A Stack O' Magazines (Weekend Reads)

So much talking, a lot of visiting, a whole bunch of driving, some attempts at surfing, campfires and sleeping bags, and a glorious stack of magazines.

I had grand plans for this stack. Some beach time, during naps in the car, quiet mornings in the woods. Beach time involved cheering on the girls at surf lessons and my own half-assed (or should I say double assed?) attempts while keeping the Garbage Truck from eating too much sand or discarded mussel shells. Naps in the car were great, but the roads in British Columbia are very, very windy and not conducive to reading. Quiet mornings in the woods? Nope, not at all when camping with 3 kids.

But I did get one afternoon by the fire on a lazy day and a straight stretch of a main highway in the day light.

Quilty - so many fun quilts in this issue. Lots of inspiration.
Cake &Whiskey - inspiring stuff for any of us working, running businesses, and living a life beyond school pick ups.
Uppercase - wildly rich in visuals and ideas.

Sometime next year I will read another magazine.

Friday Favourite: Le Tour

(image from The Guardian)

Confession: I still watch The Tour De France and I still love it.

Yes, I know about all the doping and the disgrace of many of the sports' stars. Yes, I know that nearly every rider plays that same game. But I can't help myself. I get sucked in by those helicopter images, the frenzy of the crowds on the mountain stages, the banter between Paul Sherwen and Phil Liggeett, Bobke, and sheer strain on the cyclists. Doping or not, those guys are still working their muscular butts off.

I can also remember what quilts I was working on every year during Le Tour. Which ones I basted while we watched, which ones were under debate as the mountain stages loomed. Talk about memory by association!


So, every year, come July, my Hubby and I settle in for 21 nights to watch Le Tour. It's usually hot out so we drink beer and chat throughout the 3 or so hours we watch. It is about the only TV we agree on. And in July we probably talk about life more than at any other point in the year, because we are sitting together. I love it all.

Pretty Distractions

Just. Couldn't. Resist.

I'm still hand stitching the binding on my king sized beast. It's been too hot to sit under a heavy quilt mot evenings, so the work is going slowly. That did not stop me from playing just a little bit. Some mindless play. All caught up in these ridiculously feminine fabrics and the feel of silk in my hands as I sew. Just random patchwork coming together now that I've finally finished cutting nearly 400 voile triangles.

In my defense, this isn't a new project. I had this one on my initial and updated WIP list. That means I'm making progress on something instead of starting something new.

I think there are samples from nearly every voile line that's come out in the past few years. I started collecting, just because. There is a bit of Anna Maria Horner, Denyse Schmidt, Tula Pink, Valorie Wells, Amy Butler, and Joel Dewberry in here. I do wish there were more geometrics among all the florals, but the texture of the fabric is so ridiculously feminine, so I understand why.

My poor husband. Why? Because this is another planned king sized quilt for our bed...

Just One Slab - Midpoint Collection Update

276!!


In just two weeks of email this is the stack of slabs you awesome folks have sent in. 276 slabs as of this morning, before this week's mail delivery starts.

It is impossible for me right now to email everyone to say your slab has arrived. I apologize for that, but  almost 100 envelopes have arrived. I take each parcel, open it with my girls, then fill out my big spreadsheet with names and addresses so proper a thank you can eventually be made.

I'm blown away by the generosity of many. 36 blocks made from hand dyed scraps!? So many simply gorgeous blocks made with love by all of you.

Considering that each quilt will be made with 20 or 25 blocks, we are well on our way to over a dozen quilts. And with more volunteers emerging here in Calgary to assemble and long arm the quilts I am thrilled to know so much love will be available come delivery time in September. And with the news that temporary housing for folks still displaced is delayed this makes the project even more important.

I should also acknowledge the quilt tops and finished quilts coming in. Last count had 6 complete quilts and over 30 quilt tops sent in to me for donation. Those have all been taken to the local shops coordinating the big effort.

Can't wait to see what arrives in the mail this week. My awesome mailman has taken to delivering our mail last on his route, so he can come in his car!

**** Please make sure you send me at email to get a mailing address.**** 

mamaark AT gmail DOT com 

I cannot respond to all comments here, especially if you are set to be a no-reply commenter.