Just Testing

I’m trying a new program – Windows Live Writer – to see if it will be easier to post pictures using this program. 

I just finished hand stitching the binding on this little snowman strippy.

I’m rushing the season a bit, but nothing like being prepared.

My quilting was pretty wobbly on this – I haven’t touched Tillie for well over a month!

I just looked at the preview and it looks like this just might work – woo hoo.  If it looks weird or the pictures are too big on your computer, please let me know.

Just Breathe

I finally feel like I might actually live but it's been a long haul. A specialist figured out what was wrong with me and now I'm on the right meds (and off those horrible steroids) and feeling a whole lot better - hallelujah.

The last couple of weeks just seem to have gone by in a blur and there certainly wasn't anything noteworthy going on in the quilting front. Yesterday and today, though, I have made up for lost time and I'm happy to be back in my groove.

Don't ask me what on earth I was thinking when I cut these stacked posies out. They are 3" unfinished - I can't even blame the drugs as I cut these out months ago. My original intent was to put sashing between them and make a lap sized quilt, but when I looked at them on my design wall the way they are, I thought it might look nice to sash them and then make each one of these 16 blocks a large block and break them up with something else in between. I've also thought a tablerunner might be good and that way it might actually get finished.

I also finished embroidering all my little aliens ladybugs.

I discovered when you click on my pictures to see them full screen, they are too big. I only realized this when I went into my blog from a different computer one day. My good friend Sandy has given me detailed directions on how to fix this problem, but I just haven't got around to figuring it out yet. I upload all my pictures directly from "My Pictures" and I guess I need to save them somewhere first - why do they have to make everything so difficult!

I did make it to a special little boy's First Birthday Party on Wednesday. Take a look at the cake that his Mum Elizabeth made. Check out the hamburgers - she had some with lettuce peeking out and some with cheese and everything was made from fondant. Can you imagine the hours she must have spent on this?

Here is the birthday boy - my little adopted grandson Alexander.

Squares & Bugs

I can't believe my week of vacation is almost over and I've spent most of it sick. I did get a spurt of energy yesterday though and got my Boxed Squares sewn together.

I also pieced the backing fabric - it might be a bit busy, but the colours worked quite well and it's been sitting in my stash for quite some time.

While I was sewing my Boxed Squares on "Baby Ben" (it's cute and it's little and it's black, just like my baby),

I was doing some multi-tasking and stitching these little guys out.

I can't quite decide if they look like ladybugs or little aliens - maybe a little of both? There are 10 in the set, then I'll make a little baby quilt out of them - at least that is the plan.

The Jersey Boys

Sandra and I had been planning for some time to go and see The Jersey Boys in Toronto today. The show was fantastic and I would highly recommend it. For those of you not familiar with the musical, it is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.



The rest of our day wasn't quite as great as the show. Some of you may be aware that the City of Toronto's municipal workers are out on strike. While I realized this affected garbage pick-up, what I didn't realize was that all the city owned parking lots would be barricaded and picketed.

The weather today reached the high 90s with a heat index well over 100 - try walking in that with asthma!


Now for the rant....there was garbage everywhere - overflowing from bins, lying on the sidewalks and a lot of the bins had been wrapped so you couldn't put any garbage in them. These workers are striking in part to protect their policy of being able to bank and cash up to 6 months of 18 days a year sick pay benefits. In this economy they should be thankful they have a job, let alone one that allows you 18 days a year of sick days.

The Premier of Ontario refuses to introduce legislation mandating these people back to work - he is asking that we be patient. I guess it doesn't bother him as his limo drives him door to door wherever he goes. The majority of people in the province believe that these positions should be classified as 'essential services' and the employees not allowed to strike.

What a wonderful impression this must make for tourists. Toronto's tourism industry suffered badly in the SARS outbreak after 9/11. It's taken all this time to build it up but who in their right mind would want to visit a city with picketers everywhere and garbage littering the streets - piles and piles of it. It is a public health issue - the rats in the garbage will soon be as big as the political rats who refuse to put an end to this and legislate these workers back to WORK!

I'll get off my soapbox now, but every so often I just have to get these rants off my chest!

Regularly scheduled programming will resume when I actually have something quilty to show you.

Bathing Beauties

The weather co-operated and we had Stitch N Chat Chat N Eat outside today. Here are the ladies chatting:

Left to right Lee, Janet, Doreen & Bev. I neglected to get a picture of the others eating! See those eight feet in the pool - that is the most this pool has been used in 2 years! Just this past week we spent $500 for a new filter and yesterday another $500 for repairs to the gas heater. We call it the big hole in the backyard we pour money into. After writing the cheques for these repairs, both Leo & I have decided we will use it this year - but don't hold your breath for pictures!

I had a nice dinner tonight with some girlfriends. We try and get together a couple of times a year, but although I saw two of them at our Anniversary party, I haven't seen the other two for almost a year. We set up a bi-monthly dinner schedule in an attempt to keep in better touch.

