The mystery is partially solved

 OK --- so we may have solved the handle mystery. Remember what it looked like? 

The mystery handle

Karen sent me this picture, and the handle of that tool looks suspiciously like the handle above. The one pictured below is a tuner mallet. 

Tuner mallet

I think we all agree that it's some kind of handle that screws into something. Why it screws into something else is part of the mystery. Would you need different ones, and if so, why not just have a separate tool? Or was it to make it lighter to carry, and you had a different head for different ranges of notes? Or did it screw into something that would wear out relatively quickly and, therefore, no need to waste the handle? Although, that would have to be an OLDER tool -- no one would think of that efficiency today. 

We discussed the mystery at Monday Sewing, and then I got this from Mary. Her husband suspects it is this. 

Blade scraper

I think this is his version of it! 

Well, I might just put this handle with my paint supplies, and when I sort that stuff out, I can determine if I have a tool for the end of it!! I've asked Mary for more details!

So, none of my investigations has figured out why I have this handle, but at least I have a better idea of what the darn thing is! 

I didn't get to do much in the way of decluttering or sorting as we had Monday sewing, and then I needed to get some work done on my projects, but I hope to take a break today and perhaps get more done. Those inventory lists are calling my name! That's another reason for clutter - if you don't know what you have, you buy more - hence THREE bags of stuffing. So, with one bag spoken for and one potentially going in the garbage, I'll only have one. 

With the inventory list, I could immediately check if I needed to purchase a supply.  

I'm unsure if I shared my front patio space with you, but it looks like this! It's wide open and inviting, with room for two. It's attached to my front step and about two feet above ground level. You would think it's very open to the street, but there is a Japanese maple tree right in front, and that is enough to give it a wee bit of privacy but still keep it open. I get lots of hellos from the neighbors as they walk past, and that was my intention! 

My front patio

I wonder if the neighbors will think I'm strange if I'm out there wrapped in a quilt. The weather is much cooler these days. I could sit in the backyard, but then I would have to contend with Murphy. 

I love her to bits, but she is such an attention seeker. Look how sweet she is. 

Mom -- I'm a lady!! A quiet one! 

And then, seconds later, she dropped her ball in the pond. Sigh..............

MOM -- I NEED help. The ball is in the pond - it was an accident!

Yep -- wrapped up in a quilt on the front step is my "time out" spot, and Murphy can't get into trouble! If I allow her out in front, she is on her leash, but I think she's better off looking at me out the window!

Now that it was cooler, and I was bored going for a walk with no errand in mind, I grabbed Murphy, and she came for the walk with me. That girl walked about 6 km yesterday! There were times when she looked back at me as if to say, " You are NOT walking fast enough!" but we managed. 

Of course, when we cut through the park, she had to jump on the bench—she loved that. 

MOM -- look at ME!!!!!

We solved one more puzzle in the EXIT game. I love how they tease you when you pick the easy route. You think you have solved the puzzle, but you really haven't, and they tease you, leading you on until it counts, and then you realize they were messing with your mind. That's hard to explain, but the games are well thought out. They are so much worth the price!!!! 

OH -- remember that clock kit I shared with you a while back. 

Clock kit in an older magazine

When we had our last Virtual Retreat, one of the ladies showed us her version of a quilted clock. 

This is what Cathy created. 

Cathy's clock

Seriously??? How fun is that? The block patterns came from Carl Hentsch's book - New York Beauties and Flying Geese. 

And look at the AMAZING quilting.

The quilting on Cathy's clock

She mounted the whole thing on a board, and now she has a beautiful clock in her sewing space. Way to go, Cathy!!!! It's absolutely stunning (as usual!!!)

Well, I have computer work to do before I return to the sewing machine. I'm making great progress, but there is still lots to be done!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Life's a mystery!

As I was sewing this morning, I was working on two projects. Yep - that's why I can never finish ONE project because I seem to be quite happy to advance TWO projects, but never finish ONE.

Well one of the projects was just a block that was to be completed by the beginning of this month. It was not and technically I have until the end of next week, however I'm choosing to get it done today!  The block is done. But here's the thing - it's a mystery so I can't show you what it is and I can't even tell you about it. Suffice it to say that I'm very excited about it for a number of reasons and I can't even share the reasons with you!

In between working on that block, I was sewing the missing block to that other project. It's not like the block was missing, but one of the blocks was just a touch too small to fit in with the rest. I cut not one, but TWO blocks yesterday (that was an accident!) and now I have part of at least one of the blocks together. The rest I can finish later today. Again - can't show you that one!  However after Thursday this coming week, I can show you not only the block, but the quilt. Well if not the quilt - at least the quilt top!

