Home Time !

Had this week off work (YEAH) and actually managed to get into the sewing room during the daytime (Yeah). Finally got to this home dec project, recovering my Eastlake foot stool. This is it's 3rd cover since I bought the foot stool, and I think I'll keep this one for a while. Me Likee :) In fact I like it so much I recovered my sofa cushions  ...

It's freezing outside today (4 degrees C!), not exactly springlike :( otherwise I'd be on the patio finishing up my latest book Havisham. Not the very best of writing, but as a preclude (to Great Expectations) not bad. As far as precludes go I did enjoy the movie Oz, The Great and Powerful, good visuals and cleverly done. My all time favourite book preclude is Wide Sargasso Sea. If you're a Jane Eyre fan (I am) this is a definite must read this book! Well, what else have I been up to this week? I've been to our local Quilts of Israel Quilt Festival, and here are some of the quilts I thought were fabulous! So, what else have I been up to? Took in a local Quilt Festival - Quilts of Israel. Here are some of my favourites :)

Apologies, I was running short of camera battery power so did not take pics of the quilt descriptions, so am unable to provide attribution. Must remember to charge up the camera next time!
I definitely love love love the one on the right - just love the colours in this one.

The bull rushes (?) on the right were done with yarn - nice.

Love the use of log cabin blocks for the water !

And of course you know I love applique :) The birds were very well done, but I'm not sure Israel has Mallard Ducks, do they? Perhaps they weren't meant to be representative of Israeli birds.

 

Street musicians, nicely done .

This one was fabulous from a distance .... up close it was raw edge applique. Interesting

Along with landscapes there were some "folk art" type quilts  with lots of hand embroidery and buttons. I can't say I'm overly familiar with Jewish/Israeli folklore, so not sure what this multi-armed person riding a Lion is doing. Hmmm.

I like the horse in this one - it  reminded me of a Chagall painting - perhaps that was the intent, what do you think?

Now this person had a couple of quilts in the show. I think she used multi-coloured fabric, a very sharp cutter and lots and lots of patience to cut out these patterns.

I don't read Hebrew, so forgive me if I got this wrong side round (I think it's right). I'm hoping it says something inspiring. Any help out there ladies?

I have to admit I have great admiration for  quilters who manage curved flying geese blocks. Since I am block challenged (aren't we all?) I liked this quilt!

So, there were lots more lovely lovey quilts, but these were my favourites. Hope you enjoy them too. 

Oh, and we met up with some former Library friends also!

TTFN

Ouch!

Ouch ! Oh, that hurt. I really tried, honest. I hate to clip the wings of such a beautiful Japanese Maple, but really, it just kept growing. Shade is nice, that's what it was bought for, but not to creep over into my sitting area so much that I really couldn't sit anywhere anymore! Below are the 2 branches I lopped off! Oh, it really hurt to do it, I had night sweats worrying about should I, shouldn't I? Ah well, it's done now!

 

Please forgive me tree !

It's the May 24 weekend, and the weather is FANTASTIC! I will finish my spring cleaning and gardening work sometime this week, I have been divesting myself of old electronics (yeah). I also plan to attend a local quilt show this week - should be a good one!

TTFN

Happy Mother's day!

So, two more water bottle carriers and two more mug rugs :) Every body but me will get a gift today :(
Oh wait! What am I talking about? I just purchased this Spicy Spiral table runner pattern. I got the ruler last year - maybe I'll actually get the runner done for Xmas? Oh, yeah, I also purchased these fabrics (shhhh, the local fabric store had a 50% off sale) Three white w blues - for that B&W (that's blue and white) quilt I've been going to make for, oh 30+ years ...... , and 2 nice pieces of line, FINALLY! Now, to re-find all those fabulous linen projects I've been seeing on Pinterest :)

I managed to get some grass appliqued onto the white cat - yeah. She's beginning to look a lot better. I have decided I will also applique a couple of bees/bugs buzzing up above his head. and I think I will outline the white cat with either some grey or black embroidery thread, something to make him stand out more. So on the right is the quilt top so far, I'm really beginning to like it and enjoying the process of applique as you go :). What to do next, hmmmmm

TTFN

Patio time :)

Yahoo!Patio time :) After our long dull grey April May has come through with some much needed sunshine and warm weather. Yahoo! My Hostas and Peonies have sprouted, the Hyacinths are in bloom and trees are leafing. I even found a "new" lavendar plant and have potted it up - YEAH :)

Last week I got so carried away drooling over Ragnar Lothbrok (oh yeah ....) I forgot to show you this small collection of Hexie blocks. Some of you may already be totally hooked on the Hexie craze. I have resisted so far, but resistance is futile! At our last Stitch-n-B our hostess pulled out a box of hand-me-downs from a former guild member. Well, of course we all plowed in to discover the hidden treasures ... and this is what I came away with! I'm not on the bandwagon just yet .... still in my cat mode, but I expect this will be a good carry-along for the next few summer months.  So, speaking of cats,  on the left is my accomplishment for the last week of so ...

