Quilty Adventures

It's Saturday! This week has been a marathon, with little sewing, but today made it all worth it as my friend Barb and I went on a Quilty Adventure! Barb is a quilter from way back, she had a break but now she is back into it hot and heavy, so to speak. Since I arrived back in Nova Scotia we have both been doing a lot of "we should get together and quilt" or "we should go on an excursion to fabric stores". It has taken us a few months to get our butts into gear, but there was a quilt show in the Annapolis Valley this weekend so we finally got in the car and off we went!

First stop...shopping! I am not sure how I originally learned about the Avonport Discount Centre, but it was many moons ago, and when I first went there and saw this sign I knew I was in!

Seriously people, one side is auto parts, the other quilting goodness. And after being away for five years I was so happy to see that the quilting side has gotten even bigger. They have a WALL of Kona, and the notions and fabric selections have grown. So great!

Needless to say, Barb and I each grabbed a cart and we were off...

I have been wanting to start a low volume stash for quite some time now. Today seemed as good a time as any to get started

Then I found bolts of Riley BlakeThen, well, there were some Fat Quarters that needed a home

And finally a charm pack of Glamping! Oh yeah, love me some Glamping

I would say that after that our fabric appetites were satisfied (for now...) so we headed to Halls Harbour for the local quilt show.

As you can see, there were not too many modern offerings, but there were some cool antique quilts (like this one above from the early 1900's) on show and the church ladies were in full force with great hospitality and tea biscuits! I did find this little gem in the free pile.

1970's Modern Patchwork. I was pleased as punch to leaf through this well used magazine to see some modern blocks from back in the day...

Quilt show over, we headed back to the water where we found some amazing views, lobster humour, and some lobsters that made it into our macaroni and cheese lunch.

The next part of our adventure was the best! Barb has never taken her quilts on a photo shoot. As you know, I love a good photo shoot after a quilt finish, I just can't resist taking those buggers on a road trip. So today it was Barb's quilts turn to have an outing. She brought two scrap improv quilts on the trip. I am here to tell you that the fronts and backs of these quilts are equally delish!

I had as much fun taking pictures of Barb's quilts as I did watching Barb setting up here shots. Yup, that boat is called "Nasty Girl", we could not resist. I know Barb is home tonight playing with her pictures. I hope she got shots that she loved.

On our way home we saw the sights of a gorgeous Nova Scotia Fall day

I wish I were sitting on that deck tonight with the lights blinking and the ocean rolling. But, I think I am just as lucky to be heading back to the machine to keep working on those postage stamps...the perfect ending to a large day!

Have you had any quilty adventures lately? I Would love to hear about them...
Adrienne

Brouhaha

There has been a general ruckus in life theses days. Nothing serious, just day job brouhaha and such. I haven't been here with you in over a week, and I haven't been anywhere near the sewing machine. It cries in the studio, longing for attention. Soon my friend, soon.

This week I am in Ottawa, and while I packed my travel EPP (English Paper Piecing) kit, I have only opened it to stare longingly at the pretty fabric...

But I did do some EPP this weekend, getting fifty hexies basted and ready for some whip stitching! Sounds like I am going to torture the poor things...

I am really hoping to get some sewing time in this weekend. I have LOTS of WiPs, let me repeat that, A LOT of WiPs, so I better get my sewing butt in gear!

In the mean time, here are a couple of pics from this past weekend, where I had a couple of days away in Sheerbrooke (on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia). Good friends, food, laughs, campfires and rivers rushing by. I am feeling grateful for the little things.

I hope you are managing your brouhaha this week!
Adrienne

Stamps, Hexies & Yard Sale Finds

Today I sewed! This is big news. September is here, vacations are over, kids are in school and work is back in high gear. Darn you day job! More than a couple of times this week I thought "I would rather be quilting" :) Alas, it is Sunday and I am sitting down at the machine for the first time. I am working on Melanie's Postage Stamp quilt.

