Piranhas have left the tank!

our birthday party & cake

Yes they have left the tank that we call the retreat house. They headed for their respective homes yesterday. It seemed we only just got started and then it was time to leave, how can a weekend go by so fast? You can read about our first day together here.

warm friends and extra jackets

 On Sunday we sewed a bit in the house and then headed to our gazebo for slow stitching Sunday. This is something that Kathy has been doing on her blog for a few years. You can check it out here and here. Time to put the electric machines away for a bit and do hand work with needle and thread!But warmer clothes were needed as the temperatures here didn't get above 15 degrees Celsius all day. DH put a fire on in the cookstove in the gazebo to help a bit with the chill.

After supper we were back at the machines sewing up a storm or at least trying to get a project or two finished.Okay let's be honest....only one thing got finished. Kathy completed a small mini, complete with  binding and label. But that is not to say we didn't make in roads on other projects. Blocks were completed for future quilts, other projects got some machine quilting done and more rows were sewn onto quilt tops.

Until we meet again and can sew together...words to live by!!! Farewell Piranhas!!

The Piranhas have arrived!

Louise's quilt

My annual retreat with these three friends is well underway. They all arrived on Friday and we have been sewing and visiting ever since. How come two days of chores takes so long yet two days of sewing goes by so quickly.Why piranhas you ask? We are the fabric piranhas. Put in a quilt store with fabric and a sale (if we are that lucky) and there is a frenzy that happens. Much like when food is dropped into the water of a piranha tank!
I have finished the blocks from a workshop a couple weeks ago with Carla of Quilting by the River. Now I need a change of pace this morning and I have dug out some blocks and am piecing them.

Barb's swap blocks-loving the froggie

Kathy's next project, machine quilting with finger

Barb is working on some wonky star blocks that were from a international exchange...that is exciting getting blocks from anywhere and everywhere!

my blocks from Carla's class

scrap blocks x's and o's

Louise has been machine quilting away on a circular scrap quilt from Louisa L Smith's book Strips and Curves.
Kathy has been trying to finish her quilt top but keeps getting squirreled with so many little scraps that she keeps finding. You can see her finishes on her blog here!
We are sewing indoors hoping it will warm up. It is about 18C or 67F.










We all want to be slow stitching in the gazebo this afternoon. We might have to put on some warmer clothes...or start a fire in the cook stove.Kind of silly in a screened in gazebo but it will add a little warmth.

And then there is always some fun. Kathy needs pictures and helpers to hold the quilts. All that and the wind were not making for co-operation.We can always find fun in the simplest of things. Guess that is why the time goes by so fast and we have fun together! I am sure there will be more about the Piranhas this week!
We will be slow stitching later this afternoon...check in with Kathy and see what everyone is up to!

IT'S FINISHED!!

THE SNOWMEN QUILT IS FINISHED!!

looking good on newly painted porch

demo samples

 Yes it is done and the binding on...I just have to sew it to the backside and do a label. It is too warm here today to finish it though. Not the best picture but I am sure there will be more of this one in the future with two quilt shows on the horizon. With a big project like that done...I wanted to do a little something to feel accomplished. I had these two Christmas blocks hanging around. So I decided they would be perfect samples for a binding demo I have to do in a couple weeks. I will be showing flange binding.When finished they will make perfect little mini quilts for a couple stuffed animals for charity.

small wallhanging

I wanted to finish a few small projects so I went sewing room digging. I found a couple that can be done.....actually tackled one today. I found another pile of fabric with some blocks finished. I think this was something I picked up at guild. Not sure what it will be but  I am sure I can tackle it.

pieces to cut for next weekend retreat

I love when I can start something new and finish it in a few days, well in between those large projects that take so much time.










Binding will be what I will attempt today to join in with Kathy and some slow stitching. I am checking in with her to see if she is packing yet. We have one week till we get together with our  other friends Barb and Louise. They are all headed to my house next weekend for a few days of quilt-related fun. Oh we will be sewing and other shenanigans I am sure!! Looking forward to it...Girls...5 more sleeps!!!More blog posts this week as I get ready and then wait for them all to arrive!

National Sewing Machine Day

My treadle

301A my personal fav

Today it is National Sewing Machine day if you believe everything you read on facebook. Let's honor our machines for all the time and effort they put in to makes our creations come to life. 

Maybe treat them to a spa date with the fellow who keeps them running well. OR maybe just a mini spa day where you take care of them...a little dusting and a drop or two of oil to keep them going! Here are a few of my herd of machines. I am not a "vintage only" owner. I have a Husqvarna extended bed machine too but use it mostly for machine quilting. I also still have my very first machine a Kenmore that I bought in the early '80's.

Penelope, auction find

Featherweight

Love your machines whatever they are!!!

Summery Sunday

from ugly to very lush and pretty

It was a gorgeous day today to be outside and working! Yes I put the last of the plants in the ground and added a few more seeds to my garden as well. I am hoping we are past the "it might freeze tonight"kind of weather. I have also included a pic of the area I was working on last week. We have sod now....I just have to keep it from dying!!!Before pics here.
I also mowed the lawn and helped pressure wash the deck that needs resealing. Why all this work in one day you ask? Well DH has meetings all this week so he won't be able to do it and if I get it done now....I get to play/sew while he is at the meetings. Of course the only exception is if the weather co-operates and stays clear...I will have to coat the deck with a layer of sealant.

that's me getting a turn to use the machine

I am also hoping with an hour or so this evening that I might get in some slow stitching and finally finish hand quilting my snowman quilt. I warned you earlier that you would be hearing alot about it!!You can see it here.
So that will be my slow stitching for today. But I have popped in on my friend Kathy and checked out what others are up to!

I am also looking forward to my annual Piranha retreat. We are on countdown.....12 more sleeps till they arrive!!(Slow stitching Kathy included) I have heard from a couple of them and they already have projects packed and hopefully are as excited as I am to be together for a weekend again!

That will also be when I can sit back and enjoy looking at all the work I have been doing in the yard!

Have a great week everyone!

Gardening Season

as I started & remembered to take a pic

The snow has finally gone..well a month or so ago. The temperatures are warming up enough so I can get the gardens in. A bit of rearranging and planning and the seeds are starting to show their faces. I have three large jobs laid out for myself this summer. Paint the front deck, waterproof the back deck and landscape or clean up this area between my house and vegetable garden. So of course I do the hardest one first. I have been working on it for a couple of days with DH help. It is now ready for sod which will come on Tuesday. So now I can get back into my sewing room.

all ready for sod to make it look pretty!

Last night after working all day outside, we headed to the DH's family cottage to do some fishing. I take along my hexies and stitch away while the minnows swim around trying to find us a fishy!!

Next Saturday I am teaching a scrappy churn dash class at guild. I have to get my stuff together and be ready. It will be an information class as well as piecing class. I am going to try to give them information on storing and making scrap quilts. Also plan to fit in how to decide what scraps to use.

So at some point today I will get some slow stitching done whether it is hexies and fishing or I get to sit at my hand quilting frame and get that quilt done. The nice weather has really slowed the progress on that one. So I will be joining my friend Kathy to slow down and relax today. I would also like to say a belated ....very belated happy birthday to Kathy. You kept that one quiet!Also Happy Birthday wishes to my friend Louise (another Piranha) We will celebrate in a couple weeks when we get together for our annual "Piranha Weekend!" If you check here and here you can see what we did last year! The weekend will be here before we all know it...getting excited!!!