Whatever became of the Madrona Road Challenge?????

Many months ago, I posted about the Madrona Road challenge with the Vancouver Modern Guild.  It was a lot of fun and a real challenge for me, particularly since I'm not a huge fan of blue and yellow.

I had it all ready, the top only, to take to the meeting for the big reveal only to discover that several of the blocks or the components were turned.

I'm not over the top concerned with this usually, but you can't stand in front of some the best quilters in the Lower Mainland with turned squares.....so I took it apart.

I showed what I had that was correct and then brought it home and stuffed it onto a shelf and there it has sat for many months.

I am over the top happy to say that it is now finished......it is quilted.....and it is my new good neighbour screen in my laundry room!

When the sun is shining, it looks for all the world like stained glass.  I love it and it makes me happy, particularly when I see my neighbours head walking past the window!

 



A New Flag for the Backyard.

I was feeling rather angry with myself for not accomplishing more in the past month or so.  Not really beating myself up but just disappointed that I didn't have more accomplished.  It's not like I just stood around doing nothing...or did I ? ? ?

 

I completed this little flag yesterday.  I would have posted the picture of the one it replaced, but I'm too embarrassed.  I'm sure that it's been flying every summer on that pole for the past 5 years.  It was faded, tattered and I think a spider made a nest in one corner of it and crapped all over it as well.

 

This is from a Kim Schaeffer book.  The original pattern was for a table runner or a place mat, but I just spun the ends and make an elongated flag out of it. 

 

Since watermelon is my favorite food on the planet, it seemed fitting for summer!

 

 



Summer Time Activities!

 



 

We LOVE our hot pickled beans.  We love them for lunch, for dinner.....sometimes even with a cleansing ale at the end of the evening with some cheese.  We haven't made them in years and it would appear that in retirement, I have a need to go back to the olden days.  Maybe I'm trying to  make up for all the times I worked, rather than did the domestic diva stuff, I'm not sure.  But one thing that I do know is that I can't wait for Christmas to give them a try!

 



Spring is on it's way!

 

OK Spring!

I know you're out there somewhere!

 

 





There you are!  My favorite sign of spring!  Snowdrops!

I took this shot lying on the sidewalk on Moncton Street in Steveston....much to my husband's dismay!

Hahahaha!









 My Madrona Road challenge is languishing on the design wall. I can't seem to get going with all the squaring up of the blocks. It's tedious and lets face it, more than a bit boring...so that's sitting for the moment. I have to finish it in time for the next Vancouver Modern meeting, 3rd week in March, so I still have time and lets face it, I work the VERY best under pressure!  It's been a great challenge for me.  I tried a new pattern, tweaked it to my own liking and working with blue, black, yellow and white was quite interesting.

So what have I been doing......well, here it is.....Jazz Hands by Sarah Fielke from the book Material Obsession 2 (More Modern Quilts with Traditional Roots) by Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke. 

 

Usually I would never tackle hand piecing, let alone the hand piecing of 72 little tiny template pieces, but here it is......just the thing for a cold, wet February day!  I just love how the wind picked up the bottom corner as I took that shot!

                                                                                                                                                                       

 

At the moment, the sun is shining and I'm off for a walk to my favorite place on the planet.  I am so fortunate.  Have a great week...quilt on!

 

Patchwork fish!

 

Madrona Road Challenge

I just checked the time and a mere 40 minutes ago, I was in the depths of despair with lost photos,  no picture on the TV and a Hangry (combo of hungry and angry) dog on my hands!  Sometimes you just need to put on the big girl panties and just HANDLE IT!

I pushed every button that I could on the TV....finally the picture showed up....no idea how that all worked, but for the moment the news is on, and it's a good thing!  Hubby took on the dog and since he is her favorite anyway, she will wait until the cows come home for her supper!

As far as the photos go........I managed to find them in some obscure account that I don't even remember creating ....so...with much fan fair, my Vancouver Modern 2013 Challenge!

The fabric is Madrona Road by Violet Craft for Michael Miller Fabrics.  I was very disappointed, only because there is only 2 colours that do not go in our home....blue and yellow.  But, a challenge is just that....a challenge and I took my pack home, put it onto the design wall and looked at it......and looked at it.......and looked at it.

It just is not my style....(the bright blue is my fabric).  We were permitted to add to the pack but only with a plain fabric......I felt the bright blue gave it a bit of zip!

So I gave this idea a try......

Good grief......that's awful!

 

So I put some more 1/2 square triangles together and trimmed, and trimmed and trimmed.

(I love those little cuttings....I have them on a cupcake tray at the moment and they look delightful!)

 

And this is what I decided on! 

I LOVE IT!

 

Even though it's not my colours, somewhere along the line, I fell for it. 

Maybe this is what a challenge is all about...not only in quilting but in life?

 

As usual, the Vancouver Modern has made me push my boundaries and go where I have never gone before!  I'll post the finished piece shortly!

 

 

Does anyone really know what time it is?

Does anyone else out there feel that the entire world knows what is going on, other than you?  I feel like that today.  Between new procedures at work, a new TV remote, new cell phone,downloading photos and trying to figure all the ins and outs of blogging, I'm a bit of a wreck! 

However, that being said, I'm not giving up!  Last week I sent a bunch of photos from my phone to my computer.....and I've lost them.  I've looked high and low and I'll be darned if I can figure out how or where I saved them.  This blog was going to be on the Vancouver Modern Challenge and how I'm doing and I don't have any pictures to show what I'm doing! I know that there are here somewhere, but where?

In between all of this, the TV won't turn on, the cell phone keeps beeping, even though I've charged it, turned off all the alerts that I can find, I changed my blog picture and I'm not sure if I like it and I'm late putting dinner on.  Forget about quilting!  I no longer have the time!

Of course, as usual, I'm being dramatic.  Thanks for sticking with me as I try and navigate through this never ending world of computers, cell phones, digital cameras, quilting, guilds and.....uh oh....totally forgot about the dog.  She's looking at me......I'd better fill up the supper bowl or I'm going to be in real trouble!

Happy Family Day!

The Start of 2013!

A beautiful day in the village says it all!

 

 

 

I have a feeling that 2013 is going to be a great year!  You have to have a few 'so so' years in order to appreciate the good ones and I think this year is going to be spectacular! 

Being part of the "Modern Quilting" movement, the creativity, camraderie and all out mind blowing excitment of being connected to such a group is bound to contribute to an exciting year.

As always, my creativity doesn't only come from quilting, but from a wide range of loves from the crafting world, to travel, spending times with friends, dinner parties, wine making and of course, my wonderful family.

Please join me in 2013, I promise to not be absent for so long again!

xoxoxox

 

Here is a few of my wishes for 2013!

 

 

Swoon by Thimble Blossoms

 

A bit more crocheting.

 

Try some beadwork?

 





Take on challenges at work! Hehe.

 

 

Hang out more with family....no matter how crazy!

(Don't ya just LOVE a pirate!)

 

 

 

 

 

 More car shows!

 

....and of course there's friends.....

 

Where would be we ever be without them!

OK....so J Mongomery isn't a friend, but how can you not love him to bits?  (I'm sure if he knew me, he would be a friend, don't you think? I found this picture while I was looking for the Grandma shot)

 He will forever bring a tear to my eye and a large grin to my face when I think of his triumphant walk through the streets of Whistler during the 2010 Winter Olympics!

So there you go....a few of my dreams and wishes for 2013.  I hope that you have plans and dreams too and that each one of them happen!  Just never ever give up dreaming and wishing!

Here is one of my favorite quotes from Kim Werker....enjoy......