The Saturday Quilter

Progress

2012-03-06T19:48:00.001-05:00

I got lots of piecing done for the quilt on my design wall. The center and the inner borders are pieced. Just have to put together the stars and squares for the two additional outer borders. I am making some progress......

and I did find time on the weekend to load a quilt on to my frame - another quilt top I finished years ago. The pattern is in a book called "Romantic Quilts" which is a collection of quilts from Australian Patchwork and Quilting. I'm still deciding how I want to quilt it - I think lots of background fill around the heart appliques and in the sashings, but not sure yet what to do in the pink border.

Another Quilting Finish

2012-02-26T14:08:00.000-05:00

This is a small quilt I pieced several years ago and it is finally quilted! The quilting is a panto which took me most of the day yesterday to stitch (after a trip to the quilt shop for extra thread and needles). I'll sew binding on tonight and then this quilt will hang on the wall in our bedroom.

Quilting Finish 2

2012-02-09T21:07:00.000-05:00

I am so happy to have another quilting project done. This quilt has been on the frame since December and took a lot of time to complete although I didn't keep track of the actual hours spent working on it.

The pattern is Twilight Hopscotch from Kim Diehl's book "Simple Comforts". My quilt measures 94x94 - I made my blocks larger than those in her original design (I always seem to make my quilts big). Binding isn't on yet but here are photos of the quilting......

The garland design was stitched in red thread.....you can see it in this photo of the back.

My plan for the weekend is to do some piecing. I have this work-in-progress on my design wall and am anxious to get it finished so I can quilt it too.

a quilting finish

2012-01-15T13:43:00.000-05:00

I've finished quilting a small wall hanging in a all over pattern using a paper pantograph. There are some messy stitches and some not so round curves, but I am happy with the results of my first attempt at this.

The little quilt now has binding and is hanging over the fireplace between the family room and kitchen. I think it looks pretty up there behind my roosters....

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T17:13:00.002-05:00

Getting ready for tomorrow night - wrapping gifts and baking lasagna - and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Cookies

2011-12-11T15:44:00.000-05:00

I made Christmas Cookies today. My Mom made these every year at Christmas when I was growing up and when my children were growing up too. Everybody loves these cookies and how could you not love them - there is one pound of butter in the recipe and a little shot of rum!

Bernina Quilt Frame

2011-12-04T19:14:00.001-05:00

Last week I brought home the three boxes that contained my new Bernina Quilt Frame. It wasn't very hard to put together, but it took my husband and I five hours to finish. The frame is set up in the new room in our basement. (Sydney is there inspecting our work)

I've got an old quilt top loaded on and my sewing machine in place - ready to go. Since I won't mind if there are mistakes on this quilt I chose it for my first attempt at quilting on the frame. There is probably going to be a big learning curve but I am excited at the idea of finishing bigger quilts myself.

So here is a photo of my first bit of quilting - simple stippling which doesn't look too bad and a couple of disastrous attempts at a flower design. I definitely need lots of practice.

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fall 2011

2011-10-31T21:04:00.001-04:00

I am very happy to join Blogger's Quilt Festival- Fall 2011 and to show you my "Every Bunny Loves a Garden" Quilt.

The quilt was finished a few years ago. It was fun to design and I love the two little bunnies - they are my favourite part of this quilt.

On the back I tried to use up as much of the blue and yellow fabric as possible.

Thanks for visiting my blog and thanks to Amy for once again hosting Blogger's Quilt Festival.

Machine Embroidery Quilting

2011-10-04T19:55:00.000-04:00

I've been busy using the embroidery module on my sewing machine to finish this quilt.

After pin basting, I hooped a section and let the machine do its work. It takes about 5 minutes to embroider that little design.

Not quite finished yet, but here is how it looks so far.......

Sophie's knees

2011-09-15T23:36:00.000-04:00

Sophie had surgery this morning to repair a torn ligament in her left knee and is resting comfortably back at home tonight. No gory photos - just lots of hope for a good recovery and long walks in Sophie's future.

