It’s Canada Day! I promised a giveaway….

Well here it is Canada Day. I’ve been blogging for one year.  I did promise a giveaway and it will be today.  First you have to see some pics from our fun Canada Day parade…

Above is DD # 1 and pseudo daughter #1 with her nephew.  A bunch of the girls who grew up in town and used to love Canada Day here came out with their kids to join in the fun.  After the parade, food, singing Oh Canada and eating cake, there were games for the little kids and then we got into the serious competition: spike pounding and swede sawing logs. 

Here are the grandchildren – they wouldn’t participate in the kiddie games but they did in the “bush” ones.

Hammering that spike….okay they gave him a really little spike ….

Big sister getting some pointers prior to trying the log sawing herself…

DD # 3 and her boyfriend joined the fun as well…. with a real log and real swede saw…

Happy Canada Day to Canadian friends and Happy 4th of July to those south of the border!

I decided to give away two sets of two fat quarters each.  These fabrics were purchased in the US so these are American fat quarters.  First I have a set of two themed fabrics, for those who like a little summertime fun.  Campers and deer….

And I decided to part with two fat quarters of my Sherbet Pips…after I ordered some more from the Intrepid Thread…

So, two sets of two fat quarters each for two winners.  From anywhere in the world.  The draw will close next Thursday, the 7th at 9 p.m. my time.  I’m almost at the end of the international date line. The postal strike is over – I will be able to mail. 

Two chances to win:

1. Leave me a comment telling me about the most interesting aspect of your day today.  Don’t say it was all boring – everyone has interesting experiences to tell about.  You can mention which set of fat quarters you like best too.

2. If you are a follower you get a second chance.

Here’s the most interesting thing from my day.  I participated in the serious games.  I’m not much use with a hammer but I do have a history of living in the bush and sawing wood to keep warm.  I’m proud to say I was able to saw the log (the big one) in 36 seconds and in good form.  I didn’t win.  A woman from town sawed the log in 20 seconds and my two daughters did it in 22 seconds and 28 seconds.  But still, 36 seconds is not bad for an aging grandma.

Janet

On Giveaways

In another week my blog will be a year old and my blogging career will be about that old as well.  And it seems that it is customary to have a giveaway to celebrate blogging anniversaries. 

I don’t have lots of impressive statistics to show.  I have 54 wonderful followers - please know I appreciate every one of you and everyone who drops by to read my blog or says hi.  I’ve written less than 100 posts. 

I have entered many giveaways since I started blogging, and I have to say I have won my share of them.  It is great fun winning a nice prize and receiving it in the mail.  I have said to myself again and again that I have to have a giveaway.  And now that my blog anniversary is coming up it seems like an appropriate time.  Except there are two problems….

First of all Canada Post is on strike.  No mail in or out.  It is a bummer.  I have fabric and swap parcels waiting to get to me and lots of swap items waiting to go out.  But the strike will be over one day, so I’ll just have to mail when that time comes. 

The other problem is my inability to pick something to give away.  I’m really good at doing lots of things, but I’ve never been good at buying presents or throwing parties.  For some reason, these tasks bring out every insecurity I’ve ever had in life.  So I have waffled around about what I could possibly give away that others would like.  It doesn’t help that I am cheap and fabric is so expensive here – otherwise I could just go buy the latest that my LQS has in, which still wouldn’t be one of the coveted modern lines, but would be nice.  But I can’t bring myself to pay $4.50 for a fat quarter to sew with, or to give away.  And what about all that fabric I buy on line?  Well I honestly don’t buy that much and what I do I covet.  I get more fabric through collecting scraps than anything else.  I don’t think many other people would love the little scraps that I cherish. 

But I will figure out something to give away and I will have a giveaway next week.  Probably July 1st, because it’s Canada Day and I can celebrate Canada. 

In the meantime here are the most recent giveaway items I’ve won.  I should have posted most of these a couple of months ago.

