Quaint Ontario towns

I'm so glad I'm not alone in using edge-to-edge designs on a pieced quilt. I'm prepared to put edge-to-edge designs on any quilt unless it is something super special. 

The more I thought about custom quilting on Color My World, the more I realized that you won't see the quilting. While the quilting style isn't really important, it's the texture it creates that matters to me. And it's also the density. If you look at some of the photos of quilting for Color My World, the windows might be heavily stitched or with an X, while the building itself has no quilting on it - just stitched in the ditch. 

I don't like that! And there are many quilts that YES, the quilting is exquisite, but I don't care if that is on my quilt or not. Thankfully, there are designs and styles for all of us! But it brings to mind a story from many years ago. I was a member of a quilters' guild, and we had a lady who did custom quilting for people. She used a computer and would often create special designs that looked great when appropriate. Her work was excellent. 

However, a lady brought in a quilt that had been custom quilted by this person. She was so proud of that fact. I don't even remember the quilt top, but the fabrics and pattern were super busy. During her show-and-tell, she said, "It was custom quilted, but you can't see any of the quilting from the front." She told us you could see the custom quilting on the back. However, the back was pieced with very busy fabrics except for one section, about the size of a fat quarter. She proudly showed off the custom quilting on that fat-quarter-sized piece. 

That was a total waste of money for the owner, and a total waste of time for the long armer, who should have encouraged that lady to save her money and do an edge-to-edge. 

When I first started quilting years ago, I thought everything needed custom quilting. Nope -- it does not. Edge-to-edge works really well. The quilt gets finished; the cost is reasonable for the maker; the long armer can get it done in a day; or, if you have an embroidery machine, you can do it on your embroidery machine; and you can even free-motion edge-to-edge on your domestic machine. There are so many options - the key here is to get that UFO done!!!

I'll be doing a session on edge-to-edge quilting with your embroidery machine today at Stitcharie in Petrolia, Ontario, so if you are around and interested, be sure to pop by. I'll also be reviewing how you can incorporate machine embroidery into your quilts. It's so much fun and makes buying an embroidery machine a no-brainer - at least for me. 

Tomorrow is all about machine embroidery software. It's amazing, and there are so many cool things you can do! 

I bought my first embroidery machine in 1998 when I had no idea what machine embroidery was; the machines were so small, and I had never done it. I was a quilter. But I never regret that purchase and will never be without an embroidery machine. Embroidery machines were NEW at that time. 

I am always leery about travel days - will I be in good shape to drive? Sometimes I get sleepy during the drive that I need to pull over for a nap, but I had zero issues, which was great. I arrived early and walked around this quaint little town. Holy --- if anyone is looking for a place to retire to - this might be the place. I have no idea about doctors and such—who needs a doctor? (Kidding, of course!). 

But seriously—Petrolia, Ontario, is a quaint town with a pretty vibrant downtown, and guess what? There is a quilt store here, and they are a Husqvarna Viking dealer. It doesn't get any better than that. Now if I could persuade DH to move. The cost of houses is pretty decent as well. I know -- I already checked that out. 

There are lots of murals around town. This is one that was near the train station. 

Mural near the train station

The old train station was turned into a library! How cool is that? 

The library

And this is the war memorial. They have a large walkway leading to it from the street. This is the end of it. 

The end of the walkway to the war memorial

And this is the main path. 

The path from the war memorial to the street

I didn't get a picture of the storefront - I will today, but it's right in the downtown area, and it's so quaint!! The store used to be in the little strip mall at the outer edge of town, but now they get a lot of walk-in traffic. 

Petrolia used to be Canada's Victorian Oil Town and has quite the history. What I love are the beautiful old houses along the main street. They are absolutely gorgeous. And then there is this mansion. It's called the Fairbanks Mansion or the Sunnyside Mansion. The house is huge, and I would love to see what it looks like inside. 

