As The World Turns...

Seems the world just keeps spinning outside my little box! I have been so busy the past few weeks, I don't know which end is up! The BnB has been fully booked, so amidst designing quilts and giving clues on MQA, I have been flat out with sheets, towels, and toilet cleaning! I am excited, however, that we have decided to take a bit of a break. We have our current guests and one more lot and we will be finished for a wee while.

I am so looking forward to the retreat next week! I have some fun things planned. Everyone starts arriving in THREE days!!!!!!!! I made little gifts for each quilter and we have a full on itinerary of fun and relaxing things to do. This is the first of many. Now that the BnB is taking a break, I can schedule more retreats throughout the year! YAY!

The lightening strike that took out our internet, HRV system, and garage door opener finally is behind us. We finally got the garage door replaced. The company that replaced it has been so busy, seems the lightening took out several in the city!

I am also excited to introduce the mystery for our 2,000 celebration quilt. It is so gorgeous. I need to sandwich it so I can finish it up and get it on my bed! It is like nothing we have done before, so I am super curious to know if everyone will love it as much as I do. CAN'T WAIT!!

I also have another design in the sewing stage and yet another on the drawing board. I added a pieced border to the one on the drawing board. I love it! I am having way too much fun! Can't wait to share! These are my choices for the newest one that I am sewing. The one on the drawing board...I haven't gone "shopping" for yet!

I need to get busy recording tutorials as well. I have a few to catch up on and a few more to write and get to video! WOW! I love my "job"!

I am going to get busy sewing now. I think I have earned some "Me" time. Been busy writing instructions for two days, my poor machines are lonely! AND, I want to design a new teddy bear, I have had a thought in my head I need to get to paper! WAY TOO MUCH FUN!

Have an amazing day!

Deb

 

Lightening Strikes

Let's just say it has been a very long week.  Eight days ago, we had the hugest thunder and lightening storm I can remember. The lightening was too close for comfort and we lost our internet, garage door opener, and our HRV system (the system that circulates air through our house to keep it dry). The internet has finally been fixed (TODAY) and the other two are still with the insurance company to get sorted.

 

While I was away from the wifi and not able to post anything, I made piles of blocks for our row by row (or sampler) project. I also finished our celebration quilt (for reaching 2,000 members), we are now at 2,700+. I will release this quilt when we hit 3,000. I love it. It is like nothing we have done before and I can't wait to get it quilted and on my bed.

I am excited about the next couple weeks. I am working hard to finish up all the details for the Mystery Quilt Retreat 2019. I'll be sewing, writing, and getting ready for those who are able to come. I CANNOT WAIT!!! (But I still have quite a bit to finish and have heaps of BnB guests between now and then, booked solid for the next three weeks. Oh well, keeps life interesting!

Well, back to it... the washing machine just beeped and the sewing machine is getting lonely! I also have another quilt on the cutting table for you.........

Happy Stitching!

Debi

Reveal and BIG BooBoo

I knew I would have to write a memory of a mistake sooner or later! Well, in the scheme of things, I guess it could have been way worse, but this one was totally my fault. I knew that somewhere along the way I would get my lights and darks mixed up. We are making a two colour quilt, so we can't just "make it work" by adding another colour or something. BUT, I am absolutely loving what our amazing quilters are doing with MY mistake. I am also humbled by the response I have received from the post of my mistake. I love that most just see it as a challenge to come up with a creative way to show their talent. Others are making more of the colour I mixed up on and using the leftovers of the opposite colour to add a creative flair to the back. 

I just love our group and their encouragement! Snowflake Splendour is now a "finished" flimsy to get quilted. All in all, a very good experience for me. Also a good experience for our quilters as they get to use their own creative flair to put a masterpiece together. Thanks to all of you for your gracious response to my GINORMOUS BOO BOO! You rock!

Happy Stitching!

Debi

Never a Dull Moment!

As I sit here are write directions, post clues, and watch the quilters sew, I just love the feeling of "WOW", they are so amazing. This week we are starting the Christmas Hope Table Topper/Tree Skirt/Table Runner. I designed one pattern to be adapted three ways. I can't wait to see what our quilters come up with. This is SO MUCH FUN!

 

 I decided after writing clues for Heart2Heart and the Christmas project to have a wee chocolate boost! Nothing like a couple caramel chocolate biscuits and a cuppa caramel latte to keep those creative juices flowing!! I love the time I spend at my computer to design and write, but I also love the time I get to spend sewing as well. 

I've also finished the design for the celebration quilt to honour having 2,000 members in our group. I can't wait to dig in and start cutting and sewing on that one! I love the design and it's like nothing we have done before! I just need to finish sewing on the retreat quilt (Pass the Parcel) for the Mystery Quilt Retreat in January, 2019.

The retreat if full and I have to close off the registration. I am so excited that we filled up on our first ever retreat. If you wanted to come but couldn't make it or ran out of time, just let me know and I will pencil you in for the January, 2020 retreat! I am so excited for this retreat! So many fun things to do.....

