My idea of a perfect Thursday...

I'm afraid there's not too much sewing or knitting going on around here. The weather the past few days has just been way too nice to be inside. What did Kim and I do today? The same thing we've done on any given day where the weather is perfect since we were ten - we rode!

Kim and her horse Fiddle, me and my old boy Toy plus a pack of dogs went for a long hack through the Caledon Hills and along the abandoned railway tracks. The weather generously cooperated with bright sunshine and just enough breeze to keep the bugs at bay! Then we popped into the ring to show off a bit...

Back home again

Whew! I've just arrived home from the most wonderful, amazing, whirlwind road trip with my very best girlfriends, Kim and Maris. Kim was entered in an Eventing trial with her beautiful horse, Beau. Eventing is a horse competition which tests riders in three disciplines: cross country, dressage and stadium jumping and is a grueling mental and physical challenge for both horse and rider.

The three of us did a lot of talking (we solved all the problems in the world in two weeks), eating (we are most definitely not picky eaters...) and shopping. I'm exhausted - and broke!

Kim and Beau in the dressage test.

Maris and her horse Leatherhead enjoying the Kentucky bluegrass.

Because Kim's barn manager trailered the horses to Kentucky and back, we were able to stop and do some serious shopping on our way home, including one stop at an amazing quilt shop in Ohio where I managed to increase the size of my stash considerably. I'm not sure what all of this new fabric will be, but I feel like I have done my part in revitalizing the American economy!

Off the bolt (lots of Barbara Brackman's yummy Morris Workshop), fat quarters and a Moda fat quarter bundle in Terry Clothier Thompson's beee-utiful line "Louisa".

I didn't get as much knitting done as I had hoped - my Everest Veste is still only 20 rows past the ribbing :( - but when I got home I did manage to finish off the quilt top for my Farley Foundation charity quilt. I'm going to pin this today and start quilting.

I've always had a problem with laying my quilt sandwiches on the floor for basting, so a few months ago I purchased four 6' banquet tables that I use to baste. It's easier on my back and also prevents a certain naughty poodle from trodding on my quilts! This is a picture of Vivienne's quilt laid out - it only needed two tables. When I don't need them, the tables can be easily folded up and stored in the basement. Silly as it sounds, this was easily the smartest $300 I spent this year.

In a few days my friend Leo is bringing one of his Australian Shepherd puppies to stay with me for a while. Her name Levi and she's 11 weeks old. Unfortunately, due to illness her new family was not able to keep her, so she is coming to stay with me. I can hardly wait, but I'm sure I'll also be off-line for a few weeks, since I've been forewarned that she's very cute but also very busy!

What has the world come to?

I was cleaning up the rarely used guest room and Torin came in with the plan to divert my attention from housework by presenting the most coveted of poodle toys - a tennis ball. Despite his best efforts, the housework won. I'm sure he found it hard to comprehend that someone could resist the charms of a tennis ball. He finally retreated to the bed to contemplate. You can see the resignation in his face, can't you?

Wouldn't life be so much easier if our biggest disappointment in life was that someone wouldn't toss us a tennis ball?

"*#@*?!!&"

That which does not kill you...

Yes, I'm being a little overly dramatic. It is, after all, only knitting and sewing. But I just about killed myself trying to finish three projects before I left for my road trip with Maris and Kim.

Vivienne's Quilt is a project that was finished and waiting for a little batt and some quilting that had been hanging around since June. It was at the top of the critical list and I'm so happy this one is finished! It's mostly fabric from the rich Collections for a Cause - Heritage Edition, designed by Howard Marcus Dunn. In addition to being sumptious, a precentage of the proceeds from sales of these fabrics are donated to a variety of charities.

Next up was Danielle's Quilt. Although I only started this quilt a few weeks ago, I was in a hurry to finish it up because poor Danielle's birthday has come and gone. Bad Auntie, right? This is another Nine Patch but instead of channel quilting in the sashing, I did stippling which I thought was a little more playful. I'm going to make a doll sized quilt similar to this quilt since Danielle has many, many dolls.


This is my fourth shawl this year. I'm on a bit of a shawl bender. (Ya think?) This lovely pattern is Forest Canopy designed by Susan Pierce Lawrence and you can buy it here. I made a few small changes - the pattern recommends sport weight, but I used two skeins of Sundara Merino Fingering in colourway Words You Speak. I also did 10 more repeats for a finished size of 70" x 24" after blocking. This is a gift for my darling friend Janis.


These are a few blocks for my Doggie Quilt that I managed to zip off just before leaving. Aren't they so cute? This quilt will be donated for a fundraising Silent Auction my veterinarian hosts each year to raise money for the Farley Foundation which is a registered charity that helps the elderly and the disabled to pay for neccessary veterinary care for their pets.


I think it's not a bad thing that I'm going to be away from my sewing machine for a few weeks. I've finished four lap quilts this year and I just...can't...stop. Help.

Wonderful Week

Oh what a wonderful week we had! Isn't it great when a vacation is so great you wish it could go on and on? Lots of visits and visiting with friends and neighbours and equal parts quiet time for reading, knitting and sewing. I couldn't have imagined a better week.

Here's a funny story. My boyfriend was out fishing with some buddies last week when his brother, Scot, suddenly said "Hey! It's my anniversary today! I bet Colleen thinks I've forgotten. Why don't we go into town and buy a cake to surprise her?" So the boys packed up their fishing gear and pointed the boat towards the nearest town. Along the way the plan grew bigger - flowers, steak for the barbecue, hats, horns, gifts and a paper banner. The four men ran around Port Carling gathering up all of the party fixins like drunken frosh on a scavenger hunt.

On the way back, friends and neighbours were summoned to join the party. We all quietly arrived at dockside, set up the gifts and the cake, donned paper hats and horns, and draped the boathouse with streamers and the anniversary banner. Then Scot hollered up to the cottage for Colleen and her sister, Denise. Down came the two ladies, and we all yelled "Happy Anniversary!!" to a truly bewildered Colleen, who turned to Scot and said "Honey, it's not our anniversary, it's your anniversary with your first wife."

Sewing and knitting has been a great way to entertain myself while my ankle got better. Although I've decided not to gift this string quilt - in Lila Tueller's brilliant Soiree - to Danielle, I did find the time to sew all of the blocks together. This is really smiley fabric. All those smiles in one fat quarter bundle!


Just before I left the city, I gathered up all the bright fabric I had in my stash and took it with me for my week at the cottage. When I got home last night I threw the classic nine patch blocks I made last week up on the design wall and this will be the quilt top for Danielle. I played around with some different ideas, but kept coming back to this classic pattern. More smiley fabric!


And finally, thanks to everyone for all the cards, phone calls and emails with Birthday Wishes last week! I'm just getting caught up on my emails after a week away, but it's like I am celebrating my birthday all over again! An especially big thanks to my canine friends, Henry and Ollie - I don't know how you guys manage to get the stamp on the envelope every year, but leave it to Labs to figure it out. You guys are so darn clever!