Moving house!

This will be the last blog posted here due to technical difficulties.

Please join me at my new site by going to the following link....

http://crosnestquilting.blogspot.ca/

If you wish to continue to get email notifications of new posts, you will need to re-subscribe on the new blog site.

Thanks everyone!

Sunflower Surprise

I'm not going far today in this heat-wave....only out to the garden to see what is new today....

We didn't plant sunflowers this year. Last year we did, but not this variety so I'm thinking it was a gift from the wind or a passing bird.
Thanks, Mr. Bird, it's a beautiful sunflower!

The pups had a vet check today, so we gave them a little bubble bath to fluff them up. So cute....

Not too much going on around here the last couple of days. I'm slowly recovering from my painful back, with the help of some muscle relaxers (which make me a bit dopey, so no longarm for a couple of days). 

We did have an errand to run which took us near our favourite coffee house, which happens to make my favourite sandwich, Turkey apple cheddar, yum....

The only quilty thing to report is a couple of fabric choices. The first is for my three-year old grand-daughter who is crazy about Batman. I'll make her a quick quilt, nothing too complicated since who know how long before she switches superheroes!

There are these fabrics, also. These are my picks for the Meadow Mystery Quilt at Meadow Mist Designs.

Or some Pepper Cory solids. Hmmm, I wish there were time to do this one in two different colour-ways!

I'm linking up today with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social.

Stitching on a Sunday

What a lovely weekend. 

I'm a bit laid up with my back, but sitting is not too much of a problem so on Saturday I took some binding outside to enjoy the fresher day.

We have tried to plant wildflower seeds from time to time but to no avail. This year, my husband started the seeds in the house and then planted them in pots. They have grown fabulously, except for the fact that they have kinda looked like weeds....'til the last couple of days! We are getting all kinds of colour and a few flowers I actually recognise...a couple of poppies, pinks, etc.

Well, the picture doesn't really do them justice, but they are very pretty. Not long after I took this picture a butterfly the size of a Monarch, but yellow, flitted in to check the flowers out!

This morning for my Slow Stitching I will finish the binding on my grandson's quilt. The quilt was actually ready when he was born a couple of weeks ago but I have had trouble putting the time into binding it. It may be because I'm not terribly fond of the quilt. It's ok though, it's only the first of many quilts he will receive from me, I'm sure! Here he is, quilt-less but not for long...

I couldn't resist doing a couple of hearts, too, as I try to catch up on my Quilty365/A Year in My Life....

I am linking up with Cynthia over at Quilting is More Fun than Housework for Oh, Scrap.

The next segment of the Summer Solstice quilt-along was released this week. You can check it out here at Happy Quilting. This week we do the flying geese for the quilt....and mine are done...

Not only do we get to take part in a fun project, but by showing that we have completed the step in a timely manner we get the opportunity to win prizes. Cool!

This will be a baby quilt size, ready just in time for grandbaby # 5 in the Fall. We are referring to him as Baby Mac for the time-being.

Recently I ordered myself a couple of new notions with my winnings from Quilt Canada. I'm almost out of my favourite applique needles so thought I'd try something new that I've read good reviews on....a brand of needles called Tulip. 

Also in the picture is a new needle-threader. My Clover needle-threader has almost had it so I ordered this one by Bohin. I'm not quite sure yet that I like it as much as the old one. We'll see.

Because I bought something new this week, I'm linking up with MolliSparkles for Sunday Stash.

And, like always on Sundays, I'm linking with Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching. Today Kathy reminds us again to take some time from our busy lives to enjoy the moment. I intend on doing that today!

Puppy update

The pups are 5.5 weeks old now, I can hardly believe it. We've had a bit of trouble settling in to a food that is just right to start them on and on Saturday we finally got it right....

This week they go to the vet for their check-up, it will be interesting to see how much they weigh. My guess is 1.5 lbs.

So adorable!

Have a great day!

Another new start....

Here we go! A start to yet another project!

Today is the beginning of the Meadow Mystery hosted at Meadow Mist Designs. The instructions will be given out once a month until next April and are for a lap-size quilt.

I'm not sure about my fabric choices. Do I use my stash and do it scrappy.....and this is what I should do! Or do I use coupons for fabrics at my local quilt shop and get fresh, new fabrics?....which is what I'd like to do!

The problem is, I'm not liking my stash too much anymore :(

I know I've probably said it before but I'll say it again.....I think I've gone thru' the "fabric change of life". 

Reveal day results...

Yesterday was the reveal day for our Shoebox quilts. You can read about the concept in my previous post here.

I just thought I would share pictures of the quilts that were revealed. Eight of the twelve people involved have at least got their blocks into a quilt top, not bad!

First, a star-themed quilt where we had a fabric that was to appear in all the blocks. We all remarked on the whimsy in setting the blocks in a wonky fashion... 

Second, in this quilt we were given a specific range of brightly coloured fabrics...

 Next, a lovely basket quilt with the background fabric and a brown fabric as a unifying factor...

 The owner of this quilt was so pleasantly surprised to receive all beautifully appliqued blocks for her flower themed quilt...

