living, quilting and stuff

Fabric Post Cards for Valentine's

2012-02-06T23:28:00.001-05:00

Super Bowl Sunday was also a sew-fest day. I was able to make a slew of fabric postcard Valentines for some of my nearest and dearest. (Note to family and friends: don't look too closely since you may or may not be finding one of these in your mailbox someday soon)

MMMM, loving that chocolate....

I like to make larger pieces then cut them apart into separate post cards

Desert Blooms

Gerberas

Lovin' that F1

For a cute little boy

Surf and sand dreams

There was a bit more sewing, lots of food (Buffalo chicken,hummus,chili,Brie, chips)and fun. My dearest friend Penny came to play with me in the studio while the male species smoked cigars, hung about the man-space and did a bit of side-line coaching.

WIP's are coming along

2012-01-17T00:22:00.000-05:00

2012 is promising to be a good sewing year! I have completed more projects in the last 4 weeks than I was able to for half the last year. I have added a Kindle case and a table runner to the PlayBook covers that were made as Christmas gifts.

The big deal for me is that I was able to complete 2 tops that have been on my "to do" list for a few years.
The "Rememberance Poppy Quilt" (Pam Bono designs) and Melissa's "Purple &Red Quilt".
Penny, Lyla and I have been working through the hundreds of baggies of little pieces of fabric together. So, to be fair, some of the reason it has taken so long is because we committed to work on this quilt only when we could work on it together. It is exciting now that the tops are done.

I will wait to quilt it however until the "Purple & Red Quilt" is completely done.

I have been collecting these fabrics for quite a few years (since 2006 ?) because Melissa showed a magazine photo that had a quilt in the background that she liked. I saw the image for only a few minutes and this is the inspired result. I will quilt it vertically, perhaps in slightly curvy lines, alternating purple and red quilting thread. Watch this space... maybe in a month or so I will have it finished!!

Blackberry PlayBook cases

2011-12-29T01:19:00.002-05:00

Here is a selection of some of the Quilted BlackBerry PlayBook cases that I made for Christmas this year. I have been sewing away over the last month but I have forgotten to take pictures of most of these projects. These were all gifts that have gone to their special people, one case that is not included here was made using my specially saved stash of "Oriental" fabrics.

How these were made:

Outer fabric 19" x 10", choose fun or funky fabrics!!
Inner (lining) fabric 19" x 10", to complement or contrast the outer layer
Batting 18" x 9"
Hook & Loop Tape (2) 1" squares or the size that best matches the flap edge
Glue stick (washable)

Layer the inner and outer pieces, right sides out so that you can orient the top and folded over flap sections. Look at the print for creative finishing inspiration such as an angled flap, stepped out flap, rounded flap).
Lay your PlayBook in the center, fold up the bottom matching the end (fold under the seam allowance) to the top of the PlayBook. Fold down the top so that the end meets the bottom (or following the print to create an interesting flap).
Glue the hook sections to the outside of the pocket (outer fabric) and the loop to the inside of the top flap (inner lining).
Stitch these down securely.

Now lay these 2 pieces, right sides together and stitch around the edges (1/4" seam allowance), leaving 3" unstitched so that the piece can be turned right side out. Press the stitching lines to set the seam in place.
Before the piece is turned, lay the batting piece to match, Use the gluestick to baste the batting to hold it in place. Trim the corners of the seam allowance so that they will point out squarely.
Turn right side out, press the edges neatly, use a point-turner tool to push all corners out. Press again to the piece is well blocked to a square.
Quilt the fabric as desired.
Fold up the bottom edge to create the pocket (using your PlayBook as a guide), and mark the fold line and top edge.
Fold the right side to the inside and stitch the pocket section very close to the edge, restitch a second line parallel to the first line of stitching, back stitching to secure the edge. Press the seam in place.
Turn the pocket right side out, slide your PlayBook into the pocket to verify that the hook and loop tape is set correctly and that it fits nicely.
Top stitch the flap and around the top edge of the pocket.
Press the pocket (again), this will help your case look very neat and professional.
Turn the pocket inside out again and fold the corner edges so that you can sew a diagonal line 1/2" from the edge; this creates a crisp. square base for the PlayBook to slide into.
Turn right side out again and press a final time, taking care not to melt the hook and loop tape, setting the seams squarely and neatly.

Once I had the pattern figured out I could complete each in an hour (while watching TV). I love my chocolate box print with the chocolates inside.

Some of the other gifts that I made this Christmas included a table runner and some wine bottle carriers. It was so much fun to be able to use up some of the novelty prints that I have been collecting. They are usually so cute but often do not look that great if they are used in a quilt.

More knitting projects: frilly knitted scarves

2011-11-21T01:25:00.002-05:00

I saw the fun and very soft "Frill Seeker" and this "how to video" or this one for crochet. This yarn is essentially the same as Bernat "Twist & Twirl" and its video. I made one for myself, and knitted it closed into a loop so that it would not slip off my neck (or the coat hook at work) and get lost. It is loose enough to be looped twice around my neck to keep it warm.

I have a couple others made for some cuties that I know. These will be gifts so watch and wait.

The trick to using this yarn is to work along the outside edge, placing the needle tip about 1/4" in from the edge, and about an inch apart; ignoring the rest of the "fishnet-like" yarn. When all is done, a bit of fluffing, shaking and ruffling makes it all look pretty.

There are lots of great colour combo's too.

The scarf can be knitted up in 2 evenings of TV watching, or one evening if you are not being very distracted. It is a fast and fun knitting project, and pretty easy once you get used to working along the edge.

P.S.The shawl is being saved as my vacation project so watch this space for more photos soon.

Lady of the Lake Knitted Shawl, part 3 (and some good customer service stories)

2011-11-11T00:29:00.001-05:00

I had previously wrote about my Shawl project, update 2 a few weeks ago. I was happily knitting away until I hit a snag, literally. At the point of dividing the shawl I decided to switch to the second ball of yarn. It was not a good surprise to see that ball #2 was much finer than ball #1. It was like comparing sports weight to fingering yarn. I had little faith that my knitting project will work out, but I tried. I knitted up about 8" and I was not happy at all. There is no way that this was going to work out.

Yes, I purchased 2 balls of the same yarn, even if they were not the same colour-way that should have worked in the same project. Here I was, nearly $70 into a project that was not going to be beautiful.

After a few days I decided to contact the shop, The Loop in Halifax. I used their webform, twice. I had not heard anything so a few weeks later I called the shop to let them know how disappointed I am.

They actually had read my email, tried to reach me to follow up but there was an error in my email address in one of the contact forms. They were ready to fix it!! Yay for me. Mimi was confident that the issue was a defective ball of yarn since they only sell one weight. They were quite happy to send me a replacement ball, and I to send them a sample of the defective yarn weight ball.

Here we are, Nov 8 and the new ball is here, I am ready to start into it, but I have this much of the shawl completed:

That was good customer service story #1; I have 2 more good experiences to share. It is probably because the whole financial world is stretched so thin that it really matters that companies provide real value for the money that is spent on their goods. I appreciate that the store is standing up and meeting the expectations I have for the money that was spent there. We have only so much money and when it is spent we deserve true value for it.

Good customer service story #2 (maybe, the jury is still out on this one): my TomTom 630 go GPS. I bought it last year with my bonus. I spent time choosing this model, after purchasing and returning a Magellen and a Garmin. I thought that I made a good choice. After 14 months it went crazy, the screens kept switching rapidly, I was unable to see any routing information. I could not enter any info either because it was locked into "P". The TomTom only wanted to go the closest Police station, Puerto Rico or Pittsburgh. This was not really useful at all and a big waste of nearly $200.

I contacted TomTom Support, followed the online tips, joined the forum, followed the tips. called the customer support line, followed all the tips. No matter what we tried the GPS was insane. I was not a happy camper. I could see that there was a large group of owners of these units (630 and 730) that were all having the same issues. There was speculations that is was overheating, too much pressure from the screws, dirt under the bezel, software issues etc. Hundreds of owners with exactly the same problem should tell the company that their device is defective, whether it is just past warranty time or not.

So, finally the customer service technician relented, provided the coveted RMA# and agreed to send a replacement. Happily I posted to the forum that I was getting a new device. Quickly there were posts that I would have the same problem with the new device --- and yes. The new device that I received in the beginning of October was stuck on the "P" and still only wanted to go the closest Police station, Puerto Rico or Pittsburgh. So eventually, another call to TomTom customer service, and another RMA#. Mercedes promised that they would send a device that worked. I hope so. Really, TomTom should be sending me a different model, one that really works. This model is a "lemon". We'll see.

Good customer service story #3: The saga of the diamond bracelet. In 2010 DH wanted to buy me a beautiful bracelet for my birthday. We looked at all the jewellery stores in all the malls in town, every weekend for a month. Finally I found a beautiful twisty, feminine, beautiful and reasonably priced diamond bracelet. It was so pretty. At the time, the sales agent also sold us a "lifetime warranty". I wondered why in the world I would need such a thing but.....

It was a very good thing to have purchased, the warranty that is. After a few weeks of wearing the bracelet I noticed that a stone had fallen out, no worries, there is a lifetime warranty, the stone was replaced. Six weeks later I pick it up from the store. I wear it for a while and... a stone falls out. I take it back again and the stone will be replaced. Another 6 weeks in the shop. I pick it up; I wear it for a few weeks and... another stone falls out. Back again it goes for a repair. Now it has spent more time in the repair shop than on my wrist.

The store replaces it with another from the counter. .... I am wearing it and ... yes, another stone falls out again. I take it into another location, hoping that a different jewelry repair person works on it. I pick it up after a couple of months. By this time I am whining a bit to the sales agent who tells me that I am lucky that we bought the "lifetime warranty" as they will keep repairing it. THIS IS NOT THE POINT. If I have a beautiful bracelet that someone bought as a gift to make me happy, I should be able to wear it, not have it spend most of its time in repair.

I put the bracelet on at the store and drove home. Guess what, by the time I arrived home another stone has fallen out. REALLY. This must be a design flaw. All I have done is drive home and that should not have caused any stones to fall out. Sadly, I place it in my jewelry box and just look at it for a few months, wishing that I could wear it.

People's Jewelers sends out marketing emails, just like many other businesses. One day when I was being particularly sad about not wanting to wear this "lemon"of a bracelet, I responded to their sales flash with an email noting that I wished our last purchase made us happy. A few emails back and forth, and a few weeks later, I receive a call from Shayna at the People's store where this was originally purchased. She offered to exchange my bracelet, in view of the many times it had been returned, repaired and then disappointing me. I met with her at the store. I saw a very similar style bracelet, nearly the same design but slightly altered. Shayna was so helpful, positive and sincere.

We both hoped that the design change really fixed the problem because it is such a pretty bracelet. She sent me off with the bracelet that hopefully would make me happy, no fussing, no "red tape", just a smile and good wishes.

I am very impressed, THANK YOU People's Jewelers . We will be back, the next time though should be for another pretty piece of bling, I think that you mean it when you want to make your customer happy.

Hope and a funky log cabin quilt

2011-10-27T22:11:00.002-04:00

A sewing day was worth a vacation day, or is it that a vacation day is worth a sewing day. Hope, BC is a wonderful starting place; whether you are starting a new life or a new quilt.
I started with these fabrics:

Quite a few of these wonderfully happy fabrics were purchased at a quilt shop in Hope, BC. One of the strips is actually a print from Roisin's whimsical line of textiles - paper air-planes. My stash is built on mini collections of fabrics purchased on special occasions or while travelling. I knew that there would be a great project ahead for them, and tucked them safely in a zip-lock baggie.

Roll forward a few years and DD#2 is telling me a romantic story about her friends. He is a car fanatic and these cars need some TLC to keep running. She is a very, very patient sweetie - lucky him. Good thing that he realized this. So, after purchasing a car in Vancouver, and planning to drive it home to Ontario, he put a plan in place.

As they drove through Hope, BC he pulled over, the engine was not behaving as it should. He sent her to the trunk to get a wrench, or a screw driver, or whatever; but there was a plan afoot. He proposed to her,. He thought that becoming engaged in Hope would be a wonderful way to start their lives together. Awwwww.

So, when DD#2 shared this romantic story with me, I knew that the stashed fabric from Hope should end up becoming a quilt for their first baby. Now the baby is on her way, and the quilt needed to be made.

The quilt is made of 4 log cabins blocks, with 3" strips. I then cut these in half vertically and horizontally. I played around with the possible variations and decided to put them together like this:

I managed to design, cut, sew, assemble and quilt this over 2 days (forsaking all other activity except sleep) so that I could give it to the happy "Mama to be so that the special new baby has a loving and fun place to play, live, sleep and grow..

I love this happy quilt, and I am happy that these saved stash fabrics made it into a quilt that is based on Hope.

Shawl, update Oct. 04, 2011

2011-10-04T23:10:00.000-04:00

Here are the first 6" of the shawl and I am loving the colour gradation.

It is knitting up quite easily as it is mainly in garter stich with some increases and decreases.

There are some quilting projects on deck as well. I need to make a baby quilt in the next few weeks, and finish the "purple and red" top.

