on my "design floor"

I am back to work on the fabric that I purchased in Newfoundland (thanks again to Andrea at Comfort Cove Designs !)

It has been in progress since then!

Anyway, I am almost finished the top, just adding borders, hopefully today, then I have to get the back ready to go.

And today the rain has stopped...temporarily anyway. Everything is very green now, and the flowers in my back yard are looking good. The lilac is just finishing..

the snow anemone are so pretty..

And my pride and joy...my little Lady-slipper is blooming....

I caved!

I know I promised myself that I wouldn't buy more fabric, until I got a few more things finished.....BUT....I fell in love with these colours...





It is Salt Air by Moda.  And if I dont buy it now, it gets sold out, never to be seen again....right???
So look what showed up in my mailbox today....

But..NOW...no more purchases, unless it is to finish something I have here!....promise (again)

I am a proud mama!

My daughter convocated from University last week.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology...with great distinction!  I couldn't be prouder!

And because I serve on the University Senate..I got to sit up on the stage! So as she walked across the stage,   I was waiting at the end and gave her a big hug! It was such a special moment.

and we have matching colours !! Too cute!

But I am not done yet...my youngest daughter convocates in the fall, in Calgary, and my son is going to start another degree in England in the fall !! ....looks like there is tuition in my future for a few more years!

appliqué update

Well, I didn't get much work done on my appliqué project last week, because I drove to Calgary to help my son and soon to be daughter in law with wedding plans.
But here is where it is so far...

I took my finished blocks into the quilt guild meeting to show Dorothy...my "advisor"...and got a nod of approval! Yes, I must be doing ok!!

This will be a long term project, but nice to have something to take along in a suitcase. The finished quilt top should look like this....except the FMQ will likely not be as impressive LOL.

So that is my work in progress...and it will continue to be in progress for a long time to come LOL

linking up to The Needle and Thread Network..

and Lee's at Freshly Pieced..

on dislpay

As a relatively new quilter, I am still not confident with my work. And certainly have never entered a quilt show or been judged. BUT...right now ...I have a quilt hanging in McNally Robinson Bookstore!!

The local quilt guild displays quilts there, and rotates them every couple of months. Now I know that there are no special requirements to having a quilt included, it does not have to be perfect, or show quality, but I am still pleased as punch to have one of my little quilts up there on display!!

It is hanging quite high up, so I know you cant read the label...but that is my name!! Yippee!! 

Exciting news!

Well, exciting news for me anyway!!  My son is getting married!

He and his girlfriend have just returned from a backpacking trip around Europe, and have announced their engagement. This is them..we are toasting the engagement at brunch!

They are having a very small wedding in July, just the immediate family. I think it will be a very special, very personal wedding. It is going to be outside in a park, and then a dinner and cocktails in a "barn" that is on the property used mostly for weddings. I have been helping out with some of the planning, although they are doing this pretty much on their own. The wedding will have a country casual feel.  I will be sewing the table runners and chair ties- made of burlap!  I guess burlap is a big thing right now for weddings.


There will be candles, lanterns and mason jars filled with flowers on the tables.


And then, if that is not enough excitement, my son has been accepted into University in England! So soon after the wedding, they will be packing and moving to England for 2 years..lots of change. And gives me a good excuse to go to England for a visit...or two!

needle case creation

I have been carrying around the supplies I need for my needle turn project in a little bag, but stuck the pins and needles into a scrap of FMQ practice to keep them together....

Now I have to admit...that is pretty shabby...especially for a quilter!! So I decided to "pretty up" the case for my pins and needles. Of course I probably could have checked out blogland and found lots of turorials...but where is the fun in that???

So , with no particular plan in mind....I decided to start with some scraps...a 5" x7" scrap of material, with a bit of batting folded double...

I just pressed a 1/4 " seam allowance under and stitches around the edges.

Then I got some more scraps fabric and cut a piece about 18" long and 12" wide, folded lengthwise,  and a piece of batting 18"x 6"

I layered the batting under one half of the fabric, and  positioned the little needle pad,

 then decided to add a little pocket to keep my little scissors in there too. I think I need to add a little ribbon tie or something, because the scissors do tend to slide out.  mmmm will think about that one.

I folded the fabric over in half lengthwise, and turned the edges and stitched all the way around..

Then folded the end of the fabric up and stitched the sides, to make a little pocket for my thimble and extra needles...

I added a magnetic snap closure.  I ordered these off the internet, and I wish I remembered where I got them because they are really fantastic magnetic fasteners!!

So I can roll this up..

and ..















snap it shut!!















I am feeling pretty happy about my prettied up needle case!

So I am going to link this up to TGIFF ....over at Quokka Quilts!