Things are on the up.................

What a difference one day can make!!!!   I got that BEAST sewn together FINALLY (let`s just say that it is NOT a small quilt). It got loaded and by lunch time (I had other errands I HAD to take care of)  I started to quilt. I managed to get half of it done and could have pushed more, but I GOT AN EXTENSION of ONE WEEK. Now that is not to say that I will slack off because I cannot - too many other things that have to be done, BUT I am going on a FOUR DAY sewing retreat next week (hence part of my scheduling issue) and I might take this quilt and hand stitch the binding there. It would be perfect.

I switched the style of quilting from what I had originally told the owner and I am happy I did. This looks so much nicer and more appropriate to the style of the quilt and it is pretty easy to do. Even working WITHOUT the stitch regulator which is not something I like to do. Just means that I did the stitching in one direction and then much easier to take the quilt off the machine and turn it one quarter to do the rest. It is currently off the machine (letting all the fibres rest in a natural position - without being tightly rolled around a roller) and I will reload it and do the other half this afternoon.

I went to yoga yesterday at 5:30 PM. OH MY GOODNESS - the capacity of the room (so they told us on the first day is 60) - there much have been 65 in the room. It was literally mat to mat and it was HOT YOGA to boot. Oh boy!!!!   But no one got decked - it was a GREAT class and I didn't know my body could do some of those stretches. She held them for longer periods of time, but boy did I feel much more flexible when I left. I am going to keep up with the yoga - the more you do - the more you enjoy it and downward dog doesn't become a pain in the wrists!!!!!   Unfortunately all weekend classes are in the morning when my classes are happening. Drat - maybe I can get out on my bike.

The other thing I did last night since some of the pressure was off was tidy up the studio. Now normally it is pretty neat, but with all the Pampered Sit n Sew days and other goings on - sometimes, I did heap things instead of putting them away. I KNOW  - happens even to ME!

So I spent a hour setting aside the stuff that needs to be put away, sorted through the current stuff (how come there is so MUCH current stuff) and then I started to put away the stuff that needs to be put away. I did some more this morning and I need a bit more time this afternoon to get it all done. Just doing that has made me feel much calmer, more relaxed and HAPPY. Of course - it could also be the fact that DH left last night for some golf time and M was away at a sleep over!!!!!!!!

Got my classes all prepared for this morning - not getting any of the blocks sewn these days, but at least getting things prepared for the others. Should have some great show n tell tomorrow.

OK - as I was tidying up this morning, I thought about my plastic drawer set. I am always telling people that I keep my stuff organized and in that cabinet, but I don`t think I have ever shown you what it looks like - so here is a peek.

THE cabinet - a very inexpensive 6 shallow drawer unit that you can get at Canadian Tire or Zellers or Walmart for very inexpensive. I like the one with the shallow drawers, although I have others that have deeper drawers but for all these little bits - the shallow drawers work best. It is easy to get to things

Drawer one - BOBBINS - both pre-wound and not. Yes - It is time to wind my sewing bobbins. (that is the tray of empty green bobbins). Unfortunately  my bobbin winder isn't working to my standards and so I have been lax and winding one at a time (which I HATE) while the part for the sewing machine comes in. I have asked them once before to fix it, but it did NOT get fixed. So now we are going to try replacing another part. The machine is 12 or 13 years old and has wound MANY bobbins - I am afraid one of these days that it is going to go belly up.
OK - so there is a stray spool of thread in there too - but it is for a specific project - OK - I should put it in a bag and attach it to that project!!!!!   OK - I HEAR YOU!!!!!!

Hey - has anyone tried the SideWinder and is it worth it??????    Does it work for all machines????   And most important - are the bobbins wound TIGHT????????

Sewing machine feet. Yep - got a lot of those. Including those two white boxes which are also filled with the feet that are in the packaging so I have the instructions on how to use them. The main ones I use are in the plastic container, but others like the beading foot - I use occasionally and it is in the white boxes. Extra bobbin cases are under the plastic case. You know - the one for doing FANCY bobbin work. Haven't purchased any new feet in a couple of years - I probably have them all anyway!!!!!!

