Canada eh?

Happy Canada Day! I always swore I would not be an American and become a rabid patriot .... but I must admit it is kinda nice to celebrate once a year! And, it is lovely to have a four day weekend! Had a patio picnic with family and friends and thoroughly enjoyed the company and evening, thanks ladies!
Not much else on the home front, still working on the repair of the "baby quilt" which turned out to be at least a twin if not a double bed size and a fair amount of work. But then again I am a bit of a perfectionist.
It's getting hot, humid and smoggy outside, so the kitties and I are stuck inside for the duration. TG for AC! My IP company is about to get the boot .... I've had to reset my moden 10 times (no exaggeration) just to read one email and complete this blog entry! ARGGGGG. They are about to lose my business!

TTFN

Fix it part Deux!

I really should know by now ... as soon as I start a Fix it Please project more come out of the woodwork! I was just about to start on the baby quilt fix-it job (see last post) when Father Dearest dropped by with a royal blue bridge tablecloth seven inches too big ---- fix it please. Well, with Father's Day coming how could I refuse? Having never worked with plasticized fabric I approached the job with some trepidation .... but once I got started it seemed to work out OK. - Phew!
Onwards to the Fix It Please baby quilt job. So, since my local fabric store was having a 50% off sale, yes, you read correctly, 50% off, I made the necessary trip to acquire some plain cotton (broadcloth) and other sympathetic fabrics with which to repair the 1) area with zero batting and backing, 2) threadbare appliques and 3) binding. The loving mother was perhaps a seamstress, but definitely not a quilter as most appliques were applied with an unusual zigzag stitch. Coming from the late 1960's-early 70's this baby quilt also contains non-cotton fabrics, aka polyesters and other "fab" fabrics. So, this is one of the biggest challenges in repairing vintage quilts. Wish me luck!
TTYL

Fix it Please .....

Sometimes it's just not worth it! But for those who don't know quilts/quilting the sentimental attachment is too great to hear that the quilt isn't worth the time, effort or expense. They also think you can repair it in a weekend! HA!
Above is child's quilt made by a loving mother sometime in the late 60's early 70's. Now that daughter has her own child she wants it rejuvenated so her little boy can use it. From the pic you might be excused if you think - oh well, there's not much work to be done ... think again. Not only has the binding completely disintegrated, but the top has also lost batting and backing. Many of the appliques are threadbare and need replacing, and much of the quilting is gone. This is going to be a big job. Normally it would have been an automatic NO, but I like this woman (she's a work colleague) and I know how hard it is to find someone who will repair old quilts. What a suck I am.... This will take at least a month of my time, sure she'll pay me (don't expect to get rich this way) but it will also put me another month behind in my own quilting plans. So much for having something ready for my guild's show in October, or for the CQA show next May! Ah well, what can you do .... In the end I'll be glad for doing it. Quilting is not a hobby for those in a hurry!
TTFN

Peonies and Applique ...

Well, it's the start of June and my Peonies are in bloom - yeah - but that also means rain! It seems every year just as these lovelies blossom we have thunderstorms which beat down the poor Peonies which are top heavy to begin with. BooHoo .... I don't have too many flowers in my garden as it is so I always love to see these blossoms :)
Last week I did manage to finally make myself an applique roll. I've had the pattern for years and years ... not difficult, just need the time to finally get to it! I reused one of the pvc pipes which came with a small hand held quilt block frame. I never used it and never will so why not recycle! Also, I have a second pipe available - hmmm - present time for someone? As you can see by the pics I used fabric from my stash. The left shows the roll open with this month's Tisket a Tasket block. The right shows the roll closed! Neat and tidy as I like things. Should come in handy as I LOVE to APPLIQUE!
Here's June's block - I still have a wee bit of embroidery to complete for the birdie.
In the news this week is Canada's new copyright law. Most people don't take copyright any too seriously, but we need to, whether it's a logo, a piece of art or a performance. Give credit where credit is due.

Vacation Over Boo Hoo!

Geez - you wait all winter to have a few measly days off ..... The first day of my vacation it rained .... boohoo! That's ok though 'cause I promised myself to finish off my spring cleaning. HA HA HA! Well, several days later I did manage to get 2 floors of the condo cleaned and got the basement vacuumed. I did wash floors and managed to do some outside work.

I did not "clean" the laundry room - aka - get rid of much collected detrius . I did not make the summer purse I've been wanting for some time. I did not get the fabric label printed - or even get the ink in the printer yet . I did not get through 1/2 of my overly ambitious list!

