Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas.

I just got two of my quilts back from the quilters and finally have something to show you!

The first quilt I call "Bedtime Blankie" was beautifully quilted by Irene Brayne of Braynewave Quilting.

The second quilt I call "Butterfly Kisses" was also beautifully quilted, this time by Kathy Mundy of Oakville, Ontario.

This is the first of the quilts I made last year trying to use up my 30s reproduction fabrics. The other two are on the shelf waiting to be quilted. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I've made a dent in the pile of fabrics. lol

I have the binding made for both of these quilts so I'm hoping it won't take me too long to get them finished.
It will feel so good to have something completed.

Hope you're all enjoying your weekend.  The weather here has been wonderful for the past few days, and DH took advantage of it and got the outside Christmas lights put up.
Bye for now.

Vintage Tiles Revisited

For all of you who have been patiently waiting, the patterns for Vintage Tiles Revisited are now available to download. You can find them on Lecien's site here href="http://www.lecien.co.jp/en/hobby/patterns/index_Blockofmonth.html">http://www.lecien.co.jp/en/hobby/patterns/index_Blockofmonth.html

EDIT: The patterns for "Vintage Tiles Revisited are no longer available as a free download. The complete pattern can now be purchased as a .pdf file for $25.00 Can.

Enjoy.

It's been difficult the past few months, the reality of Mom being gone has sunk in and I haven't had much to share with you but I hope to be back soon to show you a few projects I've been working on.

 Bye for now.

Patti S. sent me this photo of her version of Vintage Tiles Revisited, and graciously allowed me to share it with you.

She called her quilt "Black Beauty". Very fitting, don't you think?

Progress...

Thought you might like to see the progress I've been making on the new/old Santa quilt I'm trying to get finished. I completed these two blocks today and am going to start putting the quilt together. It won't be as big as the first Santa quilt I showed you, since this one will only have 12 blocks, but it will still fit a double bed. DH and I have been busy trying to clear out the basement, hoping to get it renovated later this year. It's incredible how much "stuff" we have accumulated over the years. Hopefully, the kids will come and pick up some of their treasures, or at least let us know what we can get rid of. Hope you're all having a good week. Bye for now.

A New Addition

I'd like to introduce you to my new granddog.  This is Pugsleigh, my son's new puppy.

He's a sweet little boy,but definitely has a mind of his own.

Daisy, my daughter's Chocolate Lab, who is 7 years old, is so good with him.  She lets him jump all over her, and is so very careful not to step on him.  When she's had enough she just tosses him aside with her snout.  The other day Pugsleigh landed in her water bowl.  It was so funny!!

Here's some photos of the two of them together.

Nothing to show you on the quilting front, but I've been getting the last 2 Santa blocks prepared for applique, and hope to have something to show you soon. Bye for now.

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things, but just can't get motivated to start anything new.
My sewing room was a disaster, so I thought I would get stuck in and start to tidy things up.
Mom's oxygen machine was kept in my sewing room, as it was too noisy to leave in her bedroom, but because it gave off so much heat it made my sewing room unusable.  I developed a bad habit of not putting things away properly, and as a result it looked like a bomb had gone off in there.

Sorting through the pile of UFOs in the closet,  I came across 10 applique blocks of Country Applique's Santa Series that I had started over 10 years ago.  I was teaching my Santa Sampler class at the time and thought I would make another quilt along with the class.  My thinking was since I had 2 children I would make one Santa quilt for each of them.  I made the mistake of challenging myself to work with a blue background,  not my favorite color, and as a result I lost interest and the blocks got shoved in the closet.
Well, I've dug them out and have started to put the quilt together.  I drafted out a different layout, and will be able to make a decent sized quilt and only have to make 2 more applique blocks to finish it.

Here are some photos.

I haven't decided what to do about the borders yet, but I have plenty of the background fabric left, so that won't be an issue.
I'll post photos later of my progress... as long as I don't get distracted! lol
After this, I came across 8 of the 12 " Twelve Days Of Christmas" from Brandywine Designs and will try to get them finished up.

Hope you are having an enjoyable summer, or winter, and the heat isn't too unbearable.
Bye for now.

Santa Quilt

I can't believe a month has gone by since Mom passed away.  At times I feel like she is just away on vacation, and then the reality hits, hard!
I'm sorry I haven't replied to everyone who sent me their condolences and some wonderful words of encouragement.  Please know how much your thoughtfulness and support meant to me.

Needless to say I haven't been accomplishing much on the quilting front, but I thought you might like to see a photo of my very first applique quilt.

I made this quilt sometime between 1996 and 1998, using many of Jan Kornfeind's (Country Appliques) patterns,and some of my own. When I started the blocks I had no idea how I was going to put it all together, but it went together like a dream.  I had so much fun with this one.
 I was working at a small quilt shop in town at the time, and even though this was my first applique quilt they asked me to teach a class based on this design.  This was my first introduction to teaching and I loved it.  I met some fabulous people and found it so inspiring .  I really missed it when I had to give it up while I was caring for Mom, but maybe I will be able to get back to it again.

