Bridal Shower

So here's the bride to be - my niece.
First bridal shower I've attended in many many years (decades ?) Glad the mater and I made the effort as my sister (mother of the bride) is in Portugal on holiday so we represented "the family". The ladies on the right are 2 of her 3 bridesmaids. I can safely inform you that showers haven't changed much over the years - still the same food, games and gifts, yeah! And, for those still interested in my wedding quilt saga .... here it is with borders on. Currently it is sandwiched and 1/2 basted. I expect to be hand quilting it tonight as I watch Downton Abbey
TTFN

Angry Quilter!

Let me begin by setting the scene - Although I work at a University, and am a University graduate, and at one time had a student loan (lonnnnnng ago fully paid back), I am not now a university student, I am not now indebted to the Canadian government for ANYTHING. Also, I have registered, several times, with the National DO NOT CALL LIST, and really really hate all telemarketing calls - who doesn't?
Ok, so for some mysterious reason my peace in February has been shattered by almost daily phone calls. It's a robocall - a machine placing the call for FSCN (? - least that's what I heard) and they claim to be a government agency. They are calling for someone named Andrea Brendan (sp?). Their message is that Andrea must call them back @ 877-221-2285 reference # 11046880.

I AM NOT ANDREA, I DO NOT KNOW ANDREA.

In fact, my investigations online reveal this number is a Canada Student Loans collection agency, possibly identified as NORDON Collection Inc., 325 Milner Ave Suite 1100 Scarborough On. Apparently, like most collection agencies, they are realllly nasty and never give up!At first these "people" called during the day and left messages on my machine. Not a big problem, I come home and erase the useless message. Now they are calling at 6 pm every other night. So, to all my friends and family - don't call me @ 6pm as I am not answering the phone!!

To NORDON Collection Agency Inc. I AM NOT ANDREA! I DO NOT KNOW ANDREA !I HAVE NO CONTACT WITH ANDREA! I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANDREA'S DEBT!

STOP CALLING ME!
I am registering a complaint with
the Ontario Ombudsman.

Re-Usable Grocery bag tut!

So, here's a pic of this month's fabric postcards. It's the last I have of this cute Valentine fabric, so next year I shall have to get more creative. I must admit to totally enjoying my guild's postcard exchange, it's lots of fun. If your guild doesn't have one you should suggest it!

I've also been busy finishing off the "bags" for my niece's bridal shower. I decided I needed to make a cotton foldup grocery bag and chose to use the garlic and mushroom fabrics. So grab some fabric you think will look cute and let's get started! Measurements don't matter - it's your bag make it whatever size you want. I choose to make the top border about 6" as I wanted to fold it over (see pic on left). I then turned down the top edge and french seamed it so I would not have open seams - this fabric frayed a wee bit! Before doing the french seam make sure you insert a loop of fabric or elastic at the centre point, this will make sense when you go to fold up the bag.
Next I cut a out square of fabric, about 2" square, at the bottom on both sides. Once sewn this allows the bag to have a flat bottom. Personally I like a flat bottom to my bags, even grocery bags - the cans sit in the bag better!. SAVE the small squares you cut out. You'll use them later. Next, with wrong sides facing sew the side seams together with a 1/4" seam, then turn right sides out and sew the sides seams again, this time with a 1/2" seam (in other words enclose or French your side seams).
Now, as shown on the right, sew together the bottom corners using the same technique to enclose your seam. It's a wee bit awkward but worth the effort. Now you're ready to make the straps. Anyway length is fine - again, whatever suits you. I just whacked off 2 strips from my initial piece of garlic fabric about 6" wide each. Fold the strips so that the edges meet in the centre, then fold again onto itself, press and seam along the open side. This makes a fairly sturdy strap.
So, using those wee squares we cut off the bottom, on the right side of the bag you want to fold in each side 1/4", place approximately 3" in from the side and 1" from the top edge, right side down. Then place the bottom of the strap into the square, fold it up encasing the bottom of the strap. I sewed down all four sides of this case then crisscrossed to make sure the strap was securely attached. I don't know the proper name for this technique, but it has a neat look to it. Lastly you want to attach a button to the bag, either above the loop, or below as I did in my example. Here's what mine looked like when finished. Er, actually I should say what my niece's looks like!
And finally, here's "the quilt" all blocks put together and applique and embroidery all done! I've been fighting with it to get the borders completed - they are not cooperating and several blocks have been unsewn then resewn, but I have conquered them. The side borders fit, the top and bottom borders will need some kind of creative solution as they currently are too big. Wish me luck, perhaps next installment will be a pic with the borders on!
Wish me luck!!
TTFN

Memory Lane

A few years back, as a means to introduce computers and the internet to father dearest, my sister and I gave him a scanner so he could digitize our family slides. I don't know about your family, but I grew up in a typical 1950's/60's family where the father took all the pics. Since my family of origin split up not long after I left home, custody of all those slides remained with the pater. He has been digitizing "collections", learning computers and calling on me when assistance is needed. As it turns out this has been a good bonding opportunity. Father dearest started with our travels overseas (my family lived in West Africa for a few years) and has now moved on to local family lore. So, here are a few pics of me from my halycon days. I particular like this one at the bottom - it's me feeding the pigeons in St. Marco's square, Venice!

The Mill and The Cross (2011) Movie Trailer HD

Grocery Bags ...

So my niece is engaged, and the aunt on the groom's side is throwing a bridal shower. Since I've spent a small fortune on the quilt so far, I have decided to not go crazy at the shower(s) - besides, there may be more than just this first one! In case my niece reads my blog , I doubt it, but just in case, I won't reveal the "gift", but will show you the "green" reusable produce bags I've made s0 far. On the left is the fruit/vegetable fabrics, a collection of matching mesh and ties, and on the right are the three I've completed. The idea is they are light weight and can be used at the grocery store in place of the plastic bags they offer. You can also use them to hold your fruit/veggies in the frig! I still have a mushroom and a lettuce bag to make, and IF I have the time before the party I hope to complete a casserole/pie carrier - or maybe I'll hold that back for the next shower. After all, these are probably the one and only's I'll be invited to!What else have I been up to? Well, above is a pic of the last two Chickadees for the wedding quilt. As I told you in my last post I have tried a new method - appliqueing first onto a piece of lightweight interface. So, here they are pre-applique to the quilt, and pre-embroidery of beak and legs. You'll have to wait a week of so for the post quilt applique pics!
Saw a realllly interesting movie last week. The Mill and the Cross. Here's a details/reviews from the IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.

TTFN