Milestones

With friends like mine, who needs enemies.  My good friend Lee has reminded me on more than one occasion that I haven’t blogged lately.  She was also very anxious to point out that I would need to change the information on my sidebar.  It did say “a fifty something mother, wife, etc.” and that now needs to read “sixty”.  Yes, I turned the big 6-0, but it’s just a number, right?  Happy now Lee?

I also retired from my job where I worked for 27 years.  It was very emotional leading up to that day, but I feel wonderful now and can’t imagine why I was emotional about leaving.  Retirement rocks and I won’t be sitting here again!

My other so called friend Diane talked me into doing the current mystery shawl on Ravelry by Stephen West – Rockefeller.  Sure, let’s knit with wool when the temperature outside is 150F – what a great idea.  See what I mean about my friends!!

This is my progress to date on the shawl.  This pattern has really challenged me.  It hasn’t been difficult but there are many things I haven’t done before, like the Icord edge, German short rows and it’s been eons since I knit with two colours.  I can hardly wait to sew in all those ends – NOT!

I seem to be doing more knitting lately than quilting, but here is my Before and After scarf.  When you are knitting this, it looks like a rag, but once it is blocked, it turns into a princess!

I finished another scarf (don’t ask me what I’m going to do with all these scarves) but the ends aren’t sewn in and it hasn’t been blocked yet, so I’ll save it for another day.

 

Way back in May, Lee and I took a class through our Guild to make this Weekender bag.  I’m really pleased with the finished product, but with the money we put into this, I’m sure we could have bought a Birkin bag!  There are 4 zippers – two large ones across the top for two separate areas, and one on each end for two more pockets. 

 

We had a heck of a time finding parachute clips wide enough to accommodate the strapping for the shoulder strap, but I finally found a boating supply store online and ordered them there.  Here is the link to the pattern. 

Sandra also had a birthday this month, and since she’s shoe crazy, I made her this:

I also incorporated shoes in the lining.

 

I just finished some blocks for Quilts of Valour – Hugs Across the Nation Campaign made from Northcott’s Oh Canada line of fabric.

Actually, Lee and I went to Northcott’s Canadian facility yesterday.  You are allowed to shop there if you have a Vendor’s Permit.  I had no idea there were so many different colours in Stonehenge – dozens and dozens of them.  We weren’t thrilled with the prices, though.  This is a wholesale facility and the fabric was anywhere from seven something to eleven something a metre.  Since you had to buy a whole bolt, I didn’t think it was any great deal.  If you shop the sales online, I think you can do much better and then only need to buy what you want.  Since it was in the area, we also checked out Sew Sisters which is a nice little store with a great selection of very reasonably priced batiks.  You’ll be amazed to hear I didn’t buy any   Lee treated me to lunch for my birthday, so it was a great day!

I have quite a stack of quilts that need to be quilted, including some Cuddle Quilts for the Guild, but it’s been so hot and humid here lately that I haven’t been inspired to do much. 

 

It’s Been Awhile

My life has been pretty dull and boring lately which is my excuse for not blogging. 

I did get my Wonky Stars top finished and it now needs to be quilted.

 

This was a really fun quilt to make and there might be another one of these in my future. 

A good friend of mine was stressing over one of her tops.  She bought a kit last year when we were in Paducah, and unlike me, got busy and got it made.  She had tried quilting it herself but just wasn’t happy, so I offered to do it for her.  As you know, I don’t quilt for others as it just makes me too nervous.  I’m always paranoid that the cat will throw up on the top or my machine will leak oil all over a top.  Neither of these things have ever happened, but there is a first time for everything and it would be my luck that it would happen on someone’s precious top!

As soon as I saw her top I thought it needed some swirls to give movement to the sharp lines so this is what I did.

 

She entered it in a local quilt show and it won a ribbon!!!!  This is what she wrote on her description which almost had me in tears.

 

Hopefully you can click on the picture to enlarge it so you can read what it says.

We saw some lovely quilts at the Show.

These are my friends Julie, Lee and Diane – and Diane is pointing to the quilt behind so that you’ll think she made it – she didn’t but it is a gorgeous quilt!

I’ve always liked this quilt – it has been hanging in a local quilt store for a while – until Diane pointed out to me that it doesn’t line up.  It’s not the quilter’s fault, the pattern is designed that way, but since she pointed it out, now that just screams out at me.

Look at the star points and you’ll see what she means.

Isn’t this just too cute!

This was one of my favourites and just goes to show you how much my taste has changed since I started quilting.  I wasn’t a big fan of Civil War fabrics but now I’m always drawn to the quilts made from them.

This is such a distinctive style made by award winning quilter Carol Goddu – just look at the detail!

 

Here are a couple more of my favourites.

 

You know I love scrappy!