This book from Kay Mackenzie.  The next swap partner I have whose choice is “any block” is going to get one of these.

A copy of  Rebecca Johnson's pattern from Lesly at Pickle Dish. This is so fabulous.  It is definitely on my list to make some day.  In Christmas fabrics I think.

This book is from Liz.  She is such a sweetheart – the postage from Australia was so dear that she bought a new copy from Amazon and had it shipped directly to me.  Such fabulous work to drool over.

This fat quarter bundle from Pam.  This is a great addition to my stash which has virtually no pastels. Aren’t these pretty colours?

And this book which I won during Pat Sloan's blog tour of the book. Now if I could ever get my hands on any of these novelty fabrics….

These are all such lovely things to win.  I’ve read the books, perused the pattern, fondled the fabric.  I’m such a slow sewer that I haven’t started any new projects from any of them yet.  A great big thank you to those who sent these gifts my way!

Janet

A weekend of bluegrass

I’ve been at the Kluane Bluegrass Festival all weekend.  Two and a half days of some of the best bluegrass music in the world.  For those who don’t know what bluegrass music is – here is part of what Wikipedia has to say about it.

Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and is a sub-genre of country music.  Bluegrass was inspired by the music of immigrants from the United Kingdom and Ireland (particularly the Scotch-Irish immigrants in Appalachia), and was influenced by the music of African-Americans through incorporation of elements of jazz.

In bluegrass, as in some forms of jazz, one or more instruments each takes its turn playing the melody and improvising around it, while the others perform accompaniment; this is especially typified in tunes called breakdowns.  Breakdowns are often characterized by rapid tempos, and unusual instrumental dexterity and sometimes complex chord changes.

Bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe characterized the genre as: "Scottish bagpipes and ole-time fiddlin'. It's Methodist and Holiness and Baptist. It's blues and jazz, and it has a high lonesome sound."  Bluegrass is traditionally played on acoustic stringed instruments. The fiddle, five-string banjo, guitar, mandolin, and upright bass (string bass) are often joined by the resonator guitar (also referred to as a Dobro^®) and harmonica.  A distinguishing characteristic of bluegrass is vocal harmony featuring two, three, or four parts.

For those who do know bluegrass, we got to listen to Dale Ann Bradley, Claire Lynch, Michael Cleveland, Grasstowne, the Gibson Brothers, Jim Hurst and Balsam Range.  There were a couple of Canadian bluegrass bands there as well – Headwater and Four Chords of Wood – and a Canadian blues duet, Rick Fines and Suzie Vinnick.  Plus our local talent, who are also very talented, Kevin Barr, George McConkey and their friends.  There were two venues, one that holds 425 people and the other 150 people, so this was up close and personal fun.  The people from far away love coming here because it is so beautiful and because we treat them really well.  Plus they are always amazed at all the light this time of year.

I took some hand sewing with me but didn’t do a stitch.  I did get a photo of the gorgeous theme quilt.

And here are the local musicians having a ball in the smaller venue. 

All this great music has got to be good for my soul…

Janet

The Flower Garden Quilt and a request for help

Today DD # 2 and I had our second basting party of blue hexies for the flower garden quilt.  I think it looks fabulous!  Here is DD # 2 working on it the other day.

And here is her progress to date.

Pretty impressive for a first time quilter, no?

But she is asking me about finishing and I don’t have the faintest idea….other than a few things I’ve seen on other people’s blogs. 

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good book, web site or blog on different ways to back, quilt and bind a hexagon flower garden quilt?

Wild flowers are coming fast and furious now.  There are quite a few purples at the beginning of the summer.  I have the Pasque flower, commonly called a crocus here, in my blog header.  It is the first harbinger of spring.  (Spring is short here – maybe a month long over May, then we launch into summer.)

Here are the other purples that follow behind the crocus.

Jacob’s Ladder (my book calls it Beautiful Jacob’s Ladder) a member of the Phlox family.

Then there are the Lupines (officially called Arctic Lupine).