A tree theme...I wasn't fussy on the blocks I had prepared for this one, but they look quite all right in the finished top!...

An "I Spy" quilt, borrowed back from my friend's grandson for the day...

A house quilt, put together in a unique, exciting way....

....and a beautiful star quilt, for which we were given specific colour choices...

.....and we had a quilt still in the planning stages for which we all gave our two cents worth, so I think my friend went home with some fun ideas!...

....oh, and mine, which I've posted about previously...

We all had a fun afternoon showing our quilts, snacking and sharing ideas as we escaped the heat wave for a bit! 

Have a great hot, humid day and maybe have a listen to my favourite Summer song....

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoLogdbVS3U

Reveal day!

A while ago (maybe two years?) a group of us started what we were to call our Shoebox exchange.

Everyone was to choose their own themes and make a block to start. We put our blocks in a shoebox (or something like it) and it was passed through the group once a month. Everyone added to your quilt and after a year (since there were twelve of us in the group) we were presented with our own shoeboxes, full of blocks everyone had contributed. 

In that year, we had not seen what was being added. At the end of the year we had a Reveal Day get-together where we finally saw our blocks. It's been a while now, but we set today as a day to try to have our blocks assembled into a quilt top!

To remind you of my Shoebox quilt, you can look back to post here. 

Here is a picture of the finished quilt, Moonlight Thru' the Trees....

I had hoped to host today's Reveal outside with a bit of a Garden Party feel. Well, Mother Nature has other plans with heat and humidity to feel like the upper 30's! I have a feeling we'll end up in the house with the lovely A/C!

I've always liked to bake, but sometimes success doesn't happen when it counts....for company!

Today I have prepared a treat from Pinterest, Berry Pie Bars. Luckily it has turned out delicious and looks just like the pictures on Pinterest!

 Of course, we had to do quality control....yum!....

I'll take pictures today during the gathering and hopefully the ladies will agree that I can share the pics later in my next blog post. 

It will be so fun to see what everyone has done with their blocks. We had so many themes....snowmen, an I Spy quilt, trees, baskets, fairy gardens, etc.!

I have to show a picture of how my border of FlowerGarden is doing. I'm loving the big beautiful flowers. The one at the top measures 8 or 9" across.

Puppy update

Today the pups are five weeks old. I can't believe how fast the days go! 

We have set the pups up in the living room in a small wading pool to keep them contained when we don't want them wandering about. Now they are getting big enough that we've had two escapees already. 

We've had a challenge starting them on kibble, but now we've found an answer and they are taking to it...

So much cuteness around here this summer!

I am linking up to Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social to see what others are up to today.

Have a great Summer's Day!

Quilty365 Update

Well, it's that time again.

Time to check in with the monthly update on the Quilty365 project, or as I call mine, A Year in My Life.

It's been difficult to catch up as I've been enjoying my FlowerGarden applique, but at least I don't think I'm any further behind than last month!

I'm still determined that I won't give up on this quilt. I will perserve until November when the year of hearts will be complete!

At times it is feeling like a chore to continue, but I've stuck with it for so many days and am still enjoying it. I definitely want to see this one through!

I've had friends donating fabrics they think may be useful. This one for the last day of school for children this past week...

...and the tomatoes....

...this one I actually asked for from a friend to commemorate Canada Day this past week...

I have been sewing them together in date order and everything is looking great. I'm surprised that this has happened twice....

....after sewing the hearts into rows, there are background fabrics matching up to the row previous. I try to use so many different fabrics, it's hard to believe this has happened....twice. Oh, well.

Here is what I have so far....

There are 14 rows of 15 hearts, adding up to 210 hearts. I started on November 11th. I still have some hearts to prepare to be caught up. I think I'll take a bit of time today to do some prepping.

This past week I talked about the ironing table we were working on in this post here. It is complete and being used...

I wanted it fairly tall so we've started at around 37", approximately the same height as my cutting table. I've worked at tall ironing boards on Retreat so knew I wanted something a little taller than the average ironing board. This may be a little too tall but I'll live with it for a week to see how it feels....it will be an easy fix if I decide to lower it a couple of inches if need be. There a couple more shelves to install....I'm just not quite sure what will be stored here yet. Love it!!!

On Saturday I listened to an interview on NPR with Norman Lear (creator of shows like All in the Family, The Jeffersons, etc.). He is in his nineties and still smart and funny to listen to. He was asked what word meant most to him. I always want to remember his reply....he said two most important words in the world are "over" and "next". How nice it would be to just be able to let something go because it is "over". 

Puppy update

The pups are able to scamper around now, so cute.

I was able to get a picture this morning of our cat giving one of the pups a little grooming...

....and here's a picture just because it's adorable...

I am linking up with Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts, and with Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh,Scrap, and with Audrey at Quilty Folk to see everyone else's monthly progress on their Quilty365.

I'm also linking with MolliSparkles for Sunday Stash to show off my new ironing table....I'm pretty sure I was inspired by a blog from there last week to check out Ikea for the cabinet!

It looks like it's going to be another glorious Summer's day and I intend on enjoying it. I hope you can, too!