Finally - summer weather is here!

It just happened - two days ago - summer has arrived in Southern Alberta . . . better late than never, I guess.  We live in a semi-arid climate zone, but you wouldn't know it this year - everything is so nice and green thanks to the seemingly endless cloudy and rainy days!  But hurray, the sun is shining and it looks like we might have a bit of a window to get the hay cut, dried and baled over the next week or so.  It was almost this time last year when the hail storm ruined the oat crop - this year we tried barley - keep your fingers crossed!

In the mean time, I've been steadily cranking out the quilts at the studio ....

Anyone remember this Thimbleberries BOM from years ago?  Guidel had this for a while - and now just wanted it quilted - you understand, one less thing on her to do list!  I quilted it using Wisteria panto (Urban Elementz) and Wonderfil Konfetti cotton thread top; Superior bottom line in the bobbin.  I have to say, I had a few problems with "pokies" in the backing - Guidel used a grey/black flannel back and the white batting really came through.  I'm thinking it was the poor weave of the backing fabric - but whatever the cause, she was happy with the end result and this quilt will actually get bound and on a bed before winter!

Guidel's Thimbleberries Bird House Quilt (well, half of it anyway)

Guidel's Bird House Quilt - close up

Hangin' with Freeda

Brenda put together this shop sample for Addie's - it's a great combination of colors, don't you think!  The fabric is the Wilderness Lodge fabric by Studio-E.  It's quilted using Taro panto; Glide thread

Wilderness Lodge - panel and borders

Wilderness Lodge  hangin' with Freeda

Wilderness Lodge - still hangin' with Freeda!  (and yes, that is an autumn wall hanging in the background!)

Maggie is an excellent piecer - as is evident in her Kansas Troubles sampler quilt.  This is going to be a gift for her brother.  Each square is quilted differently, leaves in the sashings, swirls and twists in the borders - I'm really partial to Kansas Troubles fabrics!

Maggie's Kansas Troubles Sampler

Maggie's Kansas Troubles Sampler - close up of appliqued block

You get a star if you can see the "mistake" in this block - my mistake that is!  Hint:  it's in the windows!

Maggie's Kansas Troubles Sampler - watching over Freeda!

The days are getting shorter and the evenings cooler . . . all signs that this short summer is coming to an close!  The hummingbirds are still here - we've put up their last feeder to get them bulked up for their long trip south.  They are usually gone by the 24th of August or so - and they're always back looking for us on by the long weekend in May!  ..... and, I just notices Autumn colours are sure the theme for this post - coincidence!


I've been busy quilting for "Quilts for Calgary" - once they are all done I'll post pictures for you!  There are some beautiful quilt tops that have been donated by such generous quilters.

Land of the midnight sun . . .

Paddle wheeler  SS Klondike on the banks of the Yukon River - Whitehorse, Yukon

We took a few days and flew up to Whitehorse, Yukon last week - a reunion of old friends and a birthday party - actually, any excuse for a get together and we're there!  We lived in Whitehorse many years ago and hadn't been back for over 25 years.  Changes - yes, of course, lots of them, but the spell of the Yukon is still there - as strong as ever!   For more information about Yukon - click here


It seems like I haven't been in my studio - but really, I have . . . here's some proof!


Louise's Golf-themed quilt - Japonica panto; glide thread

The fabric choices are just great - all sorts of golfing "stuff" - even the argyle!

Louise's golf quilt

Louise's Golf Quilt - close up

Louise's Golf Quilt - back - beautiful square piecing on the back (yeah!!)



Louise's golf Quilt - hangin' with Freeda!

.... and then there was Freda's (not to be confused with Freeda) quilt.  This is the first quilt Freda has made - and she went BIG!  It's very busy - so I quilted it with Freehand teardrops just to give it some texture; Superior So Fine thread; wool batting - I love working with wool batting!

Freda's Busy Blue - hangin' with Freeda

Freda's Blue Quilt - hanging with some great company at the studio!

..... and I can't forget Guidel's wild and crazy baby quilt - it's so bright and cheerful - what a great gift for an expected grandbaby!   Glide thread; Fil-tec Harmony in borders; Hobbs 80/20 batting; Fireside backing.

Guidel's Bright Baby Quilt - close up

Guidel's Bright Baby Quilt - Fireside backing (Raspberry) close up

..... hangin' with Freeda - backwards!
 

