Full weekend -photo heavy

Party on Lake Ontario this was our view the Weather was perfect

 We had an eventful weekend Mom came to visit and in that we were extremely busy.

Mom petting one of the sheep

 We visited the Oldest Pioneer village in Canada Black Creek Pioneer Village. They have their Annual out door quilt show, that is sponsored but a group of hard working quilters/volunteers that put the quilts up and down for the 2 day duration.
This may be the last year if they don't have a volunteer to spearhead the event. Today we got to enjoy it. This was the first one that my mother attended. Usually I go with my friend Rose Marie of Applique n' Patches she was not able to attend this year, Friend you were missed.

I can show you some of the quilts and will post more later.

Loved this idea for growing herbs 

loved the Polaroid quilt! 

gorgeous applique

still waiting to make this one loved it. 

Loved her idea of putting the chimney's together

very elegant 

dimensional plans unique idea! lots of work! 

still on of my favorite patterns love this rendition.

Well that is it for now the weather was perfect we went to a BBQ later in the Mimico area right on the lakefront and you can see the view we had. There was a great live band in the back yard and lots of people with excellent food choices it was well organized with a bar and dancing as well. Like I said it was a full day!

Blocks of fabric choices

 I wanted to show you a couple of the blocks up close of the scrappy star quilt. This one is my favorite. I love the wee person hanging out under the tree.

 I thought this one was sweet with the dove holding the peace branch and the ray of sunshine in the background to show that the showers have ceased.

 then we have the wedding birds I always think of Cinderella where the birds helped her with her dress.

 The walking dead fabric of course I think this fabric will be walking into every quilt till there is none left I am saving some for an applique quilt that mom and I want to do with black white and red.

i had fallen for this fabric this winter and made 2 quilts with it and now I have fussy cut a block the fabric is called bear hugs. It was just so sweet.

 Another bird perched I think this was some scrap that was given to me by someone

 this one I am going to put my initials and the date in the middle of it. this will be the center block

this was part of the fabric above I liked it so much I had to make 2 blocks with it. I think this day I didn't really want to dig to much deeper in the scrap barrel.

I love the scraps though because each has its story...no one will know and when they see this they will wonder why this quilter picked this fabric. I would!

This weekend is the Quilts at the Creek show at Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto. I will be doing a lot of wondering and pondering about other quilters choices and decisions, making stories that probably was not their intentions.

Quilting is a wonderful mystery stories and history that will live long after the quilter is gone. I hope you have a chance to "get away from it all" and float through this wonderful outdoor event!

Bits and Pieces...I guess

 I had the joy of going to Elora on Monday for a sit and sew currently appliquing the Dutch Treat. I had a chance to see this beautiful site and also to visit with my cousin for breakfast.
I didn't take pictures of our day at Meerkat Shweshwe honestly I felt like we just sat down and then we were done! Next month the designer of the Dutch Treat book will be visiting us this will be thrilling.
We get a catered lunch when we sit in these sessions so no muss no fuss for us.

 I also like to exercise, yes I said like! It keeps this quilters body in some kinda shape since we do like our treats. They had a get together last weekend and were very generous in the nibbles and bits.
 If you are looking for a great place to get your enthusiasm going there is never a dull moment for exercise, I recommend this place I have been going for over a year and am not bored yet.
I belong to Orange Theory in Pickering  They have a heart monitor while you exercise there is a coach there all the time and you never have the same exercise 2x in a row when you go it is half cardio, and half strength. Motivation is there!

 so this is why I have to exercise. I love to sit and work on my quilting be it hand or pieced. I also have a wee friend that will reminds me that my lap time is very important. You can see how everything just fits into place as he is cuddle in the foot of the lazyboy and I can do my stitching.
Just made in heaven he is.

 I am also currently in a doll quilt swap and have found wee pattern to work on these pieces are pretty small! I am almost wondering what the heck I was thinking! LOL

Well it is coming together and I am not sure if people know that there can be just as much work in a doll quilt as a big quilt with many many pieces.


I hope you are enjoying some outside time as well the weather is perfect we have had the best summer weather, but you wouldn't think so with all the weeding I am trying to keep up with.

I hear people say that when you retire you still have no time. I have to say I don't believe them working takes up 8 hours of my day I can fill that time as well but also will have more choices...soon

My favorite

 I have a hydrangea that is about 10 years old now and I have loved it from day one it is called an Alice Oakleaf  these blooms just get bigger and bigger

 as you can see it can be very much the show case. I remember the first time I trimmed it back I was so scared I would kill it but it did wonderful. The bark will go orange in the winter and peel away it will look very rustic. The leaves get this gorgeous oakleaf fall color it is still my favorite.

You can see that the Pawtunias are starting to grow with the potato vine these are fun. Don't look at the weeds please they are part of the landscape and very hard to keep control of with such a big yard.

This was another quilt that has turned into a flimsy using the scraps from my barrels only for the blocks. It was a sew a long I was far behind it had started in early 2018 block was designed by Mary Elizabeth Kinch you can click on her name to see her blog.
The sashing and borders where my decision I had already put the darker green on the outside and was not going to unpick it all so decided they would stay and extended the sashing out with the stripped fabric gives it a little different look on the bed. Look at all the wonderful border space for quilting!

These blocks have no rhyme or reason as long as the values were lights, mediums and dark's so that design can be prominent. this is just called "StashDipity" rather than stash dipping or serendipity meaning the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. Which to me is suitable as any for a description. 

Another one that is going in the flimsy to be quilted pile! I'll get there one day I will I promise as I roll it and lay it in the pile. 

