Progress in the kitchen

It was an exciting day for some people in my life. 

A friend and her daughter arrived in Santiago after walking the Camino. Her boyfriend and she started out a month ago. He could only get a couple of weeks off, so he walked partway. Then she continued on her own and was lucky enough to have her daughter join her about 200 km from the end. They finished yesterday!! I wonder what they did this morning? Oh, sleep in! 

Another friend and his son have finished their European bike tour. They camped along the way, so they had to carry all their stuff on their bikes. They arrived at the Amsterdam airport yesterday and are likely home now. That is something you have to say about Europe—you can ride up to the airports on your bicycle. Where in Canada would that happen? 

And someone else rang the bell at the cancer center. Her treatments for breast cancer are done! 

All three journeys had their issues, but by far, the hardest and the longest was the breast cancer journey. I pray that it doesn't recur and that she lives a long and healthy life. You have to love the advancements in healthcare! 

And now, back to my decluttering journey, which just never ends! If only I had made a note when I started the tidying and decluttering - I bet I was shocked when the realization hit me that I needed to do something about the mess in my life. I know it's been at least 12 years. A big game changer in my life was when I went on my Artic Tour bicycle ride in 2010. Guess what? I can now share photos with you because those photos were on that hard disk that I paid gobs to recover! 

Here's me after a very muddy day riding on the Dempster Highway!! The entire 800 KM of the Dempster Highway is unpaved, hence the mud! +

A muddy day on the bike!

 Those three weeks without TV and electricity for the last week made me rethink my life. I stopped watching TV cold turkey and likely looked around my house and said, I don't need half of what I own. I'm not sure, but I'll need to check further in my notes. 

So I tackled the kitchen again. I want to clear off those countertops of the mess I created by trying to declutter. When they say the mess is only going to get worse, they mean it!

I took that cutlery tray that I discovered the other day and emptied it. I sorted the knives, forks, and spoons. 

Can you tell me how this happened? I sorted them by style, and how in the world did I end up with so many different spoons? The ones on the left are from a set, and a couple on the right are from another set—probably the very first set of cutlery I owned many years ago. But the singles? I have no idea! 

Many spoon styles

The same goes for the forks. Where did all the different forks come from? 

Different forks

And yet, when it comes to knives, they were all the same. Why is that? 

The knives are all the same

We'll chalk that up to the mysteries of life and leave it at that. I will throw all of them in the sink with hot water and soap and dry them. Then, they go to the giveaway box. Obviously, we don't need them, so there is no sense in keeping them. M is going to be thrilled to see all this stuff go, and she won't have to deal with it when we're too old to do so!

I kept ONE spoon. I've had this thing for years, and I suspect I stole it from Eaton's cafeteria in Montreal many years ago. I don't even remember who I was with, or maybe I was alone, but it's a great souvenir! And I'm allowed a few of those! 

My Eaton's spoon

A few more things to sort through are still in the cutlery tray—seafood forks, fondue forks, etc. I don't think I'm keeping any of them, but I'll deal with them later today once I finish washing all that cutlery. 

Then, it was back to those utensil drawers. This is what they look like. This is the main one in the island. 

The utensils are sorted! 

Three of those trays fit perfectly side by side, with a bit of room in the front. They have a rubberized surface on them so they don't move, and they have a textured surface on the inside, which I'm sure I'll hate when it's time to clean them. 

There are spoons in one, spatulas and lifters in another, and a few other things in the middle one. There are a few things in front, but everything is easy to see and organized. YEAH!!!!!!

I could fit two of those trays in the second utensil drawer, so I was back at the mall yesterday to get them. This is a bit more of a hodgepodge, but at least it's much better than it was. I suspect I should keep track of what we use here, and after six months, I could toss some stuff. 

The second utensil drawer

Some stuff from the cutlery tray was added to the drawer, so the cheese grater was the only thing that didn't fit. 

This no longer fits in the utensil drawer

I suspect that since we mostly buy pre-shredded cheese (I know—spoiled), we probably don't need this. So that will be one of the things to watch. 

Since I was at the mall during lunchtime, I decided to stop at this amazing crepe restaurant and have a cheese crepe for lunch. It wasn't nearly as good as the sweet crepes, but I wanted to be somewhat healthy! 

