Gifts for My Family

A few months before our trip to Scotland and England, I decided to make several Quilty gifts for my family member that we would be visiting on our trip.  This Christmas star table topper was given to my cousin and his wife.  I used a Jaybird quilts pattern to make it. 

The backing is Christmas fabric I had in my stash. 

I made 6 wide open zippered pouches for various cousins as well. All of the fabrics were in my stash---obviously, I have too much fabric...

Canada themed pillowcases were given to my uncle and some other cousins. I bought these fabrics especially for these gifts.

I'm told that these went onto the pillows right away when they got home!

My cousin, Alison, loves to drink tea so her pillowcase was made with teacup fabric which I found in my stash.

I also brought along 5 lap/baby quilts as gifts...The first one was for my aunt who loves the colour purple.  

My step grandmother was given the scrappy trips lap quilt that I made earlier this year, just for her. It reminded me of her pretty garden.

My cousin and her husband were the recipients of my batik triangle quilt.

There were also two baby quilts--one for a recently born baby boy and one for a baby which will be arriving early in the new year.

You may wonder how I fit all these gifts into the suitcase...

We purchased vacuum bags and put all the quilts and pillow cases and zipper bags inside.  Once we sucked the air out with the vacuum cleaner, the bags were much smaller and fit quite nicely inside the suitcase.  We just had to watch the weight of the suitcases for the plane, but that worked out fine.

When we were in Inverness, we went out for supper and then decided on ice cream for dessert.  We looked on the internet for an ice cream shop within walking distance and found this one a few blocks away...  You will never guess what was next door!

A quilt shop with lovely quilts in the window.

I hoped that they would have some of this Scottish themed fabric in stock for me to buy!

The shop was closed but plans were quickly made to visit the shop when it opened in the morning. Across the road, we saw this shop...

Laskey's book shop is a famous used book store which is in an old church.  My husband loves to read so he headed here while I went to the quilt store.

The sun had just set as we headed back to our bed and breakfast inn.

There may have been some stash enhancement at the quilt store....

I met a Scottish Quilter!

On my recent trip to Scotland, I met a fellow quilter in Kemnay, a small town near Aberdeen. "D" is a neighbour of my cousin and her spouse. When they found out I was an avid quilter, they checked to see if "D" was home. I was warmly welcomed into her home to talk to her and see her quilts, her sewing room and her stash! "D" buys fabric at a little quilt store in Old Meldrum and my cousin and her spouse even took me took me there. I bought a few fat quarters at the shop. It was much smaller than the quilt stores in Canada but had as much fabric as some of the stores here!

This quilt was a birthday gift from a friend who lives in Canada and includes pictures of "D" and the things and people she loves. It hangs on the wall of her dining room. That is a bead fringe at the bottom. The label was lovely as well and had the following poem on it:

Through these Cathedral Windowsare some scenes that will unfold.A life so full of flowers
from a garden edged with gold.This fabric holds a tapestryof memories old and new
and though there are so many more,
I've opened up a few.

What a beautiful gift! "D" has been to Canada to visit her friend and they have even been to Peducah! I am so jealous!


This castle wall hanging had 3D dragons in the corners and lots of shiny gold stitching.



"D" does beautiful applique! She is currently working on this flower quilt top. Most of the quilts that "D" makes are gifts for her family and friends. She is also working on a quilt for her grandson who is a sports fan.


This is "D's" Underground Railroad Quilt which is on her bed. I have a friend who has made two of these, one full size and one miniature!

It was interesting and inspiring to meet "D" and see her quilts. I am in the midst of making her a fabric postcard and will be mailing it soon.

I am still not doing much sewing. The mulch "mountain" in our driveway is slowly getting smaller. My husband mulches the gardens while I move plants, weed, and thin out the perennials. Soon, we will be done. I will try to get my vegie garden planted this weekend and THEN I will have some time for sewing...

Back in Canada!

I was on vacation for the last two weeks in England and Scotland with my father, my husband and my daughter. The Icelandic volcano ash cloud just about kept us from getting home, but our plane few around the danger zone and got us home safe and sound. Tired too, I might add. My body is still on UK time but I am adjusting!
I have lots to share so check back over the next week or two for more details about our trip. The table runners/toppers I made 3 weeks ago were gifts for family members that we saw when we were away--my aunt, my step grandmother, my cousins and my mother's cousin. Everyone liked their quilty gifts and I was happy about that!While in Glasgow, Scotland this past Saturday for a shopping trip, we came across a clothing store on Buchanan Street that looked like it used to be a garment manufacturer. The entire store was lined with old sewing machines and all of the fixtures were made from old machines used in old factories. I went in the store but could not take any pictures from inside. Here are a few pictures I took from outside:
I like this picture of my family's reflection in the window of the store.There were quite a few buskers of various types on this street which was busy with shoppers of all ages.

The man on the steps in the brown jacket was singing opera to a very appreciative audience!
This man was a human statue--he stood so still, I would not be surprised if one of the downtown pigeons used him as a perch!
There were several bagpipers, some in kilts and some not...Also, drummers, Native American musicians, and jugglers. We even did some shopping!