Happy Canada Day

Finished all 3 quilts!

My mom and I have been working on 3 quilts to give to Fort Mac people who have lot their homes to the wild fires in early May. I can not imagine what they have been through. First running from the flames not know what will happen to their homes or jobs.  I can only hope these quilts can give them a big HUG. 

This quilt was mostly blocks I received from 2 internet swaps that used the Kaffe Fassett collection of fabric. I also made a block for myself with the same pattern I used and sent out to others. I thought this was a very good use for the blocks. So back in May I had a stack of homeless blocks. Now a quilt. 

I started this quilt the weekend the Leduc quilt guild had a big sewing bee for Fort Mac. I used lots of fabric off the donation table. Then I added some of my Hawaii fabric too.  It has turned out very cute. 

I did the machine quilting for all three and my mom did the binding and labels for all three. We make a good team. 

This quilt was mostly pieced by my Mom. I had a stack of 16 patches and 4 patches left from a old project. There was enough blocks still to make another quilt. It is the 3rd one like this. It is beautiful and soft. 

I have added this to Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday

Design Wall Monday April 14

I have a really great looking design wall today. I have joined a Kaffe Fasset Block exchange and I am starting to get some of my blocks from the other ladies. I choose a 11 1/2" Log cabin block. The three rows on the left are my blocks that I have built. The three rows on the right are the blocks I have got in the mail so far. I got the bottom right two blocks just today. I will have so much more fun when I really start to move them around. I have not got these laid out in a special order yet. 

I have added this to Judy's Design Wall Monday. 

Edit: I was asked how to make this block. I have directions on this post -  11 " log cabin block. 

My puppy needs me. She is now 5 months old. 

Tin Box Exchange

Tuesday is normal a stitch group day but we are going shop hopping on Wed this week. I thought I would show you the Tin Box Exchange I did with the Leduc Quilt Guild. I won the Spring box at the end of the exchange. There were six blocks in the box. I love the robin Diana did, and the cool thing is my little red bird I did went to Diana. We each got each other's birds.

Two more make six. I have no idea what I will make with my blocks. I can add blocks. I might make a runner. We are now challenged to finish it and show it at the September meeting.

This is the tree I did for the box. It is scrappy.

My friend Janet was not able to make it to the meeting and I picked up her blocks. So then I can take photos and show you what her box looked like. She was in a different group of six people so I did not make any of these or see then travel around.

The basket with the holly is sweet.

I have linked this post to Linky Party Tuesday-19, go check out other quilt posts.

Edmonton Guild Wrap Up

Wednesday night was the Edmonton Guild Dinner. We had a raffle of some 40 Bead and Button creations. I was the lucky winner of two of the prizes. First was this beautiful Button and Bead ball. I was thrilled to win it. If I did not win one of these I was going to have to make one. I did not hear who made it. Thanks you maker. Maybe my friend Kathy knows.

It has three little charms hanging from it. I will have to find a good spot in my sewing room for it.

Now I will tell you, I took my camera but when I got there the battery was dead. I did not get any photos of the guild challenge. I had started a challenge quilt but did not get it done. I now can not find it in my sewing room. I'll show it someday in it's unfinished state.

This is the second prize I won. A pretty little button tree. Some for the buttons look very special. Again thank you maker.

We also finished up our block swap. I had done two blocks to exchange with the Napa Valley quilt guild. I got my blocks back. The top one is a photo transfer. We also got a guild pin. Our guild provided the Napa Valley ladies pins from us too.

The sea themed nine patch is my traditional block. Nice bright and cheery fabric. We had a little confusion with the exchange. Turns out we were to give them a Fat Quarter as well, but we did not know till a few days ago. I handed in two FQ but then I did not get any back. Thanks You Napa Valley Guild.

My friend Janet was not able to go last night and asked me to pick up her blocks. I will see her next week so I can give her the little pile of quilt things.  This cat on the grape wall is one of them and the balloon below is her second one. She got FQ's with her blocks. I sent FQ for her partners too.

We had a great night. Good food, good friends and good times. Only bad thing was my dead camera battery.