Let's see - oh yes - here we have all the pins (the ones that are NOT in the pin cushions that are spread around the studio), Q-tips for cleaning the machine, an extra pin cushion, a small feather duster for the machine and my extra thread for piecing. Not a lot of extra, but extra. Normally I buy the large cones of thread (Aurifil 50/2), but I snagged this box of smaller spools at wholesale price so I couldn't resist. 

Next drawer - that little box has snips - lots and lots of snips which are a MUST by the sewing machine. DO NOT use scissors for clipping your threads - just too cumbersome. There is a box of safety pins (all of them are open of course because that saves time) and then a BIG white box. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM   - what could be in the white box?????

Why a box of scissors of course!!!!!!!

And how many scissors does one quilter need??????    LOTS and LOTS. This doesn't count the scissors that are scattered around the studio (the scissors by the long arm), the general purpose scissors at the cutting table, the scissors that are in the embroidery/applique box and then I am certain that I have about 5 other pair of those small black handled ones (which I love) but I kept LOSING them in a project. Well I don't think I need to buy any new scissors for a while. 

Next drawer - binding supplies (includes the binding clips and all my hand quilting thread which is what I stitch the binding down with), TWO boxes of hand stitching needles, a tin of thimbles, finger cots, a small box of safety pins (OK - that has to be moved to the BIG box of safety pins) and a small sewing kit which has junky stuff in it, but I liked the tin. I should replace it with good stuff and keep on hand. (Why I need a sewing kit is beyond me, but it is a cute tin)

Last drawer - all kinds of glue in one container (probably half of it is dried up - should check that one day), extra rotary cutters including a brand new one (you don't want to see inside the box and see how many rotary cutters I have), circle cutter (under the new rotary cutter - HEY - I've worn those cutters out so I need some spares. An empty case for a rotary cutter and a box of measuring tapes. OK - even though there are three in the studio - you never know when you will need a new one. ONLY 120 inches PLEASE. We do NOT mess with those short ones.

And by the way - when I had a sewing day - I had a yellow tape measure AND an orange one. At the end of the day - I had two orange ones (they are the cheap thin ones) and my good yellow one was gone!!!!!!   I see I am going to have to search people's bags when they leave!!!!!!

And there you have it - I did NOT clean up that drawer before the pictures. That is the WAY IT STAYS all the time. And I am VERY diligent about putting those items away. Why????   They are expensive, they are important and if I lost one of them and couldn't find it - it would frustrate me until I found it. NO ONE touches that cabinet - that is MINE!!!!!!


QUILT SHOW ALERT


One more thing - the Etobicoke Quilt Show is NEXT WEEKEND. March 30, 31 and April 1. Check out their web site for more details................

Etobicoke Quilt Show 2012

Now why should one go to a quilt show?????   INSPIRATION, meeting other quilters, seeing some amazing quilts, buying tickets on the raffle quilt, food, vendors. See, there are LOTS of reasons to go to a quilt show. And take your camera or your sketch book. While you may appreciate the beauty of a quilt, if it is the quilting you like - then take a picture of that. Like this one I took of one of Elaine Quehl's pieces.

Close up of quilting on Elaine Quehl quilt

Print these out or trace them or use as inspiration to create your own quilting designs. I so often hear from people (oh my - these are so complicated), but when you break it down - trace the lines - the designs are NOT that complicated. It is an ILLUSION. And put those inspirations into a book!!!!!    Where you can easily find them next time you need some inspiration to quilt a quilt.

Have fun at the show - I will be there on Sunday late in the afternoon (closes at 4 on Sunday) - then I can pick up MY winning raffle quilt. HA HA - don't I wish. It is a beautiful quilt. Go to their web site to see it.



Anyway - that is is for today. Wow - I even have ONE HOUR before I have to leave - maybe I will sew a block or two - nah - I will go an finish putting that stuff away so when I get home, it will be done - well more of it anyway.


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


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

Check the MIRROR!!!!!!!!

Well ANOTHER whirlwind day. Honestly there are times when I would love to run away from all these commitments. Since running away is NOT an option - I must start saying NO. Anyway - I talked about that yesterday and I am going to be FIRM.

And kids don't help the problem. Mom - I NEED this. When I ask???   TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1   Why do they wait until the last minute and then expect me to JUMP. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
So while I was at Shopper's, I decided to take my blood pressure - JUST FOR FUN. Now my blood pressure is LOW NORMAL which means about 94 over 60 (in that range). Oh by the way - I found an EXCELLENT chart for blood pressure - check this out.


Blood Pressure Chart

This is the best chart I have found. Anyway - my LOW NORMAL blood pressure jumped to NORMAL. Doesn't surprise me. That means SOMETHING has to be done. Of course - I was probably the worse cause of my blood pressure increase. This deadline is KILLING me. However I am happy to report that I am almost DONE!!!!!   I never did tell you what I did for those missing pieces - well I dug through the scrap bin on my cutting table and found a few more pieces and was able to piece FOUR additional sections. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!   One of them has THREE seams in it, but since others were pieced (that is how they came) - it won't be a big deal. Now I am down to the last border and most of it is prepared and ready to sew on. The back is already loaded on the machine. Can we see the light at the end of the tunnel??????   Oh yes - I am excited.

Yesterday - wasn't such a good thing. I had a guild meeting, but after checking the HANDY APP for the gym on my smart phone - I saw there was a yoga class at 5:30 PM. I went and it was the BEST thing for me. The title was Fitness Yoga and I thought the worst. Daniel was pretty funny and since there were a lot of new or beginners in the class - it was very doable although he entertained us with a lot of WEIRD poses. I left the class relaxed (I bet that blood pressure went down!) and happy.

A quick shower and then popped into the cafe to get a smoothie for dinner. As I went to throw the wrapper from my straw in the garbage - I glance down and there is the zipper of my pants WIDE OPEN. I mean really!!!!!!!    You would think after the last fiasco that I would check the mirror BEFORE I leave the women's locker room. OK - I will be now!!!!!

Anyway - I have to say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE that gym. It is close by, they have LOTS of classes (and I was never a class person), but I love the yoga. At the beginning, I am STIFF as a board and by the middle of the class, I can do more. It is exciting. We are GOING TO STAY at this gym. Must remember to cancel the old one now.

But this APP for the SmartPhone is so cool. It is free and you can check the classes, who is teaching, what time and the studio for each. Same with the pool. You get all the info right on the phone. I LOVE that. And you could pick any gym if you traveled to another with a LifeTime there.


OK - enough about that. Oh yes - I did get the block done for the exchange yesterday as well, but again cannot share that photo with you. Shoot - secrets - I hate secrets.


Let me tell you about my experience at the post office. I had a couple of extra scrapbooking/card making magazines and thought I would send to my mom. I put one in one envelope and two in the other. I was charged $3.65 to send the one magazine and because the other package was OVER 500 G - it was going to go as a parcel. To the tune of $13.65!!!!!!!!    You are kidding me!!!!!!!    I said NO. I was not going to pay that price. I am going to split the envelope and separately it will go for $7.00 or thereabouts.

Post Office - Envelope rates

Can`t find the page with the parcel rates - but what a difference. Someone had mentioned that the price you pay at Shopper`s is DIFFERENT (read higher) than the price you pay at Canada Post. Well - the price I see on the web site and what she charged me is the SAME - so that myth goes down the toilet. But Canada Post has a great web site to help you find the price of shipping something. Just need to know the dimensions and the weight. And the price was the SAME as I was quoted.

I guess I don`t have much quilty stuff to share this morning. As I had a look at the pond this morning, I almost fell in. Have a look at what I saw..................

This is hard to see - but those two things on the left - those are LEAVES from the lily pads. I mean - normally at this time of year, the ice is still on the pond. This is CRAZY

And LOOK at the leaves on this tree

And the rose bushes

If it gets cold - we are in big TROUBLE.



Then this morning as I was getting the carrots for the girls treats - you would think Sparky was trying to help me.

I can get those carrots for you!!!!!

Just the right height to sit under the door of the fridge!!!!!

Notes cards with my INITIAL on them. Thanks Cathy - got them last night at the guild meeting. 

Our speaker was Elaine Quehl. I have heard of her and seen some of her work over the last 10 years. But this was the first time I met her and heard her speak. This is yet again - another reason why I need to cut back on stuff for others and classes. I NEVER had time to do the fun stuff for ME!!!!!!!


This is a close up of one of her pieces - very hard to see, but she uses raw edge applique and the results are amazing. Those edges look like they have been turned under!!!!   Amazing.

Beautiful leaves - all raw edge. Gorgeous. 