There are great stretches of them in some spots….as you can see the dandelions are also prolific this year.

The Lungwort, or Bluebell, is not common.  You won’t see big patches of them that often, but they are so beautiful when they do appear.

The flowers will continue to appear….and then disappear again before we know it.  If only my garden bloomed as quickly!

Janet

Some More Great Mail!

Despite the fact that Canada Post is on rotating strikes, I got lots of mail today.  Look at all these lovelies! 

First up, my mug rug from round 1 of Leona's swap.  It is a bit late getting here, but oh so worth waiting for.  Beth made me this lovely mug rug.  It has wonderful colours and the grass is quilted in.  And a kitty.  So cute!  Thanks Beth.  I love it!

Here is the back – great fabric – and the card she sent.

I received five, count em, five hexie flowers from Leslie.  She and I did a swap.  I had a pattern she wanted and she made me these wonderful hexies, as per my request in the Inchy Hexagon swap, in exchange.  My favourite is the dark one with the dark dots in the center, or maybe it is the flowered one with the orange center, or….  Thank you so much Leslie.  I love them all, and what a boon to my hexie collection!

This block came in Wednesday’s mail – yes it HAS been a good week mail wise.  This is my May Christmas Block Swap block from Robyn.  I just LOVE the green fabric.  So bright and happy!  My block for May for Robyn went in the mail the other day but I forgot to take a picture of it, so it will have to wait until she receives it and posts a picture.

I don’t usually post pictures of fabric I buy but I am going to today because I want to tell you about this shop.  I have been wanting to get some “modern” fabric.  Just to see if I like them in person, to have a few on hand for swap blocks or other swaps when my partner is really into modern fabrics, and if I really like them to make something with them.  The modern fabrics tend to be more expensive and I have never seen any of them in any Canadian stores I’ve been in, or the Alaskan store I go to sometimes. 

Well I’ve found an online store that sells “modern” fabrics that I really like.  The Intrepid Thread.  EDIT – Duh – her name is Jewel!  Julie has great prices and lots of selection of fabrics that look really fabulous.  She is friendly and pleasant.  She has great giveaways on her blog (not that I’ve won any).  And both times that I have ordered from her so far the parcel has come very quickly.  She wraps it so nicely too.  This is what arrived from her today.

Sherbet Pips and …..Silent Cinema…

And she sent me this layer cake size square of this beautiful fabric.  I’m not sure what line this is from but I think she is trying to tempt me

I haven’t done much sewing this week.  The aforementioned block for Robyn and this one hexie – which I am keeping for my own collection.

All three of my daughters are currently in the Yukon – for the first time in almost a year.  DD # 2 and DD # 3 just arrived at my house for a visit.  DD # 2 is putting the vintage hexie flowers together with stepping stones right now and she told me we have to have a basting party, so I think I know what I’m doing tonight and tomorrow morning.  Or maybe we will be finishing the blinds for her room. 

Janet

Goodies received in the mail

I have received a few of my monthly swap blocks in the mail this last week – April and May blocks arriving around the same time - so thought I would show them all in one post. 

First up is my April Christmas block from Ann (no blog) in Nova Scotia.  I love this simple but beautiful block. Such a gorgeous star.

Next my April Adventure Block from Sandi in Kentucky.  Love the bright colours of this block.

Sandi tried to make me a pinwheel block as per my request.  She sent me the attempted block and it had issues with lying flat.  So I did a little adjusting and now it is no longer a pinwheel block, but still lovely.  More of those bright beautiful colours.

Then I received my May Adventure block from Sylvia (no blog) in Australia.  It is gorgeous.  I love the purple fabrics she used!

I also received my May hexie from the Inchy Hexie swap from Anorina, also in Australia.  I love how the hexie colours correspond with the colours in the beautiful card she sent.  Such pretty fabrics she chose.

