Sewlmate Sister

You Won't Believe This Machine!

2012-01-26T19:16:00.000-05:00

I just had to post this little YouTube Video for you. Absolutely Unbelievable. I wish I had a machine like this and could do my binding this quick! Go HERE.
My sewing group, The Sewlmates were the entertainment at The Lanark County Quilters Guild this week. We did a trunk show of some of our quilts. Here's some pictures from the event!!!

Blogger doesn't want me to add any more photos at the moment, so I'll add more later!

Getting Lots Done!!!

2012-01-19T11:29:00.000-05:00

I went to Community Caring Quilters this week and boy those girls

have been busy....just check out these quilts for children!!!

Here's a couple of them working!

Another thing I wanted to show you....I made this tablerunner that I absolutely love and I knew it needed to be Hand Quilted, and since I'm NOT a hand quilter.....my friend Barbara offered to do it for me for my birthday....I absolutely LOVE it now. Thanks Barbara!

I've been working on getting my Pies and Tarts quilted, it's done but I have to take a picture, but I did get a quilt pieced last weekend . This was from fabric and pattern I bought in Lancaster last March. I love the fabric and think it should look pretty good when quilted.

The weather here is snowy and COOOOOOld....so I've been getting a little quilting done, hope you're doing the same.

What Could this be????

2012-01-04T10:22:00.000-05:00

I'm back in to sewing, after the holidays, I've been spending time in the studio!!!! How about you???? This is what's on my design board right now.....

I work on my Star Spin, only sporadically but it's getting there!
Then here's the other thing, I'm working on, a simple quilt for the spare room bed!

If you look closely at the following photo, you can see the wild turkeys, in the side yard. I tried to take a picture, there were thre on the fence!!!! You can see though, that they flew away as soon as I started taking pictures!!!

I'm Back!!!!!!!!

2012-01-03T09:23:00.000-05:00

had a great Christmas and New Years!!! Here's just a few pictures!!!!!

Hope yours was as good as mine, now back to some real quilting!!!!!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-21T21:06:00.000-05:00

May not be on for a few days, so thought I'd just say a very big, Merry Christmas to all of you. Here's our little Micky to say it in a Big way!!!!

WINNERS!!!!

2011-12-17T10:39:00.000-05:00

It's my first time using Random Generator right on my blog, so I don't know if it will show up but, I entered 1-151 for the number of comments left...and out came #77 !!!! So the winner is Kate, who said.......Your patterns are quite lovely. Thanks for the opportunity.
We got comments from all over and were willing to send internationally but a Canadian won!!! Still far away though, Kate is from Saskatchewan! Now for the two surprise gift winners.......# 76 is Marjorie's Busy Corner who said Your patterns are quite lovely. Thanks for the opportunity. and #127, and Susan who said, I am a new follower .
Congrats all, sending an email to all three of you for addresses.

Thanks for everyone for participating!!!

Giveaway!

2011-12-17T09:14:00.000-05:00

Come back later today for the results of my Giveaway! Now closed for entries!!!

Happy Birthday Quilting Gallery Giveaway!

2011-12-09T14:24:00.000-05:00

We're having a party!!!! Woot, Woot, over 250 blogs are participating, and everyone is having a GIVEAWAY!!! Can you believe that??? Yep it's the Quilting Gallery's 4th Birthday, my Giveaway is going to be a great pattern from a wonderful new designer. And guess what ?? You get to choose which pattern and believe me they're gorgeous!!! Here's just a sample of them! The new designer is my friend Mary from Country Angel Designs.

Here is just a sample of some of her patterns! Two other prizes will be given for some surprise gifts!!! Draw will be Dec 17th, so make sure you enter all the other giveaways. Thanks and have fun!

To find out more about all the giveaway fun, head on over to

The Quilting Gallery!

To enter my Giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment here, if you don't have a blog, make sure you leave an e mail address. To have a second chance, please become a follower , and leave a second comment telling me you are!!!

Lots Getting Done, and a Birthday Giveaway!

2011-12-08T23:57:00.001-05:00

Pieced by my friend Babs, an older kit from Connecting Threads I think!

I quilted it and am very happy how it came out!

My friend Lou is finishing up this great quilt made using panels, Isn't that amazing?

Aren't they just the cutest?

Now, about the Giveaway....well actually, first I want to bring your attention to one going on over at Alderwoood Quilts
Quilt Pattern!!! You could win the above pattern from Colourful Quilts. Have a look at Sue's blog and you'll find out how! Just go here.

Now for my Giveaway.... If you look at the top right hand side of my blog above you will see a link to Quilting Gallery's 4th Birthday blog Giveaway. There are over 200 blogs participating in the next week or sew...so if you want to see what's up, come on back here on Saturday and I'll have some real good stuff to give away. And I'm going to introduce you to a wonderful designer.

Beautiful Patterns

2011-11-30T20:46:00.001-05:00

Had a great day out today. Busy but a great day! We had a Christmas Cookie Exchange / Sewing Day at Vick-Torias! What fun!!! Just look at all those gorgeous Goodies!!!!

Vick-Toria even made a lovely lunch, just look at the desert!!! The little sign says North Pole.

What a hostess eh???

And here's Mary with her tablerunner pattern.

And Mary with her gorgeous Blue Dogwood Pattern, this quilt was in the latest issue of Quilt Sampler. isn't Mary a great pattern designer?

And here's our lovely Stephanie working on another scarf!!!

Thanks my friends for another lovely day of fun and laughter. What would we do without friends?

Please Vote for Me!

2011-11-25T13:16:00.000-05:00

I've entered this weeks Quilting Gallery contest, " Fabric Items for the Kitchen" with my "Bodum Touque" If you'd like to vote for me , I'd appreciate it , just go here.

I've been a little down with an abcessed tooth , but things are looking up and I started another hand pieced quilt....from Inklingo.....my Pickled Clamshells.

An Inklingo Finish!

2011-11-21T21:17:00.001-05:00

I fnished my second, hand pieced quilt for this year! It's called Pies and Tarts, it's a Sue Daley pattern and was made using the Inklingo method. If you've never heard of Inklingo, you havn't seen the most exact way of piecing ever! I use it for the exactness of handpiecing but it can also make machine quiltng very exact and easy. Linda Franz, is the inventor and you can read all about it here.

Honey has a Passion Too

2011-11-16T10:05:00.000-05:00

My husband builds hot rods....but this one is very special, this is the car he had when we were teenagers, he found it about three years ago...THE same car !!!!He bought it and totally rebuilt it! The upholstery isn't done yet but the body looks amazing. The colour is called Chanpagne and Root Beer, kind of like us. LOL It didn't look anything like this when he bought it but I Love love love it now!!!
By the way it's a 37 Plymouth!

Please Vote for Our Quilts!!! Shameless Plug!!! LOL

2011-11-11T17:35:00.000-05:00

This is mine!

This is Marylynn's!

Please go to The Quilting Gallery and vote for Marylynn's and my quilts for this weeks contest. You have till Sunday night and we would really appreciate it! You can vote here . You can vote for up to four so it wwould be great if you voted for us. LOL

Well life is back to normal here, all our company has left and I miss them! Wish my sister didn't live so far away! The UK just isn't around the corner. Yesterday I went to Selwmates, here's a couple of nice quilts from Show and Tell.

Madeline's Scrappy Quilt

Bab's Oriental

This past Monday, a few of us went to the states for a quilting shopping day!!! Did we ever have fun! here we are going into Fiber Options in Renslar falls New York!!!

Don't you just love this bag!!!!

I fell in love with this quilt, it's Round!!!

i've been on Retreat!

2011-10-27T23:16:00.001-04:00

My signature quilt , already for borders!

That's our Lois, she accomplishes more than all of us!!!!

Yup, been a busy month but we had our annual Fall retreat in Morrisburg Ontario at the McIntosh Inn. What a great time we had. My friend was here with her husband form Australia so she joined us and what a prolific group we were!!!

Pat's quilt is started!!!

Lois made 3 table centers!!!!!

I started and finished my Figgy Pudding Quilt!

Vicki was busy with her appliqued cats!!!

Barbara finished her baby pinwheels.

Pat finished her storm at sea!!!

Pauline finished her gorgeous knitted shawl!

