My best thinking

Murphy's thoughts are rubbing off on me! No, I didn't want to throw my sewing machine into the pond so someone could rescue it. But as she and I were walking yesterday, a thought popped into my head, and oh my goodness. I realized that if I added the embellishments in their two separate components, I could stitch them to the wall hanging. No glue required. It means sewing part of it with a sewing machine, which I like, as that's sturdier than glue. The second part of each embellishment can be hand-stitched. 

Thank you, Murphy, for that! I finally got to the sewing machine last night after dinner to test my theory, and it worked beautifully. I was so excited, I almost couldn't sleep. 

Yesterday, I spent a lot of time at the computer. Over the years, I've taught MANY large quilts that required multi-part classes. The list needed to be fact-checked and, in some cases, compiled. Without the help of my blog, I could NEVER have done it. And I completely forgot that I have a second blog, which came to mind when I woke up around 3 AM. Yes - for those who don't know, I started blogging around 2007. I was using the LiveJournal platform at the time. Here's a link back. 

When I went in there this morning, I found more information about those quilts, but I didn't have time to look into it. 

Now I have a couple of questions that I hope you can help me answer. The first is this quilt, called 'Around the Block,' which was taught at The Hobby Horse in 2008. Did anyone make this quilt? I did not keep class lists. I've sent an email to two people whom I think may have made it. I'm still waiting for an answer. 

Did you make this quilt with me?

The only reference on this blog is when I finished my top. And I vaguely remember giving this pattern away, as all I have left is a photocopy of the front. 

The second question is related to American Beauty (Marti Michell templates). I need to do more investigation on this one, but I think I only taught this at Cockadoodle Quilts in 2012. If you took that class from me anywhere other than Cockadoodle, let me know. I see more details on the LiveJournal blog about American Beauty, but it's too early for this quilt, so there must have been another quilt by the same name. I won't have time to check until later today. 

The third question is related to 'Long Time Gone,' which I know I taught twice, once at Thimbles and Things, starting in 2020. But I taught it a second time, and I'm certain that was not through a store. Does anyone have the year I did it independently? I have this information on my blog and will go back and check, but there are a ton of posts to go through. 

My email is elainetheriault@gmail.com. If you have the answers to any of the questions, feel free to send them to me.

On my master list of those multi-part classes, I added a couple that were shorter but still involved large projects. The total is over 80 since 2003. It's no wonder I have so many UFOs!!! Never mind some other large quilts that were multi-part (I mostly remember Marti Michell), but didn't make the list. 

And then DH and I played the EXIT Game last night; he was the one who came up with the answer. It was one of those AHA moments, and yes - it worked! We have one puzzle left, and we are done with this graphic novel. I think he will be pleased when it's done! He's not a fan of the characters, nor the story. 

Here's the little console table I bought. It's pretty neat, and I like that it can be pulled under the chair, although it's a bit short for that. However, your feet don't get caught up in the legs, and it's pretty sturdy. There is a storage pocket on one side. 

Our new console table

But here's the part I really like. It has a folding top, so it looks like this when it's closed. 

The table is in the closed position

And it opens up to this. Made in India, found at Homesense. 

The console table opened up

I had the most amazing walk yesterday. Everything in my leg/back was settled down, and I felt absolutely nothing. Being in discomfort for so long and then nothing is a wonderful feeling. Will it last? I doubt it, but let's be positive! Can it be the better posture and stretching that are helping? I can only hope so and will continue to do them. Perhaps this was a message from above - telling me to get off my butt and do something about myself. 

I swear, DH has a terrible attitude. He is struggling with various issues with his mom, and I asked him the other day what he was doing so he wouldn't become like her. He said it was his business and I shouldn't worry about it. Excuse me, but I do NOT want to become your caregiver. It is MY business as well. I have no idea why people think that what they do is entirely their own business! If a family member has to become your caregiver or clean up after you, then it's their business! 

So that's something to contemplate. 

I need to switch shoes. I needed to do that a while ago, but didn't want to break in new shoes in the mess of rain and snow. When I checked the bottoms yesterday, you can see how this leg issue is causing me to put more pressure on my right foot than my left. That's not good, and so stretching is the name of the game! Don't yell at me - they are long overdue, and the new ones will come out of the box this afternoon. 

Uneven wear on the bottom of my shoes

Speaking of putting things in the pond, I was outside enjoying my bran muffin and the lovely day when Miss Murphy decided to play with her fish, an outdoor toy that is more often in the house than out. She was getting mighty close to the edge, so I had to get up, grab the toy, and bring everyone inside. Sigh.

MOM - the fish wanted to swim! 

