Yummy....!

Guess what came in the Shoppe the other day?  I'll give you a hint!

Did you want to peak in the bag?

Oh... the colours are yummy!

I received the Shoppe Kit for the newest block of the Month - Mill House Girls by Nancy Rink.  I so enjoy getting these kits.  The full fabric line along with the patterns for the block of the month should be arriving in August 2012.

Looks like I get to start a new project! ;o)

For those not aware, Nancy and Oliver Rink did publish a recent book to accompany the fabric line called Away from Home, Quilts Inspired by the Lowell Factory Girls.  The projects are stunning.

Thanks for stopping by!  Off to play with my fabrics! ;o)

The challenge of technology..!

I'm all for technology!  Let it do it's thing so that I can spend time enjoying life.  I certainly do not consider myself "technologically challenged".  However, my "new toy" is certainly pushing that boundary.  A clue should have been the countless books published on how to operate a Nikon D7000. lol  But, having said that ... I'm enjoying the challenge! ;o)  I still haven't mastered it's many features, but hey .... I can produce a picture!  Albeit not as I had envisioned, but a picture none the less. ;o)

Voila!

My first attempt at controlling the backgrounds using my favourite subject. ;o)

What a gorgeous day it was, sitting out doing a bit of hand stitching with a refreshment!  I'm all about the glass! ;o)

Notice the "girls" in the background?  Another hobby! ;o)  There's nothing like fresh eggs!

Oh, and the entertainment is hilarious!  I do enjoy their quirkiness!

We presently have 5 grown girls and 4 teenagers .

On the quilting front, Fibre Junction has been offering hand dyed wools for the past couple years now.  I do love the look of it, but given the numerous hand projects I have going, I just did not think another hand hobby was needed.  Besides, I have a wonderful quilter by the name of Diane who does amazing work with wool!  The walls at Fibre are covered with her intricate penny rugs,  so why add one more thing on my list?

You can only handle gorgeous hand dyed wool for so long before you begin thinking about making something with it!.  I reasoned with myself; "make at least make one project so that you can help when Diane is not around." ;o)  Seemed reasonable to me!  Voila!

I do like how it turned out!  The pattern is called Sunflower Trio by Primitive Gatherings.  Am I hooked?  Pretty much! ;o)  All I need now is a primitive center piece!  Anyone have a decorating source for the prim lover that they would like to share?

Thank you so much for stopping by!  Hope you are enjoying a gorgeous day!  Cheers!

Time to re-structure...!

Blogging had always been a joy for me.  I would often find myself thinking of topics I wanted to share with you. As of late, I cannot say that it has been so.  Not because there is nothing happening on the quilt front, but mainly due to what I felt was "lack of time".

Knowing I had to do something to regain the joy I felt in blogging, I enrolled in an online class "Blogging your Way 2" with Holly Becker.  After listening to her last lecture/podcast, it became clear to me that the issue was not "lack of time" but that I was no longer blogging "from the heart".

When you truly enjoy something, you find the time to do it.  It has nothing to do with how busy your are, we are all busy.  It has to do with making time to do what you enjoy.  So yes, I have been a quilting/stitching fool but not a blogging fool.  The other issue that became clear to me was that I needed to drop the Fibre Junction blog.

When I opened Fibre Junction back in May 2009, I had stated that I wanted to keep the shoppe separate from this blog.  I have now come to the realization that Fibre Junction is part of my quilting adventure.  As a matter of fact, it is a huge part of my quilting adventure ... and fun too!

So stay tune for the Adventures of  a Quilter and Shoppe Owner!

Thank you for taking the time to visit.

Bought myself a new toy....!

If you've been following my blog from the beginning, most of you know that I, in a prior life, studied photography, a medium I enjoy tremendously.  With the onset of digital photography, I became lost!

I'm from the old school of photography, test your film ad nauseum, determine your ASA rating, expose for the shadows develop for the highlights.... hit the dark room and print away.....

I'm mainly a black & white gal ... a fan of the Zone System!  Ansel Adam is one of my heroes!  I just LOVE his attention to detail.

Would you believe that I have binders of negatives and boxes of prints?

I still have not decided what to do with it all?  I am certainly not ready to part with my printing & developing equipment.... sigh!  

But.... it has all been nagging at me.  It took me a while to process everything, but alas I feel I am now ready to take the plunge into the digital photography world.

My new toy!

I have a lot to learn!

I don't suppose my friend the 18% gray card will be needed.  I must do some research to see if she needs to be taken out of the box.  Ah.. memories! ;o)

There are so many questions I still have that are left unanswered ... but in due time.

It will be a whole new learning process for me!

I feel creatively inspired ... anxious to begin a new journey!

Thank you!

Well, ain't that a shock....!

My time flies! I cannot believe it has been close to a month since I last posted. It's certainly not for lack of ideas and projects to post.

 As I write, Santa's Comin' to Town by Olde Green Cupboard is still rolled up on the longarm. I was going to machine quilt it to day, just to realize that I do not have the wool batting I thought I had... hum...... So, it will have to wait....

 My little girl recently returned from Europe. What an experience it was for both of us! Of course her experience was much more cultural! ;o) When she returned there was a lot of catching up on hugs and kisses!

Imagine that, fourteen years old and she has already traveled abroad, myself ..... I haven't left the continent ..... but soon! ;o) Here is one of the souvenirs she brought me!

Isn't she sweet?

On a quilting note, I have set aside the hand embroidery for a bit and have been working on some hand applique blocks, a project I started back in October 2011. Here is block 3!

The background is Marcus Brothers - Paula Barnes' fabric line Tavern Blues. The picture does not do it justice. So rich!

Well, I cannot say that this was an easy entry to write.  Not sure I like Blogger's new interface, it's so white making it difficult to find anything.  Also, flipping between Compose and HTML does not work well.  I'm all for change but sometimes the change is not always for the better! ;o)

Thank you for stopping by!