A Perfectly Wonderful Weekend

Every year about this time my Monday night quilting group heads out to beautiful Harrison Lake, about an hour's drive east of my home, to spend a weekend at the Harrison Lake House.

After getting settled in we follow the signs to the beach, about a 2 minute walk away.

We walk past some gorgeous scenery,

until we reach the lake nestled in the mountains.

This past weekend, the weather was perfect.

We spent the day sitting in the sun, stitching, reading, and catching up on our lives.

Everyone brings something to share for meals.

Lois made this amazing chocolate bombe for dessert.

She wrote our names on ribbons for the "bomb" part.

 Yum!

Unfortunately, my breakfast contribution was a flop.

I doubled the recipe but forgot to double the flour until it was too late.

These were christened, "Cheryl's Crappy Muffins".

Anyone want the recipe?

 

But good friends forgive and laugh

 and celebrate with sparklers.

I am so blessed to have been a part of this group for more than a decade.

 Thank you dear friends, for wonderful memories of another weekend that slipped by far too fast!

Until next year!

 

 

 

 

Sweet Spring

How time flies!

I can't believe that April is almost over, which makes us 1/3 of the way through 2013!

Hope spring has finally reached all of you.

Some of you may remember this pattern,

featured on the cover of "Primitive Quilts and Projects" magazine for Spring 2013.

It's now available for purchase as an individual pattern on my website on the New Patterns page.

 I've also got a few issues of the magazine left for sale on the same page of my website.

Here's a glimpse of spring in my backyard garden.

If you order the pattern, you'll see that I used this picture as a background on the cover.

I've also made a bunch of primitive buntings to sell on my Etsy shop.

So if you haven't visited for awhile, please take a moment to stop by.

Happy sweet spring, everyone!

I'm Still Here

I know it's been awhile...

I've been busy working on some new quilt projects

but because I'm hoping to publish them in book form

I can't reveal them to you just yet.

In the meantime, spring has arrived here in BC...

the bulbs beside my driveway are the first to show their colours.

I always love to see how you interpret my patterns in your own way.

This photo was sent to me by Barbara Timby in Michigan.

It's my "House Sampler" pattern.

Didn't she do a great job?

 And this is a version of my "Scrappy Squares" pattern in

At Home with Country Quilts.

It was made by Desma at "The Quilted Dandelion" shop in

Clatskanie, Oregon.

I love how the fabrics she chose give it a totally different look!

Many thanks to those of you who take the time to send me pictures of your finished projects.

And to you who have been buying my finished quilts on my Etsy shop.

I'm realizing it's time to part with some of my "babies" so if you're interested in a quilt that I haven't posted as for sale, just let me know and we may be able to work something out.

It makes more sense to have them be enjoyed by others who will give them a good home, than to have them piling up in my closet!

Enjoy your spring day everyone!

New Pattern--Summer Daze

I love summer.

I've been wanting to make a summer quilt for awhile

and just finished this one--the pattern's now for sale on my website.

The checkers remind me of red-checked picnic table-cloths

and I think the colours convey the bright and cheery mood of the season.

But it took a long time for all the pieces to come together.

I'd made this quilt top a couple of years ago

because I'd wanted to make one with a watermelon garland

but I never much liked how it looked.

So I removed the appliqued watermelons from the border

and set them aside waiting for inspiration to strike

for another quilt in which they could be used.

After I figured out the design above,

I added a new border and reappliqued them to it.

 Whew!

And speaking of redoing projects, I have to share this email I received from a quilting friend in Sweden.  She says,"I just finished your lovely pattern "Around the Block" for the second time (!), as my first quilt ended up staying at my friend's house in CT, USA when we moved back to Sweden (my home country) after  couple of years as expats in CT.
Since I missed my quilt so much. I simply had to make it all over again. " 

Didn't she do a gorgeous job?



Then she said, "I also made two of your "Peaceful Valley" since one of them also got "stuck" back in Connecticut...."

Now, that's dedication!

 Thanks Villemo, and all you other faithful quilters out there!

You're why I do what I do.