Happy Canada Day!

Wishing a Happy 146th Birthday to my favourite Country, Canada!  

Hope everyone has a terrific day. 

Please Vote for Me

Edited at 9:00pm.  I apologize if anyone was confused about the link to the Quilting Gallery. Apparently it was not up and running until now.  Please try again if you have come back to my post. It works now.  You'll have to scroll down to the thumbnail photos.  But you can now see the quilts and you can vote on them.

When I realized the Quilting Gallery was showing paper pieced quilts this week, I decided to enter a little quilt I finished several years ago.  This is the first paper pieced quilt I have ever finished.

The quilts that are submitted to this weekly gallery are always amazing.  Go over there and just take a look around.  It is truly eye candy.  Of course you can vote for any of them that you like.  But I would really appreciate it if you vote for mine.  LOL  I have never done this before.


As for my Friday finish...  Well, there isn't one.  It was just too hot to sew this week.  And I had company for the first part of it.  Then there were the get togethers with friends.  Just too much to do in one week.  But I do have something to show you.  I joined Em's Scrap Happy Summer 2013.  I plan to finish a lot of UFOs this summer.  Here is the first one I am working on.  Only a couple of rows to go.

When my DD returns my cutting table, (she borrowed it for her party last night) I will sandwich it and quilt it and show it finished - as soon as I can.

Wildflower Wednesday

Very busy!  Tons of stuff going on around here.  We had visitors from Germany spend a few days with us.  Then yesterday I went out to Ajax Downs for lunch with a couple of friends from the last school I worked at.  It was nice to see them again.  We sat by a window and watched the horse races.  It was also my DH's birthday and the phone never stopped ringing with birthday well-wishers.  Today I have to make two batches of pizza dough in my bread maker for my DD.  She wants to serve pizza as an appetizer at her staff's year-end party tomorrow.  I am also trying to work on a few quilty things, but there just doesn't seem to be much time for that.  I joined Em's Scrap Happy Summer 2013.  As if I need an excuse to sew scraps together!  LOL

But on with the program...  Today's wildflower is the Canada Anemone.  This is fitting because next Monday is July 1st, also known as Canada Day in these parts.

The biological name for this plant is Anemone Canadensis.  It is in the Ranunculaceae, better known as the, buttercup family.  There is also a shorter version of this species called a Wood Anemone, but it is much smaller.  The Canada anemone bears pretty white flowers.  These are not true flowers because this plant lacks petals.  But it does have 5 white, petal-like sepals.  The leaves are whorled on the stem and are deeply cut and stalkless.  The flowers rise above the leaves to about 20 inches.

These plants spread by rhyzomes and seeds.  It is a native plant and was used by aboriginal people as an astringent, an eye wash and a cleanser for wounds and sores.  It blooms from May through July and is always a pretty sight in damp forests.

Now back to the tasks at hand.  The weather has been unsettled and unbearably hot and humid here the past few days.  Today the sun is shining brightly.  Hopefully the worst is over and things will cool down a bit and become more comfortable.

Monday - A Trip Through the Highland Creek Ravine

I know this is Monday and I should be showing you what I am going to work on this week, but I have nothing to show.  I plan to finish a few more things from the past couple of weeks.  It is hot and sticky in Toronto today.  The temperature will go up to 32C with the humidex at over 40C.  I plan to do some handwork because my sewing room will be too hot.

So for today I will take you on a scooter ride through our closest ravine.  I took this ride a few days ago in order to buy the last of my annuals at a local garden centre.

I started my journey along Lawrence Avenue.  There was not a lot of traffic, but you get the idea.  This is looking east.

I took a photo looking down into the ravine from the bridge.  It was a good thing I did because I did not get a shot of the hill going down into the ravine.  It is quite steep and it was all I could do to control my scooter.  This shot is facing north.  I went south in order to get to the garden centre.

The bridge has many huge concrete 'legs' to hold it up.  Graffiti artists just can't resist painting them.  This was the nicest, in my opinion.

The ravine is a wonderful place to ride through.  The path is paved and goes through the forest with the river in one side.  There are many bridges and views.  I love it!

These trees have fascinated me this spring.  They sport long, white clusters of flowers that resemble wisteria.  They even smell like wisteria.  I have no idea what they are.  They seem to have been planted where they are.  Does anyone have any ideas?

This is the path, coming up to a bridge.

