Blooming Quilt

I’m ashamed to admit that we don’t have a quilt on our bed.  We both prefer a duvet, but we just bought a new headboard recently and I think the bed is crying out for a quilt.

I decided to make a Blooming 9 Patch and here are the fabrics I’m using:

I have all but one of the strip sets finished and since I’m going on Retreat this weekend, I hope to come home with a finished top.  That might be optimistic as I get bored quickly, but that is my aim.

Last week, I went to Ste. Anne’s Spa with two ‘old’ friends.  It’s located in the middle of nowhere in an idyllic country setting with amazing views.

The blue in the lower part of the picture is Lake Ontario and this was the view outside our window.

We took a one hour walk through a cedar forest and when we came to the opening, the Spa was ahead on the hill.  There was still a lot of colour, as you can see.

I think I’m a very brave woman for posting this next picture of me without a drop of makeup!!!  This is my forever friend, Trudy.  We’ve been friends since we were 5 – you do the math!

Lions and Tigers and Goblins, Oh My!

I haven’t shared any pictures of my grandkitties lately, so this post is dedicated to them.  They are all rescue kitties, approximately the same age and they get along beautifully together. 

Here’s little Abby, our princess, all ready for Halloween.

She is such a good natured cat, so loving and tolerant as this picture attests.

Then there is our little cross eyed Lucy all decked out in her finery. 

Here’s Abby again, with a change of outfit.  If she could talk, I’m sure she’s saying – Get This Off Me NOW…please.

Not to be outdone by Abby, Lucy needed to model the hat too.  She looks like she’s scaring herself!

Miles wasn’t up for a photo shoot – he left that to the girls as he’d rather curl up and sleep (typical male).

He looked so comfortable, the girls thought they’d give it a try.

They really are the best of friends.

Dishes Anyone?

When I first started quilting about 6 years ago, I bought a lot of novelty fabric….and florals.  I’ve gotten over the urge to buy the novelties, but florals still call my name.

In my travels, I’ve seen these cute tea towels with a strip of novelty fabric on them so gave it a try.  I’m not sure if tea towels is a British expression and you might know them as dish towels, but all my life they’ve been tea towels to me – the ones you dry the dishes with.

I initially cut out each square and satin stitched them onto the towel, but I didn’t like how that looked, so just went with the strip right across the towel.

Sandra, I hope you like the 2 sets of penguin ones because they’re for you!

I also found this with my Christmas fabric

so I’m going to make some of these up and donate them to Animal Aid.  Who wouldn’t want to dry dishes with these cute little faces looking at you.

I’ve made about a dozen towels so far and I’ve used about 2 strips of fabric – that works out to about 6”.  I guess this isn’t exactly a stash buster!

As Bon Jovi says “It’s My Life”

My blog has become boring – I know it, you know it.  My blog used to represent who I am and what I do, but somewhere along the way, it’s changed and I’ve kept what’s really going on in my life off my blog.

Three days a week I visit my mother in a Behavioral Unit for Alzheimer and dementia patients in a long term care facility in Mississauga.  This is just a temporary placement with hopes of getting her behavior and pain stabilized so she can go into regular long term care.  She has been IN hospital more days this year than she has been out and I was visiting her almost every day.  For the best part of a year I have been getting calls at all hours of the day and night and it sucks the life out of you. 

It’s hard to be witty and entertaining with all this going on.  I’m not looking for sympathy – I know there are thousands of people just like me dealing with the same thing but it doesn’t help that I’m an only child and we have a very small family.   Throw in triple by-pass surgery for Leo in the middle of all this, and you can see where I’m coming from.

It’s pretty hard to take daily verbal abuse for being such a lousy daughter.  You would think it would get easier as time goes on, but it doesn’t – it gets harder. I’ve already given Sandra instructions to push me in front of a bus before I ever put her through what I’ve been through.

Since what I am dealing with is such a huge part of who I am right now, I just needed to vent.  Please – no sympathy – just make me laugh.

I got two more blocks of Lovebird Lane finished.

 

I’m going to give this a break for a couple of days as I want to make some dish towels.  I’ve seen them done in a couple of places – they are so easy but really look cute, so stay tuned.  Besides, it wouldn’t do to actually finish something!

Lovebird Lane

I’m kind of wishing I’d sat on my hands a little longer before ordering this block of the month.  It’s not that I don’t like it – I do, but I have no idea what I’m going to do with it and I’m not looking forward to quilting it as it’s all going to be background fill which isn’t one of my strong points.

This is the first block – I’m only about 6 months behind!

It’s pieced and appliquéd with a few finishing touches by hand embroidery. 

I have a few more pictures from the Quilt Show I’d like to share.  I don’t think we ever tire of looking at beautiful quilts.

I liked this quilt – in fact I think I bought the magazine a couple of years ago that it was featured in.

This one was wool felt appliqué.

The picture doesn’t do this wall hanging justice – it was stunning!

I’m always drawn to blue & white quilts, and this one was no exception.

I think I need to make one of these.

The quilting on this wall hanging was outstanding.

I have a few more Quilt Show pictures left, but I have a feeling this will take forever to download, so I’ll save them for my next post.

Strawberry Fields

I can’t remember why I called this quilt Strawberry Fields – I have a feeling the Bali Pops I bought were called that, but I’m not sure.  This pattern was a give away at a local Shop Hop a couple of years ago.  It was designed by Nancy Nigh who owned Gone To Pieces Quilt Shop. 

I finished the top quite some time ago, and finally got it quilted.  I used the Vibrance panto on this one, and Superior’s King Tut variegated thread. 

Lee and I went to the Brant Heritage Quilt Show yesterday in Paris, Ontario.  Here are some of my favourites from the Show.

There were a lot of bargello quilts – and there were a lot of stack n whacks – obviously a lot of people took the same class!

I thought this thread painting was stunning.

I loved this one and when I got closer, realized it was 100% silk – all made from ties!

This jacket was also made from silk ties.

 

This was one of my favourites.

It reminded me of Nova Scotia which is one of my favourite places.

I have lots more pictures, but I’ll save some for another post.

After the quilt show, we went to Mary Maxim.  I’m sure it’s been at least 20 years since I was there and I had no idea they sold fabric (probably just as well I didn’t know!). 

It’s Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada so tomorrow is a holiday.  I’m off to the Rockton Fair with Sandra & Darren.  I’m not sure if I’ll take my camera or not, but Sandra rarely leaves home without hers, so if there is anything picture worthy, I’m sure we’ll be covered.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends.