Art Show

I taught at Cockadoodle yesterday morning and got myself into trouble!!!!  How????   Well have a look at this.................

Amish with a Twist. Joann is running it as a Block of the Month. It is SO PRETTY that I just HAD to sign up. I know - I couldn't help myself!!!!!!!!!!!

Check it out Cockadoodle quilt blog and get the details (and better yet - SIGN UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)




I will post the pictures of the homework in another post. I don't have time to do it this morning.

After the class, I headed off to Joshua Creek Heritage Art Gallery to gallery sit. I can't do all Saturdays, but they have no one on Saturdays so when I can, I will.

There is a NEW show in the gallery - it changes about once a month. OH MY GOODNESS - there are some OUTSTANDING pieces in the gallery. And someone bought the one that I WOULD LOVE to have. I am going to give you a snippet of it - you MUST go and check it out. Besides this one - there are others others in fibre art, water colour, mixed media, photography (beautiful photographs). Well - it is worth your time to go and visit the show.

What piece does this belong to in the gallery?????

If anyone is interested, there is a volunteer session coming up on April 3. And you could do other things like gardening if that was more your style.

The opening of this show is TODAY from 2 PM - 5 PM.   You should go!!!!!!!!!!!!!    There will be goodies and lots of people and GREAT ART.


Last night was date night and we went to see Lincoln. Not my choice, but the last movie was my choice. Oh dear - I am not strong on politics and I found this movie long, not necessarily boring, but confusing - was that judge guy for or against Amendment 13 - I could never figure it out until the end. And it was kind of depressing and while I had never really thought about what kind of person Lincoln was - it was just SAD. The acting was superb but the movie (I guess the topic) was just SAD.

I was exhausted and then when I got to bed, I couldn't sleep. Thank god for couches and iPads. I put myself to sleep watching Rickie Tims and Alex Anderson and The Quilt Show. Much happier, but I didn't see the end. The shows were free in honour of National Quilting Day or maybe this was a free one. I don't know - I don't keep up with all that stuff.

OK - got to run. It is a tad too cold for my liking to be outside riding, so I am heading off to spin class. Got to do something to get my happy juices flowing again!!!!!!


Have a great day.

Gallery Sitting

I LOVE the Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre so much - I decided to volunteer there. Last Friday was my first day. When I arrived the parking lot was PACKED!!!   Wow - what the heck is going on? I went into the gallery - it is empty. I go to the house and there is a huge crowd of people sitting around the table just finishing their lunch. WHOA!!!!   Who are all these friendly people?????

Turns out they are from the Friday watercolour class. They do a pot luck for lunch. After chatting with several of them, they have been coming for YEARS while others were fairly new. All ages, mostly women, but a couple of men. Wow - they sure looked like they were having fun!!!!!

Well - I had a goodie (homemade fruit cake) and then went to the gallery. It was very quiet but I was perfectly happy with that. No noise - no radio, just peace and quiet. Several of the students wandered in for inspiration and so I got to chat with them and of course Sybil - the inspiration behind the gallery, also the owner.


Have a look - how could you NOT want to be there................

This is the "great room" or the extension of the kitchen. Pieces of artwork are also hung in this space. But look at that big table just waiting to be used!!!!!

Same room - looking back to the kitchen (a fully equipped kitchen )

Looking out the side of the same room. On a sunny day - this place will be awesome.

The view!!!!   OK - I can't wait for the weather to warm up so we can sit outside. 

Anyway - I am back at the gallery this Friday from 1 to 4. I've been invited for lunch. Hmmm - got to see how my day goes. This is the LAST week for the watercolour show by Mercedes Horne. It really is a neat show and even if you aren't into watercolour, I was IMPRESSED by the INK WORK that she did on every single piece. And the colours are BRILLIANT - literally!!!!


The new show which is going up on Sunday is called ART from the HEART. It is a show about artists who have experienced adversity and challenges. You can read more about it at the web site.


Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre



I'm looking forward to seeing that show. While I LOVE quilting, I think it is very inspirational to look at other art work, do other things (like learn to play bridge!!! - but that's another story), ride a bike. Anyway - you get the picture.


And in order to do that - one must learn to eat healthy so you have the stamina. I have booked an appointment with the chiro to talk about a detox program. What is involved and how helpful will it be???

Ooops - let me tell you about my other ART GALLERY story. I was at PAMA (Peel Art Gallery and Museum Archives) on Sunday afternoon to do the demo on the MOLAS. I was CERTAIN that I took pictures of our set up, but well - I guess I didn't. I was too excited????


Here is a sneak peek at the Secret Garden in the tunnel which joins several of the buildings............

The Secret Garden

A VERY small part of the tunnel walls

The gallery has hired some very nice ladies (actually quite young) that are the guest services people. They were very informative and personable. Apparently future displays in the tunnel will be community based displays. I love it. I think the quilter's guild should get something in there!!!!!


And the MOLA exhibit - well it was STUNNING. There were a LOT of MOLAs and so many different kinds than I ever thought existed. It was great fun to see them and realize what they depicted.

PART of the MOLA display

If you get a chance, you should go and check this out. It is on loan from The Textile Museum, but I don't know how often it gets on display so check it out NOW!!!!!!


Someone asked me the other day - what "pills" I take to keep up my energy level. Hmmmm - I sure hope it isn't sugar since I am going to try and cut that out of the diet. I do know that my ENTIRE life, I have worked out at the gym or walked or did some form of exercise EVERY DAY. OK - so MOST days - there were a couple of times when I was a tad too sick (I was a sickly child!!! and a NON-ATHLETIC one too). But in my adult life, I have worked out or walked almost every day. While I do not eat super healthy, I do try to watch what I eat.  Although there was a time when I had a COKE (the real thing) and a chocolate bar EVERY DAY!!!!!!!!      Of course now I have replaced that with hot chocolate!!!


The other thing I was blessed with is the HALF FULL/HALF EMPTY thing. I don't know if you are born with that or you make it happen, but my cup is NEVER half empty - it is ALWAYS HALF FULL. I try to find the silver lining in every cloud (which bugs people a lot) but life is too short to get down on yourself or others.

So instead of having toast with jam for breakfast (which is just horrible) or cereal (which is equally horrible) , here is my new breakfast...........

That is half of an everything bagel, a tablespoon of cream cheese, cucumbers, tomatoe (the carrots are for the dogs), a calcium chewable, a glass of milk and some melon. 

And I had almonds when I got up so I had something in my stomach before I went to the gym.

Got to make an honest effort to make this happen. And for no other reason, than I want to.


Well - I have so much work to do today and I am so far behind that my brain is wanting to say HALF EMPTY - let's have a bad day. BUT - I can't do that. So - we are going to focus on one thing and move forward.



Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Progress report!!!

Boy - the gym sure cuts into my morning time!!!  I do have to say that the more I go, the more I like it and our Team Fitness group is becoming VERY NOISY, but I love it. I was talking to someone last night whose friend has decided to leave the gym for various reasons. I equate the gym with a quilting guild. If you DO NOT participate - you will HATE it and not go. If you DO NOT talk to other people - you will HATE it and not go. And who is going to make those things happen??????   Certainly NOT the guild, and not the gym. That has to come from within!!!!!   Everyone is certainly getting more chatty with each other and it is great!!!!


I have been wanting to post a progress report for weeks, but there just seemed to be so much other stuff to chat about. Today is the day - we are having a progress report on some of the stuff I have been doing.

Let's start with Easy Street - the Bonnie Hunter mystery that happened at Christmas time.

I got all the piecing done for Clue 4 - flying geese - I am SICK of flying geese

Ooops - there are TWO triangles left over - does that mean I cut two too many or short one of the orange????   After a count - I did not cut enough orange. Dug out the orange, and made ONE more flying geese. 