In July she had the same surgery to repair her right knee. Poor girl hasn't been having a very nice time lately, but with both knees now fixed and some physiotherapy at the vet's she should be walking well again in a couple of months.

A New Design

2011-08-13T21:43:00.000-04:00

This weekend I've started a new design. Super scrappy quilts are always my favorite, so for this one I started with a small fq bundle of Old Primrose Inn and pulled together as many coordinating prints as I could find in my stash. Its a long way from a finished quilt top - but here are a couple photos of a work in progress.

Quilted

2011-08-03T16:42:00.001-04:00

Two of my quilts are are back from being sent out for quilting.

One is the Pinwheels quilt I recently finished and the other is a quilt top I finished back in 2009.

Now to find time to put on the binding.......

Pinwheels Progress

2011-01-23T20:59:00.000-05:00

I am making some progress on the pinwheels quilt. All the blocks are done and I am sewing on the setting triangle sections. For now, I've chosen this fabric for the border.....I love the flowers and I think the colours blend well with the rest of the fabrics I have used in the quilt.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T21:51:00.000-05:00

What a great way to start the new year - I spent the day in my sewing room!

I got this wonderful Christmas present from my husband. The Accuquilt Studio Fabric Cutter - and I love it. One of the basic shapes that came with Accuquilt Studio is this triangle die. The corners are cut so there are no dog-ears to trim when the triangles are pieced together. How great is that? I was careful with pressing and folding my fabric before cutting so there was minimum fabric wasted.

I've been cutting triangles and piecing pinwheel blocks all day and my sewing room now looks like this...

This is going to be another scrappy quilt. I'm using this selection of Thimbleberries fabric plus other coordinating fabrics from my stash.

I hope you all had a wonderful start to the new year and best wishes for 2011.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-21T12:02:00.000-05:00

With just a couple days to go before Christmas I am still busy with last minute gifts and preparations.....but, the house is decorated and the trees are up. I am looking forward to celebrating a wonderful Christmas with my family and I want to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season.

one finished - another one started

2010-12-04T21:36:00.000-05:00

The fall quilt I started in October is finished. Well, at least its a finished quilt top - the quilting can be done later.

A great scrappy quilt by Jo Morton was featured on the cover of American Patchwork and Quilting (Dec.2010). It was a lot of fun pulling fabric from my boxes of scraps and cutting the 1" strips for this quilt. Each of the Courthouse Steps blocks in only 5" so there is a long way to go before this is a full size quit, but my plan is to keep the two baskets of strips beside my sewing machine and stitch together a couple of blocks whenever I have a moment to sit and sew.

Blogger's Quilt Festival - 2010

2010-11-01T22:41:00.002-04:00

Another Blogger's Quilt Festival and I am very happy to be participating for a third time.

The quilt I am sharing is one I made a couple years ago and, just last month, gave as a gift to Sarah's mother-in-law when she returned home from an unexpected hospital stay. The pattern is by The Pattern Basket. I modified it slightly from the original by adding some extra small flowers and a scrappy border. The quilt was machine pieced and quilted on a long-arm machine.

The back was also pieced from left-over fabric used on the front.

Winter already?

2010-10-31T18:15:00.000-04:00

This weekend at the cottage in Val David it looked like this....

more like Christmas than Halloween.

Fall Inspired

2010-10-26T22:30:00.008-04:00

I know I haven't posted anything here for months, but the summer was busy and new puppy Oliver has taken up a lot of my time. I haven't been blogging but I haven't been quilting either. Now that we are well into fall and Oliver has settled down a bit I am finding more time to quilt and am happily spending time in my sewing room again. Fall has been lovely this year. Many warm, sunny days, cool nights and beautiful colors.

When I found layer cakes of "Awesome" by Sandy Gervais at the local quilt shop a couple of weeks ago, I was inspired. I bought two layer cakes, added a few matching fat quarters from my stash and started to design a new fall quilt.

I decided to make dresden plate blocks (thought the fan shapes in these fall colours look like turkey feathers). The wedges are sewn together into groups of four and appliqued on to background squares.

