Almost Christmas!!

Guess I should catch you up dear reader, if any of you are still there. It's been soooo long since I blogged! Well, the summer and birthday time have come and gone. I was the recipient of these lovely birthday flowers. I am officially that old - you know just buy her flowers old :( !

I used to have about 7 china vases, all in my good china pattern. Did I keep even one of them? Nooo!

Halloween has also come and gone and the wee ones of the family of course got all dressed. Doesn't William look thrilled to be a fireman :) !

Since then my sister bought herself new living room furniture in a slate grey tweed with a blue strip.

So I got busy finishing off "Nocturne" from my UFO list!

I won this kit as a door prize, and luck would have it I brought it along with me.

The background fabric and 3 "turnover" packs were included, so all I had to buy was the batting and some backing.

My friend took me to FL (our local fabric store) where I lucked out and found some mid grey tweedy fabric for the backing. Woohoo!

I sent it out for machine quilting (only my 3rd time) and luckily she finished it before the holidays!

Here's the finished couch quilt .... Hope my sister likes it!

I decided  that since I really wasn't using my car to go anywhere anymore, and it was such a hassle last year getting out every couple of weeks just to give the car a run, that I would sell my car. BIG decision as it's the last vestige of my independence. So I asked around if anyone knew anybody looking for a car.  Well, as luck would have it the grand-daughter's boyfriend of my sister's friend was in the market. Having never sold a car privately before I was rather anxious, but it turned out to be a good experience. The young man was very helpful. He took the car for its safety, got the Used Car Info kit from Service Ontario, and in less the 2 weeks the car was sold (and for my asking price!)
He also gave me flowers - what a nice guy ! Darn it, why didn't I keep just one vase!!

So I've decorated my wee place for Christmas, starting with my Christmas Cactus. 

 Ok, I have to brag here .... The antique table and chairs  in the pic below were mother's, as was the red tablecloth (only used @ Christmas). What is mine is the white crocheted lace tablecloth! Shortly after getting married (many, many moons ago) I crocheted a full sized echru tablecloth in this pattern. My then mother-in-law whined sooo much about never having anything so beautiful etc etc etc, that I finally gave it to her. I then promptly started a white version, but sadly left it unfinished in a bag for the next 40+ years, promising I'd finish it once I retired. Well,  the time has come, the walrus said and voila - it's  finished !! whooppeeeeeeeee!

 I  am very pleased with the results. It had yellowed slightly so a friend soaked it in Retro Clean . I LUV this stuff!

Here's my rather sad Charlie Brown twig tree. I have lights, crystals, white metal doves, and Hershey glass kisses on it and placed it in a small galvanized tub on top of my Xmas mug rug. In my small place it's sufficient to make the place somewhat festive.

 

And here's Claire in her Xmas sweater, gingerbread house and cookie!

TTFN

It's Done !!!!!!!

Lucy Boston "Points of the Cross"

Started in 2015, finished in 2019
51 months.

This is an English paper piecing technique, which for me included hand cutting 1956 honeycombs, 1064 1" squares and 49 4" squares, for a total of 3069 pieces! Then hand cutting the fabric to cover all these papers. Then basting by hand the fabric around all these papers. Then joining one shape to another to form blocks, blocks into rows, rows into a quilt top, all hand sewn. I hand appliqued the border to quilt top. All of that took an incredible 51 very long eventful months! I hand quilted this beast, which took another 180 hours and I used 22 different colours of thread! I used the same black fabric from the border for the binding. Something I've not done before but I think looks nice.

I started this quilt when my mother was still with us, and it has seen many life events since, included mother's passing, father's passing, two hospitalizations and two cataract surgeries for me, plus selling my home and moving into a retirement home. So, this beastie has seen a lot! 

Of course,  now that I want them I can't find the three additional blocks I made but didn't use. I was contemplating using one of them for a label :(. So now I guess I'll have make something else with the remainder honeycombs, which is OK, just more work. But then again I'm not sure what the name of this one will be. I was contemplating Cataract 5, but then realized it has only been 4 years not 5. Someone on my Lucy Boston POTC FB group suggested "She Persisted", which isn't a bad name. Any one out there have another suggestion for a name?

