It's Spring????

Hello there! I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since I last posted! I guess I'd better get off my butt and get some quilts done!

I took a break to whip up some quilt tops for myself. I have been so inspired to make up a few Hidden 9-patch quilts, from my ever-growing stash of fabrics. I had fabric spread all over and didn't want to stop! One just led to another....Well, to be truthful, I only got one finished, another half finished, and another in the planning stages...I won't show you any photos till I actually get them quilted. I've had to clean up and put them away for now, gotta catch up on some client quilts this week.

Over the past few weeks, I've been starting some plants indoors, getting into the gardening mood. I'm determined to do a good job this year! (I hope!) The earliest ones are going to be planted into the raised beds of my greenhouse, and the latest plantings are going to go outside, if the snow ever disappears! Here is a photo of my garden from the house, as you can see there is still at least a foot of snow that needs to melt!

Today, I spent a good part of the day transplanting my tomatoes, and setting up another grow light to accommodate the growing number of pots.

My husband is even getting into the gardening mood! He buys green coffee beans for roasting, and he read that you can grow coffee plants from these beans! So, he soaked some, waited till they germinated, then planted them! They might take a few years to produce anything, but it's worth a try. Then, he can brag that he even grows his own coffee! I'm just glad that now I might get some help caring for all these plants!

It's funny how we check our seeds several times a day, waiting for the littlest bit of green to pop through the soil. Like waiting for that expected baby to arrive! And what joy I feel when it does!

9-Patch Log Cabin

Just finished this lovely blue quilt for Mariette M. It "goes" nicely with the rest of the blues in my quilting room! I might just have to keep it!

There is just something about log cabin blocks that I love. So simple to assemble, yet so many design options! And this layout is my favorite! I love the way Mariette used 9-patches in the center, really updates the standard log cabin!

We chose was an overall leafy-ferny design which was fun to do, and created a neat effect on the back.

Border Collies, Revisited

Remember this quilt, which I posted a couple of weeks ago, well I had an enquiry from someone as to where one could get the fabric and pattern. Well, after a few enquiries, I found out that the border collie pillow panels were purchased from a Fabricland, possibly in the Vernon/Kelowna areas, and the rest of the prints (dogs and sheep) were purchased from Diversity Quilt Shop, in Pritchard BC, (250-577-3494). These hints have not been verified.

Sorry, no luck on the pattern. It should be fairly straightforward to figure out, once you have the panels and know what sizes you are working with. Those are attic window blocks that are used.

Tuesday Nights

Well, I was convinced into having Mona S and Diane P over on Tuesday nights, to do some quilting. They are both relatively beginner quilters, and need abit of help to get some projects finished and others started. It's been a pleasure having them over, and is a good motivator to get my sewing room cleaned up every week for them!

One of our projects has been placemats. We did some curved piecing, machine quilting, and binding application. Here are a photos of the girls hard at work, and Mona showing off one of her creations!

Art Quilt

Last June, a lady by the name of June B, taught a class using Ruth MacDowell's method of constructing art quilts. I think there were about 14 people enrolled in the class, and I was one of those people.

Well, my project is still on the back-burner, but another gal, Diane P, gave me the priviledge of quilting her Apple Blossom wallhanging. It was fun for me to work on this cheerful quilt, just in time for Spring!

That's Diane, herself, holding up her masterpiece!

Tacky Tourists

It was "Tacky Tourist" theme at our annual guild auction this evening. The guild members are such great sports! The event included a silent auction with lots of amazing items, stuff for sale, as well as our live auction, with Donna J as the Auctioneer. We had alot of fun competing for fabrics and devouring the assorted selection of desserts. Most of us spent more than we'd planned while others showed great restraint! In all, it was a great evening, and I'm sure we raised a generous amount of cash to go to some worthy cause!

Black and White Quilt

Just constructed and quilted this "Black and White Quilt" for Tiffany R.

When she saw the B & W quilt my son made for his then-girlfriend (with my help, of course!) over a year ago, she has always wanted one for her own. The only criteria were that it be queen-sized and black and white, the pattern didn't matter, the simpler the better, even just squares would make her happy. Well, just squares didn't interest me much, but I did choose the base pattern from Blue Meadows design(their blog is on my list), it uses big pieces of fabric and goes together fairly quickly. The original pattern has words appliqued on it, (see Debra McCracken's blog, Quiltworx at the Flamingo for her version), but I subsituted with circles and squares, as it just needed something.

Oh yes, and that floral fabric highlighted is from Flamingo Quiltworx's selection, don't you just love it? Modern and "stylin"!!!

I am pleased with the way it turned out. There is just a simple meandering pattern quilted across it.