A run for the border!

Last weekend Big G had a hockey tournament in Fargo, ND.  So, we packed up the van and headed south of the 49th parallel to have some fun.  Now, Fargo is not known to be a metropolis or anything, but it is a pleasant little town, very friendly to its neighbors from the North, and they have Target.....life is good.

Another bonus of a drive to the USA?  There is a little border town called Pembina, which basically consists of a gas station, duty free booze store, cafe, and a handful of parcel depots where Canadians like me can have a variety of items shipped and stored, for a small fee, until we can pick them up and cart them back north with us.  Considering the crazy increases in postal costs recently, it just makes sense to take advantage of the cheaper, and often free, shipping opportunities within the US!

Oh, and I really took advantage!  Thanks in large part to a bunch of post-Christmas sales (including $3.50 yards over here, still some there!), I ended up with several boxes of fabric, and don't forget some yarn! The question isn't "what did I buy?" but more like "what DIDN'T I buy??"

So many pretty things......stacks taller than your average schnauzer, in fact !  Does that mean I have a problem??

retreat prep :)

On a very happy note, I will soon be escaping for a weekend for my FIRST EVER quilting retreat!  And I am going big...flying out to Vancouver to hook up with my fabulous and talented friends Krista of Poppyprint and Felicity of Felicity Quilts to spend 3 blissful days holed up in a lodge on a lake in the mountains, eating food I don't have to cook and sewing 24/7 if I darn well feel like it.  That ought to satisfy the sewing itch a bit!  And apparently there is even a fireplace where I can curl up and do some knitting.  I may just miss my flight home.... ;)

I have an absolutely ridiculous and unrealistic list of projects that I have packed and am planning to complete.  I have been spending much of the last week or so pre-cutting fabrics so that I can just get down to business!  I did a "test" make of one of the projects I will be working on, and it is pretty darn cute:

And this sweet little purse opens up to this:

This is from the Storybrook Lane pattern booklet and panel by Ever Kelly (bought here).  It also comes with a bunch of cute finger puppets of stuffed dolls that can be used to play in the house.  I had so much fun making this and picking the coordinating fabrics to go with the panel pieces. I love the library book prints from Victoria and Albert with this! I plan to produce 7 more of these puppies sweat-shop style on the weekend for basically all the little girls on my Christmas list.  That along with 4 quilt tops.  And don't forget the 3 knitting projects.  Hmmm.....can you tell I have a bit of pent up crafty energy?  Wish me luck!

Beginnings, middles and endings

Beginning a new quilt....using the Linky Love pattern by traceyjay.

In the middle of some adventurous quilting.

Finished a project with this lovely Malabrigo yarn, but it's a gift for someone special who often tunes in here, so you'll have to wait for the full reveal!

Speaking of beginnings, looks like we are beginning a new season today. Not ready for that white stuff.

Seriously. We were doing this just 4 days ago.

Mother Nature sure has her mood swings!