Time for a Giveaway

Well, I've reached 2500 views, so it's time to give something away.  I know for a lot of bloggers, 2500 views is not a big deal, but for me it certainly is.  So to thank everyone, I have dug into my rather large stash and have come up with 6 batik fat quarters.

To win this, you need to leave me a comment.  For those of you that haven't left a comment before, click on the comment at the bottom of the page.  A new page should open up with a comment box.  Type in the box.  Below the box is a line that says comment as: and then gives you a drop down box of options.  If you don't have a g-mail account, you can comment as anonymous.  However, I will need to know who you are to contact you if you win.  So, if you know me personally, just let me know who you are in the comment section.
You will then click on Post Comment.  Another page should come up that wants you to type in a word, so that we know you are a real person, and not a machine.
If you have any problems, go to my profile and e-mail me and I will try to help you.
I will pick a random number on the 30th of September, and notify you then who has won.  Feel free to spread the word!

Now, I just have to show you this quilt I just finished for Christie.

Christie had me mark a wave border, then told by to do my thing!  It is such a bright and cheery quilt.  It will look stunning on her bed.

It's Wednesday Already

The time certainly does fly.  Here it is Wednesday, and I don't feel like I'm accomplishing very much this week.  A little longarming, a little piecing, and a whole lot of tomatoes to freeze.

My garden is overflowing with tomatoes.  After two different people commented that I had better get to work, Doug and I spent the evening blanching and freezing fourteen bags of tomatoes.  I despise doing them, but love eating them in the winter.  So.......

Back to quilting.  Recently I finished a pillow as a gift for a friend.  The pattern is from Moda Bake Shop.  I just happened to have a little of the fabric the designer had used in her samples. The pillow form I had was larger than the one used in the original pattern, so I adjusted the pattern a little.

I love the corner ties on this pillow.  It solves the problem of trying to square the corners. Check out the pattern and give it a whirl.

A Glorious Day

Today was the MS Rona Bike Tour that I raise funds for all year long.  This year I raised $284 dollars from my Info Sheets that are available at Katja's, as well as from the Westwold quilting ladies who used my Mystery Wheel Pattern.  Thanks to everyone who helped.  A great big thank you to Doug who let me draft off of him most of the way, allowing me to complete the 54 km. ride

The morning started at Riverside Park.  The weather was perfect, still a little cool when we started at 9, but warmed up real quick on the ride.

Barbara and Kevin were among the many well wishers along the route.  With their encouragement and support, I just had to keep riding.  People living with MS are the real heroes!

And when you think the day couldn't get any better, it did.  I went out to Katja's Shoppe for an afternoon of quilting with some wonderful friends.  Joanne and Sue were hosting a quilt day with an awesome Chili for lunch, and Brownies from a secret family recipe.  Noeline had dropped off a few fabric goodies just to sweeten the day a little.

Joanne kept us on the straight and narrow!

Sue inspired us with a couple of tops that she had recently finished.

Katja found a little time to do some piecing.

Carla and Sharon were both deep in thought!

And Sonja, a never ending inspiration to me, was busy as always.

I hope you had a wonderful day too.

Garden Stars featuring Pom Pom de Paris by French General

Garden Stars is made by English Paper Piecing kits shapes to make a star.  The star is appliqued to a feature fabric, then the completed star is appliqued to a background square. The blocks are then set on point with the feature fabric as the inset triangle and outer border. This quilt is an original design by yours truly.  I hope you enjoy it!

The fabric requirements are 2m. of feature fabric, 1m. of background (cream) fabric, .3m. inner border fabric, 1 charm pack (or assorted scraps) and 1 pack of 2 1/2" kite paper pieces. The kite paper pieces are available at Katja's or contact Paperpieces for a retailer near you.

The feature fabric is directional so you must cut your borders and insets first, then use the remainder for the inside of your stars.  Cut two pieces 5 1/2" by width of fabric for the top and bottom borders.  Cut five pieces 2 1/2" by width of fabric for binding.  Cut two pieces 5 1/2" by 47" lengthwise for the side borders.  Cut two 16" squares and two 12" squares for the insets and corners.

For the inside of your stars fussy cut eight 6" squares from the remaining feature fabric.

Lay four of your kite shapes on a charm square.  Cut the fabric with a generous 1/4" around each kite.