After that..., well we will make a "to do" list later.

Other life details: back to work, reading, appreciating the Autumn colours, planning the family Thanksgiving dinner.

Knitting a new shawl, soft, drapey and beautifully purple

2011-09-26T22:26:00.001-04:00

I love shawls, scarves and wraps

"Lady of the Forest", a design by Ilga Leja , is my new project plan. I like to have a knitting project on the go. I also cannot resist beautiful yarns such as the Kauni variegated 100%wool from Denmark - in shades of purple.

I had to purchase 1 skein EG and 1 skein EYC - they are similar colour gradations but in the opposite proportions. I was visiting my daughter in Halifax and I made a stop at The Loop, a local fibre craft shop.

I fell in love with the sample in the shop. It was so beautiful, soft and drapey. You will have to visit the designer's site ( "Lady of the Forest", a design by Ilga Leja ) to see photos of the finished shawl. If you are on Ravelry you can look it up there .

I am a very slow knitter though as my knitting is done whilst being a passenger on a long car ride, watching a movie or stopping for tea at a friend's place.

Since I have 2 different dye lots and gradations, of the same base colour, I will have to play with the yarn a bit. The pattern is designed to feature gradations so I will start with the primarily light colour and then switch to the dark (about 70% through) and then use the rest of the lighter colourway for the bands and collar.

It should be good... I hope... we'll see.

Sewing again! Table toppers and a Portable Work Space that anyone can make

2011-09-18T16:57:00.085-04:00

I was able to complete some UFO's (big yay!!!), a reversible table topper for myself, a reversible table runner that I am donating to a charity raffle, a small wall hanging for a friend and a workspace project that I have been working through in my mind for the last 2 years.

When I go to quilting workshops or work at a friend's place I usually bring my "Quilters Cut n Press". I find it a bit small for most purposes but it is really frustrating to have to keep flipping it over to cut or press. So I do not love this tool. It did however start me thinking that I could make something much better if I thought it through carefully enough.

My "Portable Work Space ©2011 Linda Grover" is now a reality and I do love this. I knew that it needed to be easily portable yet large enough to be useful. I have to be able to move from one step to another easily and then be able to "close up shop" quickly when it is time to leave.

I am happy to share the instructions and process with you. Even better, it only cost me about $20 to make. Compare that to the $90 cost of the commercially made cut and press boards that are so frustrating to use.

Here are the instructions (because I like to share what I love):

Materials

Fabric: use 100% cotton

Fabric A: 1 Yd. cotton for outer shell
Fabric B: ¼ Yd. cotton for pockets and tab (to complement or contrast outer shell fabric)
1/2 Yd. muslin for pressing pad as well as stabilizing the hinge section
4 Yds. 1 ¼” wide webbing for handles
16” x 18” felt (good quality)

Batting: use 100% cotton

2 pieces 14” x 20” for lining outer shell
6 pieces 13” x 19” for pressing pad
Optional: 1 piece (13” x19”) insulated batting for top layer of pressing pad

Other pieces:

12” x 18” Rotary Cutting Mat
3/4” x 1 ¼” hook and loop tape
(2 pieces) 13 ¼” x 19 ¼” ¼” thick “masonite-type” hard board (Home Depot cut it to size for no charge)
12” x 18” “Timtex” or other fusible rigid, thick interfacing to be used as base for pressing pad (cardboard is not suitable as it will not stand up to steam)
Glue gun/glue sticks or other water resistant adhesive for attaching the fabrics to the hardboard
Water and heat resistant contractor spreadable, low odour adhesive for porous & non-porous materials

Cutting:

Fabric A - 2 pieces 19” x 25” (exterior), 1 piece 5” x 39” (hinge)
Fabric B - 2 pieces 7” x 20”, 2 pieces 9” x 12” (pockets), 4” x 6” (tab)
Muslin - 7” x 23” (pressing pad), 5” x 19” (hinge lining)
Webbing - 2 pieces 60”

Sewing:
Pockets:
Sew matching pocket pieces along sides and top (leaving bottom open), right sides together; turn and press flat. *Be sure to poke the top corners out.

To attach pockets and handles, lay the large rectangles of Fabric A, right side up. Use a tracing pencil to mark vertical placement lines for pockets at 6” from each side 6 1/2” apart. Check to be sure that this is adequate for storing a 6” ruler. Set long pocket in place bringing the raw edge down towards the bottom of Fabric A. It does not have to meet at the lower edge but needs to have enough for wrapping over the edge and under the inside panel. Use the hardboard as template to check for centering and fold over width. Lay the handle webbing over the side edge of the pocket, working from the lower raw edge; stop and mark at 3” from the top. The bottom raw edges will be caught and wrapped under the inside panel. Sew along both sides of the webbing, catching the pocket sides and securing the top of the webbing in place by stitching and an “X” before you return down the other side. *It is easy to use a glue stick to hold these pieces in place for sewing.

Use the first rectangle to mark placement of handles to match on the second rectangle. The larger pocket should be placed between the webbing, just slightly under each side. Create a center pleat with the excess fabric width to allow for a fuller pocket. *Be sure that both pocket and handle widths match each other for placement and handle space.

Tab: fold small rectangle of fabric in half lengthwise and sew along long edge. Press seam open and roll to center of piece. Mark a curve along one side, stitch, turn tab right side out and press. The seam will now be centered along the back. Set the hook tape close to the curved edge and stitch in place. *Use a thread colour that blends into the fabric as the stitching will be visible on the outside of the tab. It can be hidden with a button or other embellishment.

Lay the 2 outside pieces side by side. Find the vertical center of the side edge of one piece and mark for placement of the loop tape. Place the loop tape at 1 ½” from the handle and stitch in place. This will become the pressing board side. On the loop tape side of the fabric, mark a line vertically on the fabric approximately ½” inside of the fabric edge that will be folded over the hardboard. This is the placement line for the felt. Sew in place with 2 lines of straight stitching. * The felt will extend outside of the pressing pad but the sewn edge will be folded under and glued in place under the pressing pad. Mark the matching spot on the other outside piece for future placement of the tab with the hook tape. Make some placement marks for centering the hardboard on the other piece of fabric.

Hinge:

Fold the long piece of Fabric A horizontally across the width (5”), stitch across the short side, press the seam open and roll so that the seam is in the center of the loop rather than the end. Lay the matching piece of muslin in the center. Turn the piece inside out so that the muslin is now sandwiched. Sew up both sides to secure the 3 layers of the hinge.

Pressing Pad:

Layer the batting pieces on the rigid interfacing, fusible side down and smooth in place. Add enough layers so that the pad is at least ½” thick. If you have insulating batting, use this as the top layer. Place this stack (batting side down) on the muslin piece and bring the edges, tightly and smoothly around in the same manner as the outer shell pieces. Press the edges in place on the fusible side to secure.

Assembly:

Lay (19” x 25”) fabric A, right side down. Center 1 (14” x 20”) piece on the fabric. Lay 1 piece of the hardboard in center of this stack. Using glue gun, bring top and bottom opposite ends of fabric around to the top of the hardboard and glue in place, repeat for opposites sides. Pull corners tight and neaten the folds. Do this for both hardboards, checking the handle placement matches. *Working from opposite sides creates a neater edge. Be sure that the batting wraps evenly over the edges as you bring the fabric around so that there are no sharp edges. This is the same technique as making upholstered boards or fabric covered book covers. Check that all pieces are smooth on the front, that the handle placement matches and the pieces are placed evenly parallel approximately 1” apart.
With both boards parallel, place the loop tape and felt piece on the outer side. Lay the fabric hinge across the gap and securely glue in place. Place the tab piece out on the other piece of covered hard board and glue. When these close together, the piece of felt will fold to the inside and the tab with hook tape will meet the loop tape to hold the workspace closed. *All glue gun bumps can be flattened out by using a hot dry iron with a protective pressing cloth before the final assembly.

With all pieces lying open, spread the adhesive over the right side board, spreading to the edge. Carefully center the rotary cutting mat in place. Spread adhesive on the left side board and center the pressing pad. Use clamps to hold these securely in place until the adhesive is firmly set.

I am going to use some of the same fabric to make a matching storage bag for my portable iron.

These instructions were written after I made my prototype. If something does not make sense, please send me a message or leave a question in the comments.

Enjoy your new work space!

The Melanoma Journey (part 4- the good bye)

2011-08-19T18:00:00.003-04:00

In our area there is a health care support network for patients who are out of the hospital. Community Care Access Centre ( CCAC ) provides whatever is needed from nursing care to family support. The nurses advised us on what to expect as Charlie came to the end of his life and helped us to be prepared for this to happen at home (as was his choice). The time came that the nurse told us to call anyone else that may need to see him, as we had only hours left.

In an interval between wiping his face and bringing him sips of water, Charlie closed his eyes and relaxed. The peace that came to his body was amazing for us to see. After all these months of bravado and pain, seeing him so relaxed was such a catharsis. Family was close by. I opened the window fully wide to see the greens of the trees, grass and fields; the breeze was so refreshing. Peaceful, healing and calm.

We sat with him and had a drink to toast his life, his victory over his challenges.

We chose to have a celebration of Charlie's life at home. I found a beautiful wooden cremation box online (this was the strangest online purchase I have ever made). It was perfect since he loved animals and the moon. Chairs were set in place in our yard, flowers bought, friends brought food.

Friends and family sat in our open yard, next to a corn field and shared stories about Charlie's life, we sang "Imagine" by John Lennon, little white butterflies floated freely around us. We honoured the lessons that his life provided - to live life without letting any of its challenges slow you down. He did not stop living life as these challenges came his way but rather looked for how he could still make life happen in spite of them.

Thank you Charlie. You were always there for me, as I for you - brother and sister.

Part 1 - The Journey

Part 2 - The Man

Part 3 - The Gift

The Melanoma Journey (part 3, the gift)

2011-08-18T18:00:00.018-04:00

Canada Day 2011, Rogers Centre Stadium, Rick Hansen & Charles Griese

A chance meeting with Rick Hansen was a gift for us all.

NOTE: If illness details will distress you, bypass the blue paragraphs.

The speed of the main tumour's growth was amazing. We could see the changes almost daily. The mass on the right side of his chest stretched from sternum across to his back and down his side.

It was nearly as large as a football by the end. This was only apparent as a bruise in February, as thick as the palm of your hand in March, the size of a grapefruit in April, a cantelope in May. By June there were countless tumours visible under the skin all over his body, a tumour the size of an orange in his stomache.
In April, a tumour the size of a lime was removed from his brain. This helped to restore the paralysis in his right arm caused by its rupture. The tumour on his side was unable to be excised since too many nerves and blood vessels were already throughout.
Charlie had to hold out his arm at a 90 degree angle and the pressure of the tumour on the nerves caused him to lose most of his motor control. The stomache tumour prevented him from eating very much at all, or keeping down what he did manage to eat. He was very weak, and struggling but resisted pain killers until the last few weeks. He did not want to be "foggy-headed" so he preferred to manage the pain and be alert.

Charlie waited eagerly for our visits. He was always ready to be up and apologizing for being so weak and tired. The doctors had told us months earlier that there was no way to turn things around; there were only weeks to months left.
We wanted to enjoy a family day at a Blue Jays/Phillies game on Canada Day. Sisters, nieces and nephews traveled up from NJ to see their beloved Phillies. Local family supported the Blue Jays. Charlie, well we are Yankees fans anyway, we were there for the fun of it. Fifteen of us planned to attend the Canada Day game in Toronto.

By this time we were traveling with a "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) certificate, a special "end of life symptom relief" kit and enough doses of morphine to help ease the pain. We borrowed a wheel chair from a friend since Charlie could not walk very far. Mom, Charlie and I traveled to Toronto by VIA RAIL so that he might be a bit more comfortable than in a car. The rest of the family met us at the game.
All medical professionals involved in his care agreed that we should do this if we could. We all know that he could collapse at any moment, and that would be his last. He was clear that he wanted no further medical intervention, no more laying in a hospital bed waiting. He had enough of medical care throughout his 51 years and just wanted to die peacefully, in his own bed. Charlie wanted to be living every last of these minutes left. I was determined to make sure that he could.

Arriving at Rogers Stadium, we manouver our way to the "will call" ticket windows and then on to an handicapped accessible entrance. We missed the first one but I saw another ahead.
As we roll up to the door so does another wheelchair. The familiar smile of Rick Hansen lights up with a thumbs up to Charlie. Charlie has a broad smile of recognition, thumbs up to Rick. They chat for a few minutes. Rick had enough time for a few words, a hand shake and a quick photo. This made Charlie's day. Rick was actually there to throw out the first pitch.
He managed to watch most of the game, spending only a few innings inside. He asked if we got a picture and was so pleased that we did. We made it home that night. He was so weak, exhausted and could barely speak by now.
We brought him a framed photo of the Rick Hansen encounter amd Charlie was so pleased. We hung it at eye level for his bed. Charlie told me that he wanted to write Rick a letter. Rick Hansen had been a major source of inspiration in Charlie's life - and we always wondered where he found the strength to overlook his challenges.
Charlie dictated the letter, signed it and I mailed it to Rick. I also tweeted a thank you for taking the time to talk to a man who really only had days left to live. To his great credit, Rick Hansen and the Rick Hansen foundation acknowledged the tweet and the letter, Rick thanked us and also sent us his personal condolences when Charlie did pass away.

Rick Hansen
Rick Hansen Foundation
300-3820 Cessna Drive
Richmond, BC, V7B 0A2

Dear Rick:
Before I saw you I did not have a focus, and you came along and shifted my thoughts. I did not have a clue about things like “basketball wheelchairs” and cross-country tours.
In March 1994 I had a hip replacement. In April 1995 I had a kidney transplant. I started to spend my first time in a wheel chair. When I saw you on your tour I focused on the things that you said. You made me think about the positive – like the Olympics.
It April 2011 I woke up and my arm was paralyzed. They thought it was a stroke. I was told that I had a cancerous tumour. It weakened my body. I followed what you did, seeing you on TV shows (like Danger Bay) as you told your story.
Now you have me thinking, after I saw you at the Rogers Centre Stadium on Canada Day. I can see how much you can do in a short time and how far you can go.
It was nice, shaking your hand. Thank you.
Sincerely,

Charles Griese

This day brought a few very special gifts:

A great Canada Day family reunion
Charlie met his hero
Priceless memories with Charlie
Donations in Charlie's memory are asked to be directed to the Rick Hansen Foundation

to be continued:
Part 1 - The Journey
Part 2 - The Man

Part 4 - The Goodbye

The Melanoma Journey (part 2 - the man)

2011-08-17T21:17:00.007-04:00

Charlie loved New York Yankees baseball, a bottle of Coca Cola, long walks and daily visits to Tim Hortons. His journey through life had never been easy; and in spite of these challenges he kept on smiling, joking, walking, and looking forward to seeing his dreams come true.

He loved words. He chose every greeting card so very carefully and when you read it you would know that its sentiments were truly and deeply held. He also spent many hours working on writing his own stories about finding one’s place in society.

He loved nature; he followed the rhythms of night sky, understood the patterns of the weather that was coming, and all animals.

Above all, Charlie dearly loved his family, especially the children. For this, and much more, he will always be sincerely loved, very much missed and never forgotten.

per·se·ver·ance –noun

1. Charles Frederick Griese
2. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

1962 (Christmas), NYC

1962, Coney Island, NY

1966 (Easter), Queens, NY

1995, Ontario

to be continued:
Part 1 - The Journey
Part 3 - The Gift

Part 4 - The Goodbye

The Melanoma Journey

2011-08-17T02:11:00.004-04:00

A few months ago I posted about the diagnosis that my brother received. This was the start of a short and rough journey for us. I have learned that Melanoma is not a cancer with a lot of hope, at least once it has metathesized.

For Charlie it was already too late. He did however live bravely.

We helped Charlie live these last months, and so he lived until he died - July 11, 2011. I want to share his story so that someone, somewhere else is helped by him.

Charlie spent 3 months in the daily care of Stratford General Hospital. He was there before his diagnosis and then spent the last 2 months at home.

In the real world, he lived with our mom, (a mutually beneficial situation). The family comprised Mom, myself and my family, two more sisters and their families (living in the US), and a brother along with a collection of Aunts, Uncles, and cousins all over the place.

Life threw Charlie more than his fair share of challenges and he faced them all with an amazing attitude. He did not complain about his circumstances very often but always looked at how he could keep on doing what he wanted to do in spite of them. He was always working at getting his life on track.

Charlie had both knees spontaneously fracture in the early 90's due to calcium loss from kidney disease. Then the kidney disease -glomerulonephritis - led to dialysis and eventually a renal transplant in 1996. He fractured his hip. The hip replacement failed and he had it repaired in 2003.

With all this he walked many miles every day, with routine stops for his Timmies .

to be continued:
Part 2 - The Man

Part 3 - The Gift
Part 4 - The Goodbye

A whole lot of living, and some dying

2011-08-03T00:12:00.001-04:00

It has been a while since I have posted to Barda. I will be back with stories, both happy and sad, very soon.
Thanks for waiting patiently.

It is Saturday and I can do what I want to, maybe

2011-06-11T10:12:00.000-04:00

Sometimes life is too tightly scheduled. Last weekend was my first weekend freely at home in a month. Most weekends, since the middle of February, have been booked with one event or another. My life these days is very far removed from the time when Saturday and Sunday seemed to be a long free time to look for activities to fill it. When was the last time I could answer "nothing planned" if someone asked what I was going to do this weekend? [Wow, that last sentence would be a challenge to translate as a homework assignment - 5 verbs; was, could answer, asked, was going to do; 6 if you include "planned"]

Anyway, last weekend I booked the manicure-pedicure at Tetherwood (my favourite spa for having a relaxing experience) that the Honey gave me for my birthday (January). It was great - 3 hours of sitting, relaxing, reading, having my sore feet pampered and my fingers looking pretty. This weekend we are going to have dinner and see SuperTramp at the JLC as my birthday gift to the Honey (May).

Otherwise the day is free for me to choose to fill as I see fit. This is where the dilemma begins:

There is a big list of things that I have not even started to do, but should have had done months ago.
There are many things I wish that I have done - just because I wanted to do them but did not have the time to.
There are alot of things that I can do because they are there to be done if I choose to.
There are also the things that should be done now because now is the time that they should be done - but should they be really done before the other things that should have been done before I arrived at this time for these things?
There are things that I would like to be doing right now and not thinking about other things that may be needed to or should have been done.
There is also doing absolutely nothing just for the sake of doing nothing.
There are things that I need to do regardless of whether I want to or not.
There are some things that I want to do that are new ideas which are burning brightly in my mind and distracting me from all the other stuff that is listed above.

So what will I do? (besides procrasternetting and posting this). I am guessing that I will have a shower and get dressed first, then visit my brother, bring the Chinchilla back home (he was there because I have been away too often to look after him here), pick up some groceries, do some housework, read, do some household accounting, do some laundry, call a friend, daydream about some possibilities, worry about some things, pray about some other things, wish for some things to come true, fill out some new paperwork, go to the post office, play with the dogs, check email, organize a few stacks of papers, work on some overdue paperwork, write a thank you note, and wish that I had some more time to get back at my quilting life - but not necessarily all in that order.

Can I get this done before 5 o'clock?

How is Charlie doing at Stratford General Hospital?

2011-05-04T00:05:00.005-04:00

The neurosurgery to remove the brain tumour has healed very well. This is one of the bright spots. Even the scar looks pretty good, a lot like the stitching on a baseball. This can be a good thing for a Yankees fan.

The other melanoma tumour however is not making anyone happy. It is growing daily. It is huge. It is ugly. ...and there is nothing we can do about it.

Charlie is bravely trucking along, having radiation treatments in hope that it will slow things down. All this same he is suffering daily nausea, has been since March 29. That tumour is preventing him from using his right arm and is causing so much pain. Charlie though is managing this all with T3's. He will not take anything that will make his head feel woozy or sleepy.

The doctors, the nurses, the transport staff at Stratford General Hospital have been taking such great care of Charlie. They are keeping him comfortable and are being very caring and gentle while they do things like change his IV, give the heparin shot, help him clean up after the nausea overwhelms him, tuck his pillow carefully under his immobile but very painful arm, take him to London for treatment and even help him change his clothes for bed time. We appreciate their compassion.

Charlie wanders the hospital halls daily, he is used to walking for miles each day. He just wants it all to go away, and we wish it would. Unfortunately, this really means that there is nothing about that cancer that really will go away. We just want to make him comfortable and let him know that he is well-loved. We break him out when we can, just to go home and be with his own stuff, and to buy his own Timmies (small with cream) and a donut.

So if you are at SGH, and see him wandering the hall, say hi. You will recognize him easily since he has to hold that right arm at a 90 degree angle, has that huge tumour on his right side under that arm and has very short hair on one side of his head.

An unexplained bruise, a stroke, melanoma and brain surgery...

2011-04-09T00:26:00.016-04:00

I mentioned my brother in a recent blog post. He was concerned about a large bruise on his side that appeared without any seemingly related cause. He had it checked at the local hospital emergency department (Feb 9) , x-rays were taken, blood work was taken and nothing untoward was found, the assumption was that he must have hurt himself slipping on the ice. They advised him to keep an eye on it, it should fade, and if it turned red, to come back.
After a couple of weeks (Feb 28), the bruise was spreading, swelling a bit and his arm was numb, hot and in pain. Back to the hospital emergency department he went. Nothing was apparent so they sent him for an ultrasound scan on March 1 (Tuesday). This led to a CT scan, which led to him being admitted to the hospital immediately.
The doctor felt that there was a large blood clot that needed to be removed asap. So this was done the very next day. He also took a biopsy and sent it to the lab. On Thursday Charlie was discharged, feeling great, with orders for a home care nurse to tend his surgical site.
The very next morning, as I sat at the counter having my tea I turned on my Blackberry to see texts from my brother that he had lost the feeling in his right arm, it was paralyzed. I really thought that he must be kidding so I call him to check. It was not a joke. He had woken up with no feeling in his arm. I take him back to the hospital, now with a stroke. The hospital was great, they put him in right away, checked him over, did a CT scan, and found that he had hemorrhaged in his brain.
The doctor was so helpful, caring and assuring. Charlie was sent for an MRI the next day - which identified a tumour. This was the cause of the paralysis - the bleed had put pressure on the brain and it was located exactly in the area of his motor skills, on the left side. This matched the paralysis in his right arm. The pathology results of the biopsy from his side are in now and it was confirmed as melanoma.
Melanoma...I do a Google search and it scares me. I stop looking. I won't look any more.
March 18th, now we head off to the cancer clinic, where we hear that the tumour in the brain is likely a melanoma as well. She recommends that both tumours be removed within the next 2 or 3 weeks.
Charlie has been trying to work with the paralyzed arm but not much is happening there. He has been in the hospital since March 1. He is not very happy though being stuck in the hospital. Charlie is used to taking long walks every day. The hospital staff really show that they care about Charlie as a whole person, so they send him home on a weekend pass, this lifts his spirits immensely, and also helps him to see that he will need a bit of help.
What are the options: Chemotherapy is not an option as Charlie has had a kidney transplant and is on immune suppressants. Radiation....may be an option but apparently not very effective on this type of tumour. Removal is the best option. So off to the neurosurgeon we go, March 29.
This is scary and so much is changing so fast. Charlie has been in the hospital for over a month now. The mysterious bruise had became concerning less than a month before this. So now, not even 2 months later I am sitting in the waiting room while Charlie is having neurosurgery to remove the tumour in his brain. We need to minimize the risk of him becoming paralyzed along the whole of his right side. April 6, 5 hours of surgery by an amazing, smart doctor and the tumour in his head is all gone. I asked all of my friends, both "the everyday in my real world life" friends and all the sweet people here in internet land for prayers and positive energy. We could feel the love.
It is unbelievable to me that less than 2 hours after his brain was opened up that he can answer questions. The next day he can stand up, and even walk a bit with the nurse's help.
We don't know what will happen next. It is terrifying to try to even guess. What will happen to the other tumour which is growing so quickly? From nothing visible to an obviously large mass in less than 8 weeks. We will handle this one day, one step at a time.
I truly appreciate all the caring attention that Charlie is receiving. The nurses, the doctors, the transport teams, the technicians, everyone has been so wonderful to him. This is a rough road but there are so many warm guiding lights.

Usually I write about stuff, or quilting, this post is about living.

P.S. 16 years ago today Charlie received a new kidney.

(The Melanoma Journey, 4 parts to the rest of the story)

Brushes With Grace

2011-03-29T23:13:00.000-04:00

Grace has created amazing images that portray innocent magical life in the colours around her. I have met her and she is a truly beautiful person with sense of great inner depth.

Hibernation in Spring 2011, Coffee Tree and my brother

2011-03-24T06:56:00.002-04:00

I have been away, busy, not playing, not much fun.

More winter.The groundhog was plainly wrong. Environment Canada says that it will be snowy through April and even into May this year. I keep waiting for the blush of green and all I see is white, and gray and brown - and I love the snow. This winter started with a snow storm on December 5th, and there has been snow on the ground ever since.

Charlie, his timmy's and his netbook from Carley

I suppose I would be happier with the never ending winter if I were spending the time quilting or cuddling but it is being spent working and doing hospital runs. Who knew that melanoma could cause a stroke. Not me, and not my brother who is making life work with one arm. It is a good thing that he is left handed.
He amazed me by managing to hang his shirt on a hanger with one hand, and pretty quickly too. He is very versatile. He said he became good at doing things with one hand when the stent (sp?) was put in his right arm.
The coffee tree is still sprouting buds. The Sweetie asked me if I had pollinated the flowers, .. uhh , no. So I am not sure know what will happen next. There are no busy bees or annoying insects or happy birds visiting flower to flower in my living room.I hope the "breezes"of the central heating system are enough do that job. There is something happening though.

Will these become coffee beans?

coffee bean march 10

2011-03-13T08:57:00.005-04:00

The flowers are fading now. I hope that they all develop beans.
I am trying to get to DC to see my nieces compete in a cheer competition. South Jersey Storm!!! My baggage was not unloaded in time for me to catch a connecting flight that was leaving 1 hour and 15 minutes later than my first flight's scheduled arrival time. My bag had not even been unloaded by the time that 8 AM flight closed its doors.
So I had to sit at the airport for another 3 hours to catch the next flight. If all goes well I get to see the girls cheer.....
And to put my life into world perspective, I feel inconvenienced but millions of people are trying to pull their lives back together after Japan's heartbreaking series of disasters. So - no whining from me. ....and prayers for all those in need.

Opened Coffee flower

2011-03-11T10:10:00.003-05:00

It looks like a star.

Home Grown Coffee Beans

2011-03-10T06:21:00.001-05:00

Growing your own coffee is not the easiest thing to do. Harvesting coffee beans at home is quite the unique experience in Canada. We have a coffee tree that I have been nurturing for about 6 years. It was purchased from Colasanti's as a tropical plant for our house (for DD#1 actually) and was about 18"tall. Now it is about 5' tall and covered with flowers.

The first year this plant had 2 flowers, and produced 2 beans that I harvested. Not enough even to roast or use for a coffee. I kept it well watered and let it grow.

When we moved, it suffered wind abuse and most of its leaves were lost. All I had left (2009) was a bare skeleton of a tree.

Last week I noticed a couple of new buds. Woo hoo! I might get 2 more coffee beans. Then I noticed that there were branches covered in buds. Now they are all in flower. This is so much fun!

Notice the tiny buds where the leaves join the stem

This is the same branch, a few days later.

The branch in the background is the one featured in the other photos.

A little bit of a closer look at the opening flower

What does this tree like? It likes to be in bright indirect sunlight (close to the southern window in winter, about 6 ' back from the window in summer). I have been watering it with tea. Yes, my coffee tree drinks tea. I wonder if I will have enough beans to roast for 1 cup of coffee? I would love to taste it. I can hardly wait for the beans to develop. Watch this space.....

Place Mats and a Table Runner

2011-02-20T16:53:00.003-05:00

One of the beautiful satisfactions of being a quilter is that I can create projects that can be used for charity fund raising. Another very satisfying aspect is playing with fabric; collecting, matching, cutting, hoarding, sewing, and dreaming.

So many wonderful collections of prints. We quilters cannot resist buying beautiful fabrics but we usually resist cutting into it.

For this project I decided to sacrifice one of my happy collections. "Chinese Take Out" (Sheri Berry Designs for Lyndhurst Studio). This fabric had not even aged very long in my stash, only a year or so but since I purchased it on sale it probably was a bit old anyway.

This set of a Table Runner and coordinating place mats is being donated to raise funds for "My Sister's Place" through a silent auction event.

I wanted to enjoy the colorful, fun prints so blocks with many small pieces would not work for me. I decided to use black to separate blocks of fabric and make the prints really pop!

There was no specific pattern, just the basic premise of ending up with a 13" by 20" sized place mat.

A winter rainbow or a Sundog?

2011-02-10T09:29:00.004-05:00

This rainbow was in the east this morning. All the snow and sunshine made it hard to take a picture with my BB.

No sewing Today

2011-01-30T17:29:00.001-05:00

Enjoying the beautiful winter sun , and flowers from my man

The Giveaway Olympic Challenge 2010

2011-01-25T23:19:00.002-05:00

Yes, this is nearly done. The giveaway Prize for Heather from my February 2010 Olympic Challenge to celebrate 30,000 visitors to this blog
I know the hiatus has caused a loss of momentum but we are back at all our barda.
The binding needs to be stitched down.
The sketch was made in March 2010. The pile of fabric was pulled in March also
I hit a snag as my ambitious plan was to print text on all the orange fabrics. Finally I decided to scrap that idea and just do it!
Heather loves books and quilting, hence the theme....
So Heather, after guild show n share this will be on its way to you!

Cute Doggy Quilts

2011-01-19T03:21:00.000-05:00

It has been so long since I posted that Blogger would not even let me in. I had to reset my password but here I am, blogging again.

Pepper's 3 layers

Chloe's

The living and stuff has been too busy over the last 6 months so I will not even attempt to write about it. There has been some quilting however... quilts for the lovely dogs in my life. The prints have been collected over the last few years. The basic pattern is made from the blocks in "Turning Twenty". I made 16 of these blocks and arranged them into 4 quilts. 3 of the quilts are comprised of 2 layers of batting, and Pepper's is like that with an additional layer of batting between the top and bottom...because that is what he asked for.

Django's

Shiraz's

I quilted each pieced top with a layer of batting and then each bottom with a layer of batting. Afterwards I assembled them (inside out) for "birthing". The outside edge of each quilt was topstitched for greater stability. Pepper's quilt was machine tacked as well so that the 3 layers would not bunch up or move around inside the quilt.

Black and White mini quilts

2010-09-06T22:31:00.000-04:00

These are actually Fabric postcards, (4" x 6").

I have not had much studio time this summer. I did manage to work on some landscaping projects though. This summer has been much more about living than my quilting.

I have 3 post-it notes (projects to get done) left from my spring list. I really am looking forward to a new list.

Quilted Table Topper Puzzle

2010-09-03T06:01:00.002-04:00

I managed to complete the base for the modular quilted table topper that I had started in 2007. I actually completed all the modules for this project at a London Friendship Quild workshop a few years ago. It was great fun, Kathleen Bissett has wonderful energy and is so playful. I had been wanting to make her Star Dance modular quilt table topper so I was happy to join the workshop for her square modular piece. Sometimes it is good to learn by following along with someone who already knows what they are doing.

For the best visual effect though, I found that the pieces do need to have a base so that the table colour does not show between the modules. Here are the designs my piece makes.

I have titled this puzzle table topper "Summer always, summer all ways".

This piece has been donated to our annual fund raiser at work. This year our C-Day funds will assist in supporting caregiver relief programmes at Alzheimer Society of London and Middlesex as well as other local charities.

Singer FeatherWeight #2, great deal!!!

2010-08-22T22:38:00.002-04:00

Earlier this summer I was at a Flea Market for a general fun day. I have a rule of thumb, seriously consider buying any FW that is priced under $100.
At the market I noticed the wooden curve of a Singer sewing machine case, so I ask the price. It is a knee pedal model, circa 1923. The vendor is asking $65 so I am hoping to get it for $50. The sales man tells me that there is another old Singer for the same price, in the back...would I be interested?
Oh look, a Feather Weight, about $65... I am very interested.
The power cord is bare wire so I can not test the motor. I offer $50 just because I can not test it. He tells me that the vendor always adds a note if there is any issue with an item. I offer $50 and they accept the offer; I take my prize to the car. When I am setting it in the trunk I see that there is a price tag of $180 and a note that the motor works but the power cord needs replacing. (I JUST PAID $60.00! and I feel very bad about this).
I figured that my favourite sewing machine repair man (Tom Coolen of Coolen's) would charge less than $70 for a maintenance and then add a new power cord for maybe $100 or $120...?
So, off to the shop I take my prize and Tom is much pleased with the find, and very, very impressed that I managed to get it for less than $100 (I am even embarassed to admit to him that it was only $60.00)
YAY... Tom is quite pleased that I have a beautiful Centenial Edition Singer for such "a good deal". She is a beauty.
Oh yes, the other Singer... I was so happy about my treasure but so embarassed about my good deal that I had to ask a friend to pick that one up for me. I was afraid they would realize they had made a mistake in the sale.
Now I have 2 new beauties. I really should introduce you to them in photos!

Sock Monkeys

2010-08-22T22:08:00.002-04:00

I have made many of these over the last 20 years. I do not use a specific pattern but more a general guideline. You will need 2 socks, they do not have to match (see Carley's pink and blue sock monkey from the previous blog entry). Basically, from sock #1 you will cut down the cuff to just before the heel to create a body with a butt and legs. I sew the legs up and turn it right side out. Then I secure the head with buttonhole twist thread, about 3" from the toe.

The second sock will provide arms,a tail,ears and a nose. The heel becomes the nose, the cuff (half the width) to the heel becomes a tail, the other half width forms the arms, the foot bottom will provide semi circles for ears and the toe can be a hat if you decide you want one. (search the internet for "free sock monkey pattern").

There are lot's of patterns, all in the public domain, no copyrights.

Just have fun with the socks and the personalizing of the features.

Summer break....

2010-08-17T23:52:00.002-04:00

What have I been doing? How about some Sock Monkeys!!!!

July 28, 2010

2010-07-28T01:08:00.000-04:00

Another summer day passing. Life is busy with lot's of the non-fun, non-sewing stuff, like work....
I am dreaming of stitching and sewing machines and fabric and colour and a stack of wonderful finished gifts for people I love.
...I'll be back!

Giveaway...

2010-07-14T23:49:00.000-04:00

Visit the Quilting Garden and help celebrate 5000 posts. She is sweet.

And yes, I am still guiltily but slowly making the wonderful Wall hanging I promised my Giveaway Winner. Since she was lucky enough (a point of view I guess) to be someone I know in the real live world I am making it special to her as well. Patience is a virtue.....

Teaser: In a few days I will share my fun Featherweight story. I am picking her up from the repair shop on Friday.

In progress

2010-07-12T00:29:00.001-04:00

Two projects are on the work table this week. There are more projects in the work basket but let's be happy with the progress so far. {the orange quilt is closer to the work surface now.}

I finally started cutting and stitching the red and purple quilt. (Please forgive the hazey colours in this photo - it is really very rich in hue and tone.) Here is strip #1. There will be 4 more strips. This strip is 18 1/2" wide by 104" long. The quilt should be approximately 90" wide by 102" long when completed.

This quilt is for DD#1. It is inspired by a photo she saw in a magazine in 2005. It was in the background of the photo so I have no way of actually giving any credit to the designer who created the original. I only looked at the picture for a few minutes. I could even be way off base and this may look nothing like the one in the photo but this is very much the one that is in my head.

The table topper was made with the Tuesday Night Bag Ladies. It needs sandwiching and quilting. I had purchased this fabric (only) last year to make place mats for our new home. I guess we are closer to having them ready too now.

The table topper is 25" across.

and making jam (not just quilting)

2010-07-10T00:34:00.000-04:00

plus (with some help from my honey)

equals

(P.S. FYI, although I do work for the maker of the Garden Fare gelling powder for making freezer jam, I use the product to make over 50 jars of jam a year because my family really likes the taste of fresh fruit jam)

The photo-print results on Fabric Postcards (Part 2)

2010-07-07T22:48:00.002-04:00

Here is the result of last month's photo printing. The recipe worked well although it dried with some crystallization. I scraped the crystallized areas before I printed but I guess some remained. The ink did not print through the crystals but this did give a nice effect to the images. My plan was to machine embroider the outlines of some of the greenery, the waterfall and the bridge then sew glass beads on where the sunlight would shimmer.

(This is the scene from BC, September 2005)

I am pretty happy with the results. What I would do differently is to make sure that there are no crystal residues on the fabric so that the whole image is sharp. There was very little fading after washing. My printer though was not so happy. 9 postcard sized images used up half of the ink in my cartridges which I think is a very expensive proposition. It took a while to convince the Epson that I did not have a paper jam when I wanted to use it again. I probably would pay for the photo-printing on fabric at a shop after I am done playing with my solution.

(This is a photo taken at the Guelph Butterfly Conservatory in June 2009)

I also made a bookmark for a swap, using one of the fabric photo-prints.

refer to Part 1

Printing on Fabric (Part 1)

2010-06-10T21:34:00.002-04:00

I owe a few fabric postcards. I am late because I was obsessed with trying a specific technique - printing photos on the fabric, then embellishing/quilting them for "so pretty" fabric postcards. I hope they will be pretty.
I worked from the Quilt Rat's recipe although I did use washing soda. My internet research suggested that soda ash and washing soda only differ in their moisture content so I compensated for that in my mixture.
I did make the solution over 3 weeks ago but household responsibilities prevented my playing with my toys for a while.
So, last night I soaked my pieces of bleached muslin and a white cotton. I dried them on a wooden rack overnight. They were pretty crusty so I used a towel to brush off the dried crystals and then ironed the pieces flat. Next, they were pressed onto freezer paper and cut into the paper size I need for my printer.

I had prepared a few photos so that they were close to 4" x 6" and 300 dpi. I printed these at the best photo print setting that I have. Of course I did have to trick the printer into taking the paper. It did not believe that I was using premium quality glossy photo paper; I found that a matte paper setting worked.
Here are the pieces:

.. in the printer

Come back in a few days when I have rinsed and embellished these prints. I am experimenting!

Quilted Table Runner

2010-06-07T21:58:00.002-04:00

Our on-line quilting group does a gift swap to celebrate the Summer Solstice. This is not silly or wiccan or anything like that but it did start with Christmas Swaps. Many groups have Christmas gift exchanges. During the holidays people who do not share the same celebration often feel left out of the fun. I suggested that we hold a Winter Solstice gift exchange. I always say that no matter what our beliefs we still all look at the same moon. It has been a great success. This is why we also do a Summer Solstice gift swap, it is only fair.

