A new book and Magazine!!!

Hi everyone, I didn't do any sewing today. I had a huge migrane headache. I rested most of the day. But this evening I took the kids to Chapters Book Store and I purchased the book "Material Obsession" and the "Patchwork & Stitching Magazine". I'm so excited. I've been wanting to buy that book for the longest time and I finally just did it. I don't have very many quilting books and magazines. Most of my inspiration comes from you guys, through your wonderful blogs. But I do like to have certain books and magazines for those times I like to just sit quietly and look at all these beautiful projects. I just have to figure out which project I'm going to try first. Tomorrow, I'm going to a quilting workshop day organized through Wilton Creek Fabrics. There will be 8 little workshops. I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm excited to go. It has to do with quilting so that's good enough for me. I'll let you know tomorrow how it went. Well, that's all for today folks. I hope you all have a great evening.

Happy Stitching!!

Ariane :o)

Let's Drive Baby Quilt Finished!

Hi everyone, I first want to say....OMG...I can't believe how many wonderful people are entering my giveaway. I've been reading all the comments and I'm just speechless. Thank you for your support. This has been so much fun. There are so many wonderful prizes to be won. I've found new interesting blogs that I've added to my ever growing blog lists. I'm going to have to go through them again just to make sure I didn't miss any that I would like to follow. Thanks so much to Sew,Mama,Sew! This has been great. I have so many new followers. Yeah!!!
I've been working on finishing the boys baby quilt for my friend. I ended up hand quilting it because my good sewing machine broke. I had to take it to have it repaired. It took much longer than expected. I had time to hand quilt the whole quilt before I got the machine back. If you click on the picture above, you should be able to see the hand quilting. I put some stars in the white part. I think it looks great and I brought it to my friends today and he loves it. It's a surprise for his wife who just had the baby last week. He said she is going to be very surprised. I'm so happy he liked it. You can see the backing material I used. I really like it. Well, now I have to work on finishing the little girls quilt. I just have to quilt it. Now that I have my sewing machine back, I'm going to stipple it. Well, I hope you all have a great day. Thanks again for participating in my giveaway!!

Happy Stitching!

Ariane :o)

May Day Giveaway!!!

Hi everyone, I'm having my first giveaway. I'm part of the Sew,Mama,Sew! May Day Giveaway! I'm just so excited. I made a cute little purse with half a charm pack and 1 fat quarter. It's really cute. I designed it myself. I hope you all like it. It is a quilted purse. I used a lot of thread in this bag. But I like the effect it gives the bag. It has a zipper so that your belongings are nice and secure once inside and a nice long strap so that you can wear it across your shoulder. I used a button that I got at the local thrift shop. It was the perfect color and size. I'm also giving a Moda "Cotton Blossoms" charm pack with it. This is the same charm pack I used to make the bag. So how do you win this bag and charm pack?

1) Leave a comment on this post

2) Make sure that I can reach you, by leaving your email address or that I can link to you through your blog. If I cannot reach you, I will remove the entry and draw someone else.

3) Everyone can participate, as I will ship the prize anywhere in the world.

4) The giveaway is open until May 31st.

5) The winner will be randomly drawn and announced on June 1st.

6) If you become a follower I will give you a second entry. Leave me another comment letting me know that you are a follower.

This is a lot of fun. I hope you go check out all the blogs that are having giveaway's for the May Day Giveaway! Just hit the link below to see who else is participating. The list will be provided on May 27, 2009 at 9:00am EST. Happy Stitching!!

Ariane :o)

May Day Giveaway!!

I will be participating in the SewMamaSew May Day Giveaway!!! So I will see you on the 27th of May. You'll have to check back to see what I'm giving away!!

Ariane :o)

Let's drive baby quilt

I worked on the boy baby quilt today. I got quite a bit done. I kept changing the design, but I'm happy with how it's progressing. It's very bright and cheerful. I think my friend will like it. I still have to add another border. I'm not sure exactly what kind of border, but I'll figure that out tomorrow. It's getting late now. I'm just waiting for my husband to come home from work. I hope you like the quilt.

Happy Stitching!!

Ariane :o)

Some purchases and New Blocks!

Hi everyone, I had a very good day yesterday. I went to the Salvation Army Thrift shop in town and bought 6 old quilting magazines for $0.25 each. They are great magazines and have really nice patterns in them. I also bought a bag of old buttons for $2.00. I love buttons and this bag had some big buttons which I love to use for my bags. I'm going to have fun with these. I then went to the quilt shops in town. I found some Snippets by American Jane at "Garden Thyme Quilt and Gift Emporium". This is the cutest shop. If you come to Kingston, Ontario you have to stop there. It's a gift shop, that sells all kinds of country style home decor items. But they also have a nice selection of quilting fabrics. They sell lots of 1930's reproduction, some civil war reproduction, and a vast array of other styles of fabrics as well. They also sell punch needle patterns and kits. It's a very nice store. Great to find a special gift for someone. I just found it about a month ago. I'm so glad I did. I also started working on the blocks for the baby boy quilt I'm making. I used the maverick star pattern. I really like it. I'm making the stars two different sizes. I can't wait to have it all put together. I really hope my friend likes it. I think he will. Well, I have to do some housework today. I've already started. I'm doing laundry and mopped the floors already so I have to get back to work. Have a good day!!