Got my squares cut - didn't have enough DEEP purples so had to throw in some lighter ones. DRAT - not convinced that I like that, but I will see. 

All the pieces so far - after Clue Four

Clue Five was already cut and prepped and ready for sewing.  Now - I could have  made better or quicker progress on this, but I sewed it as enders and leaders, NOT as a project. Hence the slower progress. 

While I am trying to NOT start anything new - this was on the 2013 shelf.  For one of the upcoming quilt shows, we need to make something from precuts (and adding extra for the borders). I have had these for a while and decided to use them to make something. Not quite sure what yet, but I now have them laid out and started sewing this morning. I know - I am going to let it happen as it happens. No planning. 

Call me frugal - call me cheap. These pieces were leftovers after I cut the scalloped border from the Brampton raffle quilt. What to do with them????  I know - YOU would have thrown them out. I just couldn't, so I ripped them apart and they are filed in their respective spots!!!!

The batting will makes nice pads for cleaning the long arm and the fabric went in the scrap bins. And NOW that job is done and not sitting around any more. Like I have said before, at this point, I don't really care what I sew or rip or whatever, as long as I am doing something. And I currently seem to be getting a kick out of the cleaning up/tidying up rather than using the new stuff. KEEP CALM and TIDY ON!!!!!!!!!!

Then it was back to that red/white raffle quilt for Halton Hills. I HAVE to get this off the wall. So...........

You see the problem - there are a LOT of pieces in each block and a lot of prep - marking, trimming and then finally sewing the blocks together

There was also one block on the wall that was missing a white wing. I was hoping I would find it by the time I got to the end of the blocks, but NOPE - I was in fact short TWO wings, so cutting ONE square fixed both problems. I so hate to waste. I KNOW - I KNOW - I am pathetic, I am obsessive. Yep - I admit it and stupid little things like make me happy. So sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So what happens when you get the quilt to this state?????   

Well you suck it up and get the LAST block done. All the blocks are now done. Just have to rearrange the blocks - maybe try moving some of the lights and darks around?????   I might just say - SCREW that and sew it together as is. 

Then I took the leftovers and had to make MANY joins for the binding

See all those little cutoffs

But the binding is DONE. I just hope I have made enough. I am sure there is, but it was hard to tell because it is VERY scrappy. 

On the weekend, I taught the first class in the Christmas Club at Cockadoodle. The class goes for the entire year and we are going to make the above quilt. It is gorgeous and going to be a challenge with all the raw edge applique. It is called Bringing Home the Tree by Seams Like Home. 

Just before I left for class, I realized that those two blocks on the bottom had similar fabric, so when I got home, I had to take them out and reverse them. 

And VOILA - there is the background for my applique!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If anyone is interested in taking this class - the group is pretty WILD, but we have loads of fun and there is still a couple of spots open. Call Cockadoodle and sign up - it is NOT too late.

Had our monthly class for Stonehenge last week at Ruti's and my goal was to get all the blocks (as many as I could) sewn together. We have six more blocks to sew. And the best part - when I got to the last row - it was already sewn together!!!!!

Stonehenge - all folded, labeled and ready for the next blocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my things for this year is to get more "cultured" - whatever that means!!!!!!!!    Anyway - Judy and I took a little trip out to my FAVOURITE gallery - Joshua Creek Art Center to see the latest exhibit. Watercolour and inks by Mercedes Horne. I LOVED the exhibit. Hard to take pictures because everything was under glass. You should go - it is a great facility and a great show.

Watercolour and ink by Mercedes Horne

Detail of the inking on another piece

We spoke to one of the assistants and they have great things planned for that gallery. Last night was some sort of a drumming session. Congo drums or something. I would have loved to have gone, but I already had a commitment. Maybe next session. I just wanted to go and listen and be part of that.


Well - there you have it. My crazy day and while I should be quilting today, I am going to hit the sewing machine and try to get some more stuff done today. I have sit n sew on Friday and Sunday and I really really want to get some of this stuff cleared up rather than putting it away and dragging it out again next week. Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joshua Creek Heritage Art Center

OK - confession time. I guess the deadlines are not that bad or I am NOT worried about them because after I delivered some stuff, I took a couple of hours and went on a field trip.

My friend Elaine S came and picked me up and we started by having a great lunch at Panera Bread. Yummy sandwiches and amazing soup.

Then we hopped back in the car (no time for lingering at Panera as people were waiting to sit down). And within MINUTES we had arrived at our destination.

Joshua Creek Heritage Art Center

This is the main gallery

The porch (this is the left side of the building in the above picture)

The main door of the gallery and in the background is the house and the studios

Joshua Creek Heritage Art Center



Check out their web site. The facility is owned by Sybil Rampen. As we were viewing the exhibit, Sybil wandered in and we spent a LOT of time over a cup of tea getting to know the story of the facility. All I can say is that Sybil is BRILLIANT. If I ever won the lottery, I would do exactly what she has done. She repaired a dilapidated barn and added to it (that is the gallery), then she converted the garage to make several studios and then an addition was built onto the house connecting to the garage. We got to tour the garage, the gallery AND the house. It was FABULOUS. I am NOT going to remember all the dates, but the buildings date back to the 1800`s. The house was AMAZING and the rooms just seemed to go on and on.

AND I want to LIVE THERE.

This is one of the studio`s!!!!   Can you imagine having that view when you are working????????   OH MY GOD - we were just in awe as we turned each corner

This is one of the rooms in the addition to the house. OH MY GOD - do you not want to move in????????????

I have to FIND a reason to go there on a regular basis!!!!!!!!!!!   It is just to die for and I LOVE SYBIL. She is feisty, she loves life, she knows what she wants, she has vision - I was so impressed by her.


Well the real reason we went to the Center was to view a quilt exhibit. I don't see the information about the exhibit on the web site, but this was a collection of quilts made by Canadians that also traveled to France. I will try to find more details. But the quilts came from all over Canada. I am only going to show you one (yes I had permission to take the photo provided I also listed the artist information). You will have to go and see the show yourself. It is free (donations are welcome). Loads of free parking - and if you are not into quilts - you should go just to see the building. It is AMAZING.

One of the quilts in the display

Detail of quilt

Artist information

And then it was time to come home.

What was really interesting is that when I go to see these kind of exhibits, I get inspired, I get motivated - I want to work. I was talking to another lady and she said just the opposite. Seeing all these beautiful works made her want to go home and pack up all her stuff. Thinking that she would never be able to replicate these works. WOW - what a waste!!!!   I will not be able to make THESE quilts, but they should be inspiration to make something. So many of them were VERY DOABLE!!!!!!



So refreshing to see that this kind of place exists. I just LOVE IT!!!!!   And I could very easily ride my bike there - it is less than 10 K away - well maybe a bit more, but not much. I know - it has been around for a while, and about 6 months that I knew it existed and only now did I get there. Obviously I am NOT in the loop!!!!!


Made good progress on the LAST customer quilt after I came home. Should be able to finish it up in a couple of hours this morning. And made good progress on Easy Street while I sewed on a project - something I haven't done is AGES. If was great. I have realized that I have a COUPLE of things that are sitting here that NEED to be done for Christmas. Presents - oh well - I am NOT IN A PANIC. Matter of fact, I am pretty relaxed and I'm LOVING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


On that note - I am out of here. Another busy day, but not too busy. Hey - I might even start sewing something on that huge pile sitting on the table!!!!!!!!!!!   Oh yeah - I can do ANYTHING!!!!!!!!   That is the only problem with going to the gym in the morning - your endorphins kick in and well - that's what gets me into trouble!!!!!!!!!!!!


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!