That’s all for now, except for a picture of the progression of spring.  We call these little flowers “honeysuckle” because you can suck the sweet nectar out of them.  They are flowers on a plant commonly called bear berry – I think cause only the bears will eat them – but also known as Kinnikinnick.  The berries are dry and flavourless.  In my flower book it says “Their taste and texture is often compared to a mouthful of lint.” 

Have a happy day!

Janet

Friday Night Sew In Report

I didn’t get a lot of sewing done last night…actually I sewed yesterday afternoon as we were heading out to a camping spot for dinner and overnight.  The kids and friends were coming out to camp and asked us to secure the spot for them.  We stayed there Thursday and Friday night and we’re heading back out again tonight.  We just had to come home to make a cake for my son-in-law’s birthday.  Oh and DD # 1 had to write a paper for school.  And I had to write my post. 

Here’s the gang at the camp spot.  We’re missing two dogs in the photo.

I did get three green blocks for my colours quilt done…

And here’s the progress to date….

I hope everyone is having as nice a weekend as I am.

Janet

The weekend has not been devoid of sewing!

I have been sick with a stomach flu since Thursday.  I hate it when I get sick on the weekend!  But there has been some progress made in the sewing department – and the snows of last week…

….are gone!   Bird watching this morning.  We bagged an American Golden Plover and Snow Geese.  My friend, wife of the local bird nut, asked me if I had the Plover on my life list.  I had to whisper to her that I don’t have a life list.  We had a great laugh.

Yesterday I helped my daughter sew a blind for her bedroom window.  It isn’t finished and I think she is going to come out this week to work on it.  I bought the fabric for this blind in 1997!  Pictures to come when it’s done.

Today I finished up my 12” X 12” quilt for the swap organized by Victoria as part of the 15 minutes play blog.  I received my 12`` X 12 `` already.  Michele made me this cheerful little quilt.  Colourful and bright; just what I like.  Thanks so much Michele!

I’m afraid I probably didn’t pass the “make fabric” portion of the task, although the quilt is made totally of scraps (except for the backing).  Even the batting is scraps.  I had this huge pile of little triangles received from the scrap basket at my LQS.  It is left out for people to contribute their garbage towards my postage stamp quilt.  I get so many tiny scraps and I get to use them for lots of things.  I am happy with how this turned out.  It is for a mystery recipient.

And some detail….

Yup.  I`ve become a bit obsessed with hand quilting. 

I also finished my May Adventure Block for Sylvia in Australia.  Here is a sneak peek.  Sylvia asked for a block suitable for a baby in pastels.

Good night!

Janet

Blogger’s Quilt Festival

I don’t have any brand new finish to show, in fact no finishes from this year yet…. But this quilt was finished on December 24th. 

I started making this I Spy quilt for my granddaughter about five years ago, just after I took up quilting again.  I had a lot to learn (not that I’ve learned it all yet) and this quilt definitely was part of my learning curve.  I made templates for the hexagons and triangles out of a stiff plastic.  These worked okay, but as pieces were cut, tiny slivers were lost and the shapes morphed.  By the time I was sewing everything together these were not pieces that fit perfectly.

Collecting the pictures for the quilt was fun.  This was before I knew about on-line quilt stores.  I begged from everyone I knew, and got a lot of pieces from the scrap box at the Alaskan quilt store I go to from time to time.  There is a definite theme of animals and the out-of-doors to the charms; not really a “girly” theme, but then my granddaughter has her “outdoorsy” side. 

I chose blue for the setting triangles, because that was what I could find, that or red and I thought red was too much for my girl. 

Once the rows were made I and I went to join them, I discovered that they didn’t match up, thanks to the poor cutting.  The quilt got shelved for several years.  I looked at it once in a while but couldn’t think of how to fix it. 

Then my quilting skills improved, and along with that my ability to think outside of the box, and the pattern, grew.  I decided that a small sashing between the rows would fix the problem, and it did quite well I believe. 

My granddaughter received this quilt for Christmas in 2010, only five years late!

She picked the backing herself.

