They're here!!!!!!! The humming birds are back for the summer.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

 Look closely and you will see my first hummingbird for the season. I had just put the feeder out yesterday, and there he was. Every year I keep track of the day I see the first hummingbird and it always turns out to be Mothers Day weekend. It now truly spring.

The winter has been very hard on our row  of Austrian Pines this year so they had to be given a drastic cut back. I have lost much of my privacy from the road for working in my gardens, but it will be filled in with Rhododendrens and Asalias.

The daffodils and primulas are in blossom now in the garden and it won't be long before we see tulips too!

The buds have starting to break on the lilacs. Oh, how I love Spring!  

Look at the lovely floral quilt that I will show you today. Dora has made this "One -block Wonder" and it turned out beautiful. This quilt is 44" x 56" and is quilted all over with the pattern called "Eve".  The backing on this quilt is a soft tan "Minki". The quilting shows up great on this quilt and it is so soft. Great job Dora! 

 

May has arrived and so have the swallows.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

 

The spring Dauphinee is in full bloom now and down on the farm where I grew up the birds are everywhere. The Swallows have returned and Eugene has captured them searching out the many accomodations that is available to them. There are close to a hundred bird houses all over the farm that mark the Christmas tree lots and the birds love them. What a beautiful place to be. The ponds are full many kinds of ducks and pheasants call from the orchards. I love Spring!

 

 

 Today's quilt is a lovely "Tumbling Charm" quilt done by Natalie. It has lovely shades of plum,greens and golds in it. This quilt is 93" x 106" and is quilted in the pattern called " Country" at 10 inches. This is a beautiful big quilt and Natalie does beautiful work. I spend part of my day now between quilting these wonderful quilts and gardening. Both activities are a great way to work with colour. Isn't life sweet. Gwenda Quilts

Shades of purple and green

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

The last day of April and snow is still covering much of my gardens. The rhubarb is brave and trying to stick its head into the cold air. My Daffodils, as you see below, are just emerging and with that I have great hope that our weather will start to warm up, soon!  The only sign of life in the garden so far are the green sprouts and the purple Dalphinee and Crocuses. They are indeed a welcome sight and that is why this blog today can be titled "Shades of purple and green".

Speaking  of shades of purple and green, I have a beautiful "Sampler" quilt made by my daughter, Janice. This is a very special quilt since the blocks were made by four different people. Janice's two aunts and her mother, each person made three blocks for a total of 12 blocks. Each person had to do three blocks out of the fabric provided by the others plus the three for their own quilt, meaning that everyone made 12 blocks. It was sort of like a Round Robin. It is such a keepsake since one aunt has passed on. This quilt was custom quilted and I will leave you with picures to look at and admire. The quilt is 77" x 98" and has a border quilted in the pattern called "Anne's Flower Border". It is hard to see the quilting in these pictures but the backing shows up really well and some of the borders. You will get the idea. It really is a lovely quilt. Enjoy your purple Wednesday, bye for now, till next week Gwenda Quilts.