 

 

 

Our Guild’s Quilt Show is running this weekend – if you live in the area, please drop in as there is a lot of talent in our Guild!  Here’s a link to all the details.  I’ll be there all day tomorrow, so if you see me, please say hello!

It took me 3 years to get this to bloom the first time, but I’m thrilled that it’s blooming again just 5 months from the last time!

Wednesday is my Mum’s 90th birthday.  There is absolutely nothing we can do for her or give her to celebrate as her condition has deteriorated so much.  All we can do is remember her in more pleasant times and hope for an end to her suffering.  This was taken on her 80th birthday – Happy Birthday Mum, I love you.

I’m Still Alive

My best friend Lee, who doesn’t blog and therefore has no idea just how hard it is coming up with something remotely interesting for people to read, has reminded me I haven’t updated this for quite some time.  Maybe I should suggest she be a guest blogger

I quilted  quite a few charity quilts for our Guild.  Why do people think it’s O.K. to get rid of the ugliest, cheapest fabrics for charity quilts?  Don’t the recipients deserve to have nice quilts too?  I feel like I’m trying to turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse and we all know how successful that is!



These ones aren’t too bad, but then again, you can’t see the backs!

I embroidered two little door hangers for my adopted grandsons for Easter.


As my good friend Joan said, I always think I’m going to enjoy machine embroidery more than I actually do.  I’ve given this some thought and other than the fact that it’s boring sitting there watching the design stitch out, there are so many things that are out of your control.  The design can be poorly digitized, the machine can act up, the thread won’t play nice – so many things that you can't do anything about.  At least if you mess up when quilting, it’s your own fault.  You can do everything right with machine embroidery, yet you can still end up with a project that is less than perfect.

For his birthday, Johnathan told me he wanted a blanket (not a quilt, he was very specific) with an elephant on it that he could cuddle in bed.  This is what I came up with and he loved it.  It’s basically just a flannel receiving blanket with the appliqued elephant and his name on it. 



I finished this Honey Cowl a while ago, but forgot to take a picture.  I’m not thrilled with this – you can double it around your neck twice which will be nice and cozy for walks in the winter with Ben, but just looped around once, it looks a bit strange to me.  I think everyone and their dog has made one of these so it must just be me!



I’m working on a new quilt that I got from the Moda Bake Shop website.  This is a really fun project and I’m using Moda’s Ruby line to make mine.  I haven’t got a lot done, but here’s my progress so far.




I’m also working on my first ever toe up socks.  So far, so good, but I’m just starting turning the heel now, so I should perhaps withhold judgment until that part is over!


I just got back from visiting my Mum.  She is a poor soul these days and while I thought it would get easier as time went on, it gets harder every time I visit.  She is so agitated and she’s been having a lot of falls.  She broke her hand a couple of weeks ago and had to have it casted.  Then, because of her agitation, she picked almost half the cast off and it had to be recast.   I wish with all my heart that she could find peace.

I have a busy week ahead – why does everything come at once?  Next weekend is the Amherst Quilt Show and they have advance sign-ups for the Seminar in September that I’ve attended for quite a few years now so Lee and I are going on Friday.  Saturday is the Knitter’s Frolic in Toronto.  I haven’t been to this before so I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m sure we’ll have an enjoyable day.

I’ve also started my ‘days to retirement’ countdown – only 20 more working days and I’m done!!!!!  I’ve been at my current employer for 27 years, but it’s time – life is too short.

March Break

I’m not sure why I continue to blog – my posts are getting fewer and farther between, but it does give me a record of what I’ve accomplished – or not!

It’s been a productive month around here with lots of finished projects. 

First up is my Mystery Quilt from Border Creek Station.  This was a monthly mystery and was a lot of fun to do and the instructions were excellent.  They were so good, in fact, that I’m doing another one this year, but I decided just to do the lap size this year!

This is the accessorized version:

I still haven’t figured out how to keep my font the same on Live Writer and it is STILL driving me nuts!  Every time I insert a picture or put in a link, it reverts back to this tiny little font.  Grrrrrrr…….

Here’s my handsome model Bruno, modeling another ruffled scarf that I finished.  This pattern comes from Churchmouse. 

 

Our Guild is holding their Quilt Show this year, so I made a couple of items for their Tombola.

 

I was at Retreat last weekend and I always come back from that full of inspiration.  Unfortunately, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that I’d like to do. 

On a completely different note, if you are an Adele fan and haven’t seen her “Live at the Royal Albert Hall” DVD, run right out and buy it.  It is absolutely amazing!!!!  Sandra & Darren gave it to me for Christmas but I just watched it a week ago and all I can say is WOW!  She has a mouth on her like a trucker, but it’s nothing I haven’t heard before and perhaps occasionally used

I got sucked into Idol again this year, and I’ve also added The Voice to my list on the PVR.  I really like The Voice – maybe just because it’s different, but there is some great talent on there and Blake Shelton isn’t too hard on the eyes either.  Maybe if I stopped watching so many singing competitions I’d get more done!  I do knit while I’m watching TV, so that takes away some of the guilt.