I won't be doing much sewing for a while as I am currently experiencing another exacerbation of my COPD, and a case of Dupuytren's Contracture in my quilting hand! YIKES!!!!

Birthday Time!

Well, it was my brother-in-law's 70th Bday and of course the grandkids were all excited ;). I was greeted at the door by little William who is becoming quite the young charmer with his "Welcome Aunt Cindy" (the name my family use for me). What a sweetie, I haven't heard that much from him before, so his vocab is much improved ;). It was pretty obvious he had practised this greeting, which was so nice of my niece to tutor him.

In between playing cribbage, watching movies, trying to finish off my Lucy Boston and changing over my one and only closet from winter to spring I am working on this little beauty

I got the kit last year @ Mary Maxims and  am finally working on it. Shouldn't take too long once I get the machine up off the floor where it's resting for the moment. Will post a pic once mine is finished.

Toodles,

Easter's coming :)

So, I finally got my sewing mojo on and made up this wee rabbit as a door hanging for Easter. The pattern  called for grey with white dots which of course I couldn't find, but think the white with grey dots work just fine :). And the fluffy tail was supposed to be minky fabric, which I also did not have - of course, so I used YoYos.  Luckily I found some buttons in the one and only button jar I still have so she has an eye ! My friend is returning my button jars to  me today and of course I'll never need any more buttons once they're returned. Isn't that always the way? I used the leftover strips for the binding and overall am happy with the results. Looking forward to Easter and hopefully gathering with the family for a nice dinner and get together.

Everyone is enjoying my April Showers hanging on my door right now. I made it a couple of years ago for mother. I fell in love with the umbrellas and rain boots fabric. I quilted rain drops but they don't show up very well on the dotty fabric. Never mind, it was fun to do .

Claire attending her first (?) ballet recital. Looks like she really enjoyed herself :)

TTFN

Valentine's!

So, I have something for Valentine's on my door. It's smallish but does the trick and seems the ladies here at Oakcrossing like it. I've had several positive comments, which is always nice. 

Before my sister and her DH went off to sunnier climes for the month we had a family dinner to celebrate (2 weeks early) my great niece's 5th Bday. Of course I was unprepared so did the $ in a card method and suggested she and mommy enjoy some shopping. Well, looks like they did !

I'm told she got some stuffies, including a Unicorn.  She looks happy doesn't she !

Glad to see Claire enjoyed her mini shopping spree :). In the meantime I've been keeping busy hand quilting on my Lucy Boston. I'm about 1/3 done, but this week has been a bust as I've had the plaque for the last few days. Hope it's  not the dreaded FLU - as that's what I had the last 2 winters, which hospitalized me and put me here @ Oakcrossing. DON'T NEED THAT AGAIN!!

Also been busy reading. Finished off Doris Lessing's Golden Notebook . Can see why it was a sensation when it was first published but not sure it is quite the earthshaker it was when first written. Also polished off  The In- Between World of Vikram Lall by M G Vassanji - would definitely recommend this one, and  The Book Thief by Markus Zusak also excellent! Can you tell what I've been doing this winter  .... lots of reading ;)

TTFN

It's Done !!

It's Done it's done it's done it's done It's Done it's done it's done it's done It's Done it's Done !

and now for the borders

Not that I'm prejudiced, but I truly think it's better with the black borders. TG as it took over a week to applique them on ! so I'm NOT taking them off.  Now to find the backing fabric. It's somewhere in a box under the bed. Somewhere I haven't looked since the movers threw the boxes under there. Guess what I'll be doing this week ;). Once the backing is seamed up then I'll be crawling on the floor as I baste it all together. I'm  planing on hand quilting this beauty. It will take me months, but what else do I have to do, and anyway it's all hand done so far why stop now. In the mean time guess it's sock knitting for me!!
TTFN