The dresden plate blocks are combined with these on point blocks.

Together the blocks look like this.......a work in progress on my design wall. Maybe some more applique and a pieced border. I have promised myself this quilt top will be finished before fall turns to winter.

Introducing...."Oliver"

2010-07-14T21:05:00.000-04:00

Oliver is our new 4-month old Yorkshire Terrier puppy. He is the most adorable little boy. He weighs just under 5 lbs right now - small but full of energy.

We brought him home from the breeder on Saturday so he is still adjusting to life with us. Oliver and big sister Sophie are quickly becoming best friends with Sophie even willing to share her favourite ball.

Blogger's Quilt Festival

2010-05-24T14:31:00.001-04:00

I am very happy to be participating again in Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side. This is such a great way for blogging quilters to showcase their quilts - thanks Amy.

My entry is this New York Beauty quilt I made in 2003 using as many brights and floral fabrics as I could find. The blocks were paper-pieced and the quilt was quilted on a long-arm machine. This quilt is special to me because my husband says of all the quilts I have made this is his favourite.

I used a large bright multi-floral print for the backing. The sleeve sewn onto the back is because this quilt once hung on display in a local quilt shop - that also makes it kinda special to me.

I'm off now to check out the hundreds of other quilts on display at Bloggers Quilt Festival.

a visting raccoon

2010-05-21T21:55:00.003-04:00

These pictures were taken through one of our upstairs windows....and that shadow in the center is a raccoon! We noticed him sleeping in the tree in front of our house when we got home from work today.

It was difficult to get a good picture of him through the leaves and he wasn't doing much but sleeping. When he did wake up for a bit and I was able to get this picture of him giving himself a bath.

It surprises me to know this raccoon spent the day sleeping in the tree in our front yard. He's cute but I do hope he is just passing by and doesn't intend to take up residence here.

a quilt show, a new rabbit and dinner with my family

2010-05-10T20:27:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was a lovely Mother's Day for me - I got to enjoy a quilt show, a new rabbit and dinner with my family.

The trip to a local quilt show resulted in this fabric stash purchase. No plans for any of it yet, but I love the colors and prints in this fabric line.

Jim bought this adorable stone rabbit for the garden. The rabbit is currently residing in a corner of the living room by the stairs as I can't quite yet bring myself to put him outside.

A warmer day would have meant something on the bbq for dinner, but it was too cold and windy yesterday for that. Instead Jim cooked a roast beef in the oven with potatoes and veggies. Sarah and David were both here for dinner ..... I love it when our kids come over to visit.

Backyard Bees

2010-04-20T19:54:00.002-04:00

David took these pictures of the bees in his backyard this afternoon. Spring is so pretty!

New Project - a Spring Quilt

2010-04-14T20:09:00.002-04:00

Nine blocks of the flying geese quilt are pieced together and the backing sections are ready to be assembled......but that's been put aside now for another day. I am ready to start something new!

In the April 2010 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting is a pattern call "Flying into Spring" by Eleanor Burns. I like the layout of the quilt - Flying Geese (again?) with applique flowers and vines - but I'm going to make it in these pinks, yellows and greens from my stash. I love this colour combination. I'll probably modify the size a bit too - I'd like the quilt to be slightly wider than the pattern. I'm also thinking about including a few more applique shapes.

I didn't have enough yardage of the small floral print for the background or the large floral print for the backing so I've ordered more from Shabby Fabrics. While I wait for that package to arrive I've started on the applique shapes. There are lots of them to make so this part of the project will keep me busy for a while.

Flying Geese - Progress

2010-04-06T15:09:00.003-04:00

This is a week off work for me so today has been a full day in my sewing room. I'm making great progress on the flying geese quilt - six blocks completed so far. But I don't think I can stay focused on this project much longer. There are so many other quilts I want to make. My plan now is to complete three more blocks and finish this as a large table topper.

Ted was supervising my efforts this morning, as always. I don't think he liked it much when I used the camera flash to take this shot....closed his eyes just at the right moment.

