Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Coming Soon
Soon we will be adding our new country lane sampler pattern to our shop! This project was designed for a past retreat. We designed 2 projects and this is the one I designed. It actually tells a bit of a story. The leaf signifies my favorite season (the season I got married!), the spool is for my hobby and job, the friendship stars for my friends & family and the shoe fly block, was my first quilt block I ever made. You can change the blocks to your favorites and customize this quilt.

Now is the time to pick up a new pattern for the new year or better yet a Christmas gift!

So what have we been up to...mmm...we have been finishing projects, designing new projects and products for the new year. What have you been up to? We have been making Christmas gifts and projects. Are any of you making a bmd project to give at Christmas? I hope so and we would love to hear about it!

We had some snow today, not very much but up till now we have had some really good weather (for Manitoba that is) I really have not been in the mood to decorate for Christmas, although my Christmas shopping is just about done! horray!! And as you know, if you have younger children, that their activities keep us going.

As the year comes to an end, it is always a busy time for us. Evaluations of things that went well and things that didn't. We would love to hear what you think we have done well. Maybe your input will help us make decisions for the up and coming year!

~c
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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Field Trip close to home.

Do you ever visit museums in your area? Isn't is surprising that we will travel long distances to visit other interesting places, but we rarely look around at what is in our own backyard.

This summer, my son kept begging me to make the 7 mile drive, to take him to visit the dinosaur museum in Morden. For all of you who visit our great quilt show every spring, do you realize that you are standing on top of a basement full of dinosaur skeletons? This is actually the largest dino display east of Alberta, and all of the fossils are found in our area. In Alberta, all of their fossils are of land dinosaurs. In our area, all of the one's that are found are from water dinosaurs. Right now the display is housed in the basement of the Morden Rec. Center, but they do hope in the future that they will be able to build a new museum, so the dino's will be able to be brought above ground.

So I used the picture from our field trip, to introduce you to our latest project, that is on newsstands now. In the Winter 2009 issue of Quilts and More, you will find this simple and sweet project. The staff at the magazine affectionately gave it the name 'Dino might' and I can't say that name without thinking of an old TV character named Jimmy Walker. Wasn't that his favorite expression? And does anyone remember what show he was on?







Anyway, I hope that you will enjoy this latest project, and take time to discover what is in your neighbourhood.

See you soon.
myra
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Wednesday, November 04, 2009

FREE pattern

As promised a free pattern for you to enjoy, this is one of my favorite quilts because of the fabrics. For the small squares I fussy cut out of a big floral print, it still gives it a circular feeling. Enjoy!

You can download the pattern here.
Finished Quilt Size: 38" x 50"
Sashing: 2"
1st border: 2"
2nd border: 3"
Yardages
1 1/2 yds of Fabric A for background, 2nd border & border to blocks
3/4 yd of Fabric B for sashing & 1st border
1/2 yd each of Fabric C,D,E & F for blocks
1/2 yd of Fabric B for Binding
2 yds of Fabric G for Backing
42" x 54" of Batting
Cutting instructions
From Fabric C cut:
2-4 1/2" x 10 1/2" rectangles
1-4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square.
From Fabric D cut;
3-4 1/2" x 10 1/2" rectangles
From Fabric E cut;
5-2 1/2" x 42 1/2" strips
2-2 1/2" x 34 1/2" strips
From Fabric F cut;
10-6 1/2" x 6 1/2" squares
From Fabric A cut:
16-1 1/2" x 10 1/2" strips
16-1 1/2" x 7 1/2" strips
4-1 1/2" x 4 1/2" strips
4-1 1/2" x 7 1/2" strips
2-3" x 46 1/2" strips
2- 3" x 38 1/2" strips
From Fabric B cut;
3-4 1/2" x 10 1/2" rectangles
1-4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square
Block Assembly
Begin by framing each one of the 4 1/2" x 10 1/2" rectangles and 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares of fabrics B, C & D.
Using the 1 1/2" x 7 1/2" as well as the 1 1/2" x 10 1/2" strips to frame each rectangle.
The plain 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" squares were fussy cut out of a large floral print, to give the illusion of circles.
Quilt Assembly
The quilt is assembled in 4 horizontal rows.
1st row; 6 1/2 square, oblong block, 6 1/2" square, oblong block, sashing strip
2nd row; oblong block, 6 1/2" square, oblong block, 6 1/2" square, square block, sashing strip
3rd row; 6 1/2" square, oblong block, 6 1/2" square, oblong block, 6 1/2" square, sashing strip
4th row; oblong block, 6 1/2" square, oblong block, 6 1/2" square, square block
Continue by adding the first border sides, followed by top and bottom. Repeat for the outer border.
~c


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Sharing
Take a look at this quilt! One of our very dear "retreater's", Laurel. She shared this photo with me yesterday and I was so excitted I just had to share it with the rest of you. She just finished this quilt for her grand daughters 2nd birthday. Isn't is gorgeous! You want to know something else that is amazing about this quilt? I thought you would...it is HAND quilted! Can you believe it. I don't know if you can enlarge the picture but I just love the vine motif in the green section. And, I think she used Ric rack for the antenna!! How cool is this quilt, lucky little lady! If this inspires you check out the Little Lady pattern in our shop.

Thanks so much Laurel for sharing, if anyone else has something to share email me.

Stay tuned to our blog and website, changes coming...again and I have a free pattern to post this week!

~c
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