Thursday, July 17, 2014

Forest Fires and Babies?


This is what is happening near Banff -- which is an hour and a half from Calgary, my home town. The smoke is billowing into the city and our vacation plans are bust! I am quite happy to have day trips and Porcha-Back-Yarda if the smoke dissipates, but am so incredibly sad for Banff and area. Banff is the tourist mecca of Alberta. It is absolutely incredibly beautiful!

Send prayers out to all those fighting the fires.

Good news today though! I am officially a GREAT AUNTIE! Remember the quilt I was stitching into the early part of a baby shower a couple of weeks ago? Well she has arrived safe and sound as of 1 pm or so this afternoon! I can barely wait to hold her!

 Ayanna and her Mommy are all tuckered out! She arrived weighing 7 lbs 11 ounces and 21 inches long. She's half Hungarian and half Jamaican! I guess I better start making cute little pink things! It's been a long two days -- but both are healthy! Congrats to my Niece and her husband! You've waited a long time for her and we couldn't be happier for you all!

This Great Auntie is tuckered out as well! It's been a day full of a lot of emotions... ups and downs... so off I go to my happier place... checking up on all of your blogs to see what great things you are all creating!

Happy Quilting everyone!

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Hexie Wednesday!

Can you believe it? I actually am posting on a Wednesday! Sadly, I am going to let my hexies go for the summer as we finally have some wonderful weather! I thank all of you for following along and encouraging me! I WILL pick it up again in September! I promise!

So for this week, I sewed up the last hexie and I no longer have any hexies (to match that is) to sew together.


You know what that means? I AM GOING SHOPPING! hee hee! I love all different fabrics! I keep looking for things that catch my eyes!

I'll keep looking all you hexie lovers up and follow your progress! Keep on stitching! Maybe one day we will be able to show off our beautiful hand pieced hexie-quilts!

Happy Quilting!
Margo

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Maureen Cracknell Handmade Giveaway!

Intrepid Thread is sponsoring the below on Maureen Cracknell's Blog. I'm shopped at Intrepid Thread and have found some great fabrics! It's a lovely place to visit when you only have your computer and a credit card! ha ha Check them out!
http://www.intrepidthread.com/shop/Fabrics-by-Manufacturer/Art-Gallery/p/Indelible-Fat-Quarter-Bundle-in-Subtle-Watermarks-x3877557.htm

Maureen Cracknell's giveaway. Check out her link and enter to win!!
http://maureencracknellhandmade.blogspot.ca/2014/07/a-fabric-giveaway_11.html?showComment=1405191591341#c6087993510790156652

 She has loads of great idea and she has fabulous giveaways!

This is just one of the more recent giveaways!

I'm blog surfing today! All my efforts were to be in the studio sewing...butt I have a horrid kink in my neck. Laying down is the most comfortable. Muscle relaxant and sewing machine is NOT a good combo!

Hope you all have some wonderful surfing days as well! I'll be sending you all positive thoughts if you are around the sewing machine and wish  you the bestest sewing day ever!

Cheers everyone! and Good luck!

Margo

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Hexagon Flower BOMB

Well it's Thursday and I totally missed this week with my hexagons! I was on a roll there! Anyone else in the hum drums with me?

I do have to admit that I have been doing things! Baby quilts are all in progress, but I do know that I have to take some time to work on hexagons!

Who's with me????

So tell me...how do you keep motivate on those long-term projects? How do you approach these projects? Any tips?


HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPP! lol

On with my other projects! Hopefully I will have some hexagons to show next week!

Happy Quilting everyone!

Margo

PS...winners of the giveaway -- I have emailed you again. Looks like my other email account is not working for some reason! Congrats and I hope to hear from you soon!


Sunday, July 6, 2014

Baby Baby Baby!