Pat's quilt is gorgeous!!!!

Vicki can work on four projects at a time! What a girl!!!!

We waited on each other????

patti O is at the Applique!!!

The knitters, Lynn and Betty, sharing!!!!

Things I Love

2011-10-07T20:47:00.000-04:00

Don't you just LOVE this quilt? MY friend Marylynn, made this quilt and entered into The Quilting gallery's online contest this weekend. If you'd like to vote for it, you can go here .

Here's another thing I've fallen in love with ! It's the new French General line from Moda , called Rouenneries Deux! I immediately, preorded it from here .

Then I fell in love with a kit, which I never do, but I told hubby that it would make the perfect Christmas gift!

And so it Starts!!!!

2011-09-26T19:12:00.000-04:00

Well things are slowly starting to get back to normal after a very busy August and September!!!! Not much quilting done though!!!!
The studio looks pretty neat!!
A few friends came to sew on Sunday.....

The weather was gorgeous, so we sat out on the deck!!!

Last week we went to our QT , the first one of the year for the Guild, Betty's house is a little out in the country, on a lake, with a private laneway!!! This is what we met on the way in!!!! Not just these two but a whole herd passed right down the lane!! LOL

Today, my husband Terry, helped me, in the morning we cleaned all the windows and sills etc. In the afternoon, he rented a chain saw on a long wand, (a tree trimmer). He cleaned up a lot of large dead branches in the front yard, was so good to see some of that come down!!!

While I was outside taking a few photos of the trees coming down, I couldn't help taking a couple of the early fall garden!!!!

This is the only thing I've been working on, a little at a time..I'm hoping to get some of my UFOs finished!!!

Tomorrow is our first Guild meeting of the year, and I'm really looking forward to it. Looking forward to finding out what the block of the Month is going to be like!!!

Hope all is well with you, my friends. Have a good week!!!

Where Did the Summer Go????

2011-09-20T19:31:00.001-04:00

Wow, the summer just flew by, I spent a lot of time getting ready for the Guild Quilt Show, and sorting and purging in the house, then doing the same in the studio!

Finally though this week, I got back to doing a little piecing!!!Got the first part of my Star Spin finished!
Here's some pics of the studio when friends visited the other day!!!

This is the what the full pattern will look like.

Sure looks bright and clean!

Liz is checking out some patterns!

Barbara and Pat have plans for my stash I think

Quilts ready to be quilted

The longarm supplies

I'm still working on my Pies and Tarts (handpieced) but the poor thing hasn't seen me in a while! Expecting guests from Australia soon so lots more to go on and a retreat soon too!!!! Aw, the life of a Quilter!!!!!

A Real Quilt Show

2011-08-30T22:59:00.000-04:00

The 2011 Quilts on the Tay, is in the can. What a great show it was!! Here a just a few pictures from the show!

I was responsible for the Boutique this year! We did amazing!!!

My Serenity Quilt , very large for our bed!!!

Vicki's amazing Canada Geese Quilt!

My Pastel Gems, this also sold!!!!

My, For the Love of a French General, this sold !!!!!!

Barbara's embroidered beauty!!!

Carole's Junkie , love it!!!

Another one of our BOMs, mine is the red and yellow one!

Don't you just love this one?

Some of our BOM's from this year!

Demonstrating Hand Quilting

Pat and I ready to sell, sell, sell!!

Thrift Store find and Makeover

2011-07-28T11:30:00.000-04:00

But I have been Working, lots of cleaning out cupboards, sorting stuff, purging things!!! A little home dec sewing though!!!

Bought an old heavy coffee table, Hubby added legs for height!

Added a cover to fit!

Made a padded cushion for top.

It matches headboard we made a few months ago.(Took quilt off bed.)

Another view! I also made a second one for the changeroom!

Today I start making six sets of Roman Blinds for the dining room and kitchen. Trying to a little quilting done in between the home dec stuff as our quilt show is coming up, but right now, I'm on a roll getting this stuff done!!

Fabric Shopping

2011-07-15T23:23:00.000-04:00

Just thought I'd shock a couple of my followers with a post!!! LOL

Here are some fabrics, I picked up on my recent trip to St Thomas.

Now don't you just love these???

Animals Animals Animals!!!

2011-07-13T22:18:00.000-04:00

My life seems to revolve around animals , especially this last week! We went to st Thomas to spend a few days with our friends John and Marylynn, and also to meet up with Jean and Brendon from the UK, who were staying with John and Marylynn! Both the girls are great quilters, so of course we had to do a little Fabric shopping!!! And Eating!!!

Jean, Ruth, Ina, Marylynn and Gerrie

On Saturday we were having a lovely lunch with the boys and my cell phone rang!!!! Big surprise...I only have it for emergencies...and guess what???? The cows were out at home!!! Yup, 6.5 hours away from home and the cows were two concessions away and the neighbours couldn't get them home!!! So we packed up and headed home!!! It took till the next morning but Terry got them all home safe and sound!!! Geez!

Micky came with us, here he is, going for a walk with Jean, got to the end of the sidewalk and thought he better come back in case Mom went somewhere without him!!

Today he went into the Vet to have a broken molar removed , well they removed that and two Incissors, and cleaned the rest of them! They have to put them out for this, and when we picked him up at 4:00, he was still stoned. So funny, we put him on the grass for a quick potty and he fell over!!! Lots of antibiotics and pain meds so I'm sure he'll be fine!!!
I've been sewing up a storm, making things to sell in the boutique at our quilt show coming up in August, and putting sleeves on the three quilts that I'll be showing!! So lots of stuff getting done. But boy is it hot!!!! Hope you're all having a good summer. Keep on quilting!

Niagara Again!!!

2011-06-30T22:56:00.000-04:00

Here we are again, me not posting, but it's been a hard couple of weeks. Had to make another trip to Niagara for five days! It was not a fun trip this time. A family funeral. So sad for my Darling Grandgirls to lose their father. Cancer is a terrible thing, especially when you're 43! No Comments please, I know how lovingly caring you all are but I really don't want to dwell on this right now......so

I've only got a couple pics for you, little things I've finished lately!!!

Been a long Time

2011-06-19T23:06:00.000-04:00

Spent some time in Niagara visiting family!

While there, we had some excitement, tree blocked road, totalled a friends! No way out of the Bay for 12 hours, so what to do at the lake? Party of course!!!

The tree was huge!!!!

The hydro finally arrived!

Of course I had to stop in to the Quilting Bee in Fonthill, an absolutely wonderful shop!
I spent lots of time working on my pies and tarts quilt and when I got back, I helped the quilting Bee working on hand quilting my French General Quilt. Looks like I may have it back to bind in a day or two. Hope you're having as much fun quilting these days as I am, I've been machine piecing my last BOM table cover. Want to have it finished before the Guild meeting next week. Have a great week, and keep on quilting my friends!!!

Blogger Trouble

2011-06-11T19:25:00.000-04:00

I've been down and I've been away, so when I tried to post to my Blog...Blogger was acting very funny...this one is a test! I replaced my Pfaff 1222!!! I believe it's the most amazing sewing machine ever built...circa 1969!!!!!!!!!

Friends, Friends and More Friends!!

2011-05-14T11:48:00.000-04:00

Yes, I'm truly blessed with lots of friends!!! but boy can they be a pain in the A$$!! LOL They are forcing me to update my blog, like everyone out there in Blogland is sitting on pins and needles waiting for little ole me to update my blog!!! Okay my sweeties, it's hasn't been a month but here goes!!!!!

My 10 minute block as a sample for my Bubbles Quilt, in the works!!!

BOM # 3 in progress!

A project that's been in the works for a VERY long time!

Kathy and her very first quilt, made for the Charity Quilters!

Working on my BOM # 3!

Dave had a bad shoulder, so Terry did a little tree trimming!

Lot's of time for Cocktails!

Don't ya just love the birds of Florida?

Terry feeding the birds!

Nikki and Dave, our hosts, in Venice Florida!

Our friends Marylynn and John had rented a house in Venice for their 40th anniversary, so we got to meet up with them too!

Come on Terry, all men have to have a pair of Orange polyestor shorts in florida!!! LOL

We even stopped in a pawn shop in florida, the boys were checking out the guns! Wouldn't see this in Canada!!1

Dave, Nikki, ruth and Terry , on the boardwalk in Venice!

