Simcoe County Quilt Show

I spent a couple of hours at the Simcoe County Quilt show with my friends today. The weather was beautiful.
It is an annual show at the Museum and there is lots of place to sit outside and eat. The food is all prepared by a local church and the prices are right. We sat outside and enjoyed the sun after viewing the show.

 There are two quilts which are the same pattern but treated differently, both beautiful. The quilting on the bargello was fabulous it looks like thread is dripping off the fabric. There were some real beauties.

Update on construction

Mom's addition is coming along nicely.

I am going out to the Simcoe County Museum for the annual Quilter, hookers and embroiders show, It is usually quite good. I will try to post a few pictures tomorrow.

........and a Few More

Here are a few more of the blocks that I have made.

Baltimore Album Quilt (more Blocks)

I was at the dentist today. I have sensitive teeth and when I have them cleaned I have to have about 6 needles of freezing before I can let the dentist work on me. It is kind of stressful, but it is the only way I can manage it and  it's over now for another 6 months.

So far we have had about 12 couples come to look at the house and only one offer (not the right one), I keep praying that the process won't take too long, because it is rather worrying but I am sure in time we will have the right buyer(s) come along.

Here are a few more of the Baltimore Album blocks that I have finished.

Once I finish two more blocks than I will have to decid on simple border pattern. I have just about every book that Elly Sienkiewicz ever published, so I should be able to find one.

Baltimore Album Quilt

Sorry I have been so remiss in keeping up to date on my blog. Our house has still not sold yet and it keeps me busy keeping it tidy. I know it has only been two weeks but it does tend to worry you a bit even though logically I know it will take time. I was home last week helping Mom choose fittings, fixtures, carpet and flooring for her new digs. When I got home I started looking at some of the UFO's. One in particular stands out. My Baltimore Album Quilt. I have about 14 blocks made and I need another 2 at least to make a proper size quilt. I have three more blocks started but I am not so happy with them now.  I think I will start a new one and then perhaps it will spur me on to finish. I will share a few with you over the next few days. At first I decided I would be true to Baltimore and go all red and green. Then later on I added a paisley and some others reds and greens. So it will be colourful. 

The first block we did was a "Papercut" in this simple "Fleur de Lis pattern.

The rose wreath was my favorite. The simpler rose wreath was a class I took with Elly Sienkiewicz "The Queen" of Baltimore Album Quilt Teaching. and if you look hard you can see that she signed block in the upper right hand corner. That was a real treat.   

Construction has begun

Mom sent me a picture today of the hole dug for the basement and foundation of her new granny flat. Now if we could just sell this house.

I Think I Am Hooked

With the house up "For Sale" and wanting to keep things rather tidy, I did not want to get my sewing machine out so I have started making hexagons and so far I have only done a few but I think that I have been bitten by the bug.

For Sale

Officially up for sale. I had a little cry when I saw the "For Sale" sign on the lawn this morning.

Never been this Clean

This house has never been this clean. I had professional cleaners in this week and the house is now officially listed for sale. Just waiting for the "For Sale" sign to be put on the front lawn. I am really starting to get excited now. I am so looking forward to being closer to my Mom. Our new next door neighbour is a quilter and I am signing up for the local guild "Kawartha Quiltmakers". So I should be able to make some new friends.

Last week the dining room table was covered in sewing materials.

Painting and Cleaning

I have a pic of my next door neighbour's son. He is 17 and is a handsome very very tall young man whom has helped me a great deal in the last couple of weeks. As we preparing the house for sale. He has been doing some painting for us. First both our front porch and then the back deck. Now he is painting our laundry room. What a great kid !

  I have lots of progress on my Mom's Birthday quilt but of course I can't show you any pictures because my mother is very computer savey and will see it. That fact that she is getting I am sure is no surprise to her.
I'm afraid that my blogging my be somewhat sporadic as we go through this selling and building process. Please bare with me.

Getting Ready To Sell

Hubby and I for a whole variety of reasons have decided to sell up the home we have lived in for 20 years and move away. My Mom is almost 80 (Shhhh don't tell) and as lively and healthy as she is (in better shape than me) I want to be closer to her. I am her only child left and my husband parents are both gone now. So I really want to be able to spend more time with her. I have my own health issues and Mom is always been able to look after me like no one else. The plan is to build a granny flat on the back of her existing house. Hubby and I will move into the original house and Mom will move to the back.  Mom's house overlooks the river so there is a nice view and her place will be above ground affording us all a great view and our privacy.