As I was fact-checking on the blog, I came across several photos that made me chuckle. Oh - I spotted more than these, but I only grabbed three for your enjoyment.  

Here's a pile of stuff waiting at the front door to be donated. This was from 2015, when I emptied all the cupboards in the kitchen and donated half of the contents. I told you I've been at this for a long time. And we could go through the cupboards again, and I'd likely find more stuff that we don't use. 

The donation pile from 2015

Yes, the decluttering thing is a long-term, ongoing project that never stops. The second you bring something new into the house, something should go out! 

This next one is from Studio B. Oh my -- look how neat and tidy that corner is. That's my computer from upstairs, and I remember doing some work on it downstairs. And I think the tables are nice and clear because I was hosting a weekly hand-embroidery club there. Imagine keeping it like that all the time - that would kill me these days. I didn't take note of the date, but it was around 2015. 

A spotless corner of Studio B back in the day

And then there is this! Yes -- while Studio B doesn't look so great, it certainly looks much better than this. I didn't get the date of this photo either, but it was from 2012? Anyway, it's a huge mess, and if I don't get myself back in order, it's going to look that way again! No, it won't, as I won't let it get that bad. 

Studio B from a messier time

Now that I know how to complete the Trendtex challenge, I can finish it. My goal is to finish it today. If it arrives at its destination before April 30, it has a chance to be in the judging. I don't really care about that, but it would be nice to say I met a deadline! It still will go in the auction if it doesn't meet the April 30 deadline. 

And more writing happened yesterday - it was a LONG day at the computer! I have a ton of work to get done this week, but every little bit is bringing me closer to the finish line. I know I'll never be on top of it all, and I just have to live with that. But summer is coming, and I shouldn't have to accept anything new, so that's a positive. It might give me a chance to catch up a bit! LOL!!! Such a dreamer I am. 

Well, I'm off to spin class. And someone mentioned another new-to-be Canadian author. Tessa Wegert. I couldn't find her first book (6 in the series) on the digital services, so I had to resort to the library, and there it was. It's going to be on hold later today. 

I'm reading another great book right now - about a "mentally retarded" girl who rides the bus all day. I'm running out of time - I'll share the details of the true story tomorrow. 

Have a super day!!!! And if you can help with those three questions, that would be awesome. I know I'll be thinking about all three of them while at spin class. It makes the time zip by! 

Ciao!!!

That was EASY!

OK - I NEVER thought I would voice these words, but I had an AWESOME visit to the dentist. And I was having a root canal.

WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Did I actually write that???   You bet I did!!!  I am still in shock!

I arrive at the dentist about one minute late. The assistant was waiting for me and immediately whisked me into the chair. WHOA??  What's this????   A MASSAGE CHAIR!!!!!  Are you kidding me????   Ah - I am in love already. I have a very bad habit when I go to the dentist (well I think everyone is the same), but we tend to tense up. And I get this fierce pain in my left upper shoulder. It makes me so uncomfortable that I think I dread that more than I dread the dentist digging in my mouth.

I have to say that the massage chair worked the entire time I was there and I felt NO PAIN in my left shoulder at all. NOTHING!!!!!  

The dentist comes in - and of course he says he is going to give me the needles to freeze my mouth. ICK!  I hate needles, but I have learned this amazing trick - I just take a couple of deep breaths and take myself somewhere else than the dentist chair. I have perfected that technique apparently because I felt NOTHING on the first needle and just a pinch with the second. And the dentist tells me that the worst is over. Really?????   Is that a guarantee?????


I start to feel the freezing right away, but we have to wait 5 - 10 minutes for the freezing to fully take effect. He gives me the REMOTE to the TV. Hmmmmm - I think I can still figure out how this works. I mean how hard is it to change channels on a TV. Keep in mind that I haven't touched a remote in over THREE years. I know - I can't believe it has been that long and I don't miss it one bit!!!!

I start to hit the buttons and ACK - it is satellite or something (some soccer game is on). Oh dear - now I have these menu things on the scene. Now what????   Well I managed to move the TV to the NEXT channel which was DARTS. I think I had better stop before I really mess the thing up. Those menus stayed on the screen for a couple of minutes, then they disappeared (thankfully before anyone came back in the room). DARTS????   Really????   I bet the dentist got a laugh over that one!

Anyway - they put a rubber dam on my tooth and then drilled and poked and prodded and whatever else they need to do for a root canal. I felt NOTHING. I just relaxed in the massage chair and towards the end I even started to doze off. OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    Then I was up and out of the chair and WHOA - that's it??  I'm done????   Seriously?????