Happy Holidays

Happy holidays to all. It's been awhile since my last post. Indeed, I have been chastened about my indolence. Well, in my defence (and there really is no defence) I've been somewhat busy getting my Lucy (Lucy Boston paper pieced Points of the Cross) quilt top together. It's now together with borders, pic to follow soon as I finish getting the papers and basting removed. And, with the holidays and celebrations and gatherings of friends, etc., I just haven't had time for much else. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
My time has been occupied, and I did manage to finish off 2 of my 3 retrieved Piecemaker's 2002 Seasons blocks - see December's block above. It's hard to see in this pic, but I embroidered Noel in copper thread in the bottom left corner,  and in silver thread Joy in the bottom right corner. You can see the pink Peace  in the top right. I also added a wee doilie (from grandma) and the only piece of Tatting I have ever done. If you look carefully you will also see a couple of pine cone buttons, and of course the big bad wolf! I like this one, and it has been a real hit here at Oak Crossing.
TTFN

Slowly slowly getting close

Bottom half of my Lucy Boston with all the connector blocks added. I was so thrilled to get to this point that I just had to see what it will look like. Mourning the loss of my design wall, I improvised and used the floor. Luckily my camera phone was still able to catch a reasonable pic. Have a look

So the next week or so will be busy sewing these two halves together. Then appliqueing the border on, finding my backing and making the big decision as to hand quilting or sending it out to be machine quilted. Which would you choose?
TTFN

Quilt Show !

So this weekend was my guild's quilt show and I have to start off with this Canada 150 quilt made by Jacqui. I've been wondering how I was going to put the blocks together on my version - sashing/no sashing/what colour, etc. I'm really liking her use of black, but think I may go for a dark charcoal rather than a true black. Lovely quilt Jacqui - thanks for the inspiration!

Always loved this pattern of community in the round. Thought her use of background colour was interesting.


This one block wonder with a panel in the middle is another one of Jacqui's. She's so creative! Lovely mix of colours. Gives me more ideas for that OBW project I have in the back of my mind;)

Some more inspiration with the layout of this Dresden Plate - almost modern :). Uh huh - liking it!

 

Lorna did a fabulous job with her Dresden layout also, and of course I love her use of colour, she's known for that talent ! The white spokes in the plates are Canada 150 fabrics :).

Here's another of Lorna's works (least I think it is her's) this time with hexies! Yowza!!





A couple of kids quilts from Beth. So whimsical. Too bad my kids quilts days are over as I so love this pattern. If you look close you'll
see they are not identical. I think Beth had fun making these ;)

Another whimsical quilt - from Barb I think. Again, love the colours !

A B&W One Block Wonder. Geeze these are beautiful quilts, and the orange border really makes it pop!

Not sure who's  sampler quilt this is. I usually don't like sampler quilts but thought this was an effective use of B&Wand love the piano key border!


And rest your eyes on this lovely Taupe wonder by Linda. She's really into Yoko Saito's patterns and makes such gorgeous quilts!

Must finish off with this beauty, one of three displayed at the show. This lady (sorry don't know her name, she's newish to the guild) does marvelous fabric art landscapes on board.

Hope you enjoyed a few of my picks from our LFQG's Quilts For All Seasons 2018 quilt show!
TTFN

Happy Fall!

So I saved a few things from the old homestead, and glad I did as it makes a nice tablescape for the Fall. The leaves are starting to turn colours so I went for a wee drive this afternoon. Lovely to get out & about. Lots of fun and activity since my last post. Claire has started school, and loves it!

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I missed the trip to Len's Mills and our evening guild meeting as I was not feeling the best. Have learned to take it very easy when my body tells me to :(. This week coming is William's 2nd birthday.

I wanted to buy him a trunk, he's truck crazy right now,  but didn't get out to shop for that either :(. Also this week I anticipate a visit from a friend & hopefully may retrieve some of my crazy quilt patches which I hope to make into door hangings. Our guild's quilt show is at the end of the week and I am soooo looking forward to it and to shopping @ the vendors booths (not that I need anything!)
I promised myself I would start working on my Canada 150 quilt in Oct. Well, it's the middle of the month and  I haven't opened the sewing machine yet ;(. Got to get myself in gear or it will never get done! Ha ha ha, what can you do, although I admit to still be working on my Lucy Boston - the bottom half is now officially done, and I have just 3 connector blocks to finish the top. Then join the two halves and applique a border and it will be ready for quilting. Ohhhh, the end is in sight!
TTFN