December, What Happened to November? Dinky-Doo Quilt Shop "Not So Grand Opening."

We've had an incredible stretch of great weather the past few weeks and now have some snow on our local mountains.  Several of our local ski hills have opened for the season and more joining soon.

 The World's Tallest Tin Man looking dapper against the blue skies earlier this week.

 Today I went out to Pitt Meadows for Dinky-Doo Quilt Shop's "Not So Grand Opening!"  The space is huge and they are still working on filling it up.

 I stood in front of their double wide fabrics and took a picture across the space.  It's located in an industrial area near the Pitt Meadow's Airport.  They also have an online quilt shop click here to view.

 Looking to the left where Brandon was busy cutting fabrics.

 Their double wide and fireside backing fabrics I was standing in front of when I took the first two pictures.

 Their Dinky-Doo mascot busy sewing for Christmas.

 Some of their newly arrived fabrics and the Glide sewing thread wall at the back.

 Wall of Aurifil threads and some other goodies in the window.

 Their wall of Moda solid colours.

 More temptation with pre-cuts on top.

 Standing outside looking at some of the parking and fields beyond.  Some Canada Geese flew overhead just as I stepped out.

 Things I couldn't resist when I was checking out the shop.  Great sale and an additional 10% off your total purchase today and tomorrow!

 Looks like a change in the weather tonight.  We may get some freezing rain and or snow overnight.

 What happened to November?

 Some of the toadstools I saw in November.

 Love these rounded ones, they start out rounded and a bit yellow as they emerge from the ground and then the stems lengthen and the top flattens.

 Some of the colourful maples held on to the end of the month.

 Some of the gorgeous blue skies we had.

 Pretty red maple leaves.

 My friend was going to send this sewing basket to the thrift shop and she let me take it home!

 Love the inside smocked effect.

 Made in Czechoslovakia.

 It reminded me of my little hexagon sewing box. Similar woven design.

 Mine has green accents and no smocking inside.

 I'm guessing the original owners name.

 The two on top of each other.

 Mine inside the larger one.

 Gorgeous crescent moon and sunset.

 Sitting under the bare trees and looking up along the trunk and branches.

 I prepped about 80 or more leaves for my Grasshopper quilt and am sewing them on.

 A picture of all the different colours I chose.

 Prepping my first block of Sue Spargo's Fresh Cut.  My friend Uschi Grenier has kitted the fabrics with her hand dyed wools. She is still working on dying her wools and getting her website up. Click here for the link and sign up for her newsletter.

 I decided I wanted to change out the polka dot fabric for a smaller print. I'm working on some of the embellishing stitching.

 I've finished all the French Knots on this flower now.

 I couldn't resist Primitive Gatherings annual Thanksgiving Sale. I don't think I'll get this done for this year but I've traced all the templates. Now to prep the wool that came with the pattern.

 I couldn't resist this one either.  No kit just the pattern.

 This pattern spoke to me also, I don't think I'll add the borders but will decide once I get the blocks done.

 As always you get some free patterns along with a pin cushion kit when you buy during the sale.

Guess I better get stitching.

Staying Focused!

I'm happy to say that so far I'm on track with my goal of Stay Focused!  At the beginning of the month I cut out the fabrics for Block Three of Sunflower Gathering; along with the alternate block and started sewing the background for the wool applique.

  I'm waiting until I have a few more of the four patch colour combinations sewn before I start sewing the alternate blocks together so I have a good mix of different four patches to chose from.

Here is the wool block background.

Here are most of the wool pieces cut for sewing, the red will be 52 little flowerettes so I'm waiting until I'm ready to attach them before cutting out.  The larger green left over will become some of the stems for the Sunflowers.

 I prefer not to fuse my blocks but had decided to try it with this projects.  As it has been sitting for a couple of years it did not fuse well so I have decided to pin and then fuse after sewing.  I don't like how stiff the fusing makes the pieces and I also did the window technique so just the edges are fused and not the body of the piece.

 Yes those threads at the top and side are extending off the block as they will have the red flowerettes on the next blocks.

 I also prepped the freebie block.  The colours are truer in this first photo without the flash.

 Stitched down and French Knots around the centre.

 Here is block one, the leaves will extend to the next block.

 Here is block two it also will have some pink flowers and vine onto the adjacent blocks.

 I also prepped the fans and pinwheel block three for Mika.

 Here are the finished pinwheels which will be sewn into a row.

 And the fans will be trimmed down and sewn into another row.

 I started prepping the next Mika block which will be a 16" one and will prep the next Sunflower Gathering block today.  But I've decided to work on something else until February that is on my UFO list.  Will have to see what I chose, I'm not yet sure myself! \

 I took this picture on Wednesday with my iPad of the snow on the mountains and the Native Paddle wheeler that still goes up and down the river.  There is more ice floating down the river but things are expected to warm up by the weekend.

Are you Staying Focused?