Nikki and Dave's cute house in Venice FL, spent a week here!!!!

Last monday, I had my knee arthroscopic surgery, so I've been sitting with my knee elevated and iced. getting a little bit done on my pies and tarts! Hope you've all been as busy as me!!! Hee Hee

Have you ever done this????

2011-04-16T13:14:00.000-04:00

I order fabric on line, have done for years. I can honestly say, I've never really had any problems! This time though ...oh boy, Did I screw up?????? I spent a week in Lancaster Pa at the beginning of last month and could have found the fabric there...but NO! Not me!!! I had to wait till I got home and order it online!!!!! It's the background fabric for my Pies and Tarts......since the quilt is scrappy polka dots...I thought I would get a white background with some kind of quiet dot on it! Good Plan eh??? Went to my favorite On Line shop....Over the Rainbow and Laura had Riley Blake fabric on special that week.....so I ordered Alpine Fabrics and Riley Blake Designs Rainy Days and Mondays 9100 Spots/white $7.99 /yard so I ordered 4 yards! Well I received it Friday and the fabric is wonderful, it is white and it does have dots and it has amazing large swirls allover, the only thing.....it looks way too "Muddy" with my crisp polka dots!!!! Now this is totally my fault because many times I've checked with Laura at OTR first if I wasn't sure of a fabric, but NO, NOT ME!!! Geez!!!! Now what to do?? I have lots of kona cottoon white but I think it is a little too heavy for handpiecing a lot of little curves!!! I guess I'll have to head into my little town and get another 4 yards of something that will work!!! See, I want to print some of these Babies off, and have them all ready to go on a little Florida trip we're taking at the end of the week!!!

Promoting Again, Gotta Love It!!!

2011-04-15T19:12:00.000-04:00

For those of you who know me, I'm always promotinng something or somebody!!! LOL Today it's Val from Indiana and Pink Please.
She's entered her quilt into This weekend's Virtual Quilt Contest at The Quilting Gallery . This week's theme is Scrap Quilts and Val's is Unbelievable!!!! Check this out!!!

You can call me Owl!
Please go and vote for it now and check out Val's blog for all the info on how to make a quilt like this!
Love your quilt Val, thanks for letting me post it here, and so nice to meet you.

My First Try at Inklingo

2011-04-14T18:59:00.000-04:00

Well I've done it, finally started my first Inklingo project and I can tell you I LOVE it!!!!! It was so hard to decide which project to start with but I decided on the Pies and Tarts!!!! I'm only working on the pies and tarts so far, as the background fabric , I chose, I didn't like and am now waiting for the fabric I reordered to arrive. It's all hand piecing and I'm really enjoying it! You print the shapes sout on the computer copier and it includes, cutting lines, sewing lines and registration points! Can you just imagine that??? I don't know what project to do next, sunflowers or pickled clamshells?? What do you think???

There's lots of free stuff with Inklingo too, so if you're interested, go over and check it out! Inklingo

Worst Blogger in the World!

2011-04-05T22:02:00.000-04:00

Here it is before the final border went on the bottom and top.

All three rows.

Was going to add the beige border but didn't think it worked.

Yup, that's me!!! Well I finally got my French General quilt finished piecing, my wonderful friend offered to mark it for me, for quilting by hand! I will do a little on it, and a few friends are going to put stitches in it, but mostly it will be done by the lovely ladies at our local United Church! Can you believe there are still Church groups around that do quilting to make money for their churches? Amazing!

Well now that, that baby is pieced, and we have plans for a week in Florida, before I go to hospital for arthoscopic surgery on my knee on May 9th.........I figured I better get another hand piecing project planned ! So guess what...I took my first foray into Inklingo....and I've printed out lots of triangles for my Pies and Tarts quilt! It went so easy...oh what a way to go.....you must check it out!!!!!
Inklingo Linda Franz is amazing, and so is the wonderful Yahoo group for Inklingo that is so helpful!!!!

See how great my pies and tart triangles printed out? And all those perfect points and registration marks!!!! I love these!!!

2011-03-26T09:58:00.000-04:00

Here I go again shamelessly promoting someone elses work. I dodn't even know her, but don't you just LOVE this quilt?

This quilt was made by Anne of
Confessions of a Surreal Quilter
you can find her blog here .
She entered this quilt into this weeks Quilting Gallery Contest and you can vote for it here .
I just think this quilt is amazing!!!

Lancaster here we come!!!!

2011-03-11T13:55:00.003-05:00

If you've been following my progress on this French General hand quilting project.....I'm getting to the end of my nine circles, so I got out the rest of my fabrics and planned how I would set it all up. I LOVE this quilt, will take some of the Circles to finish up on our trip to Lancaster next week.

Don't you just love these little mug rugs? These are the ones I received from my partner Kristi (from Utah)in the Quilting gallery swap!

This is another Inklingo project I'd like to do, want to add to my polka dot collection for this one!!!

As if I need another project...LOL...I'd like to collect for this one too!!!! I found it here. The great thing is this can be totally done with nine patches.
One more thing...would you like a full set of letters in both upper and lower case to use for applique, and fun quick projects, absolutely free? Then head on over to Skip to my Lou!!!

Getting Closer

2011-03-04T20:23:00.000-05:00

I'm still working on my hand pieced project, actually recieved the last of the Lumiere de Noel fabric by French General in the mail!

Well we leave for Lancaster on the 14th so time to start getting excited!!! LOL Next week will be my "getting things done ", time.I will be going to Ottawa to pick up my new orthotics, and special (spensive) shoes, getting my haircut, going to the chiropractor, going to Kingston for an MRI. Lots more I'm sure!!! LOL I've even booked a scooter for the show!!!! Can you see me now?? After I get back, actually the 23rd, I go to the orthopedic surgeon for results of that MRI!!! Maybe then we'll figure out what's going on with this knee and back!

So, since I don't have a lot to show of my own, I tought I'd show you a couple pics from our Sewlmates get together at my house this week!

Sharon's gorgeous colorful quilt!

Dawn's Iris!

Carole's Chinese Junky!!

I hope you have a lovely weekend, and wish me luck with all my errands before heading to Lancaster!! Woot, Woot!!!

Alright Already, I'll Update my Blog!!!!

2011-02-25T22:19:00.000-05:00

No, this is not for you, my casual reader, but for local quilting friends!!! They've been driving me nuts, as to why they keep coming to check out my blog and NO updates!! Geez!!!! LOL

I feel like this girl lately!!!

I'm not sick but just still trying to get over the back/ knee problems. I'm exercising, seeing the chiropractor twice a week, and waiting for an MRI that the orthpeadic surgeon has ordered! So I havn't been in my studio for weeks and weeks! So not a lot to show you! I'm still working on my hand pieced quilt though and really enjoying it!!
I'll show you a picture of a quilt a friend finished recently..isn't it gorgeous!!

I finished my mug rugs for the Quilting Gallery swap and they've been received by my partner Amy, in Louisiana, here they are.

I'm starting to get excited about our annual trip to Lancaster Pa for the APQS show and lots of shopping and fun with friends. We rent a house and have lots of girl fun and craziness!!! Six days of lots of laughter!!!
I hope my little post will appease my Darling friends!!!
We had a little sewing fun together though, a little impromptu get together and calm hand quilting for the girls and hand piecing for me. So relaxing!!!

I love hand Piecing!!

2011-02-12T17:08:00.000-05:00

This is my newest project, all hand piecing and using French General's Rouenneries!

The brown is just the underneath tablecloth.

Aren't the fabrics just gorgeous!!!

I havn't blogged much since before Christmas, been trying to work out the back problems....they are now fixed with the help of a great chiropractor but it turns out the knee problems were separate, and I have a miniscus tear!!! I will be seeing the orthopaedic surgeon on Tuesday!!!! So enough of that...since I mostly sit with ice on my knee, I've really come along on my newest Hand piecing project!! I'm crazy for French General Fabrics so this quilt is very special to me...it will be a long time yet for a finish though!!!! I havn't even been in my studio for a few weeks.I hope everyone else is healthy and looking forward to spring...it's been a Long winter here already!!!!

About to throw the Towel In

2011-02-06T15:50:00.000-05:00

One thing I did get done, Table centerpiece!

