Sophie's owl pillowcase

I used the "Pretty Quick Pillowcase Tutorial" by Ashley at Film in the Fridge to make my first ever pillowcase. Sophie loves it and has so much fun picking out her favourite owls! I`m now hooked on pillowcases and am in the middle of making a lemon yellow and aqua pair for Janet.



This was my first time using French seams, so I just had to share how beautiful they are. Encasing the raw edges truly creates a professional looking seam!

I bought the fabric from a Canadian online shop called Pink Panda Fabrics where shipping in Canada is always free! Cheryl, who runs Pink Panda Fabrics, kindly featured my pillowcase on her blog.

The Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild

The first Modern Quilt Guild started in LA in October, 2009. In the past several months, new guilds have been popping up all over the United States and there are now international guilds in Melbourne and Toronto. Modern Quilt Guilds are a place for non-traditional quilters to share their fresh, modern quilts.

I watched all these developments with interest and was encouraged to set up a Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild. I created a ning group on Thursday and by Monday (just four short days later!) we have thirteen members!

With the Olympics coming soon, I think we'll wait to have our first meeting until the spring to avoid the pandemonium. It will be so exciting to meet other local modern quilters and see what kind of quilts they're making!


Image via Spool of Thread's blog

One more development that's super exciting for me is the fact that there will be a modern fabric store and sewing lounge opening in Vancouver very soon! It's called Spool of Thread Sewing Lounge and it sounds like heaven. You'll be able to buy lovely fabrics, take sewing classes, and rent a sewing machine by the hour (this is my chance to try a serger!). I just can't wait for the grand opening!

Vancouver in January

We are just over two weeks away from hosting the Winter Olympics here in Vancouver. Today, I thought I'd take a few photos around my neighbourhood to show just how ready we are for the Spring Olympics. All of the above photos were taken by me on January 27th, 2010. Gotta love our temperate climate!

36. Try 10 new vegetarian dinner recipes.

Today, Dean and I made a Vegetable Biryani from my new "Sundays at Moosewood" cookbook. It was delicious! Saffron rice, oodles of veggies ranging from cauliflower to chickpeas to sweet potatoes, topped with toasted cashews and plain yogurt. It was the first time we had tried this recipe, so it took us 90 minutes to prepare this dish, but I'm optimistic that we can cut that time down the next time we make it.

Thanks to Mom & Dad for giving me the cookbook for Christmas, I look forward to the next recipe we try!

94. Donate to MSF/ Doctors Without Borders

I had been meaning to donate to Doctors Without Borders ever since Sophie and I toured their Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City. I believe that they do good work and they're already on the ground helping the people of Haiti. Their news updates page gives up to date info on the conditions they are facing in Haiti.

I called their busy donor relations line today and made a donation towards the earthquake relief effort. I was happy to know that my donation will be matched by CIDA (and so will yours if you donate before February 12, 2010.

I also just found out that Bamboletta Dolls is running a raffle to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders. They're raffling off two dolls plus assorted doll clothes and I just got myself a $10 ticket. They're already past the $4,500 mark!

Holiday Traditions Exchange

This year, I participated in the Holiday Traditions Exchange organized by the creative and inspiring blogger Meg McElwee at Sew Liberated. In this exchange, you are matched with someone from around the world (most participants are in the US) and you are asked to send them:
1.) One handmade holiday decoration.
2.) Your family's favorite holiday recipe.
3.) A “Tradition” Tutorial. This is a description of one of your family’s special holiday traditions.

I know that my parcel has been received, so I can share what I sent to my partner (who, ironically, lives not too far away in Washington State!).


2 DVDs of Christmas Cartoon Classics, a Christmas Pop Mix CD, a copy of "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, a fair trade chocolate bar, a sparkly Christmas necklace, and a recipe for Butterscotch Squares, plus:


The recipe for Aunt Lizzie's Peppermint Squares


Complete with diagram!


A pear ornament made using Retromama's pattern


A felt ornament with one of my first attempts at embroidery. Pattern from Fantastic Toys.

It was so much fun to reflect on my favourite holiday traditions while creating this package. Now I can't wait to see what arrives in the mail for me!

My cycling roots

Thanks to my dad for scanning this awesome photo of Mom taking me for a ride on Quadra Island. I'd guess it's circa 1979. Good times.