I'm so lonely

My baby is gone.

I think she misses me.  I hope someone is remembering to tuck her in at night.

Little Bernie is off getting serviced.  Cross your fingers, Sunday she will be back in my arms and purring like a kitten. 
We are fortunate to have a Bernina technician here in Whitehorse.  It's nice having someone local.  As an added coincidence, his wife, Joanne Love, is my instructor for Sunday's class! 

In the meantime, what's up with you?  Working on anything special?  Signed up for any new classes?  How about a BOM?

Here are a couple of things to try out:

1.  I signed up for the Border Creek Station Mystery Quilt which starts this fall.  Our local quilt shop is hosting it here in the Yukon.  I've decided to do the lap quilt size version using the Seaside Romance colourway. (check out these fabrics here:  Border Creek Station - Mystery Quilt)  I know, long time friends will remember I did not finish the last mystery quilt from Border Creek Station.  I didn't even like it.  I used my partial blocks and created doll quilts and a wall hanging.  I think it was the fabrics.  That mystery quilt was geared towards using up scraps in your stash.  I, being relatively new, had a teeny, tiny stash so bought a lot of fat quarters (batiks).  I just wasn't feeling the love.  So I cut my losses and made the blocks into something else.  No biggy, it' happens right?  But take a look at the fabric used in this latest mystery quilt!!!   Remember, you don't have to use these, you can pick your own, but I LOVE the Seaside Romance fabrics.  Love, love, love.  So I'm giving it another try. Joanne has assured me that not all mystery quilts were like the last one and thinks I'll be fine with this one.  If I don't?  I'll make lemonade.

2.  I decided to join my pal Valerie in her Quilt Aid project.  Val's Blog @ Pastimes Online!!!  I love stitchery and there are several pretty ones in this project.   Not only is it for my own enjoyment, it's all for a good cause. 

I'm not pushing myself though, I'll get the Quilt Aid projects and work on them at my leisure.  The competitive streak in me will want to make sure I have the monthly Mystery Quilt block completed for show and tell at the quilt shop.  I know myself...can't let those other ladies get ahead of me.  (it's different in person then in the cyberworld isn't it?) 

Someone remind me I'm not signing up for any quilting classes in the Winter 2012 season ok?  I want to concentrate on the above two projects.  As it is, I'm in a year long colour class...so please, I need someone to be in charge of reminding me...no more classes.

Hmmm...although....Valerie will most likely be hosting more BOM's next year....what do you think?  Can I squeeze in another project?

Weekend A-Flurry

What a fun weekend I've had!
First let's discuss Friday, it was fun day at the office.  3 birthdays, which meant lots of food, lunch out and cake.
I made something a little special for one of the birthday girls...a mug rug to go with her new birthday  coffee mug.

What do you think?  She received a green mug with an orange cat frolicking in the leaves.  Unfortunately I didn't have time to embroider a little kitty jumping around the grass (I did manage some little flowers), but I think she liked it anyway.

Ok, now to the rest of the weekend.  I went with a friend to a cabin and we sewed all weekend.  Wahoo!

We went to Crag Lake.  Our project?  Black and white fabric and Buggy Barn pattern - It's in the Bag!
We've been collecting black and white fabrics to make this quilt.

Here is a picture of my first block:

Isn't it gorgeous?????  I love love love it!  And yes, that is satin that we used for the "ribbon" around the purse.  One thing I learned this weekend?  Satin can melt...be very careful when ironing!

Here are 5 more:


Oh gosh they just make me smile.  We made the decision on Friday night to each use one coloured background instead of mixing it up with some in black and some in white (our original idea).  Actually we made another adaptation to our original idea...instead of the 20 blocks needed for a full size quilt, we decided to only do a wall hanging size quilt and use 9.

 
Aren't they too cool?

We have some amazing ideas for piecing it all together, you'll have to remember to come back in the coming months to see what we do.  I have an idea that involves a string of pearls...that's the only hint I'm giving you!

In between all the bag making, we started our Christmas sewing.

Ta-Da!!!

One Christmas quilt top completed.

And what kept us going through this marathon of sewing?

Yummy.

