Retro Christmas Fabric

The Quilted Bear just received some of the cutest retro fabrics for Christmas. This fabric line is from Northcott called Sherry Berry Holiday. They are just so darn cute and yummy looking, how could you resist that strawberry pink in the heat of the summer.

A closer look at some of the bolts.

I couldn't help myself I had to make a sample for the shop. This is a small table topper using one of the Schnibbles patterns called "A Little Bit Country". I started cutting the blocks in the middle of the heat wave and even took my sewing machine to the basement so I could do a little sewing. Soon the heat in the basement was too much. Now that it's cooler I was able to get this finished. With the pretty colours it sure didn't seem like I was working on something Christmas this early.

Cooler Days

I can now enjoy a cup of tea in the morning instead of waking up sweaty and needing a cold shower. It sure feels good to get back to normal after that heat wave.

A few days ago I received a package from Karen. She had a contest to guess the name of her blog and I WON! I've gotten to know Karen over the last couple of years and I had a good idea what she was going to name her blog since she moved from the Yellow Farmhouse to the Red Lakehouse. I was in the shower when I had a light bulb moment about something she said a while back and I knew she would call it "My Red Farmhouse". She asked me if I'd like the new Primitive Gatherings book or a selection of wool, it was a tuff choice but I went for the new book. Her is the cute wrapping she did.

To my surprise Karen also sent along an extra little gift. These plates with quilt blocks painted on them are just so darn adorable. I haven't found just the right spot yet but will have fun looking for the right display, now that it's cooler around here. A big THANK YOU to Karen, these plates are just prefect and I'm drooling over the many awesome projects I'd like to make in the book.

Even Lula is feeling much better, she pretty much slept for days while it was hot. I don't blame her, I wanted to sleep all day too.

Polka Dot Girls are Finished

I've been spending very little time at the computer and sewing because we are in a horrible heat wave. I'm posting this at 9:30pm and the temperature is still 86F. It's been so hot not even the basement is cool anymore. I find it very difficult to do anything, the only time I can get away from the heat is in my air conditioned car or shopping mall....not that I'm complaining...I know winter is not far away and we'll soon be shoveling snow again.

Well here you have it, the Polka Dots Girls is officially finished, quilted and binding sewn on. I love how the cross hatching turned out with the stitched blocks. Candace was having the same questions about quilting through her stitchery. Check out her Halloween wallhanging...it's so adorable.

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you are keeping cool.

Visit to Quilt Shop

It's been so unbelievely hot here for so long which makes it more difficult to get motivated to sew. When it's too hot to sew then why not visit the quilt shop. This shop is about a 45 min drive for me and so I don't go to often. Stephanie the shop owner gave me permission to take a few pictures. If you see anything you like check out their website here.

I received a very lovely email from a neighbour just across the border in Blaine. Gail doesn't have a blog but thought I would like to check out Primitive Pieces by Lynda, she has recently started blogging. Go over and give her a big welcome. Thanks so much Gail, I was so excited to find Lynda's blog.

There is so much to see in this shop, click on the pictures and you'll see all the little details. These ladies really do a good job.

You would think a week is long enough to get the binding sewed on a quilt. I'm almost finished the binding on my Polka Dot Girls...soon I'll post a picture of the whole quilt.

Keep cool and Thanks for visiting.

The Girls Are Back!

The Polka Dot Girls that is. I'm so happy, I finally got around to machine quilting this quilt. I decided on the cross hatch pattern because if I just go around the stitcheries they would pop from the quilt. This is simple and I don't think it takes away from the embroidery. I used a fine thread in a light colour to not cover up the stitching. I'm still working on the binding and then I'll take a picture of the whole quilt. If you want to see others making this same quilt visit this blog dedicated to PDG's.

More than a week ago I won a giveaway on Carol's blog. She sent me the Crazy Eight charm pack with this sweet cherry card. Thanks so much Carol, you are a sweetie. I'm so excited to win something....woohoo this is awesome. I'll have fun making a little quilt with this bundle.

I just had to post this picture of Lula. She is getting comfortable with us and loves to cuddle.

Cats and Quilts

I've had a big distraction in my life the last few weeks. This is Lula, she is almost 3 years old. I've really missed not having a cat around the house and decided it was time to go looking. Lula has spent most of her life hiding, she was in a home with a busy family and another cat which didn't like her. She pretty much spent most of the time hiding from the noise and commotion around her. They returned her to the shelter because she hid all the time. At the shelter she loved to be scratched as long as she was in her safe spot. We have a very quiet house and I thought she would do well. As soon as I brought her home she did find a new hiding spot behind my quilt rack. I felt sorry for her sleeping on the hardwood floor, so I folded up a quilt and put it down for her. While we were not home she managed to wiggle her way into the folds of the quilt, this is how we found her....she is so cute.

It didn't take her long to love all the attention and tummy rubs. She now will come out of her hiding spot when I call her, big improvement for only a couple of days. Each day she is spending more and more time out of her safe spot. I have to try and get a picture of her when she lays on her back with paws stretched out waiting for a tummy scratch....it's just the cutest thing.

Something new, I found while out in the antique stores. This rack is not antique but it's been given a rustic finish to look antique. The tag said it was a linen rack, I think it works great for my little quilts.

Not much happening in the sewing room. It's slow progress with a top I'm quilting. I really wanted to spend my time with Lula to get her comfortable with her new surrounding. So more quilt and cat pictures in futures posts.

Summer Quilting

It happened again...the week has just flown by...were does the time go???. Summer is here and I suddenly realized my watermelon quilt wasn't quilted....eek, I couldn't let the summer go by without getting this one done. I had intended this quilt to be finished by now. It was time to get busy and get it quilted, I did a all over stipple and then a little tea dying on the lawn. The tea didn't come out very dark, I might do it again...I haven't decided yet.

I almost fainted when I got an email from Carol, she said I won her charm pack giveaway. I asked her if she was sure.... because I never win anything. I'm so excited...Thanks so much Carol, I'll have fun playing with my little charm pack.

I'm almost finished another quilt, this one is smaller but still another flimsy out of the closet is a good feeling.

We've had a lot of hot sunny days and very little rain, the garden is loving this weather. I'm feeling more and more like a slug in the hot weather. I think it will cool off next week and I can get sometime done.

I hope everyone is doing well.