Kim's donation to the LLS . . .

Kim is one of my customers who does a lot of charity work.  I first met her when I quilted some tops for her that were being donated to a charity for orphaned children in Guatemala.   This time, Kim made a quilt for a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) fund raiser - Team in Training.  Kim's niece is raising money for the LLS by auctioning off the quilt.  I quilted if for them with a freehand posies in the borders, and feathers and continuous curves in the interior of the top.  (Glide thread)



LLS Auction Quilt - one of my charities of choice

  

LLS Auction Quilt - close up


Kim's quilt didn't get any hang time, as again, we got hit with more winter-like weather over the past couple of days . . . today, we had a snow-fall warning -what's up with that!!!  I'm leaving for the sunny south in one month - I'm wondering if I should have made that sooner!!



October 23, 2012

 This afternoon I saw a  robin trying to eat the frozen little apples in this tree - and then I looked up and saw a beautiful formation of white swans flying over head - and you guessed it, they were headed straight SOUTH!!  I hope the poor little robin gets the idea soon!

Lots more coming from the Little House this month . . .

.... and here's one more wedding quilt - this time for the guests!

Weddings are each so different - kind of like quilts!  This quilt is going to be used in place of the guest book for Emma's wedding.  Emma will sew pockets on the front of the quilt, and each guest will leave a little "note" in one of the pockets . . .with advice, good wishes, blessings or whatever they like.  What a novel idea!

Emma pieced the top and wanted it quilted with roses, leaves and swirls.  I think I captured that . . . .

Emma's wedding quilt
 

Emma's Wedding Quilt - Roses, leaves and swirls

Emma's Wedding Quilt - "hang time|"

Today the Chinooks winds came, bringing warmer temperatures, but also blowing the leaves from the trees.  Soon, all the trees will be bare - and it will be time for the snow to cover the ground.  One of these years I may just have to trade in my sandals for ski boots . . . hahahaha  - I crack myself up!   That will never happen!

Christmas in October!

I say Christmas in October for two reasons . . . the first one is that it snowed last night, the temperature was below freezing, and the wind was howling . . . making it feel more like December than October.  Good news is that I can see the good ole Chinook Arch building and the forecast is for + 17 degrees Celsius by Saturday.

The second reason for Christmas in October is this great sampler quilt that Gwen made for her daughter.  I love samplers because you can play around in each block like a whole new quilt.  I added holly leaves in the sashing, some ribbon designs in the inner borders, and beadboarding in the outer borders with holly leaves in the corners.  Gwen loved how it turned out - and so did I! (Glide thread, Quilter's Dream 70/30 batting)

Christmas Sampler - "hang time"

Christmas Sampler Block - close up

Christmas Sampler Block - close up (this block was a little 'poofy' so I had to give it some extra quilting to make it lay flat  . . . and it worked just fine!)

Christmas Sampler - more close ups

Christmas Sampler - close up

Christmas Sampler - sashings, inner borders, outer borders

Gwen is also expecting a grand-baby in the near future, so she put together this cute little flannel quilt for the new addition.  Freehand hearts and loops in the centre, hearts in the inner border and double bubbles in the outer border - Glide thread - Lemon Ice . . . so nice!

Flannel Baby Quilt - "hang time"

Flannel baby quilt - close up (I need to work on my corner transitions!)

Flannel baby quilt - back

JI'm looking forward to the warm weather coming in from the west - this weekend we get to go to our grandson's 3rd birthday party!  Wow, these kids get older fast . . . .  ! 

What's on your Christmas list?  I want a copy of Jian Gomeshi's new book (well, only book as far as I know) titled 1982.  So if anyone's looking for ideas . . . .

Don't forget - Little House Creations will be closed in 6 weeks  and re-opening for all your quilty pleasures on March 4, 2013.

Hooked on French Braids!

Those French Braid quilts are addicting - and beautiful.  I had to buy the book and now have MORE projects on my want to do list!  Some are more complex than others, but put the right colors and textures together and you get one stunning quilt!

One of my colleagues is beginning chemotherapy for Hodgkin's Lymphoma next week.  I know far too well what she's heading into with that chemo cocktail - so, on behalf of our whole organization, I made this French Braid quilt for her.  I know she will feel that we are all thinking of her when she snuggles up under her quilt and lets the chemo do its work and sends those lymphoma cells packing!  (Quilter's Dream 70/30 batting, Glide Thread, selection of Batik fabrics)



Strong colors to do some strong work!  (check out the snow outside the window!)



French Braid Quilt

French Braid Quilt - backing

French Braid Quilt - close up - Feathers and Terry Twists

I didn't get this quilt out for any "hang time" on the line as I just got the binding on this weekend when I was over in Kimberley enjoying beautiful fall weather and scenery - AND - then it snowed overnight!  Yes - snowed . . . I think it's time to drag out the suitcases and throw in the sandals!  But, it's only October 2nd!!!

