From the ashes

Can't believe it's been that long....four years since I've posted here.  Why is that I wonder???
I have be very busy with life as it were.  My quilting practically consumes all my time.  Going to different artisan and craft shows trying to sell my wares is very taxing at the best of times.  But I must get at it and do more if I can.
I have been sticking mostly to the Fall and Winter season but I think more Spring and Summer is in the offing.  
Not driving has held me back.  Now my sister and  niece have offered to help out when ever they can so that should help out a great deal.  
My sis enjoys going to these too and keeps her eye out for any upcoming shows in her area.

I'm retired now after being forced into it.  I did want to work for a few more years but they say "When one door closes another opens."  and with my quilting I guess that's true.
I truly enjoy my non-working time now.  It is a dream being able to just lounge around if I want and not having to answer that damn alarm clock every morning.
I can now just come and go as I please and not have to worry so much about schedules or routines.  Such freedom!!

My sewing machine is calling and my coffee cup is empty so I must be off for now, but do hope to post more in the future.  I will post some pictures soon as well.  Enjoy your day!!

  

Back again

Hello my fellow bloggers.  Hope your summer has been better than mine.  Such mild even cold temperatures with lots of rain and humidity.  The maple tree by my bus stop has even started to turn colour.....and it's just the end of August!!!!  Hope this isn't an omen for a long cold winter.

If it is, that's fine.  I have many quilt projects lined up and I'm raring to go.  I have been stocking up on some of the most gorgeous fabrics this summer too.

I have completed a couple of the disappearing block quilts.  I can show you one of them but the other is still at the long-armer's being quilted.  Hopefully, that is something that will be lessened over the next few months as I now am an owner of a Handi Quilter Sweet Sixteen.  But alas, I must practice a lot more before I will have the nerve to attempt a very special quilt of my own.

This is the disappearing pinwheel block I finished up.  These blocks are so fun to do and can be changed around into so many different styles.  Just have to be careful of the bias but that isn't that what spray starch is for?   

Another of the disappearing blocks is the four patch.  This makes such an elaborate looking block.  It looks so intricate and difficult but is really very simple.  Here is a crib quilt I made with that block.

When the disappearing hourglass is done being quilted, I will post pictures of that one too. In the meantime, I have started my Jacob's Ladder for my bed.  I need a nice fall colour quilt and I'm hoping this one will be spectacular.

Oh yes, one more thing or should I say five more things.....

This is my little bevy of chicken pincushions.  Talk about a hoot to make!!!  Simple, easy and so much fun.  You can make them with left over blocks, scraps or even those left over charm squares like I did here.

Off I go to work some more on my Jacob's Ladder.  Hope all are well and thanks for stopping by.

                                    

Winter has arrived

It seems winter has finally arrived and the snow with it.  It always looks so pretty when the first snow arrives doesn't it.  But soon we will get very tired of it and our hopes for Christmas will fade after the New Year and we will all be whining for the warmth again.....

I do like winter mainly because I really don't like to be hot and sticky.  It always feels and smells so fresh when it's colder outside.  I especially love to walk at night in the freshly fallen snow.  It is suddenly so peaceful and still and you can sometimes even hear the snow as it is falls to the ground making a soft hissing sound.

Right, enough of the sentiment.  I now have to get busy and make up some Christmas stockings for charity. Our guild is donating stockings to one of the shelters for teens.  Unfortunately the teens get less attention at Christmas than the younger children. So this year we decided to concentrate more on the teens.  After all they still go through traumatic issues possibly even more so than the younger ones.  They would under normal circumstances, be boiling over with those hormones and growing pains we all suffered ourselves in those early teen years.  To now be homeless and in a shelter can multiply their trauma.  

Giving some teens a little happiness on Christmas can be just a small thing but add a lot of love too.

So now I am going to pull out my Christmas fabrics and scratch my head to try and make something for teen girls and for teen boys.  This should be interesting.  I will post some pictures as I go.

