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