Not that I want to copy anyone, but I really really really want time to play. And so I am going to be clearing my schedule to make that happen. But first - I have some stuff that I have to finish. I make a commitment - I will get it done - just not as fast as you would like perhaps, but it will get done.


On that note - I had best get this last border on and get started on the quilting.


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


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

The times - they are a changing..................

I am happy to report that progress is being made on that special project. I am now working on the LAST section. Then the twelve sections have to be sewn together and then onto the machine to hopefully start quilting tomorrow. Life is just a blur of deadlines.

After my lecture yesterday at the Waterloo Guild, I think I have solidified what changes need to happen. I'll get into that in a minute.

The Waterloo Guild is so large, they have an afternoon meeting and an evening meeting. I left earlier than I needed to and made a stop on the way. I went to see the Log Cabin display at the Wellington County Museum. If you love old quilts or log cabin (that is my FAVOURITE block), then you MUST go and see this exhibit. The quilts are stunning - all are old. After I went around and took pictures (no flash) and read the cards, I noticed something. ALL the blocks are small - well let's say 4 - 8 inches depending on the quilt and almost all had at LEAST four or five or MORE logs on each side radiating out from the center square.

Here are a couple of blocks to entice you - (I'm not posting the pictures of the quilts - you have to go there to see them in person)

Yes - my finger is there intentionally so you can see how small these logs are

Close up of log cabin quilt

Definitely an interesting display and well worth stopping. There is also a small display about the Titanic - you should have a peek at that as well. Although I have been to the Wellington County Museum a number of times, I don't think I ever went to the top floor. I had some time to kill, so I did some exploring. Oh my goodness - some of those displays brought back a few memories and a few laughs.

An old fashioned kitchen. See that wood stove in the background?????   Now don't get me wrong - I am dating myself, but not as much as you think. I grew up in rural Saskatchewan and this is what we cooked on and heated water to wash dishes, until 1967!!!!   I remember when we got that new ELECTRIC stove, I promised my mom that I would clean and polish it every day (I must have thought it was an idol!!!) I don't think that lasted too long. 

Look at the lady of leisure because her electrical appliances (in the background) are doing all the hard work!!!!!

Remember those old linoleum floors - HEY - this is a great pattern for a quilt!!!!!!

Too bad you can't read these captions. They are pretty funny about the dos and don'ts of cleaning!!!!!

Anyway - hopped back in the car and arrived in plenty of time at the guild meeting. First off - they have a gorgeous room with a stage so they can very nicely display the show n tell for the month.


AND WOW - and the show n tell - well it blew my socks off. My camera was in my bag at the front, so I didn't get any pictures, but it is a VERY talented group.


I did my lecture on scrap quilting and organizing your sewing room. I love doing that lecture - so much fun and I had several people come up and thank me at the end. It seems they are as anal as I am about keeping things in their place. But they looked HAPPY!!!!!

Also amazing how many people you know in the quilting world - well make that the quilting AND biking world. Vicki was there (she is one of the program people) - Vicki arranged that trip to Iceland, The Netherlands and Germany on bikes (2010) and I tagged along. She is a PRETTY proficient quilter. WOW - I hadn't realized. Then I met up with Jan - I went on my trip to the Arctic with Jan. She lives not far from Waterloo and newly retired, has picked up quilting. And Trudy (also a program person) who I worked with at the CreativFestival and Robyn who comes once in a while to Monday Motivators. I mean - there were lots of people that I knew. It was like "old home week".

But overall - I think people enjoyed the lecture and if they go home and do ONE THING - they will be making progress to getting their sewing space tidied up.


Have a look at this cool idea.....................

Shoot - you can't see, but that pink sign on this box - says SCRAP BANK. I think it kind of got out of hand!!!!!!    But what a great idea. However - I think people were just DUMPING and dumping is not allowed!!!!!    But wouldn't you like to get into that tub and see what you could make??????   OK - so most of you wouldn't, but I would. Well - I would rather go through my own stuff because it is ORGANIZED!!!!!!!

My scrap quilts on display - isn't that a great space to display the quilts????   I love that. 

