Tulip Time

Not up here where I live, but tulips in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.  My sister, her youngest daughter and I took a quick trip down (about 5 hour drive south) to see the tulips and the magnolia trees in bloom.  

We went to a tulip farm and what a pleasant time we had there.  We were each allowed to take 10 tulips from any row we wanted to and we did.  It was a beautiful day and the temps were not too hot for us to stroll along the rows of tulips.  We went at the right time as most of the tulips were in mid bloom.  Another week and the petals would be dropping.  Same with the magnolia trees as some were already dropping in places.

I took a selfie of myself among the rows of tulips.  I used to take selfie's of myself when I was in my 20's, but had to wait until the film was developed to see how they turned out.  Nowadays, it is instant.  How times and technology have changed how we live today.

From our hotel room, we had views of the falls.  This one is the American falls.

There was often mist shrouding the Canadian falls.

We had great meals throughout our stay.  We did a bit of shopping and donated money to the casino and then it was time to go home.

Back home, this little guy was happy to see me.  He snuggled in and slept like a baby in my arms.  

Fifteen minutes here and there on this project has progressed to a few rows sewn together.  This project has all Xmas fabrics and it looks like Xmas wrapping paper.  Love it.

Two quilts came back from the LAer and this quilt in being trimmed and soon binding will go on.  It will be gifted later this month.

I will be taking half an hour of time to clean in my studio before heading to bed each night.  So far, it has been working and I can see some progress in the scrap piles.  Scraps are getting sorted, cut down and ready to be sewn into blocks.  Happy about that.

Cherish your day, cherish your life and cherish your country!  My country will always be CANADA .... glorious and free and we stand on guard for thee!

A Christmas Quilt and a Rant!

Binding got put onto this quilt in time to put up for the Xmas holidays!  I'm happy it is done.  

I have been collecting a lot of Xmas fabrics from other quilt guild ladies when they put a pile of scraps on the table for minimal $$.  A lot of those fabrics went into this quilt and gave it a nice variety to look at.

Quilt Details:

Quilt Name:  Unallocated by Michelle McKillop

Quilt Size:  49-1/4" x 76" (size before quilting, washing and drying:  52-1/2" x 79")

Quilt Started:  December 2023

Quilt Finished:  December 2024

Batting:  Poly

Machine Quilted by:  Kathy Wareham

Tick, tick, tick ...... another one done and dusted and enjoyed!

When it comes to politics and my blog, I'm usually quiet ..... but not this time.  Nope, not this time.

Thanks for the invite "Rubber Lips" but Canada is not broken and we are good up here.  I'm PROUD to be a CANADIAN and will always be a CANADIAN!

What about those Americans, who pin a Canadian flag onto their backpack or suitcase because they are too embarrassed to be recognized as an American in other countries.  What flag will they pin on when they travel, eh?   I have seen this done many, many times over the last four decades of my travels.  Apparently, it is better to be seen as a Canadian rather than an American.  Pretty sad!

Cherish your day, cherish your life ..... cherish your country ..... and I cherish CANADA!

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back!

Well, here I was sitting quite smug with myself.  Row 7 of my Chevron Log Cabin was ready to be sewn onto the quilt.  Wait a minute .... something wasn't quite right!

See the column on the right?  See those white squares?  The backing for those two blocks were the wrong fabric.  How in the world did this happen?  I was so frustrated that the quilt sat for almost two weeks before it was pulled out, those offending blocks ripped off the row and then the deconstructing happened.  All the hand quilting removed.   All the hand stitching removed.  Then the correct fabric pieces were pulled out and the hand stitching and hand quilting resumed.

Finally, Row 7 has been sewn on and Row 8 has been started.  Four rows left to do.

Then .... a squirrel came to play here.  I ignored it and even threw snowballs at it.  It kept dodging those snowballs and kept taunting me ..... until ..... I caved and started a new project.  A Xmas tree project.  It is a free pattern by corianderquilts.com called "Scrappy Tree Quilt".

I try to get one block laid out at night so that it can be sewn up in the morning.  The red hst's need to be made up, so this block is not quite ready.  At least it is a start.

It looks like winter has arrived here.  Snow is on the ground and it has stayed this time.

Ridley is finding it cold in our home and likes to cuddle for warmth or sit in front of the fireplace.  When he has enough of my hand sewing, he is not shy about putting out a paw to halt me in my stitches.  LOL

Late at night, we are both looking for warmth while I watch t.v.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!

More squirrels!

In an effort to get rid ..... use up most of my Xmas stash ..... at least three new projects are in the works.  You know .... squirrels!

So, what are the projects?

First:  a Disappearing Four Patch.

Second project:  some 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangles.

Third project:   2-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangles.

There just might be a few more squirrels joining in the fun.  LOL

Large pieces of fabric will be used for backings.

Whatever fabric is left over is going to a friend.

Once Xmas fabric is gone, that will be it.  

I'm at that stage in life where certain theme fabrics need to be used up, gifted or donated.  Xmas fabrics are the first to go.  At least two bins will be empty and space on the shelf will be free.

Cherish your day, cherish your life!