I am still learning to machine quilt…..

I had great fun “writing” the label into the border.

Thanks for coming by and checking out my quilt.  Please be sure to visit

Amy's Creative Side to see other beautiful quilts in the show.

Janet

My contribution to the debate and mail sent

I know I said I wasn’t going to get involved with the modern/traditional debate, but this is something I’ve been meaning to blog about for a long time….a good laugh at me….

Since I entered the world of quilt blogging about nine months ago one of the trends I’ve heard a lot about is “vintage sheets”.  I was curious.  Where I live second hand stores and garage sales just don’t exist the same way they seem to elsewhere.  We have a Salvation Army store in Whitehorse, but my insider knowledge is that they send all the really good stuff down south (although rumour has it that someone bought a functioning Bernina for $50 there the other day).  In my town there may be one garage sale a year, and I just don’t go to the city on weekend, after commuting all week for work. 

So I don’t get to see a lot of the second hand world and I didn’t really know what the vintage sheet craze was all about.  One day I saw a good deal on a blog for fat quarters of vintage sheets and I ordered some, just to find out what exactly everyone was talking about. 

I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw them.  See that darker blue one on the top.  I owned that sheet.  Well probably not that exact sheet because I’m pretty sure the one I owned wore out and got ripped up to be used as rags.  But the same sheet.  I think I had two fitted twin sheets.  And maybe top sheets too.  I can’t remember – it was so long ago.

So I guess that means I’m vintage…..  Or is it antique? Or retro?  I’ve thought a lot about these words and I’ve decided that retro is most recent – say the 70s and 80s, vintage stretches back to the 50s and 60s and antique is before that.  I have lots of vintage in my house.  I’m sure some of you have noticed my vintage kitchen table where I photograph lots of quilty things.  I have a lovely vintage sink in my bathroom

Or maybe it’s antique…

Anyway I think I’ll quit while I’m ahead.  I had to wash the sink so that it was in an acceptable state to take a picture for the blog.  I don’t want to start cleaning my whole house. 

I just think it is funny:  I’m a traditional and eclectic quilter living in a modern world, surrounded by vintage and antique items.  I wonder if I have anything retro.  Ah labels…..

If anyone wants to correct my definitions please go ahead.  I would love to be educated.

On a happy note I got two items sent off in the mail today.  The pin cushion top for Jacqueline is on it’s way to Sue in Australia for it’s finishing touches….

Good thing too, because I received Marina’s top in the mail today.  The third and final one I will be working on.

And my hexie flowers for May are off to the UK….

My partner wanted blue/green in both the centers and the petals.  I hope I’ve hit the right combination.

Cheers! 

Janet

Election Day in Canada

I just came back from voting, and picking up the mail.  I received my hot mat from the hot mat swap organized by Cheryl.  It’s gorgeous and I’ll show it to you in a minute.  First I want to tell you about our adventure yesterday.

It is turning to spring here and the snow is melting fast.  The little river that runs through our town opens up first and there is a channel downstream in the lake for a ways.  There are lots of birds hanging around the water: trumpeter swans, a million ducks, Canada geese and even several varieties of sea gulls.  It is so nice to get out on the water again, and some years we have seen caribou and muskrats when we have canoed out into the channel.  We went canoeing yesterday and it was beautiful.

We took along DD # 2’s male friend who is visiting her from Newfoundland.  DD wasn’t feeling well and stayed home.  Her friend is here for 10 days and he’s been introduced to lots of Yukon sights.  Well yesterday he had a real Yukon initiation when we managed to dump the canoe he was in!  Wet from head to toe, and you have to know that water is COLD!  I hope we haven’t scared him off completely!

Here’s the beautiful hot mat I received from Cheryl in Australia.  She didn’t give me a blog address so I can’t tell you if or where she blogs. 

Thanks Cheryl!  This is beautiful and lovely and bright, just as I like things. 

I’ll be working on some hand stitching tonight while I watch the election results on tv.

Janet