Almost Easter

2010-03-27T17:23:00.017-04:00

It's been way too long since I last posted on my blog - but the truth is I haven't been in my sewing room for the past couple of months. Life changes got in the way and I just didn't feel like sewing. That does happen sometimes.

Now I'm feeling back on track though and have been busy in my sewing room today. I finished another large flying geese block and lots of flying geese strips are sewn together ready to be assembled into more blocks.

With Easter just around the corner, I've been out shopping for new rabbits to add to my collection and brought this very handsome rabbit home.

I also worked on this new look for my blog. I've been looking for a new background for a while and finally found one I loved on Scrappin' Blogs . There are some very pretty backgrounds on this site.

Although Ted won't readily admit it, I think he likes rabbits too ;) - curled up with that old bunny I made years ago.

Flying Geese - Finished Block

2010-01-24T16:51:00.000-05:00

I completed one block today.... only 15 more to go!

Instead of using the paper piecing templates given in Fons & Porter's magazine to make the flying geese blocks, I used the "Quilt in a Day" small flying geese ruler. It's a super easy and fast way to make the flying geese, but then they finished slightly larger than those in the magazine pattern. My finished complete block measures 22.5", so my finished quilt will be larger too at 90" square.

Flying Geese

2010-01-21T20:31:00.010-05:00

Progress on my first quilt of 2010.....

I've made lots of these flying geese blocks and I'm excited about the way I see this quilt coming together.

Of course, while I was laying out the flying geese to sew into sections, Ted decided I needed a little help. If he gives me some space I should have a couple of full quilt blocks done this weekend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Lovely Christmas

2009-12-29T14:45:00.006-05:00

It really was a lovely Christmas this year. We had family here on Christmas Eve and again for dinner on Christmas Day. Lots of good food and great company!

I think now though we're all feeling a little like this.... a few too many Christmas treats, right Ted?

Since this is a week off work for me, I'm going to spend as much time as possible in my sewing room (oh, that makes me so happy!). I've gathered a bunch of fabric from my stash and plan to start on this quilt from Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting Jan/Feb 2010 issue. Looks like fast, easy piecing....perfect for my first project of the new year.

My Christmas Trees

2009-12-20T14:43:00.018-05:00

We set up two trees this year... one in the living room and one on the family room.

Ted thinks under the tree is a great place to hide.

A few of the other decorations around the house.

Starting to feel like Christmas

2009-11-29T12:50:00.012-05:00

With December just one more day away, I'm really starting to feel like Christmas (which is a lot better than feeling like the flu for the past couple of weeks).

.... we've put up lighted trees and reindeer in front of the house and evergreen wreaths on the front door and backyard gate. Now we just need a little snow. Next weekend we'll be setting up the Christmas tree in the living room window.

.... Sarah's and David's quilts are ready to give to them in time for Christmas.

(Thanks to Mary Lyn for the lovely quilting and the
super fast turnaround on Sarah's Snowmen Quilt)

and .... our package of lebkuchen arrived from Germany! Lebkuchen are German cookies made with ingredients like hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, orange peel, honey, chocolate. Absolutely delicious! They are a family tradition for us - it wouldn't be Christmas without these treats.

A Quiet Weekend

2009-11-01T09:10:00.004-05:00

These treasures arrived in the mail on Friday - some new fabric and two great books. Got them just in time too. My 24 year old son arrived here sick with the flu on Saturday afternoon so, while he sleeps, there is lots of quiet time in our house this weekend - perfect for reading.

Journal Covers

2009-10-21T19:18:00.004-04:00

Inspiration to make these journal covers came from a post I saw a few weeks ago on Jill's blog at The Quilt Rat. Her lovely journal cover is here . (She has a great giveaway right now too.) The original inspiration for the journal covers comes from Wanda at Exhuberant Colour . See all her fabulous journal covers here. New ones posted today.

So, I gathered scraps, selvage, ribbon and orphan blocks and made two journal covers of my own. What easy, one-day projects to make and they look so pretty when done. I take my covered notebooks to work with me during the week so I have a place to write down any "quilty" ideas that come to mind.