Love the center quilting

Did piece this large quilt from a favorite fabric..Whimsey!!

Whimsey Close Up

I'm still having problems with back or knee...whatever it is!!!! It's been almost two months...but I'm not going to talk about it!!! Not much getting done around here, but I am working on my Rouinneries hand piecing quilt!

Thanks so much!!!! More freebies!!!

2011-01-19T19:41:00.001-05:00

Did you notice my new flag?? I'm so proud to be a Canadian and want everyone to know that I am a proud Canadian Blogger! If you'd like to get your own ( with your province) go over here and ask Lori to help you out!

You guys are amazing...reaching out to help our fellow quilters in the terrible floods in Australia. If you'd like to find out how you can help and also get a nice little freebie, please read my previous post!!!
All the above picture are from our little meeting at my house last week to plan this years trip to Lancaster PA for our annual trip to the AQS show. WE rent a house and have FUN FUN FUN...if you plan to go this year, please let me know and perhaps we can meet up!!!!

New Beginnings, A Way to Give Back, and A Freebie

2011-01-12T22:14:00.000-05:00

Hearts and Flowers tablerunner with Coasters

Tulip in Bloom

Birdhouse Ruler Keeper

Family Love

Honey

Leslie's Peg Bag

Hearts at Home

Have you heard of the Gum Tree Designers. They are a group of stitchery designers from Australia. What an inspirational group! They have a new project called New Beginnings . (click the highlighted words to read all about it). They are collecting sewing kits for our fellow crafters who've been affected by the devastating floods in Queensland. A small thing to do for the people who share our passion and have lost all.
(We want to collect, and then distribute, a 'New Beginnings' sewing kit for those who need to start over with their craft. We will be posting the kits in bulk to the various quilting groups in each town.)
I wanted to contribute but it didn't seem feasible (with shipping and time restraints)
So what did I do???
I contacted Jennifer Reynolds and told her we'd like to help from over here in Canada, the U.S. and maybe even U.K.
All you have to do is click on the donate button on the upper right above. The minimum donation is $5.50. After you donate, come back here and leave a comment telling me which one of the patterns you would like free and I'll send the pdf file to you!!! (Please allow 24 hours ) Easy Peasy!!! Let's show the Ozzie girls that we want to help our fellow crafters. Fellow bloggers , please spread the word so we can really make this successful! I think I can even send you the donate button!!!
Here's a list of the patterns and their designers.

Queensland Floods Gifts

1 Home is Where My heart Is (picture to follow)
http://www.designsbyfee.com/
Finished size 12 x 22.5 inches Wallhanging.....(2 pdf set)

2 Honey
http://www.elefantz.com/
Sewing Set, Pin Cushon, Needlebook, Scissor Fob

3Family Love
http://www.designsbyfee.com/

4 Tulips in Bloom
http://www.tozzscorner.blogspot.com/
22.5 x 22.5 in centerpice or wallhanging

5 Leslie's Peg Bag
http://dawnhaydesigns.blogspot.com/

6 Hearts at Home
http://www.elefantz.com/
Lavender Scented Door Hangers

7 Birdhouse Ruler Keeper
http://www.joypatch.blogspot.com/
Finished size 25 x 8.5 inch

8 Hearts and Flowers Tablerunner with Coasters
http://www.tozzscorner.blogspot.com/

2011-01-12T20:19:00.002-05:00

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Inspiration!!!!!!!

2011-01-07T20:14:00.000-05:00

I love to be inspired by other quilters..... Just a few I've seen on other bloggers sites lately..
The first one is Shirley at The sewing Cave

isn't it gorgeous, it's her favorite quilt she made last year, a Judy Niemeyer pattern. She's entered it into this weekends Quilting Gallery
contest and it's called Prairie Star. I don't know Shirley, just think her quilt is amazing!
Then, I saw this mug rug at Edith's Of Quilts and More

Isn't it just the cutest thing you've ever seen? Makes me want to go out and buy an embroidery machine again

Then there's It's For The Birds by Kathleen Whiting (and quilted by Natalie Bonner of Piece n Quilt )that's in the final round of the McCalls Quilt Designer Contest. (8 Finalists) I hope to have a pattern to make this quilt someday! You can vote once a day from every computer for this or any of the other quilts here.
Have a great weeekend everyone and I hope you are as lucky as me to be so inspired by other wonderful quilters in our midst!

Oh Those Girls Have Done it Again!

2011-01-03T22:44:00.000-05:00

Those Gun Tree Designers I'm Talking About!!! I'm not going to give you all the details here...you'll have to go over to their blog and see the HUGE giveaway going on!!!
What a great bunch of Ozzie Girls and wonderful designers.
Good Luck Everybody, you'll have fun checking them out!!!

A Time for Organizing

2011-01-02T23:43:00.000-05:00

Not my place but a good idea for organization!!!

That's how I feel right after New Years, how about you? I started by organizing my digital photos!! Now there's a job for ya.....it's going to take a LONG time but I got started!!!! See I've got some time these days as I'm spending a lot of time icing and heating due to the sciatica....who new it takes so long to get rid of??? I havn't touched a sewing machine or even any hand sewing stuff..oh boy, I'm going to go into withdrawal soon!!! My Quilt Guild is having a stash sale later this month so I started to sort through some of my many fat quarters and arranging them in baggies. Tomorrow I will start sorting some larger cuts. I also started sorting through papers. It's definately time to make some room in the filing cabinet!!!
Tomorrow I head out to Community Caring Quilters to meet with the girls but I'm not going to overdo and will only stay an hour. I just had so much stuff belonging to the charity in my studio, I organized that and Terry put it all into the car for me! Oh, I almost forgot I made files on my computer for some of the new BOM's starting this year! After writing all this down, I think I've been really busy!! Hee Hee, Terry and Micky and I have really had a lovely quiet time since boxing day!! Watched some hockey in the World Juniors....tomorrow...THE MOST IMPORTANT GAMES...Canadians and U.S. play!!!! OMG...what a rivalry!!!!

Go Canada GO!!!

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T15:51:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to all my wonderful followers and my friends and beautiful family. I feel so blesssed to have the most wonderful daughter and two special granddaughters that anyone could have. I have an amazing husband and brothers and sisters that are there for each other always. I have a sister in law and brother in law that are the most supportive in laws !Friends, I would never be able to tell you how many wonderful friends I have. I am just the luckiest woman alive!!! Thank you all for being you!

I've been out of commission for a few days with back problems that make take a little while to get through but I did get one little project worked on, now it's hand piecing only for a while!

Time to get back to the Studio

2010-12-28T13:22:00.000-05:00

I couln't resist this pair on sale.

I won this gorgeous jelly roll and pattern from Jillily Studios in henry Glass blog tour before Christmas, isn't it just gorgeous? Thanks Jill!

My sister in law made this for me, isn't it gorgeous!

Got this beauty from my sister. Love it!

Me and three of my sisters

Well Christmas is just about over. Eveyone loved their quilty gifts. had a great time with all the family in Niagara. Only problem is I now am suffering with a huge case of Sciatica!

2010-12-20T23:00:00.000-05:00

Well Christmas is almost here, and I think I'm about ready! Got all the sewing done, all the wrapping done. The baking done and packed up!!! So I spent a little time in the studio, working on the guild BOM and a little pilot baby cap. We will be heading to Niagara for a few days to spend the holidays with all the family!

Aren't these fabrics Gorgeous!!!If you want to enter a giveaway to win these fat quarters, head on over to retromummy .

Christmas in the Studio

2010-12-12T14:08:00.001-05:00

These are the bags I made to wrap some of my Christmas Gifts in!

I make my bother a French Press Cozy every year!!!

75 yds of Batting and 75 yds of flannel for the Charity quilts!

These are just a few of the things keeping me away from Blogging .

A Prize Winning Quilt

2010-12-03T19:22:00.000-05:00

have you heard of The McCall's Quilting Quilt Design Star Contest? A facebook friend of mine and fellow Canadian is one of the final eight. In fact she won the last round with her "A New Horizon" I just love this quilt.

You can't vote in the next round yet, but you can go over to The Quilting Gallery

now to vote for it, as she has entered it into this weekend's virtual quilt contest. I WANT to make this quilt one day!!!!