Progress so far ....Next is the white cat in the middle right. I'm thinking some more greenery, then maybe that's enough greenery ? and time for some birdies or butterflies or mice or ??? ANy suggestions ladies?

TTFN

Happy Birthday!

Happy 85th Birthday to the Pater :). We had a lovely family dinner at my sister's place. I think he enjoyed being made a fuss over (don't we all). The water bottle carriers were a hit, in fact I now have orders for more from the rest of the family ...

What else have I been up to you ask? Well, I finally broke down and
joined the Mug Rug crowd .... I swore I wasn't going to, they're just small place mats, who wants one of those? Then, last week whilst visiting the mater I noticed she was using a folded over place mat on her coffee table for her cuppa. Well .... the light bulb went off - what a perfect Mother's Day gift (shhhhh - don't tell her!). I have enough of these two fabrics left over to make 2 more. I actually think I might just take one to the workplace and use it myself. I may just start a trend there as well ;)

Now who wants the last mug rug?

My Daffodils survived last week's hail!

Today (Sunday) it's a VIKINGS marathon on the History channel. Oh yeah ..... Ragnar - ohhhh yeah .... You know what I'll be doing this afternoon and evening .... watching Ragnar   :)

TTYL

Yeah ! a sunny Sunday :)

I'm so thrilled - it's sunny yeah!! It's been so long since we've seen the sun I was beginning to think we'd never see it! None-the-less, my faith in the sun has been restored :). Last weekend was a long weekend and a couple of friends and I travelled a short way out of town to the first of the season quilt shows. Of course we stopped at the local quilt shop where I bought this beautiful leave fabric. At first I did not have anything in particular in mind, but then the light bulb went off!  The Pater's 85th birthday is this weekend. We had been discussing the idea of having water bottles in the car/with him when he goes travelling/walking.So, I whipped up two quilted water bottle carriers, bought a couple of re-usable water bottles and voila! the perfect birthday gift for someone who has everything!

I somehow managed to finish off the Sunflowers for Meesta , Carol Armstrong's cat name, not mine, I haven't named the cats on this quilt yet. I'm very proud of the Sunflowers and would like to think they had some part in bringing today's sunshine ..... but then again, what would explain yesterday's snow flurries? Now I have to decided which block/cat to do next, and what flowers . Any suggestions?
TTFN

How was your Easter?

So, how was your Easter weekend? Now, I'm not terribly religious, in fact I'm borderline agnostic/atheist, none-the-less I was looking forward to a long Easter weekend. You know, the weekend full of ridiculous 1950's Charlton Heston movies like Ben Hur. My favourite website, Arts & Letters Daily informed me of the background to this book/movie. It was written by an American Civil War general,  Lew Wallace and has lots and lots of history to it before it became the 1959 blockbuster! Who knew!!?! Now maybe you'll watch this hokey movie with a very different perspective.

I was tres expectant to have a glorious 4 days off work ... granted, I knew I  would spend one, maybe two full days or more doing family stuff, but was actually looking forward to cooking a meal for the family. Being the single sister I haven't had much chance over the years to do just that. My sister, who has hosted every family meal in her home for the last 3+ decades, was in Italy travelling on vacation with her hubby. So here was my chance!  Along with a ham, homemade scalloped potatoes, homemade cole slaw and vegies,  I made a new recipe, a pineapple casserole. I know ! Sounds weird right? But it was really good. Click the pic for the recipe from Mennonite Girls can Cook! You can eat it as a side dish, like stuffing, or as a dessert :)

I managed to do a movie with the Pater & step mother on Sat and took them out for a nice restaurant dinner on Monday. My "family" dinner on Sunday went off without too many hitches, given that it was hosted @ the Mater's (she has more space than I do), so I had to truck most of the dinner over there.

In case you think the last 2 weeks were a write-off re stitching, almost but not quite. I have the stems and most of the leaves done, and last night got one of the Sunflowers done. I SOOOOO like the Sunflower and am looking forward to making more :)

TTFN

Still waiting ....