I wanted to make a reversible table runner and I had this pattern by Karen Montgomery. I do not recall if I bought it, received it as a gift or just picked it up at free-for-all. I really like it though. The pattern is quite easy to follow -great directions. Here are both sides:

I think I will have a lot of fun making these and using up my stash.

Tumbling blocks style quilt "Honeycomb Waffle"

2010-05-31T13:44:00.001-04:00

This was a great quilt!
It was made by the Hawkesville WMCEC and was sold for $1775. The women did a great job.

Mennonite Relief Sale Quilt Auction May 29

2010-05-31T13:42:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, my long time quilter friend, Kathy (Kathy's Quilts blog post on the auction) had a nice spot waiting for me in New Hamburg so that we could enjoy the annual quilt auction.

It is so interesting to see the many donated quilts (216 this year) and the funds generated in the auction. It seems that this year the buyers were willing to pay nice money for bright and cute, even if it was a small quilt.

Cheerful crib quilts sold for $300 to $800. It also seemed that the full size whole cloth quilts (hand quilted of course!) sold mostly for $600 each.

The highest price was $6,400 for a quilt that must have a special story because the 2 bidders were sitting together and quickly set this particular piece up for the big price tag of the day. It was a block sampler quilt. I guess the total raised this year was $115,000.

Two quilts in particular impressed me, a unique blue and white reverse appliqué quilt that sold for $1600 and a very colorful tumbling blocks style quilt that really played up the colours to wonderful 3-D effect I will send this link separately

Some weeks life can be so very busy that there are not many minutes available for procrasternetting.

I have no new sewing to report, the " to do" list is a bit longer and the " done" list not very much changed.
I hope that work, home and fun life are in a better balance this week so that I can finish some of these projects laying on my work tables.

Signature Quilt and treasured cherry blossoms

2010-05-19T23:58:00.001-04:00

The Signature Quilt is finally completed. I collected messages from all the employees in our department and put them together with bright stash and some Mark Lipinski Califon Blue fabric. The quilting on the blocks is looped hearts, the signature squares are quilted in a repeat of the square in a square pattern of the block. I outlined the borders with straight line and then a wavy line.

We were all very happy with the results. Now I can pace the rest of my work much better. This was a drive over the last month to complete along with everything else but I knew that if I FOCUSED on it I could get it done easily. And I did! It is 60" square and can be used either as a sofa quilt or a wall hanging since I also added a hanging sleeve.

These few cherry blossoms are harbingers of happiness - we were only able to move a few plants from the last house to this new house. The sour cherry trees had been transplanted to that house by Mum over 60 years ago from the family home on Spruce Street. It was very "iffy" that the trees we moved would survive as the day they were dug out was extremely hot, and it was definitely not the right time of the year to move trees. We tried to move 2 Cherry trees, a lilac (also a 60 year transplant from Spruce Street), peonies and some Rose of Sharon.

The buds on the trees were not opening while all other flowering shrubs were in bloom. I was hopeful but not expecting much. Seeing these buds open (there were only 5) on one of the two trees makes me very happy.

The lilac did not bud nor burst leaves but the branches are still green wood so there is hope. The second Cherry tree is not even that promising but I will watch for signs of growth all summer.

The peonies are coming up although there is not much hope of any flowering this year.

Signature Quilt

2010-05-16T10:06:00.001-04:00

I have been working on this project for the last few weeks. It is a gift (so there will not be any close-ups till next week). I have free motioned little hearts across all the colorful areas of the blocks. I am now quilting "a square in a square" in all the signature blocks. After this I am outlining the inner border in straight line. This all is the work of the Brother 1500s. I will switch to my Husqvarna Lily to quilt some wavy lines in the outside border. I have to put the binding on by tonight. The main fabric is Mark Lipinski's Califon Blue, the rest is a myriad of colours pulled simply because they are cheerful.

More Mother's Day Flowers

2010-05-08T13:41:00.001-04:00

Honey surprised me with these today. They are in the middle of the studio so I can enjoy them while I sew.
.

Mother's Day flowers

2010-05-07T11:15:00.039-04:00

First call of the morning at work was a local florist confirming that they could deliver me flowers.
What a great way to start a Friday morning.

I was much surprised that DD#1 managed (during her few hours in town while flying between cities/countries) to arrange the delivery and write me a personal note for Mother's Day. These were prepared by Daisy Flowers in London Ontario. I truly appreciate the forethought. That is the greatest gift.

My beautiful Mother's Day flowers in 2009
Amazing Mother's Day Africa Bike in 2008
Mother's Day Flowers and wall plaster casts in 2007

It has been pretty wonderful to feel the love that my grown up kiddles give to me.

Thank you M, C and K for giving me this everlasting gift of motherhood. Honey helped quite a lot with this too.

Rainbow Wall Hanging

2010-05-02T16:54:00.011-04:00

It has been a while since I have played with snips of fabric and Solvy.

It is a fun technique. Laying out the little snippets in whatever shape your heart desires, add threads or other little bits.

Then layer the Solvy on top. I also place stabilizer underneath.

Then you play, over stitch with whatever threads you like and when it looks pretty well stable, lay it in a pan of water (or the sink), the Solvy will dissolve and voila! A piece ready to embellish and finish however you like.

To finish this one, I added glass seed beads in colours to match the rainbow, then gold sequins and a variety of gold seed beads to my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I made the 10" x 10" quilted wall hanging for a Fund-raiser (Music and Art for Kids Education ). I hope someone likes it.
The funds raised at the silent auction will be used for kids art class subsidies at the Guelph School of Art and Guelph Youth Music Centre.

Hope, Dream, Smile

P.S. I switched the photo at the top for one taken without a flash. In real life the piece is not quite so shimmery. The flash is reflecting on the nylon filament that I have used for the quilting. The shiny picture is below:

Group projects - a caterpiller Quilt

2010-04-25T22:28:00.000-04:00

Friends Lyla and Penny joined me in making another baby quilt for our good friend Jean's latest grandbaby. This is #4. His cousins and sister have quilts that were made by us and it is only fair that he does as well.
We get together with our chosen fabrics and put them together. Amazingly, the random choices work!!!
Our day's efforts netted this so cute quilt top. The sleepy eyed faces were machine embroidered, manually (using the satin stitch, then narrowing it, as well as straight stitch for the lashes).
Penny cut, Lyla ironed and we all stitched the blocks.

This quilt pattern came from a magazine, Country Woman (p.44, April/May 2009) and is sooo sweet. This is the finished top, I will be quilting it in late May after the other 3 projects in progress are done.

The rest of the weekend included a Toronto FC Soccer match and picking up another Four-footed Grand Dog for a 5 week visit. TFC won. The four-footeds are all sleeping.

Earth Day Clean Up at Fanshawe, Scrappy CAT Quilt and making cappuccino

2010-04-21T06:54:00.006-04:00

The week past has been quite full. As community service for Earth Day, a group that I work with donated time to clean a local Conservation area: Fanshawe. This was the second year we worked with TREA. Last year it was the first amazingly beautiful day of spring. This year however we experienced every kind of weather you can imagine in spring except amazingly sunny and beautiful.

Last year I was thrilled to see glimpses of color, there was lots of green this year however so even though we had snow, sleet, hail, rain and wind I enjoyed the simple beauty of nature's art. These tiny pink flowers were only a 1/2" long. Aren't these water droplets so amazingly clear?

I think that the camera on my Blackberry Curve takes pretty good pictures, most of the outdoor pictures in this blog were taken with it. When I have some free time I will set up some page tabs, one of which will be just for landscape and flower pictures.

I have finished the Scrappy Cat quilt for CAT. It is being couriered to this dear friend on Wednesday so she will have it ASAP. Her follow-up oncology surgeon appointment is Thursday I think; this quilt should keep her safe, warm and definitely not alone in this fight.

See what conditions I have to work under. This little cutie much prefers to tuck her little nose into my elbow while I try to sew or type so that she keeps me still and let her sleep.

My next projects are the little lavender laundry sachets. I was stunned when I saw these selling at a local eco-store for $8. They contain a few cents worth of lavender sewn into a tiny cotton sachets. The tag indicated they were to be tossed into the dryer as an alternative to scenting your fresh laundry. The concept is great, the price is ridiculous.

One last project for this week....my cappuccino mat. I prepare a fresh double shot of espresso and frothy milk every morning. Each day I also spill coffee grounds and wipe the frothing wand clean. That used up a paper towel each day; I know better.

I "borrowed" some terry toweling from a friend (which will be returned as a set of espresso mats) and added some coffee themed fabric to trim the ends. This is just the right size to tamp my freshly ground coffee and catch the overflow, wipe the steamer wand and tidy up any little spills around my prep area. It looks cute too!

Sew... I have been a very busy lady. These goodies, completing my school term project, evenings with friends and all the other stuff that goes with living like laundry, cooking, cleaning, going to work, paying the bills, and of course, enjoying life with my sweetie and the four-footeds.

Screen Printing 101

2010-04-12T22:40:00.001-04:00

This past weekend I took a workshop in screenprinting, my first attempt. I have been wanting to create a printed label for my quilts. I always outline my quilt labels with hand-drawn stitching, needle and thread. I fill in the rest of the label with details about my quilt, its name, the design, the recipient, and a small story about it.

The class was taught by Roisin of bespoke uprising who creates the wonderful, whimsical prints that I love to play with. The workshop was held through the Guelph School of Art. This was a great opportunity for me. I will probably redo this in a more delicate format sometime but not today.

This is an open print re-using feathers from other students experiments. It was fun.

Here is my rudimentary design, my silkscreen and the first labels that I printed. These labels will be used on my current projects: the scrappy kitty quilt, Heather`s Wall Hanging (which is in progress), and a couple of other projects which are due to be completed within the next few weeks. These include a signature quilt and another wall hanging.

Plans interrupted

2010-04-08T00:49:00.000-04:00

A friend is in need. Sweetie told me that I should make her a quilt (this does not take much persuading). All my other projects in progress are sitting a bit while I make this.
I went to the LQS to see what they had on offer for kitty fabric.
"Feline Friendship" by Whole Country Caboodle seemed to fit the bill. I added some prints and made random blocks.

I will quilt this in a random swirly pattern, just like an unravelled ball of yarn.

Using orphan blocks

2010-04-05T22:03:00.003-04:00

Although it is often fun and challenging to be part of a swap for blocks in order to make a quilt, sometimes the blocks you receive just don't quite "do it" for you.
I love green. I love quilt blocks. I love blocks that are signed by people I have met online in quilting groups. The idea of having a green quilt sounded great and so I signed on. My blocks were made and sent off, and I duly received my Squishy of a dozen (or was it sixteen) blocks.
They were mostly very nice, a few were.... not quite nice enough for being in a quilt with its friends.

I have been using them up as orphan blocks in tote bags, place mats, wall hangings and other projects. There were 4 left.

I needed to make a curtain for my studio door, and Sweetie was tired of the length of fabric that was draped over the curtain rod. I just was not inspired or enthused about making a plain white curtain, mostly because there is not much that is fun or creative about plain white curtain making.

I realized one night however that I could use these remaining blocks as the bottom of a curtain and then make a more interesting top using another block that a friend had sent as a RAQ.

ta da!

The other big accomplishment, besides some great family time, is that Sweetie helped me to put up a design wall. 3 pieces of an "environmentally responsible" styrofoam (2' x 8') and a few yards of extra wide white flannel. The whole unit cost less than $35 for the parts and a "big thanks" to the sweetie that helped me to put it up.

There was a lot more sewing going on this past weekend as well, but I will have to blog about that project another day.

Pretty pink Kalanchoe

2010-04-05T07:38:00.001-04:00

Even more flowers for Easter.
I was quite blessed with so many pretty things.
Spring is very beautiful this year, both inside and out
.

What are these pink flowers?

2010-04-05T07:33:00.001-04:00

More Easter flowers

2010-04-05T07:30:00.002-04:00

Bouquet #2.
Even the four footeds are enjoying the scent of these cheery flowers. Freesia, carnations and ??? What are these pink ones?

Easter flowers

2010-04-05T07:28:00.001-04:00

Bouquet #1 Star Gazer Lilies.
They smell heavenly, it feels as if I were standing in a garden in the early evening.

Happy Hibiscus

2010-03-31T07:50:00.002-04:00

The week is pretty full both days and evenings - It is all work stuff so nothing fun to share.
I thought I would show how happy my hibiscus plant is though. I think it has recovered from the move!

"Walking to New Orleans"

2010-03-26T01:07:00.003-04:00

"Walking to New Orleans" may not seem to have much to do with Gees Bend and African textile motifs but that is where I ended up. The guild that I belong to sponsored a workshop that explored the history, energy and art of the quilts of Gees Bend with an eye to traditional African Motifs.
The technique is simple: use colour, traditional blocks in variations, don't use a ruler; then have fun steppping away from all the tradtional quilt rules like matching corners and exact measurements.
The results from everyone were fantastic. So much colorful play with geometry.
Here is a selection of the blocks made by some of the group over the 2-day workshop:

This first set of 2 wall hangings in this photo were the teacher's samples (Stacey Littlejohn).