The river meanders along.

This area has some high bluffs.  This is what makes this park area so pretty.

The path is surrounded by trees.  And wild flowers.  And all kinds of shelf fungus.  And even some animals.

This is a view of the Lawrence Avenue bridge, from below.  I was on my way back when I took this.

Then coming out of the ravine this is a photo of the bridge, looking west.

Hope you have enjoyed my little journey.  So much wild stuff, so close to home.  Living in Scarborough is often criticized and discouraged, but for me it is the best!

Finished on Friday

I got a couple more pillows done.  I have a few more to do.  Hopefully I will have them finished by next Thursday evening when my DD is having her staff over for a year-end get-together.  The cushions on her couch were looking very sad, so I decided to make some new ones for her.

Here is the back of the squares one.

I also finished a little table runner that I had started a couple of years ago.  It doesn't have much contrast, but I think it will look okay on her kitchen table.  (It's round)

I don't know if I will continue with these pillows next week.  But I will work on them until they are finished.

Wildflower Wednesday

My post is a little bit late today.  I had to recharge my camera's battery before I could download any pictures.

Today's wildflower is the Ox-eye Daisy.  This common wild daisy grows just about everywhere and I am sure you have all seen it before.   It is also known as a White Daisy or Field Daisy.  The flowers are borne at the top of long stems.  They have white rays with a yellow centre and a scent that is not liked by everyone.

The Ox-eye Daisy is in the aster family.  Its botanical name is Leucanthemum vulgare.  This plant is an alien and was introduced by pioneers.  It reproduces itself by seeds as well as through a vigorous rhizomatus system.  In some areas they have become an invasive species and are sometimes a nuisance to farmers.  Although they are a short-lived perennial, they are difficult to control with herbicides.  Cows don't like the taste of them and will shun pastures with daisies, giving the plants more opportunity to spread.

But I love these little flowers and can't wait for them to bloom.  I think I will go out again tomorrow and pick a small bunch to decorate my kitchen table.

Show it Monday, Make it and Finish it Friday

I have been busy.  Not much sewing has been done lately, but I plan to change that.  My garden is completely planted and now there is just some weeding to do each week.  In the meantime, I will continue to work on my Finish it Friday project from last week.  I have several more pillows to do and another project if I have time.  Yeah, like that's going to happen!

Here are some peonies from my garden.  We had a lot of rain the last few days, so I picked these before they could be destroyed.  Aren't they amazing?  My house smells wonderful!

Finish it Friday - Sort of....

Wow!  This was not an easy assignment.  I thought it would be a cinch, but NOT!  I did manage to finish one little pillow.  And another should be finished today.

I had thought to make a few more, but that did not happen.  I went over to Fabricland on Tuesday to buy some pillow form.  When I got to the cash, the woman asked me why I was buying them 'now'.  I said I needed them for a project I wanted to finish on Friday.  She asked if I could wait until Thursday  because they were going on sale - 50% off!  How could I turn that down?

So I waited until yesterday to buy the forms.  But it rained all morning and even though I went over to Fabricland on my scooter in the afternoon, I didn't get home until supper time.  So I was only able to finish one of the pillows.  It is 14 inches square, but I think it is kind of cute and I hope my DD does too.  I am making these for her.

The other pillows will hopefully be 'Finished Next Friday'.

Wildflower Wednesday

For the past few weeks I have noticed some beautiful plants growing along the highway and in waste areas.

I had always thought that they were a wild phlox, but after taking some photos and looking at the flowers more closely, I realize that these plants are called 'Dames Rocket'.  You see, Phlox flowers have five petals and Dames Rocket only has four.

They come in many colours, from white to pink to lavender and purple.  The interesting thing is that they are in the Mustard Family.  Seeds are produced in a similar manner as other mustard plants.  The botanical name for them is Hesperis Matronalis.  Hesperis means a tall herb with fragrant flowers. and Matronalis means belonging to a married woman.

Dames Rocket was brought to North America by early settlers from Europe.  In some areas it is considered an invasive species, only slightly less noxious than Garlic Mustard which I showed you a couple of weeks ago.    But I just love the looks of this plant in wild areas.  It blooms in spring when there is not much else in bloom.  It is colourful and smells terrific.  And it is thought to be useful in the treatment of some forms of cancer.  What more could you ask for?

