Bring on Spring!

This was the only fabric that I purchased in the last week. I bought one meter of this fried egg fabric called, “Sunny Side Up” by Susan Pisoni for Fabri-Quilt, Inc. The fabric store that I purchased this fabric from did not have the rest of the coordinated fabric in the line, just this one print. This is a fabric that I noticed once before when I was in the shop and did not make a purchase at that time. When I was in the shop on Friday night, they had just 3 meters of this wonderful fabric left. It is a good thing I didn’t wait any longer. This fabric coordinates perfectly with my chicken collection and I am sure I can use it in a wall hanging for the kitchen or a table runner for the dining room table.

On Saturday, it was a very grey and rainy day here. I am fed up with winter, snow, and rain. Bring on Spring! My daughter and I decided that we needed something that would remind us of Spring so we headed out to the local greenhouse. We found these pink and purple coloured cyclamens and the bright red pot that reminded us of Valentine’s day. This would do the trick so we brought them home. As you can see, today (Sunday), the sun came out for a while and is streaming in the windows as I took this picture.

I also purchased a new pattern on Friday while at the quilt shop. This pattern is called, Spirals and is by a Canadian designer that manufactures her patterns under the name, “Designs to Share With You”. The table runners I have been making are from the same designer. Her patterns are fairly easy to understand and follow. There was only one step that was a bit confusing in this pattern, but I soon figured out what she meant and was well on my way.

Since I was still in the Spring mode, I shopped my stash for this bright tulip fabric. Perfect for Spring! I made one table topper with just two “rounds” of strips using green as the accent colour. This was my son’s favorite.

I made a second table topper with three “rounds” of fabric using purple as the accent colour. This was my daughter’s favorite.

While I did buy fabric this week, I did bust stash in that I shopped my stash for the fabric for these projects. I also used up some of my bits of leftover batting to quilt these. Both table toppers are quilted and ready for binding. I won’t be putting the binding on these until I purchase some Elmer’s school glue. If you are curious what I am talking about, check out You Tube and look for Sharon Schamber’s recent three part video on binding. She has some wonderful tips–one of which is using Elmer’s school glue instead of pins.

After purchasing bright colourful flowers and working with bright floral fabrics, I feel like spring has to be nearby. At least it was spring in our house this weekend!

Garage Sale Find

Saturday morning we headed out to check out a few garage sales. We don’t really need anything in particular, but it is fun to do. You just never know when you come across that perfect something!

For a while we seemed to be on the same schedule as a truck with three men in it. They would arrive at a yard sale just before us or just after us. My husband thought they had probably left their wives at the mall and they were making their own entertainment–killing time while the wives shopped. We parted ways at a garage sale where they were looking and seemed very interested in a 6 ft high, 15 ft long Santa and reindeer Christmas yard display. When we left them I was chuckling–that will be the last time those wives leave those men alone garage sailing! I would love to have been there when they pulled up to the mall to pick up their wives with that huge yard display in the bed of that pickup!

I came across the garage sale of a quilter. Look at the fabric I found! All of the fabrics are brights–perfect for a kid’s quilt–perfect for a donation quilt. I just need to find some time now to work on a quilt!

Mother’s Day and a Fabulous Weekend

My long weekend has come to an end. 🙁

I had last Friday and today off from work which gave me a 4-day weekend. It has been wonderful–like a mini vacation!

Sunday was Mother’s Day and I had a fabulous day. Both my son and daughter helped out by doing some of the household chores. I spent the afternoon quilting. My son, daughter, and husband looked after cooking supper. We had my parents over for supper and we had a nice evening visiting with them.

As you can see by the cards below, both my kids have a sense of humor.

From my daughter:


I love the mug that my daughter gave me.

From my son and his girlfriend:


I love ladybugs and this sign and ladybug ornament from my son and his girlfriend are perfect!


My husband got me an I-Pod so that I can listen to quilting pod casts. This is something I have wanted for a very long time. I guess he was listening to me!

I believe I was spoiled!

I had quite a few finishes this weekend as far as quilting goes.

I finished the binding on my Parrot Building Blocks quilt. This was a pattern that Pam found on-line that was designed by Debbie Mumm. If you would like to make your own quilt, the pattern can be found here: http://www.debbiemumm.com/Projects/Quilting/2007/03/

My version is larger than Debbie’s and finishes at 52″ x 75″.

I had purchased some frog fabric and coordinates some time ago. I decided that Warm Wishes was the perfect pattern to use up the fabric. Warm Wishes was a pattern featured in Quiltmaker Magazine in the November / December 2003 (No. 94) issue. The pattern can also be found on line at: www.quiltmaker.com/patterns/patt4a.htm.

This is a closeup of the frogs.

Because the first Building Blocks quilt went together so quickly, I had time to make another one with some lady bug fabric on the border.

This is a closeup of the ladybugs.


Back to work and reality tomorrow!