Wednesday 31 October 2012

A Postie Halloween


Halloween should be a fun day, no matter what age you are.  A few of my fellow Posties certainly got in the spirit of the day.  Donna was a wonderful Postie Zombie.


Karen was impersonating a supervisor, clip board and all.


And the Grim Reaper made and appearance!

Of course if you are going to make it a fun day, there has to be lots of food.




It's amazing how quickly a hundred people can devour a table full of food.  Thanks to everyone who baked the ghoulish delights!


This is one of my customer's houses.  Complete with moans and groans as I walk past.  LOL. I'm sure the children will love trick or treating at this house tonight.

Have a wonderful Halloween everyone!

Sunday 28 October 2012

Farmer's Wife Blocks 75 & 76

Rosebud and Sawtooth have recently returned from an excellent adventure!  Chris volunteered to take them with her on her latest globe trotting trip.


This probably doesn't help you figure out where they went.


This might help.  And yes, this is the real thing.


From France they trotted off to Belgium.


And of course, a pit stop in England.

Wow, how I wish Chris had taken me instead of my blocks.  Thanks Chris for the great pictures.


Thursday 25 October 2012

Snoopy Quilting

Sometimes I am asked to quilt something on a quilt, that I have never done before.  Barb asked me to try and quilt Snoopy and Woodstock on her niece's quilt.  Well, how was I going to do that?  I researched (wandered aimlessly) on the internet for hours.  I went to sites that promised they could teach me how to draw the critters.  I spent hours (well a few minutes anyways) trying to draw the figures.  What can I say, I can't draw.
So, not one to give up, I downloaded a Snoopy figure, resized it to what I wanted and traced around it on the quilt.  I gave up on Woodstock as it was just a little too complicated for a continuous design.  The following quilt is the result.




Not exactly perfect, but Snoopy.  Don't be scared to try something new in your quilting design. You will be amazed at what you can come up with (out of desperation if nothing else.  LOL.)


This weeks hexagon is a reminder that winter is on it's way!  Have a great day.

Sunday 21 October 2012

Farmer's Wife Blocks 71 & 72

This weeks blocks are Puss in the Corner and Railroad.  They recently went on a holiday with Cheryl.  It looks like they had a lot of fun.




Just look at that tile on the floor, wouldn't it make a great quilt design?


Just in case you hadn't guessed where they were, this picture gives it away.  A big thank you to Cheryl for showing my blocks such a great time!

Saturday 20 October 2012

Still Hexing Along


My Hexagon quilt is coming along nicely.  This is the top two thirds of the quilt.  Just a few more blocks to go and then I can add borders and finish.  Oh my goodness, what am I going to start next?  This year has been fun with hexagons and The Farmer's Wife.  I will need a new challenge for next year.


Here is this weeks block.  The great thing about working with batiks is the great selection of colours that all seem to go together.

Last night there was snow on the hills around Kamloops so it is definitely time to think about projects to make inside where it is warm.  The garden is put away and it is time to quilt.

Have a great day everyone!

Thursday 18 October 2012

Terry's Quilt

The Postie quilting group that I belong to tries to make quilts for our friends that retire from work.  This year one of our own was retiring.  Because we wanted the quilt to be a surprise we handed off bits and pieces to each other until we had a finished top.  After it was quilted, it had to go outside for a photo.


I just love this picture.  The binding wasn't yet done, as I handed that job off to Rae.


The quilt was a design that I had seen a picture of on Bonnie Hunter's blog.  I loved the pattern and knew it would be perfect.


Terry's last day at work arrived, and we gave her the quilt.  She is hiding behind it because the tears were flowing.  I must admit that I had a tear or two in my eyes as well.

The quilt now has a place of honour on Terry's bed.  I hope she enjoys many years snuggling under it!

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Sorrento Retreat Photos

Last weekend's retreat at Sorrento was fabulous.  I'm alway inspired by all the projects the other women are working on.  First up is a group project.  One of our quilters had to cancel at the last minute because of a family emergency.  We all wanted to send her our thoughts and hugs, so what better way to do that than with a quilt.  Everyone contributed some of the fabric that they were working with on the weekend to make a lovely scrap quilt.




