Quilt Mafia - January 2014

The view from the kitchen window, an exciting location!

The weather cooperated (except for the fog!) and about 14 of us gathered at Linda's house for the day. A wonderful day of sharing, stitching, talking and eating (and great coffee!). We are such a varied group with interests wide ranging in the fibre arts/quilting field. We all do something with a needle and thread and we all love to share. And if you need advice, this is a great group for that.

The Mummers - Margi Hennen

It is always an inspiration, always wonderful to see what everyone has accomplished no matter how big or small. It is all important. It seemed like everyone had something in their hands whether it was knitting needles or sewing needles, we were a busy lot!

We come from all over though we missed our Valley girls this time, Deb did make it from Tatamagouche as well as quite a few from the South Shore and cities.

We talked about having a bit of a "retreat", going somewhere where we can stay overnight for a few days and let someone else do the cooking. Should be fun. Plans are in the works.

Uta's beautiful sari but I love the colours that come from her socks, the basket and her scarf! Great for a foggy day.

Laureen's stitching on cheesecloth.

Our "show and tell" was inspiring from Margi's dolls to Laureen's delicate stitching to Uta's sari. And there were quilts too. I forgot to take a picture of Polly's latest "Tumbler" quilt in beautiful shades of pinks, burgundys and browns, very traditional yet very contemporary. 

Jamie shared her collection of fibre art postcards that she has collected. This one is one I gave her for her birthday, since loves loves all things Japanese it was made using contemporary Japanese fabrics.

A New Year

The Christmas trees are down (yes, we had 2 "real" ones this year, we just had to put a smaller one upstairs in the "bump"), the pine needles are mostly gone, though I find they tend to appear in odd places for a few months. A new year is upon us and for us it is going to be exciting. Lots of decisions to make, a new kitchen to design and install and to somehow work around 7 doors and a window (we can eliminate 2 doors and will make the window a bit smaller). I have been having fun dreaming through hundreds of pictures on Pinterest. Our goal is to start the demo mid February. Wish us luck!

As I have written before, I am thrilled with my new sewing room and now that I have had both cataracts surgery, which were a huge success, I am busy at work. It works really well and Peter just installed my new sewing machine lift (Lee Valley) like I had in my old sewing room. It really is worth it to be able to have the bed of my sewing machine level with the table top. So there is no excuse now, I am all set up and ready to go. I am so thrilled to have a high table for cutting, it is the perfect height and I can walk around it. The challenge will be to keep it organized and clutter free!

I finished my "Fireside Log Cabin" that I started in Heather Stewart's workshop last November. It was machine quilted by Lynn Jones who has a wonderful quilt studio outside of Bridgewater. She did a super job quilting it. Now I need to take some pictures. At our old house I had the weathered old barn out back to pin my quilts on to take pictures. Time to get creative and see where I can take pictures.

A new project in the works, a "disppearing nine patch" which will be soon on its way to Tasmania.

A wonderful housewarming gift from a wonderful old friend. Patty hooked this from a Christine Little pattern, Christine's delightful rug hooking shop Encompassing Designs is right at the end of our street. I am so tempted to take a rug hooking course - do I dare? Not only does Mahone Bay have a rug hooking shop (there are 2 - Spruce Top Rug Hooking is the other one) but we have one of the best yarn stores Have a Yarn and of course there is Suttles and Seawinds - I think we moved to a fibre lover's town!

Tomorrow the Quilt Mafia is gathering at Linda's house in Bear Cove, just outside Halifax at the mouth of the harbour. I can't wait to see her house on the edge of the ocean and to see everyone. It has been awhile since we last got together and with the weather forecast (which is good) we are hoping many will be able to get there.

A Busy Month - Our Annual Christmas Tree Adventure

After 17 years in our old house, it has been fun getting ready for Christmas in our new house. Finding where to put our Christmas treasures has been a bit of a challenge, a fun challenge though! The mantle in our den with holly from our garden.

We are so lucky to live in Lunenburg County, known as (the highway signs declare it so!) "The Christmas Tree Capital of North America". Our trees end up in homes from Florida to California and across Canada too. We have been going to the same tree farm for over 30 years to chose and cut our tree. We have had warm, sunny days, we've had pouring rain and we've had snowy days. This year there was not only snow on the ground but it was bitterly cold, about -20 with the wind chill. It sure made for a quick decision! From the time we left home to when we got back it took an hour Now it helps that we live 10 minutes from the tree farm!

We drove up over the hill, Mike had warned us that the bigger trees had been well picked over but we soon saw just the one, a good 10' tall and not too far off the road. Luckily, just as Peter cut it, along came Mike with his pickup truck and he drove it back to where the baler was.

The problem with the very cold temperature was that when the tree is baled, the branches can break and we didn't want that but there was no way we could drive it home not being baled. So we kept our fingers crossed as it slowly went through the baler, it worked, no branches were broken.

Peter cut a couple of feet off the tree and we were good to go. Up it went, perfect height in our bay window with just enough room for our angel!

Peter does a great job decorating the tree, it is something he has gradually taken on over the years. This tree had to be decorated on all sides since it is in the window.

Good thing we have kept all our ornaments that we have collected over the years. They all bring back such wonderful memories.

An ornament from way back in the 60's! Who knew someone could turn this into a commercial success (known now as "Elf on a Shelf"!). My Mom gave me this when I started skiing! It has always been on our tree, not on a shelf!

Our grandsons have given it their stamp of approval and they have found the pickle. it was quite a hunt this year!

From our home to yours, wishing you a very Merry Christmas!