Clara's Beauties

Today is the annual Christmas Bird Count, and our backyard is once again on the list of spots to visit. The cardinals were here briefly in early November, but have not made their return to stay as yet. It's normally about Christmas when that happens, so it could be any time. Last year they came on the actual day of the bird count - how did they know? Yesterday's snow should make the feeders busy today.
When the representative called yesterday she mentioned that Baltimore Orioles have been spotted in Amherst, which is very unusual. I am hopeful that we will get to see one at our feeders. P.E.I. is also reporting new feathered residents: Snowy Owls. This makes for great opportunities for birders in our area to see species not normally spotted here.

In the mail this morning are pictures of two Maritime Beauties stitched by Clara from Fredericton, New Brunswick. Clara travelled down in October to attend a workshop held during FibreFest. This top one is made from a colourful assortment of batiks:
The colour choice in this one really makes the spikes spin around the perimeter. Beautiful work, Clara; we thank you for sharing.

And a P.S. on the bird count: we received a call that the cardinals were spotted in our back yard. Yah!

Quick Christmas Project: Patchwork Sachet

Patchwork Sachet

Here’s a quick and simple idea that can be used to dress up a package, a tree, or as a sachet in a room or drawer. This one is made from cotton and lamé and filled with scented rose hips; hung on hooks or doorknobs, it will impart a Christmassy scent throughout your house.
I buy the rose hips every year at Mrs. Pugsley’s Emporium, located on Victoria Street in Amherst. These rose hips are one of the few scented things that don’t make me sneeze! At Mrs. Pugsley, the rose hips are kept in a big enamel bowl on the front counter. They are scooped out and sold by the pound.


Finished Size of Sachet: 3-1/2” square
Materials Required:
Gold lamé centre: 1-1/2” sq
6 strips green, 1” x 4” long
3 strips cream 1” 4” long
4" square backing (I used lamé to match centre)
10” thin gold cord
1 tassel
Sewing thread to match
The block is constructed in the manner of a Courthouse Steps Log Cabin. Sew a green 1” strip to top and bottom of 1-1/2” gold centre square. Trim ends. Press.

Sew green 1” strips to both sides of gold centre. Trim and press as before. Add cream strips next in same order - top/bottom then sides, trimming square after each addition.

Continue in this manner, adding the second strip of green to the outside in the same order as before. Trim ends even and press block.

Lay block face down on backing. Sew together on 3 sides, leaving 3” opening on 4th side to turn. Turn right side out. Fill with rose hips.

Hand sew opening closed. Tie cord into a loop. Attach tassel and hanging loop to opposite corners of the block with a few hand stitches. I used a tassel cut from a length of braid.

Ta da!

Another Beauty

Look what arrived in the email this morning! Sharon from Oxford, N.S. attended a fall workshop on Maritime Beauties and wowed us all that day when we learned she was a beginning quilter. She zoomed right through this, encountering no obstacles to slow her down. Sharon writes that she is working now on another, in blues and golds. Won't that be gorgeous?
Here's a peek at some blocks on my design wall. This is a fun, relaxing piece for me, adding patches here and there as time permits. I am working away on a baby quilt for a magazine, which has a Monday deadline, and trying to sneak stitches in on the QT for a pair of socks in time for Christmas. Shhhh...

Moncton signings and Show and Tell

Moncton turned on the sunshine in full force yesterday for the book signing. It was a great day, first at Chapters and then at Coles in Champlain Place. Moncton has a reputation for being a very friendly city, and lived up to that yesterday as many folks stopped to chat and share quilt stories. Several members of the Moncton Quilt Guild arrived including Jerri who brought along her latest Maritime Beauty to show. We had a hard time getting a good picture in all that sunshine; in person the colours are lush shades of lavender, mauve and purple: very, very pretty. It's always a treat to see quilts and I appreciate Jerri's thoughtfulness in bringing it along.

If you have yet to pick up your copy of Canadian Heritage Quilting, signed copies are available at most of the Chapters/Coles stores I have visited as well as at Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium in Amherst where you can still enter your name to win one of the quilts shown in the book. Those outside the local area perhaps can connect with Diane at one of her appearances. If you'd like a copy mailed, I'd be pleased to do that; please email for postage rates.

Nothing quilty planned for today as youngest has two band concerts at the high school. We will sit back and (proudly) be entertained.

Book Signings

The book signings last Saturday in Halifax were very busy, and a big thank you to all who turned out to make the day a success. It was a wonderful time to connect with friends and family I hadn't seen for awhile and also to meet up with quilters. Folks from several area Guilds stopped by to say hello as well as Bev Crouse from The Quilter's Net. One of the best parts of the day was meeting up with Jane, whom I had "met" virtually on a Cyberquilters list. She was so helpful in supplying precise driving directions to both the Halifax bookstore locations; a great time (and frustration) saver.

This coming Saturday, December 6th, I will be in Dieppe at the Coles and Chapters stores: 12-2 at Chapters and 3-5 at Coles in Champlain Place. If you happen to be in the Moncton area on Saturday, I do hope you will drop in to say hi.