Back in February I made my first Postage Stamp quilt. Melanie had her eye on it, but wanted something a bit bigger. I enjoyed making it so much and the fabrics were so delicious that I agreed to make her one. I used the same technique that I learned from Elizabeth Hartman to make the postage stamp blocks using fusible interfacing. I love this method! Such a great way to get accurate piecing. The only thing I would change is that next time I will be on the hunt for an interfacing that is lighter in weight.

Another change that I made this time around was that instead of two inch "stamps", I used three inch. This meant I only had to piece 500 stamps instead of 1500! So maybe I chickened out, but also, the fabrics are so good, I like the bigger size so that you can see them (they are all Amy Butler and Heather Bailey).

Anywho, today I finished the top and it is all basted and ready for quilting.Perchance I will have a finish to share in a couple of weeks, mind you I have a week-long trip to Ottawa in there, so maybe three weeks....

In preparation for that business trip, my travel Hexie kit is all ready to go.

I took it with me while I was getting my car fixed on Friday for a trial run. I think I have everything I need, except maybe a pair of glasses. Oh dear, it is getting hard to thread a needle, sigh. But I can report that I like English Paper Piecing even more than I thought I would!

These Flea Market Fancy Hexies are making me so darned happy. Not sure what they will be yet, but I have 150 to make, so we shall see...

Yesterday the girls and I hit the 50 Mile Yards Sale in a neighboring community. It was a glorious sunny fall day and we had lots of laughs (even when I got us lost!). Here is Barb sussing out some fabric for us. I bought a cool black and white sheet which will make an amazing quilt back for $2!

Barb was also the one who made the find of the day

Isn't this amazing! Barb and I were both smitten and after much "no, you have it", I made the deal and it came home with me, mind you Barb has visitation rights:) I cannot wait to try it!


So how are you coping with Fall "back to business'? I hope you are getting lot's of quilty time in!
Adrienne

Linking up this week

New Jersey Quilty Treasure

It has been a big week at our house. My Husband, after much packing at our house in the Catskills, has arrived here in Nova Scotia (with more boxes than I care to talk about...) for good! We will be married five years this year, but this marks the first time we have lived together full-time. Weird. Good weird.

During breaks from the unpacking I have been running up to the studio to sort through the treasures that Max brought me. Some I had ordered and sent to our address in the US (hello! way cheaper than Canadian prices and shipping!) and some had come to me from Max's Grandmother in New Jersey.Max was all like :Mom sent your a bag of quilting stuff again." and I got all excited. Of course is is a quilter and she had previously sent me a little care package with mats, rules, and some amazing quilting books!

This time, the mother load! Every morsel that I pulled out of the giant garbage bag was a surprise and joy. I spent the entire evening pouring over every single piece. The first thing I noticed was that she had individual projects all sorted in their baggies. So cool to know that she and I have the same habits.

Then there were some tools, rulers and frames.She even sent along tons of batting bits and foundation square.

Then,the fabric! Clearly not sorted, but I just could not wait for that to take the picture ;)

Then I was so happy to find some orphaned blocks and a bunch of pre-cut piecing.

Then, I found this - hand appliqued loveliness! Check out the adorable sketched face just waiting to get stitched

But then, I found and other two blocks that I laughed out loud at (with joy of course). Appliqued Canadian Geese. I just think these devils personify the US/Canadian family connections perfectly! I can tell you with certainty that the unfinished one is going to be in a pillow very very soon.

What was cool also was that I found the tag that tells me Edith stitched these geese in 1999. A great keepsake with the block.

I am completely tickled by all of these treasures. I am loving the connections that quilting can build  between so many people. OK, enough sappy! time to get going, I have a whole floor piled with fabric looking for ironing and folding. It is going to be another fun evening!

Oh crap! I forgot to tell you about my new US contraband! Here they are... my new Sew Steady machine extension table and my new sewing table...

And, or course some fabric... Yellows from Stash Stack Club, and A FQ Stack of Nordika.

and some new tools! I cannot tell you the last time I bought myself some scissors or rotary cutter. So, a little splurge. Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Scissors and the Olfa Splash!

OK, now I'm going...
Adrienne