The Old Courthouse Gallery

If you are looking for something interesting to do in Kamloops this weekend, check out the art show at the Old Courthouse Gallery.  Christina, a local artist, is having her first solo art show.  Click here to view her web page which includes pictures of the art on display.

I went to the opening tonight, an was very impressed!  I may have to go back, as one of the paintings is REALLY calling my name.

For a quick change of pace, here is this weeks Hexagon.  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Farmer's Wife Blocks 45 & 46

Grape Basket and Hill & Valley were lucky enough to go on a little getaway with Deanna and Derry.

This was a few weeks ago, and as you can see, the tulips were blooming.

As were the trees.  Can you guess yet were they are, the water is a bit of a hint.

Let's add a bit more of the skyline.

This should give it away.

This is a tour of Vancouver.  Luckily the day my blocks visited, the Olympic Cauldron was lit.

Even Trevor Linden was anxious to play along with my block.  Thanks to Deanna and Derry for showing us all the sites in Vancouver!

After my rather large hint about pictures last week, I received these.  The top two are JoAnn's, who appears to be a little of the game.  The bottom pic is Betty's.  Thanks to both of you.

Monck Park Camping Trip

This week was our first camping trip of the year.  Doug, Blanche and I headed out to Monck Park, located about an hour south of Kamloops, on the shores of Nicola Lake.

A group of deer spent an evening with us.  This is taken on the edge of our campsite.  Their colouring is perfect camouflage for the forest floor in the area.  They bedded down for the night  right next to us.  It was so beautiful to here them calling to each other in the morning.

This was the view from out campsite out over Nicola Lake, to the rolling grasslands on the other side.  This area is know for it's extensive grasslands, great ranching country.

It was a little windy, so we did our best to set up our trailers to block the wind.  Great camping with great friends!

Now to quilting.  We are already on week 21 of the Hexagons.  Wow.

Farmer's Wife Blocks 43 & 44

Joining in on the Quilt Festival has been so much fun.  I've already met a few wonderful quilters.  I've been so busy checking all the quilts out that my blocks had to stay home this week.

So here they are hanging around.....

My pond.  It's a little to early yet for any annuals, but the Azalea is beautiful.  It is one of my favourites and really seams to like it's spot by the pond.  Of course any movement around the pond stirs up these guys.

"The Boys" as Doug calls them, know that people mean food.  The grandkids love to feed the fish, so we try to have them well trained each year to respond to the sight of people.  "The Boys" are obviously not all boys as we have already had them spawn once this year.

Hope those that have joined in with the Farmer's Wife blocks are keeping up.  I haven't received any pictures lately, hint, hint.

Bloggers' Quilt Festival

Amy is hosting a Blogger's Quilt Festival.  My entry for the festival is My Quilt that I blogged about on Friday.

The original quilt that inspired me, was from one of the "Aunt Rosie" books.  The quilt had a split star and a log cabin block alternated throughout the quilt.  For a quilt this size I thought the log cabin block was way to much work, so I substituted a split four patch.  Same effect, but way less work.

The real fun part for me is always the quilting.  I had worked out how to quilt it when I did Sylvia's quilt, and loved it so much that I used the same style of quilting on mine.

If you click on the button below, it will take you to Amy's blog where you will find links to over 400 beautiful quilts.  Sit back with a cup of tea, and enjoy the show!

A Quilt for Me!

Finally, I have the quilt I made for myself, on my bed.  A little over a year ago we bought a kingsize bed so I started making a kingsize quilt.  Since it was for me, there was no rush. Time gets away and the next thing you know it's been a year.  I gave myself a kick in the pants, and finished it up.

Sylvia had made a similar quilt a while back.  I fell in love with the pattern and had to use it for a quilt for myself.  The pillow shams were a little outside my comfort range, but I persevered and now I love the effect.  A special thanks to Noeline who gave my a bali pop and fat quarter pack of beautiful batiks that were the starting point for this quilt.

And of course I can't let a week go by without posting a picture of this weeks Hexagon.

I had previously made this hexagon from a pattern I drafted myself.  When Katja included it as this weeks block, I just had to make another.