It's all Begun!!!!

2010-11-20T11:58:00.000-05:00

I've been like everybody else I guess, busily getting ready for Christmas doing all my sewing and quilting. In the middle of gift preparations, our charity quilting group came up short for boys, age 8 -14, so I did one of those too!!! Our guild meeting is Tuesday night, so I had to work on the BOM too!!! I caan't show you lots but this is my BOM done except for quilting. I really like how it turned out!!!

Niagara Again

2010-11-10T22:57:00.000-05:00

This is one of the quilts I was commisioned to make for the Baby shower!

This is the quilt I made for baby!!!

Just got back from a lovely few days in my "home town", saw lots of family and had a lovely time!!! Went to me Grandaughters High School Commencement and my Nieces Baby Shower! Loved every minute with my loved ones!!!

My New favorite Piece of Furniture

2010-10-31T12:20:00.000-04:00

Wow, I couldn't believe when I found these a few weeks ago. I bought them when we went to Niagara, but we'd only brought the car, so a few weeks later my Sister in Law and Brotherin Law brought them up in their truck! They are big but I bought two, aren't they just gorgeous????

Life in The Fast Lane!!!

2010-10-29T23:59:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I went with Vicki and Barbara to visit our friend Mary who has been laid up with a broken ankle. She lives on a lake, so what a view we had. We took lunch and our sewing stuff and had a lovely visit. You could tell she was VERY happy to see us. I think we really brought her spirits up! Mary is a pattern designer (Country Angel Designs), and she gave us each a copy of her new pattern. It's called Bootyful......just the cutest thing. It's a pattern for a quilted boot (2 sizes), that you can put a little present in!!! I can see sew many possibilities for this pattern. The small one, would hold something like a small jar of home made preserves, and the larger one could hold a plant or a jar of baby items. can't wait to make one! If you'd like to purchase a copy of this pattern, you can contact me or Mary at..countryangeldesigns@yahoo.ca or 1-888-511-1879.

We went to Ottawa to get a new TV today, then I came home to do a little long over due house work. Now wasn't that fun??? After a quick dinner and a visit with Hubby, I went to the Studio!!! AHHH. Made a couple more gifts to take along with me when I go to visit family in a week or so! I'm saving thos pictures till after I go, as I don't want anyone to see them that shouldn't be seeing them!! I've got a sneaky little (big)family you see!!! I will be attending a graduation for my Granddaughter Megan and a baby shower for my niece Erin. Can't wait to see everybody. My daughter has moved so I get to see her new place and take some goodies for her too!!

One of my little gifts made!!
Have a great weekend everyone and keep on quilting!!!!

Lots Of Finishes!

2010-10-25T11:21:00.000-04:00

Don't you just love this for a round table?

I love all three colors of theses drapes, and they're lined with Blackout!!!

Wow, don't you just love it when you're getting things done?? 2 Baby Quilts that I can't show you yet. 3 sets of blackout lined drapes for my daughters new place. A 34 inch table centerpiece that I just love, and today I have a king size quilt on the frame!!! Now to get to work!! LOL

My Camera Died!!!

2010-10-19T23:51:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, I've been putting off posting, cause my camera died!!! I hate posting without photos! I received my Breakfast at Tiffany's today so I can start to cut out my blocks for my Circle quilt! I've had two men in my life for a while now, Paul was visiting from Australia, Pauline couldn't come this year as she couldn't get time off from her new job, but I handled Terry and Paul pretty well I think! We did a little visiting and a lot of eating and teasing. I sure did miss Pauline though!!! Hope you enjoy these pictures from our site seeing. (Actually most are in our yard or in our little town!!!)

Breakfast at Tiffany's Whirlygig

2010-10-10T17:30:00.000-04:00

Don't you just love these blocks. It's really an old fashioned block that I wanted to do as my hand piecing project for this winter. I've looked for the pattern everywhere, (the above is an applique from Piece o Cake designs)but I want hand pieced. While at retreat last week, my friend Pt had the templates!!!! She made them recently from a very old Quiltmakers magazine!!!! She gave me her templates and I came home and ordered the Breakfast at Tiffany's layer cake with extra yardage from Over the Rinbow!!! So mine will have a very delicate romantic look! Hand piecing project.......!!! Yahoo!!!!

Home from an amazing Retreat!

2010-10-09T09:37:00.000-04:00

Barbara getting her first Applique lesson from Pat!

Stephanie taking a little break from sewing!!

One of Lois' sets of placemats!

Betty and Pat, in deep discussion!!

Marilyn's gorgeous Tablerunner!

Lois, making one of many sets of placemats. She
taught us how and we all made a set!

Barbara's rustic "man" quilt!

Vicki with her rabbit in soft florals.

This was the full size quilt I completed at the retreat!

Just got home from an amazing retreat with some wonderful ladies!!! Food was great, got lots done and shared some great times. Here's just a few pictures!

Off to retreat Again

2010-10-03T19:36:00.000-04:00

I've been away. Went with a friend to Parry Sound to have my one year checkup on my knee replacement. We had a lovely drive up and back with warm sunny weather and good news on our knees. Sharon does need her second knee done, but will try to hold off with medication for a while. I passed with flying colours! This was a little place we stopped at along the way.

Tomorrow I leave for four days, three nights in Morrisburg Ont for our fall retreat!!! Yeah!!!

My hubby builds old cars (hot rods) and look what his newest project will be!!! A 1931 Ford Model A !!! How fun is that???

See you after retreat, gotta go and get my projects ready!!!

Accuquilt Go Overload

2010-10-01T14:47:00.000-04:00

I don't know if I'm the only one, but frankly......I'm on Accuquilt Go Overload!!!

A first it was okay but frankly, I enjoy going to Quilters blogs and reading what they're doing...but this is just TOO much!!! Every second blog is sponsoring a giveaway...of course they get the Units from Accuquilt , free so we don't have to be brain surgeons to figure it out!!!! It's all about Accuquilt getting these EVERYWHERE!!! Everybody and his brother has a Giveaway and it just keeps going on and on.....when are they going to stop pushing them in our faces?? I'm sure it's a lovely item, but I don't want to pay that much and I don't want to enter a million giveaways and I don't want to start buying their dies!!!Let's face it they are giving away many many units...and they're not cheap....so let's get everyone wanting them and then they have to buy the "dies"...and they ain't cheap either!!! Me thinks it sounds like the razor blades...you know, sell the shaver cheap and then of course you have to buy the blades Overpriced!! I want to go to a quilters blog and share some fun stuff, but frankly lately I think big business is taking over the blogs I so enjoyed sharing with. I guess I can say it....Accuquilt is spending their advertising money through blogs...and I think there are some of us who are just sick of it!! I want Accuquilt to advertise the way other business' do and stop thinking we're so stupid that we don't see a brazen take over of quilting blogs by big business. I guess we just have to say how we feel sometimes and that's my say for today!!!

Thanks so much!!!!

2010-09-27T23:28:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd work on a few Pillow cases for Christmas, and found a "new" pattern from one of the big sites. I can tell you I was quite upset to see the finished size does not even cover the end of the pillow. (See the white sticking out?) So I had to redisn somthing that works betterr!!!

Here is a little project I'm working on, can't show you more as it's a surprise. Later on!!!Thanks to all my friends , I won this weeks Quilting Gallery Contest. Thanks so much for voting!!! I'm trying to get things in order. Wednesday my friend and I are heading to Parry Sound. We will drive up, stay overnight, then first thing in the morning, we see our Orthopedic Surgeon. We'll turn around and drive back on Thursday!!! It's a long way to visit your ortho Doc but he is a great doctor ! I'm having my one year check up after my knee surgery. Sharon is having her three year checkup. I have to see if there are any quilt shops along the way!! I come home Thursday night, Saturday a.m. will go to the States for a little Joann's shopping . Then Monday we go to retreat!!! yeah, can't wait!!!!

I've Done it Again!!! Please Vote !

2010-09-24T16:06:00.000-04:00

I've done it again, entered my quilt , Forever Calla Lily in this weekends contest at The Quilting Gallery. If you like it, can you go over here to vote. Thanks so much!

