It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

A few of my favorite Santas. Have a wonderful Christmas everybody.

Christmas Quilt Show

Sew Gal Cal is hosting the Christmas Quilt Show again this year. Just the thing to get us in the Christmas mood.

This is one of my favorite Christmas quilts - "A Little Bit More About Bears...It's Christmas!"

I made this quilt about 8 years ago when I was teaching an applique class. The class was making "A Little Bit More...About Bears" and I thought it might be a good incentive if I made another quilt along side of them. I didn't want to make the same quilt again so I made a few changes and changed it into a Christmas quilt.

If you have a Christmas quilt you'd like to show, click on the link at the top of this post. If you don't have a quilt to show, click on the link anyway, and have a browse at all the wonderful quilts. Maybe it will inspire you to make a Christmas quilt of your own!

Bye for now.

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fall 2010

I can't believe it's been over two months since my last post! I wish I could say my absence is because I've been too busy quilting, but alas, the truth is I've accomplished very little.

Daisy, my DD's Chocolate Lab, had her second surgery three weeks ago, and her recovery has been a bit slower for this leg. She's such a sweet natured dog, but she does like company, and as she isn't supposed to be climbing stairs, I'm back sleeping on the couch in the family room, to keep her company. We really need to get a bigger couch!! lol

Amy, of Amy's Creative Side is hosting the Blogger's Quilt Festival again, and my entry is my

Vintage Tiles - Elegance In Neutrals quilt.

Why don't you drop by Amy's blog and have a peek at some of the fantastic quilts that have been entered this time, or better yet, take a few hours, and browse them all!

Bye for now.

"Sweet Nostalgia" - The Finish

I had hoped to have the top quilted before the "reveal", but I'm sorry I couldn't manage it. I will post a photo when it is quilted.

I have used Prairie Points to finish the edges of my quilt, and normally, they are not added until the top has been quilted, but I wanted you to see the effect. The Prairie Point edging is optional, and some of you may prefer to just add a binding.

Here are the links to download the Finishing Instructions for the "Sweet Nostalgia" B.O.M. from either Scribd or 4Shared. I will leave the instruction available for download until November 15th, when the last of the blocks is removed.

Please remember, each block is available as a free download for 3 months, after which it will be available to purchase. If you have missed any of the blocks and wish to purchase them, just send me an email. The link to my email is on the left hand side of the screen, or in my profile.

I hope you have enjoyed stitching these blocks along with me, and for those of you who haven't had a chance to get started on them yet, I hope you will share your photos with us later. Don't forget to check out the photos in the "Sweet Nostalgia" Flickr group.

And for those of you still looking for the Cosmo embroidery threads I just learned that Super Buzzy is now carrying the full line.

Stay tuned for my next B.O.M.

Bye for now.

Bye for now.

"Sweet Nostalgia" - Hide and Seek

It's so hard to believe a year has gone by and I'm posting the last block of my "Sweet Nostalgia" B.O.M. I hope you have enjoyed stitching these blocks as much as I did.
Thank you to Marina, Jennifer, and Hazel who have shared photos of their blocks in the "Sweet Nostalgia" Flickr group, and to Karine and Carrie who have emailed me their photos so I could share them with you. I hope more of you will share your photos over the next few months.
I'd also like to thank everyone who has taken the time to leave me a comment.
Also, I'd like to thank Nireko of the Lecien Corp. who so generously provided the wonderful Cosmo threads for this project. If you haven't tried them yet, I really hope you will have the opportunity to try them in the future. They are wonderful to work with, and have a lovely silken sheen.

A photo of the quilt and the finishing instructions for the quilt will be posted in the next few weeks.

Here are the links to download the pattern. Scribd or 4Shared

Please remember, each block is available as a free download for 3 months, after which it will be available for purchase.

On the home front, Daisy is doing fairly well, only one more week before she gets the stitches out and we can remove that horrible cone from her head. She is banging into everything with it, and I have the bruises on my legs to prove it! lol
The hardest thing is keeping her from running or trying to jump on the couch to cuddle with us.

Bye for now.