You might notice I'm writing this at 12:25 A.M. I wish I could be like Mary and be productive on the nights I can't sleep, but I'm just groggy enough to probably screw up anything I might attempt to do. I'm back on some heavy duty pills AGAIN - and my all time favourite - prednisone. It's 'just' my asthma but I told the Dr. today that if it isn't any better when I see him again tomorrow, to get the gun ready. Enough is enough. I've spent hours reading everything I can find about asthma - triggers, treatment, prevention and unless I want to join John Travolta in that glass bubble, there isn't much I can do that I'm not doing already.

Ben had a ball today - literally - he had 9 people willing to throw the ball for him and throw it they did. Of course why wouldn't they - he thinks they all came just to see him!

Baking & Bookmarks

It's been busy around here lately, but not on the quilting front. Thursday night I went with the girls at work to a "Martini & Manicure" night at a local restaurant, Cucci. For $20 you got a martini and a manicure and the most delicious appetizers like scallops, bruchetta with cherry tomatoes and prosciutto, mushrooms and risotto coated in polenta then pan fried. I only wish I'd taken my camera to get pictures as the presentation was as good as the food. I'm now wearing "I'm a Princess, You're Not" - don't you just love the names OPI come up with.


Friday, Sandra and I made a trek down to Buffalo where she had a very successful day and I loaded up on all the Aveda products I love which are about a quarter of the price there than they are here. I picked up some more fusible fleece at Joann's in the hopes of making some more bags. There wasn't a line-up at the border either coming or going so it looks like the new passport requirement has cut down on the number of people crossing.


Yesterday, we celebrated my Mum's 87th birthday, along with Father's Day. The weather co-operated and it was a beautiful warm, sunny day.


In between all of this, I've been stitching these out:



They are free standing lace bookmarks and they stitched out beautifully. I thought they would be nice to have on hand when you need a 'little something' for a thank you. They stitched out so well, it has inspired me to do some more machine embroidery but I haven't quite decided what I'll do yet. Maybe the ornaments I bought about 2 years ago and have yet to stitch out?

Tomorrow I'm hosting our Stitch N Chat so I did some baking this afternoon. I really think we should change the name to Chat N Eat.

Boxed Squares & Fish

I haven't spent a lot of time sewing the last couple of days, but I did get all my boxed squares put together. Now I can either spend countless hours arranging and rearranging them, or I can just sew them together the way they are. I really need to do something about that guitar border - it's been there so long I don't even notice it anymore.

Leo got home safely last night and had a wonderful time. He brought some trout (yuck) and pickerel (yum) all nicely filleted.

He was near a place called White River which is the original home of Winnie the Pooh. I guess Winnie came from White River before he was taken to Winnipeg where he got his name. This is the statue paying homage to Winnie - what a cheesy statue - looks like something you'd find in a McDonalds!

I have no idea what kind of fish this is, but apparently it's quite the catch!

Here are Leo & Steve showing off their quota.

Then, we have the best picture he took of his trip. This is Cocoa who lived in the lodge they stayed at.

She's much cuter than any old fish pictures!

Sunny Sunday Afternoon

I made it through the week, but it wasn't fun. Retirement is looking more appealing every day. I did have some luck this week though - I won $135 on some scratch tickets.

I'm not a big gambler but occasionally I'll pick up some tickets when I'm checking out - notice the name - Lucky Dog!! I have $10 more here to cash in and of course, I'll buy more tickets with that.

Thanks to Bunny's suggestion, I found some ironing board covers on Ebay. I'd looked there before but I guess the size I have is becoming more popular so there are more covers available. I picked up two for $12 each and shipping was only $5 for both so I'm a happy camper. If you have to iron, what could be nicer than looking at these little guys while you're doing it.

I've been playing with some Bali Pops this weekend.

Aren't the colours luscious.

I'm really not sure why I buy quilting books. I spend hours and hours looking through them for pattern ideas, then nine times out of ten, I make something from Mary's site. The above pattern is her Boxed Squares - I've made it before and it's fun and easy.

Speaking of Mary, her sister Deb has a new DVD out on the Machine Quilters Resource site. It's longarm specific and while I haven't seen it yet as I just ordered my copy the other day, I know that anything Deb does will be brilliant! If you haven't already checked out her work, please do so as you are in for a treat. She is one talented lady - it must run in that family!

Another blog friend has just opened a new Etsy Shop this week with some of her gorgeous hand dyes for sale. Vicki has been making these amazing Color Palettes for the last couple of months based on pictures. They truly are eye candy and the fabric she has dyed is beautiful. Please check out Vicki's blog and you'll find the link to her new Etsy store there.

Mrs. Paws paid Ben a visit as promised and he is even more handsome than ever, or could I be slightly prejudiced?

He is missing his Dad but I told him just one more sleep and his Daddy will be home.