but it has gone down some today we went for a great walk tomorrow more snow.

Teddy loves the snow we have shoveled a few paths for them but he gallivants through the snow like he has legs as long as a Great Dane!

This is a sweet little teddy bear he loves to be brushed and handled, and loved and cuddled and is just so sweet we got lucky!

 how bout the holidays are you having fun yet?! we did Mom was here she made my best cookies oatmeal date cookies. So you know that was my staple for 4 days.

Also turkey, dressing, potatoes gravy homemade cranberries and veggies

Mom has just left and I had to change the bed. I should have shown the quilt she slept under it was one of the christmas ones, but I forgot to take a picture.

 So I had to change the bed after she left and I was thinking what quilt do I put on that was still festive well looky here a red and white fitting for the occasion I would say!

it was also Holly approved as you can see below! as soon as the quilt was on the bed and I went to get the camera there she was! she blends in well does she not? what a sweet happy girl

Both of the kids are going through Nanna withdrawal though. They were so good with Mom here and she was fabulous with them as well.

what would be a visit if we didn't do a little quilting Mom had this sampler to put together now this has come to the house 3 times! and we finally had time to put it together...well almost we have both halves pieced I just have to put them together and then the border.

Excellent holiday fun with my Mom and Murray. I hope you all get some family time and what you want for Christmas

Thanks for taking the time to visit will see you in the new year!

Life evolves like quilt projects

 First change is we lost Buddy a couple of weeks ago, it was a hard loss as all furbabies that go are. I didn't realize how much time I spent with him till I had all this time!
He had a wonderful 3 years with us out of a cage and in loving arms with everything that a Chihuahua could want. We will miss him


Holly is adjusting well to her new home and I am getting to know this little princess. Holly was very helpful in our adjustment. It is amazing how things work out we got her about a month before Buddy departed its like she had Chi wings and fluttered down to help us with our new life.



 

I had time to take Holly for long fall walks
I had time to do a mug rug swap through Small Talk Kathleen Tracey's group.
I had time to finish my basket quilt
I had time to bind 2 quilts that a friend could not do
I had time time to start a new project
I had time for another Chihuahua
Meet Teddy he has come to live with us through the Chihuahua Rescue and Transport team. They have some really cute chi's that need rescuing I can vouch that they are the most sweetest pups.
Our home is balanced again.

Mug Rug swap from LA CA

Mug Rug that I sent 

Black Bird Designs Trick or Treat Basket quilt Basket on side in Memory of our Dear Buddy

Hocuspocusville Skeleton Fabric From Logcabin Yardage. 

Start of the Houses to go around the nine patches

 I had time to go with my mom and DH we went to a lovely dinner

I have also lost 50lbs through watching what I eat and now exercising. I know that I will maintain and not go back to where I was.

The 2 quilts pictured are not mine but a friend of my mothers that wanted them finished so I put the binding on for her

our new addition Teddy

Doesn't he just look like a Teddy Bear

and then we have our new Teddy Bear is all of 6 lbs like Holly they both get along really well not sleeping together but are both happy to be together. DH is so happy with them as well they are so friendly and full of love. 

Well I think that is enough for now lots more has happened but I have taken enough time...have a great week I am linking up to Needle and Thread.

Quilt Shows and Baskets

 I had a weekend of friendship and quilt shows it was so much fun. I went to the North Bay quilt show (4hr drive) and stayed with Rose Marie of Applique and Patch Quilting she will some very exciting news to post you will have to visit in a week or so.

I have over 190 pictures but for now I am posting these giant star quilts.

Aren't they wonderful!!

 I taught this class and there were many that were completed and in the show and the quilters only had nice things to say about the class this really makes me feel good that I could give a quilter incentive to enjoy a technique and finish.

 Apologies but this one is on it's side..students brought fabrics with different values and then we worked together on the best way to use those fabrics in their blades

I taught out of Eleanor Burns book Radiant Star and everyone had their own book that is a stippulation I have if I teach a technique that someone has written about and I use the book the student has to have the book

 Another sideways glance but I am just so excited I will try to fix these later.

Working the show with my friend we had a little time to lay my blocks out on her design wall for the Trick or Treat quilt Love how the values are coming together, this is just slapping them all on without playing so I am not going to play to much. I am down to 30 blocks and less then half of the borders and a few inbetween blocks

I would love to thank RMC and GC for hosting Buddy and I while we were there. Buddy was an absolute delight with them he actually let RM pet him more than once and then when leaving he jumped on their couch and pretty well said see yeah to me! he got a little spoiled..LOL

More pictures and fun to post at a later time thanks for visiting I am linking up to Needle and Thread so visit there and see what other Canadian's have under the needle

almost everything in 2's

 Mom was down this weekend past and we did a lot together.

We pieced another sampler from the blocks she made last year from Rose Cottage Quilt shop They have just celebrated 10yrs in Amherstberg.  It changed hands and the new owner has Celebrated 2 years this coming weekend.

Mom picked these fabrics for her kit. How do you like our mitering job! honestly we were ment to make this quilt

 This was the center and as you can see we were not cutting off any points. The layout was supplied with the finishing of the quilt.

Mom was short on one of her fabrics and low and behold we had to go to the "Stash". Mom was surprised I had a batik, I am not a batik fan at all, but I do have one shelf with different batiks for this purpose. Mom loves Batiks.