OK - so here is my issue with myself. While I love to participate in exchanges, I love to teach and I love to quilt, I realize after looking at all these quilts laid out that I haven't done much new for myself in a LONG LONG LONG time. And you know what - I LOVE doing scrap quilts, I love intricate piecing. And I DO NOT have time. My first thing to go will be the exchanges. Once I am done the existing exchanges I am in - I am NOT signing up for any more. I am currently in THREE of them and while I love the groups - they just take a lot of time if you want to do them justice. Also - it is THREE things I have to worry about each month. Block of the Month - I am doing one series of block of the month with a local guild. Once this is over - I am NOT doing any more in the future years. Yes - it is fun, but again - is that really where I want to focus my time. NO. I am doing a postcard exchange - again - once the postcards are complete - NO MORE. Wow - there is FIVE things off my plate already. Well I have to wait until they end before I can take them off my schedule.

Now let's see what else can go??????????????????    As much as I enjoy teaching these $10 classes, they are HUGELY time consuming. Currently I am doing SEVEN of them. YES SEVEN - how did that happen??????    I will continue to do them, but there is going to be a LIMIT - THREE - maybe FOUR, but NOT seven.

And just doing that will open up a HUGE amount of time for me, but I am going to get even more ruthless. I am going to try to NOT teach anything that requires me to make something new. I will teach technique classes, I will teach classes for items that I have already made (OK - I might throw in the occasional new item). And then I am going to take ONE DAY a WEEK and it is going to be MY DAY.

Actually we are looking for a new BIGGER space for Monday Motivators and if we find something - I might start sewing and stop PREPPING new stuff unless I have prep to do.

Oh yes - there is going to be CHANGE cause this is CRAZY. I don't know how this happened, but if you see me SIGN up for a new EXCHANGE - JUST SHOOT ME!!!!!!!!!   I need to finish off some of these exchanges. I mean - it is INSANE how many are sitting there that need to be completed.


On that note - I have a block that I NEED to get done TODAY for an exchange and I still have to get my special project complete.

Where's the valium????????

Between meetings, I managed to sneak a quick trip to Quilter's Nine Patch  which is a great store.

Got some ORANGE fabric for my Dear Jane quilt

Word fabric that was on sale

and a COOL bike fabric!!!!!

OK - got to run.

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



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

Count 1, 2, 3............................

It was Elm Creek reveal yesterday. Wow - we are getting down to the wire now. There are only TEN more blocks to be discussed in class. I have "suggested" to the class that whatever blocks they have done by the end of June - then that is the DEADLINE for piecing the blocks. We don't put dates or deadlines on some of our projects and then they hang around forever (OK - so I am talking to myself there!!!)  So June is the deadline. OH BOY - I am going to have to have a couple of marathon days because I really really want to get them all done and I haven't done much lately.

I can't wait to see the final reveal sometime in the fall because they are all going to look awesome. Have a peek at what we saw yesterday....................

Susan has finished piecing the number of blocks she needs for her setting. She is adding a small coping strip of yellow (that yellow is stunning) and then a small sashing. It is GORGEOUS. Nicely done Susan!!!!

Lois is pretty much up to date with all the blocks. I'm very impressed. 

Celia is also starting to sew her blocks together. She is just adding a sashing between the blocks. An entirely different look than what Susan is doing. Nice colour for the sashing - it will make those blocks pop. 

Celia's latest blocks

Mary is playing catch-up as she joined our group late. But I like what I see!!!!!!

Mary Jane with gorgeous colours (that matched her shirt!!!!)

Janice, not wanting to come empty handed pieced one of the most complex blocks and it looks stunning!!!!

Marianne with her FUSSY cut blocks. Wow - Did you see that eight pointed star?????

More blocks by Marianne

OK - so after this CRISIS is over, I shall assign a couple of days for ME to get this done. I just have to get it done and OFF MY WALL. I want to put other stuff up there. PLAN PLAN PLAN....................


Speaking of planning - once I came home after the class, had a quick lunch and sat at the sewing machine for HOURS. I thought I was going to die. It seemed to go so slow. But this thing is coming together section by section. This morning, I laid out the last three sections. I knew that I had not cut all that I needed, but I was CERTAIN that I had cut all of one colour. The main colour, only to find myself SHORT about 40 pieces. Obviously my counting skills aren't what they used to be. I had to cut a few other pieces which I knew, but I also knew that I had LOTS of fabric to play with. HOWEVER - there is one that is going to be a problem. I still have FOUR pieces of this fabric to cut and I have RUN OUT!!!!!!    HELP!!!!!!!   I always say - this is the moment CREATIVITY kicks in. So I am now trying to creativity figure out how to fill in those four gaps. As for scraps - well I got real cocky and slap happy and THREW OUT most of the scraps. WHAT WAS I THINKING?????????????????????????     Well I have a plan - let's hope it works out. And NO - this fabric is one of a kind and cannot be found anywhere.