The only place where the two residences will join is in the basement where Mom and I will share the laundry room. Her new living room will have a gas fireplace so that in the winter if we don't turn the heat up enough to suit her she can just turn on the fireplace to warm up.Both of us are excited to be decorating a new place.

  I had the carpet in our house professionally cleaned today and I am having a maid service come in and clean. I have had a neighbour lad do some painting to freshen the house up. So wish me luck.

Wedding and The Quilt

Sorry I have been away so long. Sometimes I think that my life is so uninteresting that I don't have much to tell about.
Last Saturday my friend Kelly and I attended a wedding. Our friend Mary's daugther was married. The bride was of course beautiful and here is the final photo of the Quilt that we made them.

My next project will be a quilt for my Moms birthday. I won't tell you which one but it is a special birthday that deserves something really great. I do love her dearly. I will post some pictures of the progress, ( Oh! I guess I can't she will likely look) but I promise that I have lots of interesting news coming up. Please visit my blog and share you comments when you can. I will try to be more up to date with my Blogging.

I'm Back

My computer died a nasty death last week, but I am back now. I will have some new postings soon.

Oriential Vases

My Great Aunt passed away a few years ago and my Mother gave me a pair of vases that belonged to her. I had always loved them. I love the colours in them are so vibrant and the gilding is perfect. I really don't know anything about them. I assume they are Chinese or Japanese Earthenware. If anyone has any information about them I would love to hear it.  I am trying to do a little research on them now.

Quilt Top Completed

Yesterday Kelly and I worked flat out from 11:00 am (after we had coffee) until about 6:00pm (with a break for lunch) and we were able to complete the Quilt Top for the wedding we are attending August 1st.

Even though it was a very simple pattern, it took us three sessions of cuting and sewing to complete, and a little home work in between each session. I have time booked on a long arm to complete the quilting and then there is the binding to put on. Kelly and I are most pleased with how it has turn out so far. Using all batiks really makes it quite beautiful. 

I'd love to hear if any of you have simple patterns using the package of Bali Pops, as I have another now that I received for my birthday. If so please advise where they are posted either on your blog or elsewhere on the web. I would be sincerely grateful. 

Another Lovely Saturday with my Dear Friend

Another Beautiful Saturday with my best friend Kelly. We got together to work on a quilt we are making  for a wedding gift. We are making good progress and it is looking quite lovely. I will have some photo's once Kelly is finished sewing. She is sitting here sewing on the binding as I am making this entry.

Kelly brought our lunch, some delightful Tuna salad wraps. The Tuna salad is filled with all kinds of crunchies like celery and radishes all diced into tiny little pieces, then topped shredded lettuce and cheddar to complete the mixture, all nicely tucked into whole wheat/flax wraps. It was ambrosia. (No Photos because it didn't last long enough)

I made the strawberry shortcake to celebrate my birthday and Kelly brought me a lovely birthday present.

A wonderful new Bali Pop collection in Kiwiberry and the latest edition of Quiltmania Magazine. It has been a really lovely day. But it always is when you can spend it with a friend. 

Drum Roll Please..................and the Winner is!

KAREN #2

I had two Karens among those of you stopped by my blog so that is why there is a number. I had hubby select the name out of a jar to be fair.  Thanks to all of you who dropped by my blog.

Hubby took me out to The Keg tonight for a very nice dinner. It was a real treat.

Well birthday over for another year!

Today is my Birthday

Here I am many years and pounds ago. Happy Birthday to me.

Yet another Wisp (Work In Slow Progress)

I have been trying to finish this little piece for ages. It is a wall hanging I'm making to commemorate a trip to Newfoundland I made with some of my quilting friends. I stitched six inch squares in motifs depicting sewing and Newfoundland landmarks as reminders of the things we did and places we had been. I am finishing the last two stitcheries and then I should be able to put it together. My plan was to put them together simply with sashing.

Birthday Present to you

As I mentioned in my last post, my birthday is this Friday and I would like give one of my readers a birthday present. Everyone loves to get a parcel in the mail.

I am giving away a bundle of 5 Mary Englebreit Fat Quarters and a quilt book. There are a few other small things which will remain a surprise.

Please put leave me a comment between now and 5 pm friday (my time) and I will draw the name of the lucky winner.