 So this is the Finished quilt! As you can see we are both looking very trimmed with the hair cuts. I went to a new hairstylist a couple of months ago and she cut my hair the way I asked. Mom loved it so much that she got the same thing. We were just all over Toronto showing our new Doo's

 Yes I am still in my pj's this is morning and really I love being in my jammies. Don't look there though look what is in my right arm! We have a new Chi!! We have had her for a week and she is just an ANGEL.
Holly is 10yrs old and needed a loving home her mommy passed on August 17 and my she was my neighbour's friend. Thing is my neighbour has a big dog and Holly is afraid. My neighbout thought of us and asked we said yes without hesitation. She will be my husbands and they have bonded very well.

As you can see she is as friendly as can be. As you can also see I am holding my precious Buddy. Both of the puppies respect each other and she has no fear of him, Buddy is 10 lbs ( I know a porker but we are working on that) and Holly is 5.5 fearless.

We are a very happy household.

Mom left on Monday happy about the finish but not feeling so hot. I also caught a dandy of a cold and she has now got the symptoms of one starting.
Well thanks for visiting it has been a very very busy summer for us! but we have also had the most perfect summer weather! I hope you have had a great summer and that you are like me and can't wait till quilting weather starts!

Check out Needle and Thread on the sidebar I am linking up with other Canadian Fibre artists!

more swap action

 what great fun this weekend at the Quilts at the Creek show I had 3 quilts in was able to take 2 pictures then my camera battery went to sleep.

This was the challenge of last year, of course I was late so submitted last year. The pattern was from Sherri Hisey of Border Creek Station designs

 This one was of the 2 swaps that I had designed to make one quilt. I was thrilled to see the quilts hanging and getting a little air. This was a great show anyone can enter a quilt, if you do you get in for free.

Next year they will be celebrating Red and White quilts, when I got my quilts back there was a Red and White FQ inside. I am going to try to make this challenge.

 I got my wee blocks back from Small Talk yahoo group and they were in a row on my design wall, the block in the center I got for free at a friends stash sale, it was just sitting there on top of a never ending quilt I am hand quilting.

I walked by them for days what was I going to make? finally after my friend left I sat and just started sewing this together it came together great so far!

Now this is a design in progress, it will be a medallion quilt I will embroider a little more in the center block but this was already made I just added the wee baskets, now to think what my next row will be.

 Just a little close up as you can see there are borders. I made a measuring bloop so I just added a skinny border, worked out great, designs usually end up from trial and error, really there are no errors just alternatives.

 here ya go a little closer to the center, what a great block to start with eh?

 I also finished my 8th BBD block from Love Letters Pattern. one block left to go

 I was remiss in showing you a couple of quilty gifts that I received. This cute wee pincushion and thread catcher and cutter holder from a fabulous friend. Love them and use them all the time. I use all my gifts quilters put so much into them..look at the machine quilting on the side of the thread catcher and she hand quilted the top of the pincushion

 somewhere for my cutter to now snooze in when I am not using it. her own sleeping quarters, love it!

and then Rosemarie came to visit and went to the quilt show with me. This will be an annual tradition for us she loves to go I love to have her here I will be seeing her in Sept!

Thanks for visiting I am linking up with Needle and Thread Network have a boo at some of the other Canadian bloggers.

New Sampler!

Hi, Mom made me another sampler she does BOM at her local quilt stores one in Leamington called a Stitch in Time this year she picked red, white and black and this was my Christmas present. We didn't get to see each other for Christmas but we celebrated Christmas in July.

Mom got 8 of the blocks done and then I did the last 4 the patterns were perfect.

 I did the last on the right and those flying geese. Honestly each of the patterns were very precise the pieces fit together like a puzzle.

 My job now was to decide how to finish the quilt. I had picked out this fabric before Christmas specifically for this quilt from The Quilt Store  when they had their last 50 percent off before Christmas.

 I had also bought this book at a guild quilt show one of the members boutiques. I had a plan.

 This was the first block, I was very happy with the results I ran up to show my husband he liked it too. Poor guy just had his other knee operated on and had a tough time with the anesthetic so progress has been slower, but this gave him incentive to come down the stairs to see the rest of the idea I had decided for the next sampler layout! LOL

 This was one of the side blocks thought that was pretty cool too...


Now I was excited! I got the top done I started this Thursday night and got up this morning to sew the 2 halves together the center is now completed. I only have the borders to put on.

I think Mom would be very happy her sampler gift did not sit in a box but got done right away.

Field of Dreams

 the title of this one love the baptist fan quilting that Tella did on this! it was perfect for this quit.

These are strips that I had done a swap with in Irene Dewars group a while ago and we used the Bonnie Hunter pattern of Many trips around the world

 I found the border fabric from a place in a small town in Ontario called Dutton.

 The John Deer Fabric I had for a while it was first going to be a one block wonder and then it was going to be a quillow for my dad, then it became the backing for this quilt, the baptist fan really makes this look like furrows in the fields

 So here Buddy and I are modelling hair not combed but out and about enjoying this breezy day.

 I wanted to show you one of my buds coming out on one of my oakleaf hydrangeas, I have 4 different varieties. This year they are blooming last year they did not so happy.

 My Roses are climbing and blooming they are sturdy they have been cut down to nothing and come back every time...how faithful

 then these 2 are really favorites of mine low maintenance, barely and sun and yet they give so much!

 I thought this one was a goner a couple of years ago but it decided that it liked it here after all.. they are not honeysuckle but not sure of the name of them...

which btw all I smell is honeysuckle in the back yard with them blooming  now as well will show pictures next time

 I thought you would like to see this painted fern up close is it not beautiful love it and the texture the colors give

So this is the pile of quilts that I have had done in the last month there are 8 there! in different stages of binding.

Whew I can`t wait to get back to fun sewing!