Fireside Retreat - Day Two

Wow -- I'm shocked at how much I can get done when I'm at a retreat. I'm focused and there are ZERO distractions. I'm thinking this is going to be the new norm at my house. Have everything super prepped and then isolate yourself with no distractions. It's great!!!

Just so that no one thinks I've snuck off into the dark and am at the retreat house, I'm NOT. I should be there - I want to be there, but I can't. We have a Messenger group chat going so we can always chat with someone during the day. We can send photos and we can have a video chat. It's not the same, but HEY - we have to make the best of a bad situation.

I'm still walking as I would be doing while at the retreat house. I saw two things that warmed my heart when I was out yesterday. The first is a Canadian flag that a neighbor hung outside their house. You know what? That made me feel extremely PROUD to be a Canadian and so for everyone else - if you have a Canadian flag in your house - get it out and hang it up! We are all in this situation together - let's show our support for each other. I must dig mine out - I meant to yesterday and then forgot.

Hang your Canadian flag

The second thing that warmed my heart is I saw BUDS on some of the trees around here. That's exciting. Spring is on the way!

Buds on the trees

Here's the thing. We are NOT restricted to staying in our houses (not yet anyway). Get outside, go for a walk, ride a bike, get out your rollerblades. Get out your lawn chairs and sit in the backyard or in your driveway. So what if you need a jacket and a quilt. That's OK. Get out and get some fresh air. Change up your scenery. I try to be out at least a couple of hours every day. And YES, everyone in my neighborhood is practicing physical distancing. It feels a bit like you haven't showered for days as people pass by without wanting to be close to you! Most people do that anyway when they see the two girls, but it's even more pronounced now.

Speaking of showers, we're going to all need underwear with the days of the week on them so we know what day of the week it is. It was bad before this all happened, but now I'm totally lost. But I do know that it's day three of the retreat. Let me share with you what happened yesterday.

I see my retreat mates are NOT taking this retreat very seriously. I don't have a lot to show you of their accomplishments. Ronda (who has been working during the day) got the binding on this table runner that she quilted a couple of months ago. Way to go!!! I know she has the next quilt basted and hooped and ready to go this morning. She likes to quilt using her embroidery machine.

Ronda's table runner - DONE

Katheleen finished her jigsaw puzzle. An extra border piece and missing two pieces in the puzzle. Hey - I see she has the same friend as myself. Hello Alexa!!!  This is one of those mystery puzzles. I wonder if she solved the mystery???

Jigsaw puzzle - DONE

Lynn got two Retreat Bags by Emmaline Bags made. They look awesome. It's a free pattern on that web site but you do need the wires for the top.

Retreat Bags

Susan completed this quilt top that she was using as an ender/leader project. This is similar to the one I'm supposed to be making with my batik squares. I'm glad I chose white as the background. It looks awesome Susan!!!

Susan's quilt top

She's also sewing Vintage Christmas blocks. She's not part of our sew-along group, but that's OK. She's doing one block a day and here's the block from yesterday.

Vintage Chrismtas block

OK - so that's what the others did. What did I do? Like I said - it was a very focused day. The other thing is that darn audiobook. If you get a good audiobook going, I focus on listening to the story and NOT on what I'm doing. I'm listening to W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton. ACK -- I'm almost done the series and there will be no more books!! I need to find another book. I only have a non-fiction book waiting for me when this one is finished.

I had packed the bag of blue scraps from our community projects group. It took up a LOT of room in the laundry basket. While I had loads of strips already organized, there was also this huge pile of scraps that needed to be sorted. I stood at the ironing board every so often and picked out the strips, pressed smaller pieces for the corners of my blocks and by the end of the day, the pile was gone.

Pile of scraps to sort

I can't tell you how therapeutic that was. It was totally mindless. Just sort and press. Sort and press. I'll come back to this in a minute.

I started the day off with my friends on my iPad and my project by the sewing machine. 

Ready to start the day with friends and a sewing project

I had wound five bobbins to get me started and I had part of one in the sewing machine. I've now gone through 3 of those bobbins. It's so nice to have bobbins ready to put in when you run out!!

Another empty bobbin

I have a portable design wall in the bathroom attached to Studio U. So as I assembled the blocks, I was able to put them on the wall. 