And then there's another mystery. But this time - it's a mystery even to me.  One of my guilds is hosting a mystery.  The size is right - 58" by 72".  Close enough to my optimum size (60" by 72") so I can live with that. You need a jelly roll or forty 2 1/2" strips.  While I like jelly rolls and have purchased my fair share of them, I hate the fact that the colors vary so much from light to dark and there is NO PATTERN that I'm really happy with that truly showcases a jelly roll.  So I opted out of using a jelly roll.  I remembered that I had a BOX of batik strips - 2 1/2" and this would be a perfect opportunity to use them.

Batik 2 1/2" strips

These are from an exchange that one of my groups did years ago.  Yep - years ago and I've no idea how many strips are there. Let's just say there are LOTS.

When I opened the box, I found FOUR patterns that I had intentions of making with those strips.  Of the four patterns, two I really like, two I'm so-so on.  I've decided that I'll start with the mystery and just use whatever combination comes to mind when we need to start cutting.  As I cut for the mystery, I'll also cut for the other two quilts that I like and those ones are going to need a ton of cutting. I know - it's going to be very hard for me to keep up and I likely won't, but I'm going to try - I'm really going to try!

However if I continue to have days like yesterday - it's going to be even harder.  It was a physically exhausting day at work and I was tired when I got home. So Miss Lexi and I went off to the park and when I got home, I was too tired to do anything. I think I was even in bed (lights out) by 9 PM.  But I had an amazing sleep and I'm pumped up ready to go today! Thank goodness because there is so much to do, I don't even know where to start.

Well - I guess I do - I have two classes this morning and those are my priority!

On that note - I'm out of here.


Have a great day!


Ciao!!!!

Cruisin......................

I don't know if you did this as a teen, but in many of the movies depicting the 50s and 60s, the teens would cruise up and down the main drag on a Friday or Saturday night - ring a bell?  OK - I think I did it once, but we were going by specific people's houses (OK - homes where cute boys lived!).

Well that is what it felt like yesterday, except my main drag was Winston Churchill!

The day started out by teaching two one hour classes at Ruti's.  Lots of great homework show n tell which will be posted this week. The photos are already edited. I know - I haven't posted the homework from last week's class.

But here is one of the show n tell items - I believe this was Mary's.  It is all made from Northcott Shimmer and it is gorgeous.  Shoot - I don't see the pattern on the website, but it was designed with Northcott Shimmer in mind.  The pattern is available at Ruti's.

After those two classes, it was home to have a quick lunch and then off for visit number one.

I went UP Winston Churchill to visit  my  MIL who is making some garments for me and I was due for a fitting and to chat about the next steps.  Oh boy - she doesn't sew clothes like I do.  She sews them like a TAILOR because that is her training.  I am not sure if I mentioned it, but when I went to drop off the fabric a week ago, she grabbed her tape measure and measured various parts of me.  She didn't write down a thing. Now I had given her a pattern for one of the items, and she said my  measurements were like the pattern.  The garment fit like a glove!!!!!   I think I am really really going to like it and I will definitely wear it more than once!

Then it was back down Winston Churchill to drop off one of the URGENT quilts that has to be made.  Once we got all the details taken care of, then I was off further down Winston Churchill to visit Fabricland and pick up a few items that I needed for my MIL.

While I was there, I got a call from the second person I was dropping off a quilt. I was hoping to catch her at her workshop which wasn't far from Fabricland. Oops - she is already in the car headed home.  Guess where?  Yep - I had to go back up Winston Churchill to get to her house.

Here is a picture of what Teresa did in Elizabeth Dillinger's class.   Check out the flower on the left compared to the flower on the right.  It is absolutely stunning, but then everything that Teresas does is STUNNING!!!!

Workshop sample by Teresa (Elizabeth Dillinger class)

After I left her house, I was inspired so I went even further up Winston Churchill to Micheal's to pick up some glitter glue.  I have a great idea on where to use it.  Now if I can just find that damn panel that I bought the other day.  I bet it got whisked into one of those bags when I cleaned up!   It is probably the same place that the pattern I need for today is!!!!   Oh well - I will just borrow one from the store if I can't find it!!!!

I was tempted to whisk back down Winston Churchill and go to Chapter's, but I decided against it and came back down only as far as the grocery store and then back home!!!  I had work to do and it was getting late in the day at this point. And it isn't as much fun to go magazine shopping because I get to see them all (well a good many of them) for free at work.

