How about a quilt show or maybe two :-)

Yes I have had the good fortune to attend not one but two amazing quilt shows recently , the first was in Antigonish about 40 minutes from here and the most recent was on Friday in Mahone Bay , wow what a lovely display of unique quilts and a quaint town  . Since I have a lot of photos to share I will start today with Antigonish , a lovely show in a beautiful church right on main street Antigonish .

 The great thing about a quilt show in a church is the availability of pews to display the quilts , there is a negative to this also as sometimes you wish you could see more of the quilt . This is just one side of the church , the church was completely filled with gorgeous quilts .  Now for some individual quilts .

This gorgeous log cabin took my eye straight away .

Since we are in Scottish territory we have these lovely Celtic knot blocks .

Lovely quilt

The snowball block used a little differently .

A hand applique quilt , there were a few hand applique quilts all so beautifully done , such skill .

I believe this is called brides bouquet , so soft and pretty .

This was a smaller quilt , not quite what Linda Hubbard would call a mini quilt but never the less small and gorgeous .

More hand applique and you can see a second one beside it on the other side of the pew .

I couldn't get a decent picture of this one but it was so cute , all snowmen in the different seasons and all hand embroidered , I loved it !!

These blocks were no more than 6" , oh my it was incredible .

Stunning .

What baby wouldn't love this quilt :-)

This homespun quilt was one I loved and then realized why , I had seen Lesley post her quilt made with this pattern just recently , gorgeous. I was happy to have spent some time with Lesley at the show as she was traveling through to New Brunswick . There was a little too much light filtering in so the picture is a little washed out .

More houses , a pattern by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts , love it !

This one by Carolyn Hudson was my favorite quilt at the show , I believe it is an original pattern by Carolyn , just so beautiful and masterfully created . Carolyn who has won for her work internationally had several quilts at this show , each one beautiful.

This one had amazing quilting . 

 I loved this landscape quilt too , sorry I sort of cut off the border , I was trying to get a close up of the work to study it .

This one of Anne of Green Gables was a winner too , I have this pattern in my stash since , gee I don't know how many years but seeing it made has sort of spurred me to get it out and make it . 

I think I have kept you long enough , I will share the Mahone Bay show later on and I hope you enjoyed this show , I know I did . 

 Thanks for stopping by today and enjoy this lovely fall day .

 hugs Sheila

October finish

I seriously can't believe October has arrived , what happened to September ? I am so happy to have an early finish for this month , the fact it has taken several months to make doesn't matter at all today , I am over the top happy with this quilt , my Good Night Irene is finished , yeah!!!

I have draped it over the railing on the deck since my clothes line is filled right now , must take advantage of the sunshine . I kind of like the fall colours in the background here anyway . I know I have said it before but I loved making this quilt and couldn't be happier with how it turned out . Here it is tucked in one of our maple trees .

 Also I want to share the label that one of our members made for all the quilts that are being donated to the Veterans , thanks so much Jeanne .

Thanks to Terry for hosting this QAL ,it was lots of fun and I think I will make another one like this :-)

The field next to us was not cut for the second time as it normally is so we have some pretty grasses that have turned a beautiful colour .

See the little patch in the middle there , really pretty .

Since I am in the mood for fall I decorated a tea towel yesterday in oak leaves and acorns .

I found this applique in the fall addition of Primitive Quilts , it is part of a quilt but I think it is perfect to decorate a towel :-) 

I have a couple of other projects in the wings but haven't gotten pictures taken so you will see those at a later date. 

How is everyone coming along with their postcards ? I hope most have now been mailed and maybe even received .

Yesterday I received two lovely postcards , one from Annette and one from Pauline 

These swirling leaves arrived from Saskatchewan and were created by Annette  , thanks so much Annette , I love it !

This lovely card traveled all the way from the UK and was created by Pauline , isn't it lovely , thanks so much Pauline , I love it !!

Since I know Susan has received my postcard I will show you what I sent .

A pounded leaf postcard , maple leaves from my trees that I pounded then stitched . A fun technique , I also used some colour pencils to give them a little colour . The postcard I have sent off to Eglea has not yet arrived , it has a long way to travel but hopefully will arrive very soon .

 I am off now to do some laundry , take care and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by .

 Hugs Sheila

More blocks and some wonderful mail

I was away for a few days visiting with my Mom , I had a lovely visit and now am happy to be back home . I have made the other two blocks for the Bom with our quilt guild , both a little more challenging than the first block but I love a challenge :-)
 

The names of these blocks are Denise's Star, Crosses and Losses and Double Aster , they can all be found on Quilters cache  . I also worked on some more shirt blocks and have a total of eight now , yippe . I plan on working on these as leaders and enders , it will make the work go faster .  

My veterans quilt is now quilted and I sewed the binding on but need to sew it down on the back , even sewed the label in as I sewed the binding on so getting closer to a finish :-) I will share a photo once it is completed .

 Now for the great mail I received today , a lovely creative postcard from Judy , a surprise for sure but a very nice one too .

Isn't this fantastic , some birch trees in their fall colours , just gorgeous . Thank so much Judy , it was so thoughtful of you , I just love it !! 

I am on the run today so I hope you are doing something fun and creative and thanks so much for stopping by.

 hugs Sheila 

Some lovely mail and a new BOM

On Monday I opened my rural mailbox to find a package addressed to me , I couldn't wait to open it as I knew what was inside . You see I had won a giveaway from Kaaren of the Painted Quilt and my prize had arrived  :-) I know you want to see what I received so here you are....

These gorgeous Valdani threads designed by Kaaren in the most beautiful colours , this photo does not do them justice at all . I love them and can't wait to start a wool project to try them out . Thanks so much Kaaren , they are truly wonderful .
 I also received a very cute postcard in the mail yesterday from Susan for the fall postcard exchange I had arranged here on my blog .