This has been the winter that wasn’t here in Southern Ontario.  Our crocuses were in full bloom on Wednesday and the daffodils are up about 3”.   Leo brought me these this morning and while they didn’t come from our garden, they are beautiful nonetheless.

I almost forgot – remember these?

The top pair were knitted from yarn from Knit Picks, I believe it was Stroll Tonal, and the bottom ones were Madeleintosh Sock.  While I absolutely love working with Madeleintosh, I won’t be knitting any more socks with it.  These were knit in November of 2011 and the sole wore completely through on them.  I’ve heard you should always knit socks with a bit of nylon in them and I’ll listen to that advice in the future.  I should have taken a picture of them, but I was so mad I threw them out before I thought about it.  Has anyone else had this problem?

Happy Valentine’s Day

I’ve dragged myself away from Pinterest long enough to work on this blog post.  If you haven’t already caught the craze, you have to check it out.  Of course, it’s another great time waster, but it’s so worth it!

Lots has been accomplished around here in spite of Pinterest.  I bought this cross stitch kit in Houston and knew it was just the right thing for Sandra’s shoe room.  What I didn’t know was that I’d have to take a mortgage out on the house to have it framed!


I’m not sure if you can see from the picture, but there are crystals on each of the shoes.

This is called Multnomah from Ravelry.  It was a very easy knit and I did it in Madeleintosh Sock.


Next up is another Circus Baby Quilt.  I will never tire of this fabric – it’s just so happy – but the bolt is almost finished. 

I was too lazy to take this downstairs and lay it out flat – I’m sure you get the idea.  I love the backing on this one – it’s balloons that imitate those on the front.


I quilted this using a Metro thread on top.  There was a lot of talk about this thread on the APQS forum and it quilts up beautifully and you sure can’t beat the price – it’s about $2.00 a cone!  I used a Super Bob in the bobbin.
I’ve had this pillow pattern for ages – it was one of the first patterns I bought when I started quilting about 8 years ago.  It's called Shaggy Chic by Atkinson Designs.


I decided it had aged enough in my drawer and also thought it would be a great addition to Sandra’s Shoe Room.  While we call it a Shoe Room, it’s really so much more – it’s her retreat filled with all the things she loves – shoes, jewelry, accessories and she is planning a sitting area where she can read or just sit and relax and admire her shoes.

I pulled all my FQs in pink and just went to it.  I must admit the cutting of this is a PITA, but if it turned out, I’d be happy.  Here is the before:



Here’s the after – after it had been put in the washer and dryer.


I just sent Sandra a picture of it and she loves it – so do I, so all that finicky cutting was worth while.  If you are looking for a stash buster, this is a great project as there are about 8 fat quarters in there plus fabric for the front & back!
Mrs. Paws (Ben’s groomer) is coming shortly.  He will be all beautiful for Valentine’s Day.  It doesn’t seem that long ago that he was clipped – it was right before Christmas and here he is in all his glory!

Is January Over Yet?

I’m not trying to wish my life away, but this has been one long, blah month. 

I’ve been on a mission to get some quilts that are in various stages of completion finished.  Here’s my first finish of 2012.

 

I quilted this using the Circle Lord Seven Treasures of Buddha template.

I’m trying to sell this one, just to recoup my costs.  I donate a lot of my quilts to various charities and give a lot away as gifts, but what do you do with the rest?  I want to continue to quilt, but my pile of completed quilts is getting bigger and I don’t know what to do with them.  Whenever I start a new quilt, the question I’m always asked is – who is is for?  Usually I don’t have a clue – it’s just a pattern or fabric that I like and I want to make it.  What do you do with all your quilts?

I started this one before Christmas.  It’s made completely from my scrap bin, other than the borders.  I got the backing for it cut today and maybe it will get quilted this weekend….maybe.

There’s also been a lot of knitting going on, but I don’t have anything completed to show you – no surprise there!  I was delighted to win the book, Sweet Shawletts from Julie at The Needle Emporium.   I haven’t received it yet, but I’m looking forward to getting it in the mail shortly.

If you live locally and haven’t been to this store, you don’t know what you’re missing.  She has the most beautiful collection of wool that I’ve ever seen in one place.  Unfortunately, some of it isn’t there any longer as it came home with me  

I also got a nice surprise from A Quilters Dream.  They sent me a gusseted quilted bag pattern to try and they included these gorgeous fat quarters to make it with! 

 

My friend Onalee sent me a link to this tutorial for a very easy, no-sew pet bed.  I just had to try it, so I made a couple last weekend and took one over for my grandkitties.  Abby just loved it and apparently she has been inseparable from it ever since.

It’s a tough life, isn’t it!