Busy Week

We just had a wonderful week with my very good quilt friend Heather Stewart. Heather was in Mahone Bay to do some quilt workshops and lecture with the Mahone Bay Quilter's Guild. She came a few days early so we could go to Avonport Discount Fabrics otherwise known locally as "Faye's" and so that she could spend the better part of a day with our bee the "Cove Quilters" (she is a long distance member). We accomplished a lot, Faye had some great fabrics on sale as well as her very reasonably priced regular cottons. We had a lovely lunch with Faye at the Port Pub in Port Williams plus a few stops at some farm markets and Oulton's, the farm butcher.

Since it was the day before Hallowe'en, Sandra had a wonderful Hallowe'en theme. We were so pleased to have about 25 kids at our door for Hallowe'en, as well as a group of costumed teens who were collecting for the local food bank, nice touch!

Lunch with the bee was wonderful, we gathered at Sandra R's beautiful home by the ocean.

We had a yummy lunch, lots of quilt talk and show and tell and lots of laughs.

Heather's workshops on colour and her Fireside Log Cabin were terrific. I found the colour one a challenge as I was just days away from cataract surgery and that did not help me chose the gradations and values I needed but I still learned a lot. The Fireside Log Cabin was great fun, we had cut a lot of strips before hand so were ready to start sewing right away. I chose off-whites and grays with a tangerine centre. a couple of days after I had my surgery and was very surprised to see that my grays ranged from green grays to violet grays to blue grays and everything in between! I love it! I have 9 of the 20 blocks done so far.

Heather has another busy week ahead of her with workshops in Dartmouth and Cape Breton. I am sure everyone there will learn a lot and have a wonderful time just like we did.

Ready, Set, Sew!

I think I am ready. Everything is unpacked and is more or less organized. I am sure as I work in my new space things will change to accommodate drafting, cutting, sewing etc. I have had a few trial runs.

The grandkids all "needed" new Hallowe'en pillowcases and since I found all my Hallowe'en fabric I had no excuse plus 2 needed to get in the mail going west. I love having a designated cutting table. Just the best thing ever, thank you Peter! The last job for him to do is build a shelf to lower my sewing machine. In my old sewing room, we used a sewing machine lift from Lee Valley Tools. I had to leave it there. We were going to get another one but then we found this tutorial online and it makes much more sense and saves almost $200 (more $ for fabric!).

Next on the list is a raffle quilt for the Chester Gingerbread Festival, an easy strip pieced Christmas tree quilt. I'll have some help from a few quilt friends to make this charming quilt. My friend Heather is coming for a week long visit tomorrow. She will be here to teach workshops and a lecture with the Mahone Bay Quilters Guild. So we'll put her to work while she is here! The best way to make a quilt is with friends and it is for a good cause - the new health clinic for Chester.

Really different colour choices for me, I hope they work!

Our new garden continues to surprise us. Blooms can still be found despite the chilly nights, the rain and the wind.

I can't wait to see what the spring will bring.

I should cut this bud and bring it in, it sure looks lonely!

Now we need to see if we remember how to rake leaves! Haven't had to do that in 17 years!

Our First Scarecrow Festival

 "Welcome to the Scarecrow Festival" a wallhanging I made for the 2006 Mahone Bay Quilter's Guild Challenge.

Winner of the Annual Pumpkin Carving contest - the pumpkin walk brought out hundreds of people each night to see the creative pumpkins all lit up.

Elton John visits Buchannan's Music Store

The local constable enjoys his Timbits!

A fall tradition in Mahone Bay is the annual Scarecrow Festival. The town gets decked out with handmade scarecrows in front of many businesses, homes, the churches and along the waterfront. There were weddings, a visit with the Royal Family, hockey games and even a sighting of Elton John. 

A few members of the Royal Family join us.

Lance Armstraw visits "A Sweet Ride", the local bike and candy store.

The weather was superb, warm and sunny everyday. The crowds came out and the sidewalks were packed with people all day. We ran out of time to create a scarecrow for this year but we already have an idea for next year. 

Lunch was just too much for this scarecrow at Mateus Bistro

On the roof at Joann's Market, a busy spot.

A knitter relaxes in front of "Have a Yarn", our local yarn store.

But next up is the Father Christmas Festival which comes to town early December, should be fun for kids of all ages!