I feel like the little Quilting Fairy! I was preparing for the baby shower my niece was having today! She's the sister of my other niece who is having her baby girl any day now! I sewed until 1:00 a.m. this morning and then back at it this morning to finish off the binding. I had no idea what to do, but thought that some charm squares (baby type) would be great! Then I thought, Oh a Square in a Square, until I figured I should have thought about different color strips surrounding each square. I had sewn on two white strips along two sides when I realized I should have the same color all the way around! Now you all know how much I hate "un-sewing", so I improvised and added pink strips to the other sides and randomly turned the completed blocks. It's a nice size quilt for the crib, and will be great to have out on the lawn in those lazy summers days when the house is too hot! .  (It is about 44" x 44").

I didn't have a chance to wash it and fluff it up after quilting and binding it. It isn't as "rumpled" as fresh washed quilts -- but I had to wrap it and head to the Baby Shower!

The back I pieced and I love the touch of pink that showed on the bottom which I used as a label as I was running out of time!

Every odd charm square, I placed a little free-motion flower -- hopefully they will puff up nice once it's washed. Slowly, but surely my free-motion will improve the more I do. Practice makes perfect they say! I need a LOT of practice! Thank heavens babies are not related to the Quilt Police! 

Next project is finishing off the baby boy airplane quilt. Hopefully I can get that done by the end of next weekend.

Following project is a quick I-Spy quilt for Chef's great niece that was born in May.

I'm a "little" behind, but with these blankets, they get dragged around for years....so better late than never! I think after this bout, I will have to make a few for stand by gifts -- now that I'm getting into the groove of quilting!

Happy Quilting everyone! 

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Hexagon Wednesday! and other stuff!

It is that time again! I managed to get a couple done this week AND I did some other quilting that is a secret right now. I am hoping that my hexagon buddies can help keep me motivated while I get enough flowers for a queen-sized quilt! Maybe you want to try hexagons but were afraid to try! It's easy-peasy! Remember, I'm the quilter that does not abide by the Quilt Police Rules and will short-cut if I can. If you like to do hand-work -- try out a couple. Even if it's not for a full quilt, you can always applique a few to the back to embelish a label, or front of the quilt to give it a little extra! Take a look at my hexagon tutorial on my blog. Just check out the hexagon labels and you'll find it! Forgive me, I'm not great at all the in's and out's of blogging and posting links, so I'll have to bore you with anything labelled "hexagons" as you try and hunt it down!! I'm more than happy to answer any questions about my method. I know a lot of people out there do different things. Hopefully it will all work out in the end. I know that The Youngest won't be tossing it in to the wash and dryer all the time and will take good care of it. 


I now have a total of 144 completed flowers! I am estimating that I need at least 550 flowers -- so The Youngest is going to have to wait for a looooooooong time before she gets it! Here's a picture of how big they are when they are done (and the photo is upside down....but mind you, we all know how to read the ruler upside down!)


Birthday Girl on Canada Day was my Mum! She turned 81 yesterday! This is a peek at her flowers in her back yard. Her yard is so sheltered and is nice and private! So great to sit out there with a nice refreshing Tim Horgon's Cappuccino  and have a great chat! It's exactly what we did after we took her to dinner for her birthday celebration!


 Columbine...one of my favorites! I am hoping that I can snitch some in the Fall and plant them in my own garden!

I've been reading all the lovely comments for my giveaway! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I will be drawing on Friday and notifying the winners! You don't have to do hexie's to enter..I'm just celebrating my 100th post and wanted to pass on something to my readers! You all are the one's that encourage me when my "quilt" days are bad or when my motivation is waning!

I'm been extra busy this week as well with a gift for a baby shower this weekend! As Friday here in Calgary is starting off with the Calgary Stampede Parade, I've taken the day off. Half of which we had off due to the parade heading down our street where I work! I'll be working hard getting the rest of my quilt project completed and hopefully upload it so you can all see!

Head back to my 100th post and enter for my giveaway, if you haven't already!

Happy quilting everyone! See you for sure on FRIDAY!

Yee Haw! Stampede season is here!

Margo