Quilt Show Report

I know . . . I’ve been missing in action for a long time!  There just never seems to be enough hours in the day lately!

We’re getting ready for a big “Super Sleuth Soiree” Workshop on October 29th and there are a million-zillion details that need attended to.  When we start planning one of these events it takes lots of list making, emails, laying awake at night thinking of things and lots of early mornings, to get everything pulled together.

The countdown is now on and it will be a “done deal” very shortly . . . until we start planning for another one of course .

In amongst all of the planning for this workshop, another group that I belong to in Brandon, Manitoba had their Quilt Show and there was lots of getting ready, setting up and taking down for that event.

I’ll let you scroll through the pictures so that you can pick out patterns that you’ve maybe made in the past or have in your stack right now to do . . . it’s always fun to see the colors and borders that other people incorporate into their creations.

        

There, how did you do?

Did you see some patterns that you recognize?  Or want to make?

Let me know if you need any details on any of the quilts shown and I will track down information for you.

We had four vendors at this Quilt Show, a wonderful lunch, some amazing silent auction items and door prizes.  Getting ready for an event like this does take a bit of effort, but the new people you meet and the memories that are made, far out-weigh the work.

I hope you enjoyed the tour and I’ll be back in a couple of weeks (sooner if I can get my act together!) with a report and pictures of the unveiling of the mystery quilt.

Then I’m going to clean my sewing room!!!!

Breakfast Out

Recently we had the wonderful opportunity of sampling a wonderful restaurant in Winnipeg - The Falafel Place has an amazing atmosphere and is certainly worth a visit.

It’s loud, it’s busy and the food is awesome.  This isn’t your quiet, reserved, elevator music playing in the background kinda restaurant.  Everything is fast paced and you cannot help but be pulled into the atmosphere – lots to experience, taste and see.

The owner runs his ship with a firm hand and everyone on staff seems to be very aware of what their job is and that it better be done fast and efficiently.

Look at that stack of eggs there on the front counter – close at hand and ready for the non-stop rush.  You will also notice that it is CASH ONLY . . . no fiddle fartin’ around with plastic stuff at this restaurant.

  Ah, but the fresh squeezed orange juice is to die for!  You witness them squeezing every orange, pouring it into your glass and then you get to smell it . . . and taste it . . . I died and went to Heaven.  It was worth every expensive penny I paid for it!

I think he knew my daughter was trying to get his picture . . . he’s looking right at us - right?  Remember that episode of Seinfeld ("soup nazi") where they go into the bakery restaurant and then get kicked out?  Kinda felt a bit like that . . . rumor has it that if you linger too long at your table at the Falafel Place that he will ask you to leave so that he can seat more people.  Business is business after all!

Well worth the trip and the experience and this restaurant has now become one of our favorite Saturday/Sunday morning breakfast spots when we’re visiting Winnipeg.

Falafels for breakfast – you bet!!!

Random Acts of Kindness & a Bat

Isn’t this pretty?!?!!?

I received this standing in line at Starbucks the other day.  A very nice man came into the building carrying a handful of roses and presented them to the women waiting in line.  Didn’t matter to him if the woman had a husband in tow or not.

He told me that he has been doing this for a few years and that he enjoys carrying out his little  Random Acts of Kindness and seeing the surprise and happiness that it creates.

After being taken by surprise with the RAK . . . I just had to go a little batty!

Have a great week everyone . . . 

Quite some time ago . . .

I won these wonderful 1/2 yard pieces of Christmas fabric from Myra’s wonderful blog.

Not only are the fabrics gorgeous but the card is also amazing!  Each of the little “quilted” parts of the card are actual fabric pieces and someone has taken the time to ink in the stitches.  What a wonderful package.

The package also came with a pattern that looks intriguing and will work good for some of those large print fabrics that are kicking around.

Thank you Myra!

(Oh, BTW, Myra is hosting a Mystery over on her blog – pop over and take a peek to find out the details)

I’ve been missing . . . once again . . . in action . . . excuses are many – many of the quiltie things that I’m working on can’t be shown yet and the rest of “the life” is busy with work and parents.

I will try and get back sooner than later and I certainly hope everyone is having a wonderful Summer.  Holidays don’t start for me until the last week in September, so it feels like a long haul yet before I can concentrate on getting this sewing room cleaned up.  Weekends are soooooooooooooo short!

Eye Candy For Everyone!

How many of you have joined Pinterest?...

If you haven't yet...

and you love eye candy...

you just might want to go take a peek at what this is all about!

Gorgeous Color Palette

If you don't know what pinterest is...it's a really great tool that allows you to save pictures and links that you find on the internet.

Pinterest

When you save them...you pin them on separate boards like a bulletin board, or an inspiration board.  You can then organize every single pin that you make onto it’s own board.  It's a great way save tutorials, recipes, decorating ideas or even blogs that you follow.

Baked Apple Donuts

All of the photos that you see here are

on one of my pinboards.

Country Sampler Quilt Shop

The beauty of Pinterest is that every picture automatically comes with the link of where it was originally pinned....genius!

Now you don’t have to jot down the location of something that you want to remember or print out all of those decorating ideas or quilt ideas that you see.  They are all organized on your pinboard.

Halloween Subway Art

That means...if you love the picture, you can click on the source link and find out more about it.

You can also follow other Pinterest boards so that you can repin their pictures onto your boards...a wonderful way of sharing creativity:)

If you would like to see my boards and the kind of pictures that I think are inspiring...click here!

Teddy's Sleeping Bags

If you are already a member of Pinterest... and you like what you see...I would be thrilled if you decided to follow my boards.  Remember that I’m just starting out  so there’s not a ton to see just yet, but it is building!

