Bloomin' Tuesday

Hello everyone!  I finally have a few photos of the garden to share.  Spring has been very slow to arrive this year, but I am glad to see so many favourite plants returning.  I would like to extend a warm welcome to three new followers: Karen, Heather and Sharon.

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances



My bleeding hearts are looking lush this year.




They've doubled in size this past week thanks to all the rain we had.




Primulas in the garden bed by the playhouse. 



My creeping phlox are not quite as profuse as they have been in the past...but I'm glad to see at least one plant return this year.



The always reliable elephant ears.




My double flowering plum still has buds so I expect it will be in bloom for another week at least.



One lone container of snapdragons and strawberry plants.  Time to get some planting done!

Heritage Park Quilt Festival - part 2

A few more photos to share with you all.

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances



This is the back of the quilt...



and this is the front.



A closer look at the quilting is in order.



Heritage Park Quilt Festival 2011 - part 1

Hi everyone!  The rain has finally stopped and just in time too, as this weekend Heritage Park is hosting the 16th annual Quilt Festival here in Calgary.  Here's a peek at some of the quilts on display.


Enjoy!
Mary-Frances

log cabin blocks

Last Thursday evening was the Sew'n Sews monthly meeting.  Our block for May is the log cabin.



Machines at the ready, it's time to cut our fabric.



The strips are 1.5 inches wide.  The top two red strips are for the center of the block, they are cut into 1.5 x 1.5 inch squares.





The beginning of a block.  A center square surrounded by two light pieces of fabric and then two dark pieces of fabric.




Continue adding fabric strips until you are happy with the block size.



Our final blocks.

A generous Pay it Forward gift



Last fall I took part in a Pay it Forward event hosted by Anya and today I received these wonderful goodies in the mail.
Isn't that bag gorgeous??



Perfect timing too as Canada Post is set to go on strike this coming Monday.  What a lovely way to end the week, I can enjoy a nice cup of tea and curl up with a good book while the rain continues to pour outside!



The generosity of spirit found in the quilting community is truly humbling.  How fortunate I feel to be part of it.

 

A great little gift, don't you think?  Mmmh, this has me thinking of Christmas gifts now...I know it's a little early, but I have to start soon or I won't get anything finished in time! 

 

The fabric is just stunning.  I will have to guard this as I have a sneaking suspicion my daughters will want to "borrow" it!

 Mary-Frances

Slave Lake quilts - additional information

Hi Everyone -  Some of  you responded to my last post asking where to send quilts for the people of Slave Lake.  You can send them to me for the time being.  Just send an email, make sure I can reply to it though, and I'll send along the necessary information.  One of our members will be driving up to Westlock and Athabasca in June to deliver the quilts, that's where many of the displaced families are now being sheltered.   

If you want more information on donations for the residents of Slave Lake, please contact the following:

Red Cross Western Canada -

1-800-418-1111
http://www.redcross.ca/  

Salvation Army Disaster Relief Fund

1-800-725-2769
http://www.salvationarmy.ca/ 


Hope this information helps.

Thanks,
Mary-Frances

Slave Lake quilt initiative

Life has its challenges

we all know this

but what do you do

when a wall of fire

heads your way



destroying everything

in it's path



taking not only your home



but your whole neighbourhood.



If you are a quilter

you pull out those projects

you just aren't sure what to do with




You gather with your friends

 

and you cut

and you sew

and you quilt



everyone pitches in

to make quilts

big and small

for those people in Slave Lake, Alberta

who lost everything.

Mary-Frances