Life is moving on

So much has happened since my last post more than a year ago. But now I finally feel that life is moving on and changing for the better. In March I started a new job. Now that I feel I have learned the ropes and am settling into a routine, as well as getting used to being finished work by 4:00, I can get back to stitching and quilting.

In the spring I worked furiously to get 3 quilts ready for my guild's quilt show that was held in June. It was so wonderful to have the finished projects hanging in the show, but bittersweet that my mom was not here to share my accomplishments. Below is my Kingsize Thimbleberrie's BOM, House and Garden 2007. I had all of the centre pieced and the piecing of the borders done, just had to put the borders on. Now finally it is completed, quilted and bound.




Now the question is what to start, or better yet, what to finish? I have two projects I started this year, one was a jelly roll quilt and the other is a Bargello quilt. They are both calling to me, but so is the watermelon quilt that I pieced and layered ready for quilting, but didn't get around to. Since that one seems to suit the season and would make a great table topper, I think it will be the focus for this weekend.



Summer is finally here, and the lavender is in bloom! After quite a few days of beautiful sun, it would appear we have a day of rain. Mother Nature watering here garden. It's a good day to stay in and quilt.

It's almost here!

    Where has the time gone?  Life just kinda got in the way these last few months.  In 3 more days I will be on my way to Crabapple Hill Stitchery Sojourn for three lovely days of stitching and chatting with a group of wonderful ladies I have yet to meet.   Unfortunately my mom is unable to attend the retreat; her health just isn't allowing her to travel.   However, the good news is that my bff, Denise is coming with me.  We have so much planned.  It is the Western Washington Shop Hop, so we will be stopping at a few of the quilt stores along the way.   It is about a 5 hour 30 minute drive if we weren't to stop anywhere, but well you know how that goes with travelling quilters.
    We'll go to the participating shops in Lynden, Bellingham and Mt. Vernon, WA.  From there we hope to get to Bothell in time for lunch and stop at this great shop there.   From that point I believe it is another 3 or so hours drive to our hotel.  I am looking into quilt shops that are in that stretch, but if it is too far off the highway or too complicated, then we will just keep on going.
    I have almost finished the halloween stitchery that I have been working on.  Just 27 more black wool leaves to attach and stitch in the eyes of the pumpkins, but I just might colour them in instead... will think on that one.   I will post a picture of that stitchery and of our travels and retreat  when I get back.
    Until then, Happy Stitching!

It ended all too soon...

     Spring Break vacation that is.  The one good thing is that mom came home from the hospital. She is feeling so much better although she does tire easily.  Hopefully this is the beginning of her recovery.  I spent last weekend with my parents, and one of the days we went shopping for some new clothes for mom as she has lost weight.  We also went out for lunch and had a great time, laughing and enjoying each others company.
      We have plans for my next vacation time in June.  We are heading to Washington state for a week.  Mom and I are registered for Crapapple Hill Stitchery Sojourn Retreat. While mom and I are retreating, and stitching, Dad hopes to go golfing.
      I can hardly wait, it looks like such a fun time.  Scroll on over to Crabapple Hill Studio website and click on Stitchery Club; see for yourself how wonderful it is.   Meg Hawkley is an incredible stitchery designer, I have so many of her patterns, some still in the package, some have been completed and others well they are wips.  I have this one that I have been stitching lately...

This one is called Halloween Journey.  One of my favourite things to do on a sunny day is to drive to this beautiful park, enjoy the sun and this view, and stitch.

     I love spring and all the wonderful flowers, the colours, the sunshine and just getting outdoors.    These flowers are in my neighbours yard.  Aren't crocuses fun!

     So with this cheery spring picture . . . enjoy the sunshine.

Happy Stitching,
Kate

Spring Break Vacation time

     As of today I am on Vacation time until March 28th.  I have a few days planned, some good, some appointments, and some time quilting.  I will probably also spend some time at the hospital with mom.  Poor lady, she managed to stay out for about 5 weeks this time, but there seems to be a problem with a tube.  So back in she went.  The nurses were all so suprised to see her,  but they all greeted her very warmly.  Mom is a great patient, she rarley complains, waits patiently and always tries to remember everyones name.  She has had an ultrasound, a ct scan and some other radiological type test involving dye... (ick, that one I don't like having).  She is beside a window and has a nice view, now if they could just figure out what is going on with the tube, and if her liver and pancreas would start functioning better, life would be good.
    
     So tonight I will make some muffins for the wonderful nurses, and use up the bananas that are sitting on the counter and get started on the quilting portion of the baby quilt I brought home from guild last weekend.

