Dog Days of Summer

   Middle of August, and someone just informed me that there is only 5 more weeks of calendar weeks of summer left. Ugh! I'm still enjoying the roses and daisies in the garden.

   Made a tour last week to Waterton to take a trip down to the USA by boat on Waterton Lake with my awesome photographer sister, aka tacky tourist. She's loaded with cameras and dressed for major rain.

I had to stop to have a peek in the Prince of Wales hotel built in 1927. She sits on the bluff overlooking the town of Waterton. The entrance side, looks like she should be in the Alps. Next time visiting here will be to enjoy High Tea.

   Enough of escaping. The 24 Block Bonanza blocks are completed. Now to put the quilt together. A block. You think you can make it? I know you can.

Escape, Harness, 13

   Ah, the 13th Splendid Sampler Free Block. Betty's Bloom by Carl Hentsch. We chose the Paperless Paper Piecing method because you take off the paper in one piece. The more we do this, the more enjoyable paper piecing is. You can find our tutorial here.

Enjoy!

   Brrr, it's cold outside and mom says I'm full of p--- and vinegar. The other day I managed to escape past mom. Ha, she thought she was being so smart at anticipating where I was going. We may be about the same age but I'm way faster. Well, you know I just had to snoop see what was on the other side of the neighbour's house. Rats, a gate. She didn't even give me time to investigate it. So, now I'm in harness again and having a sit down protest. Mom says okay by her. Ha, you know what'll eventually happen, freedom, because cats rule.

Portland Quilt Market Mystery

Whew, made it home. Hectic, fun and wonderful it was at Quilt Market. Instead of flying, I drove, visiting quilt shops along the way. 

Bonners Ferry ID - A Little Comfort Quilting

Coeur d'Alene ID - Bear Paw Quilting & Bernina

Richland WA - Quiltmania

Pasco WA - Janean's Bernina

Kennewick WA - Amelia's Quilt Shop

Quilt market was terrific. Check out some of the quilts in the newest fabrics.

a
Clair Turpin Design's ladybugs
Hoffman Fabrics
Northern Critters - Elizabeth Hartman

When out for some excellent ribs at Podnah's BBQ. Our waitress was excellent and so fun. After dinner we drove around the neighbourhood to view the rhododendron trees, not shrubs, actual 8 foot trees or higher, in all colours. Purple, red, pink and white. 

Isn't this star block just the cutest? Yes, it is only 6" square. It's for the 2018 Murder Mystery Quilt program. Ah new quilt idea.

"There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor." - Charles Dickens 

Quilter Wasn't In

Well okay, I confess, I've been on the couch. Didn't do a darn thing last week except watch chick flicks and sappy feel good movies and on Monday had a home made 4 hour lunch with wine at a girlfriend's home. Yes, I know that the next quilt program is just around the corner. However, the fabric wasn't going together as I wanted it to so it was decided that a break was required for rejuvenation. 



The other thing that was decided is that the 13 biweekly 2018 program will start March 6 and end in August. Details are still to come. My apologies to those that are eager to purchase fabric and begin the program.

Here's to a more productive week,

The Blocks Are Done 148-150 Foxy

The blocks are done! The blocks are done! Congrats to those that have kept up. If I hadn't had to keep up I don't know if I would have. Many thanks to those that have inspired me along the way.

Now this is not the end. Next week we will post the finishing instructions. There are instructions for completing the sashing if you are not doing cornerstones plus the first border above the available blocks. This should keep you busy sewing all the blocks together and making the first border. Whew!

That said, I spent the week at Back to Nature, a retreat by Water Valley, Alberta. 

Being the early bird every morning, all was peaceful at 0530. Everyone else still snoring. That's my spot where the light is. Took the computer instead of the sewing machine. Much easier and less stuff that I probably would not have accomplished but ambitiously thought I could accomplish.

This little guy was peaking at us through the window one morning. I had to run upstairs, quick like a fox, to get his picture. Look at the bushy tail and beautiful coat. He's well fed and ready for winter.

These ladies are last in the program but are not the last women to have accomplished or pioneered or will accomplish or pioneer something big or small. I hope that you will continue to research other amazing Canadian born women. They will be found in any field from professional to domestic, from under the water to high in the sky, from a to z. What I have learned is that no matter how far Canadian women have come some things have not really changed. Good, bad or ugly we still have a ways to go and accomplish. You go gals!

B l o c k s  1 4 8,  1 4 9,  1 5 0

	148 Ada Jane McCallum
	149 Beverley Busson
	150 Mom

Enjoy!

Doughnuts and Clean Air and Social Media

Today of all days is Doughnut Day, National Clean Air Day and learn Social Media Day.

You know the never say never saying. When the smart phones came out I was just happy happy with my own flip phone. I'm never going to need a smart phone. What do I need a smart phone for. I should have said to heck with it and bought one in the beginning because it is now a game of catch up.

While learning social media today, from a young whipper snapper, I had doughnuts to keep the brain functioning so that the air stayed clean. I wonder if there is a Hair Pulling Out day?

It was so nice to get home and work on the next design, Q-links.

Whitefish quilting

 Welcome to Whitefish, Montana.

As luck would have it, I managed to fall into the Big Sky shop hop happening until May 10. It was a whirlwind shop hop and then the Eureka guild show on top of this. Life is Good!

Alaska and Victoria BC Canada

Since the last post:
Nine quilt tops were completed. tbs later. TG for my long arm quilters, Jane, Janet, Nancy, Roberta. They are my saving grace!

My mom missed the top step, fell and broke the hip ball and skinned her elbow pretty good the same day we were going to look at a newer house for her, which is put on hold for now. She will be living with my sister for awhile and we are cleaning and packing up her house for when she can move into another house.

No matter how much fun holidays are, it's always good to be home. You have to go to Alaska and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada! It is beautiful.
First stop Ketchikan.

 

 

 

 

Second stop Juneau.

 

 

 

Cruise sight seeing trip to Sawyer Glacier. about 30ft long 5ft high above the water.

 

 

Third stop Skagway.   Building of sticks.

 

 



Got a kick out of the last sentence:

 

And last but not least Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Water taxi. I missed the yellow cab water taxi.