Bring on the Long Weekend!

It is going to be a relaxing Victoria Day weekend, with a taste of summer in the forecast, a book at the ready and a chair waiting just for me, under the big old shade tree.

There will be a Springtime tea in the garden, Sunday afternoon.

And, I plan to finish stitching bees a buzz and another little stitchery called, Single Flower Basket that go with three other stitcheries I have been working on over the past couple of weeks. 

The cute little face above is from Cat Quilt BOS which has been on my To-Do List for a very long time now.  I'm ready to start stitching once my thread colours have been selected and the last stitch goes into Single Flower Basket.

My Tomato Seedlings Window Sill Grown

Also, before the weekend comes to an end, I will head off to the garden centre to see what is new for 2012 and maybe bring home a plant or two that I just can't live without.

Until next time.....happy quilting!

Karen

Building Houses 4 and 5

One house for April and another for May.

And.....

24 Klosjes

Pieced in April

For a total of 272 of 500 completed

Something I have not worked on in a very long time.

Until next time.....happy quilting!

Karen

Spring Road Trip

A nice little stash came home with me from our road trip to Shipshewana, Indiana (Yoder's and Lolly's) and also a couple of quilt shops in Michigan, Quilts at the Marshall House, in Marshall MI and a new one for us, Lake St. Mercantile, in South Lyon MI, which is in a beautifully restored 1880's bank building.

Both Lolly's and Yoder's have added wool yarn to the inventory and I found a few must haves for rug hooking.  I also noticed precut wool fabric for penny rugs and wool applique, but too small for rug hooking, though they did sell some wool on bolts, just nothing that grabbed me.

On our way home we stopped in Ann Arbor, Michigan to attend the Michigan Hook-In and Rug Show hosted by the Northville Heirloom Hookers.  I have never been in a room full of hookers before and must say it was a delight.  The pretty wool flower above was a gift from the Northville Heirloom Hookers, to wear on my jacket. There were lots of rugs to see completed and in progress.  And, also vendors, which meant I wasn't coming home empty handed!

The bottom three will be used for overdyeing and I just couldn't resist the rest.  Though my plan is to use mainly recycled wool, I will treat myself to new wool every now and then.  The thrift stores have been very good to me and my inventory of recycled wool is growing at a rapid pace.

Home just in time to see the Fiddleheads and to enjoy some perfect spring weather in the garden.  It always feels good to complete the spring cleanup and worth all the aches and pains that come with it, but no time to rest, round two is about to begin, the weeds are coming!

Until next time.....happy quilting!

Karen

Friendship Giveaway

Last night, we arrived home exhausted from our annual spring road trip to Shipshewana, Indiana.  As always, I managed to bring back a few goodies, like this lovely charm pack, Friendship, by Howard Marcus, and thought it would make for a nice giveaway. 

So, for a chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment and tell me what friendship means to you, before midnight May 12.  Any 'no-reply' entries will be excluded from the draw.  A winner will be chosen by random May 13 and announced here.

Until next time.....good luck and happy quilting!

Karen

And, the winner is.....

Margrethe Quiltegleder

 

Edging the Flower Garden

Just as important as the flowers themselves, I think edging the garden enhances the appearance and brings out the beauty of each and every flower.  So, without fail, each spring, my garden beds are edged.

And, without fail, every Wednesday I have been slowly edging my hexagon flower garden.  I am very pleased with the border fabric and have now completed two rounds.  But, there is nothing straight edged about hexagons and my garden has taken on a bit of a funny shape.

So, I must decide if another round is required before straightening the edges or is it now just a matter of placing hexagons in key spots.  Adding a little colour to the border is also a possibility.  Only time will tell.

Recently, we removed an old cast iron fireplace from my Dad's basement and I decided to keep the feet, something caught my eye, they could be interesting in the garden.  Look closely, do you see what I see?

Until next time.....happy quilting!

Karen

Polka-Dot Girls Block 4

Thank-You

and

Summer Heart

The stitchery bug has bitten again!

Well trying to adjust to my new prescription glasses I think I backed out almost as many stitches as I put in.  I didn't tell the doctor that I had been using drugstore reading glasses with a slightly stronger len strength. I now have to hold things further away from me to see and I find it very awkward to stitch.  Well I am still having trouble focusing; I think it is slowly getting better.

After completing four stitchery blocks in a row, it was time for a little hand piecing and Dear Jane was calling me.  I think for the rest of the week I am going to work on something I have not worked on in a very long time. 

Until next time.....happy quilting!

Karen