Sunday, 15 November 2015

A visit to Sparta

What a beautiful looking day! All sunny and no wind....although I hear we are in for more wind mid-week, similar to the wind we experienced last week, yikes!

I had a full day yesterday, starting off with the introduction of the new Border Creek Station mystery club called "Quilters' Legacy" being hosted by Quilt Junction. The pattern in being offered is two colour-ways and here is the stack of lovely fabrics that I will be working with....
I was really having trouble liking the green fabric, so I've had to swap it out for the red one in the picture....this feels so much better for me! I hope I haven't compromised my quilt, but probably not. The fabric line is Mon Ami by Moda.

I'm still determined to keep up with doing a heart per day for my version of Quilty365. It's funny how things work out sometimes. I had thought to do a heart in memory of the awful news out of Paris this weekend, so I appliqued a blue heart on Saturday....then went to the first mystery class. At once I noticed that the above green fabric is all about Paris, going so far as to have pics of the Eiffel Tower and the word Paris....

So bizarre! So today's heart is a no-brainer...


For more on this project, visit Audrey over at Quilty Folk! I swear this is only taking approximately 15 minutes of my morning applique time....worth it!

After my morning at Quilt Junction, we headed out for an afternoon drive to Sparta, Ontario. I have never been but heard a lot about it through friends. Of course, the first thing people say is that you have to get the candles!!!

So, yes, we bought candles...lots of them!....but most will be stocking stuffers.

Everything in Sparta is quaint and the buildings/architecture is old. Lots of little shops, featuring different artist's studios, as well.

Sparta Candles...

A shot basically capturing most of the town....

There were many quilt blocks on buildings and barns in the area, but I only thought to get a picture of two....

We took the opportunity to visit a couple of the local wineries, Quai du Vin (I meant to ask how to pronounce it, but forgot) and Rush Creek Wines. They were both lovely and friendly and we'll visit again if we are in the area.

I didn't realise that Rush Creek was all fruit wines, no grapes. I think a little-known fact is that if you are one to get migraines from wine, that it is probably the tanins from the grapes and fruit wines shouldn't bother you...at least this is what I have been told!

I bought a nice Pear wine which was much like a Reisling and another berry blend wine that I thought would be great for the Christmas table...yum!

It was an adventure finding one of the wineries....I'm sure we missed the "easy" way but we saw this tiny, tiny sign and followed it....

It led us along a winding, steep road that, I have to admit, made me scream a little, but we eventually ended up where we wanted to be!

Needless to say, after a busy couple of days I was ready for some extra applique time this morning. I'm still stitching away at my Auntie Green's Garden. I think, at this rate, by the end of the month I'll have both side borders done.

Have a visit with Kathy over at Kathy's Quilts to see what others are poking at today!

Have a great day!

P.S. This is a message for RG....you have swayed me, as evident by the return of the Allietare button off to the right! lol










8 comments:

  1. I like the heart idea for Quilty 365 and your Paris heart, of course.

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  2. Ooh, hearts - that is a nice variation on this project! 15 minutes a day certainly sounds do-able.
    Your trip to Sparta sounds fun!

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  3. Your applique is lovely!
    Just down the road from the main street, you will find "Winter Wheat", a fun, whimsical place to visit. Stroll through the gardens and forest, and explore all the offerings of the gift shop. Also nearby is a lavender farm with gift shop.

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    1. Do you actually live near Balmoral, Ontario....because I do!

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  4. I love Riesling, so I am quite interested in the pear wine you got. My dad made wine when I was a kid and I remember him making peach wine which my mom and all her friends loved because it was sweet. :0)

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  5. omgosh, I was just thinking I want to do the circles but might do hearts instead. Aren't you clever to be my sew sister! Of course you've actually made something and I'm still a thinkin'
    LeeAnna at not afraid of color

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    1. Cool ! I hope you do hearts, too, sew sister!

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  6. I'm really intrigued by the quilt blocks on the front of the buildings - I assume they're painted and not made of fabric? At least you don't have to look to hard to find a quilt shop - unlike here, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack!

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