Nine Patch Quilt

Finished this pretty Nine Patch quilt for Barb, she used a light Grunge for the background and I think I spy some Art Gallery fabrics for the Nine Patches.  I quilted it with the Flourish pantograph. Thread is an off white So Fine and batting is Quilters Dream Blend.

Irish Chain

Vicki made this sweet Irish Chain quilt for her daughter and used two different blueberry print fabrics plus the accent pink tone on tone. I quilted it with the Fascination pantograph, used off white So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.

Thunderstorms!

Yesterday was had severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado watches all day.  The storm finally arrived around 10pm and lasted a few hours. It never rained at our place and we had clear sky above but we watched the storms to the west, north and east.  It was constant lightening for hours!   

I love watching lightening storms from is distance as you can see it jump from cloud to cloud.  I got out my Canon camera, put on my wide angle lens and shot long exposure shots ( 2 to 3 secs).  I think I took about 200 photos but I get such a rush from trying to catch that unique shot!

These next two show the top of the storm cell well and you can catch a glimpse of the stars in the clear sky to the left.

Here is this same system half hour later to the north. You can see the Big Dipper and Little Dipper pouring into it! ;)

Explore Quilt

This is Jenni's Explore Quilt which is a fabric line from Moda by Deb Strain.  I have seen this quilt as a kit at Road 17N in Winkler, MB.

I quilted it with the London Fog pantograph as it give the feeling of fog off the lake or smoke wisping from a camp fire.  I used beige So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.

I feel in love with the backing fabric Jenni used on this quilt, its called Fly Home by Hoffman. It looks like a watercolour painting!

I have been having fun lately taking bird pictures in our yard. I have challenged myself to improve my skills on this subject.  I started with a pair of Kildeer that were making a nest in my driveway a few weeks ago, had no idea they made their nests out of gravel in the open. They didn't end up using this nest but are still around the neighbourhood.

My husband made me a picnic table feeder, not sure who would claim it, the birds or the squirrel.  Birds have definitely claimed it. Here is pair of Goldfinch have a discussion with a Chickadee.

Blue jays are always nice to spot.  There is a pair in the neighborhood I see often.

But my main challenge has been the humming birds that visit our feeder.  

I finally figured out how to capture their wing feathers in photos! In this first photo I even caught her tongue sticking out!

But this next one is my absolute favorite. Wings stretched out, nose approaching the feeder and feet ready to land. 

This female has a beautiful metallic green back in the sunshine!   My feeder is in the shade so I'm not always catching their colours well.

The male has been making an appearance and showing off his red throat.  

Meadowland #2

Kim made this lovely Meadowland quilt which is a pattern by Then Came June. She used Moda's Pacific Wanderer fabric collection by Mara Penny.  I quilted it with the Whitecaps pantograph in keeping with the aquatic theme.  Used teal So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.

Kim found a beautiful teal Fireside to match the quilt top.

Northwoods Memories #2

Peggy hand embroidered this lovely Northwoods Memories quilt, the pattern is by Beth Ritter and you can find the pattern at her Etsy shop here.  Our guild had a UFO challenge this past year and Peggy challenge herself to complete one block a month. She said if it wasn't for our challenge it might still be a UFO. She used flannel fabrics for the border, sashing and scrappy rectangles.

 

I cross hatched the embroidered blocks with a beige 100wt Invisifil thread and used brown So Fine  in the sashing and borders.  Batting is Quilters Dream Blend.

I broke one of my photography rules with some of these photos...never take pictures towards the sun. Glad I broke it just this once.  ;)

52 Blocks in 52 Weeks Quilt

Peggy participated in the CQA's 52 Block in 52 Weeks project and I love the fabrics she chose for her quilt.  I am adding a link to the CQA website here to the 52 Blocks gallery so you can see some of the others that have been made. 

  I quilted it with the Curlz pantograph using ecru thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.

Had a little critter photobomb this last shot.  He camouflages so well next to the lemongrass and this quilt! 

Here he is for this close up!  I hear him every night and is crazy loud when he chirps on my deck!

I now know how he can climb up our deck and onto our windows, his feet are so sticky!