And then there were two...

Another non-quilty post about the new members of our family.   We say that Sara was such a special dog that we needed two to replace her.  It's not that she could ever be replaced because she can't.  But as my friend Liane said, " A good home should never go empty. Sara will always be remembered and loved."  Very true Liane. 

Meet Cooper (left) and Sophie (right).  They are 9 weeks old here and have been with us a week.  It hasn't taken long for them to totally capture our hearts.  We are still adjusting to have puppies again which is quite different than one elderly dog with dementia.

Needless to say I haven't gotten much sewing done, although I am busy working on quilts for Calgary flood victims along with some others in our quilt group, Lion of Judah Quilters (and friends who have joined for this project).

Here are a couple of things that have already gone to Calgary:

String Quilt - Group Project - top sent for long arm quilting in Calgary/Edmonton

Curly Birds of Bend - finished in 2012 - seemed like Calgary could use it more than me!

Modified Jelly Roll Races with inset red squares - quilt top I sent for long arm quilting.

So that was our first batch that was sent with some other quilts from Victoria.  Then we set about making a second one, this time as a 'quilt as you go' method.

Different setting - already quilted the squares; rows ready.  Next step sew the rows together for a quilt top then bind!

Rows ironed ready for the next step.

I've got a couple of rows sewn together but with work and puppies and running a B&B, etc. life has been busy.  Good thing we have a deadline.  Nothing like a date on the calendar approaching to get one moving towards completion.  The grout is being sewn down by machine.  I would love to do some hand sewing on it but there just isn't time.

Here's what the back will look like (sort of).  Imagine grout in between the orange/red squares.

And I have one more quilt top done which will need to be quilted.  This was a quick project (the piecing part anyway).  I cut the kit out and assembled it in one Saturday with the group.  We each did our own quilt this time.  Bored with strings we ventured out.

My quilt done with Kaffe Fassett prints and white Kona cotton. Destination:  Calgary and area

Shirley & friends (and the corner of Terry's primary colours done quilt as you go). Destination:  Calgary and Area

And that's about all.  As I said, it's been busy around here.  Off to tuck the puppies into bed now.  My DH just asked, 'so when does Cooper get his quilt?"  You see, Sophie has inherited Sara's quilt, pictured here underneath the exhausted puppies:

It's a dog's life to be sure!  Good night all.

Mavis

Heavy Heart...

I have a very heavy heart today.  Yesterday we said goodbye to our furry child, Sara.

She was the best dog a family could ever hope for.  We got her when she was 10 weeks old.  It was love at first sight.  We were at our church picnic and she came with the family who owned her mother, Minnie.  We were not in the market for a dog at the time but like I said, it was love at first sight.  My husband wasn't with us that day as he wasn't feel very well.  We asked the family who had her if she was for sale.  Yes.  Could we take her overnight to show my husband and bring her back tomorrow?  Sure.  Game over.  She never went back.  She was destined to live with our family.  We took her upstairs to our livingroom where my DH was resting on the couch.  We set her on his chest and her bring brown eyes captivated his heart and he also fell in love. And she was ours.

I don't think people who are not 'dog people' really understand how they become such an integral member of the family.  They love you unconditionally.  They always greet you with so much enthusiasm that they can lift your day from humdrum to happy.  They live to please you.  And Sara did all of this and more.

We moved to acreage when she was about 5 years old.  We used to tease that she was saying "I'm a FARM dog now!".  She would chase deer out of the yard with great zeal.  She was a dog with a job and she took it seriously.  She loved to be outside with my DH when he was working on the property.  With ample sunny spots she'd find her favourite and 'rest a spell', or cool her warm tummy on the shady grass in the orchard.

To say we will miss her is an understatement.  It's been less than 24 hours and her presence is missed more than words can tell.  And yes, she was 'just' a dog, but to us she was family.  We loved her dearly.  She loved us and brought much joy to our family.  And now she is gone and we grieve.

The last cuddle before we say goodbye.

Good bye sweet Sara.  You were the best dog ever and we will always love you.

xox

Quilting for Calgary - Love in Action

I love to see people responding in love to those in need.  That can take a lot of different forms. The past two weeks have seen devastation to the Calgary area in the Canadian prairies.  Some people have lost everything.  Some people don't yet know what they've lost as they have not been allowed to return to their neighbourhoods.  Can you imagine the anxiety of that scenario?

We all respond differently to the needs we see.  Some people want to go and help on the ground with recovery efforts, or bringing aid.  Some people pray believing for divine intervention.  And yes, quilters want to send quilts.  They want to send tangible expressions of compassion and care.  

That is why I was so glad to see the formation of some online groups specifically for the purpose of  being a rallying point to coordinate sending quilts to those in need.  This totally chokes me up.  I'm not ashamed of my tears.  I want to help too.  I can't go and help, but I can certainly make a quilt, or quilt blocks, or help spread the word.  And I've heard countless stories like this the past two weeks and it warms my heart to know that this expression of love and compassion is reaching this devastated area.  It says, "we care".  "You're not alone".

I wanted to see if I could organize a group from my friends in Victoria to work on a group quilt to send.  We got together last Saturday at my church to work on heart strings which is a popular quilt pattern that multiple people can work on and no experience is necessary.  We had some sewing, some ironing, some cutting strips. Our goal was to send 2 quilts.  Here's a picture of where we got to on Saturday:

 

 

I was really sad that in the end I couldn't even go the event that I organized.  The reason?  On Friday, the day before, I broke my foot.  So the girls carried on without me.  But I was there in spirit and quite sure I could contribute something from my own sewing time alone at home.  On Sunday, I hobbled into my sewing room and added to the number of blocks.  This weekend I think I'll try and get the blocks put together and ready to ship off with the others from our area.  I know there have quilting ninjas working in groups for this great cause.  And thankfully it wasn't my 'sewing foot' that I broke so it still works just fine!