But I accomplished a LOT and the third project for Northocott went out the door after dinner.  That leaves two left and there was a teeny problem with some of the fabric quantities so I will have to get that organized tomorrow.  I can't wait to see these quilts - the fabric is GORGEOUS and BRIGHT and well - they are going to be spectacular.  Did I mention that these quilts are hanging in our GIANT booth at Quilt Market!!!


It seems that everywhere I go, I get little gifts from people.  All of them very unexpected and most have a particular purpose. People just don't go out and buy something that is meanlingless.  Which makes the gifts VERY SPECIAL!!!!

I did a favour for Jane the other day who was most appreciative and look what I got in return.  TWO bags of scraps.  One was bigger scraps which I briefly looked at and put with the pet mat stuff.  This was the bag os SMALLER scraps.  Oh boy - I'd love to live in her house - what she calls a small scrap - well I could make a quilt out of that stuff for sure!!!!!   Thanks Jane - it will all go to a good home for sure.

|Scraps from Jane

Then Helen Anne handed me a small wrapped package - wrapped in tin foil that is.  I couldn't believe it. She commented that she was making fruit cake the other day and well - I coveted a piece. I love fruit cake.  However I was cautioned - not to drive immediately after eating this fruit cake.  Apparently it has a "touch" of brandy in it!! Mmmmmmmmmm - I can't wait to sample this!!!!!    Thanks Helen Anne!!!!

Specially seasoned  fruit cake!!!!

And then Carol - well she went and broke the bank with her gift. Actually it is a gift for the office. I like gifts for the office but I don't think I'll be taking Helen Anne's to the office!!!!   Well - we all got a big chuckle when I saw what Carol pulled out of her bag.   A LINT ROLLER!!!!!

Lint roller

 I know - you are asking why???   Well - for those of you who know me - I have been known to wear jeans and a fleece jacket with a bicycle T-shirt pretty much all the time. Now that I am working - I feel that I have to leave the fleece jacket at home (my security blanket!!!), so I am wearing a sweater. The other day I was sewing like a mad person at work and then went straight to the guild meeting.  Apparently my black sweater was covered in threads and everyone got a chuckle out of that!!!!  Now I have a lint roller.

Oh - perhaps they were right - a sweater covered in LINT!

However if you remember from a few years back - I taught a class about caricatures and this is the one I made of myself!!!!   If you enlarge the picture you will see that I am covered in threads.

If the shoe fits......................

I guess I am going to have to ditch the fleece, ditch the sweaters and wear very slippery materials that no threads will stick to me!!!!   Ah heck - I don't mind showing a few threads, but I had better remember to use the lint roller BEFORE the next guild meeting!!!!   But oh my god - I had a weakness the other day and I am actually contemplating buying a pair of ankle boots for work.  Hell must have frozen over.  I could wear running shoes, but well - I like ankle boots - just no need to wear them when I wasn't working.  This working thing is messing with my mind!!!!!


Like I need more fabric or kits, but I couldn't help myself.  Now this is from a competitor - GASP!!!!!!   Hey - I am still a quilter and quite frankly - as much as I adore all the Northcott fabrics - I couldn't sew just them all the time.  Yes - I signed up for this new Canadian Mystery Block of the Month. You can get the Canadian one or the US one.

New Canadian Mystery Block of the Month

Oh shoot - I swear that I saw a list of the blocks when they were being released and also the breakdown of the US regions. Do you think I can find that darn list now?????  Of course not.  But if you want to sign up - call Ruti's or your local shop.  I know Ruti's has sold out of their initial shipment, but she is placing another order.

The information I am looking for may have been taken down since it is supposed to be a mystery.   Well if someone else finds that list - let me know.


And if you are seriously addicted to Row by Row - check out this web site that was created by Janet Lutz - who is the founder of the Row by Row.  The theme for 2016 will be announced this coming Friday.  You can sign up and get the scoop FIRST by checking out her web site.

On that note - I am out of here.  A crazy busy day - yet again.  I MUST get my free pattern download DONE today.  It has to be posted tomorrow.  The problem is how do you write a pattern that everyone can understand.  I see a teaching moment coming with this one and let those YouTube videos roll!!!!!!  Stay tuned for all that info!


Have an awesome day!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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

GO with your gut!!!!

Ah - have you ever done something and you knew in your heart that it wasn't quite right, but you foraged ahead anyway?  Come on - we have all done it to some extent. Well this past week, it happened to me twice!