Isn't it just the cutest " Be True to who you are" what a great statement Mr. Owl . Thanks so much Susan I love it !! 

 I hope those taking part in the postcard exchange have gotten their cards made and even posted , it is such fun to receive these works of art in the mail . I sent off two this week for my partners so be on the look out , they should land before too long .

 Our guild the Thistle Quilt Guild had their first meeting for this year on Wednesday and Anne our program director introduced us to a BOM which we have the option of taking part in . I of course signed up , can't resist a BOM such a great way to learn new blocks , new techniques and make a great quilt all at the same time . Our blocks will all come from the public domain and this months blocks are from the Quilters Cache a great site for free patterns . We have the choice of making three blocks this month,, we can do all three or we can do just one or two , the choice is ours so I think I will try all three and see how that goes . Yesterday I made my first block ,here it is " Crosses and Losses "

It might be difficult to tell from this photo but the fabric is Christmas , not a traditional colour but I just fell in love with these FQ's and I am hoping I have enough to make a decent size quilt . We will see . I have the second block Denise's Star cut and ready to assemble .

I now have seven Charm Star shirt blocks completed which gives me 14 tiny pinwheels :-)  I didn't take a photo so will do that later on .  I am off now to get that second block made for our BOM , wish me luck.

 Thanks for stopping by today and enjoy this beautiful fall day , it is a cool one here on the east coast but so lovely .

 Hugs Sheila 

Worldwide Bloghop

Today it is my turn to participate in the Worldwide Bloghop , I was nominated by Jo of Explorations in Stitch . Jo is a talented multi crafter tackling such things as making dolls , beading , journaling and of course quilting . She is well read in many crafts and is not afraid to try new techniques and share her process with us . It has been wonderful to get to know Jo over the past while and I know you will also enjoy visiting her blog .
A recent photo I borrowed from her blog shows her wool felting projects .
                                  
 As part of this hop I am to answer some questions , the first being .
1. What am I working on now ?
Oh my , you don't have time  for me to list all I have on the go but recently I started the Charm square star quilt as a QAL with Terry of Terry's Treasures and I am combining this QAL with another challenge by Tracee of Farm Gate Creations , the shirt challenge , using six shirts to create a quilt . My star blocks are being created using shirts and so far I am loving this process .

 I am also taking part in a free online class to learn crazy quilting , however due to the fact I broke my wrist in April this became  more of a challenge than I thought it would be as I still find handwork a little challenging but I am plugging along and here is where I am right now . Since this photo I have added my first ribbon embroidery , not my best work but really want to learn .

 I also have a postcard exchange on the go and have assigned names to have their postcards sent out by Oct. 15th . If you have followed me for a while you know I have a love for postcards :-) Just a few of the many postcards I have made and sent .

2. How does my work differ from others ?
 I don't think it does , I may put my own twist on things  but overall I am pretty traditional . I usually choose my own Colors rather than follow suggested colours unless I really love what is used . I love the process of choosing colour , it is one of my favorite parts of making a project .

3. Why do I create what I do ?
 That is an easy one , it is simply  who I am , I need to create , I have always created , I can't remember ever not creating something . As a young child I made my own doll clothes by hand , drew my own paper dolls with clothes to wear and in high school made my own clothes .  I started quilting about 14 years ago and love what I do . When I am creating I can leave the world behind , forget all the so call problems and feel totally involved and time stands still .

4. How does my creative process work ?
 Well I am usually inspired by something I see , sometimes in nature , sometimes a project made by a friend or fellow blogger and quite often these days by Pinterest . Inspiration is everywhere , sometimes that can be my downfall , I am so easily inspired and want to jump in with both feet for every project I see :-) I really enjoy landscape quilting and most often will take a photo then crop it and possibly enlarge it and prepare it for my project . I have a special container for landscape fabrics and will spend hours finding just the right fabric to fit the various components to make up the picture , sometimes that is easy other times it can be challenging but I can get totally lost in that process and loose complete track of time . The same thing often happens when making fabric postcards , they are just so much fun and coming up with a design is half the fun , the other half is finding that perfect fabric to make it work  and so the process goes for most of my work . I love to take part in challenges and was an active member of the Valerie Hearder yahoo group a couple of years ago and one challenge I took part in was the rain , drizzle fog challenge , tricky for sure , how do you portray fog , well it took some thinking but I finally came up with a solution and was pleased with my results .

                         
Not the best photo but I used netting to give the look of fog .  I have taken part in lots of BOM's over the years and really enjoy that process as well . I guess you could say I simply love to be creative , it make my heart sing :-)

  I am nominating Annette of In Stitches and Seams , a dear friend who I had the chance to meet a few years ago while visiting in Saskatchewan . Annette creates many beautiful projects many of which are  her own design and does workshops and classes in her local area and always finds time to make things for charity . She also makes incredible postcards ;-)
                                   
 This sweet garden flag is one of Annette's own designs ( I borrowed this photo from her blog ), she has many more to her credit including lovely totes . Be sure to stop by and say hello and give her some cyber hugs .

My second nomination is Lin of St, Victor Quilts , such a wonderfully creative person , she does techniques I have never heard of and certainly have never tried so it is always a pleasure to visit and see what she is up to . She does amazing crazy patch work , oh you just will have to go over and visit , you will be glad you did . She also makes beautiful postcards , very unique and lovely .

                                    

 Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read this lengthy post , I hope you enjoyed seeing a small portion of what I do and what makes me tick . Annette and Lin will post their blog hop post next Monday Sept. 22 . be sure to stop by and say hello .
 Hugs Sheila