Spring has not arrived :(  Yup, I'm still waiting. I don't care what the calendar says, the lack  of sunshine or warmth, the never ending grey skies tell me it's not here .... WAH!!!!  And the feline above agrees with me, so there! Don't you just love, Love LOVE this stitched Siamese cat! I fell in love with it during my Pinning wanderings, and must extend my apologies to the creator, I failed to note where I found this image, sorry. She looks just like Simone who is also bemoaning the lack of spring, just like her mommy.

I have begun my spring cleaning, even though I don't believe it's spring yet, so my stitching has taken another back seat. I did remove the lower left vine and leaves and am glad. This block was busy enough as it was. So Red Red Rose is finished, and I have moved onto mother and kit and Tulips!

As you can see I have a couple more Tulips and some flower buds to apply here. Once that's accomplished I think I'll move up to the top and work on some Sun Flowers. Maybe that will cheer me up! Who knows, I may even be able to sit on the patio while stitching ???

I'm thinking now that this quilt top will need some birds and butterflies before I'm done. Oh No! More applique!
TTFN

Is it Spring yet?

Ok I know that sounds totally desperate, but ... I can't stand winter and snow and grey skies any longer !!

I also know that my New Year's resolution was that it be the year (or two or three) of the cat, and I have been stitching away on my Carol Armstrong cats quilt top, more on that later in this post.  However, while digging around in my sewing room looking for stuff for our guild's yearly rummage sale I re-found this fabulous Fig Tree spring wall hanging pattern and I'm in love again :) Since my newest favourite local quilt store, Cornerstone Quilts was having their first anniversary sale this weekend, I decided to see if I could at least gather up some of the fabrics for this project. I know it will never get done this year for Easter - that's a lost cause, but at least I have a start. Well, I was definitely surprised and bowled over by the shop owner's generosity when she gave me this Gemstones Natures Moments package as a door prize! WOW! That sure made my day :). They are all batik prints, and in the colours I was collecting for the above project :)

So, I actually got a few minutes of stitching time in my overly busy week. I got two red Roses and one Rose bud appliqued on this block, aptly named Rosie. I'm very glad I redid the vines, but now I'm thinking I'll remove the bottom left vine and leaves as I still think this block is too busy, there is just too much.  I will have to hang the quilt top up on my design wall to get the "big picture" before I make this decision. What do you think?

TTFN 

A Rose by any other Name ....

So, I managed a wee bit of stitching this week :)You'll probably think I'm totally crazy, or at the very least slightly obsessive. BUT, I decided the vines/leaves on the block, shown on the left, were just too wide and too symmetrical. I just didn't like the look.  So, I un-sewed one side of each vine, trimmed up and re-sewed the vines. Next I moved all the leaves on that side and re-sew them slightly less symmetrically. The pic on the right shows my results. What do you think? Now, onto the red red roses that finish up this block.
Last week I talked about requesting people use my "adult name" versus my childhood nickname. Well, once again my favourite website Arts & Letters Daily coincidentally provided a linkout to an article by Teddy Wayne in the NYT Sunday Review of Books, "What's in a Name".   He quotes a 1981 study by Richard Zweigenhaft, a psychology professor at Guilford College, as saying “that one of the benefits of having an unusual name for women could be a greater likelihood of creativity,”

HA! Vindicated again! I'm not crazy afterall! :) :) :)

Grace under Fire :)

Well, I must admit I goofed - Oopsie. At our monthly quilt get togethers last week I was bragging about this wonderful tool my friend out west gave me for Xmas. WRONG - sheepish grin (pardon the pun, I couldn't help it)! The gift came from the quilting friend I was actually talking to. Lucky thing I was praising the gift as a most wonderful invention and so thoughtful.So, to put things right, the Magnetic Needle Nanny pictured above came from S my local quilt friend, and it is a wonderful immediately well used  and well loved gift!
Speaking of grace under fire, about a week ago I informed a member of the step family that I prefer they use my "adult name". You know, the name all my adult friends and colleagues use  and the name I am now most comfortable with.  Why?  I have been an adult far longer than I was a child. Some of the step family were gracious about my request and now use my adult name, apologizing when/if they forget. However, others have made a show of using my childhood nickname then correcting themselves. Really?  Top this off with comments about my body size (I'm of small stature and thin BTW). Ladies, it is not acceptable to make comments to a fat person, it is equally not acceptable to make body size comments to a thin person! So, grace under fire? well yes, I just smile and let them have their fun - for now. 
 
On the bright side :) I have managed to get some stitching done, here's one finished cat block, applique all done but some embroidery yet to come!

TTFN