Happy New Year!

And, I am all caught up on Linda's Stashbuster! 

Here are 18 and 17, I think there are only 2 more, then I have to think about how to lay out 20 12" blocks. That will be one big quilt, so I am considering two quilts with 10 blocks each maybe, we'll see. 

 I did it, finished all my hexies by the end of 2013!

I hope I can get the rest of the triangles basted and up today. Then I will spend the next few weeks playing around with block placement, making sure everyone is happy and playing nice. 

I do have one more project I wanted to finish by today, it just needs binding, so maybe I will make it. Will definitely have it done by the FAL deadline of Jan 8/14

I will be back later in the week with some New Year's goals and my 2014 Finish Along list. I sure found this year's challenge motivating for getting UFO's completed, and since I have lots of those I will keep playing along next year.

However you celebrate New Years, may it be happy, warm and safe. 

Blessing from the great white north.

Linking up with Lily 

Merry Christmas!

I am NOT a goddess of the last minute and absolutely hate the crazy shopping crowds, so I am typically pretty ready for Christmas by the beginning to middle of December.

This frees up lots of time to get caught up on my Stash Buster blocks

All the blocks up to and including block 16.

I have found that I have done lots of ripping out with many of these blocks, mainly because I don't follow instructions very well! Live and learn, right?

And what to my wandering eye did appear??? 

Hexies!

I just have to finish 51 and do 52, I should be done well before New Year's. Next year's challenge is get it all assembled into a top. 

I hope my next post will have a picture of it laid out on the design wall.

 A very quiet Christmas here at the Stewart house, hubby is out in the garage working on my poor broken truck so I am off to the sewing room to finish week 17 and be completely caught up on the Stash Buster.

Tonight we will go to the late service and then have a sleep in tomorrow.

Christmas Day we will do our presents, talk to family in BC, have brunch and head out snowshoeing before we head to our dear friends for dinner. They take such good care of us over the holidays. 

Merry Christmas to all my friends real and virtual, I love blogging for you!

Time Flies

Where did two weeks go again?!?!

I always seem to be too busy for my own good.

Now we are full on into Christmas party/pot luck season and I seem to be continually making food and changing into party clothes.............not that that is a BAD thing.

I am happy to have these boxes and cards done and on their way to my beloved friends and family.

The last of the work baby quilts is done! And this is my second finish for FAL Q4
Here is the original post

I have finished knitting the boot cuffs and look what has reappeared on the coffee table for evening TV work??
Good grief, how could I get stalled out at the last five??

This crazy too complicated knitting project has also resurfaced. 

Too twisty and crazy for a tired evening brain

 Have not been in my art room for months so have been enjoying a little time in there this week making mason jar candles for little gifts.

These are mine tho!

After a bit of paperwork and housework I am headed back to the sewing room to get caught up on Linda's stash buster quilt along, think I am 4 behind again.

Busy, Busy

The last few weeks have just been a flurry of busy-ness, but this week's days off have given me a bit of time for catch up.

This is today's Christmas prep, my third and final round of baking shortbread. Some to keep, some to give away.

In the evening, instead of finishing those last 5 hexies, I have been knitting boot cuffs. The pattern portion fits inside the top of your boot, and the cuff folds over. Cute look without all the bulk!

Baby quilt #2, shower is tomorrow! This one was not on my FAL list as it wasn't cut out yet. Did not turn our very babyish just working from my stash, but I am hoping Mom and babe can snuggle under it together. Mom is due in January, the coldest month here in the north. 

Finally, after at least two months, I have found some time to play in my art room. This is the start of this year's Christmas cards, something totally new.........watercolour. Wish me luck!

Off to get the binding on that final baby quilt! So happy to have those off my to do list before Christmas prep totally ramps up!

Great weekend!

We started the weekend with a trip to Grande Prairie on Saturday, the day after their first major storm of the season. The roads in town were less than admirable to say the least. That and a dead alternator made for an interesting trip. I did however get most of my Christmas shopping done and don't have to go back til spring.

On Thursday night at the Festival of Trees wine and cheese, my quilt won the ribbon for the best fabric entry. Pictured with me is my friend Chris, who did the amazing quilting.
Friday night was the Gala opening night, and our quilt was live auctioned and went for $1500! So, so pleased!

Sunday was a one of those cold but gloriously sunny winter days, amazing how much better we feel about winter when the sun is shining and we just picked up our new snowshoes! Looking forward to warmer than -22C to try them out.

I also got to hold two gorgeous baby girls, one of whom belongs to this quilt. 

I am determined with each quilt I complete, I am going to try a new quilting pattern, both of these are from Leah Day at the Free Motion Quilting Project

Have a great week!

Flurry

Super pleased with how well "Flurry" turned out. It is now hanging at our ski chalet, awaiting bids at the Festival of Trees live auction on Friday night.

Proceeds to our local woman's shelter.

It is also my first finish for Q4 of the FAL, original post is here

Chris did an amazing job custom quilting it!

  

All caught up on Linda's Stash Buster Quilt Along. 

That yellow with the pink polka dots has become quite obnoxious, what was I thinking???

All 11 blocks so far.

More later this weekend after we see what how Flurry has done in the auction!

P.S. Nice little blog post by the library about our quilt show and quilting as an art form.

http://prmlibrary.ab.ca/blog/2013/ponderings-peace-river-municipal-library#comment-3207

Still Hanging by a Thread

Our guild is having what has become our annual quilt show this month in the art gallery space in the public library. 

This is a just a sampling of the loveliness!

Our official opening is tonight 6:30-8, if you are a local, come on down for some refreshments, chat with the quilters and enjoy the eye candy!

Retreat weekend

Last weekend we were back out to Sawmill Creek Cottages for our annual guild retreat. This is her seventh year in business, and my fifth visit.

As you can see we have the great, long room all to ourselves, she feeds us great food and we have adorable little cabins to sleep in.

 Unfortunately I was under the weather for part of the weekend and did not take as many pictures as I had hoped, but here is just a small portion of the projects worked on by the quilters.

My two are the second and third from the right, two baby quilt tops. I had number three well under way before I succumbed and went to bed

Baby #1 was born on Saturday morning so I will spend this afternoon working on getting her quilt sandwiched and quilted.

Thanks Alice for posing with your great little guild challenge!

I'll be back in a day or two with pictures of our guild show, which is hanging in the library for the month of November.

Great sewing week

Feels so good, as our weather turns more wintery, to hang out down in the sewing room, sewing away to my heart's content, listening to audio books.

The festival quilt top is done and awaiting pick up by my friend Chris who will graciously donate her long arm skills to the cause.

Way behind on my blocks for Linda's quilt along. Very poor camera shots but here are weeks 6-9.

This one is over an inch too small so it will get some sashing when the time comes to bring it up to size, NOT redoing it!!!

Thinking ahead and preparing this next week to head out on our annual guild retreat weekend! Getting excited!