I did go out for lunch, get my hair cut, make an applique roll and read 3 books. I did get to St. Jacob's with a friend for some fabulous day of quilt shows. Another day we went to Shedden for another fabulous quilt show and I learned about Geocaching, spent a fabulous afternoon at the Port. I even had me a whopping big ice cream cone! Yeah!

So, all in all it wasn't too bad of a week off ...... except I have now to go back to work. Ugh!

Vacation!!

So, it's my spring vacation and my Lilacs are in full bloom! I usually take a week this time of year as my patience with patrons and colleagues runs thin and needs a wee rejuvenation. Next year I'll be in the thick of hanging the Invitational show for CQA's Quilt Ontario 2011, so I had better enjoy this year's vacation as next year won't be any kind of rest!
The Lilacs are gorgeous this year. I come home at night and let the girls out, Simone and Iris just can't wait to roll around on the patio. Simone is new to the patio this year and wants to wander .... so mommy sits out with them as "guard". This year I've taken to sitting on the other side of the patio, next to the Lilacs - WOW! They are planted just below my kitchen window, so when it's open that end of the house has such a lovely fragrance!
Taking a wee rest from stitching, but have started on block 6 of Tisket a Tasket. Hope to make myself an applique roll while off work - that is if I get finished with my long list of housekeeping chores. Ah well, it's got to be done!

TTFN
p.s. reading my blog may keep you informed on my life but doesn't keep "us" in touch. Coments are welcome ;) And to the person(s) who keep sending comments in Japanese/Chinese .... you can STOP NOW !

Birdie Birdie who's got the Birdie

Well, it would seem I do! I was really beginning to wonder why Simone was in love with my Caragana ... and just a wee bit worried, since it's still in flower and several large Bumblebees are buzzing around. She has discovered a Robin's nest neatly hidden in the crotch of it's newest branch. So that explains the cat's fascination, and the winged flight which freaked me the other day as I passed the tree. So, although I enjoyed a good 2-3 hours on the patio this afternoon whilst reading a fab book and sniffing the opening Lilac blossoms, I need to tread carefully around my small tree for a few weeks as Mother Robin roosts.

Spent a good part of Saturday and some of Sunday completing the binding and applying a hanging sleeve. Overall I'm very please with my results and hope mother will appreciate and even hang this one! Since I have about 2-3 weeks before this gift is due I think I will attempt to make a computer generated label - woohoo - a skills upgrade!

Today was a busy day, Sunday's usually are. Breakfast on the patio (yeah) several chapter so a good book while sunning my very white shins and forearms, a nice long walk in the neighbourhood, one dozen Banana chocolate chip walnut muffins, a pasta salad for next week's lunches, dinner and now blogging! Phew! TG next week is my last and I have one precious week of vacation coming...
TTFN

Ah! Spring Mornings

Is there anything better! It's so lovely to awaken to the sound of the birds chirping their hello to the day. One of the things I loved best about this home is the amount of birds. I have the usual Gracklings and Sparrows and Mourning Doves and Chickadees. I also have a plethora of Finches, red ones, grey ones, brown ones, gold ones and even, I think, one or two Zebra finches. Then there's the Cardinals and the Robins, the Red Winged Blackbirds and even a few Blue Jays. Some people hate, I mean hate being woken up by the birds. For myself I love it - I don't waken easily, but love Love LOVE waking to an avian tuneup!

No stitching to show-n-tell as this last week was devoted to tax time. Must do it three times before I catch all my errors. It's my mathematical challenge every year. I've only been wrong once in over 20 years! Not bad for a math phobic.
TTYL

Progress!

Woohoo! I am making progress! I had some technical set backs, starting with the lettering. The pattern told me to hand or machine embroider the letters. Well I did the first two letters and positively hated it. So, ripped them out then heat-n-bonded the letters onto each block. Well, I don't know about you ladies, but no matter what I do nothing I bond ever- Ever -EVER totally sticks! So, I was unhappy with that. Finally I caved in and raced off to the local sewing shop, bought matching thread and zigzagged the letters in place. Much happier! Got the three borders on last night ... now it's sandwich time and the big decision .... to machine or hand quilt?
But first I must take a sidetrack and do my taxes - my math challenge for the year - YUCK. None-the-less the returned $ will be welcome.The quilt show season has begun. Thank you ladies it was a fun day - early, but fun! And thanks for the additional side trips, and for doing all the driving - it's such a treat to be a passenger! I admit to being only semi good at the show ... I purchased a fat quarter of a liberty print as a gift for a friend, and indulged in only one book! Pretty good for me ;) Although there was nothing really exciting at the show - no showstoppers as it were, I still find going to quilt shows to be inspiring and interesting and always look forward to the quilt show season.
TTYL

Snow! What's with That?