Make it Monday - For Friday

I have decided to be a copycat.  Marilyn of Marilyn's Maze has been showing a photo of some fabric on Monday that she intends to make into something gorgeous by Friday.  I love her posts!  So I decided to do something like that, not every week, but just for a couple of weeks while I decide what I am going to finish.  I have so many projects on the go right now and our guild is having a quilt show next year, so I am sure that won't be difficult.

So this is how it works.  I show you some fabric that I intend to use.  Here is some, but I may add some more from my stash or take some away.  I haven't really decided yet.  Then on Friday I will show you my finished project.  So don't forget to come back then and see what I have made.

Wednesday Wildflower and Some Playing Around

I drove my scooter into the ravine yesterday and discovered this patch of Virginia Waterleaf plants.

This plant is native to a large area of eastern North America.  The flowers on these plants were white, but they can be light blue or light purple too.  The leaves develop white patches and look like water marks, hence the name of Waterleaf.  Its biological name is Hydrophyllum virginianum, which literally means waterleaf of Virginia.  The leaves are edible as a salad when young.  They become bitter with age.  The Native Peoples used the roots to make a tea to treat diarrhea and dysentery.  The leaves were chewed to heal mouth sores and cracked lips.

Now that I am finished the baby quilts that were on my list, I have had some time to 'make fabric', my favourite pastime.

I have no idea what I am going to do with these blocks - maybe make another bag or a scrappy quilt.  What do you think Mimi?

"I think you have too much time on your hands.  Meow!"

I wish I had more hours in the day.  Today I am planning to make a batch of strawberry-rhubarb jam, as well as buy a few more sunshine plants for several pots that have no plants in them yet.  I also have about a hundred new members' names to add to our guild's membership list.  Ah, the joys of being on the executive.  And of course there are the usual chores - the dishes and mess in the kitchen, laundry, watering of plants, both inside and out.  Jeez, I'm tired already.

Sew long for now.

Another Finish!

Yippeeee!  I finished another baby quilt.  Another 'just in time', for the week, the month and the baby shower that is being held on Sunday.

I used lots of scraps on this one, as well as a piece of colourful focus fabric featuring reptiles.

I found some bright, striped fabric in my stash and used it for the binding.  I am happy to get this one done.  Now it is time to work on some summer projects.

And this is the first poppy to bloom in my garden.  Love the colour of this one!

I am linking up with 'Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop' and Crazy Mom Quilts.

Have a great weekend! 

Wildflower Wednesday and Other Stuff

Today\s wildflower is Jack-in-the-Pulpit, also know as Arisaema triphyllum.  It is a woodland plant.  There are several species.  The kind I have in my garden are green, but they also come in brown striped and an almost dark burgundy.  There may be more.  This one was growing in the park near my house.

Last spring I found a bulb in the path around my raised flower beds.  I guess the squirrels had dug it up.  I had no idea what it was, but it looked sort of like a tulip bulb, so I stuck it into the ground beside some other tulips.  I was very surprised when it came up and turned out to be a Jack-in-the-Pulpit

And where last year there was one plant, this year there are five or six.  This plant is poisonous, although native peoples prepared and boiled the bulb and ate it as a vegetable, I would not recommend this.

I also worked on a Journal Quilt this week.  The president of our quilt guild gave us a challenge - to make a journal quilt.  On Monday evening we displayed them and they were judged by the guild's members.  I did not win anything, but I feel this journal quilt is very significant to me.  It is a photograph of prostate cancer cells.  I found it on the internet.  My husband was recently diagnosed with this cancer and I thought this would make a great journal of our 'going through treatment' time.  I printed the picture onto cotton fabric that had been ironed to a piece of freezer paper.  Then I free motion quilted it in tiny circles to indicate the individual cells.  And that is what I ended up calling it - just simply "Cells".   It measures 8 1/2 by 11 inches.

I have also been working on my hexie quilt too, but not too much.  I have another baby quilt to finish today and then I will concentrate more on the hexies.

We have had heavy rains here for the past day or so.  I heard that we got around 50ml in some areas of the city.  The Don Valley Parkway is closed right now due to flooding.  And we are expected to get more rain today.  Since it was so gloomy yesterday I started thinking about what I will work on when I go outside this summer.  I know my plants need the rain, but I want some nice summer weather soon.  So perhaps a crochet project would be good.  That at least won't blow around when I am working on it.  So I started making hexagons yesterday afternoon and joining them as I went along.  I have lots of left-over yarn so this will be good to keep me busy and get rid of some of my stash.