Ariane

Whirlygiggles quilt top almost done!!!

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a nice day. It was a beautiful day here today. The wind was chilly, but it was nice and sunny all day. I worked on my whirlygiggles quilt today. I have the top almost done. All that's left to do is a bit of embroidery in the border and I can put the quilt all together. I still have to buy a backing fabric for it. I'm really glad the top is almost done. The embroidery won't take me long to do at all. Now, I can start working on the baby boy quilt I need to make. These two quilts are being made for a friend. I think he will like the little girls quilt. It's bigger than a baby quilt. It will be good for a toddler bed, or a lap quilt later on. I really like the way the border turned out. I did freezer paper machine applique. This was my first attempt at it. I used a very small zigzag stitch to finish the edges. I didn't want the edges to be raw, so I thought this way would be best. It was easy to turn the edges over the freezer paper. I'm going to use this method again. I'm sure as time goes on, I will get even better with it too. I can't wait to see it all quilted. My new sewing machine is being repaired right now. It broke after only three months of having it. I think I might have gotten a lemon. But, what can I do. I did all the applique on this quilt with my 25 year old machine. I had to do some test when I changed the stitch. My old machine doesn't like to have the stitches changed. The tension gets really messed up. But I managed to find the right setting after several tries. I'm really glad it worked. Well, I have to go. I'm going to sit and relax a bit before bed.

Happy Stitching!

Ariane

2009 Advent Swap by Mothers Cupboard!!

I've joined another swap. I just love doing swaps and found this great one on Mothers Cupboard's Blog. It's for next Christmas and I have to have 24 little gifts and 1 big gift for my swap partner. I love this idea. If you want to know more about it just click here or on the picture. I hope you are all well. I had a stressful day at work today. I came home with the worst migraine headache, all I could do was collapse on my bed and have a rest. I slept for about an hour and as the night went on my headache went away. I had bought a punch needle kit for my daughter and I. I thought it would be something we could learn together. We both really liked it. I'm going to have to buy another punch needle so that we both have one. I'm so glad I tried it. I think my daughter is really going to have fun making little pictures with her kit. Well, I have to go.

Happy Stitching!!

Ariane

The bag I made for my Snickerdoodle swap partner!!

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well. I forgot that I never showed you the completed bag that I sent to my swap partner Illene, all the way to Australia. She received it last week and she loved it. I loved it too. I designed the bag myself and made up my own pattern. I had a lot of fun making it. I loved the fabric I used. The colors worked so beautifully together.

I have so many projects on the go right now. I have a hard time keeping track. I think I'm going to make a list so that I can cross things off as I get them done. These are the projects I have to finish.

1) Hexagon Star quilt - This one will take a while since I'm hand piecing it, and it's going to be a queen size quilt.

2) Rocky Road to Kansas quilt - I have six blocks done. I'm only making twelve. This is going to be a lap quilt.

3) Girls block swap quilt - I have to piece the top together, I'm still short 6 blocks though from my sister.

4) Aqua Baby quilt - I'm done piecing the center panel. Just need to put the border on to finish the top

5) Whirlygiggles baby quilt - I need to finish the border and the top will be done

6) Baby boy star quilt - I haven't really started yet. But need to get going on this one since it'a a commissioned piece

7) Woodland Bloom quilt - This is a double sized quilt that I started for my daughter a while ago. I've got the top almost done. But I really don't like it. It's just not me. That's why I haven't finished it yet. I really have to figure out what to do with it because I spent a lot of money on that top. Hmmmm.....what to do???

8) Spring Blooms Mini Quilt Swap!!

WOW!!! I can't start any more projects. I need to get some of these done. Okay, I'm going to commit to getting as many of these projects done the rest of this month and in June. That's going to be my plan.

Well, I hope you all have a good night. I have to work on my projects now.

Happy Stitching!!

Ariane :o)

Spring flowers in my garden

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well. I thought I would show you some of the flowers from my garden. Gardening is another one of my passions. So I'm always excited when spring arrives. My garden is just in the beginning stages. When I bought my house, the people before had taken all the plants out. The house is almost 40 years old and had only a few perennials when we moved in. So I've slowly added them as I can afford it. Here are a few that I planted last year and are in bloom this spring. I hope you like them.

Happy Stitching!

Ariane :o)

Snickerdoodle Bag Swap Received!!!