Chat with you later.

Happy Canada Day

Hope to be back soon.

Just to let you know that my dear Mother passed away on Wednesday, June 5., 2013.  I haven't been able to write to you before this as I'm having a hard time coming to terms with the reality of it.  It seems so strange, I knew it was coming, but when she passed it came as such a shock.  The past few weeks have been such a blur, but I have to get a grip on myself and get busy.

To all of you who have sent your prayers and well wishes, thank you for your support, it has meant a great deal to me.

Bye for now.

Just a quick up date regarding Mom.  The doctors have told us that Mom won't be coming home.  They are trying to get her into a palliative room, and in the meantime they are doing their best to keep her comfortable.
It has been a very difficult week as Mom is, at times, very confused, and sometimes says things that are quite hurtful.  My head knows that it is the drugs they are giving her that is causing this, but my heart hasn't toughened up yet.
I knew Mom was living on borrowed time, but I never imagined her ending her days like this.  I guess I was hoping she would just slip away peacefully in her sleep.

To all of you who messaged me, and send me your well wishes and prayers, I am truly grateful.

Just a quick note to let you know I may not be around for awhile.
I had to take Mom back to the hosptal on Saturday, and it looks like they may keep her for a while.
I'm feeling very guilty right now, as I promised Mom I would not make her go back there, but her breathing got so bad on Saturday I didn't have a choice.  I really thought they would just drain some of the fluid from her lungs, and let me take her home.  I can't believe the state of the hospital!.  I know they are building a new hospital in Town, but it won't be ready for three years, and in the meantime they seem to be just letting this one fall apart.  My daughter got stuck in one of the bathroom stalls and we had to go looking for someone to get her out.  I'm laughing about it now as I tell you, but at the time it wasn't funny for her. Everything is looking so run down, and badly in need of a fresh coat of paint.  Mom thought we were in an abandoned building. lol   It's sad to see, it used to be such a lovely community hospital, both my children were born there, and Mom volunteered there for almost 30 years.
Of course, it had to be a long weekend, so things moved very slowly!!.  We hired someone to sit with Mom last night, so I could come home and get some sleep, and I'm just going to get myself ready and get down there.  I'll see if she is still mad at me!

I'll keep you posted.  Bye for now.

Dorothy

Finally, A Finish!

Well, it's only taken me two years, but I finally sewed the binding on "Some Bunny Loves You".  It feels good to have it finished.  I tried a different method for the binding, using a tool called the "Binding Thingy".
I found it a bit fiddly, but that is probably because it was new to me.  I'll have to try it again on one of the wall hangings buried in my closet waiting for the binding.  Can you tell I really don't like doing the binding! lol

Well, Mom is ringing her bell, so I guess I'd better get the day started.  Bye for now.

I thought you might like to see the last block of my new teddybear quilt.  I've been working on the sashings hoping to have something to show you, but it's slow going. I'm finding it hard to get the time to sit at the sewing machine. Applique is so much more portable.
Mom has gotten so much weaker this past month, and is so unsteady on her feet she needs assistance with everything.  She sometimes forgets and tries to do something by herself, and I am so afraid she is going to fall.  Needless to say I am not sleeping very soundly!

On a brighter note, the sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the sky.  It's going to be a good day.

Bye for now.

A Little Bit of Applique...

Thought you might like to see what I've been up to.  I started this quilt more than a year ago, but got sidetracked (short attention span!)  I dug it out of the closet and thought I would try to finish it up.
Here are the next 3 blocks.

I've started sewing the sashings, and might have something to show you soon. Hopefully. Bye for now.

Mississauga Quilt Show

I had the opportunity to get out for a few hours yesterday and was able to visit the Mississauga Guilds quilt show, and it was wonderful. There were over 200 quilts in the show and they were fabulous!  Here are photos of some of my favorites

A version of "All About Bears"

Maxine's " A Little Bit More...About Bears"

Maxine's "Starlight Wishes"

Maxine's "Vintage Tiles Revisited"  Can you see the ribbons!!

Really liked the colors of this one

This quilt was stunning.  It won a 1st place ribbon for hand applique.

Bye for now.

Spring Is Here...

Today is officially the first day of Spring, and it is Mom's 93rd birthday!  We aren't able to have a family gathering to celebrate, as Mom isn't up to it, but we will have a little celebration later today, with cake and ice cream.

On the quilting front, I'm still working away on the applique borders for one of my new quilts, and have designed an applique border for another.  Hope to have some photos to show you soon.

Bye for now.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

A quick note to wish you all a happy St. Patrick's Day.  My late father was an irishman, born in Ballymena, Ireland, and I'm sure if he were living he would be celebrating.

Things are much the same here with Mom, but I am getting a lot of applique done.  I hope to be able to show you some photos soon.

Enjoy your day.  Bye for now.

Happy Valentines Day

 Just a quick note to wish you all a happy Valentine's Day, and to thank those of you who have been checking in on me periodically.
I'm sorry I haven't been able to reply to you individually.
Things are much the same here, Mom isn't doing very well, but we are managing.
 Bye for now.