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

Too Busy

Phew! I've been busy this past week - too busy really, makes me tired and crabby and I don't like myself when I get that way. I used to be able to keep up the pace, but no longer. I must, really I must start saying NO more often. No matter how legit the request(s) I just can't keep up being the accommodating one. I need to practice, No, No No.
Ah well, soon I'll be retired and desperate for things to do (Yes PH I will retire someday so STOP ASKING ME WHEN I'M GOING TO RETIRE!) No, wait, if Stephen Harper has his way I'll not be retiring as soon as I've been planning! Damm those PCs, - Waaaaaah! I'll have to change my Google count down page - it's at 2407 days until retirement ! Yes, I'm counting the days!! Most of my friends and family are retired, and it's hard being the one still working. Ah well, my turn will come.Ok, enough bitching, here's what I've managed to squeeze in this last couple of weeks. I got all the stems and leaves appliqued, the squirrel is on and one Chickadee is completed. Because the Chickadee has such small pieces I tried a new applique method. I drew the pattern on a piece of light interfacing and basted the applique to the interfacing. Then I cut the interfacing back to the edge of the completed piece and appliqued it to the quilt top. Seemed to work fairly well, so I'll try it again for the next 2 birds. Last night I got that appliqued to the quilt top and some of the embroidery done. Now I'm wondering if I need to embroider veins in all the leaves, or quilt that in. What do you think??

TTFN, a tired

2012!

Well, I don't usually participate in humblebrags, but I did this year as it taught me how to make a digital picture collage! Woohoo. It also allowed me to meet resolution #7 - to get more techy! Above is my humblebrag, as it is a brag fest but also makes me feel quite humble - is that ALL I did last year??! I thought I was incredibly busy yet my output was, in my eyes, rather minimal. Oh, that's right, I forgot about volunteering for the CQA Quilt Ontario conference which ate up huge amounts of time. That was lots of fun and a great experience, but I'll not volunteer for awhile. This fall/spring will be taken up with the wedding quilt for my niece, and after that I PROMISE myself to do something just for meeeee! Wow, what a thought ;)
TTYL

New Year's Resolutions

I figure if I blog about them I might - just might keep of few of these .... (one or two of these might be a wee bit reminiscent from last year ...)

1. I will buy fabric ONLY for specific projects (no more stash enhancement) - yeah right!
2. I will exercise more - I have signed up for Yoga again
3. I will try more new recipes, especially homemade soup
4. I will be more self assured/assertive
5. I will be more patient; this is especially important for me @ work; and
6. I will learn to be a better friend, and I hope my friends will too. 

Phew! that's a long list, but I'll try - wish me luck!

I've been a real beaver this last 2 weeks sewing, unsewing and resewing on the wedding quilt. The quilt top is still not ready - but I haven't given up! Here's a small project I finally got to over the holidays (Hint - it's a bookmark).
Taking today off from sewing - having the mater over for New Year's dinner and watching the Hell On Wheels marathon, my latest TV obsession. Yup - I still watch TV. Tried to watch some Charles Dickens on DVD last night but my DVD player died .... so watched them on the laptop - woohoo.
Addendum to the above resolutions: #7 get more techy this year, starting with learn how to watch DVDs played on my laptop and displayed on the TV. I think this requires a trip to one of those techy stores!
TTYL

Yummm, baking

I'm sitting here blogging while taking in the fabulous aroma of lemon squares and brownies with walnuts and ginger bread, and sugar cookies baking (not all at once!) Yummmm. I was tres lazy last week and did not get any baking done, but have been invited out for dinner and offered to bring some "goodies" with me, sooooo. Above are the miniature Christmas stockings I made for the gift cards I gave everyone. I felt guilty for not being very creative with my gifts this year, hence the stockings. I used up scrap Xmas fabrics and some of the Xmas ribbons in my stash. The were fun and quick to make and everyone enjoyed "opening" their stocking.
What else have I been up to, welllll, I finally, yes finally finished recovering the $5 Eastlake chairs. Remember these 1970's harvest gold lovelies?? They were a real bargain except for the upholstery. Never mind, a big sale at the local fabric store meant I got the whole bolt (6+ meters) of the rose coloured fabric for less than $20. A trip to another fabric store got me 5-6 meters of trim, and the loan of a couple of handy dandy tools from the mater and pater and bob's yer uncle. Well, actually it took several months just because of my procrastinating. Never mind, they're all done now except to insert the vintage porcelain casters. WooHoo! Personally I think they're FAB, do you agree?

TTYL and Happy New Year!!

It's Beginning to Feel a lot Like Christmas

Yes sireee, it's finally feeling like the holidays. My shopping is done, only 2 wrapped so far. I'm officially on 2 weeks vacation (YEAH), my tree is up and decorated, and there is a little covering of that white stuff . We've had unseasonably warm weather lately and some people have dared to talk about a green Christmas. Personally I never lost faith in the weather to always do it's thing ... so now we have white stuff. It can stay for a week or two then go go go! (I'm not a fan of cold or snowy weather).What else have I been up to? Well, as you can see I finally, yes finally got the tea cup pin cushions made. It's not as difficult as it might look, don't we all have dozens of tea cups from our mothers or grandmothers? And, if you look very closely I'm sure you'll see that some of them have a few chips or cracks or tea stains which just will not come out! Right? Come on, you know you've got them somewhere hidden away in the darkest recesses of your china cabinet! Anyway, identify these lovelies, and BTW a wide mouth cup is better as a pin cushion than a narrow cup, and also one with the "decor" on the outside not the inside is best. The next decision is what scrap fabric will work best with your tea cup(s). This of course is a personal choice, and if I may admit, I changed my mind at least a dozen times! Now it's time to get a luncheon plate from the cupboard and trace a circle on the chosen fabric. Using strong thread sew a running stitch around the perimeter and draw up the fabric into a circle. Stuff the circle with fibre fill and sew the opening closed. I filled the cup with a several glass marbles just to give the cup some weight, Actually, I hot glued the marbles into the cup. Next I hot glued inside the cup and stuffed the pouffe into it, and voila` we have a pincushion! Embellish with ribbons and trim and flowers, whatever you have on hand and now you have a lovely door prize or hostess gift . Have fun with this one ladies. As you can see from my clatter of teacups below I have already given two away! I had fun and hope you do too. Now, who can I give the remainders to?

TTFN
Here's the teacup pincushion I chose to keep for myself. I re-found the fabric I had already used to make my thimble holder and decided it matched this particular teacup so well. It may not be the prettiest, but I like it. I kinda like being matchy matchy ;).
Happy holidays everyone!

Progress ...

Well, I can proudly report that I have successfully pumped gas for the second time and resolved the chirping smoke detector - woohoo, technology won't best me (least not this week;) ) Above are three postcards for the guild exchange using the leftover triangles from many of the blocks I made for THEE quilt. Nice to put them to use and not just toss these wee scraps, and I think they look pretty good even if I say so myself! !
On the left is the remade version of THEE quilt, and on the right is the first version. I felt the colours of the centre block and pinwheels were too insipid so I did some more unsewing and put them back together. Personally I think the second version works better! Now, here's hoping I have enough fabrics left to create the border, which extends the pattern and colour scheme. After the appliques I'm hoping I'll be hand quilting by January!
TTFN