Was told to take a pain killer before the freezing wore off (which I did) and once the freezing came out (and even this morning) - NOTHING. NADA!  It is like I never went to the dentist. OH MY GOD!!!!   That was awesome!!!!!!!!!!

Have to go back for the follow up sometime next week.


OK - so that is way more than you need (or want) to know about my dentist appointment, but honestly, I have never experienced that before and I had to tell someone!


Let's get some pictures in here................

Here is the pattern for that OTHER ironing board pad that Margo had. Remember the one that needed the cording!!!!

Here is the ironing pad - DONE!!!!!!    It isn't as PRETTY when it is folded up as the other one, but then you don't have to worry about the lumps created with the buttons and the handles. I need to think about options to finish that off. 

I will share some of the show n tell from the retreat..............


A couple of years ago, seven of us decided to participate in a round robin. Each of us made a center block and then the rest of the group added a four inch border around that. The quilts ended up around 60 inches square. The goal for this past retreat was to have the quilts quilted so we could show them.


Here is what we got to see (and sorry - there is NO place to really take good pictures there)

Mary's quilt - Quilted and bound

Lynn's quilt (my favourite) - quilted and bound

Detail of the quilting

Flo's quilt - quilted and bound

Pauline's quilt - quilted and bound

So..............   Carol, Sharron and Elaine - where are your quilts?????


Well - I really tried to have mine finished, but at least I have started the quilting process...........

My quilt - on the quilting machine. GOT to get it off today. 

Sharron and Carol both have CRAZY jobs and so they are forgiven for not having it quilted.


We were still very excited about exchanges after we finished these tops and so we did ANOTHER exchange. For the second one, we each chose a theme and the rest of the group (there were nine of us) made blocks that went with that theme.


We were supposed to have the top sewn together for show n tell at this retreat.  Here is what we saw.........

Mary's theme was The Kitchen (Mary LOVES to bake and cook). While she did not have a top, she started to work on the layout at the retreat. Here are some of the blocks

And this is what it looked like when she started to add fillers - I LOVE IT!!!!!

And here are both parts - you can see a HUGE difference in the two parts. She made more progress, but I don't seem to have taken a picture. Drat - well I will get it when she finishes the quilt

Lynn's theme was On The Farm (or in the country). She did NOT add fillers and took a few blocks out that didn't fit

Detail of some of the blocks!!!!

More details

Pauline's theme was Secret Garden (or something garden related). She did NOT add any blocks and used them all. 

Details of garden blocks

More details

And more details

And what happened to Elaine, Marian, Flo, Linda (ACK - I still owe her a block!!), Carol, Sharron????

Well - I know for me that I am going to have to add a LOT of blocks to make it work and I haven't started yet. And I still owe Linda that block which I MUST make a priority and get done. It is one of those things that I keep shuffling from the ironing board (well not anymore), but I shuffle between the prep table, the cutting table and the sewing table. That HAS TO STOP!!!!!!


We had other show n tell as well..................

Linda brought in her Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - this is the Block of the Month this year at a couple of guilds. She is my tester so she got to move ahead. Mary is supposed to be the tester as well, but Linda scooped her because Mary was away!!!!!!   It wasn't Mary's fault at all, but MINE since I only gave the pattern to Linda while Mary was away. Oh gosh - we are nasty!!!!

And THIS GORGEOUS quilt belongs to Marian. She has been working on it for a long time. The blocks are hand appliqued. All the applique pieces are wool. And there are TEENY TINY connector blocks between the big blocks. Well the quilt is just stunning.  She still has a bit of work to stitch down some of the applique pieces (where the borders join) and then off to the hand quilter!!!!! 

OK - so there are still tons of pictures to load, BUT I have to get to work soon.


I have a bone to pick with my "friends".  Yesterday we had Rosewood Cottage class and we always have NON class show n tell. Jeanette brings in this quilt that she made - well she has made several, but have a look.

A SCRAPPY pineapple quilt made with 1 1/2" strips!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ACK - that is perfect for using up some of my stuff, BUT how will I fit that into my schedule??????

Here is more of the quilt. It is just stunning and Jeanette has made several more of them. 

So now I am going to have to get the ruler that she used to make this quilt. Anyway it is a BRILLIANT way to use up scraps. "Thanks" Jeanette!!!!!


Pineapple ruler


On that note - I have run out of time and I still have a bunch of e-mails to send out.



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


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

Around the Block......................

I had a sit n sew at my house on Sunday. Katheleen was in attendance. Katheleen was also at the sit n sew last month. One of the first things out of her mouth - "OH - I thought you were supposed to be done that quilt - it was on the wall last time I was here"   DAMN YOU Katheleen. She wasn't supposed to notice that!!!!

