Yummy

Today I had my family over for dinner to celebrate my impending birthday. I stuck with a Mexican theme, serving up Queso Chicken Chili and Mexican chopped salad using lots of fresh ingredients.

I've made the slow-cooker chili before and it is very tasty, extra so this time with corn fresh off the cob (a bit of a messy endeavour) that I picked up at a nearby farm yesterday. Then this salad I found online was so delicious! So fresh and crisp and light. And how lovely! Like a plate of summer.

Worth the wait

Finally the first blooms opened on my Rose of Sharon this week! Talk about a late bloomer, since it's now September. The plants were given to me from an avid gardener's overgrown garden last year, two little spindly things that barely grew last summer and I didn't think would make it through the harsh winter.

This spring after the thick layer of snow melted and they emerged, one looked like it was barely holding on while the other was nothing but a gnarled stick. I nearly pulled it out, but slowly a few leaves emerged. I've been watching them closely all summer looking for signs of the first flowers, and finally about a week ago little splashes of colour emerged from a few buds. Then today I caught a glimpse of pink petals from the living room window and raced to the backyard, camera in hand. So pretty!

So far there are just three flowers, but plenty more buds - even on the smaller plant. I hope there's plenty of time for them to bloom, and me to admire, before the cool fall weather settles in.

Busy weekend

This Labour Day long weekend was a busy one. Saturday I followed a barn quilt trail with my mom and then I got down to some serious sewing.

First up was finishing my mini Swoon. Those blocks are lovely, but also super fiddly. Adding the zigzag fabric into the mix nearly broke my brain. But it turned out so nicely with this fabric, PB & J that I've been holding onto for the perfect project. The grey has a beige undertone that I only got because it was in a bundle of grey Kona solids. I thought I'd never have a use for it, but it was just right for this fabric. All the other greys were too grey. Go figure.

I finally got back to my baby quilt bonanza. I cut out these five-inch blocks of the most adorable kitty fabrics a while back. Enough for two quilts actually, once I added the pink and grey. I like how the greys tone it down so it's not over-the-top cute with the pink and kitties.

Those kitties sure are adorable. Of course I love the Siamese cats. Quilting will be in order soon, since I now have three baby quilt tops ready to go.

A friend asked me to make two pillow covers for his little girl. A little over a week ago I had never made a pillow cover, now I'm whipping them up like a pro! I make mine nice and tidy inside by zipping around the edge to keep fraying at bay. It looks so nice with the orange thread here.

I've been holding onto these adorable FQs for quite some time, and this seemed like the perfect use. What little kid wouldn't love this print? And how cheery paired with the orange birdy fabric on the back.

And I still had a bit of this squirrel treasure map fabric, pairing it with a soft floral. Too bad I didn't have any pillows the right size to put in the covers to see how they'll look.

I'll mail them off tomorrow with this cute little note. I hope she likes them as much as I do!

And I reached my cycling goal for the season on Monday! I covered 2,600 kilometres and there is still plenty of good weather left.

Not bad for a weekend's work! Although it seems for everything I cross off my crafty to-do list, I add at least one more project. Case in point, today a hefty package arrived at my doorstep with Jaybird Quilt's Park Bench quilt kit. I was really sorry I missed the classes offered at my local quilt shop to make this one, then it popped up at a huge discount on Craftsy and I had no choice but to get it. No choice, I tell you!

A quilty quest

Today my mom and I spent a lovely Saturday following a barn quilt trail in Oxford County. There's a great site for Ontario barn quilt trails that includes maps and an explanation of the blocks tied into that area's history. It was really fascinating.

The trail started with Right Hand of Friendship, chosen because the people of the predominantly rural community are welcoming. This quilt was on a shelter for the horses out in the pasture.

Next was Path Through the Woods, symbolizing the dense forests the early settlers of the area had to tame. They created roads from paths through the woods, felling thousands of trees to establish farms and villages. The county's motto is a nod to the hard work of the first settlers: "Labour Conquers All Things."

This block is called Cock's Comb because a rooster and chickens were an essential part of a settler's belongings. A cow and her baby came to check on the interlopers.

This barn was actually a business. One that really seemed to like brown. Not all the quilts were especially inspiring colourwise, nor always in a scenic setting. This one is called Arrowhead Puzzle, honouring the area's First Nations. Oxford County was home to many First Nation villages, including a sprawling Iroquoian one not far from this spot dating back to 1,400.

And not all the barn quilts were on barns. Roads to the Station commemorates the coming of the railroad to the area.

New Water Wheel sits near a creek that powered a nearby pea and barley mill built in 1878. Now it's an inn.

Patch Log Cabin represents the first building in Tillsonburg, a two-room log cabin.

