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

Celebrating Saint Patrick's Day a few days early

March 12, 2014

Saint Patrick's Day is next week and the stores are full of all kinds of green decorations. I find that in quilting the bright greens are rarely used and so it is hard to show you a bright green quilt symbollic of the festive day. We often have lovely greens for mixers and I have shown you a few below. It seems that every St. Patrick's Day brings a big snowstorm. We are a few days early but guess what, another big storm is forecast for tomorrow. Our snowbanks are still pretty big. My husband took some pictures this morning of the Ruffed  Grouse trying to get a bite to eat before the snow gets worst. It must be hard on all the birds.

Today, I will show you two Irish Chain quilts, so fitting for St Paddys Day. The first done by Jackie is 53" x 65"  and is quilted with the pattern called "The Garden". This is a very simple all over pattern and looks great on this single Irish Chain.  Lovely job Jackie!

Our second quilt today is a Double Irish Chain in pretty blues and golds. This quilt done by Bertha is 87" x 106" and is quilted in the pattern called "Flowers by Lynda". Both our quilts today are beautiful quilts and I bet any Irish would be pleased to own them. "May you live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live." Happy Saint Patricks Day!

Daylight Savings Time is on its way this weekend!!

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Daylight saving time is back this weekend so don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour.We look at clocks many times a week and never know where you will find one. We have a time set for just about everything and right now for me its quilting time.

Look at this great clock fabric which you will see in our feature quilt this week. This fabric with their coordinates can be found at the Christmas Crabbe Quiltery in New Maryland. What a fun piece of fabric to work with.

Today's quilt celebrates the time change nicely with all the time prints shown in it. This quilt is 60" x 85" and quilted in the pattern called  "Square Doodle" at 10". Joanne tells me the quilt is called "You've Got Mail". What a great little quilt this is and the geometric quilting pattern looks great. Way to go Joanne!