While this was all happening, it started snowing!  Yep, it was beautiful.  We had the fire going, hot coffee (a little wine), chocolate and the snow coming down.  It was perfect.

There is a mountain behind that cloud.

It was a great weekend, how was yours?

Vivian

Colour Class 2

I signed up for a year long colour class at our local quilt shop.  It takes place on the first Saturday of each month.   We each pick our "block" and that block will be used throughout the whole year.  Each month it will be slightly different depending on the colour rules we are learning.

I'm hooked, I love taking classes that really teach me the whys and wherefores of things.  I know that I like certain colours together, I enjoy going through the bolts of fabrics and fat quarters, picking things that to my eye meld nicely together.  But I've never known why.  Now is my chance to learn.

First step is to get the tools in place.  It's time for a colour wheel.  I had a small one from my Colour Class 1 last year.  At the first class  I learned that I needed something more.  I needed a 3-in-1 Colour Tool.

I tell you, this little baby is priceless.

Next step is to pick our pure colour.  My choice?  Turquoise.

Isn't it lovely?  I chose a white-on-white tone (with snowflakes!) for my background fabric.   I just wanted a bit of continuity throughout my sampler quilt.

The next step was to learn about tints, shades and tones.

Tints = adding white to the pure colour
Shades = adding black to the pure colour
Tones = adding grey to the pure colour
 
We had to pick several fabrics in the various tints, shades and tones of our pure fabric.  Here are mine:

Alone the left side are 3 shades, along the top are first two tints, then a tone, and finally another tint (the lightest tint I could find, it's nearly white!).

We have homework every month.  Basically just playing with fabric, glue and paper.

Next, it's time to play with block we have chosen.  Finding my block was very difficult for me, I couldn't find anything that really appealed to me that I could use at least 5 fabrics in that I wouldn't hate or get bored with by the end of the year.  I finally found a scrappy block called Twinkling Star.  With it I can use my white background and still get in a variet of the other fabrics.

Here is a mock up of my Twinkling Star (with fabric and markers).

I have my fabric cut out and my HST's done.  Now I have to piece it all together.  That picture you will see later in the week so don't forget to come back!

While I have you though, I thought I would show you a row I completed for a swap that I am part of.  This is my food row for my Robin Rower's group.  One more row and we'll each have enough rows to make a quilt.

It was made by paper piecing.
I don't think I like paper piecing.  It's a bit of a pain.
Which makes sense to me as I'm lactose intolerant...LOL...so ice cream would be a pain for me in real life too!
Anyway, thanks for coming by, I can't wait to show you my finished homework for the month.

Vivian

First Day Photos - Remembering

What a busy week we've had.  School has started, with about a million forms to fill out, permission slips to sign and $$$ for the various pizza lunches that will happen over the next few months.

Every year I take a photo of the girls before they head out on their first day of school.  Oh how they have grown!  Above is this year's shot.  The photo below was so long ago, yet it feels like yesterday.  Off Jennifer and Lisa went off for their Grade One and Kindergarten years (2005).  Quick pass me a Kleenex!

Weren't they adorable?  And a little chilly LOL.  I had them take their jackets off so I could get a shot.  First day of school in the Yukon is a bit chilly. 

Ok, they are warm again.  Here was our morning, every morning, for years!  Walking out to wait for the school bus.  I tell you, I do not miss those -40C days in the snow.  This year they are at a different school in town and I will be driving them in every day, gives me more time with my babies.

Oh look, I found one of Jennifer's first day of Kindergarten.  Oh was she so excited to go, with her Tinkerbell backpack.

 Isn't she just the cutest?

Hard to believe my girls are all grown up, Jennifer is in her last year before high school.  And they are having a blast, only one week in and Lisa has already helped pull an Elk tongue out of it's head, poked her fingers through it's heart and held it's eyeball in her hand.  Jennifer has already practically finished reading her first novel (she was so close to finishing before bed last night I'm sure she stayed up to finish it) and is looking forward to picking out an instrument to join band.

Now that we're in the swing of things school-wise, I have time again for my quilting and stitching.  I have so many things in the works, stop back when you can and I'll give you an update.
Have a great holiday Monday everyone,
Vivian