Scrap quilts for 2013

Hi everyone!  Hope you've all had a peaceful time with family and friends.  I'm on break from school and have had time to work in the sewing room again.  I realized my scrap baskets are overflowing and I've decided that 2013 will be my year to make scrap quilts.

I started this string quilt a while ago and it's back up on the design wall.  Time to tackle this one again.

 

I also had this up on the design wall this week...480 2-inch squares, sewn into 4 patch blocks.  Still seems a bit much to manage so...

I made thirteen nine patch blocks (with a few left over). I'll have to add the posts and sashing now.

 

As you can see, my little helper is ready to lend a hand with the sorting!

 

Quilting + social work = fun!

Hey everyone! It has been such a loooong time since I've posted, I'm glad to be back!  Thank you to all who continue to come visit, it means a lot.

So, what the heck have I been up to?  Well, I'm almost finished my first semester in the Social Work program here at the University of Calgary.  Life has been hectic...but isn't it always?

I was missing quilting so much I had to figure out how to incorporate it into my school work.  Here is a photo of a little wall hanging I made for a group project this semester.  It's a visual representation of our group process.  Our prof liked it so much he asked if I would agree to hang it in the Faculty office.  I am super excited about that. 

Now I'm trying to figure out how I can combine a social work career and my love of quilting...wouldn't that be awesome?

Cheers,
Mary

What's blooming now

Hello Everyone!  This is my last day in the house, the sewing machine is packed, the suitcases are by the door and it's time to say goodbye to my garden....

Hollyhocks in bloom - what a lovely shade of pink.

Pincushion flower

White clips - campanula

Hosta and wave petunias.

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances

Country style New York Beauty

Hello Everyone!  I took some time out yesterday to begin a new project.  I recently purchased some lovely fabric from Brannock and Patek called Farmer's Market and thought I'd make a country version of New York Beauty blocks...which I absolutely love!





Here are the three sections of my first block.  I've yet to put them together...not sure if I'm up to trying to sew the curves right now...I'm supposed to be packing after all! :-)

Enjoy!

Mary-Frances





Mystery solved!

 Hello everyone! The countdown to the big move is on, but I had to make time for one last sewing Sunday with some quilting friends yesterday. I took a mystery quilt class two weeks ago and wanted to get this project done before I moved.  I had all the blocks finished, but needed to add the sashing and cornerstones. One more project done and ready to quilt...when I actually have a sewing room again that is.

Here's a close look at the block.  The light purple tends to fade in photos, but it is a star with an octagon in the centre.  I think this would be an excellent pattern to make an I Spy quilt with.

The dark purple really stands out when viewed from a distance and makes the block look like a frienship star.

Enjoy!

Mary-Frances



Bloomin' Tuesday

Hello everyone!  Here's a peek at what's bloomin' in my garden this week.  Be sure to check out Msgreenthumbjean and see what's bloomin' in her neck of the woods.

Cheers,
Mary-Frances



My Sherbert peony, a very soft pink with a touch of yellow in the center.

A pure white peony whose name escapes me right now.  Notice the cornflowers in the back, they are taking over that whole area.

My Sarah Bernhardt peony next to the Silver King sage...love this pink.  Truly a classic.

My soapwort, what a fabulous little plant, next to the geraniums and the double flowering plum in the back.

Snow-in-summer, the good kind, that is.  This was one lone plant a few years ago and has spread into this mass of silver and white...lovely, but needs to be kept in check.

The last of my spring clematis.

Fresh start

Well hello everyone!  It has been far too long since I've posted and so much has happened, as it usually does.  I am currently packing up the house, ready to move out at the end of the month.  My house sold in June and I had a busy time finding a home for myself, my daughters and my silly puppy, Max.  I've not had much time to sew, but am including a few photos of some of the projects I've worked on...and am still working on, lol!

I'm sad to leave my beautiful garden, which is looking rather lush....that's gardenspeak for overgrown with weeds, ;-).  I have found a home with a lovely garden though, and I am eager to begin making it my own.  I've already been busy looking through my gardening books and magazines, as I pack them away no less, which slows down the whole process considerably!

I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone in the blogosphere and returning to a more normal routine of quilting, posting, chatting and reconnecting with you once again!

Cheers,
Mary-Frances

My first attempt at paper piecing.  I'm quite please with the stars and really enjoyed making them.  I took a paper-piecing class at www.craftsy.com and couldn't wait to get started.  Thankfully I went to a quilting retreat soon after the class and managed to get a few stars done.  I finished the rest once the house sold and I could bring my sewing machine out once again.

Here's a current project, my first attempt at a lone star.  One more diamond to go then I have to put everything away.  I have some backing fabric selected, but it's packed away, goodness knows where.  I'll find it when I move to the new house....eventually.

Signed up for a mystery quilt class in the spring and I'm still working on it.  I enjoyed the class, but I'm not jazzed about my fabric selection.  Even so, I signed up for another mystery quilt class this week.  

Here's a view of my current backyard, taken in early June.

Here's a photo of my new yard. Smaller, yes, but there's lots of potential here!