It would appear that a pinched nerve is what is likely causing some of my discomfort in my leg. When I got home from Thursday Therapy, I was in agony. I guess I had sat too long in one position and I needed some relief. I called "A" physiotherapist. I did not call the one recommended by my doctor. I thought I was getting a specific place, but upon arrival at the address, I realized it was NOT the place that I had wanted. SHOOT - well I went with the appointment since I was there.

She did an assessment and yes - most likely a pinched nerve, but it was a very weird appointment and I can't exactly put my finger on it. I rebooked TWO appointments for this coming week. But I had trepidations about it. I must say that I did get some pretty much immediate relief from the acute pain with the ultrasound. But when I asked one of the personal trainers (who I trust very much) about a physiotherapist, she recommended the same one that my doctor did. OH CRAP!!!!

Now I have to get out of those two appointments this coming week. Why didn't I just listen to the doctor and do what she said????  Well she didn't exactly tell me to go there, but she did recommend them.


And then I did another HUGE mistake. I thought I was capable of doing something, but when it was done, I was NOT happy with it. So correcting that mistake is a HUGE, PAINSTAKING and very TIME CONSUMING job which I am trying to cram in between other things. Lesson learned - listen to your gut!!!!   Don't be a hero - don't think "you CAN do it" when your gut knows better!!!!   And some day - I might tell you what I did!!!!  


On top of that - I am WAY BEHIND in getting the QUILTSocial blog posts up.  They will be up when they are supposed to be, but - well they are late to the editor!!!!   She is very tolerant of me!!!  And I feel really really guilty about it since there is nothing but my procrastination to blame.  However - the POSTS this coming week are AWESOME.   They are very informative and you are going to learn so much - you won't need me any more!!!!!   I will post the link when they are up!!!!


The following pictures are from Monday Mania this past week.

Lynn brought in her Vintage Moments to show us. It is DONE!!!!!  

This is crazy Mary holding the quilt so I could take a picture. Ah -  the room is certainly lively when Mary is around!  She is our resident chatterbox!!!!

Judith brought in some cross stitch show n tell. Very cute!!!!

Judith was working on the binding on this quilt. These colours are so NOT Judith!!!  The quilt is a gift so that is allowed!!!!

Welcome back to Krystyna - she is working on a "Critter" quilt 

Second block of the Critter quilt (by Brandywine Designs)

This is Dianes mystery quilt,

Claudette was working on one more of those damn duffle bags!!!!

Joyce was working on a mystery quilt that I designed last year. Gosh - mine is still not completely together. Maybe that should come to the retreat with me! 

The handles for Joyce's basket!

Susan was working on an apron!

Lynn was working on a baby quilt

Maria was sewing log cabin blocks for an upcoming class

Mary's mystery quilt blocks

Tish making string quilt blocks using phone book pages as a backing

She got two blocks completed. - I LOVE IT!!!!!!

Jan making paper pieced "Stepping Stones" by Judy Neimeyer

Look at the concentration as she chain pieces those seams

I want to make this quilt as well and may have to move it up the "to do" listing. I love it!!!!


 When I went to heat up my lunch in the micro wave, there was a lady who is running a group in another room at the church. Her lunch bag was sitting on the counter and she allowed me to take pictures of it!!!!!   Thanks to Ronda - I have tons of these drink pouches and they are all CLEAN - ready to make something. OK - so this goes on the "TO DO" list. Well - it moved higher up the ranking!!!!!

Tote bag made with Kool-Aid Jammers juice pouches

Wow - there were more people and more projects, but I didn't get around to everyone. The room on those sewing days is PACKED with happy, laughing and industrious (for the most part) people.  Love them!!!!!
Thanks to them all for making these days so much fun.


On that note - I am still prepping for a couple of classes for today. Better get back to work.

Have a good day!!!!!!!!!!!

Ciao!!!!!!

Ironman Challenge - Day THREE!!!!

So?????????????????

How is the ironing board situation coming along at your house???   AH - you thought I wasn't serious about this? I am going to bug you the entire week!!!!     Helen Anne sent me pictures of her ironing board

This is the BEFORE picture. apparently the week before the board was a DISASTER.  So even though it gets to be the dumping ground, it looks like Helen Anne does a good job of clearing it off rather than just use a corner of the board to iron!!!

AFTER - but we both agree that she needs a new ironing board cover. Actually I wonder what would happen if you  washed it????   Hers isn't ripped and mine isn't ripped, but very badly stained with water.  I will check out the instructions to see if I can wash it or look at getting a new one. 

In light of the topic of the week - I dug out ALL my ironing/pressing supplies.