On that note - I have to cut this short because I am speaking at the Waterloo Guild today (and since they have a day and a night guild), it will take all afternoon and the evening. That means I MUST get back to the sewing machine and try to finish off these last sections as I was really really hoping to put this on the machine tomorrow and have a LOT of the quilting done.

Went to yoga last night. How relaxing except that the instructor kept trying to get me to relax and go DEEPER into the poses. Yeah - hey - lady - it takes my body several minutes to sink into those poses!!!!!  But they are planning workshops for April so maybe we get more time to try stuff - like the crow - where you are on your hands and feet off the ground?? I don't think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Oh yes - this is HOT yoga and for some reason it seemed a bit hotter than normal. At one point, the instructor mentioned something about getting the heat fixed. I don't know, but it just felt like an HOUR long HOT FLASH. When I got out of the class, I could not STOP drinking water. I must have been dehydrated big time.


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


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

FOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG - through the power of the blog, Carol who is away and obviously reading my blog while she is away, FOUND my green/white yoga fabric. She just called me. SHE FOUND IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How awesome is that. I am so excited - OK - so it doesn't take much to get me excited. Sorry...............

But look at what else she found...................

A COMPANION fabric with YOGA FROGS no less!!!!!!!!!

And she also found the green/white one. 

That is just the best thing in the whole world.

Pat's sister is also on the lookout for both - so I may have LOTS of this fabric.


Now that I think about it - I have Judy searching for a different fabric for me at Len's Mills - different than this. I may never have to shop again!!!!!   I just send out requests and people find stuff for me. I Love it!!!!!


OK - NO more delaying. I am spending the afternoon putting that surprise project together. Just pray for me that I can get it done and NOT lose my mind.

Oh yes - Both of those magazines are available at Indigo/Chapters - they may not be out until Friday.

And I downloaded the app from LifeTime so I can check on my phone what the schedule is. How cool is that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the bag is ordered and hopefully on its way!!!!

Now to just find that other surprise! That may be a bit of a challenge and NO ONE is allowed to shop for that. Cause it is a surprise!!!!!


Have a great afternoon!!!!!!


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

Under the influence.......................

Wow - yesterday was a happening day. I don't have many pictures to show you, but a LOT happened.

I received an e-mail from the designer of the green/white fabric (Janet White) and she CONFIRMED that the fabric was sold at Joann's in the US. It is called Back in Five Minutes.

This was all the information I had on the selvedge, but it was enough to track Janet down. 

I now have TWO people checking out a couple of Joann's to see if they can get it for me. But if any of you are in the US and live close to a Joann's and can check for me - I would love that. I'll reimburse you of course!!!!

I also contacted the store that sold that nice yoga bag pattern that I posted the other day and as soon as I confirm the Paypal transaction - that will be winging its way to me as well.  Oh my goodness - it doesn't take much to get me excited!!!!!!

Awesome looking yoga bag

I love taking a tidbit of information and then searching it out on the internet.

And then you have Marian. What can I say about Marian??????   So despite the fact that we had seen each other at Monday Motivators and that I am SUPER BUSY, she ended up coming to my house after Monday Motivators and was here for HORUS. While I DID NOT make any progress in my current project - we had a million laughs and made HUGE leaps and bounds in something else - which I can't share at this moment. But it involved the internet and searching and one of the items we were looking for was potentially with a neighbour - well a house just around the corner from where I live. A quick text to the owner and their equally quick text back - no that was NOT what we were looking for. OH MY GOD - you are going to just die laughing when you see what we are up to. However that cannot be revealed until sometime in May - sorry - but it is pretty FUNNY.

All I can say is that she definitely is my GO TO person. I come up with a concept, an idea and then she takes it even further and (well it gets out of hand sometimes) and she convinces me that there are certain things that I NEED. And well the rest is history.  What can I say - I know we will get a LOT of mileage out of this one - you just wait.