Sorry I've been M.I.A. lately, but things have been a little crazy around here.
My daughter's lovely 4 year old Chocolate Lab, Daisy, had been having a problem with one of her back legs, and the Vet decided surgery was necessary. My daughter, Alison, took her to the surgeon and a date was set for last Monday. Well, the day before the surgery, Daisy hurt her other back leg, and it was a more serious injury, so they ended up having to operate on that leg instead!
We've got her home now, but because she can't manage any stairs, or risk walking on hardwood floors, she'll be staying with us for the next few weeks. The plan is to hopefully get this leg fixed, and then they will operate on the other leg. Thank goodness for pet insurance!

Isn't she lovely? She is such a good, sweet natured dog, it just doesn't seem fair that she should be having all this trouble.

"Sweet Nostalgia" - Fun At The Beach

Here are the links to download this month's "Sweet Nostalgia" block. Scribd or 4Shared.
Enjoy.

"Sweet Nostalgia" - Let's Play Ball

Here are the links to download this month's "Sweet Nostalgia" block - Scribd or 4Shared.

Happy Stitching.

Some Show And Tell

It's hard to believe that it's the 1st of June already! I guess there must be some truth to it when they say that time flies when you're having fun. And, I have been having fun designing and stitching the "Sweet Nostalgia" blocks. I finished stitching the August block last week, and have almost got the quilt assembled. I just have to finish writing up the patterns, and then I can concentrate on the new B.O.M.
Karine sent me a photo of her April block and it is wonderful. I love the little lamb she added to it.

Hazel has already posted a photo of her May block in the Flickr photo album, and Marina has posted the photo of her April block. Why don't you have a look. I'd love to see photos of your blocks too!

The 4th baby robin hatched on Saturday, and I have been watching Momma and Poppa robin flying back and forth, their beaks full of worms, trying to feed their hungry babies.


Last week, I received my quilt back from Vikki, of Subtle Creations, after she had worked her magic on it. I wish I could take a better photo so you could see the fantastic quilting she did.

Bye for now.

And Then There Were Three!

Only one more to go.

We Have Babies!

Just a quick update on the Robin's nest. I checked the nest last night and there was no change, but when I checked again early this morning this is what I discovered.

Isn't nature wonderful!

Chat with you later.

Bloggers Quilt Festival

Amy of Park City Girl blog is again hosting an on-line quilt festival. Each participant is to post a photo of one of their favorite quilts with a little story about it.

One of my favorite quilts, is this quilt called "All About Bears" and it was my first design.
At the time, my daughter had quite a collection of teddybears that were taking over her bedroom. I made a deal with her that if she put away some of more well worn teddies I would make her a quilt. At the time, I didn't realize the fun I would have with it.
Why don't you visit Amy's blog and check out all the wonderful quilts being showcased, and even write about one of your own. Just click on the Quilt Festival button on the right-hand side of my blog. Be forewarned though, it's addictive!
I hope all my fellow Canadian bloggers have a wonderful Victoria Day weekend and all my U.S. friends enjoy their Memorial Day next weekend.
Bye for now.

The Robins Are Back

Last weekend, while trimming the trees, my husband discovered the robins have returned this year. In the Spring of 2007 and again in 2008, we had a robin's nest in the corner of our window sill, which I was able to see from the kitchen. If you check out my posts of May and June 2008 ,you'll see all the photos. It was absolutely wonderful and I missed them when they didn't return last year. But they're back! Not on our window sill but in the pear tree. Here are the first few photos:


Isn't the color of the eggs fabulous!

Chat with you later. Bye for now.

"Sweet Nostalgia" - How Does Your Garden Grow?

Here are the links to download this month's pattern - Scribd or 4Shared

Don't forget to check out the "Sweet Nostalgia" Flickr album. Hazel, Marina, and Jennifer have been sharing photos of their blocks. I hope you will join us there. If you're not a member of Flickr, it's quite easy to join, they give you step by step directions. I really would like to see your blocks.
Happy Stitching.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day. Hope you all have a wonderful relaxing day.

New Threads From Lecien!

As I was stitching away on the June "Sweet Nostalgia" block, I began to wonder what I would do as a B.O.M. when "Sweet Nostalgia" is finished. I was going to do a survey to see if stitchery, or my favorite, applique, would be preferred, but I just received a wonderful surprise in the mail, which made up my mind for me!
The wonderful Nireko of the Lecien Corp. sent me those beautiful threads to introduce their new line of variegated threads called "Seasons", which are going to be launched at Quilt Market later this month. Why don't you ask your local quilt or needlework shop to look for them at Market.

