Fabrics

I had several JoAnn's coupons that expired yesterday so it made  sense to make the trip to Grand Forks for more fabrics that I don't really need. However I did need new rotary blades so that makes the whole trip worth while doesn't it? I love the blue daisy fabric and got the green, yellow and blue to match it. I got three yards of black because I am out of black and find I use a lot of it. The black and white fat quarters are for an eventual black and white quilt.
I think it's time to get in gear and finish the quilt I'm working on so I can start something new with these gorgeous fabrics...

Yesterday I went to Winnipeg to pick up my son-in-law, Matt, at Perimeter Airlines. The lucky thing about that is that I had time to spare and Northwest Fabrics is only a couple of blocks away. I scored all of these fabrics for $3.99/metre. The last one has tiny gold stars on it. I love the blue with yellow dots the best. It will be soon time to start a dot quilt. The brown may work for the back of the Miles Davis quilt so I got three metres of it.

Getting Wordy

I added a couple more words today. I still need at least one more to balance the bottom row. It will have to be a short one. Right now I am thinking of Awe but that's not exactly what I want. I'm sure the right one will come to me...

Words

 Today I added the first word. I also plan to add Wonder and Enthusiasm and possibly others if the quilt doesn't get too big. Right now it's about 50 inches across and I'll probably add a border to stabilize it for machine quilting.

This is one way to organize your scraps. This is the third tub I have filled. Where do they all come from???

Putting It All Together

My studio and blog have both been idle  for too long.  Today I started assembling the top of the quilt. The words are put together but I need to get that whole section the same size as a row of blocks. That will take a bit of cutting and adding but I will get there in the end. I was going to make some more words but this morning my cutting table was a huge pile of scraps so I made more scrap blocks. I may sweep them all into a tub and start the words tomorrow.
All those blocks and the scrap pile is just as big as it was before I started. Go figure.

I got the words sewn together and started arranging the blocks. I need a lot more blocks and I may add some more words like Enthusiasm, Curiosity,  Innocence...

Miles Gets Credit

I have finished all the letters for the quote. I may re-do the D since I think it looks a bit small.  Then I'll add spacers, a hyphen and a period.

Quote

I got all the letters done for the quote today. Now I have to make the author's name. Miles Davis. Only the M will be challenging. Then I have to add the spacers and decide how to fit it in among all those random blocks. That will be the fun part.

Quote

I did the first few letters of my quote this morning. I will be putting spacer strips between each letter once I have finished all the letters.

More Randomness

I have added more random scrappy blocks to the quilt. Eventually I'll probably add an inner border, some more scrappy blocks and then an outer border. I am also thinking of adding some words, possibly a quote from The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. One I really like is "Do not fear mistakes - there are none" by Miles Davis. That one would be particularly apt for this piece.

Scrappy

I got an urge to use up some scraps. I started with square in square but soon realized that those blocks need larger pieces and I want to use up little bits and long narrow strips. I then changed to Mile-a-Minute blocks. I love them because they are so quick and you can use all sorts of little scraps.  The blocks are 6 inches square.

Done and Done

The Mystic wall hanging is completely done thanks to Brenda's hand sewing yesterday.
The Dog Houses are all asembled but of course, not quilted yet. I have the backing and binding all ready but haven't put them on the frame yet. Maybe tomorrow.

Dog Houses

I have cobbled the houses together but after  I got the side borders on I realized it's not square. The top is 38 inches and the bottom is only 37. I'll have to take those side borders off and square the thing.
I'm auditioning the black paw print fabric for borders. They will  be narrower but I do like the dark around the edges.

Question

To sash or not to sash. That is the question. I have pale yellow with white dog paw prints or black with white paw prints as on the roof of the last house in the second row.  Maybe yellow sashing and a black border? Time for some auditions.

I'm back to  building dog houses. 

Last Friday our friends Lionel, a Cree Shaman and Irvin, a Cree sculptor, conducted a pipe ceremony at our stone circle, in honor of Marcel's life. Marcel was not Native but had a huge love and respect for the people and culture. The ceremony was attended by immediate relatives and a few very close friends.
Following the ceremony there was an outdoor potluck dinner organized by my friends Brenda and Tanis. After we finished eating a sharing circle was formed (quite a feat when dealing with this batch of relatives!) and each person was given the opportunity to say a few words.
The day was perfect. Everyone commented that it was just what he would have wanted and that they left feeling much more at peace.
On Sunday there will be a public memorial which will be open to anyone wishing to attend.
My daughter Carmel, from Australia, will be staying here for a few more weeks. I am sure that I have the best four children in the world. I don't know how I would get through this without them.
Thank you so much for all your kind comments and prayers. They are much appreciated.

Love and Loss

On behalf of mum I'd like to let all her blogging friends know that our beautiful dad and mum's soul mate passed away peacefully yesterday just after four. He waited until all of us kids and mum were with him, took a few more breaths and slipped quietly off into a land filled with rainbows and seven pointed stars.

We love him so much and will miss him forever.

Your support and condolences mean so much to mum and I know she appreciates all your kind words.

Thank you so much on behalf of mum, us kids and all the entire family....

Bad News

My husband Marcel suffered an aneurysm on Monday evening. Prognosis is not very positive at this point. Your positive thoughts, prayers and good wishes would be most appreciated at this time.

The After Party

This year at our annual July 7 party we had native drummers from Long Plain Reserve near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. They were totally amazing.


My grandsons sang and played guitar. I thought they were amazing too. I may be a tiny bit biased but many other guests assured me that they were indeed very good.


My niece from Alberta lit the fire.


And what a fire it was!


Everyone helped light the grass circle around the center fire.



Is anything more fun than leaping through smoke and fire?

Art Show

I have been missing in action lately because we have been organizing and hanging a large art show. These are just a few of the pieces. The light wasn't very good so some of the photos are a bit dark, but I hope you can get an idea of the quality of the art.



My Australian themed pieces are hanging in the background.