Mom & Kids Camp

Earlier this month, my girls and I went to Mom & Kids Camp at Camp Fircom. Fircom is a United Church camp on Gambier Island, and it is a beautiful space. We had a great time. Here are some photos:

Tote Bag - Mission Complete!

I have finished! The first 3/4 was a breeze, and then frustration and mishaps and other bad things set in. However, I am done, and I am happy. The tote will be in the mail to its recipient tomorrow afternoon, after I pick up a few only-in-Canada treats to send along, since she lives in a different country. Here it is, photographed on the chair-and-a-half in my living room:

Side A - I was given the gorgeous "Forest" print from Hokkoh by a friend of mine, and really wanted to showcase it. I cut out the central tree, and then just built around it.

Side B - I am in love with Arabesque from Amy Butler's Love line, and wanted to cut out a full design to applique on, but I needed to make the background a bit interesting.

Inside - A pocket with part of Arabesque appliqued on, because I like it so much!

Also, forgive the blurry bits, it seems little fingers have been touching the camera lens :P


Linking up:

               

Mini Quilt Challenge Link-up

I discovered that Jennifer at Ellison Lane is hosting a Modern Mini Quilt Challenge.
I'm going to link up the mug rug I finished last month for a chance to win a prize. I like prizes! (Don't we all?)

Here it is again, my path mug rug, on which I did my first attempt at free motion quilting:

And guess what! I'm actually using it as a mug rug on my computer desk. No way!

Update: So, it turns out I won one of the random prizes from the link-up. Whee! :D

On sewing, and sun

I've been hard at work on my partner's tote bag, and having lots of fun doing it too. I get in bits of sewing here and there, but somehow its all working out fine. Here's a WIP shot:

Also, its been sunny the last few days, and my girls have gotten too much sun. I had to dose their skin with aloe vera (straight from the plant) liberally before bed, and I've said that they're going to have to stay inside for a few days to let their sunburn heal. One upside of the sun, however, is this picture I took at mid-day today:

My 4 year old was outside playing in the wading pool, and calls me to tell me that there is something weird in the sky and that I have to come see! I come out, look up, and see an amazing sun halo! The edge of our roof just blocked out the sun, so while it was bright to look at, I still could look at it. I haven't seen very many sun halos in my life (though moon halos abound), and I had to explain to my daughter what it was because she had never seen one. I also had to take a picture, it was so neat! Though according to Wikipedia, halos often signal incoming rain; boo.

On love, and slowly sewing

I shall start my post with my picture:
 

That is my dining room table this morning (it doubles as my sewing space). Those roses? My husband bought them for me yesterday, it was our anniversary! We've been married for 8 years. I said at some point last night "and here's to 8 more", to which he said "Only 8? How about 70?" Since we are both currently 30, that would take us to 100 - I like that plan! These 8 years have been filled with amazing (3 daughters, lots of laughs) and some hardships (my father's death, Mark getting and still dealing with pneumonia), but I am still so happy they have happened.

Roses! :D
 

Also on my table is my current WIP. Here I was all set (for the first time) to link up for WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced, and she's not doing it this week! Oh well, I'm still going to post this. About a month an a half ago, I had an idea. All the fruit trees around here were in bloom, and I wanted to capture that, but also use up some of the scraps/squares I inherited from my Grandma when she passed away 5 years ago. The concept for what it should look like popped into my head almost fully formed, and I just ran with it. It is taking a lot longer than I had hoped, because apparently I am very bad at finding/making time for sewing. There's all the house work, my 3 girls, playing video games with my husband, reading, etc; together it leaves little time for sewing. I am steadily plugging away at it though, and hope to finish it soon!


But now the sun is shining, my girls are calling, and so are the dishes. Have a great Wednesday everyone!

On Finishing, and Free Motion Quilting

I have just finished my first ever attempt at Free Motion Quilting. After a few attempts that didn't work, because apparently I wasn't moving my fabric correctly, it is done! Messy, but done.

I have made an almost-maze mug rug - in that it isn't a maze, since it is a single path with no branches. I quilted leaves on a vine in variegated thread, which is my new obsession. I have purchased at least 6 spools of it in the last month.

Here it is!

Also, I finished it! Its been sitting waiting for quilting for at least 3 weeks, and I finally felt like finishing it yesterday.

Linking up:

       

Happy Mother's Day all you moms out there. Have a good weekend!