Fabulous Fall Finishes

2010-09-22T21:59:00.002-04:00

I've been getting lots done, piecing anyway! When I started this quilt, I had something else in mind, but sometimes the creative process takes us down it's own road!! This is how it ended up. I actually quite like it, but I still would like to do my original plan sometime...this just was the wrong choice of Fabrics for that plan. I got a simple baby quilt 3/4 finished too, no pictures till that one's done!! I'll be off to Quilt Retreat in a couple of weeks so more projects to get ready!! Woot, woot!!! I better do a little quilting too or I'm going to be backlogged again!!

Pure by Sweetwater for Moda

2010-09-19T15:56:00.000-04:00

I just love this fabric. I ordered a layer cake of Pure a while back and ordered a few yards on preorder that came in this week. Aren't they amazing!
I've been working at a few things, one of them is cleaning up in the studio!! Oh, my!!!!
I did manage to get asomething done for the earlybird Christmas challenge, and I'm so pleased with it. Working on a few more today.

It's a trash bag to hang over the headrest in the car. I used this fantastic canvas type fabric and it has boning in it to stay open! Don't you just love this fabric??

Made a Decision!!!

2010-09-18T23:28:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I've decided that a fully appliqued baby quilt just doesn't make sense, so I ended up ordering this panel! I think they are similar, I'll add a border and put a nice Minkee backing on it!!!

Modern Quilters...I need your Help Again!!!

2010-09-16T19:16:00.000-04:00

I have been asked to make a baby quilt resmbling this photo. It is a nursery rug from a modern company. The rug is $1500.00 !!!!!!
Do you have any suggestions at to a pattern or fabric that would be of help to me?????

Below is a baby quilt I'm working on at the moment. Simple pinwheel in green and white. The frog print is for the backing!!!

I'll be waiting with bated breath to hear from any of my modern quilting blogging friends!!!!

I'm Baaack!!!

2010-09-13T23:08:00.000-04:00

I hope to work on this quilt on the retreat!

Terry's latest antique vehicle built!

I've been away for a few days , it's an annual visit to Barrie Ontario for the huge Automotive Flea Market. My piston head has a ball! He enjoys every second of it and I don't have to do a thing! I get to spend lots of time with our once a year friends . I took a couple of stitchery projects with me and totally relaxed. We camp and Terry barbeques. So now I'm home with a good rest behind me and ready to spend some time in the studio!! Woops, I guess I'd better get it cleaned out first! I also need to get some projects ready for the fall retreat coming up in a few weeks.

Another Great Tutorial!!!

2010-09-05T10:57:00.000-04:00

Huge bags, perfect for carrying books in bag
and 4 pockets on outside for smaller stuff.

Inside of purple bag

Love these buttons. Purple (her favorite color)
corduroy!

Made with Gold Upholstery fabric

Inside of Gold Bag

Perfect Slouchy Book Bag Tutorial
I made these two bags for my special girls, Laura and Megan , my Grandgirls. One is entering Niagara College and one going into Grade 11. The bags are a wonderful large size. Made of Corduroy or upholstery fabric so no interlining required, just a lining. These go together so quickly. Fun too! A fantastic Tutorial can be found Here. If you make one let me know. These are going to be really popular with the older school crowd!!

I'm a Winner, I'm a Winner!!!

2010-09-01T19:16:00.000-04:00

Well I knew that!! Hee Hee, , seriously though....I won in Judith's Early Bird Monthly draw!!! Look what will be winging it's way to me...I'm so excited!!

Songbirds BOM from Bronwyn Hayes

My Shabby Roses from Jenny of Elefantz

This is just one of the quilts I have done using the Aussie way of combining stitchery and patchwork. I love, love, love these!! Can't wait to start on this new one coming from Judith! Stop over and see her blog and see all the gifty "tutes" she has shown for this months "Early Birds" on her blog Creative Studio

A New Free Block of The Month!!

2010-09-01T00:09:00.000-04:00

I have been addicted to the Aussie girls "stitcheries" and putting them into quilts. You don't see a lot of that over here, but many of you have admired the things I have made from these girls. There is a group of designers called "Among the Gum Trees" and I love them all. I started to follow Jenny of Elefantz and then found the others!! One of these wonderful girls...Fiona of Mothers Cupboard is offering a 10 month free Block of the Month...starting today. You can get it free on the first of the month starting today! So head on over now to Mothers Cupboard and you too can make this great little applique/stitchery project! I know I'll be making it!!!

We've Got a Winner and you won't Believe it!!!

2010-08-30T19:06:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I think my life is so weird!! For those of you that know me in person.....you can attest to that!! Hee Hee.... Well if you remember that the last time I had a giveaway...I couldn't figure out how to use that Random generator...well I've figured it out but now I want to post a pic of it...how does everyone else do that??? Well anyway...the winner was #8!! Can you believe that????The winner was Mishka of The Quilting Gallery! How weird is that...here is what she said.........Your quilt is so pretty Ruth. There are so many gorgeous ones. I haven't decided which one I'm voting for yet, it's too hard!! LOL I am a follower tho. :)Thanks for promoting my contests.
can you believe that .......?

My Wierdness!!! We have motors in our yard! I think I'm as weird as that little feller above!!!

The End?????

2010-08-28T23:28:00.000-04:00

The CHallenge Item for this month...a heart Keepsake item. This one sure fits the Bill. I called it Words of Wisdom, a gift for my Darling Granddaughter Megan who graduates High School this year. The heart is a Jenny of Elefantz design.

The Finished Quilt

Quilting The Quilt

5 Canada Toques

I cannot believe August is almost finished, the unofficial "end" of summer. I almost didn't have tome to get my stuff posted. August ends almost a day earlier over in Oz!!!

One more thing if you havn't voted for my quilt on the Quitling Gallery weekly contest, will you PLEEEEase go and vote, and leave a comment on the previous message for a chance at a great giveaway!!!

Quick Giveawa of Japanese Kokka fabric!!!!

2010-08-27T13:05:00.000-04:00

Give me Liberty

All you have to do is
Post a comment to this post that you voted for me! (I'll trust you)!
Post a second comment telling me you're follower (if you are or sign up to be)
Blog or Facebook about this post, comeback and tell me about it and get a third chance!!!
My quilt is Give me Liberty. Go here to vote.

You could win either of the following fabrics!

One yard of this great fabric, I think it's japanese but I forget!!!

A half yard of each of these Japanese fabrics from Kokka!!

I will draw for the fabric on Monday a.m. ....now don't think I'm too brash as Mishka, of the Quitling Gallery..encourages us to blog about our entries, and after all who am I to question her wisdom!!!Hee Hee Thanks and go vote and enjoy the quilts!

Mammograms and Fun!!!

2010-08-26T00:09:00.000-04:00

Bet you never heard those words in the same sentence before!!! Well yesterday two of my friends and I, took a trip to Ottawa to the Breast Health Clinic for our biannual mammo trip!!! We had our mammos then went for lunch and a little fabric shopping, gotta celebrate on Mammo day!!

Above is Michele of The Running Stitch in Kanata, bringing me out the last bag of Thermore!!!!

I bought this pattern I HAD to have.....made with Rouinneries!!! Got it home and found it was designed by a friend of mine..... Mary Lajoie of Country Angel designs!!!

Don't you just love the Dear Jane on the wall behind her???

This star is a new class being offered!
I Love The Running StitchThe Running Stitch

Last week we spent a few days in Niagara at Terry's sister and her husbands. Got to spend some time with two of my favorite people in the world...my very special granddaughters, Megan and Laura, aren't they gorgeous. Didn't get to see my daughter except fleetingly as she was working and there was a funeral that was very important to her to be available for. Next time the four of us will have some special time together!

Check This Out! WOW!!!!

2010-08-13T18:52:00.000-04:00

You know how I just love Michele's Quilting Gallery Weekly Themed Quilt Contests!!! It's so much fun , and this week's theme is
Embroidery/Stitchery Quilts!
If you have followed my blog at all, you know I'm totally taken with the Ozzie patterns that include embroidery, so I had to enter one of my embroidery quilts. There are actually 32 stitchery quilts entered!!!! Isn't that great??? If you'd like to check them out, (lots of eye candy), here go here to vote!
This is the quilt I entered

I entered my Shabby Roses from Jenny of Elefantz. Would love it if you could vote for me! Thanks my friends!