Portable design wall

I realized as I got most of the blocks on the wall that it would look better if I started with a full diamond and not a half diamond. That was easy to fix. I moved the first column to the last column and everything was perfect. I didn't even rearrange the blocks. It's a scrap quilt - changing the blocks wouldn't have changed much.

Almost done all the blocks

It pays to put things up on the design wall. My goal was to get the quilt top together by the end of the day. Who knew that it was going to take TWO days to get this quilt done? I was hoping to get it done in one day. That's why I end up taking so much to the retreat. I think a project will take no time and it ends up taking forever. I was very focused all day as well. This is going to be a good lesson for the next retreat. ONE laundry basket and ZERO panic packing!

Here's the final quilt top. I LOVE it, but then I love scrap quilts!!

The completed quilt top

That top will be added to the pile of community project quilts that need backing and binding. At this rate, it's going to take a long time before we can get back to that. But that's OK because I still have a lot of quilts to quilt so it's not like I need more added to the pile at this moment in time. 

AS I said, that bag of scraps took up a LOT of room in my laundry basket. However, I was able to NEATLY pack all the strips and the few small pieces that are left for the corners into this much smaller bag. There's probably enough strips to make two more string quilts. I only have 10 foundations left and I need 48 for each quilt. So I'm putting this aside for now. I've got a sheet that I can cut up to make more foundations. Once the new foundations are cut, I'm putting this back into the laundry basket for the next sewing retreat. It's a perfect thing to work on. And it'll take TWO days to make another quilt.

The blue scrap bag

Let's see - if I could get the rest of the scraps this organized - well. I think I might do that. Thre's a bag for reds, greens, browns, miscellaneous and two smaller ones for blacks and purples. The blue one was the largest. I felt so good after this exercise. Like I said - it was extremely therapeutic and I'm going to keep right at it! But after the retreat is over! It's now time to sew something for me. The best part? Slow and steady is the ONLY way to get things accomplished.

Here's my ender/leader project. I didn't need that when I was sewing the blocks, but I needed it once I started to sew the quilt together. I was working on this a while back. It's a MINI block of the month that I started YEARS ago. I haven't worked on it since July of 2019.

Mini block of the month

So you can appreciate how small those little pieces are - I'm trimming one of the half-square triangles in the block. Yikes - those pieces are TINY. I had to sew them very carefully to get the block to turn out the correct size.

Trimming a MINI half square triangle

 Yes - the entire block is 3 ½". That's just insane!! I now have 10 blocks completed. I checked to see what November and December are like. They are just as bad. Oh boy!!! Well, it would be nice to get those two blocks completed so I'm going to try and focus on getting them done. It's a Thangles project and once I'm done, I'm going to have some 3/4" and ½" Thangles up for grabs if anyone wants to work this small.

Mini block for the Block of the Month - DONE

Before I went to bed, I tidied up the sewing room. As I was sorting through the scraps, I found colors that weren't blue. They got pressed and this morning, I snuck everything down to Studio B and put it all away. I got the next project ready to sew this morning once everyone gets up and it's OK to turn on the sewing machines and make noise. This one is my UFO for this month so I'd better get myself organized and get it done. Everything is cut and ready to sew. The sewing machine has been threaded with dark thread.

Project for today

I know that everyone is coping with our self-isolation in different ways. I'm just trying to have fun and keep myself entertained. I'm also getting some admin work done. I had tried to clear everything up before I "left", but I didn't quite have time so I'm spending a bit of time first thing in the morning to get things done. So far, I'm on track. I'll get back to e-mails as soon as I can, but my priority is to sew for the next couple of days. I'll get the urgent ones responded to.

On that note, I'm out of here.

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!

Prep day!

Remember the title of my post yesterday????   "Can't get it out of my system..........."    Well after the marathon I had yesterday - I may want to revisit my statement!!!!

Before I get into that - here is a very interesting situation. I now work amongst a group of NON-quilters who all work for a fabric company. A couple of the ladies do sew, some are into crafts and one of the ladies does a LOT of sewing for Northcott. But none of them are dedicated quilters.