Then there was even more EXCITEMENT yesterday. While at Monday Motivators, I get an e-mail from my cycling buddy Jim and his wife Jeanne (of The Quilt Patch fame) and they just saw my article in the Canadian Cycle magazine. OH MY GOD - I have been waiting for that magazine to come out for a long time. And when I got home - there is was - in my MAILBOX.......................

Current Issue - Canadian Cycling

And there it is - MY ARTICLE

This is so cool!!!!!!!


And then to make my day even more exciting - my second article this month in A Needle Pulling Thread was also in my mailbox!!!!!!!

Current issue - A Needle Pulling Thread

This issue is CHOCK a BLOCK full of EXCITING projects. Oh my - I want to make them all!!!!!!!!
And if for no other reason - buy it for the AMAZING tutorial on squaring up blocks. You will love it!!!!!!

The article on Squaring up Blocks!!!!!

And here is a SNEAK PEEK at what I am currently working on for A NEEDLE PULLING THREAD

Now it doesn't look too exciting, but wait until you see the final project and hear the story. 

OH MY GOD - what a whirlwind day. Like I said - I got NOTHING done. Too much excitement.

Now I mentioned a couple of days ago that something was going to have to change in my life. Well - Monday Motivators is going to have to find a new venue. The Hobby Horse Quilt Shoppe who has provided space for us to sew for 10 years (I can't believe it has been that long) is going be closed on Mondays starting July1. The Monday Motivator group took the news in stride and immediately began putting forth ideas for a new location. I think we are all excited about a change - let's get a place with WINDOWS!!!!!!   - I love bright spaces.

Let's see - did anything else happen?????   No - I think that was enough excitement for one day.

However - I am having trouble with my scheduling. I got up this morning - prepare myself for yoga at 6:30 AM. I arrive in plenty of time (took me FIVE minutes to drive to the club). Only to have the fellow at the desk ask me if I was going to the Pilates class. No - yoga I said. Oh - that was at 6 AM this morning. CRAP CRAP CRAP. I should have looked at the schedule because I could have made it - just wasn't paying attention. I will go later today - there are some classes around dinner time. DUH!!!!!!!!!    OK - need to ACTUALLY PUT THOSE CLASSES in the agenda - not in my head!!!!!!!!!


Well on that note - I must finish getting ready for my class this morning.

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     (hopefully not filled with as much excitement as yesterday!!!!!)


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Christmas Club - March reveal - part two

(I am scheduling this blog to post tomorrow morning - let's hope it works cause I'll be at the gym when it gets posted)


OK - what a crazy day. Yes we had pampered sit n sew, but I seemed to spend the entire day watching my embroidery machine stitch out a couple of designs. Thank goodness the girls brought small projects and hand sewing so little pressing and seam ripping was required as the embroidery kept me busy. Yikes - I even forgot to take a picture of the embroidery designs. Shoot - well maybe next time. And no time to take pictures of what the girls were working on - well some of what was worked on was a secret so that couldn't be posted anyway!!!!!!

Here is the second part of the reveal for the Christmas Club. This time - the blocks are for O Tannenbaum. The original quilt....................

Ooops - sorry this is so small, but you get the idea of what the final quilt will look like.

The homework blocks for this month...................

These are my untrimmed blocks. Actually the requirement was the gold center block and at LEAST one of the three colour blocks.

Let's see how well they did....................

Oh now the blocks are all the same and since we paper pieced them - it is hard to change them, but look at the difference the different colour choices makes.

Helen Anne

Flo Bl.

Raili (she didn't piece the center because there is a tree that gets appliqued on it) and shaded her fabric light to dark

Nancy - also did not piece the entire center of the gold block

Linda P - who took those reds into shades of brown and a tan/beige center - not gold

Kristin

Liz

Annadele

Suzi

Marlene

Linda VL

Flo Be

Tony

Again - EVERYONE got their homework done!!!!!   And they are all so different. Going to be fun to see the end result!!!!!


The homework (which I don't have a picture of) - the schoolhouse block and prepare the applique for the tree.


That is it for me - I've been working on one of my secret projects (and finished a secret block) today besides hosting the ladies and I'm beat. My neck is sore and I'm going to read.


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


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