Shop Hop table runner

In May, we loaded up a van and headed for a Quilt shop hop in the Kitchener/Stratford area.  We had a great time chatting along the way, going out for lunch and collecting our little packets of fabric pieces for a table runner.  At the last shop, we received the finishing pieces and the pattern.  
Alice and I decided to get together right away to put the table runner together so it wouldn't end up in the UFO pile.  I actually got it done that week, but forgot to blog about it. 

We received a 10" square of the small floral or the purple foral at each shop

The solid green and the purple stripe was given at the last shop along with the pattern

A close up of the quilting

The finished table runner has already been used quite often

 Thanks to Creative Sisters in Kitchener, Heart 'n Home Creations, New Hamburg, The Quilt Place in Shakespeare and Ye Olde Fabric Shoppe in Stratford for the fun day.  And, we ended up taking home a lot more than just the pieces for the table runners :-).

More Pillows for Holland.....

Before going to Holland, I also made three Selvage Star Pillows for my two cousins and for one of my husband's cousins.  We stayed at each of these homes for part of our trip to Holland.  While I was at it, I also sorted out all my selvages by colours.  That really helped to make these pillows.  This is one of the patterns from Cut Loose Press. 

Here is the process of some of the selvage sorting :-)

I had three of these baskets...once you start stirring them they fluff up big time!

Grey pillow went to Jake's cousin, Martijn and Wilma

This one went to my cousin Corine and Bert

This one went to my other cousin Liane and Henk

Interestingly, everyone in Holland has these cute little chairs and each pillow fit perfectly with their decor and into their chairs!

Elephant baby quilt and pillows

We went to Holland for three weeks for vacation this year.  We had a great time exploring the countryside, enjoying the delicious Dutch food, riding their wonderful bikes and checking out the beautiful Churches and buildings in their historic towns.  We stayed with relatives and a friend, so before we left, I stitched up some gifts to take along for our hosts.  (Click on the photo to enlarge it for a better view.)

Baby quilt for my cousin's son's baby.  Jesley visited us in Canada 15 years ago so I thought Jumbo would be an appropriate gift for them :-)

A friend suggested quilting straight lines to make the elephant's skin look wrinkly

It was fun practicing free motion quilting on this quilt

The back featuring all kinds of Canadian animals

Close up of the animals

 Here are a couple of photos of the baby in Holland who received this quilt :-).
 

Baby Evie sitting on my lap, my cousin Liane to the right, her husband Henk beside Jake.  Baby's father Jesley on right with his sister Chantal behind him and baby's Mom, Mariska on the far left.  So fun visiting them in Jesley and Mariska's home in Holland!

Jake and I with baby Evie

We stayed with a friend of mine the first week we were in Holland.  She has four granddaughters so I made these four pillow covers for them.  Checked out the IKEA site in Holland for sizes for the pillow inserts and made them to fit.  Bought the pillow inserts in Holland so I didn't have all that bulk in the suitcase...worked great!  The elephant patterns are from Sew Fresh and the Fox is Elizabeth Hartman's pattern.  I used the Canadian Stonehenge line of fabrics.