I know this is totally silly, but wouldn't that be a fun house to buy and fix up? It would cost millions of dollars and is something to contemplate should I ever win the lottery, which is unlikely since I never seem to buy tickets. 

It's just sad to see some of this old historical architecture fall into disrepair. I shall try to get a real picture of it myself. It's a very imposing building, and I noticed it as I drove into the downtown. It was used as a movie set - obviously for a scary movie several years ago! 

I am staying in Sarnia, which is about 30 minutes away, and I spotted this in the restaurant. 

A sign in a restaurant

Seriously? They shouldn't have to post a sign like that. However, the other night when we were out to dinner at Boston Pizza, they could have used this sign. There were two women, and between them they had five kids, ages 3 to 8? They were done eating, and the two women were deep in conversation over a couple of beers - not sure who was driving. The kids were bored by this time, and they were wild. We were on the outdoor patio, and the one young boy was using the umbrellas as a fire pole, walking on all the furniture and tipping over chairs. They were extremely unruly. 

The kids had thrown stuff on the floor, were using the water hose, and through it all, the moms NEVER said one word to the kids. NOTHING. I was shocked. We eventually said something when they started walking onto the table where the fire pit is. Apparently, other people (from the same nationality) have been banned from the restaurant. I hope these ones are banned as well. We have never seen such rude behavior before. 

I mention nationality, but I won't post what nationality. I've heard a lot of people say, "What does it matter?" And it doesn't, because rude behavior crosses many borders. But apparently there is a group of people from this country in our area, and they are quite rude. That was according to the server. You know they are not from here by their heavy accent. 

The kids were obviously bored, and you can't blame them. The Moms gave them no attention - not a single word. Then they ordered a second beer and moved to the couches. Seriously? So now you think the entire outdoor patio is yours? We know the owner very well, and he didn't say anything, but he should have. We shall chat with him this coming week. Apparently, others of this same nationality were banned for similar behavior. I think it's time these two families were banned as well. 

After eating, it was beautiful out, so I took a walk along the waterfront and spotted this sign. Actually, I spotted the sign from the restaurant on the other side of the bay, so I walked over. There's a sign in every city, it seems! 

Hello Sarnia!!!

And there was this weird structure along the waterfront, and as I got closer, I realized it was a fountain. 

It's a water fountain!

This is the view from the end of it. 

The side view

And as you see in many places, there were beautiful benches along the waterfront with memorial plaques on them. That would be a nice place to have a plaque if you won't be interred in a cemetery or a niche. I still have NO clue where I want my ashes to reside. Probably scattered in the wind since that seems to be my life! A whirlwind of activity. Perhaps outside a quilt store? Or on a bicycle path? 

Memorial plaque on a bench

But this granite bench was a sobering one. It was dedicated by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) in dedication to all those who were killed by drunk drivers. I just don't get it --- why do people have to drink and drive? I just don't get it—you can get a taxi, an Uber, sleep it off, or whatever, but who the heck do you think you are to get in a car? 

A memorial to those killed by drunk drivers

As I walked through the park to get back to the hotel, I spotted two of these very gnarly trees. I'm not sure what type they are, but it looked like the trunks had a rough start in life and then grew a bunch of branches! 

Knarly trees

And that path is part of the waterfront trail that goes along parts of the Great Lakes. It's time to get the bike out and see where those paths lead!

The Waterfront Trail

I realize we are heading into a heat wave this coming week, but it's cool here at the moment. But I can't stand air conditioning. It is so artificial and so COLD!!!! The first thing I do in any hotel room is turn it off. It's unbearable. I think the heat even came on last night and there I am with my big heavy quilt on the bed. It's great to travel with quilts - you are never cold!!!

A quilt on my bed

Well, on that note, I'd better get myself organized for the day. It's fun to be in the same time zone. I have two days of events, then I'm home for TWO entire weeks before the next trip. I'm so excited, but I have so much work!! The first line of business will be the spa day for the long arm. I was hoping to get the old leaders off before I left, but that didn't happen. Oh well. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!