It's my birthday!!!

I've spent a good deal of time this morning editing and posting pictures for the blog.  Now I have over one week's worth sitting there waiting for some amazing stories for you to enjoy!

Today's post got a few of the leftover things! 

First off - yes - it's my birthday. Yeah me!  Already had yummy cake with the other birthday people at work.  Happy Birthday to Aunt Yvonne who shares the same birthday as me or should I say that I share the same birthday as her!  Not planning to do anything special today, but on this date, I always reflect back on the few birthdays that I remember. My 13th - don't ask me why I remember that one. The birthday I spent at a company event in Arizona years ago and the couple of birthdays I celebrated on cycle trips and had cake with the group. The rest of them?  Nope - I don't remember them!  I'm not a big birthday celebrator and that's OK. 

The girls have been to the dog park - talk about excited. You would think they have won the lottery and were going to have unlimited kibble for the rest of their lives. Don't even think about missing a dog park date!

While I was away on vacation, I took a few small embroidery projects with me and I finished TWO of them. This one has some vines around the base of the bird house and then since I was on a roll, I did a buttonhole stitch around all the appliques. All that it needs now is a bit of quilting to hold it together and it's done!

Embroidery project - DONE!

 It appears that I did NOT take a picture of the second project so will make that happen later today. I had one more project with me and I had used blue wash out marker to mark the embroidery lines.  NEVER use blue wash out marker unless you plan to do the project within a couple of months.  The lines will disappear over time because of humidity in the air. While I was at my parents, I washed all the blue away and remarked the lines with a Frixion pen (the ONLY time I will use one of those), but at least the lines will stay on.  I'm going to try and keep that block with me so when I have some down town, I can do some embroidery.  

It's funny because we used to have a LOT of down time in the past. A LOT of down time and I like to read so I would always take those moments to read a book or a magazine. Smart phones have killed a lot of that dead time!!!   But I still get my reading in!   I found a book on my shelf about TRUE MURDER stories in Canada. While the subject matter is gory, it's interesting to read. Go figure!

I couldn't help myself with this next item.  Just shoot me as it appears I have a disease. When I was in Saskatchewan, I found this tractor fabric and I bought some. ACK!  I don't need any more tractor fabric, but this jumped into my bag before I could say NO!

More tractor fabric

I'm not sure how much I have sitting there, but it's time to do something with it and say goodbye forever to tractor fabric!!!

I also found this little gem when I was out with Ronda and Laura when we went Row by Rowing in the US weeks ago.  It's a cute little homemade ironing board.  With Debra Gabel's fabric on it.  It's super cute and I was using it for my paper piecing the other day. Of course, I used a protective cloth (as I always do when paper piecing!)

Little ironing board

Well, it's going to be an exciting week (I hope) and lots to share with you including upcoming classes that I'm teaching so be sure to stay tuned for that and I hope to have a HUGE surprise for tomorrow.

On that note, I'm out of here!  And if it's your birthday today as well - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!


And if you've been missing the adventures of Lexi and Murphy, I do believe Miss Lexi posted something this morning.

Is this a coincidence?

Life just seems to be full of coincidences.  Yesterday, I tried to put a book on hold at the library. Only to find out that the only version the library has is an e-book. Drat - I don't do e-books. Well no choice, so I'll download it. Of course, my tablet wasn't working. Charge it up - still not working.  So there I am with an iPad (don't ask) and my cell phone trying to reboot the tablet and then to change the password!  BUT the good news is that I was able to download Overdrive which allows one to download the books and then in an instant, I was able to download the book. And VOILA - I can read.  I will confess that this was SUPER SIMPLE compared to the process required to get an audio book onto my iPod.  That damn Apple and its proprietary-ness.  It's a pain.

Seconds after I downloaded my book, I looked at my cell phone which has been languishing in my purse all day and I see a text from Ronda telling me, I better think about a different option than waiting for my book (a different one) to come from the library since they are going on strike!  Seriously???  I just downloaded an e-book. I'm good!  But talk about coincidence!!!!

