Sunday, December 26, 2010

Now I Can Share

Now that everyone has received their gifts, I can show you what I’ve been up to.

I made this for Sandra and she loved it.

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It’s easy to make – it’s all in the yarn!

Then I made these for her:

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She loves fingertip towels in her washrooms and since they have 4 bathrooms in their house, she can never have too many. I’m glad she’s the one cleaning them and not me!

I got a lovely surprise just before Christmas when these arrived from my friend Joan in Alberta.

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Aren’t they adorable! Almost makes me want to go and cook something so I can use them – almost, but not quite!

She also sent me this gorgeous wallet.Christmas Day 2010 026

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The black strip on the left is all divided for credit cards and the thinner black strip on the right is a zippered compartment. I could never make anything this fiddly and have it turn out so well – thank you Joan – you how how much I appreciate it!

Sandra & Darren surprised me yesterday with this wonderful shadowbox gift. The detail is incredible and I am really inspired now to get my sewing room redecorated so I can hang it on the wall.

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Ben had a ball yesterday opening all the gifts wrapped in tissue paper. He isn’t really interested in what’s inside, he just loves to rip off tissue paper. I got a few pictures, but they didn’t turn out very well.

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The joke of the day was Leo and I gave each other the same present - an iPad. Since I had his engraved, mine is going back. Thank heavens he didn't buy his from Apple and get it engraved too. I think we can live without 2 iPads!

I’ve started to empty out my sewing room today. I want to replace the flooring, paint the walls and have some storage shelves built in the cupboard. I have a feeling that by the time I move everything out of there and into our bedroom, we won’t be able to move. Hopefully this will motivate us to get it done quickly.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and I wish good health and happiness for you in 2011.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

The Countdown Begins

What a busy time of year it is.  Why is it that you see all these great ideas for hand made Christmas gifts about 2 weeks before the big day?  I read somewhere recently – why doesn’t anyone tell me Christmas is coming – and that’s kind of how I feel right now! 

‘Tis the season for parties, dinners, Open Houses, pot lucks and brunches but I’m ready to get back to normal.  I’m also ready to stop eating so much!

I did get my second sock finished, but you’ll have to take my word for it, as I don’t have a picture and I’m too lazy to go and take one.  I’ve got another pair almost done too.  These things are very addictive so if you haven’t tried them yet – don’t!

Since the recipient received this gift, I can share it now.  Christmas Gifts 2010 003

I just quilted it with some silver metallic thread which I’m not sure you can see in the pictures.

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I also made these towels for my two little adopted grandsons.  I’m not sure what I was thinking when I did these – there were over 40,000 stitches on each one – for a hand towel.  At least I know I’m crazy!

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Check out the look on Alexander’s face – it was worth every one of those stitches!

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While I’ve been running around like a chicken with my head cut off, Ben & Molly have been chilling.  They have each claimed a chair – but I think they have it backwards.  The chair without the arms is supposed to be the ladies chair – it is my understanding they were made that way to accommodate a lady’s knitting needles.

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We were at my girlfriend’s today for brunch and my adopted granddaughters gave Ben his Christmas present – doesn’t he look thrilled!

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Saturday, December 4, 2010

What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas…

except this sock.

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I hate to miss out on anything and it seems like everyone is knitting socks on circular needles right now.  I started this in the airport in Toronto and worked on it while we were in Vegas.  You are supposed to knit 2 at a time, but I thought I’d learn to walk before I started running, so just started out with one.

I can’t believe how addictive this is!  Just what I need, another addiction.  I did this on Number 2 needles with a 75% wool, 25% nylon yarn and I love how it turned out.

I’ve been busy working on Christmas gifts, but because they are gifts, I can’t share most of them with you right now.  I’ll be giving this one to Sandra today, so I can show this little table topper to you.

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It’s got penguins on it, so I hope she likes it.

I made this tote for my Mum.

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I made her one several years ago that she never lets out of her sight.  It’s starting to fall apart, so it was time for a new one.  It’s fully lined and has 2 large pockets inside which you can divide if you wish.

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She loves to gather and hoard so I hope she will be willing to give up her old one.

We had a great time in Vegas – did lots of window shopping, had some great meals, saw a show and walked for miles and miles.   We also managed to play the slots too!