     Until next time.... happy stitching!

Lions Gate Quilters Guild Community Quilt day

    On Friday and Saturday, the local quilt guild that I belong to, held  Community Quilts sewing days at one of the local churches.  We had a big hall, with lots of room.  Some of the ladies put together quilt kits from all of the fabric that has been donated or purchased with funds raised.  Other ladies layered and pin basted quilts to be ready for quilting.  Yet another group of ladies stitched binding and labels on quilts.   Then there was a group of us that picked out a kit and got to work sewing wonderful quilts together. 

    I picked out a kit called Chinese Coins.  The first day I sewed strips together, cut them apart and then sewed them together again.  Then I added the sashings, gave it a press, measured the side borders and called it a day. The second day I put on the borders, pressed it again and then handed it over to the wonderful ladies who layered and basted it for me.  I now have it at home ready to be quilted. 

     Just after lunch on the first day, Rosalind, the coordinator, brought out a box containing a quilt kit, an Amish Quilt, and asked if anyone would be interested in completing the quilt.  It had everything in it, the Quilt in a Day pattern, the cut strips (5 different blues, and 5 different pinks), all the black fabric, the border fabric and the backing. It is a quilt that I have always wanted to make, but wondered if I would like it enough when finished to keep it.  Being on a limited income for extras, it just wasn't in the budget.  But now I can make it, and then donate it to a great cause. So after I completed the top for the Chinese Coins quilt, I started sewing the 5 blue strips together.  I read thru the instructions and loved the way the blocks are put together.   As I am going along, I will post some pictures of how this is being done.  It is a Quilt in a Day pattern and the principles of the blocks seems easy and quick.  I don't know about doing it all in a day, especially if I had to do all the cutting of the strips, but I hope it goes together quick. 



     This is the  Preemie quilt I put together for the guild.  I had picked it up this fall, and finally got the binding on it and ready to hand in this weekend. 

     It is a beautiful sunny day here, so after I finish my second cup of tea of the morning, hmmm maybe it's my third, I am going to go for a nice walk, then come home, do a little housework and get back at the Amish quilt.    Hope you are having sunshine, where ever you are.

Happy Stitching
Kate

Just another day at the office

Yesterday I worked 13 hours at the office.  The other receptionist hurt her back the night before, so I pulled double duty.  It made for a very long day and no quilting time... but it does provide $$.  
I work a 40 hour week in an office, but it is also a rotating 4 day work week.  There are some weekends when I have 2 days off (this one coming up), some are 3 days off and every once in awhile I get a 5 day weekend.  Those are nice, but it also means that the weekend following, I work on the Saturday.  This weekend I plan to finish up the preemie quilt for the guild, just have to quilt the borders and put the binding on.  I also hope to get the borders on mom's quilt.  Here is a sneak peek of the fabrics in the quilt.

Not sure what is going on with my camera.... I will post a clearer picture once I have the borders on.
So what are you working on this weekend?
Happy Stitching
Kate

A Typical Sunday, maybe

Since I actually worked yesterday, today is my Saturday, if that makes sense. I woke to the rain falling again, so lazed around this morning, drinking tea and reading my kobo (I love my ereader... they are the best). My current book is A Drunkards Path: A Someday Quilts Mystery by Clare O'Donohue. I read the first Someday Quilt Mystery, Lover's Knot and loved it.
So after my leisurely morning, I did a bit of grocery shopping, then headed out to the movie theatre to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Part 1. It was at a Theatre that shows older shows. Wow, I can't wait for Part 2. After finishing my grocery shopping I came home and started in on the quilt that I cut out last weekend. It is squares of various sizes and is going together so quick. I decided to make the blocks for a row, and then put the row together. I have rows one and two put together and working on row three of four. Hmmm since tomorrow is my Sunday, I may be able to get it all together and borders on too.

In the evenings lately I have been reading blogs, especially the ones in the Scrap-Basket Sensations Blog Tour. Tomorrow is Millie's quilting. The book looks awesome and by leaving a comment at each blog, you have the opportunity to win one of 10 books (one book for each blogg hostess). I have also been following the February Fab Shop Hop and visited some great internet sites. Have you ever done one of the Fab Shop Hops? It's fun and there are great prizes too. Visit FabShopHop.com

Tomorrow is Valentines Day, so I am sending out love to all my friends and family, especially my dd and ds. Also sending love to all those who don't have a significant other to share this with. Make it about you and enjoy the love around you.

Happy Stitching!
Kate