So what's with this weather anyway? I know it April, so I expect some showers, but snow!? Give me a break! I'm finally feeling better - human - and the sunshine disappears - ee gads! Even the garden is confused ... the Peonies are up about a foot, my Caragana tree is in full bud about to leaf. Now I'm watching my Japanese Maple as one of it's major branches is nude - no buds - oh no!!! Here's hoping it's just slower than the rest of the tree. I think I have to give up on the Lavendar and go hunting for more (to be planted in another location - hmmmm - where?)
I was too sick to attend our last guild meeting (boo for seasonal allergies) but just in case my challenge ladies, the Three C's, thought I had fallen behind - au contraire, block five is completed as you can see from the pic! This one was easy and completed in two days! I'm looking forward to completing this BOM!!!
Now that I'm feeling better (aren't OTC anti-histamines and decongestants fab!) I've returned to the vegetables wall hanging. I started embroidering the words, as per the instructions. Got two letters done and decided this was a) going to take forever, and b) didn't look like I wanted. So ripped out what was done and went for heat-n-bond letters. Much much happier. Below are the two with completed embroidery and lettering. Only four more to go.
I made a quick trip yesterday to the LM store and lucked out BIG TIME. They had enough of the mottled light blue background for backing and I got some really decent dark blue for borders and binding. Woohoo! Score!
TTYL

Daffodils and Sunshine - Oh My!

Well, I'm slowly coming out from under this cold/chest infection/seasonal allergies combination attack. The Daffodils in my garden have bloomed (yeah), my trees are budding and all my shrubbery are almost in leaf. So the garden is slowly coming back to life also, though I am concerned about my replacement lavender. The one in the back flowered very well for three years then died completely. I replaced it but planted the replacement in the front garden. I managed to replant it this spring (did not get it deep enough last fall when I first got it) so will give it another week or so and hope it comes back to life. I hope so as I Love LOVE LOVE Lavender.Not much new on the sewing front as I just haven't felt well enough to stitch - that says a lot!
I did manage to start satin stitching the letters for mother's vegetable wall hanging, but am not convinced I like the look. One and a half letters into it and I think I'm going to rip it out and try machine applique. This should be interesting.
TTYL

Sick - AGAIN!

So, here I am sick - AGAIN! Knew my chest was tight and my breathing was bad but put it down to seasonal allergies. Wrong, instead I have contracted another of my infamous chest infections/colds from HHHH. Argh! So I've been out flat on the couch for four days ... and the weather is phenomenally wonderful - just my luck! Tuesday the Forsythia didn't even have a bud on them, so during one of those rare half hours when I wasn't coughing my brains out I went out and trimmed them. By Saturday morning they were in full bloom. Woohoo! My Daffodils are up but not yet flowered and I can see the Peonies just breaking through the ground. My Weigela bushes at the front are budding and I have seen Robins and Red Wing Black Birds and even a pair of Gold Finches - so spring has definitely sprung!!

Above is mother's Easter wall hanging, now proudly displaying on her front door. I had planned/arranged to cook a turkey dinner for Easter (Saturday) for myself, mother and her friend and the two nephews. We held dinner at mother's 'cause her apt is better suited to dinner "parties" than my condo! As is her way mother whined for a good two hours because I/we didn't invite my niece and her partner. Being sick anyway I am glad I didn't as I barely got through the setting the table, cooking the meal, doing all the serving and cleanup, then driving everyone home! By the time I got home I was totally totally exhausted and collapsed. Why did I bother ? GOOD QUESTION!

Went to dinner and a movie - White Ribbon - with two friends on Monday night (before getting sick). Would have been a good experience overall if it hadn't been for the old COOT in front of us. The movie had NO sound track, was in B&W and had subtitles. The movie had just started and we were discreetly whispering to each other once or twice as we attempted to figure out who was who and what was what. The old COOT in front was truly obnoxious demanding that we "Be quiet ....We weren't at home in our living room" and that there was "nothing to laugh at" (my friend had giggled quietly when he said the "not in your home living room" bit). OK - one can and should expect a level of quiet at the cinema, I give him that, but there is also a polite way to ASK - and he was NOT polite! I do not feel at all guilty that his movie experience was interrupted. Tolerance of others while in public is not just a nicety it is a necessity! Ask nicely next time ....

