Shop Hop to Lloydminster and Back

   It was a glorious day today. No smoke and you could actually see the mountains. First time in 6 weeks. Oh no, there's snow on them!

   These beautiful fabrics were some of the backgrounds purchased during a shop hop with my sister to visit an aunt and cousins in Lloydminster SK and AB (border city). It was the old saying never say never, don't need any fabric, that is until we found a great background, white with red circles, on sale at Village Treasures in Mannville AB. 

Well we almost made it to Lloydminster unscathed. As you can see that was only the beginning. I daren't show you the other bits and pieces. Next stop, Extraordinary Extras in Vermilion, AB, there was the white and yellow circles on black. TG we were on a timeline to get to our meeting in Lloydminster. Otherwise disaster would have struck the debit card. 

But, then again we managed to get to Country Quilts & Stitches, which conveniently was across the street and up a couple blocks from where we were, to buy the blue fabrics.

   On the way home was another story as we had all day to head cross country thru all the small towns and villages. First stop, Creative Klutter in Irma, is where we got the bicycle fabric and a geode (rock with crystals inside).

Then on to Crafty Creations Quilt Gallery in Killam for the green fabric.

The What Not Shop, in the village of Forestburg with a beautiful garden around it, had the music black and white fabric and some wonderful elephant buttons. Unfortunately for us June was at a retreat, but fortunately her husband was there to help. Great fun we had.

Next stop, Caroline's Homespun Seasons in Stettler then a late lunch. All this hopping makes a girl hungry and unable to make proper fabric purchasing decisions.

Now all fed up and alert, it was away to the IDA and Quilt Shop in Three Hills. Yes we missed some in between but we had been to most of them on a previous shop hop a couple years ago. 

Thank goodness Never Done Quilting in Beiseker is open until 7 pm. (Probably for the people coming home from working in Calgary) It's in a converted bi-level house right downtown. I bought a very cute winter panel here. Definitely worth a stop.

   I'm happy to say we managed to spread the wealth around and now we're broke until next time.

   Well! As you just read, mom took off for a couple days and left me all by myself. It was so peaceful and I behaved myself (she didn't catch me). I love playing with my new white ribbon.

Flying Geese Space To Home

   As the saying goes, it's always great to get away but even better to get home. These past months, we've traveled through space, the final frontier, but even better the finality is here. Thank you to all of you who made the trek .

   How many of you have problems with flying geese like I do? Jacquelynne Steves from The Art of Home has created another technique to make flying geese.

   Yeah, we are at the halfway point of Splendid Sampler II's free blocks. Block 10, Around Four Corners, by RachaelDaisy of Blue Mountain Daisy. Rachael has a very clever way to make the four circles. I'm in awe at how easy it is.

The decorative stitches were stitched using two 50wt threads, yellow variegated  and orange, through one 90 needle. If the thread keeps breaking then use a 100 needle and or adjust your tension. I threaded one thread on each side of the first loop (very left side where the thread goes to that then runs along the top of the machine) then threaded machine as usual.

Remember to change the sewing feet before stitching.

The decorative stitching all continuous. I started where two circles meet and went around each, then regular stitched to the next circle along the edge and decorative stitched around the two circles in a figure 8 path.

   Training is coming along. It's so smoky here that we can't go outside and there aren't any birds to amuse me. Yawn.

Flowering Tree Scratching Post

   The other day I was thinking I need some sewing to do because I'm tired of reorganizing. Careful what you wish for. Next day, an email with instructions for 43  six inch blocks  blocks, PLUS the next 2018 Murder Mystery block and clue. Geesh. I don't know whether to cry or be happy as the fabric for reorganizing is scattered on the cutting table and floor. Does it get cleaned up or shoved to the side and worked around?

   Last Thursday's block for Splendid Sampler II, Flowering Tree, was another fun block to paper piece. Amy Friend of During Quiet Time is the designer. Have to admit I'm in love with the smaller blocks. You may have to make more but the go together so quickly. My rendition for my version, Sunny Side Up, has two favorite things, yellow roses and bacon.

   Ever since I took a Judy Niemeyer paper piecing class, paper piecing is no problem. It is the second step that solved my problem. The pictures begin at piecing section 5. The tools are: a piece of heavy paper stock cardstock, flower head pins, a Add An Eighth ruler (instead of Add a Quarter because the block and sections are small), a small rotary cutter (easier to use) and a hera marker ( to save on fingernails).

1. Place the paper pieced unit right sides together on top of section 5 fabric and matching the seam allowance edge. Pin together so they don't shift. 

2. ***Fold back section 5 paper to make sure that the fabric for section 5 is larger than section 5 by at least 1/4". This is the step that will save you from swearing and ripping.
3. Flip the paper back over and stitch on the line.                                  

4. Press the fabric seam with the hera marker like you would press a regular seam. With paper face up, place the cardstock edge on the stitched line.

 5. Fold the paper back over the cardstock. Place the ruler lip against the fold.                                    

6. Trim fabric to 1/8" seam allowance.                                                                                                

7. Repeat the steps for the remaining sections.                                                                                     

Note that the outside corners that flap are basted down to keep the fabric and paper from shifting.

Units completed, pieced together and trimmed to 6 1/2".

   Mom is getting so well trained. She put another quilt on the bottom shelf in the den for me to nap on while she's on the computer. 

Now this is hilarious. After seeing me stretching and using the rug as a scratching post, Mom is on her hand and knees showing me how to use the sloped scratching post. Too funny! Even putting me over on the scratching box and moving my paws like I should scratch. Like I don't know how to scratch! Ergonomic, the box says, better for the cat, the box says. Meowgonomic. Mom finally got the drift and put the scratching post flat on the ground. Mom's training up real well!

Nahahi Ridge Space 12 Kitty

  Ah, a fabulous long weekend. Saturday a shop hop to Claresholm and Pincher Creek and lunch at Waterton in Waterton National Park.

Top: Prince of Wales hotel and cruising ship to Glacier National Park, Montana, USA.
Bottom: Glacier National Park, Montana, USA in the distance.

Autographed bilingual black bear and elk footprints in the walkway.

And another gorgeous day today eating lunch on top of Nahahi Ridge. Sun shining and breeze blowing.

The red circle is where we parked. 500m/1640 ft lower.

  Are you keeping up in the Splendid Sampler II program. This is the 8th free block, My Flock, by Brenda Ratliff. I love how the sides are uneven. You can even see my points because I took my time. 

  Last week I introduced you to Kitty. Well Kitty has a few things to say now. Mom says the medicine is finished. Hooray! My voice came back and we have had a few discussions. Mom reads to me every night while she scratches my head and massages me. I get half of the bed. 

She opens the patio door so I can snooze and stretch in the sun and the cool morning air. 

The best of all, I have claimed my own chair and quilt. Had to tell her to move the pillow and other blankets.

Ah the life of me.

  Space 12 on our way to Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Planet Nine. Pluto, the on again off again planet, now has been replaced by Planet Nine. So sad that Pluto is banished to the stars.