But wait - there's more!  Shaleen had these quilts hanging around her house, just waiting to be quilted!  Actually, the first one is a linen type picture that Shaleen has had since first buying her house decades ago!  I am really pleased how it turned out - clouds and rainbows!  Glide thread; freehand quilting; Hobbs 80/20 batting

Shaleen's second quilt is a scrappy triangle type quilt - again, another one she's had for a while as the quilt shop where she took the class to make this has been closed for probably 10 years!  It's quilted now, so Shaleen just has to bind it and it's good to go!  Shaleen did a perfect job of the piecing, by the way - a pleasure to quilt for her!

.....hangin' with Freeda
 

 

 

Just one more for this post . . . Cheryl put together a fabulous batik quilt for a wedding gift!  She used the Fireside backing - look how it quilts up so nicely!  This will be a cozy quilt to curl up under on those cold winter nights - (Gasp!  Did I use the W word!)

 

 

hangin' with Freeda - backwards

..... and forwards!

We are also busy at the store with making donations for Quilting for Calgary - a flood-relief effort by the quilting community!  The goal is to give each family whose homes were impacted by the flooding a quilt - that's just 3600 quilts in Calgary alone!  Addie's is hosting Sew Your Heart Out days every Saturday in August and into September.  I will be quilting as many as I can - so my Saturdays will be donated to this cause for the next few weeks!

Oh, I almost forgot - I had to check out the quilt shop in Whitehorse while I was there!  Picked up a few pieces of fabric that I just had to have (!).

hmmmm.....what to do, what to do!  If you find yourself in the Yukon, don't miss Bear's Paw Quilts - where they offer "compassionate care for the quilt addicted"~~ and last, but not least - here's their guard dog - be careful as you come down the stairs!

I promise not to leave this blog unattended for this long again - there are so many amazing quilts coming through my little studio - it's been great . . . and, I'm staying close to home for a while!

Excerpts from Robert Service's "Spell of the Yukon" . . .

There are hardships that nobody reckons;

   There are valleys unpeopled and still;

There’s a land—oh, it beckons and beckons,

   And I want to go back—and I will.

.......

 

It’s the great, big, broad land ’way up yonder,

   It’s the forests where silence has lease;

It’s the beauty that thrills me with wonder,

   It’s the stillness that fills me with peace.

 

 

Quilters are the most generous people!

Quilters from all over have donated their time and precious quilts to the project "Quilting for Calgary".  So many families have lost their homes in the devastating flooding a couple of weeks ago.  The Quilting for Calgary group is working hard to ensure that the flood victims feel the caring of the community through a quilt.  Check them out on Facebook - Quilting for Calgary.

I've offered to donate my Long Arm Quilting services to the effort - so I expect that I'll be very busy in July and August helping out.  I've already done a couple of quilts for flood victims - and one raffle quilt that will be used to raise money for the effort.

I've also had a few quilts on and off the Freeda in the past week -

Here is a Thimbleberries Block-of the Month from a few years back.  Marj did a great job on it - and now it just needs bound and on a bed!  Glide thread; Come Dance with Me panto.

Marj's Thimbleberries BOM - sorry, not the best pic of the quilting

 

 

 

Bonnie pieced this beautiful vintage quilt - pineapple blocks and appliqued flowers in the borders - all vintage fabrics!



Bonnie's quilt hanging out with Freda - BBA (bottom border alert!)

Bonnie's Applique Quilt - corners before quilting
 

Bonnie's Applique Quilt - top border

 

Bonnie's Applique Quilt - complete



Bonnie's Applique Quilt - close up B & W

 

 

Freda (not Freeda) created her first quilt - a whopper king size! for her daughter's wedding!  So Fine top and bobbin; freehand paisleys

 

Freda's Wedding Quilt hanging with Freeda the Long Arm

Freda's colorful quilt!

Freda's Wedding Quilt - close up



I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of the backing - it's a nice wide-back - have I mentioned before that I love wide-backs?  They are so easy, almost always guaranteed to be square - and no seams!  Priceless!!


Tomorrow I have two baby quilts lined up for Freeda - then a quick trip up to Whitehorse for birthday celebrations with some wonderful old friends - not "old" - just good friends!


When I get back, I'll be helping Betty Ann get acquainted with Freeda . . . stay tuned!  By the way - I'm really feeling comfortable in my space at Addies . . . I meet so many quilters and have lots of interest in the long arming process!  I thought everyone knew how a long arm worked, but that's not so!