We will be sending this quilt top to Sparrow Studioz in Edmonton.  They have volunteered to quilt them on their long arm machines and then get them distributed.  They are opening their studio for the next 4 Sundays.  You can read about it on the facebook group page here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/QuiltsforCalgary/.

I'm so proud of my fellow quilting family.  Way to spread the love!!!  God bless you for your giving spirits.  I know He loves it when His children love one another.  This is just awesome.

Until next time,
Mavis

Sew Exciting 2013 Quilting Retreat

It's been a week since I got home from our Sew Exciting 2013 Quilting Retreat at Pearson College in Metchosin, outside of Victoria.  I've been many years before but the difference this year was that I was the Chair of the Committee.  We had a hoot!  Early on we decided on a "Wild, Wild West" theme.  The theme is evident throughout the weekend from table decor, to events.

Here is our committee (minus one member, Terry, whose son was getting married on the Saturday so she couldn't attend).

A fine array of cowgirls dontcha think??

And Linda was a very good sport.  She taught the gals how to line dance on Friday evening!

A good time was had by all.

Our classes were Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Mine was a 3 day class - One Block Wonder with cubes inserted (from the book "One Block Wonder Encore").

Here's the teacher's quilt (Mae Petersen):

I have quite a ways to go and my layout is far from final.  I'm just finishing the blocks and putting them on the design wall for stage 2 - shuffling and getting the correct layout.

Here is a link to my Picasa album from the weekend.

Sew Exciting 2013

Enjoy!

Until next time,

Mavis

And the quilt lived happily ever after...

This is a post about why it's SO IMPORTANT to label your quilts.

I made this quilt for my dear grand-nephew and it goes everywhere with him.

And recently it went to a concert with him and his family.  For some reason all blankets were confiscated at the entrancd to the concert.  I cannot fathom why.  Anyway, the quilt was left and could not be retrieved at the end of the concert.  At the time, I didn't know what was going on. 

Yesterday I got a call from a kind stranger.  Her name is Katie and she lives in Vancouver where my family lives and where the concert was.  She saw the quilt and figured it was special and didn't want someone picking it up (ie stealing it) so she picked it up with the purpose of finding its owner.  Wow.

And this is where the label part comes in.  I ALWAYS label the quilts I give away.  I always use my first and last name (rather than from "Great Auntie Mavis").  I always date them and put the name of the recipient on them.  Katie saw the label and googled to see if she could find me.  She found this blog.  And on this blog was a link to our bed & breakfast.  And on our B&B page is our phone number.  And Katie called me.   And I called my nephew and his family and gave them Katie's number.  They were SO relieved to hear the news that the quilt had been found.

So because of Katie's 'random act of kindness', this quilt will live happily ever after with the family it was intended for and I couldn't be happier.

Thank you Katie!

And THAT'S why we should label our quilts.  :o)

THE END.

Mavis

Wild Child crosses the finish line!!!

This vibrant (understatement!) quilt began its life in Sisters, Oregon at Quilters' Affair.  I took a class from Scott Hansen the day before the quilt show in 2012.  The class was called Fireworks and the pattern is out of the book, "Not Your Grandmother's Log Cabin".  No kidding!  There is nothing 'grandmotherly' about this quilt which is based on the log cabin pattern.

I totally stepped out of my comfort zone with this project and ventured forth into the colourful world of Kaffe Fassett and his line of vivid fabrics.  I bought the fabric at Sisters Quilt Shop in Chehalis on the way down to Sisters.  I ended up hitting up my stash after I returned home as I moved towards finishing the blocks.  I needed to add a bit more value and different colours because the Kaffe fabrics I chose sorta all read 'medium' and there wasn't enough contrast between the blocks.

I had a total blast making this quilt and it is destined to hang in the Victoria Quilters' Guild 2014 Quilt Show next May.  And how cool is it that I already have one quilt ready to go for the show...12 months ahead of schedule!!!  I think I may just need to stand up and take a bow.  That has NEVER happened before and I'm quite chuffed with myself actually. Come to think of it,  I've actually got 2 quilts ready for the show and 1 left to do but I must not let this get to my head.

Oh yes, and before I forget to mention it, I've named this quilt "Wild Child".  I don't think I need to explain that one, do I??

Until next time,

Mavis

Trip Around the World

We did a small makeover on our queen suite in our B&B.  I had a hand-quilted quilt on the twin bed in the Queen suite.  You can see the bottom of it on the twin bed on the right.  But the queen bed in the suite has this quilt on it.  We've removed the brass bed and made a new headboard.

I wanted to make something a bit more 'country' looking and I wanted it to be quick quilt.  So I made a Trip Around the World for the twin, in compatible colours to the quilt on the queen bed.  And as of tonight this is it now done and on the twin bed.  I quilted it on my frame with my Janome 6500.

A photo shoot tomorrow and the website will be updated to show the new quilt.

 

And that's quite enough for one day!  

I have another quilt back from the long arm quilter so I have another binding to finish and then there will be yet another UFO off the list!  Woot woot!!  Stay tuned for more pictures of another finish in a couple of days.

Until next time,

Mavis