Once you are on a Pinterest site you can type in and search for what types of things interest you and BOOM! - there is an overwhelming selection of photos and links that pop up for you to scroll through.  Of course everyone knows that I’m stuck in Halloween mode right now (and lovin’ it!) – type that in and see what you get . . . amazing!  I’m avoiding typing in Christmas for now . . . but it’s really tempting.  I can’t imagine the ideas that will materialize under that search!

Gathered Round Basket

There  is so much loveliness and inspiration available on the internet...and I am thrilled that I now have somewhere to store all those little snippets that I want to keep for reference.

I love Pinterest...I hope you get a chance to have a look to.

Artistically Challenged . . .

So………………. I took an art class.

and I’m going to show you the teacher’s samples . . .

because mine didn’t work too well . . . not the worst, but certainly need to give it all another try . . . another day.

It was lots of fun though – met new people and learned a few things about painting that I hope I’ll remember when I get another chance to sit down and play.

Right now though I’m going to stick to quilting and Halloween.

Here are my little baggies all ready for some mystery sewing.  We have a class scheduled for October 29th and there are going to be at least 40 stacks similar to these.  It’s going to be sew much fun!

Wish everyone could come and make a mystery quilt with us – that would be even more fun.  In the meantime though you’ll all just have to wait until October 30th for the unveiling of what we all get to make.  I know that I’m going to have four samples all ready to show . . . one is country, one is Halloween, one is teals and pinks and one is purples and rusts.

I’ve got some more Halloween planning and sewing to do . . . I better keep at ‘er.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Inspiration abounds . . .

Here is my inspiration for the week.

I was looking through some old Quilt Sampler magazines (I have them all!) and I kept coming back to this photo.  I love those scrappy stars!

What inspires you?  Colors, texture, patterns, fabric?  You know the feeling . . . the one where you just want to/have to start something new or doodle something on a piece of paper or take a picture of a page out of a magazine!  What stirs your brain into action?

I’m also a tiny bit inspired by all of these little Henrietta’s scampering around my sewing room right now.  They are so much fun to play with!  These Bunny Hill blocks are coming along great – just imagine there are only two more blocks to come . . . I better get stitching them down soon.

I’m also lovin’ these orange and cream pinwheel blocks . . .  which just may go with . . .

this happy little character.

This is only one of four and I love them all equally!  I’m having a great olde time putting this piece together . . . I never know what is going to strike my fancy next and where that little piece will end up.  Right now I’m thinking this will be my super, duper bestest Halloween wall hanging yet!

And then just to inspire myself some more, this wonderful bundle of fabric showed up in the mail yesterday.

Trick or Treat by Deb Strain – gorgeous!  Look at those rich colors . . . how could I resist?!?!  I do have a fabulous plan for these prints and will show you what that plan was on October 30th.

Oh and I had to drool some more!

This was also in the package . . . Countdown to Christmas by Sweetwater.  No plans for this fabric line just yet but the wheels are always turning.

Let me know what inspires you . . . I could use some more pointers!  Vacation starts for me on Friday at 4:30 . . . I want to be super inspired so that I can get more done.  Help me out people . . .

Creepy . . .

sticky, icky cobwebs . . .

everywhere I turn they are clinging to me!

So it got me thinking about . . .

Halloween!

Look at those adorable faces and bats . . . aren’t they sinister looking?!?!?  Wonder where they will end up?

We’ve got a party planned for October and I’m thinking wayyyyyyyyyy ahead here.  Lucky Halloween is such a special day for me and that I love to decorate for it.  I love the colors, the shapes and yes even the . . . mystery!!  Some of you will know what I mean by that :)

Here is a shot of a corner of the yard.  Did you know that this is called “Sipiweske” – definition is Light Through The Trees.  There are some wonderful photos out there that capture this beautifully.

Oh . . . I forgot to mention that it is super hot here right now.  This poor little hot, hot kitty is passed out on her princess blankets (I think there are 4 in the stack) with the fan blowing on her rear end.  Every time I wonder where she’s at I can find her here – age and heat just don’t go together very well - but she is finding a solution of sorts.

Hope you are staying cool wherever you are.  Have a great Sunday!

PhD Report

two more down!

I certainly will not be hitting my lofty idea of getting nine done by June 30th,

(see sidebar for more details)

but I have been able to get 7 completed and about 3/4s of the 8th one done (still working on binding!)

This is a strips & curves pattern that has been sitting in my stack needing to be finished for a long time.  So this was a great push to get ‘er done.

Not impressed with my machine quilting on this one except for when I got to the borders I tried this new little design I found.  Little snowflakey, star type creations that work great with the loopy meander.

This will more than likely end up as a cat blanket . . . not really proud of this one . . . but it is done.

Here is another one that I’m not proud of.  It was supposed to be a Christmas tree skirt but ended up looking more like a watermelon!!!

Also not really happy with the machine quilting I did on this one either – I think I better stick with what I know!

The binding is interesting though . . . learned how to machine stitch the binding down.  Still need some practice – I’m only showing you the part that actually worked.  Maybe if I had practiced on a straight edge quilt instead of a curved one might have made a difference.  Oh, well . . . have to learn these things somewhere, right?

Ugly quilt!!!

The 8th PhD has about half of the border sewn down (machine sewn again) and I’m not sure if I’ll get it done before midnight tonight or not.  Off to help serve supper to sandbaggers tonight so not sure how long I’ll be away doing that and how I’ll feel when I get back.

Either way I feel pretty darn good to get almost 8 PhDs done – that poor 9th one hasn’t gone any further than being pulled out so far.  It will be on top for the next go round . . .

Have a great weekend everyone!