Since the girls left, I got myself busy.

I built the LAST house

Did some landscaping............

The end result?????

The quilt to date (yes I know that house on the right hand side is BRIGHT, but you know what - it is staying that way!!!!)

So everything is cut, just four trees to sew and then sew the houses together and sew the borders on. 

 

There isn't a final border on the outside, but I think I might sew one on. I'll see how I feel when I get to that point. I have to get it OFF the wall before the next sit n sew!!!!!


Last night was a RARE night because I didn't have to go out. Imagine that!!!!!!!!!!!   And so what was I going to do????   Well I couldn't sew because a certain someone was madly sewing, so I got a lot of cutting done until I was too tired to stand anymore (wore the wrong shoes during the day).


And what was that certain someone sewing????   Well she is enrolled in the Ontario Skills competition which takes place next Tuesday. She is spending considerable time with her teacher at school who is helping her prepare. And I am helping her at night - well not really as she has certainly come a LONG way in the sewing world and admits that the more you sew, the easier it is.

Her teacher gave her this fabric to make another test jacket................

Ducks Unlimited fabric - lovely - I had to fight with her to NOT leave me any. It is "lovely" camo fabric!!! 

I didn't get a picture of the jacket, but she did quite well (and OK - so she put me to shame) because she cut the jacket out and got most of it done (except sleeves, button holes and hem) and I can't even finish a jacket in four weeks!!!!!!!!!!   But she isn't finishing the seams and what not - this is just practice.

And the weight of marks on creativity and workmanship - well workmanship is a LOT more than creativity. Oh Sweet Mother of God - we are in big trouble!!!!!!!!!!!   But she has progressed a LOT, so I can't really complain and she has learned because she whipped that jacket together last night with VERY MINIMAL instruction from me.

Going through the local paper yesterday and look what I found - an ad for her old school.  and there she is.............    The sweet thing - looks so cute!!!!

Little Miss Madeline - not sure how old she was, but Grade 3?????

Yesterday was a gorgeous day, but I had a lot of work to do and I did get a LOT accomplished. But I had to do errands and rather than take the car, I got my urban bike out. Pumped up the tires and I was off - grinning from ear to ear like an idiot. I can't help it - I LOVE LOVE LOVE the feel of riding that bike around town to do errands. It is so freeing - And the weather is going to be gorgeous today so even though I have already been to the gym, I think I will pop out for a quick (2 hour) ride right after lunch.


Ah to be a dog  - look how comfy Sparky looks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too tired to even lift her head, but she did open her eyes.

I have run into an interesting issue lately and it's all about NAMES. My name is Elaine. Everyone knows that, but I now know so many other Elaine's that we have to nickname them. There is GYM Elaine (not me), QUILTING Elaine, NEIGHBOUR Elaine and many more Elaine's from my classes. I was the ONLY one back home - where have they all come from?????




On that note - I am off to the quilting machine today. And then off for a ride.


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


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

Let's NIP this in the bud!!!!

Oh my - what a wild day yesterday.

I spent a GREAT part of the day on the computer. No that is a lie - I was also outside for a long time. However I got a LOT done on the computer. My goal was to organize the photos. OK - I wasn't planning to get it completely done, but I wanted to get everything on the external drive. And I SUCCEEDED. I finished up this morning. The external drive holds 1 Terrabyte of data and it is HALF FULL. I have no idea how many pictures there are, but let's just say that is in the THOUSANDS - MANY thousands.

OK - I hang my head in shame that I have let yet ANOTHER thing get out of hand. (I am making a valiant attempt at getting the quilting UFOs under control - or am I????)

My name is Elaine and I have an obsession with gathering things
My name is Elaine and I have an obsession with gathering things
My name is Elaine and I have an obsession with gathering things
My name is Elaine and I have an obsession with gathering things
My name is Elaine and I have an obsession with gathering things


Well - it is time to nip this obsession in the bud. I am very afraid that it will end like all my others - I will get a good start and then it will peter out due to lack of time!!!!!!!!!!!!

You see - a while back I found this book and purchased it. And yes - it has sat on the shelf for a couple of years. 

Then I found this book at the library - don't you LOVE that title. Of course - it sat here for 2 months and had to be returned to the library. Now I have requested it again so I can actually read it this time.

What a perfect title for my dilemma

As I was transferring the data, I saw this on the screen. Instead of putting a date - it said "A LONG TIME AGO". Does that mean - so long ago - it can't calculate the date??????