Well, not much else on the home front. Not much of a productive week. Here's hoping for continued great weather and better health ...
TTYL

Hippity Hop

Easter is fast approaching. For some crazy reason I took Thursday off instead of Monday to make a four day weekend, why I don't remember. Ah well, I get four days off either way, woohoo! Above is my April Tisket/Tasket block, so I am definitely keeping up with the challenge ... another woohoo!
Not much on the home front this week. The week started out by seeing Shutter Island on Sunday, with a friend and Leonardo Di Capro (not hard on the eyes even as he matures). Good thriller and not any real gore so you don't have to keep averting your eyes. Then Tuesday was the theatre and a very good production of Pride and Prejudice. Thursday was the stitching group and we had a lovely time!

The rest of this week has been spent diligently working at mother's Easter door hanging. I've made the pattern
before but using different colours. I must admit I really like this version and am kinda jealous that she's getting it! Did a wee bit of machine quilting to outline the shapes, then hand stippled the inside and am now hand quilting around random "leaves" in the border. Hope to have it completed by Easter for her - which will be at her apt. I'm doing all the work and supplying most of the food, so although a long weekend it will be exhausting! Of course I'll have to borrow it back for Show-n-share at guild the next week!
TTYL

You Can't Go Home Again

Sorry for missing a week or two, I was busy with a visit from a childhood friend! I spent two weeks cleaning my brains out trying to get rid of winter's accumulated detritus and cat hair ... I got rid of two bags of older clothes and one of kitchen stuff. I can officially say I have almost completed my spring cleaning. Only two more rooms and the basement and windows, and it isn't even Easter yet. WooHoo! Of course my friend wore black corduroy and black velour so all the cat hair remaining in the house was instantly drawn to her as if I had never cleaned!!! ARG!

I think it was Thomas Wolfe who said "You can't go Home again" .... Although I loved having her (I don't get too many visitors) and it was great catching up in person (not via email, facebook or blogging) it seems our lives have diverged. Afterall she's a SAHM and housewife while I'm a SWL (single working lass). I continue to find it interesting that although I understand her lifestyle, most SAHM continue to think my life should be exactly like Sarah Jessica Parker's in Sex in the City . NOT!!! So, after answering way too many questions about my love life and my financial choices (I choose to pay off my mortgage ASAP and prepare for my upcoming retirement, and NOT live on credit, which means I will not be travelling soon), I can honestly say I was glad to get back to work where nobody bothers to ask anything ;) None-the-less I was totally THRILLED to have her here, it was tres fun walking down memory lane and can't wait for another visit..
What else have I been busy with you ask? Well, there are now three of us in the Tisket Tasket challenge. I'm calling us the 3Cs, for obvious reasons. Block two and three on either side and block four is well on its way - YEAH! Of course the challenge is to have four blocks completed by the April guild meeting. I'm sure I'll make it! But then again mother has asked twice now for a spring hanging for her front door. Uhoh, I'd better get busy! Here's row one for my challenge group ... eat yer hearts out heeheehee.
TTFN

P.S. After several stimulating e-conversations I have come to understand that not everyone rejoices in the term SAHM (all the blogs I read glory in it, so you'll have to forgive my skewed POV). In future we shall use the term CFOW when referencing CB. Slowly, yes slowly I creep towards an understanding of life, mine, theirs and others.

Socks!

Socks! I finally have a pair of hand knitted socks! Woohoo! A few years back I organized a stitch-n-bitch group (although we don't call ourselves that!) and we meet once a month during the quilting year and twice per month in the summers. Mainly it's quilters ... we all bring handwork and many ladies knit or embroider. As most of you know knitting is very popular right now (been there, done that) and one of the ladies in our group is into knitting socks. Anyway, as more and more ladies showed up to meetings with a pair of these lovely socks I've been teasing her for a while now about "where's my socks?". Well, now I have them and they are LOVELY! Thank you thank you thank you Ann! I'll have to tease you about something else now, hmmmmm.

The sun is shining and it's a wonderful weekend. While chatting on the on the phone to a friend I watched 2 Cardinals competing for the tree out front of the house. Soon it will be Robins, oh yah - spring is almost here!

Progress on the home front - to the right are the country vegetable blocks. The applique is all done now all I need to do is get the embroidery completed. But I've been delayed while working on the applique challenge block(s). Block one is on the left - not bad! Block two is started, may have it done for Thursday guild meeting may not. I have started my spring cleaning as I have a friend from out west coming in next weekend for a visit. Haven't seen her for - oh - 10 years maybe. Will be real nice to see her again.
TTYL