Yes - there are FIVE jugs of distilled water and I bet by Christmas - most of that will be gone. I am going to go through these supplies this week (or it may be next since I am going away for the weekend. But I have a feeling that there are a few things that I don't need. Now I have to say that this isn't that bad, but there has to be a better way to keep track of it all. I'll walk you through that process hopefully tomorrow. 

I took my sewing machine to Monday Motivators yesterday and I was on a roll. I don't have a picture of what I worked on, but I was fired up when I got home and kept sewing. This is what I have got done in the last couple of days.

Another one of our community projects quilted!!!!

This basket is TOPS for the MM community project that need to be quilted!!!!   And there are TWO HUGE tubs of fabric that needs to be dealt with, but I need to get the tops out of the way before we make more!!!!

The binding is now on and I will give it to someone at MM to hand stitch that binding down. 

Oh - here I am working on the mystery quilt for the Halton Hills guild

Here is my Bag One and Bag Two for the mystery - all done!!!!    Got the next clue cut out and ready to sew (well almost). But I'm not sharing that until it goes out in the newsletter!!!!

Cut some of the white triangles needed to make half square triangles with those red cut off pieces. Using them as enders and leaders and hope to trim as I go!!!!   (rather than do it all at the end)

Got the binding on another Monday Motivator quilt - it is in the back (green) on the left of the table. I didn't take a picture of it, but I gave it to someone yesterday so they could hand stitch the binding down. The radio - we talked about that already - it is in the garage waiting to go the recycling depot.  You see I am trying to keep this set of tables clear so that when I need some space to work - it is there with NO effort!!!!

ONE of my biggest problems is that I am a shuffler. Rather than DO (or finish) a project, I will often shift it to a new space. It goes from cutting table to ironing board to work table and then they all rotate back again!!!!!!   Rather silly and so I am trying really hard to deal with those projects that are in that perpetual shuffle!!!

Cutting table is in the perpetual shuffle loop!!!!

Sewing table area stays pretty clear!

More blocks done for the winter samplers!!!!!

I've actually done other stuff, but no time to take pictures. I'll get them up tomorrow.

Here is an area that I really really want to clear up. These are all finished quilts. OK - maybe some of them need labels. Well they need to be sorted, labeled and then they will either get hung up or stored away. I want the table underneath to do some scrapbooking or art stuff. 

So the other morning or maybe it was evening - with DH away and M flitting in and out, I have no concept of time!!!!   Anyway - I am cutting away and then all of a sudden - BANG!!!!!!!!!!!    I hear something metal has fallen. WHOA!!!!    What the heck was that and it was LOUD and it was CLOSE to me.

I check around the studio - nope - don't see anything, I check in the stash room - nope - nothing there either. I continued working and about an hour later, I bent down to pick up something and AHA - there was the source of the noise. A metal tin in fact had fallen off the shelving units under the cutting table.

Fallen tin!!!!   

What do you do with your leftover bindings????

Left over binding from the third baby quilt

Well - I bind a LOT of quilts so I decided to keep the bindings.

I now have an entire BIG tin full of them. This is super because I am going to use those bindings scraps for the binding of my scrap quilts. 

Berke loves car. It is that simple - he would live, breath and eat cars if he had the choice. So he needed a job and what kind of job does he get?????   A valet downtown!!!!

He stopped by the other night all dressed up in his snappy uniform. (M - next time - get him to take off his coat and have him wear the tie!!!!)

I asked him if the staff has had to peel him off of any cars yet. Nope - but he has just SAT in a couple of them enjoying the moment!!!!   A perfect job for a car fanatic and pays pretty decent as well. Or so I hear.


Speaking of cars - did you know that only 1 in 10 cars sold these days is a MANUAL. I have always driven a manual car. Unless I had a health issue, I would ALWAYS buy a manual. They are cheaper to buy, more fun to drive and LESS LIKELY to be STOLEN. Think about how many people know how to drive a MANUAL!!!!     Berke had to prove that he could drive MANUAL before getting the job.   Now if he could just do an alignment on my car I would be happy.  Can't get in this week - too many people getting snow tires put on.


I like to walk in the forest with my girls and this is a HUGE source of my energy, my creativity, my calmness and patience. Just being in nature - well it makes a huge difference to me. And if I didn't have the forest - well I would find a park or some other place. I guess it is just being outside in nature.

MY sanctuary (if only it were really mine!!!!)

Well on that note - I have tons to do today (I know - what else is new). But honestly - taking my sewing machine to Monday Motivators has pumped me up. So much so that I am NOT getting anything done by hand!!!!!  


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



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