Saturday, August 24, 2013

Seeing Red

And so, tell me. Where is the time going? Already the 24th of August and I am barely keeping  up. However, I did make a few more red sprouts

and while I still had blue green 2" square I made a few more sprouts to add to that part of my garden.

and we celebrated my oldest son's birthday, here shown with his two of his neices and nephew. As little Madi calls him...Uncle Warry.
This Puffin on Red string blocks I made for our "Little Birdie Told Me" EDQG Endowment challenge. I had pressed it and scorched it and was so dissappointed about getting it into the raffle, however I have washed in the kitchen sink, laid it flat to dry on a drying rack and it has come through almost perfect. I will have to hang this in my office now anytime I want to celebrate the colour red.
Embroidery pattern courtesy of 2008 Canadian Quilters' Assoc St. John's local organizing committee

Last weekend the Alberta Regional Lily Society met at the garden of my good friends Shauna & Terry Willoughby, Lily hybridizers and fancy fowl aficionados. Their chicken, Silkie, was keeping track of me that I did not disturb the koi fish in the pond.




Their lilies are spectacular this year.
To check out other red quilted loveliness, be sure to check out SoScrappy's Rainbow Challenge over here.
love and hugs to all
Kathy

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

The Colour Red


This past week has been a busy one. Was travelling on an overnighter to Calgary, had 3 grandchildren for 3 days and then back to work. With a small effort in the studio this week, I was able to add one more red sprout to the growing stack. Have I told you how much I love these sprouts and sooooo look forward to the coming together of my proposed scrappy sprouts garden quilt, with generous thanks to Tracey Jay Quilts. My sprout block are made up of 2" unfinished pieces and will finish at 5" x 11". But it has been a great way to use up some of those colourwash squares. I am also expanding on my definition of neutrals as I move through the "garden".

While on a road trip organized by Sparrow Studioz, we played I Spy on the QEII, based on the 9 patch of design compostition as defined in Colour & Compostition for the Creative Quilter by Katie Pasquini Masopust and Brett Barker. AND I got another 30" round selvedge rug crocheted for my friend Kim Caskey.



The Ricky Timms workshop and entertainment was sponsored by Bernina and Calgary's "My Sewing Room". Ricky educated and entertained us with stories and lessons. One of the things that many of us came away with was to use the term collection vs. stash. So, while we shop hopped our way home; My Sewing Room (Calgary), Traditional Pastimes (Calgary), and The Pieceful Patch (Blackfalds), we were all adding to our collection. So in keeping with this month's colour, I added this fabulous print to my red/white, white/red collection. There is a plan to transform this to an expanded 9 patch design so that I can best use of those fabulous females.



While also on the RED beat, I added the Red Tea Rose Best Press. I love this stuff! and my studio just smells so nice when I even just leave the lid off and use it as a room freshener. (ps: must also clean off my pressing station)

To see what other red loveliness is going on, check out SoScrappy's linky party here.
love and hugs
Kathy

Monday, August 5, 2013

August Summer Garden

Well I have talked about the garden, but maybe it is time I showed you what I get to enjoy in my own back yard.

The scarlet runner beans are being very aggressive in getting wound around their stakes.

The tomatoes are ripening every day, trying my best to keep up.

And I do love a feed of yellow beans.

And I do love sunflowers, this is the first one to bloom. I planted a variety of colours this year, so it will be fun to see them show their true colours.

A little hand holding the promise of a giant summer spaghetti squash...to be served later in the fall with garlic, EVOO and Parmesan...yum.

Nastersiums are always so fresh and cheery.

For this one I wish we had smell-a-vision...pineapple sage.

Colour, fragrance and delicious taste abounds, and some excellent garden helpers. It is the most wonderful time of the year.

Love and hugs
Kathy

Holiday Monday and Sprouts of all kinds

August Long...ah the images that conjurs up. Lazy mornings, sun drenched garden, raspberries, watermelon, reading, sewing, and most of all cuddles with three of my grandchildren. Brian & Falon's three little ones are here for the weekend and we have done all of the above. They will have to go home later today, but in the meantime we have some more fun to have...spray park in on the agenda today. Last night we went to see Despicable Me 2 (in 3D) it was very very good.

But there have also been time for Grandma to get into my studio chair. While Hanna sorts red 2" squares for me, Ty and Madison are doing their patient best to see past me and watch their show on my computer.

So here is my colour sample of my sprouts collection so far. I have a lot of orange sprouts, and a lot of the sapphire blue. I did not do any green sprouts - I made FWQ blocks in green instead. This is going to make an outstanding quilt put together in the 'modern' format with a sashing treatment of grey...now to pick the perfect one.

Take some time to head over to SoScrappy and see what other RED loveliness is going on for the month of August.
Love and hugs to all
Kathy