A Busy BUT Fun Weekend

Yesterday I went to the Creative Stitches Show at the Tradex Centre in Abbotsford ... oh my, what a delight for the eyes!  I came home loaded down with all kinds of wonderful thread, patterns and yes, more fabric!  I bumped into so many people there at the show who are all members of our fabulous guild that I joked that we could have held our guild meeting there yesterday! LOL

Today, I was up bright and early and out the door for an all day workshop with a lovely and very talented instructor by the name of Bonnie Huang.  The workshop was called Double Wedding Ring.  It was not the traditional Double Wedding Ring with all the little pieces, but Bonnie's own design.  What fun!  I will post a photo later once I get my sewing paraphenalia unpacked.  There were 12 of us in the class, and as usual, it was so much fun spendng the day quilting with friends from our guild.

We're expecting our two little granddaughters anytime now for a night of fun and a sleepover at Nana and Poppa's house.  They are such good little girls ... it is a pleasure to have them whenever they come over.

This weekend is proving very busy as tomorrow I have signed up for another workshop - this one is on McTavishing.  A friend is having us over to her home for this class.  She also have a longarm so it will be great fun!

Kourageous Kids

I have now finished the Children's Hospital Kourageous Kids quilt for a little boy named Joseph.  This was so much fun to make ... I hope it brings a smile to his little face.  There were 16 in total made and will all be displayed at our upcoming guld's quilt show in May.

Joseph's original artwork

The quilt I made from Joseph's picture.

Treetop Nesters Workshop

I am sewwwwww looking forward to this upcoming workshop I have signed up for.  It has been arranged by our wonderful guild whereby they have contracted a phenomenal quilt artist by the name of Liz Faminoff to come to our guild to teach a 3 day workshop.  She offered two different workshops, each running for 3 days.  I am counting down the days until April 26-28th.  This is the piece I chose to make, the other beautiful piece was poppies.  Both are gorgeous!

Treetop Nesters/Liz Faminoff

New York Beauty Quiltalong

I made my first block of the online New York Beauty Quiltalong today from Sew Sweetness.  I have decided to make all the blocks using my black and white fabrics.  It sure is nice using up some of my ever-growing stash! LOL

If you would like to take part in this fun BOM, just click on the button to the left of this entry and it will take you right there.   A new block comes out every Monday.  This is a sample of the finished quilt ...

Since looking at this again, I am going to unpick my four pieces .... ;-(  Now where is that "unquilter!"

Forget Me Not

This is the next BOM I am following.  It is a mystery ... I love mysteries!

This BOM is kindly offered by the amazing Esther Aliu who created the Red Delicious pattern.  This exciting new series has just started, so if you are interested, check her out http://www.estheraliu.com/resources/EA%20Forget%20Me%20Not%20BOM%20Part%202.pdf

Hurry, because on the 15th of each month, that block comes down and the next one goes up.  Each month we get the choice of making one of two flowers, although both are available for printing off.  This month, I have chosen to make the peonies.  The photo of my fabrics do not do it justice ... they are the softest of whitish/pink and the green for the leaves almost looks as though it has veins.

If you are interested in making this wonderful Forget Me Not, just click on the button with this name to the left of my blog ... it will take you right there! ;-)

Red Delicious

A few weeks ago, my friend told me about a fabulous new yahoo quilting group.  The lady who owns the group is called Esther Aliu and her work is nothing short of amazing.  I joined the group and I am following her on her blog.  http://www.estheraliu.com/current-free-bom.php

I absolutely fell in love with her Red Derlicious BOM that she offered her followers about a year or so ago and as it was not available for a free download anymore, I bought it.  Here are some of the blocks I have finished so far ... I love working on this Red Delicious!

This is THE quilt ... hope mine looks as good as this!

First, let's pull the reds from the stash!

Block 1

Block 2

block 3

Block 4

Longarmers Unite!

I met again today with a group of ladies for another fun-filled and very informative day trying out new techniques on the longarm.  We meet at a different gal's home each time we get together and it is fun to get to try all the different setups that everyone has.

Having only had my longarm for such a little while, I have much to learn!  The ladies I meet with are so eager to help and share information ... I feel so very fortunate to have such dear friends!

Faith, Hope and Love

Have finally finished this UFO ... has taken 2 years to complete - lots of fussy bits in this one!  Rather than making a quilt top out of it, I decided to mount each block on a 12" x 12" square.  DH kindly hung them on the dining room wall for me last weekend.  

I love the way the chocolate brown walls highlight the beautiful tones of the sky blues, teals, moss and taupe colours in this gorgeous quilted art montage.

The pattern and fabric is from one of my most favourite designers, McKenna Ryan, and is called "Faith, Hope and Love" ... sums up my life pretty well, I thought! ;-)

Denise ... what are you doing to me??

It's no wonder I can't get caught up with my UFO's .... my buddy, Denise, has just enticed me into signing up for yet another BOM.  I must admit it is mighty cute though! ;-)

This is the first block ... all the information can be found at http://www.territhayer.com/tales/

OK ... better go and work on some UFO's! ;-)

The Age of Innocence

I have to share a funny little story with you.

Austin is my grandson - he is 11 years old and very inquisitive!  He comes out with the funniest things at the funniest of times.  The other day he asked his Mom what "porn" was.  My daughter told him that it wasn't good and nice people don't watch that kind of stuff.  He then went onto ask what "porn starch" was!!!!!!!!!!

OMG ... I couldn't stop laughing ... sweet innocence - may he (and my daughter) enjoy many more years of this with him!

Austin ... taken last Halloween!