Mostly about quilts and stuff...

Emma checking things out!

I can't believe it is almost time to leave for our southern home.   The warm summer we had is now handing over the gauntlet to Fall, the cool autumn winds are blowing with leaves turning yellow that are falling to the ground.  Many of the trees are bare now, then others are barely yellow.  All in all it is our signal that it is time to go. So many things to attend to before we leave, medical appointments, dental, forwarding mail; ensuring passports are up-to-date, travel insurance, and last but not least, making a list of things to take.  Which each year seems to be a little less. Mostly because we are leaving more stuff south.  This year we will not be taking the motorhome so packing will be different. This next week will be busy filling the cargo trailer.  The girls are good little travellers and adjust quickly, their main concern is just being close to us.

center 

Finished up the last project that had been on the "to-do" list.  When first starting the blocks, way back in Yuma this past spring, it seemed like a really cool idea.  Then it must of came to me in a dream, maybe too, after a glass or two of wine, had helped.  The vision or thought was a center block with applique would be the "backdrop" leaving lots of empty space so it could be filled up with skilled quilting. Now doesn't that sound wonderful!!! That always looks beautiful on other quilts, but for what ever reason it wasn't really grabbing me like I had hoped.  All the colors were coordinated and blended well enough, unfortunately my "vision" was diminishing at an exponential pace. Realizing there was no pattern to follow it was pretty much a "crap shoot' as to what it would look like when finished.  May I be the first to admit that piecing is not my 'fav', love the longarm quilting!  Regardless of how it looks, it's pretty much done.  The binding needs to be put on and it can be put away in the quilt stash and along with the pillow shams that were made to go with it.

pillow sham

Winhouse Quilt - front

A good analogy for longarm quilting - it's  like having a huge art canvas which is the quilt top to paint or doodle on with thread. Doodling has always been a favorite pass time activity. It has been a while doing the hand guided quilting, since getting the Prostitcher (was on a mission to learn how to use the program), so the confidence initially wasn't there, finally everything kicked in - along with the thought "that I'm the artist and this is the way it was planned".

Winhouse Quilt - back

Over this past month did another for charity quilt.  The backing on the Winhouse Quilt really showcases the edge to edge design.  As I have come to realize that the less patterned the fabric is as well as being lighter in color the the more it will showcase the quilt stitching. Which over the years has come to be as important as the piecing itself. The one downfall is the margin of error has to be minimal or it will scream at you with a loud and unforgiving voice, that you screwed up!!

Jocelyn's Quilt

Had the opportunity to do some real custom work on a quilt that my son's girlfriend had pieced.  She did a beautiful job piecing so it was easy for me to visualize designs that complimented the fabric theme and quilt blocks.  It's actually a tablecloth, so hopefully she doesn't mind me putting it on the bed so an over view picture of the completed project. She was very happy with the results.  Of course it goes without saying, if she's happy - so is yours truly!!!  It is kind of a nerve wracking experience in a way, because another person is entrusting you with something they have spent oodles of time, cutting, sewing the pieces together, not mentioning the copious amounts of money on quality quilting fabrics. Then they turn around and pay to have it quilted, so all in all it's not a cheap hobby.  Definitely not like grandma's day when flour sacks were used or pieces of clothing that no longer served a purpose.

Jewelry wraps

Here's pic of a another project that I have done quite a few since this past spring.  They are jewelry wraps.  They are relatively easy and quick to make and make such great little gifts.  Gave one to my cousin, MJ for her cruise in another week. Lucky gal!!  When she showed it to one of her friends, they asked if they could have some made up for gifts.  Wow...paying customers!!!

Back in mid-September, my dear husband celebrated his 72nd birthday.  His daughters, Bonnie and Julie invited us out to lunch.  It was great to see them, and what Paul didn't know was that he would also get to see his latest granddaughter, Calladora, born August 12, and meet her mommy, Tanya. He was thrilled to pieces.  In the picture on the left, from left to right is Tanya, Julie, Paul and Calladora, Bonnie.  The baby was so good she just slept the entire time.  Doesn't she look like an angel.

Calladora

We had Thanksgiving on Saturday, and my daughter and family were down from Cold Lake, and my son was able to make it before heading off to Fort St John.  It will be the last time I'll see them until next spring.  Seems like that is so far down the road, but knowing the way time flys by Spring will be here and we'll all be another year older! sigh...

My son, Rob has made rumblings that he and Jocelyn might come, no promises, just depends on work.  They both may decide on more exotic venues, Yuma is warm, but not exotic.

So until next time....

"There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle."  Albert Einstein