As you can see there was a great deal of discussion on placement of fabric.  All the more fun when everyone can give an opinion.


This stack n whack quilt made it's third appearance at a retreat and is finally finished.  Woohoo Carol!





These are a few more completed tops from the weekend.  Don't you just love how Lorraine's shoes match her quilt in the last picture!

Sunday 14 October 2012

Farmer's Wife Blocks 91, 92 & 93

This weeks blocks went away for the weekend with me.  Strawberry Basket, Streak of Lightning and Swallow were enjoying the wonderful fall weather we are having.


The first frost has hit and the leaves are turning colour.


The Sorrento Centre is where a group of friends get together each fall for a quilting retreat.  The grounds are beautiful this time of year.  I will post more retreat pictures later in the week.

I want to share with you today some pictures from three women who are keeping up (mostly) with my Farmer's Wife quilt along.


Jo-Ann regularly sends me pictures.  She devotes a little time each Monday to piece the blocks and is right up to date.


Roxy is right up to date as well.  This is a small sampling of her blocks.


Here is Deanna's design board.  Great job everyone and thanks for sharing your pictures with me!

Thursday 11 October 2012

A Quilting Day with Friends

Last Sunday I had a fabulous day with friends.  We got together for a quilt day at Katja's Quilt Shoppe. The day was hosted by Joanne who cooked us a fabulous lunch, leaving even more time for quilting.


This is Joanne's Moroccan Tile quilt.  She had taken a class with Carla on Friday night and then showed up Sunday morning with it finished.  Wow!


Carla was busy making another sample for Moda Club.  I can't show you details, as it is a surprise.


Sonja was marking her Vintage Valentine quilt so she could hand quilt it.  I can hardly wait to see it finished.  With how quickly Sonja works, I'm sure it won't take long.


Katja was working hard and laughing lots.  After all, that's what a day with friends is supposed to be all about.


In a couple of hours Noeline had this cute little baby quilt pieced.  She joined her fabrics together into one long strip and then sewed them together jelly roll race style.

I neglected to get a picture of Sharon's quilt in progress.  Sorry Sharon.

This weekend I'm off to a retreat with another group of friends.  My projects are packed, goodies are in the car and I'm ready to have more laughs and quilting time with wonderful friends.


So I leave you with this weeks Hexagon.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Sunday 7 October 2012

Farmer's Wife Blocks 73 & 74

I hope all my fellow Canadians are enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  Doug and I just came home from a lovely turkey dinner hosted by my equally lovely daughter.  Since I'm in the middle of a kitchen reno, Leslie kindly offered to host the big family dinner.  It was such a treat to have someone cook for me.  Thanks so much to Leslie and Matt for their hospitality!

Now on the the Farmer's Wife Blocks.  I miscued a little with sending my blocks on vacation, so blocks 71 & 72 will appear shortly.  This week we have Rainbow Flowers and Ribbons.


They went on a beautiful holiday with scenery like this to admire.




Wonderful quilt teachers like Marti Michell, Sylvia Pippen and Nancy Odom.


And even a quilt store to visit.  Thanks to Doreen who took my blocks on her Hawaiian quilting cruise.  It looks like they had a great time.

Have a great week everyone!

Friday 5 October 2012

A Hometown by Sweetwater Quilt

This sweet quilt belongs to my friend Bev.  She asked me to quilt it so the blocks popped.  Here is a before picture.


And now for the after!



I stitched in the ditch for the block and then used my current favourite filler for the sashing. The border fabric had these adorable circles, so I quilted around them to make them pop as well.


Bev put a plain muslin fabric on the back, so the quilting really shows.  Thanks!

Now for last weeks winner of the four fat quarters of batik fabric.  My random number generator has picked Kelli as the winner.  I do follow her blog over here.  Check out her donkey named Reubenita.  Just too cute!


This is this weeks hexagon.  How quickly this year of hexagons is passing by.