I do believe I am experiencing a bit of a stereotype situation at work - the perception of what and who a quilter is. I think my group believes that quilters (including me prior to coming to work at Northcott) sit at a sewing machine all day and sew. Quilters have no deadlines, they have no pressure - it is just fun and games to sit at home and sew all day. And because I haven't technically "had a job" for the last 17 years, I feel sometimes that the group thinks I have sat around and quilted for 17 years.  The fact that I (and many of my friends in various instances) have setup and tore down more trade shows than I care to count, that I have organized and set up and tore down way too many quilt shows to count, that I have tirelessly day and night prepped classes for teaching, then taught the class, do follow up with the students, do long arm quilting for customers and at least two per month for community projects, make custom designed quilts for customers, do a TON of prep work for the QUILTSocial blog, including filming my own videos, writing my own text and taking and editing my own photos. I have no idea the number of sewing days and fund raising days that I have organized and ran. When I have free time - I do work on my own stuff.  So yes - I am a quilter - but I certainly do not just sit and sew all day. There are MANY days when I don't even make it to the sewing machine.

I just have to laugh because of a situation that happened yesterday and I have the feeling that there was some serious doubt about my capabilites!  They don't know me very well.

Here is what happened. I was working on a quilt for Market that I did not want to quilt. We have a couple of long arm quilters that quilt quilts for us. I was going to quilt one, but I decided not to. But I could piece a top or two. One of the quilters was coming to the office at 10 AM (on Friday) to pick up some tops including the one that I was working on.  This particular top was slow progress as there were half square triangles, pinwheels and loads of applique. And it had a diagonal set with sashing and cornerstones.  No one else offered to make it so I did. It was a very time comsuming top to make.  I have been doing the prep work on it for the last couple of days.  I finished prepping the applique pieces on Wednesday night and stitched them all down on Thursday while still trying to get other things prepped in the office and helping others or discussing some upcoming events.

By the end of Thursday - half of the center part was together. Oh did I mention that the quilt was 71 by 86 or something like that so it was a decent size.  So when I left (and I had a guild meeting that night), I SAID that the quilt would be ready by 10 AM when the quilter came to pick it up. I know - do the math!!!!!

After the guild meeting, I came home and had everything preppedd - all the pieces were cut, they were laid out in order of sewing and I set the alarm for a very early hour and I was up and sewing.  I sewed for FIVE straight hours.  One thing you have to keep in mind is that these patterns we are working from have NEVER been made before. The designer has written them, often in haste to meet our deadline and so they are NOT tested.  Once the center was done - it was way faster to sew the second half at home - that took ONE hour. Then onto the borders (top and bottom only) that had the pinwheels.  Whoa - I made way too many, but that is what the pattern said (feedback to go back to the designer). Then I sewed the pinwheels together - crap - the border is too long.  Do a couple of quick adjustments - more comments to the designer and whipped those two borders on top and bottom - that process took two hours. Phew - I might just make that  10 AM deadline.  Next up - a skinny little border - that was easy. Then onto the last border which had pieced corners and WHOA - I cut the first strip and that doesn't seem like the right size. Nope - checked and the sewing instructions were right - cutting instructions were wrong. More feedback to the designer. The last border was done at 9:00  AM.  

I ran upstairs to throw on some clothes and hopped in the car. After stopping at Tim's for tea, I arrived at the office at 9:50 AM to find the quilter was already there and was getting ready to leave as she had already been given other quilts.  Seriously??????   The last thing I said when I left the day before was that I would be back at 10 AM with a finished top. That was a marathon of sewing that I hope to NEVER repeat. I loved doing it - I LOVE the quilt, although it isn't my favorite of those we are displaying, but the way the fabrics work together is pretty spectacular.  

Let's just say that I was NOT happy when I arrived and I VOICED my concern and it was not because of the way my morning went. Bottom line - the quilt that I worked on went with the long armer!!!!

Sorry - no pictures - I will show you when it comes back from the quilters.  Literally there was NO time for pictures.

Yes - I still love my job - but it all goes back to the credibility thing that I talked about at the beginning.  Just because I am a quilter, doesn't mean I don't know how to meet a deadline, you think I don't know about pressure????   Every day is a new deadline for me - I work under pressure each and every day!!!!  I thrive on it - if I don't have pressure - I do NOTHING.  I guess it will take time for the team to learn how I operate. In the meantime - bring on the pressure!!!!!  They don't know that a usual day for me involves quilting or some variation of it for about 16 of 24 hours in a day unless I am on my bike which is't often enough.

