Thank You and I Won!!!

I'd really like to send everyone a huge "Thank you" and "Big Hugs" for all your kind and encouraging comments about my kitchen mess. You guys are the best and your comments are very comforting. Many of you have been in similar situations as mine. The good news is as the workmen said "you'll have a kitchen sink again, if we can find it"...hahaha isn't he the funny one...the not so good news is I'm looking at a thick layer of dust covering absolutely everything everywhere in the house. The workmen have done an awesome job and I'm relieved to know the house is in much better shape with all the extra work, it felt like the house was being rebuilt from the inside out, I think the worst is finally over.

Some really surprising and fantastic news this week came from Karen at Quilts A Lot (boy did I need this surprise, it made all the disasters not so bad) she had a give-away and I WON!! I can't believe it, I'm so excited, soon a package of Jo's fabrics will be coming to my mailbox....woohoo....and the only thing better than fabric is chocolate. Thanks Karen you made my week!!!

Happy Quilting, until next time.

Kitchen and Stitching....a little rant

I'm sorry I know this is a quilting blog but I just have to rant, whine, cry about my dismantled kitchen. We started the prep for a new floor in the kitchen on Monday. How does a new floor snowball into a kitchen being gutted almost 90%....well, let me tell you....if you want to skip this whine then move down to see the quilty pictures. Our house is almost 100 years old and seems the problems are endless. In the process off removing the floor it was discovered the floor under the dishwasher is rotted and thus traveled up the wall, which is also rotted.....what more could happen, part of the framing was rotted as well. Now we need new dry wall, new plumbing and new lower cabinets (or at least the backs need to be replaced) A 2 man 2 1/2 day job has turned into a 4 man 4 day job or more.....and we aren't finished yet....I could just cry, this picture is where my sink and counter once was. After these guys preform their miracle work we'll still need to have the flooring installed, I'm hoping that will be early next week. The original plan was to install a new floor and new counter tops. I can't even think that far ahead right now with the entire floor open to the beams, I can even see right thought to the furnace room in the basement, I don't even want to talk to the guys doing the work anymore....they might have more bad news, don't get me wrong, the guys are doing a fantastic job and making sure everything is done right, we are lucky to have such a good crew.

Right before all the chaos (kitchen reno) started I sewed this batik quilt for Maureen (shop owner). It still needs a black border and then a small border using one of the fabrics in the quilt. Lula is giving her sniff of approval. I've left this for Maureen to finish, I hope see likes it and finishes it.

My first block of Hocuspocusville is stitched, only 11 more to go. Look Donna I found it! (this block was missing for a few days)

This little stitchery was to try out the brown varigated thread.

I hope you have less chaos in your part of the world and keep your fingers crossed my kitchen will be functioning again by the weekend.

Happy Stitching, until next time.

Kitchen Sink Quilted

 I've finished my Kitchen Sink quilt, well almost, here it is all quilted and ready for me to put on the binding. I just love this quilt and the quilting has really made it sparkle. I'm not very good at quilting, but with this shop offering their long-arm quilting machine for rental by the hour, it's been fun to learn. I'm starting to really enjoy using the long-arm now that I can remember "most" of the steps.

Close up of the quilting.

Another close up picture of the back. I'm just so excited at how good it looks.

My BunnyHill Redwork quilt is almost finished too, I have plans to add a pieced border, we'll see how that works since I didn't use a pattern and I still need to figure out the math to add the border.

A little closer view.

Happy Quilting and Stitching, until next time.

Happy Valentines!

This beautiful bouquet of flowers was a birthday gift from my daughter. I'm a little slow this week in showing off my flowers. I'd like to give a big "Thank You" to everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes, I appreciate each and everyone.  And now it's Valentines Day..... give everyone you love a big hug today.

Don't forget to watch the athletics competing in the Winter Olympics, it's so exciting to have these events happening in my own backyard. Go Canada!

Where to Start?

This last week has been a flurry of activity. I'm so glad it's Feb, not just because it's my birthday month but because Jan was a slow and boring month for me. It's gotten much better, a few days ago I had a birthday lunch with friends, shopping here, tea, dessert and then next day a pedicure with my daughter. Feb is off to a great start.

On my Birthday hubby and I spent the day checking out what's happening downtown Vancouver. The Winter Olympic are starting this week, we don't have tickets to any of the events but there are lots of free things to see and do. After walking and walking around the downtown area we thought we earned our dinner and walked another 8 blocks to enjoy a delicious dinner here and then of course after dinner is was the long walk back to catch the skytrain home. We sure got our exercise for the day and I didn't feel guilty for eating appetizers, main course and then chocolate for dessert.

Now back to the good stuff.....gifts from quilting friends, I received the little valentines stitchery and it's tucked in this tiny pink box...soo cute. The book has some awesome quilts to make, I think I love almost every pattern in this book. The pile of fabrics I bought for myself and have already cut into them. The brown wool is a gift and I love it! I almost forgot, the yellow and blue pile is a gift, not sure what I'll make with them yet.

Look at that slice of cake pincushion...such a fun gift and a charm pack with gorgeous fabrics to fondle. The little zippy wallet I made from the fabrics I showed in the above picture, a girl shouldn't waste anytime. The pattern is super easy, try out this tutorial.

A couple more This and That Cobblestone Lane BOM's are finished. This is turning out to be a great quilt. I just love these fabrics and the patterns are so well written, it's a joy to be making this one.

A sneak peek at the project I've been working on. Do you recognize the stitchery, it's A Tisket A Tasket by Bunnyhill. I'm doing my own setting, you'll see more when I get the alternate blocks finished.  The patterns are going to be removed from the website soon, if you are still thinking about making them, I'd hurray over quick and print them.  Are you a cat lover, well you won't want to miss the Red Brolly free stitchery each month.

Happy Quilting, until next time.