The kittens are four weeks and two days old. Who knew it could be so much fun to be a kitty nana!! We are trying to introduce kitten food to them, but they don't seem to be interested in meat, their mama must have some full cream milk that they love! Just two more weeks and the wee babes will be going to their forever homes. I will miss the sweet little darlings and will require visitation rights!! 

Thanks, wonderful quilters for making my life fun and interesting. I love you all and this community we have built. Keep those happy memories coming and those quilts rolling on!

Happy stitching!!

Debi

My New Adventures!

I have started a Facebook group called Mystery Quilts Anonymous for those quilters out there that can't get enough quilting done in a day, week, or year! These quilters have joined for the fun of a mystery and the comradery of a group. I design a quilt and then separate the instructions into four to six "clues" for the quilters to follow. At the end of the clues, they have a finished quilt top and had fun along the way.

A bit of history..

I started the group as a "page" thinking others could post to the page and we could just be a community of like minded people with a quilting love. As it turns out, no one but the admin could post, nothing else would show up! SO, on 4 July, 2018 I created the "group" Mystery Quilts Anonymous because I am a quiltaholic and am addicted to quilting. I love everything creative with a passion for quilts and teddy bears. I love to learn new things and share my loves with others. 

Who we are...

We are a group of quilters (men and women alike) who just love to piece and create lovely quilts for family, friends, and charities. We have grown into a beast of a group (at least for little me!!) that just loves sewing and creating together. One of our group posted this pic and said it reminded her of me with all our group following each clue with excitement!! Just love it! :-)

Who am I...

I am loving the new "adventure" and almost 2,100 quilters on this journey with me. I never dreamed this would be possible and I am humbled by the amount of quilters who love my designs and are following along with us. I already have a retreat planned here at our lovely home and another on the books in Canada and a couple more in the works in the USA. I love this! I am just a nana who loves quilting, my family, and fur babies (and of course, my teddy bears)!!

Well, that's me for today. I am going to journal this journey of ours and can't wait to watch everything unfold and be sewn together. Can't wait for the first retreat in January, 2019...

Happy sewing everyone!

Debi

Home Alone!

Seems I don't have a lot of time to write on the blog, I must start getting better about it!!! This week I am home without the love of my life. He is away in Australia at a boot camp for preacher-juniors. He is the keynote speaker in their camp "A Vision to Serve". He will be home at the end of the week. I know the LORD is blessing him as he is over there. I also know I am being prayed for...usually when he is away from home I am very anxious and stressed. I have been very "chill" and relaxed. I have a couple of girlfriends staying the week with me and we are just having fun hanging out and getting things done for church and ourselves.

I currently have the first ever mystery on The Quilting Company's website. I am honored to be working with them. It has been fun working through all the kinks and get it finally going! We will be putting out the first cutting and sewing clue this Friday! Too much fun for this girl! I've called this on "Stellar Elegance", it is beautiful! The next one, which I am currently working on, is "unique" according to my sweetheart! 

I have been working on another quilt. I am loving what I do. I love the time in my sewing room each day and then the quiet time in the evenings when I can pick up a teddy bear  and hand stitch for a while. I am truly thankful that after the MAJOR flood last weekend that I can sew again. My generator got waterlogged, we worked for three days before it finally started again. BUT, now I use an inverter and a car battery!!!!!

I am also working on two little bears at one time. I love these little guys! They are so so so so cute! One is Jeremiah in miniature, the other one is purple and I am loving it! Guess it is time for me to get back to cutting and preparing these units to sew. Can't wait to hear from you and know what you are working on.

Enjoy your day,

Debi

 

 

Exciting Times

As with most trials (my mini stroke three weeks ago amongst other things), God always seems to bless beyond measure. This week we are at youth camp with our 13-20 year olds. We have a good group of kids this year and God has a free hand to move in their moldable hearts. We are excited to watch Him work in their lives. Praying for His blessings this week!

I have had a migraine for three weeks (since the TIA) and was really not able to get any relief. I finally asked a doctor in our church (don't like to ask professional questions in a "friend" setting, but I was desperate) what I should do. He wrote a script for a migraine medicine that I have found to work amazingly well. God knew just what I needed. One of his nurses, that is also a good friend, told me to drink more tea (oh bother!!) for the caffeine as that will help as well. So between the two, I have only had a minor headache for two days, no more migraine, prayerfully. Thank you so much to all those who have prayed us through this trial. God is working in our lives and hearts and we are thankful. Our church has been such a blessing to us and I am thankful God has us planted here with this amazing group of people.

The Quilting Company is putting the finishing touches on the mystery quilt and I should have a proof within the next day or two. Looks like we could start by the end of this week or next week!! So excited to get going! Tiffany has been amazing to work with, communication has been easy and accommodating. Looking forward to many more in the future!

Gotta scoot, time for chapel and to minister to these young people.

Praying for His blessings,

Debi