It really is starting to look like Spring now!!

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

It is starting to finally show signs of Spring here in the Maritimes. The spring birds have started to return and I can hear them chirping in the trees outside the door. We still have huge snowbanks but they are starting to dwindle. Can't you just smell the maple sap boiling? I know my brothers are busy at the Sugar camps right now. The spring buds are starting to swell on some of our trees  and the sky is getting a little brighter and bluer. You can hear the Millstream brook rumbling along as the ice and snow are melting. It has been a long winter for us this year but the quilting has  been great!

 

Our quilt today  is a lovely blue , green and white quilt. I love these colors.  Debra tells me that this is her "Jewel Box" quilt and I think it is a real jewel. The quilt is 69" x 83" and is quilted in the pattern "Daisy May". The pattern shows up so well on the soft "Minke " fabric on the back. You can't help but love that pretty spring green border and blocks. It really is Spring! Catch you next week! Gwenda Quilts

A touch of spring

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Can you believe it! It is now April and we just finished another snowstorm. My mailbox is barely peaking out from the snowbanks and the light post is at least five feet tall, is almost covered. I still believe that spring will show itself now and this is the end of the nasty weather.

My garden fence is almost buried and to think that this fence is four feet high at least. Will I be tilling the ground in a months time? I highly doubt it so I guess I'll just keep quilting for the time being.

April showers bring May flowers. Well that works some years, but, in this case it brings freezing rain and snow. These flowers are from my gardens from last year. It won't be long now........

Our quilt today is called "Japanese Gardens". It is 59" x 76" and shows a lovely assortment of Japanese florals. Helen has done a nice job on this quilt and we quilted it with a Japanese lanterns all over pattern.The quilting does not show up for the camera on the back because of the matching thread colour,but you can see the quilting very clearly on the front. I love the Spring of the year and I just know that the snow is going disappear very quickly. Until next week, keep quilting. Gwenda

Spring Is Here! Blizzard rageing!

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

 I can't believe it! It's March 26th and as I sit here to give you this post all about Spring, we are in a major blizzard in the Maritimes. Folks, the snow is so high already in my front yard, I will be lucky to see my gardens by June. That's O.K. We are so lucky to live in this country and enjoy the seasons as they fall. I get a great boost even to see my artificial bouquet of forsythia on my table. Every time I walk pass them, they brighten my day.

Here is a cute little fellow sitting up on a post just waiting for warmer days to come. The Black -capped Chickadee doesn't mind the snow here and survives quite well in all conditions. No wonder he is  our New Brunswick provincial bird. Below we have our last year tulips right from my gardens, No, they're not Tulips from Amsterdam. Have faith, Spring is here!

Today's quilt certainly reminds me of spring. This cute little number by Natalie is sure to cheer you up. This quilt is called "Summer in the Park" and measures 80" x 80". The quilting pattern, we did on this quilt, is called 'Jamaica" at 10". This is a beautiful  happy quilt and you can't help think about spring flowers while your making this one. Great job Natalie!

Tomorrow is Spring!!!!!

 Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Spring begins tomorrow and it seems we have been waiting a long time. It will be a while before we see any sign of grass in our neck of the woods but at least the days are improving.

I have started right in to showing you today's project which is absolutely stunning. This is a wool wallhanging done by Ann. We have taken many closeup pictures so you can admire all the beautiful embroidery stitches throughout. The wallhanging is 41" x 41" and made with many colors of hand dyed wool. The wool lends itself well to machine quilting and we have done echo quilting around each flower in the blocks. The borders are done with a scalloped channel with a different size pattern placed on each side of the channel. Ann has added many beads to the piece after the quilting has been done. You can see some of these in the pictures at the end of today's blog. Ann tells me she has been working on this project for a couple of years and you can tell because the work is very high caliber with hundreds of different patterns. You will find ribbon embroidery, beading, sequins, trims and buttons to mention a few items on this beautiful piece. Enjoy studying all the lovely handwork in this and see how wonder wool can work in quilting also. Welcome Spring! Gwenda