I hope everyone has a great weekend, and my fellow Canadians, enjoy the extra long weekend.  Stay safe and have fun!

A Mother's Day Adventure

This week my Farmer's Wife Blocks joined me on an adventure.  Friendship Star and Fruit Basket were out enjoying the beautiful sunny weather.

It is Mother's day, and Laylah's birthday, so we went to.........

The Kamloops Wildlife Park.  The Grizzly enclosure is a hit with everyone, even my blocks!

The Grizzly cub was putting on a bit of a show for us all.

Hallie managed to keep her eyes open long enough for a picture.

And Laylah, as always, had Grandpa wrapped around her little finger.

After leaving the park Doug and I drove to Chase to take my Mom out for lunch.  We had a great visit and headed back to town.  I hope all of you had as enjoyable a  Mother's Day as I did!

A Fuzzy Baby Throw

Recently Katja ordered into her shop, some shaggy minky fabric.  The pile is about an inch thick, and oh so soft and fuzzy.  I just had to make something with it.

I bought a metre of the minky, cut it in half so it was 30" x 39".  I cut a piece of flannel a couple of inches smaller.  I pinned the two pieces right sides together.  By pin I mean every 3" or so.  I sewed the fabrics together leaving a 5" opening on one side to turn right side out.  Then I trimmed the minky and flannel leaving a generous 1/4" seam.  I did this outside because the minky sheds like crazy, and I did not want the mess in my sewing room.  After giving the throw a good shaking, I turned it right side out and then stitched 1/8" from the edge all the way around, closing the opening I had left for turning.

I was very pleased with the result.  I'm sure some baby will just love the texture.

This is this weeks hexagon.  I pieced it as tumbling blocks.  Check out Carla's blog if you want to see it pieced as stars.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Leslie's Wedding Quilt

Leslie picked Vintage Valentine for her wedding quilt.  Luckily I was almost done the appliqué when she decided it was to be hers.

A very special thank you to the talented Sonja, who completed the centre block, as well as three others, for me.  I had stalled and she gave me the incentive to finish.

After several years, the quilt is finished.  I know it will be loved.

Matt could barely wait to snuggle under it!

May 5, 2012. What a beautiful day!

On Saturday my beautiful daughter Leslie, and her charming husband Matt, were married. The day started much like most wedding days with the preparation.

Leslie had us all on a tight schedule, so we managed to make it to the ceremony with minutes to spare.  Mel at St. Andrews on the Square orchestrated everything to perfection.  The ceremony was beautiful.  Matt started to cry as soon as the first bridesmaid started down the isle.  He had everyone in the room crying.  It was so touching!

Mr. and Mrs. Matt Stanley were introduced, then it was time for more pictures.

Doug and I couldn't of been happier.

Leslie's brothers were the ushers, and looked so handsome.  George is on the right, and Harvey on the left.  I was so proud of all of them.

The first dance.  Need I say more?

Leslie's stepsister Julie attended with her family up until the end of the slideshow, and then,,,,,,,

We received a call at 8:30 to head to the hospital.  We made it in time for Hallie to make her entrance.  We were back at the wedding by 10:45, proud Grandparents.

The day could not of been better.  Thanks to everyone (especially Thom) who helped me throughout the last week.  For my quilt friends, of course there was a wedding quilt.  I'll post pictures soon!

Farmer's Wife Blocks 39 & 40

Well, were are they this week?

The two blocks, Friendship and Friendship Block, have travelled a long way to ..........

The Great Wall of China.  Now how cool is that?  Thanks so much to Paulette for taking my blocks on her holiday.

As a little bonus I sent along my fan block.  It is a quarter of a dresden plate block, which is one of Paulette's favourite blocks.  She took this picture at Nanjing.

I am making a few extra blocks as I would like my quilt to fit my king size bed.  I'm not sure how many extra just yet, but I will show them as we go along.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  I certainly did.  More details to come.

Hexagon week 18

Here is this weeks Hexagon.  Thank goodness I made a few ahead, as this week has been insane.  I promise to bring you all up to speed next week.  Have a great weekend everyone!