A few months ago, I bought a couple of quilt tops on E-bay for practice quilts.  One is almost done - and it has turned out great - if I  do say so myself.  The best thing about E-bay tops is that I don't have any time (or emotions) invested in them.  Someone did all the cutting and piecing - and I appreciate that - but it wasn't me AND it wasn't one of my customers.  So, I can pretty much play around and try new things.  I've had a few projects on and off Lenni in the meantime, but when I get my E-bay quilt finished, I'll post it for you to see.

The countdown really is on - I've got less than two months to get a number of projects completed before Little House Creations closes for three months.  Let's see - one string quilt, one baby quilt, one Christmas quilt, another wedding quilt, one flag quilt (special order), one Judy Niemeyer quilt, three boys quilts . . . .  OMG, what am I doing playing on this computer!  If you have a quilt top that you'd like done before Christmas, I need to book it in now . . . eight weeks isn't a lot of time!

Raise your glasses . . . once again!

Beautiful Bride and Groom

We just came back from 8 days in British Columbia - most was spent on Vancouver Island . . . couldn't have asked for better weather for my niece's wedding.  This time was spent visiting with family and friends - old and new.  The quilt was commissioned as a wedding gift for the lovely couple - it's made from a pattern called "Smokey River" by Whirlygig Designs using Northcott Stonehenge fabrics.  The first picture below is BEFORE quilting . . . so you can see what a difference quilting makes. 



Smokey River - before quilting




Smokey River - close up (folded)



Smokey River - close up

Smokey River - close up

Smokey River - back - using up all those strips!

Smokey River

I didn't get a picture of Smokey River with any "hang time" as it was pretty windy before we left for the wedding, but I'm betting someone  ("hint, hint" ) will send me some photos from the Island and I'll post later.  The colors in this quilt are so perfect for an outside autumn photo shoot . . . so I'll post when I have more.  (Free-hand design, Glide Thread, Quilter's Dream 70/30 batting).

I'll leave you with some photos of Beautiful British Columbia . . .



Heading over on the ferry . . .



Beautiful homes and gardens . . .



Wedding centerpieces - totally "Island"



Perfect!

Heading back to the mainland . . .

Fall is in the air - we have had frost here in Water Valley so this weekend will be spend cleaning up the garden - it just feels too soon!  Next up in the quilting room is a lap quilt for my colleague who is heading into cancer treatments - how could I NOT make her a quilt to keep her comfy and to remind her that her friends and coworkers are walking this journey with her?  

Until next time from the Little House . . .

Toast to the bride. . .

The daughter of a very good friend of ours got married on Saturday - - - we've known her from before she was a twinkle in her daddy's eye!  Rebecca (Becky) was a beautiful bride, the wedding was lovely, and pretty much a perfect day all around! 

I made this French Braid quilt as a gift for Rebecca and her new husband . . . what I didn't know when I made it, was that the wedding colors were light teal blue and black . . . perfect!!! (Glide thread; Quilter's Dream 70/30 batting)



Wedding Quilt - French Braid



Wedding Quilt - close up of borders

Wedding Quilt - Feathers

Wedding Quilt

Wedding Colors - perfect!!!!

Fall is in the air in Alberta.  The temperature has been very close to freezing the last couple of nights . . . it happens every year!

PPP . . . .

PPP - if you don't know stands for Practice, Practice, Practice . . . it's just like driving a car, you need to just do it over, and over until it becomes effortless.  So, I pulled out this quilt top that I've been meaning to do something with for months and voila . . . (p)feathers!!!  (that's Claudia speak for feathers).  This was a very easy pattern to piece - it's really just jelly rolls strips cut into squares, then cut into quarters, and then sewn into squares again . . . easy peazy!!  I took Claudia's tips on quilting back-tracking (p)feathers, added a bit of ribbon candy in the sashing, and some penguins in the borders . . . Fil-tec Glide thread, Hobbs Wool batting . . .

Ribbon Candy and (p)feathers



ppp

ppp - hanging out!

ppp - close up

On Tuesday morning, I thought I'd take some photos of some of my flowers around the house . . . the sun was just right and made the flowers so beautiful!  Good thing . . . because Tuesday afternoon we had a freak storm - hail pounded my flowers to almost nothing, ruined the crop of oats and soaked the hay that was just about ready to bale . . . oh well, what can you do?  At least I have the pictures!!

 

I have two awesome wedding quilts on the go right now, but will have to save them til after the nuptials  ;)  Enjoy the last few weeks of summer . . . .