25.2.13

2 more sleeps!!

...until this :)
this was from 2 years ago when Alisa came to visit


22.2.13

Orange, Grey and Blue

It's a top!


After putting this top together the only thing I can think is that it's BIG.  It's going to be a beast to quilt.

20.2.13

A wall organizer

A good friend of mine just celebrated her 30th birthday.  She has made me many beautiful gifts and I wanted to make her something.  Coming up with what to make for someone who is very crafty can be kinda hard though...

Enter...pinterest!  I checked out her pins and saw this wall organizer.

I didn't buy the pattern, just copied it and it worked - yea!  I used a layer of canvas and fusible fleece for the pockets and two layers of canvas for the back.

Happy 30th Laura!!

WIP Wednesday

At the moment, everything is a WIP and nothing seems to be getting finished.  Maybe it'll all be done at the same time?


I have all the blocks finished for my own quilt.  I am using this free pattern by Cluck Cluck Sew.  I hope to get this set up on my floor this afternoon so I can work like a maniac to get at least all the rows sewn up before the school kids get home.


A mini quilt I am working on.  I was going with minimal quilting but I don't like it so I'll be doing some more quilting on it.


My Sidekick Tote all cut out.  I am waiting for the hardware to arrive but it's taking too long so I might have to borrow some from my friend.


I have a few other things on  my list too, but I am not sure how much I'll get done before next Wednesday when I am leaving for Edmonton!  I must get the Tote finished though because I am going to take it with me.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

19.2.13

Sweet Pouch Swap

I joined a little pouch swap put on by Ros of Sew Delicious.


I tried a pattern I had bought quite some time ago - the Inset Zip Pouch by Michelle Patterns.  It is a great pattern and came together quite well.


Stuffed full of goodies.  I am not sure if they are 'Canadian', but all things I like anyway.



And the pouch I received from Australia!


It was so much fun opening up this package all the way from Australia.  My kids really enjoyed this too and my partner outdid herself!  If you look at the photo above you will notice that those aren't actually chocolate bars.  They're just wrappers.  You see, all the goodies were devoured before I took a photo of it.  There were more than just those ones pictured above.  For the record, I did not eat it all myself but I did taste everything. :-)


It was a lovely package to receive and a beautiful pouch - thank you so much, Emma!

12.2.13

"Thank You!" to our Retreat Sponsers


A huge "Thank You!" to our sponsors of the day!  They sure helped make our first Retreat a success!

Fat Quarter Shop - $25 gift certificate
Aurifil - 5-pack of thread for each participant
Hamels Fabrics - 30 fat quarters 
Sewing with Class - 5 patterns and spray adhesive
Pink Chalk Fabrics - $20 gift certificate

These are our little gift bags. We put the thread from Aurifil, a fat quarter from Hamels and then we made a pin cushion kit for each.  

We included all the fabric and the button needed to make a cathedral window pin cushion using this tutorial.

I hope everyone enjoyed the retreat as much as I did!

Quilty Pleasures Retreat

Yep...that's our name!  We had a contest to come up with a name during the day and then we voted on them.  This one came out on top.  A couple other ideas were Scrap Happy and Rip Stitch. :-)

What a wonderful day it was!  I met quite a few new people, enjoyed some yummy food and got a little (waaay less than I thought I would) piecing done.  Here are some pics of the day.
Our venue - the foyer of a local church.  It worked fabulously!

Working on a chevron quilt with Joel Dewberry fabric (3 people were working with this line!)

All the 9-patch blocks people brought for a charity quilt and a friend using the design wall.

A friend making her first "on her own" quilt
Some of the projects...
I love these blocks!

Pink /white/black  Yellow Brick Road quilt

Ready to be basted!

Such yummy food!
We played a couple of games to break up the day.  A Quilter's Basket points game and we also did a Fat Quarter Swap in the afternoon.  For the swap everyone brought a fat quarter along and we played a white elephant type of gift exchange, picking from the basket and stealing from each other.

We had 5 different sponsers that donated door prizes and fabric for the gift bags.  I'll share that in a separate post along with the gift bags.

We'll definitely be doing this again!



11.2.13

First Ever Family Day

Today is BC's first ever Family Day.  We spent it with our family - fitting isn't it?  Doing nothing special but yet special anyway.  You know what I mean?

Baking

Repaired and serviced Sewing Machine.

Handing me pieces.

"Deciding Random" for me.

Pressing for me.  Love my little helpers today!

My boys playing hockey in the street.

9.2.13

Recipe: Taco Dip

I didn't get to be too creative in my sewing room this week, but yesterday I was creative in the kitchen.  I love making Taco Dip - the colours, the smell and especially the taste.


Taco Dip

1 cup sour cream
1 - 8 oz package cream cheese
3 - 4 tomatoes (or 1 pint cherry tomatoes)
1 green pepper (or the equivalent in multi-coloured peppers)
1 bunch green onions
1 bottle mild taco sauce*
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
6 slices bacon (or more!)

1.  Mix sour cream and cream cheese until well blended.  Spread in the bottom of a 10" pie plate.

2.  Chop tomatoes and spread over base.

3.  Chop pepper and spread over tomatoes.



4.  Cut up green onions and spread over the peppers.

5.  Pour the taco sauce over everything.  You will want to dot it over the whole thing and then spread it around a bit with the back of a spoon.

*Taco sauce is pricey.  I take some medium salsa and blend it with my immersion blender.  I spread that over top.  See below.  It works well and tastes good.  My mom just puts salsa on it and that works too.


6.  Sprinkle your cheese over that and then your bacon.

7.  Serve with your favourite tortilla chips.  So yummy!




8.2.13

Bias Tape


I've done a bit of a shop update.   The first photo has got to be my favourite binding of all time.  You know I like colour!









Going to my first Quilt Retreat tomorrow!!

And very excited about it!  :)

I planned it with a couple friends and we have 23 people signed up! - should be fun.  I'll let you know all about it next week.  I'm hoping to get somewhere on my scrappy trip along.

Any "don't forget" advice??