My lunch

Then, it was back downstairs to get some work done. I made progress on my quilt top, which needs to be done soon. Actually, I completed the worst part—choosing the patterns for applique and fusing all the fabric onto the shapes. Now, to cut and stitch. Sewing and quilting the top will take no time at all! OK -- you can stop laughing at that one!!!

OH—I hope you check out the cushions with the invisible zippers and piping that I made. When I was at the hardware store the other day, I checked the outdoor cushions. They are sewn shut, so if you need to wash them, you likely toss them. What a waste that is!!!

Cushion covers are stitched shut

And again - stitched shut

So, let's talk about my John Deere quilt. I made this quilt in 2015, and it's been hanging on my stair railing ever since. I've been looking for a home for it, but nothing came up. OK—I didn't try too hard. It even has Minky on the back.

The John Deere quilt

Then I happened upon a young man (8 years old) who can talk tractors like a seasoned sales rep. His name is Jackson, and here's one of his videos. His love of John Deere and talking about the same tractors that my Dad had on the farm made it very clear where the John Deere quilt should go. So I contacted his mom, and the quilt got packed up and is now on its way to him in Indiana. I wrote them a letter explaining why I thought Jackson should get the quilt. He wasn't even born when I made it! 

On the way to the post office

Of course, the two girls thought they should be coming with me. Oh no! You already had your walk! 

MOM -- can we come too?

My headphones are acting up these days. For no reason, the power goes off. The power was getting low, so I decided to charge them last night to listen to my audiobook today—hopefully without glitches. 

Charging the headphones

I got another quilt done. This one is slated for Quilts of Valour. I'm not sure they like those scrappy ones, but I was assured they would. If not, we'll find a good home for it. 

QOV quilt done!

Here's that little green jacket I mentioned yesterday. I believe it was made by my grandmother or my mother. I would like to ask Mom, but I'm afraid that'll set off a whole thing about WANTING things, so I won't. It's such a shame because I'm losing some information, but I don't want to rock the boat. 

Green doll jacket

The jacket is very well-made and has a hand-stitched lining. My grandmother made jackets, so I suspect she made it. My Mom wasn't so much into that kind of thing. I need to find a small hanger for it, and I'll hang it up downstairs! It would be a good idea to make notes about this kind of thing because then M could evaluate whether she wants to keep it or not. But at least she would know the provenance of the item. 

The lining is hand-stitched

Here's the cutting table—it's looking pretty decent. There are a few other things to take care of on that work table—mainly three quilts that must be trimmed. So I'm keeping the place organized, neat, and tidy, and that's what the new me is all about. Let's keep our fingers crossed that in a year, it'll look exactly as it does now! 

The almost-clear cutting table

On that note, I'd better get myself organized. I have two presentations this morning, and I'm almost ready for both of them. They are the final ones in our nine-month-long classes. 

Remember to tackle those drawers! It's amazing how much collects in them, and I bet most of it you do not need!

Have a super day!!

Ciao!!!

It's all about the tractors!

I was just checking messages on my home phone. Did you know that I'm UNDER INVESTIGATION from Canada Revenue for some tax thing?  I got TWO calls.  Give me a break!  I didn't even listen to the entire message - 337 - which is the same as delete!   I feel badly for anyone who has got duped by that scam and I only hope that when I'm older and have less brain cells, that I don't get taken for a ride!   What's interesting is that they do mention (OK - I did listen to a little bit of it) that I''m under investigation because of an audit they performed.  Well - it they did an audit - you think I would know about that.

It's just a shame that people feel the need to scam others and they think this is a "honest" way to earn a living.

However, speaking of rides - how about a tractor ride?

You see from time to time, people pick up things that they think would be of interest to me.  Low cost or free items of course.  Well this next thing is an absolute HOOT!!!!  It has to do with tractors and you would NEVER in a million years guess what it is.  I almost died laughing when I received it.

Now here is the other thing - when I was a kid growing up, there was NO ONE else that I knew with the name Elaine.  Now - I know MANY MANY people with the name.  And it was another Elaine who gave me this unusual gift.  

Have a look.........................


YES - you are seeing that correctly.  It is a KIDs album of songs about John Deere!!!!!   Really?????  Who knew that such a thing existed.  It did come from the Mississauga Library, but it was retired and Elaine happened to see it and rescued it for me!!!