We stayed at The Venetian and had a beautiful suite on the 27th floor.  Our room overlooked the Wynn golf course right next door.

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Since Vegas is a city full of bling, I brought my own bling along with me.  I purchased this little wallet in Houston last year and embellished it with crystals.  It was so much easier than dragging my large bag around with me.

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Of course, it couldn’t compare to these gorgeous Judith Leiber purses we saw!!!!

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The one we priced was $4,295 – a real bargain!!!

Everything was decorated for Christmas and was so pretty.

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We saw so many to die for shoes, but these were my favourite.

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Then we get to the food!  I wanted to try one of these, but never did have the opportunity.

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The gelato:

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I’ll share the rest of my pictures another day – don’t want to bore you all at once!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Busy Busy

I’ve been busy – really busy and it’s been nice.  Last weekend I went to a retreat where I worked on my Blooming 9 Patch ALL weekend.  I don’t know what I was smoking when I told you I hoped to come home with a finished top.  Maybe that was before I realized there were 256 nine patches in this king size quilt!  I did get a lot done, and I’ve been working diligently on it since then. 

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Here it is in 3 pieces – the centre strip still needs to be sewn on – once I receive a 5” square from the place I ordered the fabric.  I messed up on cutting the first block and didn’t have enough fabric to re-cut it correctly.  As soon as that arrives, I’ll replace the centre block, get that strip sewn in and then put the borders on.  This has really been fun to work on and I must say it went together beautifully.  I think I owe a big debt of thanks to Debbie Caffrey for all the great tips I learned in her cutting class.

On Wednesday, Sandra & I went to see Wicked and we loved it!

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We both love musicals – I think we’ve seen just about all of them.  While Les Miserable is still my favourite, this one was really well done and thoroughly entertaining. 

I had a great visit with my Mum today.  It was probably the best visit I’ve had in a long, long time and what a difference it made.  I was tempted to ask the nurses who this nice old lady was and what did they do with my mother!

I have more busy days ahead.  I’m working 3 days this week (moan, moan) then Sandra & I are making our annual pilgrimage to Buffalo next weekend to start our Christmas shopping. 

The following weekend we’re off to Vegas.  Neither one of us are big gamblers but we both love Vegas.  I think for Leo it’s the food.  I might have already told you this story but Sandra once said if we went to the moon, the first thing Daddy would ask when we got back was what did you have to eat! 

I love the sights, the shows and the fountains at Bellagio – I could stand and watch them for hours.  We’ve gone at this time of year before and usually all the Christmas decorations are up, so it should be fun.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Blooming Quilt

I’m ashamed to admit that we don’t have a quilt on our bed.  We both prefer a duvet, but we just bought a new headboard recently and I think the bed is crying out for a quilt.

I decided to make a Blooming 9 Patch and here are the fabrics I’m using:

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I have all but one of the strip sets finished and since I’m going on Retreat this weekend, I hope to come home with a finished top.  That might be optimistic as I get bored quickly, but that is my aim.

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Last week, I went to Ste. Anne’s Spa with two ‘old’ friends.  It’s located in the middle of nowhere in an idyllic country setting with amazing views.

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The blue in the lower part of the picture is Lake Ontario and this was the view outside our window.

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We took a one hour walk through a cedar forest and when we came to the opening, the Spa was ahead on the hill.  There was still a lot of colour, as you can see.

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I think I’m a very brave woman for posting this next picture of me without a drop of makeup!!!  This is my forever friend, Trudy.  We’ve been friends since we were 5 – you do the math!

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Lions and Tigers and Goblins, Oh My!

I haven’t shared any pictures of my grandkitties lately, so this post is dedicated to them.  They are all rescue kitties, approximately the same age and they get along beautifully together. 

Here’s little Abby, our princess, all ready for Halloween.

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She is such a good natured cat, so loving and tolerant as this picture attests.

Then there is our little cross eyed Lucy all decked out in her finery. 

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Here’s Abby again, with a change of outfit.  If she could talk, I’m sure she’s saying – Get This Off Me NOW…please.

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Not to be outdone by Abby, Lucy needed to model the hat too.  She looks like she’s scaring herself!

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Miles wasn’t up for a photo shoot – he left that to the girls as he’d rather curl up and sleep (typical male).

He looked so comfortable, the girls thought they’d give it a try.

Abby Sleeping

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They really are the best of friends.