Sneaking in just under the year!!!

I can't believe it's been just about an entire year since posting.  Shame on me, certainly didn't intend it to be this long between posts, I guess life just gets in the way. Then at some point, posting was done via Facebook, just because its quicker. But not all my friends are on FB.

Baby Quilt

Every now and again I'll try experimenting with some high-key photography, since the sun here provides the perfect back-light. It's an interest concept in photography.  Will apologize in advance some of the pictures used in this blog are repeated from FB.

It has been a very busy year since last posting.  When we got back from Yuma last Spring longarm quilting was top on my list for myself as well as others.  Even had a lady who lives in the South Pacific, Vanuatu, send me a baby quilt that she had hand-embroidered - it was so cute, not to mention well done.  I guess this calls for some clarification, she was visiting her daughter who lives in the Fort St John area and had brought the quilt top with her to be quilted.  Asked her why she brought the quilt top all that way, apparently nobody on the island does long arm quilting plus there isn't power as we know it, many of the people who live there still use treadle machines.  Pretty amazing.

Talavera With Border

If my memory serves me right, I was working on the Fiesta Talavera applique quilt and waiting to get home to do the border.  There were over 320 pieces to put down and stitch.  Good news - it did get completed, but not before my sciatic nerve decided to attack with a vengeance.

Wall Hanging for a client

 It took the majority of the summer into early fall before the sciatic nerve started to play nice.  Then there was another attack right after arriving in Yuma.

Before Paul or I knew it - it was time to return to south.  We left towards the end of October and we were about 2 days ahead of the storm that has never left the north county.  Must say it has been one of the nastier winters in and around the Edmonton area for that matter Alberta and eastward.  It came with a full compliment of snow/ice/snow/freezing temp/snow and more snow. So grateful we missed it. Did mention how much it snowed??

Sandie & Keith

My daughter and husband were down just before the end of the year, and spent a few days. Keith got to golf, so he was happy. Unfortunately their stay was not nearly long enough, they had to return to their jobs and the cold.  Did I mention snow? They were in LasVegas before coming and got married.  They have been together forever, at least 11 or 12 years and decided to tie the knot.  Do hope that they at a future time will put Yuma back on their vacation agenda again and stay longer.


At the moment of this writing, Yuma is very warm.  The warmer weather has arrived about 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule.  Wondering just how warm it will get before we leave in another 6 weeks or so.  We had such a beautiful sunset last night.  It was pretty amazing.  All the neighbours were out with cameras in hand, snapping off pictures like crazy.

Eric Brice @ Tucson

This winter,clogging has been high on the list of activity - even made it to the Nationals in Orlando, Florida held last November, US Thanksgiving week; then in January of this year headed over to Tucson for a 2-day workshop. The beginning of February it was Mesa (Gold Canyon area) for a one-day workshop. It has been pretty busy.

Mills & Welsh @ Gold Canyon

There are several ladies from the Yuma Feet on Fire clogging group that went so it was fun attending these workshops.  All in all must say pretty good stuff.  There is one more workshop to attend on the 21st of February, which is not so far away.  Feel so fortunate to be healthy and able to participate.  Pictures are of the featured instructors at the Tucson and Gold Canyon workshops.

Paul and I joined a local golf group.  It's been great, gives Paul and I together time plus mingling with some the neighbours and getting to know others that live out in the Foothills.

Last Latte Quilt Made 2007

Center Medallion for new LQ

This winter one of my undertakings has been a embroidery quilt...what else is new.  I've made this quilt a couple of times already first one in 2005 and the other 2007; gave both quilts away to family.  It has to be one of the prettier embroidery quilt that I've done, I have such a soft spot for this quilt, it is so beautiful.  It's without a doubt a ton of work - takes a minimum of 150+ hours before it is all said and done, guess that is pretty much standard for these types of quilts, even the Talavera was minimum of that time, then another 3 weeks just to do the quilting. The fabric used in the Latte was bridal satin that was left over from the last Latte Quilt, the fabric had been special order and there was a minimum yardage that had to be order.

laying down 3rd row of stitching

Parasol Block

The 16 blocks and center medallion of the quilt are done. Woohoo!  Of the 16,  four corner blocks are the same - Parasol Block, then the remaining blocks are in pairs.

Whew, it is a good feeling to know that it has advanced this far.  The next step is the sashings and borders, unfortunately I may not have quite enough fabric, so an improvisation maybe required. At the end of the day I'll be the only one that knows.  LOL Once that task is completed the quilting will be started and this time; will be the first that a longarm quilting machine will be used.  Before the quilting was done on my domestic machine. Talk about a hassle. The completed size is somewhere around 90x90 inches.  So at the moment there are many ideas rolling through my mind.  Purposely, I have left more than the usual open space on this quilt just so I can fill it up with super special quilting!!

Started the project once the thread arrived in early December.  Was a bit disappointed with the color of the one thread - didn't look that dark online.  As time progressed and more blocks were completed it worked well. Here are a few pictures of the other blocks. If you look at the completed quilt it will give an idea as to what all the completed blocks look like.


Got a really cool attachment for my sewing machine, instead of sewing a design it paints the design.  Rather fun to do.  Have done one top it is has been washed few times, and the ink is staying well.  So guess that is my "que"  for the go ahead to do more, which in all honesty doesn't take much to prompt me to play!! LOL

Two of Paul's sister will be coming down to Yuma soon.  Sonya and Wilf  towards the end of the first week of March for a few day, then will head off to lovely Tucson to do some fun stuff.  I love Tucson, its a beautiful city, so metropolitan, great shopping not at all like Yuma.  Then Penny and Gary will be arriving in Yuma at the beginning of March and will staying for a few weeks. I do hope we all can get together at some point.

Who's the fairest of all? Not You!

Must post one more picture of a woodpecker that was pecking like crazy all yesterday morning on the chrome of our cargo trailer.  It actually made dents. At first it sounded like someone pounding nails into a board, the noise just went on and on. Guess I should have looked earlier.  It must of thought there was another bird on the other side...not too smart!!

Will close off now....so until next time.  Take care and be safe.