CD of John Deere music

Now in all fairness, I thought I should listen to the CD. Perhaps there would be some snappy song that would inspire me.  It's a CD and I've got a CD player in the car so the other day on  my way home from work, I popped that CD in the player.  The CD is 37:38  minutes long with 18 songs.  What is funny about that is that I popped that CD in in the parking lot at work.  The CD ended as I was backing into my driveway!  Perfect!!!    Thanks Elaine - while I enjoyed listening to the CD  - it won't be something I'll be listening to each day on the way home!

I kept saying to myself on the way - no accidents please!  Well, no one ever wants to have an accident, but can you imagine if the last thing you hear in this world is kid's songs about John Deere tractors?  And imagine what the police would think when they popped that CD out of the player!  I made it home safe and sound!

The singer is James Coffey and apparently there are MULTIPLE CDs about John Deere. Maybe that is someone who could use a John Deere quilt???

My John Deere quilt with the CD

I guess you could snuggle under the quilt while listening to the music!!!


So of course, that got me off on an exploration. I know there is a bundle of John Deere fabric sitting on the messy tables. I know - it's like this stuff keeps reproducing over night.

John Deere fabric

 When I pulled it out of the bag, I got a pleasant surprise - it's cut and ready to sew together.  How fun is that!!!!  

However you will be very happy to know that when we were in Orillia recently, I popped into the Fabricland there and guess what I saw?????

Yep - that would be John Deere fabric and did I purchase any?   I did NOT!

John Deere fabric

(They were doing inventory so everything was bundled and I'm certain that I've never seen the second and third from the top!  But I swear - I did NOT buy any!)

Then when we were at Hewitt's Farm Market, there were several aprons made from John Deere fabric.

John Deere aprons

Well of course after I dug out the John Deere fabric, I had to dig out the farm fabric and the CASE tractor fabric.  Yes - there is still a whole box of that stuff.  Where does it all come from?   I had this pretty much down to nothing - I'm NOT buying it.  Well I thought I had it down to nothing, I guess I didn't.

Farm and CASE tractor fabric

 On another gifty note - Carol gave me this gorgeous bag with bicycles on it. It's plasticized, has a handy little pocket inside.

Bicycle bag

 It's perfect for schlepping all that bike gear stuff around.   Thanks so much Carol!!!

Full of bike stuff

This was a photo I snapped on the weekend.  Notice how clear those tables are - I was busy working on both machines. I know - silly me.

Hard at work with two sewing m achines

I was sewing that URGENT - well not urgent any more quilt. I started off on the far side machine, but it was getting to be a LOT of work to walk around the table to the design wall to get the next set of blocks to sew. So I fired up the other machine and then when I wanted the next set of blocks - it was easy to just turn my chair and there they were.

And I did very good at not mixing anything up until I decided to start chain piecing and then I had to do a bit of ripping. I didn't chain piece after that!

As for the ripping - I have one more area of quilting ripped out, leaving 2 of 5 to go.  For some reason, I'm pretty calm about the entire thing - not sure why?  Older and wiser?  I doubt that!

Made progress on the quilt repair and I'll share that with you tomorrow.

I'm off on another adventure today - yep - a day off.  Tell you more tomorrow.

And what's with this weather?  I'm certainly not complaining, but it's very cool in the morning and hot during the day.  Have we moved to the desert and no one told us?

Have a great day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Christmas Eve 2015

You would think that one of these years, I would get to relax and enjoy myself.  Like that is ever going to happen.  Besides - I did relax and enjoy myself. Here's what happened.

Oh - before I get into my day - I had a lecture coming up - the topic (although the guild doesn't know it yet) is group quilts.  I did this lecture with a friend a while back, but this time, I'm going solo and I need a few more quilts.  I have participated in MANY MANY group quilts over the years, but many of them are still in the block stage. It is my goal to try and finish THREE tops before the guild meeting (I have one month) - I know - just add it to the pile of stuff that is already waiting to be done!!!!

I pulled out one group project box last night - OH MY GOD - I will show it to you another day, but it is a Tinners from 2003/2004!!!!!!!   Oh LA LA - what a story this one will have to tell.  Last night as I was relaxing - I was on the computer doing some research to try and get some ideas on how to finish this quilt.   I got the perfect idea which just solidified in my head as I did the research.  I can't wait to get started!!!!!!   But look at what else I found on-line.  A TRACTOR quilt - a JOHN DEERE quilt no less - but it was made with T-shirts.  Drat - I don't have T-shirts with John Deere on them, but I bet there are a whole bunch of farmers out west who have unwanted T-shirts.  Now where are those farmers when you need them?????

