I Spy…..a Canadian Swamp?…..

I have signed up for Karen’s(Sew Many Ways)  I Spy Swap so yesterday I went to three different quilt shops looking for the perfect I Spy fabric.  I really wanted something Canadian…so what did I end up with?   Why swamp fabric, of course!  I couldn’t find ANYTHING Canadian….but these dragonflies caught my eye!  I was in the last and final quilt shop and I do love dragonflies so I thought what the heck…the frogs are adorable too.  I am sure glad that I signed up for this swap as it is REALLY hard to find I SPY fabric….just try!  Who knew….?

These are Canadian swamps, after all….

It’s a good thing…I hope! This is Canada’s newest Quilting Magazine called the Quilter’s Connection!  I finally found it at the Satin Moon Quilt Shop! The first issue is hot off the press….I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet but I DO enjoy the cover wall-hanging…. I bought two copies, one for me and one for a friend!  Hope she likes it!

Also Fiona from Mother’s Cupboard is having a Jelly Roll Give-Away and a Fabric Sale….hop on over for a look.  Very nice stuff!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and Happy Quilting!

First day of Fall…..

I’ve been saving this wall hanging for the first day of Fall!  Isn’t it the perfect quilt for just such an occasion…nothing like sunflowers, crows and fall leaves!  I would LOVE to say that I made this one but alas…no….This wall hanging was on display  at the Fall Fair.  It was stunning.  I  couldn’t take a full picture of the hanging as the quilt was tucked in a corner….in fact I almost missed it!  So I could only take close up shots.  Isn’t it gorgeous?

I tried to find Vicky, the lady who made this hanging as I had all kinds of questions for her….like…did you hand dye the fabric?  But she was no where to be found.  Each sunflower leaf was a different shade of yellow.  Each leaf a different shade of green and brown and they weren’t fully stitched down for the 3D look.  The stitching was beautiful!

Vicky sewed little circles for the seeds as well as stitched on a large cluster of seed beads…a lovely touch!

After looking at the sunflowers, the crows all of a sudden popped out at you.  Very subtle but beautifully done.

A masterpiece- the sewing machine was the paint brush,  and the fabric was the paint and canvas. 

Have a wonderful Fall!

It’s a good thing~ Make sure you check out Karen’s Tool Time Tuesday …..she continues to amaze me!!  As you know, my husband and I are ‘snowbirds’ so every January we head to Arizona and Southern California.  While my husband drives, I sew… Karen has come up with some ‘tools’ to make my sewing easier in the truck!  I am SO going to be checking out the doughnuts, cream puffs, cookie containers….last year I had such a hard time keeping my sewing ‘stuff’ contained.  I used zip-lock bags but I was forever losing my thread, scissors, needle…..AND the hexagon holder- I LOVE it!  I was finding hexagons all over the 5th wheel. And the cup with the lid-I’m going to put my thread in there with the thread coming out and I’m also going to stick my scissors in the hole when I’m not using them.   Thank you, Karen!!  You MUST pay Karen a visit and see these ‘tools’ for yourself!

Have a terrific Tuesday and Happy Quilting!

Fall Fair Fun!

On Saturday I went to the Fall Fair at the local Anglican Church.  I have been going to this Fair since my daughters were little and it is even bigger and better now. (the Fair not the girls!…although the girls are bigger and better…hmmmm). They have a Garage Sale section and of course I found some bargooons.  In the clothing section I found a few wool jackets for felting (whoopee- orange ones for making pumpkins!) and other miscellaneous items (I mean it WAS fill a bag for $4.00 so I just HAD to fill it!  Sheeesh…)

I bumped into some of the hand-quilters from my Wednesday group and they pointed me to the Arts and Crafts section (church) and I found many of the quilts that we quilted and some we didn’t.  Here is Anthea- she made this Irish Chain quilt and hand quilted it at home-just lovely and very Irish, don’t you thing?

Signey shocked me.  I was admiring these hooked rugs (I think that is what they are) I just love them.  My photos do not do them justice!  They are gorgeous- very vibrant and striking colours.  Then I see that they were made by Signey, a fellow quilter….who knew?  Good for you, Signey!  Beautiful job!

This pillow was very lush, vibrant and rich.  Definitely my favourite….in fact it would look fantastic on my green couch…..

Kathleen crocheted this lovely cream coloured afghan.  Lovely….again, who knew that she crocheted!  All these hidden talents…

Marion made this quilt before I joined the group.  It was lovingly hand quilted by the group and I am told it took months and months to finish.    I can see my two dogs stretched out on this pristine  white quilt….in their dreams…!  YIKES!  You know how dogs are….they’re dogs!

Finally this quilt looks like the artist painted (using wax resist would be my guess?) every fish.  Each square was a work of art.  Just gorgeous!

So I had a lovely day –oh I almost forgot the best part-  I met up with some of the ladies and we went to the dessert and coffee tent!  Desserts to (almost) die for! The cemetery was in full view…so you had to watch what you said! I think they positioned this tent here on purpose….so that you would look at the headstones and then the desserts and think …. to heck with the diet- I could die tomorrow!  Hey, it worked for me! Delish!

It’s a good thing-

Jenny of Elefantz has ANOTHER  give-away!  Would you believe she is celebrating having 500 followers!  Wow, I would be nervous writing for 500 quilters!  Yikes…after all what do I know and why would they want to read me?Jenny on the other hand, has a wonderful blog.  Her designs are lovely but it’s not just that…you can tell that she is kind, thoughtful and she has a great sense of humour and it all works together…oh did I mention that she is a great quilter, does beautiful work and has an eye for colour.  The woman is perfect in my books!  Oh…AND did I mention that she has FANTASTIC GIVE-AWAYS!!  Go and check it out! 

Have a marvelous Monday and Happy Quilting!