Now I do owe a pattern to our marketing team that is WAY over due and before I send it to them, I wanted to make the quilt because I think there are a couple of areas that need to be fudged. It is one thing to design a quilt, but it is completely another to take a PICTURE and a few measurements and make a quilt.  When I or any of our other designers design quilts they do NOT have fabric. They can only use scans of the fabric (which are pretty darn accurate) but if you are a quilter - we LOVE to see and touch the real thing.   So if there are mistakes in the pattern - you can see why they happen, but I do NOT want any of those in my pattern.  Hence I am making the pattern so I can understand a few things about this particular line and then write the fudge factor into the pattern.   Does that make sense??????   Some people criticize when mistakes get in the patterns, but I can see where and how it happens.  We had some new preprinted products and unless you are familiar with them - it can be a challenge to design and then sew them.


Speaking of pictures - here are some pictures from the last couple of days.

This was all the stuff I loaded into the car on Thursday morning. I had a different sewing machine and I was glad that I took the big one for all those lumpy corners of the pinwheels. Having two different inserts for the little sewing table means that I can wing any of my machines into the table and it works like a charm.  Honestly I can't say enough about that little table. Best investment I have made in a long time in the quilting world. So happy that it fits into my office.  My office is definitely a happy place for me!

All of this went into my car

 Yes - there were quilts to be delivered to people, sewing machine to sew on and accessories. Project bags, lunch - you name it - my car is always full of stuff!!!!

We had a fabulous guild meeting - Elizabeth Dillinger was the speaker and I am sorry that I cannot attend her class today.  But another time perhaps or I just get out the sewing machine and experiment.  I know how she does what she does so technically I could save some time and money and just do it!!!!   Matter of fact - I just signed up for a new project that would be perfect to experiment with.  Hmmm - yes - must do that.

During show n tell, one lady had this to show.  This is the Block of the Month (Chunk of the month) that I designed a couple of years ago.  There was another quilt on the back so I don't know which was the front or the back, but it is a two sided quilt.  Looks beautiful!!!!!   Technically it is sideways in this picture. Yes - one day I will actually finish piecing mine.

Block of the month designed by me!

Here is the new block of the month for this year.  It is a Canadian theme - there are going to be a variety of blocks that we can use so not all the quilts will be the same. I was hoping to use ONLY the Northcott Stonehenge OH Canada, but there isn't going to be enough variety in it to make this design sparkle. Nope as I was looking at these pictures this morning - I know exactly what I am going to use and it will be amazing. Now the big thing will be to keep up!

Mary's quilt

Linda's quilt

 They are fun and funky and well - it is going to fun to find fabrics to make it work.


Since I am the program person, I get to help the guest speaker load and unload the car. And I get to see everything up close and personal. Well Elizabeth's husband was there to help her and look at the amazing case that she carries her quilts in.

Super case for carrying quilts

 It is a case for shipping golf clubs and if ANYONE has one - I WANT it.   He said he has tried to find another, but no go.  I am thinking that map cases might look like this - cases for architecture drawings?????   There has to be something.  It has a lid and wheels  - how brilliant.  Then the quilts do NOT get folded.  I want one for storage of my trunk show at home.   YES - I want one of these.


After the long armer left on Friday morning, what did the rest of my day look like????   Well I had to design two quilts and write up the fabric requirements.  Now that is not easy - OK - write two patterns with THESE fabrics - GO!  I managed to produce two patterns that I think are nice additions to the collection and they are going on the front of the shade cards to stores!

And at some point in the day - the fabric arrived from Asia.  Talk about being HOT off the press!!!!!   Here it is  - all laid out and Hania spent a good part of the afternoon cutting for the next six quilts that need to be finished and in a crate that leaves the warehouse on October 16.  Yes - that is NOT a typo.  Thankfully I have a few friends who have volunteered (for a price) to help out with the sewing.

Hot off the press fabric

The six quilts that need to be sewn - actually there are only five here. 

 One of them is being shipped on Monday to someone else to sew.


Rose - this is for you!!!!   Look at what is on my cutting table.  YES - I have a T-shirt quilt for a customer that has to be completed by Oct 15 - ah yes - all in a day's work!!!!!

T-shirts for a T-shirt quilt

 Guess what I will be cutting and sewing later today.  If I can put that other one together in 5 hours - this one will be a snap.  The biggest part will be cutting up the T-shirts, stabilizing them and designing the quilt. Once that is done - the rest will take NO time at all to put together.