Stacey also made a bed-size quilt. I love it's bright funky look.

I know that the can-can does not really represent African motifs or the rural south but I love this print by Roisin (bespoke uprising) and felt it needed to be used.

I love green (any shade), purples and orange because they are such happy colours. Really this all is threaded together because Melissa recently returned from New Orleans, I am working on a red and purple quilt for her, I already made her an orange quilt and Roisin is Melissa and Cara's very good friend. There must be a dance party somewhere in New Orleans so the dancing legs work for me!

I figure that perhaps I must not have listened somewhere along the way because my result is not quite the same as the rest of the group's work (which I really liked).
After dinner on Sunday I was obsessed to finish this piece (sorry Heather) and worked till 3 AM quilting it and adding the binding. I spent the rest of my free time this week stitching down the binding and now it is done.
P.S. The oranges were all hand-dyed by me, the greens and purples were hand-dyed gift fabrics, the prints were hand screened and dyed by Roisin, the backing is a true African textile (which I forgot to photograph).
The basic blocks that I made were:Roman Stripe and Bulls Eye in 5 variations of each (and an additional pinwheel block).

Weekend workshop

2010-03-21T14:10:00.002-04:00

Gees Bend by Way of Africa - I guess I don't listen well. The orange green and purple is my set of blocks.

There were 14 in the class... I will post photos of the great variety of blocks that were made, and a photo of mine all finished. I have been so busy completing this one that I don't have time to resize the pictures yet.

Postcards and Progress

2010-03-15T00:41:00.002-04:00

I thought I would catch up a bit and show some recent postcards.

This set was an exercise in raw edge applique. I wanted to look into the sky.

The next is colour play with green. I set up a bargello background and then did threadplay to create blades of grass.

I am adding these fabrics to Heather's Wall Hanging Prize.

The red and purples are all organized by colour value. I will start cutting these later this week since I need to work on my class project. I have thought about what I need to do for it all weekend but have not set up the pages.

Red and Purple and Orange

2010-03-14T00:39:00.001-05:00

There are a few projects on the tables in the studio now. I have started to pull oranges so that I can make Heather her prize from My Olympic Challenge and 30K Celebration, a wall hanging.

I washed and pressed the well-aged collection of reds and purples for Melissa's quilt. A few years ago she told me that she had seen a picture of a quilt that she wanted. It actually was not a picture of a specific quilt but rather a quilt in the background of some fashion or home decorating magazine. I was only able to study the picture for a short time as the magazine belonged to her friend. So of course I had to start collecting more fabric.....

Horizontal random stripes of alternating purples and reds. I could not really forget that image. This is my best interpretation.

I was ready to press the stacks. I realized that they were unwashed and so that had to be done first. What a pile...

Then a few hours of ironing while watching 4 more segments of Babylon Five (Season Three, shows 12 through 16). Babylon Five or Battlestar Galactica is the usual accompaniment to my quilting projects.

..and here is the pallette ready to be cut into strips.

My plan is to cut the fabric into strips across the full width of fabric, then:

Piece the reds and purples together into a few long strips
Cut these long strips vertically
Rotate the pieces so they do not match when placed side by side
Using other shorter strips of reds and purples, join the shorter sections of red and purple bands already prepared to create 4 vertical sections
Then lastly, sew these 4 vertical sections side by side to create the quilt top.

This sketch is from EQ6; my interpretation of the design

Who knows how long these steps will take because I do have to complete a night-class assignment and still show up for work every day (and still do all my usual procrasternetting).

I am glad you will be keeping me company along the way.
P.S. a super thanks to Karen, who so kindly sent me some great purple and green paisley with flashes of gold and blue. I am thinking hard about what I will make wth my paisleys.

Sunshine and promise of spring

2010-03-08T00:27:00.000-05:00

A few wonderful days of sunshine, the temperatures rose above freezing and people were smiling. We visited the Stratford Garden Festival. Definately the promise of spring - seeds. We have a fresh pallette this year and so we are planning our vegetable garden and some flower gardens.
My last 10 years gardening has been a struggle against an insidious lawn. It was more of "I fought the lawn and the lawn won" story than a gardener's delight. I have had great success in the long ago past. The house on Delaware Street had a beautiful back garden. It felt like an outdoor room long before this became the trend-word. We benefitted by having a well-defined small space and raised beds.
That little yard became a wonderful floral haven. This success was hard-earned. I tilled the soil nearly 8" deep and let nearly every bit of that soil went through my fingers as I removed rocks and weeds.
I'll try to find some pictures of these past attempts as we try to bring colour to this little pocket of the world.

Canada is filled with winners!

2010-02-28T23:58:00.000-05:00

The 2010 Olympic Games brought record gold to Canada! We are proud of all our medals and our athletes.

Gold, Silver and Bronze and best of all - over 2700 athletes - the Olympians who give their all with heart and soul. I salute you all!

And the winner here of my Olympic Giveaway...
is Heather. Her comment was the magic number counted back from the last comment posted.

Heather will choose between a traditional block style wall hanging or a creative art quilt made especially for her.

Thanks everyone for visiting and I hope you will keep checking in from time to time to see what I am up to.

P.S.I still have 1 1/2 sides of binding to stitch down on my Olympic Challenge, The Canadian Anniversary Challenge Quilt. I was so busy watching Olympic Hockey and the closing ceremony that I kept forgetting to put in the next stitch!

Iron Quilter Challenge

2010-02-28T00:12:00.004-05:00

Another online quilt group is running an "Iron Quilter Challenge" this weekend. We had to pull a focus fabric, four to six co-ordinated fabrics which must include an orange, a stripe and a non-cotton specialty fabric, some embellishments, threads, backing and batting. The idea is to complete a project, structured only by a two-hour working window to create a 9" by 12" quilt.

Our very dear Mattie (quilter, knitter, wordsmith and cheery friend extraordinaire) was running the challenge. She posted the rules on Friday night and the group could choose when throughout this weekend they were able to devote the two hours. Mattie even prepared an " inset technique" tutorial to allay fears.

Here is my start ...

and my end point...

An Octopus's Garden Under the Sea

I started with a Laurel Burch fish fabric (leftover from a guild challenge), found my orange (fabric damaged from another color running in the wash) , a stripe (leftover from a backing), a blue batik, a colorful tropical scrap and some random scraps from other projects.

I had some pre-strung beads leftover from making purses, carved seashells, pieces of green organza scrap and a bit of magenta silk chiffon.

I had also pulled out a pack of paper pieced scraps, imagining that I would use them.

Mattie's request to do the inset switched my thinking and so I decided to inset the focus fish into my tropical filowers, as I was playing with that I thought that I could cut the magenta chiffon into strips and twist them so it would be like swimming through seaweed.

I ended up rotating the orientation to landscape and then I knew what direction to head for the finish.
I pulled some metallic variegated silver/blue thread and a blue sulky thread out of the stash and used these to create texture and flowing water. The orange became more seaweed.

In my haste I left the threads hanging as I moved the stitching lines but I decided that I really like them flowing loose.

I hope you like it!

I used a twin needle, did some couching, twisted pieces of fabric, then did some ruching and I also frayed a lot of edges.

To get the hanging sleeve done within the 2 hour window I set it in between the layers of front, backing and batting so that when I "birthed" the quilt it would be stitched down. I top stitched with the metallic.

I also used a good shortcut to sew down the bottom of the hanging sleeve - carefully pull away the backing from the main piece, catching the backing with the blind hem stitch.

2 hours and 4 minutes.

The studio however looks like a disaster area

UPDATE: I spent another 30 minutes to add some beads and painted fish (in their previosu life they were earrings). I"ll leave it alone now.

On track... the giveaway...

2010-02-27T09:29:00.004-05:00

I am on track with my personal Olympic Challenge. I began to stitch back the binding on the Canadian quilt (for my honey) last night during the men's semi-finals hockey game. I am working on the label this morning so it can be stitched in to the bottom left corner of the back. 2 more nights of Olympics to watch so we are good. Woo Hoo!!

Of course this weekend does have other agenda items:

Fabric postcards
Iron quilter challenge
Laundry (not fun)
Dishes (not fun)
Groceries (not fun)
more binding
Fun time with DS (very much fun)

This is a giveaway reminder as well. All comments posted in the last 6 weeks are entered in to a draw for a personalized wall hanging. I will make a quilted wall hanging, your choice of art-quilt or tradtional quilt as a celebration gift for having 30,000 visitors to my blog. February 28 at midnight, eastern time I will have a random number drawn and count back to that post.

Have a great weekend!

It must be comfy

2010-02-23T22:16:00.002-05:00

She has fallen asleep on Alberta

Testing the quilt

2010-02-23T22:14:00.003-05:00

I am trying to mark my straight lines for quilting along the attic window inserts and that cute Shiraz is making sure that the quilt feels soft and cuddly
3 windows done, 12 more to be done; then the binding. We should make it by the weekend!

Skating across the border and the Olympic give away.

2010-02-21T22:28:00.003-05:00

I am working my way through my Olympic challenge. I did free motion Maple leaf's on most of the sub-blocks. I made exceptions for the flag of Newfoundland, the map of Alberta, and a couple of the embroidered blocks.

The ice dance inspired my border quilting. I had no firm idea on what to do, not my usual vine and leaf combo though.
I have those maple leafs all across.

So, after I finish the second border I will switch to a walking foot.
The attic windows will be emphasized with straight line quilting.

I hope to be as far as binding by the time the closing ceremonies are taking place, on Sunday.

That will also be the draw date for my giveaway.
A lucky reader who has posted a comment over the last 5 weeks will win a custom quilted wall hanging - that's right.
You can choose an art type wall hanging or a traditional piece; the main colour as well.

This is to celebrate 30,000 visitors! Yeah!!

Quiltrat:
I use the Brother PQ1500S for quilting and thread play.
The stitch regulator is "the way I hold my mouth" and I nod my head to set the stitching direction. It looks quite hilarious.

Paisleys are irresistible

2010-02-20T15:47:00.002-05:00

Are there any paisleys out there that I have missed?
I can't seem to leave them at the store. I am obsessed with paisleys and I can't help myself.
It is time to start planning how I can use them up.... Suggestions

Another pair of socks done

2010-02-15T22:25:00.003-05:00

These are a beautiful hand dyed Royal Platinum Alpaca yarn . I was not certain that I could finish a pair with only 1 3 oz skein. I made "shorty" socks as insurance. The yarn is so soft I loved knitting these socks.
Luckily, I completed the pair AND had yarn to spare.

We spent our Family Day holiday visiting with DD#2 and her little family (DSIL and the 2 granddogs). Our dogs, Shiraz and Django, love Chloe and Pepper. Our dogs run to the door each time we say their (Chloe and Pepper)names. Shiraz and Django were thrilled to go for a car ride to visit them.

Valentine's Bouquet

2010-02-15T11:02:00.002-05:00

The cheerful colours make me think that spring is coming!

More giveaways

2010-02-12T19:47:00.004-05:00

Not only am I having a giveway as a double celebration (30,000 visitors and the Olympics) but a friend - Heather, fellow quilter and blogger is having a super giveaway of red Olympic mitts.
Kathy also has a giveaway for a Valentine's mini-quilt. Roisin led me to this giveaway for Valentine's -really cute bag and stuff at Bookhou at home, a great design blog.

Good luck Olympians! The Challenge is on and a giveaway.

2010-02-12T07:35:00.001-05:00

I am definately not the sporty type. I expend my energy by creating, reading, sewing, walking up the stairs, stretching and giving my all to everyday activities. I wish all the Olympians a fun, fair and challenging games in Vancouver.

I will be watching the Opening Ceremonies tonight with my Honey. For the rest of the next 2 weeks, as much of the games as I can from the studio while I finish my Olympic Challenge (the Canadian Quilt).

To celebrate 30,000 visitors, your Olympic challenge is to visit
this blog, leave a comment and by February 28 I will draw a winning name for my wall hanging giveaway. The wall hanging will be created especially for you.

That is right, you choose either a traditional quilted wall hanging or an art quilt, and the colours too!

My Olympic Challenge and the giveaway date

2010-02-07T19:45:00.003-05:00

This Canada quilt project started as part of a block swap and an online group challenge to celebrate 10 years. I have it basted and ready to quilt. This will be my Olympic challenge. I plan to have this completed by the end of the 2010 Olympics.

So, the last day of the Olympics (February 28) will be the day that I pick the winning name for a giveaway of a quilted wall hanging. That makes one month of visitors to draw from; the more visitors, the merrier! Please leave a comment so that I know you were here.

a bit of a postal rant

2010-02-06T22:42:00.000-05:00

I try so hard to be patient with Canada Post. I bite my tongue when my priority express shipment to a friend in the US, which is supposed to arrive in 5 to 7 days, doesn't. I follow the wonderful tracking tool and I see it has not even left the sorting facility in Mississauga for 8 days. How is that supposed to be delivered in the expected service time? Time travel is more futuristic than Pony Express.

Anyway, I had ordered some replacement pieces for my Hinterberg quilt frame, thus when they arrived Canada Post sent me a "pick up" card. I live in the country, work M-F, so Saturday was my first opportunity to head to town to pick up my parcel.