John Deere tractor quilt   (T-shirts)

OK - so you're wondering the status of those customer quilts - right????   Well the T-shirt quilt went out the door at noon.

T-shirt quilt - DONE!!!!!

 I hope the recipient is happy with it!!!!   I"m pretty pleased with the results.

At some point in the afternoon - I needed a break and well - we don't really have a ton of snacks in the house.  If they are in the house - I'll eat them and I don't need or want them.  No Christmas baking HOWEVER I do have some fruit cake that I got from Helen Anne.   Hmmm - since it is Christmas Eve, I do think it is time to break open that package.

Christmas cake

Look at that cake!!!!!

 So that cake looks very MOIST.  I wonder why it is so moist????   Let's just say that you don't want to be driving if you have an entire slice - it is laden with yummy rum!!!!    Thanks Helen Anne - the cake is FABULOUS and I'm going to savor it over the next day  or so!!!

Back to quilting -  I got the second top done!!!!!  

Second memory quilt top - done!!!!

Binding made

Quilt is loaded on the long arm (no batting yet)

 The blue one is quilted, trimmed, the hanging sleeve is made and just have to machine stitch the binding on.  I was hoping to get that all done this morning, but that was not to be.  I didn't have a good night's sleep and why is that????

Well - guess who's back??????????????????

A quick look at my kitchen should be enough evidence.

What happened to the kitchen???

 Yes M arrived home yesterday.  Nope - the parents weren't allowed to pick her up.  Her friends did - then she did come home to get Dad's credit card so she could go grocery shopping and well - when she and her friends got home - the kitchen exploded and why oh why do they have to bake cookies at 10 PM??????    I need my sleep and the kitchen is just below the bedroom.  I'm very particular about my sleep - if I get agitated - I can't go to sleep.  Then my sinuses got stopped up and I had to get up to let them drain (I know - that was gross).  But I finished the book I was reading - Coming Clean by Kimberly Rae Miller.  Oh boy - I can so relate to her situation - well, mine was never as bad as hers was, but the scary thing - there is no real cure.  ACK - what are we going to do with my parents????

Since it was the most amazing day (weatherwise) yesterday - I had one more errand to do before Christmas and since it was relatively close by - I pumped up the tires on my townie bike and away I went.  I just had on a fleece jacket and I was fine.  It was very windy yesterday and it took me no time to get to Streetsville - the wind at  my back and downhill all the way.    The way home was  a different matter and well I was huffing and puffing by the time I got up the hill.  A little three speed doesn't have the same hill climbing capacity as my touring bike!!!!

A beautiful day for a bike ride!

 Then the girls and I were off on an adventure whereupon Little Sammy grabbed my cell phone so she could take a selfie.   Little munchkin!!!!

Little Sammy's selfie!!!

 And it just seems wrong that on Christmas Eve that you can find dandelions in bloom and dandelion fluff.  Yep - this picture was taken yesterday!!!!

Dandelion fluff

So you see - while I did get some quilting done - I really did mess around a great deal of the day.   However that means that I will be quilting later today and I have two bindings, labels and sleeves to get on as well as the customer is coming tomorrow morning to pick up the two quilts.   The other two quilts will be worked on in the next couple of days, but I also have a bag that I MUST get done for work by Monday.

On that note - have a very very Merry Christmas. I hope Santa fulfilled all your dreams!!!!!   Make sure you relax.  I always laugh because everyone tells me I am so busy - I need to slow down.  Well - today - I have NO PLANS  (I mean out of my control!) which is probably more than I can say for all of you!!!!  No running around - no trying to not eat things that aren't good for me - nope - the entire day (well almost) stretches ahead to do whatever I want!!!!!


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


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

More show n tell....

The days are blurring together!  But it was Monday yesterday which is one of my favorite days of the week. As I said last week, I am able to get about 1 1/2 hours of cutting or other hand work in at Monday Mania before I zip off to work.  A great solution and while not an entire day of sewing with the Maniacs, it helps to keep in touch - well with those that get there early!