Here is more detail showing the front/back of each cover and the inside flaps. They were so much fun to put together, I know I'll be making more.

Blogger's Quilt Festival

2009-10-09T09:02:00.011-04:00

I am excited to be participating for the first time in the Fall 2009 Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy at Park City Girl.

This quilt, made a few years ago, is one of my favorites. I made it from reproduction prints purchased on my trip to the Houston Quilt Festival in 2005. I brought home a lot of reproduction prints from that trip - couldn't resist. I haven't been back to Festival since, but DH has promised to take me next year... in the meantime, this quilt is a great reminder of that visit to Houston.

I also pieced the back so I could include as much of my fabric as possible.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks to Amy for hosting this event.

(I've been looking through my magazines all morning to find the one with this pattern - finally found it: Quilt Sampler, Fall/Winter 2005, p. 88, "Flying Geese Baskets" designed by Kathy Blank)

Quilts for Sarah and David

2009-10-04T12:21:00.007-04:00

This snowman quilt top is ready to be sent off for quilting.....and, with any luck, I'll have it back in time to give to Sarah for Christmas. It was intended to be last year's Christmas gift - sorry Sarah :(

I love the snowmen - I think they are so cute! The pattern, "Under the Stars", is from the Rabbit Factory . I modified the design to include six snowmen across the top and added more star blocks making the overall size of my quilt a bit larger (approx 68"x80") than the original.

This scrappy irish chain quilt is for David. The quilting is done - I just have to finish putting on the binding. David moved into his own apartment this weekend so I may give it to him before Christmas :)

It's not my own design - I made it based on a photo in quilt magazine from a few years ago, but I can't find the magazine now - probably got tossed out in last year's house move. This quilt is a big one at 84" x 96".

We're back from our vacation

2009-09-21T13:35:00.014-04:00

We just got back from a week at the chalet in Val-David, Quebec - a lovely place in the Laurentians. It was very quiet and relaxing - exactly what we needed! Sarah and Chris joined us for a couple of days which was a very nice visit .... and of course, we brought Sophie who just loved hiking in the woods and meeting new friends there.

I planned on lots of time for sewing - so brought along my other machine. I set it up in a nice spot in front of the window and worked on a bunch these blocks...

Sophie enjoyed having so much time outdoors but she did get very dirty behaving like a real little dog. After a visit to the groomer this morning she is looking just lovely again - very pretty with those little bows on her ears - and she smells really good too!

More new fabric in my sewing room

2009-09-08T19:39:00.010-04:00

A lovely fat quarter bundle of Astor Manor arrived! I ordered it as soon as I saw it up on The Fat Quarter Shop site. Beautiful fabric! I also picked up a copy of Fat-Quarter Quilting by Lori Smith - what great little quilts ... now to decide which one to make first.

I'm also making progress on my orange peel quilt
(I jump between projects alot).

A doggie with a cold

2009-09-05T11:57:00.005-04:00

Our Sophie has a cold. We took her to the vet this morning because she's been sneezing and reverse sneezing (like when she drinks her water too fast) since Friday morning. The vet said its a virus she likely picked up at Doggie Day Camp. She goes there once or twice a week and its great socialization for her - lots of other dogs and people. All her shots are up-to-date so there is nothing to worry about - the virus just has to run its course over the next few days ....... poor little girl.

2009-09-04T14:30:00.007-04:00

I love this photo....my friend Nancy took it while on a trip to Tunis - now I feel inspired to make something in blues and whites with maybe a touch of green.

Rooster Party

2009-08-27T20:46:00.015-04:00

Here are my roosters.....
I can't wait to see everyone else's!

2009-08-09T14:51:00.014-04:00

Got this stuff in the mail this week (I love online shopping!)

..... a great magazine and more fabric for my stash.

I've been working on these applique blocks this weekend. The blocks belong to one of my many UFOs. Maybe I'll stay motivated to complete the quilt this time around ... hmmm ... doubt it - too many distractions and new ideas.