We Have a Winner!!!!

2010-08-12T22:22:00.000-04:00

I'm back from an amazing few days away with some wonderful friends! I just wanted to stop in quickly to draw a winner for the giveaway!!! I was actually able to use the random generator!!! Yeah me, something new learned! Now if I could only figure out, how to post a picture of the draw!!! Anyway, it picked number 23!!! ...Congrats to corinnemor said...

I love your sign - it just so suits you!
Corinne , I'll be sending your prize out to you real soon, hope you enjoy it.
For everone else, enjoy these pictures of my friend Gerrie's wonderful quilts!!!

A Giveaway to last a few More days!!

2010-08-10T23:04:00.000-04:00

I'm off with some of my quilting friends to St Thomas Ontario, near London! marylynn has got us fitting in 1573 things to do in three days, so I'm going to hold over the draw till Friday, when I get home , so if you havn't signed up yet...read the previous blog post!

100th Post, Better Have a GIVEAWAY!!!!

2010-08-06T16:33:00.000-04:00

Wow, was just going to make a quick post and it came up......"posts, 99", that's just amazing, so it makes this the 100th!!! Back to that in a minute!! Hee Hee...Does anyone recognize this? It's a bit of a secret, just have a little to do to finish and I'll tell you the whole story!!!

How do you like my new sign hung on my studio door today? I love it!!

Oh I also made my own labels! Easy and so handy!!!

Now for the big news....I guess I'd better have a little giveaway, celebrating my 100th post. here's what you need to do...
1. comment on this post,
2. sign up to follow my blog (it's easy), if you are a follower,
leave a second comment so you get a second chance at the giveaway.
3. link back to this post on your blog, telling others about the giveaway (let me know you do) and get a third chance.
I will choose a random winner on Tuesday Aug 17th.
What will the giveaway be ?? ....... ta da......This great panel From Moda and Sandy Gervais, L'Amour...it says Happy Valentines Day on the bottom part but I have another of this panel and plan to make a family tree adding names to the Tree, aren't the two little birds just the Cutest???

Another Finish

2010-08-04T16:32:00.001-04:00

Boy, I've been getting things done, good thing as I have a couple trips planned and the next couple of weeks, there may be little or nothing done in the studio!!!This is a quilt I hand pieced last winter, made from Fabric scraps, all different pastel floral pieces!!! I love how it turned out! I had it sitting on the "quilt tops finished" shelf for a long time , so the other night I put it on the frame...and looky looky, it's all done!!!! Like it?? The pattern was free on line from Art Gallery Fabrics, called Shanghai Mod.

My friends stopped by this afternoon, he wanted to take some bird pics, I love these!!! All taken on our deck!

Promoting Again, Gotta Love It!!!

2010-07-30T23:40:00.000-04:00

Isn't this just gorgeous!!! It's called Sunshine, and was made by Hilda of Australia, and I just love it!

She entered it into The Quilting Gallery's weekly Virtual Quilt Contest... this week's theme is Summer Vacation.

Since she doesn't have a blog and can't get the word out about it, here I am again!!! Hee Hee, I don't do it very often but you guys know me, I just can't keep quiet about things I feel I need to spread around!!

Anyway if you havn't checked out the quilt, go on over to the Quilting Gallery and if you agree with me , vote for Hilda's quilt!!!! Oh and by the way if you havn't looked around the Quilting Gallery, check it out , there's lots of stuff to see!!!

Early Bird Christmas Crafting!!

2010-07-29T15:03:00.001-04:00

Early Bird Christmas Crafting!! Judith will be checking us out for July so I better post what I've got done..! Here's some of my picks. 3 Bags, one that would work for the challenge, 6 potholders, a green and Purple "save the earth wallhanging" and a coffee fabric French Roast Cozy!!! My favorit piece is not finished (maybe today) it's the cutest. Can't wait to show you!!!!

He's not totally finished but isn't he just the Cutest!!!!

Something Quite Different!!!

2010-07-28T22:39:00.000-04:00

I've been busy since I got back from vacation, doing a little stuff for the Early Bird Christmas Crafting, and not much else. I did do a charity quilt on the longarm and have one of my quilts ready to go on, but you won't believe what I've been planning !!!! Our charity group received some sweatshirt fleece from Quilts Of Valor and first we were just going to donate it on...but then I thought back when I used to make T Shirts and sweatshirts by the millions for gifts for the kiddos....so I decided to pull out my Kwik Sew patterns and the group is going to make sweatshirts for Needy kids for Christmas! We'll have a cutting day next month and then a sewing day later!!! Should be fun!! Look at all the fabric we've got!!!

And Just to show you one thing I did get done.....the large..Grids and Grommets Bag from Indigo Junction! Love IT!!

I Didn't tell you Everything!

2010-07-24T13:31:00.000-04:00

Did you see my last post, forgot to tell ,we went through a tornado, immediately after, with lots of trees and wires down, took a long time to find a way around! I also have to admit I DID buy some fabric, how could I not?? Imagine a Canadian Quilter going to Joanns during Coupon Bonanza and also stopping at Mardens in Maine, that carries cottons for $2.97 per yard!!!! No wonder I couldn't resist!!!!

Life on the Road!

2010-07-23T16:42:00.000-04:00

We were off for a lovely break, a few days at the Syracuse Nationals car Show and then on to the ocean in Maine. this is the first time we camped together beyond going to car shows! My Honey is a real home body!!! What a great time we had. After the show we even got to stop at a few quilt shops. went to keepsake Quilting in New Hampshire and Mardens Salvage Store in Maine. ( They even carry fabric , here's a few of our pictures!!!

Newest Fabric IN!!!

2010-07-14T13:06:00.000-04:00

Getting Ready for a Little Trip! But look what I got th the mail I got yesterday. I'm only taking stitchery projects with me but I really can't wait to cut into this Layercake from Moda by Sweetwater called "Pure' Don't you just love it? And check out the Pretty Bird from Michael Miller....it's for a couple bags, don't you just love the coordinates??? So I'll see you in a few days , gotta go and pack the camper!! Happy Stitching!!!

Lots Of Finishes!

2010-07-13T19:12:00.000-04:00

I got a few more things done, below you will find, my Lighthouse Big Stitch Quilt. My Neutrals King size quilt for our bed, and a little pillow I finished for a gift!

A quilt show with friends

2010-07-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

Went to The Picton Quilt Show in Prince Edward County yesterday, what a beautiful part of Onatrio. Four of us drove down for the day and then stopped for dinner at one of the girls houses on the way home, right on the Lake. What a lovely day we had. I evenn picked up a few goodies...here's my little haul!

A lovely preprinted panel for some sashiko stitching,, a cute license plate sign, a spool of invisible thread and a gorgeous skein of hand dyed perle cotton for my sashiko panel. Got the last two from Anita Zobens at
Cotton Mill Threadworks. She sells the most wonnderful threads and everything to go with it from Superior Threads. You can also follow them on Facebook for all the latest thread news! http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cotton-Mill-Threadworks/182811416170?ref=mf
If you have a guild she does wonderful workshops on threads...very informative.

Vote Now at The Quilting Gallery

2010-07-09T16:34:00.000-04:00

Vote Now at The Quilting Gallery for the Vitual Quilt Show Winner for this Weekend!!! I Did, once in a while I will post about a quilt I'm really impressed with...so if you'd like you can go Here. Check out all the quilts, and see if you agree with me and vote for
O Canada

By: Michelle Lovatt, Manitoba, Canada

Blog: Lovatt Quilting .
I love Canada Quilts and this one is just so Canadian!!!
I just love the combination of piecing and applique!

Early Bird Christmas Crafting!!

2010-07-08T13:21:00.000-04:00

Christmas in July, gotta love it! Part of this month's challenge was to make a Home Dec item, using only 2 colors and one background or neutral color, I had this fabric and a lot of my family are very "Green" conscious...so I knew I really wanted to make something with it. I've used it in bags but wanted something a little different! Look what I came up with ...I love it, a little quilting, a little embellishing with a hand done circle big quilting with perle cotton and Bob's your Uncle!!!! It's about 12 x 16, and I stretched it on a frame!!

What's on the Frame?

