Canada Day weekend

It's hot and beautiful and I am packing everything to keep me happy for few days to drive to the country.

( my friend's silver bullet)

My travel companion, a vintage Singer sewing machine in baby blue.

my lomo app makes it look more like green

...and I am working on a shadow star quilt.

Happy Canada Day !

48 hours of bliss

Yesterday we celebrated my son's 20th birthday in Muskoka. This is one of the best-kept secrets and most scenic regions in North America. It was truly a day to relax..

hanging out with my big guys ........

walking through the woods...

having fun with the sea-doos...

listening to the call of the loon......

and watching the sunset.

beautiful Canada

Dogwood Blossom Quilt

There is always time after a hot and sweaty gardening workout to sit at my table and try something new. This is the next project with the online class Stitched in Color. The Modern Medallion Quilt. The centre has a reversed applique in a shape of the dogwood blossom.

The finished quilt has a beautiful embroidery, framing the centre of the flower shape. 

( more to come next week)

This is my beginning and I have to hurry up with the next steps - but it's so much fun....

Blanket stitch sounds easy, but not for me. What is the secret to keep always the same distance?

Hanging things " work in progress" on my laundry line gives my time to reflect.

My online class with Rachel

Browsing through blogland I came across Rachel's blog Stitchedincolour.  Her on-line class showed this amazing quilt top with the dogwood blossom in the centre and embroidery sashing. I was sold!  My first project was a small eyelet needlebook with a blanket stitch. I recall the stitch sampler we did in grade 4. ( I think my stitches were more precise due the strict education!)
Having an cold ice tea with my feet up and soaking in the sun I finished this:

Cheerio

This old  tin tray memorabilia I found a year ago which I placed behind a frame given by a friend.

Cheerio to the Queen!

In a heartbeat

I started this blanket five weeks ago. My husband had a small heart surgery and while waiting during our hospital visits I started crocheting which was very relaxing. After 146 multi- colour hexagons it came together!

Attaching the single hexagons with s solid blue super wash merino wool.

Just be patient ! This was the boring part, cleaning up the ends.

 Shaping the outline of the throw I started with 2 rounds of the same blue wool as I used for the hexagons. I wanted to give this "flower-power blanket" a real retro look and found this awesome 

sock yarn.

Yup, orange is my colour this year.

I decided to finish my edge with a bobble stitch instead of a flatter version the shell finish.

Tada!!!!!!

( I wish the lighting would have been better.)