Having Fun!

It's been rainy and on the cold side for the past several days, perfect weather to stay inside by the fire to design, stitch and sew.  We've even had a light dusting of wet snow, but thankfully it didn't last too long.

Yesterday afternoon a group of gals gathered together at A Needle Pulling Thread, the new quilt shop that recently opened in Digby, Nova Scotia, about twelve miles from where we live, for our first weekly "sew-in".

Soon after arriving and settling ourselves in, we enjoyed some of Darlene's freshly baked maple syrup muffins.  It wasn't long before we all got busy and settled down to work.  

Lots of laughs, stories, tips and techniques were shared throughout the day. 

Two of our blogging friends...Lesley and Colleen... were missing and we hope that one day they'll be able to join us.  Unfortunately the miles separate us but maybe one day, huh gals?

I worked on my December First Friday Freebie which I managed to finish last night after I got home.

Now I can devote my complete time and attention to focus on a new quilt that I just finished designing only two days ago.  I'm really excited about this one and I'm hoping that you're going to like it too!  Like most of my other designs it will include patchwork, embroidery and a tiny bit of optional wool applique.  

The fat quarter bundle of Nature's Basket by Blackbird Designs for Moda that I was waiting for arrived yesterday, just in time for me to start on my newest project.

Don't you just love the colors?

They are going to work so well in the new design, together with some of the other fabrics that I've purchased recently.  

And you thought that I was buying fabric just for the sake of buying fabric...right?  See, you were wrong...although I must admit that some of them were purchased just because I like them.  *wink*  

Because I work mostly with the same palette when I quilt as I did during my career as an artist, virtually all of the fabrics that I have accumulated over the past couple of years will all work well together in some future project(s) that is/are just waiting to be born!

I've been meaning to show you the little wool pincushion that I stitched as a sample for one of the workshops that Darlene will be offering in the near future.  Because she was so busy trying to get things ready for the grand opening of her shop, I offered to make the class sample for her.  It's a Primitive Gatherings design by Lisa Bongean that I found fun, relaxing and easy to make.

My favorite place to sit and stitch is in our large farmhouse-style, country kitchen.  The stove is right behind the chair where I sit and when the fire is lit, you can be sure to find Frankie and Ollie stretched out on the little mat directly in front of it. 

Life is good!

Happy stitching!