Saturday is UFO day or Quilt Till You Wilt day with the Leduc guild. I have to make some pot luck and pack for my sewing day. I am really looking forward to it all. But what project(s) to take?

Design Wall Monday Block Exchange

Good day everyone. I hope your Mother's day was a good one. Mine was. I did not get much time to sew because we were so busy.

Let us take a look at my design wall today. I have called this block "Alberta Fields". I have signed up for a block exchange with the Edmonton and District Quilter's Guild. Our guild and the Napa Valley Quilt guild is doing a quilt block exchange and the blocks are due in Wednesday. Alberta Fields is my block for the non traditional group and measures 12 1/2". I have used some of my hand dyed fabric and then added long stitches to the bottom of the yellow field.

This block is called North Winds. I have used some rose prints as the flower for Alberta is the wild rose. I kind of laugh at north winds, as I am sure in winter the ladies in Napa Valley do not look forward to getting north winds from cold Alberta. I have added today's post to the linky page on Patchwork Times. If you would like to see more Design Wall Monday go check it out.

I gave my Mother a new seam ripper for Mother's Day yesterday. Her's is on the bottom and mine is the one on the top (mine is an old one and was a test). I have been playing with polymer clay for years and find I go back to it sometimes. I made a cane of clay, black dot then white and black then added green and back to black and white again. I then slice disks of colour from a cane. Mom's seam ripper has a couple of larger canes and then the small size.

I also covered this little tin lid with the rest of the cane of clay. I drink tea and love to buy loose tea in these tins. I am not sure what I will store in my little tin now that the tea is gone. I may have to decorate the side of the tin next. If you want to see the cane work I did a post sometime ago on Cane work.

Design Wall Monday - Mystery Results

We had our big mystery day in Leduc on Saturday. The Black Gold Quilt Patch bought in the PQM Prairie Quilt Mercantile ladies to do a mystery quilt. My mom and I had a good time sewing and talking and we got lots done in part to Myra who ironed all day for us. One of the ladies brought her NEW boyfriend to iron fabric. He was a hit. His name tag got "Iron Man" added to it. I had asked my boys if they would come and iron but not unless I had offered money.

Now to go make the link to the Patch Work Times Design Wall Monday

We arrived on Saturday with our fabric cut out. Then were given each step, one at a time. I really like how my dots and lady bugs came out.

This is the quilt in rows on the floor. I am guessing but I think this was around three in the afternoon. I got all rows together and the two out of three boarders on before we left.

This is the results of the fat quarter exchange that we did at the guild meeting. It turns out I took 40 fat 1/4s and then I also won three in a draw. I did come home with a few of my own fabrics. I now have more new fabric.

I missed out on doing my rainbow scrap challenge this week. I will have to take a look and plan for Saturday. Mom and I hope to sew together on Saturday as our Mother's day thing.

Tin Box Exchange and Agility

The Black Gold Quilt Patch of Leduc meets tonight. The Tin Box Exchange is due tonight and I got it done without it being very last minute. This box number is 4 and the theme is Winter. The fabric we were to use was the dark blue print on the bottom right of the photo. I think this is my last box but there is one block missing. I think we had someone join this group late and they have not done this box yet. After they are all done we will be drawing for the boxes.

This is the block I did for the box. I found a pattern for a bird in an older Debbie Mum book I had and I changed a few things about it. I wanted to just appliqué one red and then do the hand embroidery to show off the wing, eye and beak. After I added the bird I thought it needed a branch to sit on so cut my block and added the brown stem then added the out row of half square triangles.

Also at the guild meeting tonight is a Fat Quarter exchange. I have gone though my fabric and thought I would take these to exchange (30). I hope other members have some good fabric to trade with me. Some of the fabrics are hand dyed and some are just older stash fabrics. I will have to let you know what I get in exchange.

Yesterday was our first outdoor agility class for the season. I took my camera and got a few photos. Here I have asked Lex to 'Go Tunnel" and that is what he is doing. I am heading to the next jump to direct him over. We have so much fun. Also last night was the beginning of the boys outdoor soccer season, both boys teams lost their first games. I took Lex to sit on the side lines with me. He is one tired puppy today. It was very cold to sit and watch. I got a blanket and mittens and hat out.