The only pictures I have left on my computer are the pictures that I edited for the blog. The originals are on the external drive. Now I have to figure out how to backup that external drive. I did manage to start sorting the pictures on the G drive (the external drive). I deleted some, started creating the file structure to sort them. I'll delete more and create tags as I get like things together. There are files buried within files - it is quite a mess to say the least. BUT - I was able to find the pictures that I took yesterday and wanted to blog this morning so that is good news!!!!!!!!!!!!


While not remembering all those things that are lost that I can't find - I guess if I can't remember, then it isn't lost. BUT - I did find something that I needed. Technically it wasn't lost, I just hadn't taken the time to find it. But while I was waiting for the last of the pictures to be moved this morning (and not wanting to confuse the computer), I decided to do something else. So now the "lost" receipt is found!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I was threatening to buy a MAC the other day because of the performance of my computer. However after removing the 900 pictures from the memory card and clearing all those photos off the hard disk - well it is like I have a new computer. Sorry Apple - you are not getting more money from me.


Yesterday was an absolutely GORGEOUS day. It was warm, it was sunny, it was the PERFECT day to be outside. We started by hitting Rona so I could buy a new wheelbarrow. My other one had a broken handle and would probably have cost more to get fixed, than to get a new one. Then home to hit the garden. I am NOT much of a gardener and I have NEVER been in the garden in March.

Getting rid of the grass. I love the grasses, but they are very hard to cut down in the spring. After  I finished, I remembered I have TWO in the backyard - so will tackle the other one another day. 

Look how clean that yard looks!!!!!!!!!!!    M was even out there picking up leaves and sweeping off the stones. 

I notice that we have a BIG problem. The rabbits are NIPPING off the buds of everything they can reach

Hard to see, but yes - they are getting every bud within their reach. 

This one - they can't get to the top - so just the bottom is nipped off. Sparky is going to have to become an OUTSIDE dog

This part of the garden is bone dry. I need to find some super arid plants to put there. It gets a lot of sun and not much will grow there. Any suggestions for DESERT like plants????

The side garden which is usually neglected EVERY YEAR. This year it has already received attention. At least on the right hand side. The left was a bit muddy and a bit of ice so couldn't do much there. 

The gas man is always complaining about the bushes around the meter so I got out the pruners and SNIPPED AWAY. Problem solved for this summer I hope. These bushes grow very fast, but I have never whacked it back this much. 

The entrance to the side garden (or secret garden as I call it). Needs a LOT of tender loving care over the next month to whip that into shape. 

Even the fish were out yesterday. I notice at least FOUR black ones and lots of gold ones. I also see that lily pads are  started to grow. Yikes - this is going to be a huge mess this spring to get that pond cleaned out and the edge fixed.

 While sorting pictures yesterday, I came across a folder marked LANDSCAPE (which I knew was there) and look what was inside.......................

Our backyard when we moved in - Looking towards the pond

Looking towards the shed

The pond (a tiny pond)

See how little M was when the pond was built!!!!!!!!

And look at the mess in the backyard - it was HORRIBLE. So wet that year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well - I also worked inside yesterday and look what I have been up to.

Working on another building  for my Around The Block Quilt - this time a school

Parts of a house and some trees waiting to be worked

And look - the QUILT is almost done. Yes - ALMOST DONE. The school house block is done - had to do that while I waited for the computer to do something. Just ONE MORE HOUSE to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    A few trees (get my green thumb out again) and then sew the pieces together and sew the borders on. I have the PERFECT backing just waiting to be made up and then to find some binding. Then I can put another $10 quilt to bed - well at least in the TO BE quilted pile

Yesterday I took a couple of hours to just browse in the stores - something I rarely do for any length of time. It is dangerous to do that!!!!   But one of my favourite shops is Homesense. They get all kinds of eclectic stuff in. You never know what you are going to find. And LOOK WHAT I FOUND......................
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I mean - this is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   and so perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also found this orange oval tin which is perfect for storing quilts in. I got that idea from Jeanne at The Quilt Patch. Her house if filled with baskets and tins which in turned are filled with quilts. There is room for a couple or three quilts in here - but Berke's Easter gift is under that quilt. 

Then I was at The Bay to get something for M (more on that another day) and their outdoor summer stuff is out. Everything is BRIGHT BRIGHT, including this BRILLIANT orange tray which i could not resist. 

Well - lots more to say, but running out of time. We are off to brunch at the golf course!!!!!!!!



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



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



My name is Elaine and I have an obsession with gathering things
My name is Elaine and I have an obsession with gathering things
My name is Elaine and I have an obsession with gathering things
My name is Elaine and I have an obsession with gathering things
My name is Elaine and I have an obsession with gathering things