However I must be more careful about what I take to cut.  You see at some point, I did say that I was FINISHED with tractor quilts.  No more!!!!   Well somehow I still have a box with tractor fabric in it and at the Brampton Quilt show this past year, someone alerted me to John Deere fabric in the member's boutique.  I weakened and those John Deere fabrics came home with me. ACK!!!!!!

Upon inspection of the John Deere fabric, I realized that there wasn't going to be enough variety to make the quilt interesting.  So I did collect a few over the summer.  I know - they just jumped into my shopping basket!

Then I was able to get further variety from Diane who lives on a farm and has a LOT of tractor/John Deere fabric.

Cutting John Deere fabric at Monday

 Let's just say that I had a few comments about my working on a John Deere quilt!!!

Diane's borrowed bag of tractor fabric

 You can see that she still has a LOT left.  I took from her bag and added to her bag - but I don't think a dent was made at all!!!!   I think I have enough to make TWO John Deere quilts and then I am done.  I don't care if the fabric falls from the sky - I am NOT making any more John Deere quilts.  It is time to move on!!!!   I still have the other tractor fabric and I will take that to a Monday to cut and the leftovers - well Diane is going to get those!!!!!


Yes - I just put all the tractor/John Deere stuff together and could I make a plan to get it done by Christmas?????    Oh yes - must do that because when I am done the tractor stuff - there are many many other categories of fabric that I have collected and well - they must be dealt with!!!!


When I got home from work, I decided it was time!  I got out the scissors....................

The scissors

 And snip snip snip - this is what happened.....................  (OK - so it was more like hack and slash!)  The first part of this process doesn't have to be pretty.

T-shirt scraps

All the T-shirts are laid out 

I see so many patterns for T-shirt quilts that use big squares.  Then you are restricted to the number of T-shirts that you can use.   Nope - I take all the elements - little logos from the sleeves, from the back, from the front - wherever and I lay them all out like this.

Then I take the shirts depending on size of logo and colour and try to lay them out in some cohesive fashion. So this is what the "quilt" now looks like.

T-shirt quilt in progress

 I pinned all the T-shirts on the design wall (you gotta love the design wall). I sent this picture to the owner of the quilt and I will wait to get some feedback if there are certain elements that they want eliminated or moved.

And there are a few bits leftover that I will work into the design as I put it together.

A few more elements

Once this process is done - then I start "making" the blocks.  The rest is easy!


In case you are wondering about those six quilts that need to be urgently sewn. Remember the fabric arrived on Friday from Asia.  Well two of the tops (one is a table runner) are completed, one is mostly cut out (it is huge and she was missing one fabric when I delivered it to her), one is almost finished - and will be delivered to my house today, I am working on the 5th one today and should be done, and the sixth one will be worked on this weekend and completed. It is amazing what can happen when you have good friends. The long arm quilter is on alert and will be getting some work soon!

I did the table runner this morning and I have to say the colors are gorgeous!!!   All these items (and many more) will be hanging in our booth at Quilt Market.  I will show you the pictures once they are hanging up!

On the weekend, I also did a class on our applique quilt.  This is called The Garden Quilt by Amy Bradley and it is a fun and funky quilt as are all of her patterns.

Garden Quilt

Isn't that just a fun fun quilt!!!!!!

Here is the homework........................

Mariilyn

Carol

?????

Diane

Diane's practise pieces

Zildi

Liz

I see I am going to have to get better at remembering the names!!!!!    They did an amazing job and many of them (sucking up to the teacher no doubt) did a lot of practising.  Actually - the practice (while the teacher was very impressed)  is for their OWN benefit. The more practising you do - the better you get.  Remember that 10,000 hours thing.

I think we may have to have a quick hands on class for machine applique - one of the big issues with machine applique is some of the sewing machines just don't have the ability to do machine applique well.   I will give you a heads up - my week for QUILTSocial is coming up in a couple of weeks and it will be all about machine applique.  Yes - those Husqvarna sewing machines make applique a dream.  Don't worry - other brands are great, but I think the Husqvarnas have a couple of features that beat out the rest. Just watch for that.

On that note - I see it is time to get ready for work. Have to stop and pick up one quilt top on my way.  I am so excited to see these 6 come together so quickly.  I am truly impressed!!!!!


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


Ciao!!!!