The pattern is "Romance in Bloom" by Verna Mosquera
(The Vintage Spool).

Took this picture of Ted and Sydney on Saturday morning - sharing a nap on the back of the chair. I've never seen them snuggled together end-to-end like this.

2009-08-03T06:53:00.002-04:00

Ted (and me) in my sewing room at 6:00 am this morning.

2009-08-02T21:45:00.004-04:00

I completed this quilt (a pattern called "Tiger Lily" published in Quilt Sampler 2001) a very long time ago...but I just now finished putting on the binding. It always take me such a long time to get around to sewing the bindings on my quilts.

2009-08-02T11:36:00.008-04:00

Its been raining here for most of the month of July and now into August.

Even this little chipmunk has a raindrop on his head. But he's got bigger worries I think...he must be wondering if Sydney can find a way out through the patio door.

Early Morning Visitors

2009-06-27T06:08:00.010-04:00

I was up early this morning and found a couple of little visitors to my garden.
There are rabbits here often and I can't resist photographing them.

A Quilter's Cat

2009-06-20T19:21:00.004-04:00

Why does my cutting table always seem like the best place to stop and rest?
Emily may look a little grumpy in this photo, but I think she is very happy to
have found the just-ironed fabric.

Flowers and Bees

2009-06-20T12:07:00.010-04:00

I was just out in the garden taking photos of my weigelia in full bloom when I spotted these great big bumblebees loading up with pollen from the flowers.

This Weekend's Project

2009-06-18T20:13:00.010-04:00

Here is what I'll be working on this weekend. I'm still not sure what the finished quilt will look like but it will include more blocks than are on my design wall now.

I am starting to work on these blocks to incorporate into the quilt. They are the reverse shading (dark background with light applique shapes).

_______________________________________________________

Another photo of Sophie.
(taken with my iphone, that's why it's so fuzzy)

2009-06-10T10:44:00.004-04:00

Another lovely photo of Sarah and Chris. This one was taken on Saturday at a family wedding - no, not theirs ;-)

Fabulous News !

2009-06-04T18:32:00.014-04:00

I simply have to share the news that my daughter, Sarah, just got engaged. Here is a photo of Sarah and Chris, followed by photos of the stunningly beautiful ring Chris gave her. Congratulations! We are all very, very happy and excited for you.

Bird Watching

2009-06-04T14:12:00.002-04:00

I wonder if those two mourning doves know
they are being watched by Sydney and Ted?

Baby Quilts

2009-06-02T13:30:00.007-04:00

These are two baby quilts I made and gave away to
family friends for their newborn little girls.

This one for Emma.

This one for Olivia.

In my garden

2009-05-31T20:52:00.028-04:00

Update: more photos taken in my garden June 7, 2009

A new sign added to my garden welcoming anyone who visits.

A new bunny added to the garden (there is always room for more).

This little gnome is an old friend in my garden.

And.....I have little tiny green beginnings of tomatoes growing on the tomato plants. I am really looking forward to picking full-size red tomatoes from my garden later this summer.

____________________________________

I'm spending more time in my garden these days than in my sewing room...
but the garden is pretty and relaxing and I enjoy sitting outside on the
front step - that's where I took these photos.

2009-05-21T09:51:00.010-04:00

more of little Rosie....

Here's another photo of Rosie.

An updated photo of the kittens taken two days ago.
They are so cute!

2009-05-12T20:34:00.004-04:00

Mittens (my friend Paul's cat) just had a litter of kittens and one of these darling little cats is coming home to live with me in a few weeks. I haven't decided which one yet - I'd like to take them all.

2009-05-12T19:50:00.010-04:00

These are recent quilt shop purchases of some fat quarters and spools of embroidery thread.
Don't have any immediate plans for these things yet - it's just nice to add them to my stash.

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T15:16:00.006-04:00

In memory of my mom who passed away eight years ago.

This photo of her was taken when she was about 18 years old. She'd probably hate that I'm posting it - but it is my favourite photo of her.