Pooh is Finished

I finished the 'Winnie the Pooh' baby quilt!  Just in time too.  The baby shower is tomorrow.

I did not have enough fabric for the back, so I pieced it.  The green fabric has little bees on it.  Thought that was fitting for Pooh's love of honey.  

Mimi did not jump onto the quilt when I put it on the floor to photograph it.  I wondered if she likes it.  But she assured me that it is fine.  She is just busy resting.  Got to get those 20 hours of nap time in, you know.  She just wants me to take the picture and get the heck outta there.

I am linking up with Can I Get a Whoop Whoop, as well as Crazy Mom Quilts.  

Have a fantastic weekend!

My Design Floor

It's been a crazy week.  On Monday we celebrated Victoria Day.  That's our official planting weekend.  We usually don't get any more frost after that, so I managed to get some tomato plants planted in my garden.  Can't wait for those delicious fresh, garden tomatoes this summer.

I have also been busy trying to finish the two baby quilts I'm working on.  Still some finishing touches to do before I can show them.

But I do have some interesting blocks on my design floor.  Over the years I have accumulated many orphan blocks.  I have seen a few quilts made up using blocks like these.  I want to put mine together and get them out of their bins and bags.  I think I will make this my summer project.  I have sewn a few together, but it will take a lot more thinking and planning before my orphans become a quilt.  Here are a few of the blocks I have.

 

EDIT  I left the blocks on the floor when I went to bed last night.  Big mistake!  Mini decided she didn't like my layout and arranged them for me.  So this what they look like this morning.

 

 

Wildflower Wednesday

Today's wild flower is the May Apple.  I have always loved this plant.  I first saw it in the woods near our house after we had immigrated to Canada, way back in 1957.

About ten years ago I found a May Apple plant in a garden centre and decided to buy it and try to grow it in my garden.  It did well and took over a large section of my garden.  When looking down on the plants only the leaves are visible.

The leaves are arranged in pairs.  A single white flower is produced on a short stem in between the leaves.  The flower is difficult to photograph because it points downward.  But it is a very pretty white flower that later becomes a green, round fruit.  This is where the plants gets its name.

The official name for these lovely spring wild flowers is Podophyllum peltatum.  It is in the Berberidaceae family in the order Ranunculales like the buttercups.  And the flower does, indeed, look very much like a buttercup.

All parts of May Apples are poisonous.  I have heard that the ripe fruits can be eaten, but only in small amounts.  Native peoples used parts of the plant as an emetic to induce vomiting and also to treat warts.

Happy Wednesday, everybody!

Wildflower Wednesday and Progress on my Hexagon Basket Quilt

Today\s wildflower is the Garlic Mustard plant, officially called Alloria Petiolata.  It's a pretty plant, but quite invasive in the garden.  It's in the mustard family - Brassicaceae.  But when it is crushed it smells like garlic, hence the genus of Alloria (Allum).  Actually I find it to be quite stinky, not like garlic at all.  It has white flowers on lovely green plants.  It is a biennial.  The first year it grows into a low, green plant.  Then it winters over and the following year it grows very tall and produces the white flowers.

I have the pioneers to thank for bringing this plant over when they came to Ontario.  It is now growing prolifically in my garden.  Last year I wanted to pull the little rosette plants out, but I couldn't reach them.  They seemed so small and insignificant, so I let them be.  But this year they have grown into a large clump of invasive greeness, that is stifling my Garden Plox at the back of my yard.

So yesterday I pulled a lot of them out.  They have long tap roots, like dandelions, but I have been assured that if I don't get the entire root out, they will not regrow.  These plants only propagate by seeds.  But a healthy plant can produce between 150 and 850 seeds. And the seeds can lie dormant for several years.  So if I don't pull them up, I will have a garden completely over run by these plants.  I have heard that they can be used in salads and the seeds can be used to season foods.  But I don't ever think I will add them to my cooking.

I am also working on my last corner of my hexagon basket quilt.  Only about a hundred or so hexies to go.

I am running a bit late today.  A massive thunder storm woke me this morning.  I was afraid the power would go out and my computer would be compromised, so I shut it down for a couple of hours.  The sun is shining now and I think it will be a beautiful day.  So that I can go out and pull out more weeds in my garden.