How Does Your Garden Grow?

Spring has sprung in my neck of the woods,
and I am awash in yellow! One bunch of Daffodils have bloomed, hopefully the rest will follow soon. The Forsythia have exploded on the scene, yeah! Iris was not impressed - I moved her bed up onto the sewing counter so she would be next to the window and can enjoy the sunshine and flowers . Didn't seem to improve her mood!Speaking of moods - seems everyone I come across these days is cranky - including myself. You'd think the wonderful weather and lovely sunshine we've had recently would have cheered us all up. Seems not. Maybe we are all still sleep deprived, I know I'm terribly time deprived. Just too many projects, too many chores, too many demands on my time at the moment, and it doesn't look like it will let up, at least not in the short term. Ah well, Easter is coming and that means a long weekend - YEAH!
For those following "the Quilt" here's a pic of it on the frame. I have completed the inner portion and am now quilting the outer edges. That takes longer than you'd think. None-the-less, when I get the chance to quilt I am enjoying the hand work immensely. Maybe that's part of my crankiness - I've not had enough time just sitting quietly and quilting!I'm currently listening to CBC and they are talking about the book "Going Solo" by Eric Klinenberg. His thesis is that more and more people are choosing to live alone. (Yeah - Uhuh), and that they are NOT lonely, but are actually more social, and more happy with their lives. According to Klinenberg "more than 50 percent of American adults are single, and 31 million—roughly one out of every seven adults—live alone" The subtitle of his book is "the Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone".

Finally -recognition that being alone is not the same as being lonely! I remember the day one of my 'quilting ladies' asked me (oh so innocently) "Don't you get lonely living alone?" - umh, REALLY ? Talk about perpetuating an age old stereotype! ...  sometimes you can't win
TTFN,

Wahhh Sleep deprived!

So we turned our clocks forward this weekend - the weekend I'm working .... so I'm not only sleep deprived, but today is sunny and 14+ C degrees! NOT FAIR. I was just getting used to waking in the morning to the sunrise - yeah, and now we're back to getting up in the dark. Who's bright idea (pardon the pun) was this daylight saving thing anyway? Never mind, I saw a Robin yesterday so I'm happy, Spring is near .

At our last guild meeting the speaker talked to us about creativity and inspiration. She spoke about how women all too frequently say "I'm not artistic, I'm not creative". Really?Last week we celebrated International Women's Day. OK ladies, it's time to stand up and   MAKE SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF 

Just for the fun of it!
That's what my next project will be!

Elder Schadenfreude

I learned a new phrase this week - Elder Schadenfreude (pronounced elder-shod-un- froyd-uh). It means a secret pleasure of hearing about aging parents that are even more impossible than yours. Like! I am part of the sandwich generation - even though I have no kids - still, I'm a 50 something, working full time and dealing with aging parents. My "job" requires me to exercise a fair amount of patience, and I find I'm lacking the required patience once home and dealing with the parentes. I need to strive harder. I have been fortunate so far, as they are in reasonably good health. When my time comes I hope to go out swinging ;)
The wedding quilt is on the frame - WOOHOO! I have a full sized quilting bee kinda frame, but I don't use it much. I prefer to use a hoop and quilt from the centre out. What kind of frame do you use? I've had this quilt hoop for - oh, 30+ years (OMG!) and it still does the trick! I can fold up the quilt on top of itself when not quilting and tuck it away. When I am quilting I can pull it up to my favourite chair and and watch TV as I'm stitching. Nothing more relaxing than hand quilting.
TTFN

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

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!!