Gotta love a classic churn dash block, especially on this great old red barn. I love the faded cow paintings on this dairy farm barn, complete with cat.

This Envelope Motif block represents rural mail delivery finally coming to the township in 1911.

This Church Window was on the site of the African Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, founded by free Blacks who made their way here as early as 1829. Feeling accepted and safe here, the area became a terminus for fugitives travelling the Underground Railroad.

The Grist Mill block sat on a tranquil mill pond, not far from where a mill was built in 1807 and the constructed in 1845 still stands. This area attracted Quakers, free Blacks and escaped slaves.

This barn quilt, and barn, was probably my favourite. The block is called Weathervane because being able to forecast the weather was a talent many settlers developed. Early barns were decorated with a weathervane and lightning rods to help. I loved the bright colours on the quilt and door against the rusty metal roof and grey building.

Tobacco farms are still plentiful here. I'm not sure why, but I've always liked the look of the drying buildings. There's something about their roughness that's appealing. Or maybe the uniformity, especially when there's row upon row. I guess those boring, sterile-looking white ones in the back are the new generation.

This quilt - Tobacco Road - goes perfectly with the rust-coloured shutters and deep green walls. Some of them were so suited to their spot.

Some of the barns were definitely less bucolic. This one is called Corn and Beans, because the four brothers owning this farm grow traditional crops of corn and soybeans.

The Wagon Wheel stands in front of the historical society, representing the journey of early Quakers who settled in the area.

This Friendship Block honours two families who came to the county together among the original settlers.

Another classic block, Dutchman's Puzzle was perfect for this apple farm established by a couple from the Netherlands in 1956. Many Dutch settled in Oxford County as early as 1946.

Finally we found the Farmer's Daughter barn quilt - a pop of colour on a pretty boring barn.

I spotted something I've never seen before - a field of millet. This stuff looks like something out of Dr. Seuss' imagination. Weird.

We had to stop to get a picture when we saw this field farmed by Mennonites. It's not too often anymore you see straw stacked like this using only elbow grease and rudimentary farming equipment. Now that is some tough work, especially on a hot and muggy day when we were very thankful for the a/c.

It was a lovely afternoon driving through the countryside. We saw the barn quilts, picked up a few things we didn't need but couldn't resist at a lovely fabric shop, enjoyed a tasty lunch at the cutest little restaurant and just had a wonderful day together with so many serene views.

Belated binding

Finally I finished the binding on my table runner started and almost finished - gasp - back in January. This poor project just kept getting bumped to the bottom of the priority list. Maybe because the starting was so much fun - a crafty weekend with crafty friends. Stitching solo wasn't quite as appealing.

I used all Piper by Dear Stella. I love the maple keys and spindly wildflowers. My three crafty friends all used the same pattern, but with wildly different fabrics for totally different looks.

Boy it feels good to finally cross this off my to-do list!

Tough to let go

Quilting and construction was done on this pillow in a frenzy of weekend sewing, yet I've been dragging my feet on the super simple step of picking up a pillow form. I think my delay was because I knew then I'd have to give it away to the person I made it for. Ever have that dilemma you've made something you love so much that it's tough to let go? It looks so pretty here on the bench in my front hall, where my bright pink and perfectly matching purse usually sits.

But I know the recipient - my oldest sister recovering from a nasty spill off her horse - will love it just as much. It's super cushy and wonderfully cheery - perfect for a pick-me-up, don't you think?

I made the back with the three shades of pink, including a nice wide cuff in the lightest fabric. This was actually the first pillow cover I've ever made, so I found some guidance in this tutorial. It went together so fast and easy! Which makes me think I should finally get around to making those pillows for my couch I planned and bought fabric for eons ago when I first started sewing.

The front has a lovely crinkle from the wash. This shot makes me think of a sunset in Hawaii.

This quilt was really a milestone for me and that's what I love about it most. The design is virtually my own creation and it turned out just as I imagined. I'm still a pretty green quilter, but now I have some confidence to venture beyond patterns. Be bold!

Milestone to celebrate

I've made a bunch of mini quilts before, but this is my first miniature quilt. So many teeny pieces - 140 1.25" squares! I marvelled at all those seams on the back, and couldn't help but snap a photo.

I love how it turned out. Thimbleblossoms really has lovely patterns. I'm now braving a mini swoon - 8" blocks, which is practically chunky next to the Rise and Shine mini blocks at 4.5".

The quilt was a gift for a dear friend who celebrated her 40th birthday this weekend. Her husband organized a surprise dinner party and what a lovely evening! From the start I envisioned the cheery quilt as being the perfect spot for a bouquet of flowers, and I paired it with a crystal vase filled with bright blooms.

Happy Birthday Miss C!