Tin Box Exchange Round #5

Tonight is the Leduc Quilt Guild meeting and my block for the tin box exchange is due. I started it at 4 pm today. I am just getting it done in time. Any later and I would have to add $5 to the box.

This box had a theme of Special Occasions  and the fabric has balloons on it. I forgot to take a photo of the fabric. I thought Special Occasions needed a bow. I made my unit 1" and made the block 8 1/2" square. I only had a photo of a bow block and it is made mostly with triangles and squares. So easy peasy, Just silly to do all those little pieces with about 1 hour to do it in.

Here are the group of blocks done so far. There should be five by now but I guess the group is short one person. We may end up only having 5 blocks in our boxes.

I have to be honest,  I almost forgot about the block today. I had to get back to the weekly routine after holidays. Must go to meeting NOW!

Good mail

I got this great frog in the mail this week. He is a thank you gift from my Betty Swap I was in for Christmas. Margaret, my new Cajun friend, was who I sent a big box of goodies to for the swap. She has made the frog for me as a thank you. He is a pin cushion and a thread catch. Perfect for beside my sewing machine. The lime green batik fabric is one of my favorite fabric ever. She has also sent me a stash of Fimo clay because I work with polymer clay sometimes too. How lucky am I!

Betty Swap 7 Cards

I am doing a Betty Swap on Two Peas in a Bucket. We had to send in a soup recipe on a 6 by 6 Page with some embellishments. Here is my card on a pull out tag and pocket page. I think there are 20 of us so I will get back 19 other recipes cards that can be made into a book.
There are a second part to this swap. I am to send a list of things to a fellow Betty. I Christmas movie, Christmas story, Christmas CD of music, A winter hat scarf set, Some scrape book stuff, A reading Book, I would have to check my list twice. I have made a few things for my partner. I will be getting a package from another Betty partner too. I did this swap last year around Dec. It was a lot of fun.

Altered Album Swap

I hosted a Altered Album Swap on Two Peas in a Bucket this winter. I worked on this Vintage Christmas album for my partner Pam in CA. I started with on of my son's old children' board books. This book had a great shape with each page being a different shape on the left side. Note the hanging orniments I did. I got the idea for ornaments from Tim Holtz 12 days of Christmas tags on his blog. I also did many tags for inside the book. I used a few recycled things in the book. Tool from my poinsettia wrapping, some ribbon, some Canadian stamps.
I used mostly Graphic 45 Christmas Past line of paper.



Here is the back cover. I spent days and days trying out different paint options to get the old crackle paint that I wanted. I tried red on top of cream and about three different brands of paint and three crackle mediums. When I got the look I wanted, I then tried out the different ink options too. I used ink on all edges inside and out side the book. I think Pam was pleased with her book. I got a great vintage book - try to post soon.

25 Days of Christmas swap

I was in a swap on Two Peas were we each made a small gift 25 times and exchange with others. We get back 25 different little gifts to open. I was day 12. I made this altered candy tin with the candy cane earrings inside.
I love seeing them all lined up and finished.
Here are some of the supplies I use: Ranger Alcohol Inks, sealer, glue for metal, paper flowers and metal brads.

More Charms

Here is a photo of many different charms I have made in the last month or so. A few of the charm swaps I am in are Valentine's Day themed. The little blue puppies are for a Kawaii themed swap. I am off to work on the next batch of charms.

Fruit Themed Exchange

I am in a Fruit Themed Exchange. This is just one of the groups I am in. I have made five paint brush rolls. I used a jean pant leg for each roll. I used what hems I could and added the strawberry and a ribbon to tie it closed. Inside is narrow pockets to put your paint brushes or other handle type tools. I hope the ladies like them, as they were more work then I thought they would be.

Christmas Fiber Charm Exchange

Here are my charms I have sent in for the Christmas Fiber Charm Exchange on the Two Peas in a Bucket swap board. I made carrot noses with orange clay and drilled holes at the base so that I could sew them on. I used seed beads for the eyes and mouth. The ribbon at the top is so that the charm can be attached or hung. I hope to get a very small table tree to hang these on.