I need to pay $8.85 for taxes and service fee to Canada Post (that is really $5 to Canada Post for collecting the $3.35 pst and gst). I am still patient.

What is the rest of the story.... the computer is down and I can't pick it up, they can't take my payment and so I can't have it. They won't deliver it so they expect I will come back another day, after the system is fixed. I am not that patient. I call Canada Post Customer Service Line... they do not provide service on the weekends. So here I am, in from out of town and not a happy camper. While I wait to figure things out, of course I spend $38 for magazines.

I did feel sorry for the sweet lady who was the clerk at this affiliate office; she had no idea how to do anything other than follow the step by step so when there are no steps to follow she cannot do anything.

Why is there not a manual process for handling a pick up? Why is there not a way to have the pick up card scanned later when the system is back up and running so that I can go home with my parcel after I have left them their $8.85?

To end this story, someone was able to restart the system while I was magazine browsing and eventually they were able to give my parcel. 45 minutes later.

Amy Butler quilted couch pillows

2010-02-01T22:44:00.005-05:00

This Amy Butler print "Lotus" looked as if it would be a good choice for bright pillows for DS's couch.

He did not want any embellishments though, no beads, no tassles, no frou frou stuff. The local store did not have any of the companion prints in the same colour-ways. The fabric however was telling me that it was too lonely to simply become a pillow cover. So I put it away to allow it to age a bit. Most fabrics are so much easier to cut once they have been well-aged, under ideal conditions of course.

Then I decided I should quilt it, roughly following the outline of the beautiful flowers. I had some great Valdani thread that was a barely noticeable variagation from a pretty blue to a grey. I found a piece of batting, some muslin and off we went to the quilting zone.

I added a binding to the edges, using the same fabric. Then folded the piece so that the pillow could slip in and out of the overlapping back pieces. I stitched it around all 4 sides then turned it right side out and we ended up with:

I think that they look great! They are part of DS's Birthday present.

I am still watching for that special day when I can pick a name for a giveaway of a quilted wall hanging. We ae getting close. I am certain it will be close to Valentine's Day.

And the winner will get to make the choice between a traditonal style quilted wall hanging and an artsy, contemporary wall hanging. It will be made especially for you! Please leave your comment. I will draw a winner from the comment names on the day closest to the magic number.

The Canadian Challenge Quilt (still working on the giveaway)

2010-01-27T01:06:00.085-05:00

An internet quilt Yahoo group that I belong to is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. This past summer there was a swap of provincial and territory blocks. The challenge is to create an Attic windows quilt using these blocks, adding a maple leaf and one other block.

Sasketchewan - Prairie Lily

Quebec - Joie de vivre (my block)

Prince Edward Island

Ontario

Manitoba

North West Territories

Alberta

Nunavut

Newfoundland and Labrador

Nova Scotia

British Columbia

Yukon

New Brunswick

Cute dogs who would not get off the quilt so I can take a good picture.

Since this quilt is 87 " long by 54" wide I am going to add a border to each side, perhaps 6" or 8" each, we'll see what looks right once I find something.

I am still watching for that special day when I can pick a name for a giveaway of a quilted wall hanging. I figure this will be sometime over the next few weeks. The more visitors, the merrier!

A foggy morning,the world is frozen and a giveaway!

2010-01-17T10:39:00.006-05:00

Cute little dog enjoying her morning romp.

It was foggy again this morning.

I love the way the fog freezes on the trees.

***************************
I see that this blog is getting close to the 30,000 visitors mark. It must be time for a giveaway! I will send a small quilted wall hanging to a randomly drawn person that has left a comment on the day closest to passing the 30,000th visitor.

Stitching and drifting

2010-01-17T00:26:00.000-05:00

I love snow, these drifts make such a beautiful texture; this is a view from the studio door.

I have been trying to make fireworks. I love snow and fireworks on New Year's Eve.

Another beautiful winter scene

2010-01-14T12:57:00.003-05:00

I had to stop and take pictures again today

More beauty

2010-01-13T09:26:00.003-05:00

Beautiful greys

2010-01-13T09:25:00.002-05:00

I had to stop on my way to work this morning a few times to take pictures of how beautiful these greys are.
I was so captivated by the way that the frozen fog enshrouded the trees

Resolutions and lists

2010-01-12T23:35:00.019-05:00

The list vacation is over. The Christmas list broke the fast. I have been carefully considering the build of my new list.
I have been carefully considering the life-enhancing, paradigm shifting, full of promise list that is known as "New Year's Resolutions". I know that I want to accomplish more. Not to be more busy but to have more completed results from all that activity. I am exploring the phenomenon of multi-tasking.
Many of the articles I have read lately, as well as discussions where I have lingered along the edge have worked hard to convince me that multi-tasking will make me less efficient. That by eliminating the multi-tasking and single tasking I will accomplish more in less time. hmmm.
Should I consider the time that I spend waiting (for a call to be completed, waiting in line for service, waiting for a train, waiting for my mother to complete her shopping, for a show to start, for the kettle to boil, the commercials to be over...) free time to browse the email that my friends send? One of the beauties of my BB is that I don:t have tobe frustrated while waiting - I can just pick up a line of conversation with a friend. [FYI my BB is not work-issue and no work related emails will be found there]. Is this considered to be evil multi-tasking or a good use of captive time? I'll choose the BB browsing and thumbing to be a good way to spend that time that is otherwise being spent out of my control.
So where else would I be multi-tasking? knitting while riding in a car, having a cup of tea with a friend, or watching TV. I think that sounds life enhancing and not stress inducing.
Other multi tasking? Cleaning the bathroom while I am waiting for my hair to dry; letting the washer and dryer run while I am at work, asleep, spending time with my honey or relaxing in a bubble bath. Anyway, I am not decided about the multi-tasking thing but I do know that there are times when only dedicated attention will lead to success. Like, snuggling with the Sweetie, cutting pieces for a quilt, listening to a friend's problem, being at work. I guess that there is a time and place for mutli-tasking and for dedicating attention to a task.

Back to the resolutions, managing my weight in the 150's orjust below if I can get there. This includes thinking about good health habits such as trying to go to bed before 1 AM, enjoying the best chocolate, increasing my level of physical activity and being honest about portion sizes (except for chocolate of course).

Keep the home fires burning. It is always good to have a warm, welcoming, happy home. Enjoying the time at home, sitting and chatting with my honey, preparing good food.

Give my best to my efforts - at work, at home, with those I love, doing what is needed and following through to "done"

Release the art from my heart. For the last few years I have chosen to work through many traditional techniques and even following specific patterns so that I could better master techniques and skills. I am ready to explore the creative freedom in textile play again.

Finish 6 quilts (gotta deal with those UFO's and the stash)

Over the last 5 or 6 years or so I have chosen a motto to guide me through the year. This year it is "FOCUS", I want to narrow the target so that I can dedicate my energy, my activity and my thought process to achieve a greater success.

P.S. Roisin gave heads up to this great give away at Jenna's blog, see January 8 post. Greys can be so beautiful!

The Christmas Break - stockings and stuff

2010-01-07T22:06:00.015-05:00

In November dear DD#2 and I shared a sewing weekend to make a new set of Christmas stockings for the family's first Christmas celebration in our new home. DD#2 did not want to spoil the surprise so she asked me to not post this until afterwards - ok, she told me that I could prepare a blog post to automatically upload on Christmas Day butI did not get that done.

If you look closely you can see some beading along the seams.

This one has girly ruffles.

This great plaid stocking has "Jingle Bells".

I was happy to use these snow flake buttons scattered across these holiday prints.

The crinkled taffeta seemed like a perfect Christmas Tree, all decorated with shiny beads.

DD#2 is a great applique-r, the bunnies were inspired by a lovely winter story book she purchased at a Waldorf school sale.

This uses some very pretty blue velvet as well as some fuchsia dupioni silk.

DD#2 is quite more of a quilter than she realizes, not only does she applique and piece; she like yo-yo's too! (shhh, don't tell her yet!)

We love the new Christmas stockings so much that we could not assign them. We are going to change who gets to open them each year and it will be an annual surprise, and a new tradition. The velvet cuffs were made using fabric from DD#2's wedding theme.

***********************************************************************

There was other sewing going on in the studio over the holidays also. I made these purse pack tissue holders for the Bag Ladies Christmas gifts. I will not attribute the pattern to any particular designer because I looked at over a dozen patterns on-line, then decided to simply create my own version of the holder. I also took the time to inter-fold the tissues so they each popped out one after the other.

These were wrapped in a nice mug with a dangly charm, a tea bag, and a mug mat; all somewhat colour coordinated.

Business Card Wallets

2009-12-22T01:49:00.006-05:00

I think these make a great gift to tuck inside a card, or to add to a gift.
Notice that one matches the previous post with the "cute gift". This is to complete the set.

Thanks to Roisin @ bespoke uprising for her scraps.

The R word, the new year

2009-12-15T23:23:00.000-05:00

It is coming close to resolution time. Most years I have a personal goal to resolve and a motto to look to over the year. There are 16 days left and I have no clue as to what specific goal I want to address for 2010.
I do like making the resolution, or a few if that is what I come up with. I think they should be attainable and identifiable. This helps to mark the beginning of the new calendar year, the recognition that a year has passed and is done and the hope that I can improve myself by taking little steps.

Much like January 1, I also think that birthdays are good target dates for resolutions. Each birthday is the marker to a new year. So in January I get to make at least 2 resolutions. There is a pretty good chance I will keep at least one for the year... and then comes Lent (another opportunity for critical self-evaluation and commitment to do better).

Along with the resolution, comes list making. Long-time readers will know about me and lists. I am pretty excited that I made it for 6 months without an official list. I missed it though, lots.

I missed the security blanket that having a list provides for me. I also miss the satisfaction of crossing things off the list. Most of all, I miss the accomplishments that I actually managed to achieve while I was keeping the list. This list vacation was a good thing though. I have realized that I do like my lists very, very much.

I heard a speaker at a conference recently that told us to make our lists, then knock the bottom 20% off the list because these things will never get done anyway. This is supposed to "free you". hmm.

I have also heard people talk about making lists of things "not to do". That is also an interesting concept.

A cute gift: tea mug, bag holder and mug mat

2009-12-14T01:24:00.007-05:00

I wanted a special farewell and good luck gift for a co-worker. I thought that it should be cheery, useful and uniquely from me.
I found this lovely travel mug, unique because it has a stainless steel interior and a china outside.

It is pretty and made me smile.
So I figured that if I gave her a mug mat along with a box filled with an assortment of tea bags that she would enjoy it for a while.
The tea shop carried individual bags so the assortment was easy. I wanted a little box-- then I remembered the lovely thread catchers that my dear friends Sharen and Maureen made.
Sharen shared this link to the original blog tutorial: The Stitching Room
http://thestitchingroom.blogspot.com/2007/10/thread-holder-pattern.html

And here is the final set, pretty cute, eh?

p.s. The mug was purchased at "Everything Tea" in London, Ontario. It is on Talbot Street but there is no website. It is a lovely shop filled with beautiful tea pots, cups and a wide selection of teas. They have so many wonderful tea cups, strainers and spoons.

My favourite place to shop for actual Tea is The Tea Haus. It is a tiny shop at the Covent Garden Market, filled to the ceiling with lovely glass tea canisters. There are so many varieties, the selection is endless. I especially love the flowering balls - like the jasmine balls, or dragon pearls or the chrysanthemum or the Three-Flower... Absolutely beautiful in a glass pot. One ball usually will serve 2 or 3 pots worth of tea.

quilting and postcards....

2009-12-12T22:11:00.023-05:00

This has been a very cold day. We headed in to town early this morning so that I could pick up a swap box from the post office. I host a Winter Solstice gift swap on one of my Yahoo groups. We used to have a Christmas swap, then there were rumblings about Hanukah and Kwanza and whatever else is celebrated in December.
I figure that pretty well every culture over the last 3,000 years has found a reason to celebrate in December. It is a time to be hopeful, as promise comes to the world again. The days begin to lengthen. It is cold and dark. One can't help but think of the wishes dearest to our heart, and this is the "wishing" part of the holidays.
So, religion and spirituality aside; every one on earth experiences the December Solstice. That is why I have chosen that date for the fun gift swap among friends.
I digress. I was quite lucky and very happy to be able to spend the day in the studio. Have a look at my sunset view....

I managed to machine quilt a small quilt, put the binding on it and make 3 postcards for a swap. The theme is "Frosty" and I made him melt. Sorry.

I'll be back soon

2009-12-11T07:47:00.001-05:00

My final paper is done - now there is just work and holiday chores between me and sewing time!
p.s.this is today's snowy view from the studio

... absolutely exquisite Cornish Pasty, among other treats

2009-11-23T23:31:00.008-05:00

The amazingly, wonderfully welcoming website The Handicraft Ha sh House is really beautiful. I feel like I am sitting in someone's busy oven-warmed, aromatic kitchen when I am browsing. The pages look like they are the obviously well loved pages of my own cookbooks. You know when you have found the right recipe because you can barely read it through the food stains, if you manage to open the pages that were glued stuck by a sauce dripping.