2010-07-07T23:19:00.000-04:00

This is my first customer quilt! I've done lots of quilts on my longarm for charity, my own quilts and some friends who have bartered...this one however is my first paying customer. I'm not planning to make this a profession...have no interest in it, but I will do a few for people I know. I love the starkness of this quilt of Sharon S's!!!

Free Patterns!

2010-07-07T09:14:00.000-04:00

Don't you just love all those free things out there on the "Net" Here is a new one , I want to make this one, I have lots of Christmas Fabric...but I also just bought all those Figgy Pudding fabrics from last year to make this other free pattern!!! Geez!!
You can find the Figgy Pudding Pattern from Moda Here and
the new Henry Glass Hip Holidays from Quilt Soup Here. Enjoy and let me know if you plan to make one!!!

Earyl Christmas crafting Again!!!!

2010-07-06T13:23:00.000-04:00

This heat is keeping me inside under the fans...NO AC in this house! YUCK!!!! Wow, I got a couple things done for the July earl Bird Crafting group done, I'm going away for a week so need to get ahead of the game. I found these blue and yellow wonky blocks from a swap a few years ago...so thught they would be great in the July challenge, I sewed them together and love the Wonkiness, just ned to add a nice yellow border, and get it quilted , thought it would make a nice wallhanging for a babies room!
The stitchery is one I started a couple weeks ago, and thought it looked pretty with a Robyn Pandolph fabric so got that one done too!!! Also have a couple of "green" recycle projects I'm doing some neat design on. Now I've got to get a couple things ready to take with me on vacation.

Getting so much done!!!

2010-07-05T09:40:00.000-04:00

Well last week, I hosted the Charity Quilting Girls for a pot luck at my house and two days later I hosted the Sewlmates with husbands for a potluck here, so now I breathe a little and start to enjoy the summer. I've spent lots of time in the Studio, got my large quilt quilted and the binding machined on, now to just hand sew the bindings down. We're having a heat wave here so a little hand sewing is in order! Got some gifty stuff done and we went to car show and we're planning to leave on a weeks vacation late next week, so have to get the camper ready!! Oh ya, going to a quilt show with friends in Prince Edward County , a beautiful little town called Picton, next Saturday and another BIG car show on Sunday! We DO have Fun!!! LOL...Some random pics from the last week!!

Early Bird Christmas Crafting!!

2010-06-28T21:14:00.000-04:00

Well the first month of the early Bird Christmas Crafting is almost over, I was able to get 24 mini gifts made and my Christmas Journal. so much fun and look how close I am to getting my Christmas Gift Box filled!!!

Here are pictures of my goodies, done....three knitted dishclothes, six lavender sachets, three little green grocer bags, six make up bags, two journal covers, two reward card wallets, two mini pillowcases (for travel pillows) and my Christmas journal makes a total of twenty five! Yeah...easy and fun making things with the other participants....I'm off to check out their blogs to see whatevery one else has done....oh, the wicker trunk is my Family room coffee table and the plce where I keep my goodies!!!

A Quilting day out!!!

2010-06-27T18:37:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was kind of cloudy and rainy but we headed out on our trip to Battersea, a quiet little town near the Big Rideau lake. There was a quilt show at an old church in this small village, and since it was advertised as their last, a few of us decided to head out!!!! It was just so much fun, we took the back roads to our destination, about an hour and a half away! What a beautiful drive, across old one lane bridges and by cottages along the lakes, and beautiful gardens! Here are a few of the pics at the show!

Earth Quake

2010-06-24T22:39:00.000-04:00

Yes we had an earthquake right here in Perth!!! (Ontario) It registered 5.0 on the Richter Scale , everybody was talking about it, I guess it rumbled pretty good. DH was in the shop and everything rattled!!! Guess where I was>>>>>having lunch at an outdoor patio for my friend's Birthday! We didn't feel a thing!

Here's one of the things I'm working on right now, so much fun ....quilting with a Big Stitch and perle cotton. Love how it's turning out! Hopefully it's one of my Christmas presents!

More Christmas??

2010-06-21T19:07:00.000-04:00

Okay, I know, I know, but I'm really killing two birds (or three) with one stone!!!! Four years ago, I was involved in a Christmas fat Quarter Swap on Facebook. twelve people, twelve fat quarters. Only problem is , they then said we had to make something out of them!!!! Geez, what's that all about. Most of the participants have finished and since I'd hate to be last...( that competitve thing)!!

So this is whaat I'm doing...making blocks out of the FQs and I'll make some tablerunners or placemats for my Christmas early Bird Fun and I'll have a couple more gifts made!! Hee hee

We went out to our favorite pub the other night and my friend Kathy was there....look what she had worked on that day....This was done with Shiva paints!!!! Can you believe that?? Gorgeous!!!

The bottom picture is my little Darling Micky (on the right), every once in a while the neighbour's dog comes down for a visit!! His name is Gushue!!!If you're a Canadian or a Curler you'll know where the name comes from! They have a ball together!!!

Gotta run and make brownies....tomorrow is last night of Guild.

Who's Watching You???

2010-06-18T08:05:00.001-04:00

Do you ever wonder "why am I writing this blog"...well to tell you the truth, I don't really say that myself, but I have heard it said...and especially if you don't have a lot of comments to your posts?? Well I'm here to say, I won't ever feel that way! It seems every where I go...I meet people who say "Oh I so enjoy seeing pics of your quilts"...whether it be on Facebook or my blog...and it really got me to thinking...how many people are passing through, and don't leave a comment or don't know how to become a follower,and still enjoy looking and or reading your blog and or Facebook quilting pages. For me , I'm especially thinking that since I sign my e mails with my blog address and my Guild Newsletter editor listed my blog in the Newsletter!! So for today, I'm going to post some pictures that mean a lot to me , or just fun stuff, so to all my silent followers...Love ya, and thanks for stopping by!!

Early Bird Christmas Crafting!!

2010-06-13T22:42:00.000-04:00

When I do get a little time in the studio, I try to get a few more little Christmas things done...I did these cute little bags out of Moda Sweetwater Authentic, one of my favorite fabrics!! Then I made some little lavender sachets. Love getting these things done. I'm trying to do these little things at the same time as doing drapes for the bedroom, making a covered bench for the walk in closet and repairing Mr Piston Head's Jeans!!

Charity Quilting

2010-06-08T13:34:00.000-04:00

Here are some of our latest quilts made for our charity, children in care with Children's Aid Society and others in need. I'm still working on little Christmas goodies, made these two simple Compostion book covers.

Christmas Goodies in the Works!!!

2010-06-06T11:38:00.000-04:00

What, you say, it's only June, I know, I know, but I signed up with Judith from The Creative Studio....for the Early Bird Christmas Crafting...Look what I made up last night...these three little "green" bags. I made it from some fabric I had prequilted a while back. Aren't they cute?

Figgy Pudding , I never gave up on You!!!

2010-06-04T16:51:00.001-04:00

Have you ever fallen in love with something, and didn't follow your heart??? That's what happened to me last year ...fell in love with Figgy Pudding by Basic Grey for Moda. I also fell in love with the free pattern. I thought at the time, "Oh, I fall in love with lots of lines (mostly Moda), it will pass, and I really don't want to buy all that fabric for a "Christmas" Quilt!!!! I never fell "out " of love without it...so last week I decided to go ahead and try to find it. (Don't you just hate that all the fabric companies now make the lines for such a short time).So today my first group of Figgy Pudding arrived from Alaska!!! Told ya I had to search everywhere!!! I also got my first copy of my Quilter's Connection, a totally Canadian Quilt Magazine! Life is good!!! I think the Early Bird Christmas Crafts program, has really got me into the spirit of Chrismas!!! I even got my Chrismas Journal made up!!!!And the sneaky little devil, Judith is following us pretty closely so I'd better post a picture of it!!! LOL

Early Bird Christmas Crafting!!

2010-06-01T23:26:00.000-04:00

I've decided to Join Judith's Early Bird Christmas Challenge,( the link is on the left). She keeps us on our toes , I'll tell ya!! I havn't finished my Journal yet but I did make these little Reward card wallets . was a free pattern at Joypatch. Yeah, I've started my Christmas sewing!!!
Today I spent a lovely day with my Charity quilting group for a pot luck luncheon. Tomorrow is wednesday so it's Sewlmates!!! Love my life!!!