August Minis

I hope you'll agree that 

 our projects and stitching

should bring us pleasure, smiles

and even laughter.

Each month there is a group of bloggers

who have been challenged 

and, hopefully, have found joy in

creating a monthly mini and then 

sharing their creativity with others.

Our blogging friend, Wendy,

the Constant Quilter, has been the

facilitator of this diverse group.

Thank you ,Wendy.  I've appreciated your 

"constant" dedication! 

This month I only have a quilt top.

My attention had been diverted to stitching hst's!

Sunflowers and Sunshine

38" x 38"

Yellow scraps and a pattern

designed by Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique

was fun to stitch 

during the last of the summer days.

You can get the free sunflower block

pattern here from Aurifil.

Yes, there were a few more

half square triangles to make,

but that yellow fabric 

was just so happy to play with. 

The four blocks went together quickly.

The striped border fabric had been used

in my daughter's first grade classroom 

as shelf drape.

Now it was happily being 

 used once again.

My fence line-up for this month had to be called

Sunflowers and Sunshine.

Here's a closer look at the middle quilt.

From where you're looking, it doesn't seem 

to fit the theme, but

 the border fabric was its ticket

to join in on the fence parade.

****

Also wanted to give you all an update on the free

"Oh, Say Can You Sew" mystery quilt

generously designed by Lisa Bongean.

The stack of 128 blocks

is ready and waiting 

for clue #6.

Until Next Time-

Kyle 

Please, No More Half Square Triangles!

Since the beginning of the month

I have done nothing but work

on the Oh, Say Can You Sew, 

mystery quilt along

from Lisa Bongean.

Holy Moley

HST's !!!

 
This months clue was to make 

1152 - 1 inch half square triangle (finished)

and sewing them into 128 

nine patch blocks

I've been working on them pretty much exclusively,

nonstop.

Thankfully, I had some Triangles on a Roll

and Thangles papers in the correct size.

I hadn't used either of these for a long time.

But having to:

 make so many,

make them scrappy and

make them accurately,

it was the best solution.

There seems to be so many steps.

Cutting fabrics,

pinning fabrics and paper,

sewing on the lines,

cutting apart

and finally tearing away all of the paper.

The good part is that each hst is the correct size.

No trimming after each one was pressed.

Time wise, it probably all comes out the same.

There were just so many to make!!!!

A quilt friend asked if I were going to cut off 

the dog ears on each piece.

"No, way!" I said.

But then....

Despite my hand cramping up,

I cut off each and every one.

This is as far as I have gotten.

I've sewn 3 blocks,

125 - 3" blocks to go.

I needed to see if they would all turn out right.

I think they're going to look good

with the wide variety of fabrics.

Of course, being a mystery...

I have no idea if they'll look good!

So, as I sit at my machine

feeding it 

these little individual triangular nibblets,

I was wondering how differently

each of us might approach a 

repetitive process like this.

Do you do each step to completion?

Or 

do you do small batches from start to finish?

As you can tell,

I push myself to finish each step,

even if it means sacrificing the

function of my hands.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

A little Trip North to Canada

Our bags were packed and

we were ready to go....

Where, you ask?

North of the border and

landing in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Calgary is a beautiful city where the 

skyscrapers reach for clear blue Western sky.

And the incredible Canadian Rocky Mountains 

leave the prairie behind and ascend to the clouds.

It's a destination that Running Man and I have 

always wanted to experience.

It's difficult to capture

 the beauty of the surrounding scenery.

It's everywhere.

Snow capped mountain peaks

(even in July)

Waterfalls 

Glaciers

Unbelievable blue water

Wildlife

Fabulous hotels

The Tauck tour we were on made 

our trip easy and fun with incredible views

around each curve.

Our official mountain holiday began at the Kananaska

Mountain Lodge and some Western hospitality.

From there we traveled to Lake Louise.

We watched the morning sunlight slowly

creep down the mountain and over the glacier

 at the Chateau Lake Louise.

Sunrise

Lake Moraine was unbelievable

 with its tropical blue-green glacial water.

This photo has not been enhanced!

From there we traveled north to Jasper

via the Icefields Parkway

How about getting up close and personal with the 

Athabasca Glacier.

It was freezing and very slippery. 

 I pretty much

stayed in one spot while Running Man kept on going.

The Jasper Park Lodge 

offered great hikes,

 wildlife and 

 deep valleys carved by those glaciers.

One more stop, Banff and the 

Historic Banff Springs Hotel

Complete with bagpipes.

We definitely needed more time

 to explore each location.

The weather was beautiful,

the food was delicious, and

the people warm and friendly.

Ready to pack your bags and go

for a visit?

If you do, you'll have an incredible holiday.

We did!

Until Next Time-

Kyle