Tuesday is Bag Ladies Night. If you know me, you know this has been a regular crafty, quilty, chatty night for a group of friends for at least the last 16 years. The greater number of our evenings have been in my basement sewing room but we started out travelling from kitchen to kitchen. We would show up at one or another of our kitchens with our bags of stuff so that we could craft. [hence "bag ladies"]. We did podgy, tole painting, ribbon making, scrap booking, glass painting, glitter shaking, Ginger Bread House decorating, sewing, gluing, cutting, bow tieing, flower arranging, animal stuffing, Easter Bunnies, Sock Monkeys, Teddy Bears, photo albums, decorative boxes, plaster casting, papier mache, paper making, generally anything that could be put together once we found the bits and pieces and of course, quilting! Okay, sometimes we just use the time to bitch a bit and that is okay too.

And those who know me also know that I moved out of town this past year so it is a bit more of a challenge to get together with my friends. We meet at another friend's house still in town. There is just a bit of time after work and before everyone shows up. This is why I bring my own dinner out on Tuesday Nights. This is a good thing. See those delicacies in the photo below... mmmmmmm.

The ripple-edged Cornish Pasty is sooo delicious. Tender flaky pastry filled with lovely bitefuls of steak, a bit of veg and apples. I reheat this in my dear friend's toaster oven and it is heavenly. I think I fell in love with Ted's cooking when I had my first forkful of his Shepherd's Pie.

So it is Tuesday and I am hoping there is another Pasty left in the freezer......

Saturday sew-in

2009-11-14T15:08:00.006-05:00

We are working away at the Poppy Quilt.

2 cappucinnos with Kahlua
+ letting dogs in and out of the house

+ Minestrone soup, spinach and fresh fruit salad, crusty bun and water

+ lots of conversation and laughs
+ Tea and Portuguese custard tarts
÷ 7 hours

= 2 Poppy Buds

It takes a long time to sort through the 5000 zip lock baggies containing the 1886 cut pieces of fabric. Reading the directions can be a bit confusing too.

a nifty idea and give-away for clothing sewers

2009-11-10T22:29:00.006-05:00

Here is a neat idea, fabric for sewing clothing "yardage guestimate" credit card sized reference cards that are designed to be carried around in your hand bag. Gwyn Hug has created these. There is a giveaway here (until Nov. 11). You can find the cards here if you want to order some.

You will have to click the link to see these as I was unable to link to the product image itself, but if you know a clothing sewer they will appreciate this tool!

weekends can be wonderful

2009-11-08T22:49:00.006-05:00

There were hundreds of geese resting on the shore, as we approached they took flight into the sky.

I love this amazing texture. I love texture as much as I love colour. I need to let myself play with them as much as I dream about them. I want both to meet traditional challenges so I can master the skills that the exacting work demands as much as I want to enjoy the inspirations that excite me when I look at colour and texture.

Isn't she a cutie! She joined the wild women for another wonderfully rejuvenating weekend that ended far to quickly.

This is the sunset over Lake Huron last Saturday night. My friends have been following my toes having fun on Face Book.

...and here are the aforementioned place mats in action!

the placemats are done...

2009-11-06T12:49:00.007-05:00

I realized that I only need 7 gifts. What'cha think? The hardest thing was to cut into yardage to make the backings. I dug through my strip scraps, my calico scraps to build out the blocks. These ended up to be 13" x 20 1/2" rectangles. Lots of room for a plate, our wine, great bread and dessert!

I am so looking forward to this weekend. Our group of "sisters" has been getting together for fun a few times a year since 1984. The wonderful sunset over Lake Huron, the wood stove, the damp, the warmth, the laughs, the stories, the quiet, the tears, the shopping, the food, the wine, the hugs and the absolutely overflowing treasure chest of memories we have been creating together. The weather outside never matters, we did not even know the road washed out one year, once I followed a snow plow down an empty road most of the way there - when I arrived I found out that the roads had been closed. We have shared May, November, February - whenever we can make our schedules match. We are so very lucky that our friend shares her cottage home so generously.

Orphan Blocks into Placmats

2009-11-03T21:21:00.013-05:00

Once upon a time there was a swap. 12 inch, green themed blocks. We would each make 12, or was it 16 blocks and they would be swapped at a central location.

Sometimes swap participation stretches to the extent of my gambling comfort zone, I will end up with something though, no matter what (unless the postal system fails me). In any case, about 6 years ago, or more I received a bundle (7) of green and white blocks, and I had another bundle (9) of my own twisted log cabin blocks - we ended up with only 8 swappers. The only problem was that the blocks were so dissimilar I could not imagine them ever being together in a single quilt - and I love anything green.

I have pillaged this stack for various smaller projects over the years, this week I may well decimate it. I want to make a set of 8 place mats to take as my "party favours" for my weekend away. These will end up as a set of 8, but rather each will go home with a friend.

I have pulled out some complimentary fabrics and we shall see how it goes. This is the "before" photo:

************************************************************************************

Gratuitous rainbow image. About 5 minutes and 4 miles down the road I could see the far end of it. Today I had time to pull over and take pictures with my BB (I actually stopped 5 times) of the brilliant sun and dark clouds facing off.

(as always here, these images are clickable so you can see them full screen)

Land of the Red Rock

2009-10-26T22:23:00.016-04:00

I love colour. I have said that here before, more than once. Arizona has amazing colour. Today in South Western Ontario it was an amazing colour day. On my drive into work the early morning sun made the trees glow. Each tree looked to be lit from within. I wanted to take a picture because the gold, orange, red were stunning.

Today however is the first active day of the law banning hand-held cellphone use in Ontario. Since I do not usually drive around with my camera I rely on my Black Berry. If I stopped and parked I would have arrived in to work later than I should be. So I drove through and took the Kodak shot in my mind. Leaving work at the end of the day the same brilliant still shone brightly into the autumn leaves. I could not decide exactly how to name the golden orange colour that glowed around me. As I stopped to buy some pumpkins and perhaps take that brilliantly coloured scene shot the sun dropped too low and the glimmer faded. I missed the shot.

There was a special rainbow in the sky just before the sun dropped. It was not part of a visible band but more like one wide swath of colour in between the massing clouds.

I started the post promising red rock from our Arizona trip so here are some images:

(if you look closely you can see the Inukshuk I built on the rocks near West Sedona)

Besides colour, Arizona has cheerful and generous quilters:

I decided that the colour of the leaves today here in South Western Ontario really is "candle -lit pumpkin".

(plot summary: on vacation I carry the camera everywhere so I can take lots of pictures, going to work I simply take my purse, my BB and my travel thermos of tea so I don't usually take pictures. I have to fix this because the colours in SW Ontario today were truly just as majestic as the red rock photos)

Landscape Technique Workshop with Miriam

2009-10-25T00:17:00.023-04:00

I have been away having so much fun. A highlight from this week was a mini international retreat right here at home. The village of Ailsa Craig sponsored a quilt show from Ireland and a group of lovely women came to teach and visit. Miriam is a fellow member of an online Postcard Swapping Group. We have been sharing work for at least a year or perhaps 2 now. Plans were made with a friend from Eastern Ontario, upstate New York and a few local ladies to take the class together.

The Postcard Cottage girls and friends

(who should be new members soon anyway!) Miriam is so lovely to meet.

It was very thrilling to see that our Miriam was going to be one of the featured teachers this year. Cotton-by-Post had presented the earlier exhibitions on quilts from Russia and quilts from East Africa. The workshop day was so much fun

Our day unfolded a bit like this....

Miriam tried very hard to remind us all day that we were to forget about straight lines. The only straight lines she wanted to see were the horizon line and the water horizon if we added a water feature to our picture. We played with sheers, organza, lace, tulle, silk, yarns, and other fancy decorative trims to come up with our own versions:

Miriam has a blog on the Irish Patchwork Society site so please visit her there to see more photos.

The next day was a play day for us so. We loaded up 2 cars and 9 quilters for some local sigh seeing and shop-hopping. We love The Marsh Store and Shirley. She is definately an enabler. They have all those wonderful, special, beautiful fabrics that you dream about.

We made a stop at the Lucan Historical Museum since they were featuring a quilt show as well.

Our touring group were pretty happy though that we were not riding the stage coach.

And to bring the day to a close we enjoyed our "farewell" coffee at Timmie's.

Smiling Irish Eyes enjoying Maple Cream Donuts....

....in my little world, Blog Action Day

2009-10-15T09:49:00.002-04:00

I was anticipating that I could write an insightful and intelligent piece. I considered climate change from countless angles.
What I kept returning to is my personal perspective. I thought then that I should choose a particular month or season and review how I have experienced it over the 50+ passings.
I have moved across the continent, from east to west and up and down a bit so it would not be a fair consideration.
What if I considered the climate change in terms of colour - who knows where I thought I could go with that but this too ended up nowhere.
Gardening? Diet? Outside activity? Sports? Laundry? None of these are directly impacted by climate change in a way that variations from year to year have made any significant change in my world.
Some years have been truly hot and dry, others hot and wet, some cold and some quite unremarkable in their blandness. I suppose then that in my tiny world climate change has not been more than another variation in the recurring cycles.

But it has affected my dreams in a real way. I have always dreamt of massive glacial expanses, of visiting the far northern territories to see the tundra. I imagine the absolute beauty of the frozen blue/white world that has existed in that extreme.
I think about the very short summer season and the range of temperature. The icebergs. The ice breakers. Protecting the northern waterways as Canadian lands.

And here the reality is that the Yukon had warmer temperatures for most of the summer than I experienced in South western Ontario.
I have read travelogues of people who visited glaciers 30 years ago, returning to find the spots they viewed them from no where near the glaciers. The glaciers are retreating thousands of feet back - perhaps like a time eons ago when they used to cover the northern expanses for thousands of miles but not now. The far north experienced an open waterway year long - and cruise companies are looking to expand into selling northern cruises. That definitely is a change. A change for the lives of those whose annual cycles depended upon the waters to freeze and the world to be blue/white.
This is big- even if my own little life has not changed much. Nature, culture, dreams. These all have really changed. Our small perspective may not be able to identify specific effects. In the greater scheme of hundreds of thousands of years this may be the natural pattern - after all the earth was once covered all by water and then dinosaurs walked the continents and that too changed. In our lifetimes and generations we can mark these changes. That is too fast. We should not have noticed any changes - but we do. Perhaps not in our small lives but the changes do exist, just beyond our personal perimeters. And for some, their whole lives are changing and that really does effect me. I am woven into to this planet and equally a part of its fabric just like you are too.

Blog Action Day.

waving hello to the smiling eyes in blogland

2009-10-06T23:39:00.005-04:00

I wanted to stop and catch up here a bit. September was an amazing month. I was so excited, pleased and proud to see DD#1 run and complete her first full marathon. I would have been toasted, exhausted, near dead and in severe agony by the 4.2 km mark, had I attempted to walk it. DD#1 had trained rigorously, paced well, and looked amazingly beautiful at the end of the 42+km run. Wow.

The studio has been the home of cutting and sewing, nothing special to show yet but wait and watch.

Our Canadian Quiltswappers group had an Anniversary Swap to prepare blocks representing each province and territory of Canada. I managed to get them off into the mail for swapping and I am eagerly waiting to see the results. I do still have to complete my personal set of 4 blocks representing Quebec. I ran short of the most fun fabric so my last block is not yet designed.

I want to use the scraps of the fabric that I had been using, even if the block is not the same.
Actually, of the set of 12 I sent out, 2 sets have more frugal uses of the fun fabric so these blocks are not quite like the others either. This is the era of economizing so I was committed to making it work with all the fabric I had at hand. Scrap-busting!!!

The new routine is settling in: the commute, the beautiful sunset through the western windows at dinner time, class work, work work, quality time with Sweetie, studio time, fun time and household responsibility time.

There is still no list! I am holding out as long as I can. Christmas is coming, I can feel it. Resistance is futile....there must be a list. But not today, not quite yet!

Nadine's give away

2009-09-23T23:57:00.004-04:00

If you have been missing her podcast you should be visiting her blog. If you missed her postcast completely, I am sorry. It was a wonderful series. Nadine's DreamWeavers site is very inspiring. She is also having a giveway while she searches out new great tips. Visit her before October 1!

She has a very helpful CD on machine quilting. Take a look through her shop...

9 hours cutting, over 1880 pieces in baggies

2009-09-23T03:03:00.005-04:00

Saturday was a long awaited quilty day with friends. L & P arrived around 10 AM. The morning started with a couple of cappuccinos each, laced with French Vanilla Kahlua and topped with Whipped Cream and Club House Pumpkin Pie Spice (an addiction owed to Starbucks).

Notice how nice and sunny (and early in the day) the first working photo is.

Lunch was a slow cooker deal: pulled chicken on a bun, salad and butterscotch tarts for dessert.

More cutting. Nine Hours of cutting pieces of fabric so that we can put them all together again into this.

Okay, finally done cutting... see how My poor friends dragged their weary bodies home after 11 PM. It will be Nov 14 before we can get together to sew these pieces. After all the cutting we are pretty certain that we will be keeping our finished quilts for ourselves...