And I am in the process of prepping for TWO classes today and I have to find the pattern for the one I am teaching tomorrow.   Thankfully the classes today are only 1 hour each, but then I have to deliver those other quilts to be sewn, stop off to see my MIL who is sewing clothing for me that has to be done and in three weeks from today - we will be madly in the midst of QUILTMarket.

Prepping for today's class

Speaking of Market - here is the fun part - I am setting up appointments with the Editors of magazines!!!!   Or the managing editors or whatever their titles may be.  But this is FUN STUFF!!!!!   Again - this is not something that the group will ever understand but going to Market for a quilter - well - don't expect me to sleep the entire time we are there!!!!!   Sent in registration form for some early morning classes and let's not forget Schoolhouse!

By the way - I heard a rumor at the guild meeting the other night which I did NOT believe. However a bit of web surfing yesterday and a phone call and it was CONFIRMED.  The theme for 2016 row by row WILL BE ANNOUNCED on Friday, October 9. I was certain they were going to wait until Market to make the announcement, but NO it is next week. OH MY GOD -    NO NO NO - I am NOT going to get hooked again.  I can't afford it!!!!   I was chatting with Pat at the meeting and she says she has 102 license plates.  Oh boy - I am NOT even going to count. It is better that way.


On that note - I can't wait to get the day started. Ooops - my day started about four hours ago.  OK - can't wait to keep going!!!!!!


Hvae a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



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

And so the craziness begins..................

I'm not sure that is a correct statement since I don't think the craziness EVER STOPS at our house!  I have to say that I LOVE IT!!!!!     I always laugh when people say - you are so busy!  Well - I could be busy like mad on a desert island with nothing else but palm fronds to weave or tree houses to build, fire wood to gather. That is just my nature!!!!!   If I stop - I will die!

Last night was the first meeting of the Mississauga Quilter's Guild. I was pumped!!!!   So exciting to get back and see everyone.  It was crazy!  I picked up two of the community out reach quilts to quilt this month. I might warm up with those later today. Just to get back in the swing of things before I tackle a customer quilt. Sorry Barrie!!!!

Mary and I are in charge of the Block of the Month. We had such an amazing turnout last year - everyone worked so hard and we saw some amazing quilts.  Check out this link if you want to refresh your memory at the results of that program. We saw one more finished quilt last night, but DUH - in all the excitement of getting ready - I left my camera at home.

Anyway - we figured that everyone had worked very hard last year so this year we would give them a break - well kind of.  Each month we have chosen a shape - this month it is squares. Each month those that are participating in the program will receive a hand-out (created by me) with some basic ideas for different layouts and settings.  The idea is to use up those pre-cuts, fat quarter bundles, novelty prints or yardage.  No need to hit the quilt store unless you need borders, binding or backing or maybe something to tie those squares together.   We were the program last night as we explained what we are up to and we had a lot of samples to show everyone!   What fun - I think the members were energized - I know I was at the end of it!  Didn't get to sleep until almost midnight!!

So if you aren't a member - you might want to join. This is for guild members only!


Then off to spin class this morning!   Yeah - so nice to get back into that routine, although every time the instructor said we are climbing hills, my mind wandered back to the Cabot Trail!   I swear I can visualize EVERY INCH of North Mountain. Funny - but I do NOT remember the climb up French and I've climbed it three times!  But the descent - oh yes - I remember the descent.

Check out this link to see my descent of Smokey Mountain a couple of years ago.   No idea how fast I was going - this is one place - you do NOT look at your speedometer.  No one needs to know they are going that fast on a bike and you certainly NEVER contemplate the consequences of a crash at that speed.



And check out this one to see some guy's decent of North Mountain - also a couple of years ago.  Notice the speed and the fact that the guy in front is NOT pedaling.  It is very hard to appreciate the grade of the road in the video - let's just say it is STEEP on all of them.

Here is my license plate collection to date from the Row by Row Experience.  I know there are more coming - just need to see the people that picked the plates up for me!!!!   There were 28 in Ontario and so far - I got 15.  Yes - I could have each of the remaining stores mail them to me (IF they even have any left) but it was much more fun to arrange to have someone go pick it up on their travels!!!!!

And look at the awesome bag that Mary made me!!!!    Cool bicycle fabric and look there is the highway with my bike and a Canadian flag!!!!!   I love it - I love these giant bags - you can put tons in them and I must say that my other two like this are kind of occupied at the moment - so now I have a new one to carry around!!!!    Thanks Mary!!!!   I LOVE IT!!!!!