Baste the cut kite shapes onto the paper pieces by folding the seam allowance over the paper and baste with large stitches.  When basting the sharp point, let the tail "wag".  When appliqueing  you will tuck the tail in, giving you a sharper point.  For each square you will need twelve kites, times eight blocks, ninety six kites.

From the back, whip stitch the kites together as shown.  Twelve kites join together to make your star.

Pin the kite star onto a 6" feature square.  Applique in place.  Cut the excess fabric away from the back.

Cut eight 12" background squares.  Applique the star onto the background square, keeping in mind that it will be set on point in the quilt. . The feature fabric needs to have a corner as the "up" side.  Remove the basting and paper pieces as you go.  Make eight blocks in total, trying to set the stars in the same position on each background square.  Once the applique is complete, trim the square to 10 1/2".

I used little pieces of tape to mark placement of the star tips, so I could have all the blocks the same.

Cut the 16" squares diagonally twice.  These will by your side inset pieces.

Cut one of your 12" pieces in half diagonally from upper right to lower left.  Cut the second 12" piece in half diagonally from upper left to lower right.  This is necessary as this is a directional fabric, and you don't want your elegant ladies standing on their head.

Sew your blocks together in a diagonal set, using the picture at the top of the blog as a guide.  You will need to trim the insets and corners to 1/4" past the corner of the blocks.
Add a 1 1/2" inner border.  Cut your outer border pieces to fit the quilt.

I quilted the blocks with small swirls in the background fabric, in the ditch the kites and outlined the people in the centre feature block.  The insets and outer border were quilted with a simple ribbon pattern.
After quilting and binding, the quilt should by about 40" x 54".

My Whimsical Quilt Garden

My Whimsical Quilt Garden by Piece O'Cake Designs, is a wonderful pattern!  Earlier this year I was lucky enough to team up with Sonja Marek, to complete this quilt.  Sonja did all the hard work, all the beautiful Applique.  I was given the honour of quilting the quilt.

The hardest part was deciding what to do.  Since it was all hand appliqued I wanted it to look somewhat traditional.  I outlined the applique and then did a ribbon in the sashing.  Then came the border.

The border was plain white muslin with wonderful polka dots appliqued.  I decided to outline the polka dots, and add more dots to the fabric with the quilting.  Since the centre of the quilt had a lot of quilting, I needed to balance it with a lot of quilting in the border.

The quilt is hanging in a spot at Katja's that makes it hard to get a great picture, so this is the best I could do.  This quilt has to be my favourite quilt that I have had the pleasure to work on this year!

Camping at Tunkwa

Doug and I just returned from a wonderful weekend camping at Tunkwa Lake.  The weather was comfortable and the campground was wonderfully clean.  Probably the nicest campground we stayed at all year!

This was the view from our campsite.  A beautiful lake in the middle of the grasslands.

Doug and I rode (pushed and carried) our bikes around the lake.  This is the view from a bluff, with Tunkwa in the foreground and Leighton on the left.  You can see the campground across the lake.

This is me, after pushing my bike up to the top of the bluff.  On the way down Doug had to pack it part way for me.  When they suggest hiking, I guess they really mean it!  Oh well, we had a great time anyways.

Blanche had a fabulous time when we hiked around Leighton Lake.  The running ahead, and then running back, lasted for about 15 minutes, then she was content to walk with us.  Pretty spry for a 9 year old.

Of course, Blanche's favourite duty is guarding the trailer.  Most of the time, with her eyes closed.

I did manage to fit a little quilting into the weekend.  I finished block 9 of Vintage Valentine, while listening to a Dean Koontz book on my ipod.
It was a wonderful way to spend the last long weekend of Summer.

Sunbonnet Kittens

As a retirement gift for a great friend, I was asked to make a sunbonnet kitten out of 30s fabric.  What a great idea!  Of course my kitten had to be purple.  Here she is before I sent her for a little embellishment by Sonja.

Sharon pieced twelve blocks together, and after quilting, here my kitten is again.

The embroidery that Sonja added for me is incredible.  Of course my kitten has a few friends.

Together they make the sweetest quilt.

Gerry was very happy with her gift, commenting that no one had ever made her a quilt.  As is the case with most quilters, no one thinks you would like one as a gift.  I believe as a quilter we appreciate the gift knowing what love and time has gone into it.

Happy Retirement!!!!!!!!!