Have a great weekend. 

Doll quilt

I am now signed up for a swap that I found on Instagram where you are making and swapping a doll quilt. What do you consider a doll quilt? what size would you make it? there is a criteria to be met and that helps with the guild lines on making a quilt for my partner.
We are able to give hints of what we are making and the fabric selections. I had previously posted the pattern now I have my selection of fabrics. I will be using many reds and muslin for a more antique look. The biggest stipulation is hand quilting which I love anyways.
 I have already started cutting the blocks some are only 1in!

sweet as they come! look at that wee leg thrown over the edge his fur is as silky as it looks 

I hope you are able to get some stitching in today it is supposed to be hot and muggy with some rain today

look back a little this summer

 This was another sew along with Kathleen Tracy's group for the Peonies block which is in one of her books.  You may wonder why I made 2? well I had brought my fabric to a sit and sew at Homespun Designs in Stouffeville and thought well I will get my fabric cut and ready.
 I had fun chatting with the gang and just kept cutting away using up the FQ's wondering why I was still cutting for such a small project realizing that I had way too many piles so instead of one quilt which I could have done I made 2 wall hangings and the misfit blocks I am going to make a sewing machine cover for the machine upstairs, this way it doesn't look too messy when I am not there and a little decor for my hubby.
These will be waiting for me to hand quilt, I used to get the quilts long arm quilted but budgeting has now been the case if they don't get done some quilter will be happy to have them when I am gone.

Number 1 Peonies Block

Number 2 Peonies Block

 Teddy was such a hit on the last post I thought I would post another of him on his Nana's lap trying to con her out of some gold fish!

Nana may just give me some if you would just leave me alone! 

 Also Nana has now made it tradition to buy Wave Pawtunia's for her 4 legged grandchild. Isn't he just the sweetest and he loves his little oasis, this was at the beginning of June I will post what they look like now a little later

Nana brought Pawtunias for me aren't I cute! 

Well enjoy the day doing what you do thanks for visiting.

Weekend events

Its been busy, working in the garden, pulling weeds. They are forever invading the garden! I also had some time to do some quilting I finished the Stars Sew A Long with Kathleen Tracy's group. This is ongoing and you can start anytime so you are never late, friends are always welcoming you and cheering you on. You will find the links to join either her facebook or Google group. Always a new theme per month of small quilts.

Stars sew along with Kathleen Tracy

 Next is the Sew A Long with Sherri Heisey  Border Creek Station This started on July 1st there are many options of either a small, double or queen quilt. You have to do this the block is only 8inches there again are more options with rulers or paper piecing or traditional. I am going traditional with the piecing, I also bought the fabric kit from Quilt Junction I love everyone of her gorgeous fabrics in the store so the kits are incredible

 I have used some scraps to test my first block and will use it later in my Misfit quilt. I put the rotary cutter beside it to give you the idea of the size of the block and I am using the traditional method of piecing Sherri's instructions helps you in all methods listed above.

 Okay what else am I doing? well I am in a doll swap that is being done in instagram. I am very excited about my selection for the quilt I am making. I have most of the Miniature Quilt mags and they are such great reference tools to possess!

It was gorgeous weather on Sunday, I woke up early and started gardening till 1000am then got ready for the gym then some fun time in the studio!
Hope you had as great a weekend as me! oh yeah Teddy got his walks in too!!

adding more

I can add 4 more blocks to this wonderful Star Quilt a long , there is no rush for this and they had started long ago but that is okay. I am loving the fact that I am diving into my scraps and able to piece some great blocks. Most are using CW fabrics but I am using a little of everything this quilt will be very entertaining.

the start of the layout that was suggested by Kathleen Tracy these are free patterns on her facebook page if you want to join you can and also see what others have created. 

I am now about 6 blocks away from finishing the piecing of the stars, and am auditioning some fabrics to cut in the spaces that will be separating these blocks that are speaking volumes. I absolutely love the Rooster fabric bought it on a whim and now pulling from my collection really makes it worth it for me.

4 more blocks 6 more to go from the scrap bag blocks 24, 25, 26, 27

continuation of the Mystery I have one more row to put together. 

It is not too often that I get to post a picture of our girl Girlie, she is close to 16 years now and still going strong. I thought she was going last year but found out that she is not able to eat her kibble and has to eat soft food.
The vet said that as they get older it is harder for them to eat the kibble. Girlie is back to herself, even a little friendlier and I love her chatter she gives me when she sees me in the room. As you can see she has her special perch at the window...don't mind the Kitty nose prints.
She is the last of the 2 litters that my mother and I rescued. so here she is for those that know about my "Ghost Kitty" she is elusive with everyone else but me! Going strong and very happy except for that bratty little dog that will chase her once in a while she has learned to tell him off finally!

I hope you all have a wonderful day...not sure what I will be posting next!

Canada Day Weekend

I hope everyone was able to enjoy the weather and I know how hard it was to stay indoors and get a few stitches in. I worked nights this long weekend and found it hard to even sleep the summer air was just so inviting.

Star sew along with Kathleen Tracy block 20

Star Sew along block 21

Star sew along block 22

Star Sew Along Block 23

Kathleen posted last step of mystery laid out blocks

I was able to get 2 rows accomplished

Slow stitching on this dinasour

then because i had a fuzzy brain slow stitching called

I have more marked and waiting

Reminding me that is walk time right on my foot! as you can see I am still in my pj's time to get changed

I hope everyone got some R&R and some family time with a little stitching in there to ease the Summer running.