Washboard Road in Grunge

 

Bev made our Highway 10 Designs Washboard Road quilt in King size using a solid black background and Grunge.

I quilted it with the Windswept pantograph, used black So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Black Poly batting.

My Maple tree has finally turned to its beautiful Autumn Blaze red! Had to work it into the photos today.

Winter Woods Quilt

 

Lori pieced this modern lap quilt using a pattern by Tammy Silvers called Winter Woods.  I quilted it with the Ombre pantograph, used grey So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.

Looks lovely with our fall colours!

I'm getting ready to vend at a few Fall/Christmas Markets so have been busy making waxed canvas bags again.  Here are a few that I just finished.

I made this Highland Cow Aberdeen Tote that sold within a minute of posting it on Instagram!  So I have another one cut out to make for a future market. I also made a grey version with a slightly different Highland Cow canvas using the Redwood Tote pattern.

I love how this Aberdeen Tote turned out.  The English Garden canvas is one of my favorite prints and paired beautifully with the chocolate cork and leather straps.

 Oxbow Tote with Stallions 

And this Oxbow Tote is one I made for myself! 

Book Nook Quilt

Gail pieced this lovely Book Nook quilt, pattern by Pen & Paper Patterns.  She used the fabric collection by Kate & Birdie called From Far and Wide. 

Gail asked for maple leaves for the quilting and I had the perfect pantograph, Maple Syrup.

 

The leaves are finally turning colours here and the air is cooler.  Its been very windy so that makes the outdoor pictures challenging.

Last night we had a nice display of the Northern Lights here in Emo.  They were very red compared to other aurora I have seen here before.  I love how they move from red to purple to green. They were very high in the atmosphere to get those reds.

Skylights Quilt

 

I have been busy longarm quilting this month, just not taking the time to photograph them like I once did.  But I still enjoy blogging once in awhile so here are two quilts made by Lori that I finished this weekend. They are both Connecting Threads patterns and this one is called 'Skylights'.

I quilted it with the Ebb and Flow pantograph, used black So Fine thread and Lori brought black poly Quilters Dream batting.

The second quilt Lori brought is called the 'Almost Quilt'.  I used the Plush pantograph, black So Fine thread and her black poly Quilters Dream batting.

We've had an unusually warm end to summer and into fall but the trees are just starting to turn colour.

I have been in my sewing room busy making my waxed canvas bags to sell at the Fall/Christmas markets. You can check out my Instagram account to see what I have been making and have for sale.

Hummingbirds

 

If you follow my Instagram you will know I'm obsessed with hummingbirds.   These past two weeks I have been sharing videos of feeding them with a hand feeder and a few have landed on my hand.  Pure joy! I fill my garden full of flowers that they love and I can spend all day just watching and taking photos of these tiny birds.  Our summers are short and they will be migrating south soon so I'm enjoying my last couple of weeks with them.

I have this glass feeder I put in the maple tree that they love and guard furiously. 

They also like to guard the feeders in the backyard by sitting on top of my metal hummingbird.  Love this pose! 

I have two baskets of Hummingbirds Lunch that they love. 

They also love the Salvia in the garden.  I have it in a few colours.

I thought I was the biggest sucker for buying this 'hummingbird swing' but they love it!

I also purchased a window feeder and was surprised at how much they use it. Its fun to watch them at the window from inside the house.

If you want to see my videos of using the hand feeder just check out my Instagram reels. My account is  tamarackshack2.0

Summer Heron Birdwatching Report

 

Summer has been flying by as usual here in NW Ontario.   No sewing or quilting happening as I have been spending my days out in the garden or on the lakes kayaking.  Also keeping busy with my favorite summer activity birdwatching and bird photography.  I am enjoying the hummingbirds but we definitely have fewer birds this year.  I also would go every Sunday from mid May to mid July to see the Herons in their rookery on the highway near our place.  We watched all 15 nest activity transition from sitting on eggs to the hatching to the feeding then fledging. It is amazing how fast these large birds grow and each nest had on average 3 chicks.

Two chicks along starting to test their wings.

 I'm sure is how the term 'feeding frenzy' started!

These are the size of the chicks at the end of June.

Parent returns to feed and the frenzy begins.  They get very noisy and start grabbing the parents beak and fighting with their siblings.

Lunch time.

Parent leaves as there isn't much room for them now.

Young are testing their wings and flying from branch to branch getting ready to fledge.

Hard to tell the chick from the adults at this point.  The nests were all empty by the 3rd week in July.