I was trapped in my house yesterday.  Well - I had to wait for the courier to come and pick up something and then wait for something else to be delivered.  Ronda stopped by and she brought me this package that has been sitting at Ruti's for a while.   The only thing I will say about the package at this point is that it came from Switzerland.  I will reveal what is in the package tomorrow - I want to show Ruthi first since her daughter helped me acquire it!!!!

A mystery package - but what is inside is so cool!

Classes are starting up everywhere and I have to get my butt in gear and get samples finished.  I have a class next weekend on STRIPED FABRIC and I spent yesterday getting one of the samples ready.  I won't show you until after the class, but this is partly what I was working on yesterday.  And it looks awesome, but got to get the thinking cap out since I only had ONE METER of fabric and I want a lap quilt from it.  Already got the plan laid out - now to hit the quilt store later today!!!!

Block for striped fabric class

And on that note - I have a crazy, busy day ahead of me, BUT at least I am back in the saddle and ready to rock n roll!!!!


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

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

Vintage Moments

Yes - third day in a row for reveals.  Well there is a lot to see and I have been behind. Time to catch up!!!!


Looks like I posted some pictures of this one, but here we go with the most current pictures. I hope you enjoy the various colour ways.

Jo

Linda

Lynn

Mary S

Mary M (a tad ambitious and has next border on)

Susan

Anne

Janet

Elaine M

Pat

Jan

Marlene

Erica

Barb

And like the other groups - they all got homework to do over the summer. Then we meet in September and get the quilt top finished.  They are doing a fabulous job and I love how each one has chosen a different colourway. They will be stunning when done.


I had another surprise in class. Anne finished her Chunk of the Month and brought it in for show n tell.

Gorgeous - just love those two colours together!!!!!!!!

And if you missed the other chunk of the month quilts - here is the link.      


Don't forget to check out QUILTsocial this morning.  I hope you liked the basic journal cover - well it is time to get that cover embellished and today we are looking at making some fabric collage.   Have fun and don't forget to send me pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    


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


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

Is that a circle and what does a beaver really look like?

It is one of those days - you know - you have so much to do - you really don't know where to start.  Thank goodness for the critical three list so that does provide some focus. Meeting with friends (to whom you owe stuff) is another huge motivator and I also have my new bucket system!  I think we have to keep coming up with a new system just to entertain ourselves.

Let me share what has been happening around here.............

Remember when I blogged about the chunk of the month which led me to blog about the previous blocks of the month at the guild. In turn that led to digging out my project. And that is the pizza box above and how I found my version of the Canadian row by row after many years. 

Got the diagram out that I had made and put the quilt on the design wall.  Obviously a few missing blocks

That blob above is suppose to be a BEAVER and see in the right hand corner - he is chopping down the tree.   Well it is supposed to be a beaver, but that doesn't look like a beaver. I got to fix that!!!!!    And it took me a LONG time to figure out that he was sideways. 

Well - I used my formula for re-sizing the block - (remove seam allowance - divide the rest of the numbers in two - then add back the seam allowance). Here are my two fish all cut and let's hope it goes together. 

Perfect - two little fishies!!!!

Had to add a bit of a border on them in order to get them to 3 1/2" by 6 1/2"

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    Two more blocks DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to deal with the compass

When I made this quilt - (compass pattern by Judy Mathieson), I experimented with sizes and made at least three of them. 

 No more of that background (or it is tucked in a box somewhere). So like Goldilocks - I tried out some different fabric

Oh - this fabric is TOO BRIGHT

Oh - this fabric is TOO LIGHT

OH - this fabric is just RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!   (And note that the just right fabric was the smallest piece that I had)

I wanted to do an inset circle so I dug out my Cut a Round ruler.

Small Cut a Round ruler

I thought I would share this picture with you.  I don't know how many pictures I have with my glasses in them.  I usually keep them on my head and when I lean down to take a picture - BAM - the glasses fall into the picture!!!!   Usually they are a blur!!!!!!!!!!!