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well. I was very lucky to receive my bag swap today all the way from Australia. I received a beautifully made bag from Darlene. I just love the colors and the appliqued pocket on the front. I'm so lucky. She also sent me a gorgeous notebook cover and a hand painted card. To add to all this loveliness, she also sent me a copy of the Australian Country Threads Stitchery Edition Magazine. Wow!! I couldn't believe all I received. Thanks Darlene for organizing such a great, fun swap, and for sending me such wonderful gifts. This made my day!! Ariane :o)

Whirlygiggles quilt center done and a Giveaway!!

Hi everyone, today I had the day off work. I decided to start a baby quilt that I was asked to make. I could choose any pattern I wanted. It just had to be for a little girl. Now, I only have the center panel done. I have to put a few borders around it. I think it looks nice. It was my first time trying this pattern. I used this tutorial for the GreetingArts blog. It was very easy. I will have to make it again, but for myself. I do want to put some appliques in the border to give the quilt a bit more personality. I didn't use pastel colors because I like to have a bit warmer colors. I like the fabric I chose. What do you think? Is this a nice pattern for a baby quilt? I'm a bit nervous, since I was asked to make this by a friend of mine and I want to be sure that he likes it. He actually asked me to make two baby quilts. One for his daughter who just turned one and one for the boy his wife is about to have at the end of the month. I need another quilters opinion on this one. I'm not a professional quilter, so its not perfect. What do you think??

Also there is a wonderful giveaway at Tattered Threads & Willing Hands. She is celebrating her Blog-A-Versary!! You have to go check it out.

Ariane :o)

Happy Mother's Day and I won a giveaway!!!

Hi everyone, I have had a good day today. I wish all Mother's a very Happy Mother's Day!! My two youngest children made me cute little gift at school. My second oldest son gave me a water color painting of a dog that he painted at school. My daughter gave me a picture frame that she painted. I'm a very lucky mom. I have three wonderful kids.

I also won my first giveaway. AmieJ Designs was giving away a beautiful tote bag and I won. I can't believe it. I never win stuff. So, I was very shocked to get the email from her. I can't wait to receive it in the mail. I'll be checking my mailbox every day. Yeah!!! I'm so excited!!! You have to go check out her blog. She makes really great bags, and sells them in her etsy shop. She has monthly giveaways. She uses really great fabrics too. So, go on over and check it out. I was very tired today, but when I got home from work this evening, I was very well greated and my night ended up being great. I hope you are all well.

Happy Stitching!!

Ariane :o)

A peak at some blocks I'm working on!!

I've been working on some small blocks to add to the baby quilt I'm making. I'm using fusible web. Then I will be embroidering around them with some DMC floss. I just started them tonight. I have three started. I think they are cute. They will look even better once the embroidery is all done. Well, I have to work in the morning. So off to bed I go. I hope you have a good night.

Ariane

Fabric received and purchased on the weekend!

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well. I wanted to share some of the fabric I received and purchased on the weekend. My Mom was so generous. She gave me some wonderful quilting cottons. Most of them are half yard cuts. I just love them all. I also bought some fabric at the little quilting shop in the towm my Mom lives in. They are really cute. On my way home from Northern Ontario, I stopped in Brockville at Taylor Sewing Center and bought some really great fat quarters to add to my stash. They have lots of wonderful browns. I was in need of those. The others were on sale and I couldn't resist. Then I stopped at Picket Fences, also in Brockville and purchased a bundle of fat quarters. I just love the colors and I will be using these for a girls baby quilt I was asked to make. The other two fabrics, my daughter chose them. She loves aqua's. As you can see, I came home with some wonderful fabrics. I'm so excited to use them. Have a great day everyone.

Happy Stitching!!

Ariane :o)

Picture of block swap weekend

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a great weekend. I was away this weekend and went home to Northern Ontario to spend the weekend with my sister's and my Mom. We swapped some quilt blocks that we had made for a swap I had organized. It was our first swap. We each had to make 30 blocks. We then got to keep 6 of our own blocks and then we got 6 blocks from the other girls. I took a picture of all our blocks together. It looked really cool. We had such a great weekend. We all brought our daughters. It was a girls only weekend, except for my Dad who was our honorary member for the weekend. We all got fabric prizes and had a great time. We had a bit of a challenge since my parents water pump broke and we didn't have any running water all weekend. But we made the best of it and hauled water for the toilet and the dishes. Boiled water on the stove for hot water. It was an adventure trying to make it all work. Everyone was in good humour and we had a lot of laughs. We even plan to make this a yearly event. We already have a plan for our swap for next year. Something a bit smaller. I'm so glad I decided to organize this weekend. We all have such busy lives and live far apart. We don't often see each other. This was a great way to get together. Well, I am really tired now. It was a 9 hour drive for me each way. So it was a long trip. But definitely worth while.

Happy Stitching!!

Ariane :o)