Don't they look luscious? I've got just the project in mind for them. So stay tuned.
The past few days I've been busy appliqueing the borders on my new design, "Loves Music, Loves To Dance" and hope to be able to show you a photo soon. Bye for now.

"Sweet Nostalgia" - Happy Easter

Here are the links to download or print this month's pattern from Scribd or 4shared.
Enjoy.

Happy Stitching.

EDIT - April 17, 2010: For some reason, people are having trouble downloading the pattern from the Scribd site this month. I haven't been able to resolve this problem, so I suggest if you want to download the pattern to your computer just download it from 4shared. If you want to print it, just right-click on the pattern and select "Print Document". I apologize for the inconvenience.

Just a quick note to show you the two quilts I recently got back from quilter extraordinaire Vikki Favreau of Subtle Creations. Vikki has been doing my long-arm quilting for a number of years and she never fails to please me! These are numbers 5 & 6 in my "A Woodland Christmas" series of designs.


Didn't she do a fantastic job? Hope you have a great weekend. Bye for now.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone.

I'm afraid I've been very quiet these past few weeks.  I had surgery on my stitching arm on the 15th of March, and it was a little more extensive than they expected, so I had to rest it for a bit, so no stitching or computer!   I got the stitches out last week, but then had a problem with being allergic to the bandaids they had covering it!
I was able to do a little stitching this week, and have been playing around with a new applique project today.  Fortunately, I've been working a little bit ahead on "Sweet Nostalgia" so I have the block ready for this month, but I still have to prepare the pattern.  All being well, I should have it ready to post by the 15th.

Here are 2 more of the bunnies from the new ballerina bunny quilt I started designing last month.  I managed to get the quilt top assembled and was working on the borders before I had the surgery.  Hopefully, I'll be able to get it finished soon.

Bye for now.

"Sweet Nostalgia" - March Winds Doth Blow

,

It's time for another "Sweet Nostalgia" block.  Before you download this month's block pattern, March Winds Doth Blow, check out the Flickr album.  Marina, Jennifer and Hazel have posted photos of their February blocks, and they are all wonderful.  I hope you will share your blocks with us too!

Please remember, each block is available as a free download for 3 months, after which it will be available for purchase from me.

Here are the links to download the block pattern from Scribd or 4Shared.  Happy Stitching.

Time For a Little Applique

I know I've been quiet lately, there hasn't been much to chat about or to show you, but this past week I decided to take a stitching break and do a little applique.  I have been working on another applique project this winter, but I can't show it to you yet, but this one is just for me, so I can.

Here are the first two blocks of a new design I think I might call "Dance To The Music".

What do you think?  I'm having fun with this one.

Have you checked out the "Sweet Nostalgia" Flickr album lately?  Hazel has just posted a photo of her February block and it's wonderful.  I'd love to see more photos if anyone else has any to share.
Bye for now.

"Sweet Nostalgia" - February Block

Here are the links to download this months block. Scribd 0r 4shared Enjoy.

Happy Stitching.

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines everyone. I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Here's a few pics of some "Sweet Nostalgia" blocks. Karine has shared her pic of January's "Snow Days" block and Karen has shared her September "Summer's Gone" block. Thank you for sharing them with us ladies.

There are more photos in the Sweet Nostalgia" Flickr group album. Jennifer, Marina and Hazel have all posted photos of their blocks. I hope you will check them out, and maybe even think of sharing your blocks with us. If you're not a member of Flickr, it's quite easy to join, they give you step by step directions. I really would like to see your blocks.

February's pattern will be posted tomorrow. See you then.

"Sweet Nostalgia" - Snow Days

It's hard to believe we're into the middle of January already! Time seems to go by too quickly these days. It seems like Christmas was so long ago, yet I'm still putting the decorations away! lol
Now that the holiday season is over, I hope a few more of you will get time to share some of your "Sweet Nostalgia" blocks with us.
Here is a photo of Carrie's November block -Carrie has provided a wonderful tutorial on the coloring technique she has used. Thank you for sharing it with us Carrie.

Jennifer, Marina & Hazel have all posted photos of their blocks in the "Sweet Nostalgia" Flickr group album. I hope you will join us.


This months block, is titled "Snow Days" and can be found on the Scribd or 4Shared links. Happy Stitching.

Please remember, each block is available as a free download for 3 months, after which it will be available for purchase. If you have missed the September or October patterns they can be purchased from me. Just send me an e-mail.

Bye for now.