Off I go to stare out the window once more at the falling snow and to get those creative juices flowing.  Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Weekend Quilting Retreat

Such a lovely weekend I had!!  I spent the weekend at Ruth's house and she was teaching me all about her long arm machine.  Wow!  Such fun and so much to learn.

She is such a wonderful person too and such a pleasure to be around.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself both quilting and just chin wagging with her.  It is so amazing how much we have in common!

We spent the Saturday on the machine.  She showed me how to load it and a lot of little tricks to using a long arm.  It was just pouring outside so it was a perfect day for quilting.  I did up two quilts using the long arm and now I am so proud of myself.  They weren't perfect and perhaps just passable, but I had a blast doing them. Ruth is such a great teacher.

Not only can she quilt but she can really cook too!  I ate so much and it was delicious!

On Sunday we quilted a bit and then she took me out for a tour of the area on her Ranger.  It's much like a four wheeler but with an enclosed cab.  It was a beautiful classic Fall day so crisp and clean.  The sky started out very grey and windy but it cleared and the sky was totally blue without a cloud to be seen.

She showed me all her family's properties that they have owned since childhood.  Such a gorgeous peaceful spot right on the lake.  I didn't want the weekend to end, but then reality sets in and it was soon time to go home. I know Ruth and I are definitely old soul friends from another time....we just have to be.  We think so much alike and she is such a kind soul.  I hope I can get another trip to the South Shore Quilter's Retreat again.....there you are Ruth....I just gave your home a new name......lol!

Well, once I was home the mind soon got back into sewing mode.  I have rag quilts to make as Christmas gifts for the three grand nephews and my dear grandson's step brother.  Plus, I have three more runners to complete.  As you can see, although the weekend break was fantastic, the work still awaits.  I will post pics of the quilts when I can finish them.

I'm just so sorry I didn't take a camera to Ruth's.  Pictures would have been nice to keep the memories of the two days alive for a long time.  Thank you dear friend for the wonderful time at your home.

Thanks all for stopping by.... 

Runners Runners and more Runners!!!

Been so busy the last couple of weeks trying to get these all finished.  With Christmas just around the corner, I really needed to get some more of the runners done.  They are a real big seller for me at that time of year and I wanted to make sure I have enough. 

There still are a few more on the go but I'm just sewn out right now and with battling the flu, I really need a rest.

This one is for Ruth my long armer to match her snowman quilt I pieced for her a while back.  This was made with the left over fabrics from that and it turned out quite nice.  I hope she likes it.

I love this one.  It's a super large Dresden but it's it a bit large for my table.  I do have a smaller one that I will do for myself.

Here are the other Christmas ones.  The Star Runner matched my Christmas Star quilt.  It was actually made with leftover blocks from the quilt

This purple one is gorgeous.  It's made with batiks and the colours are scrumptious!  I didn't quilt on the batiks because I figured the fabric was beautiful enough. I did some quilting on the centre square.  It really needed something and then extended it through the black diamonds and continued on the border.  It is sold already but I do have another ready to quilt now.

So this is what I have been up to the last few weeks and still have a lot more to go yet.  I am really itching to start another quilt but it will have to wait.  Rag quilts are on the agenda now for the nephews for Christmas.  Once they are done then I'm free to go crazy on another project.....yippee!!!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.....

Prayer Flag Finished

I have finally finished my Prayer Flag quilt.  It's a simple "Puss in the Corner" pattern but it looks so comfortable and just ready to snuggle into.

It is partly hand quilted and partly machine quilted.  I must admit though these pictures don't really show much quilting work.  I'll have to try to take some closer photos.

Along with the Prayer Flag quilt is the Chevron made from the left over half square triangles that I had after completing the Cottage Comfort quilt.  It's just a small lap quilt perfect for chilly evenings reading or watching TV on the sofa.  Again the quilting isn't all that clear either.  Could just be the lighting too.

So there they are all finished.  Now to get started on some Christmas goodies.

Have a great day!!!!