Well - my brain was NOT working when I did this cut.  First off - I placed it on the WRONG lines of the ruler so this is NOT a circle and thus the opening was too big.   GRRRRRRRR - I did not have enough to make a new square

So I had to piece the leftovers and DUH - for this step - I needed a freezer paper template NOT the ruler.  Oh well - it worked and no one will really see those two seams??????   Of course not!!!!!    Anyway - the block got done!!!!!!!!!!!

Onto the elevator block.   Had to draw out the elevator and then I thought I would add the elevator number from the small hamlet hear where I grew up - Baljennie in case anyone wants to know.  All Pool elevators were numbered. A quick call home to get the number which my Dad knew off the top of his head.  I wonder why certain things stick in our heads and others do not?????    Another block done - ON MY GOD - they are all done. NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!

OK - that beaver was bugging me - then WHAM - I realized the beaver was sideways. So what I thought were things hanging off his back were in fact his feet!!!!!   He looks much better now. 

And here is the finished top!!!!!!!!!!!!!    (Well it needs borders)

Check out the latest Northcott Stonehenge O Canada III.  

 I am going to use the beige, but I don't like the flags.  Going to Ruti's today as they just got the collection in yesterday to find something that will work - either the poppies or the border print.   And YES - this is almost done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Yesterday was our monthly get together for the FINISHING GROUP.  We used to do exchanges, but I just can't keep up.  I still have so many other exchanges that are not done - makes no sense to add to the mess. But I had a block that I owed to Linda and it was WAY over due. Years over due (maybe two). I moved that block around the studio many times and well yesterday - I was in the mood to get it done.

When I assembled it - I lost two of the white lines in the highway

Made the new lines

And HOURS of satin stitch later - it is DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   (needs to be trimmed)

Look at all that satin stitch detail - crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 The pattern came from the book by Zebra Patterns (the same lady who designed the Fabric License plates for the Row by Row Experience shop hop that is happening this summer. Check out the reason why those plates came into existence.    She also has some amazing designs (flags) that are printed on fabric of states, cities, provinces and other goodies.  Pretty cool site!!!!!

The sign I got from a printed piece of fabric (not from Zebra Patterns)

Of course - Linda, Mary and Pat are RUTHLESS.   So now that this project is done - they reminded me that I still owe Mary a block. Then we got to talking about the project that we did (that I owe the block to Mary).   OH my - I could NOT remember what I had done. But Mary and Linda knew and as soon as they said it - I knew exactly where the project was, but I still could NOT remember exactly what I had done.


GREAT - want to guess what the theme is??????    CANADA - again!!!!!!!!!!!    I dug it out and will put it on the wall later and show you.   It appears that everything is done - it is just missing a couple of small blocks that I need to make for myself.   Alas - this project was NOT on the 2014 shelf either.   However - the good news - it is one more project that came out of the closet!!!!!!!!!!!!!   It doesn't really matter what gets done - as long as stuff is getting done!!!!!


I was working on my hour glass blocks as well and AT LAST - they are all sewn together and re-cut apart.  all that remains is for these ones to be trimmed.

Huge stack waiting to be trimmed. 

I ended up with a small one which I have since put into the half square triangle blocks (too small to make hour glass block) and there is ONE big half square triangle left over.  No worries - I am sure I will find a mate for it soon.  I am always putting borders on quilts. 

And here is the pile of TRIMMED hour glass blocks.   They are in all sizes - from 2 1/2" to 5 1/2".   Hmmm - going to be fun to figure out how to use them.

I think Milo wants and NEEDS to come and live with us.   He is just so cute!!!!!!    He and Sammy just get along so well.

Look at him panting - they were exhausted!!!!!

See how smart Sammy is - she just stands there wagging her tail and Milo goes around and around like an idiot.  It is very hard to get a picture of him - he is always moving. 

Sammy pounced on Milo - their tags are just a wagging

Hello BIG Sammy - I think that is why Sammy loves Milo - because she is the BIG dog. 

Sparky couldn't care less. She was hiding in the basement with her Thunder Shirt on. Does not like rain - definitely does not like thunder and we had both yesterday. 

I was working on another overdue project last night and I finished it this morning.  I will wait and share those pictures with you tomorrow.    Feels good to get these commitments to people DONE. And the best part is that I am NOT taking on those kind of projects any more so I will eventually get caught up.  I think I just have Mary's block left to go and oops and a postcard for Carol and then I think I have fulfilled all those requirements.


On that note - we have embroidery club this morning and I know they will be arriving soon.


Have an awesome day.


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