Miss you Mom.

2009-05-07T20:52:00.003-04:00

These two little rabbits have joined my collection
just because they make me smile.

What I like best about my cats ...

2009-05-06T19:35:00.008-04:00

Teddy's freckled nose and whiskers.

Sydney's eyes.

Emily's calico patches.

Backyard assembly ... from box to bbq

2009-05-05T21:47:00.006-04:00

Now that the warm weather is seemingly here to stay, we decided it was time to get a new bbq.

Chris, with help from Jim and supervision from Sarah, put it together for us on Sunday. We had a great steak dinner afterwards. No pictures of that .... guess we were too busy eating.

2009-05-05T20:54:00.002-04:00

Sophie absolutely
adores her Daddy,
so I just had to post
this photo of the two
of them.

2009-04-25T09:51:00.009-04:00

My pink stars quilt top is done - now it needs to be quilted . It measure 100" x 100" so I am thinking about sending it out to be done instead of attempting such a large quilt myself.

I've started putting together an orange peel design, but I don't yet have an complete quilt idea in mind. I'll see how it evolves.

2009-04-23T21:42:00.010-04:00

Sophie through a fish-eye lens.

These funny photos (and others on this blog) were taken by my son, David,
our resident photographer.

My Sewing Room

2009-04-21T13:33:00.011-04:00

My sewing room, of course, is my favourite place to be
on Saturdays or on any day I can find some time to spend here.

2009-04-18T20:31:00.007-04:00

Sophie and me retrieve her ball after it rolled under the backyard fence

....and here is our girl covered in grass and dust after playing.

2009-04-14T09:48:00.022-04:00

I'm at home this week enjoying a few days away from the office. This is the sewing room project I'm working on - just finishing putting it together and adding some borders. I might even try quilting it myself.

Early this morning I saw this little rabbit in the backyard. I thought is was nice that he came to visit. He didn't stay very long though and it was hard to photograph him through the patio door. He was eating the seeds on the ground under the bird feeder.... and from the looks of the tulips coming up in the back garden I think he is eating them too.

We have other visitors to our garden this morning. Not so cute as the rabbit, but I love those crazy yellow eyes. Lots of these birds around the feeders. I think they're called 'cow birds' - not really sure.

View From My Window

2009-04-08T20:20:00.016-04:00

Here are photos of some feathered visitors today to bird feeders
that hang outside my office window.....

and the squirrel who climbed a tree up to my third floor window
ledge to find the sunflower seeds put there for him.

2009-04-06T21:05:00.003-04:00

My friend, Nancy, just got back from Arizona and brought me these great gifts from the Quilter's Store in Sedona. Thanks so much Nancy.

Love those chillies!

First Signs of Spring

2009-03-28T10:38:00.006-04:00

The robins are back and ....

the tulips are just starting
to peek through.

Bernina 830

2009-03-23T13:07:00.009-04:00

My Bernina 830 is here and I am so excited. I spent all day yesterday setting her up in my sewing room and taking her through several stitching trial runs. This photo doesn't show the embroidery arm, but I did attach it and here is my very first attempt at machine embroidery......

I've read through the manual a few times already. There is still so much more for me to learn.

Bought a some new fabric on the weekend (Patisserie - a jelly roll and two charm packs).
Very pretty. I'll make my first quilt project on the 830 with it. Probably something small, but I do get carried away and often make large quilts in spite of my best intentions to keep it small.

(yup, that is another bunny in my collection)

2009-03-16T19:52:00.003-04:00

Out shopping yesterday. Now I have two more bunnies for my collection and this pretty decoration for my kitchen wall.

2009-03-14T08:43:00.011-04:00

The pinwheel border is on!

Yes, its Saturday morning and I am going to spend the day in my sewing room. I'm working on the 2009 BOM from The Quilt Show. So far I am keeping up with the work. March blocks are pinwheels and more stars. I hope to finish them today.

2009-03-13T16:03:00.001-04:00

My blog is up and running thanks to encouragement from Christina and technical advice from Derrick.