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. 

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!

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.

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:

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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. 

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.

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

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.

They really are the best of friends.

Dishes Anyone?

When I first started quilting about 6 years ago, I bought a lot of novelty fabric….and florals.  I’ve gotten over the urge to buy the novelties, but florals still call my name.

In my travels, I’ve seen these cute tea towels with a strip of novelty fabric on them so gave it a try.  I’m not sure if tea towels is a British expression and you might know them as dish towels, but all my life they’ve been tea towels to me – the ones you dry the dishes with.

I initially cut out each square and satin stitched them onto the towel, but I didn’t like how that looked, so just went with the strip right across the towel.

Sandra, I hope you like the 2 sets of penguin ones because they’re for you!

I also found this with my Christmas fabric

so I’m going to make some of these up and donate them to Animal Aid.  Who wouldn’t want to dry dishes with these cute little faces looking at you.

I’ve made about a dozen towels so far and I’ve used about 2 strips of fabric – that works out to about 6”.  I guess this isn’t exactly a stash buster!

As Bon Jovi says “It’s My Life”

My blog has become boring – I know it, you know it.  My blog used to represent who I am and what I do, but somewhere along the way, it’s changed and I’ve kept what’s really going on in my life off my blog.

Three days a week I visit my mother in a Behavioral Unit for Alzheimer and dementia patients in a long term care facility in Mississauga.  This is just a temporary placement with hopes of getting her behavior and pain stabilized so she can go into regular long term care.  She has been IN hospital more days this year than she has been out and I was visiting her almost every day.  For the best part of a year I have been getting calls at all hours of the day and night and it sucks the life out of you. 

It’s hard to be witty and entertaining with all this going on.  I’m not looking for sympathy – I know there are thousands of people just like me dealing with the same thing but it doesn’t help that I’m an only child and we have a very small family.   Throw in triple by-pass surgery for Leo in the middle of all this, and you can see where I’m coming from.

It’s pretty hard to take daily verbal abuse for being such a lousy daughter.  You would think it would get easier as time goes on, but it doesn’t – it gets harder. I’ve already given Sandra instructions to push me in front of a bus before I ever put her through what I’ve been through.

Since what I am dealing with is such a huge part of who I am right now, I just needed to vent.  Please – no sympathy – just make me laugh.

I got two more blocks of Lovebird Lane finished.

 

I’m going to give this a break for a couple of days as I want to make some dish towels.  I’ve seen them done in a couple of places – they are so easy but really look cute, so stay tuned.  Besides, it wouldn’t do to actually finish something!

Lovebird Lane

I’m kind of wishing I’d sat on my hands a little longer before ordering this block of the month.  It’s not that I don’t like it – I do, but I have no idea what I’m going to do with it and I’m not looking forward to quilting it as it’s all going to be background fill which isn’t one of my strong points.

This is the first block – I’m only about 6 months behind!

It’s pieced and appliquéd with a few finishing touches by hand embroidery. 

I have a few more pictures from the Quilt Show I’d like to share.  I don’t think we ever tire of looking at beautiful quilts.

I liked this quilt – in fact I think I bought the magazine a couple of years ago that it was featured in.

This one was wool felt appliqué.

The picture doesn’t do this wall hanging justice – it was stunning!

I’m always drawn to blue & white quilts, and this one was no exception.

I think I need to make one of these.

The quilting on this wall hanging was outstanding.

I have a few more Quilt Show pictures left, but I have a feeling this will take forever to download, so I’ll save them for my next post.

Strawberry Fields

I can’t remember why I called this quilt Strawberry Fields – I have a feeling the Bali Pops I bought were called that, but I’m not sure.  This pattern was a give away at a local Shop Hop a couple of years ago.  It was designed by Nancy Nigh who owned Gone To Pieces Quilt Shop. 

I finished the top quite some time ago, and finally got it quilted.  I used the Vibrance panto on this one, and Superior’s King Tut variegated thread. 

Lee and I went to the Brant Heritage Quilt Show yesterday in Paris, Ontario.  Here are some of my favourites from the Show.

There were a lot of bargello quilts – and there were a lot of stack n whacks – obviously a lot of people took the same class!

I thought this thread painting was stunning.

I loved this one and when I got closer, realized it was 100% silk – all made from ties!

This jacket was also made from silk ties.

 

This was one of my favourites.

It reminded me of Nova Scotia which is one of my favourite places.

I have lots more pictures, but I’ll save some for another post.

After the quilt show, we went to Mary Maxim.  I’m sure it’s been at least 20 years since I was there and I had no idea they sold fabric (probably just as well I didn’t know!). 

It’s Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada so tomorrow is a holiday.  I’m off to the Rockton Fair with Sandra & Darren.  I’m not sure if I’ll take my camera or not, but Sandra rarely leaves home without hers, so if there is anything picture worthy, I’m sure we’ll be covered.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends.

Memories of Galveston

You have no idea how happy it makes me to have some quilting time again.

I purchased the fabric for this quilt in Galveston, I believe it was in 2005, when Onalee and I had a magical day there after having our fill of the Houston Quilt Show.  We spent a couple of hours in Quilts by the Bay before enjoying a meal on the waterfront watching the world go by.  I’ve decided to name this “Memories of Galveston”.

It looks more than a little wrinkled in this picture and the reason why is slinking off in the background.  Why is it that no matter where in the house your pets are, the minute you lay something on the floor they have to lie on it?

This could explain some of the wrinkles!!!!

I also finished up this little Christmas table runner made from a Charm Pack.

I quilted this with metallic thread and as always, Tilly was very co-operative and I didn’t have any problems at all.

I also finished this little strippy quilt called “Nursery Rhymes”.

 

You might notice two little paws on the right of the picture!!!!

I got another quilt quilted this weekend too but I am still hand sewing the binding so I’ll wait until it’s finished to show you. 

Seminar Part Two

On the second day of the seminar, I took Debbie Caffrey’s Open a Can of Worms  and Another Can of Worms class.  We were working with 2 1/2” strips cutting half square triangles, quarter square triangles and trapezoids.  I’ve been playing around with her methods since coming home and I like them!!!! 

This is her Road To Oklahoma quilt and it was hung on a folding screen which is why it looks funny in the middle.

This one is called Four Patches and Friends.

This last one is her Bluebonnets quilt and the fabric was just stunning.  Once again, the pictures don’t do it justice.

If you ever get the opportunity to take one of Debbie’s classes, I would highly recommend it.  I can honestly say I learned more USEFUL information from her on basic quilt making skills than any other class I’ve taken.

Since Leo has been away fishing all weekend, I’ve been busy trying out all the techniques I learned.  I just need to get some pictures taken so I can show you.