Then I went to get another app (on my phone) for the gym.  They upgraded the app months ago and in order to proceed, you needed to scan your membership card which is never in my hand when I went into the app. But a quick trip upstairs and I'm good to go. And now you can use your app instead of your card when you go to the gym, except that at the new location, you need your card in order to use the locks. Sigh!!!!

On the PLUS side, I'm having a pretty good technology day!   I got everything figured out that I wanted!

So what got done the other day when my guest was here?  Well the guest was Ronda and she is a slave driver.  I got loads done. It was pedal to the metal for sure.  She's the reason I got those damn eight pointed star blocks fussy cut from that striped fabric. I can't let her get ahead of me!!!

I think I mentioned that I found these little items when I was cleaning up.  They were given to me by someone.

Two little items - but what to do with them

 One of them had the binding sewn on, but just on the front.  I have to say that it wasn't the best binding job I've ever seen and then it hit me - I can use these two little items as practice for putting binding on by machine.

Not a huge seam allowance for 2 1/2" binding strips

And so OFF with the binding. There was enough extra fabric to cut new binding and now there is just enough to bind the two items.  Hmm - what kind of stitch should I use?  Going to do a bit of research first.

Just waiting for the binding to be put on by machine

That was a bonus item that was not on my list of things to do before the retreat - it was just there.

Then I had a button to sew on.  This darn button has been hanging out on the cutting table FOREVER.  I finally decided it was time.  I pulled down the piece that it belonged to and OH DEAR - there are two buttons missing.  Who knows where the other button is - I only had one.

Two missing buttons - but only one got sewn on

This was one of the "dress" series that I made years ago.  All the fabric and items (except the buttons) were donated by friends. That wasn't on the list either, but one more thing cleaned up!

And now onto stuff on the list.  I got the binding made for this quilt. The backing was already prepped. So this one goes into the "to be quilted" pile.

Binding, top and backing - DONE

 Next up was to get the backing and binding done for another quilt.  I swear that Ronda must have asked me three times if this was on my list!  OK - let's face it, the top is BRIGHT!  I'll share the details with you tomorrow, but I don't think Ronda liked the quilt and wait - there's a surprise!  Bottom line - one more goes into the "to be quilted" pile.

Binding, top and backing - DONE

See what making a list does?  It makes you do things that you have been putting off for a LONG LONG time.  I pulled out this project next.  It's was also on the list.  I started this ironing caddy years ago.  The only thing left to do was to put on the handles and sew on the buttons. I didn't think it was going to look nice and that the handles/buttons would interfere with the caddy so there it sat. The girls at Monday have all made one and I'll be taking an iron to the retreat so what better time than NOW to get it done.

Handles and buttons are now on

And from the inside - it looks pretty darn good!

Time to get the iron out of the box.

The box

The iron

The iron in the iron caddy!!!

And there is one more UFO - DONE and one more item checked off the list!  I'm on a roll!!!!!


Next in line was to start working on this top - Tonga Rhapsody. I think I did post  that I had all five columns sewn together. That happened last week.  I was dreading sewing those columns together because of all the matching (bias and diagonal) seams.  I got two of the four seams done and I have to say that the matching went pretty well.  I had to fix TWO spots per seams which is pretty darn good.  I didn't take pictures, but I will so you can see.

Half the top is DONE!

Then Ronda had to go home!  But that's when I went to the quilting machine and got a customer quilt done!

It has already been decided that Ronda and I are sitting in the dining room at the retreat.  ACK - I'm scared already!  She's going to crack the whip and I'll be chained to the sewing machine!  Actually with all the stuff 100% prepped, I'm expecting big things from this retreat.  Most of all, I expect to relax and have fun!  (sewing is fun and relaxing), but so is sitting out on the deck, going for walks, having a beer or two and well just general fun!  I can hardly wait!!!!

On that note, I'm out of here.

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

On the road again.......

Good morning!!!   Wow - I never know what one day is going to bring from the next.  Always something exciting happening. And I'm sure you all remember when I first started to work at Northcott that I complained that I didn't have enough to do.  Let's just say that I'm no longer complaining!  But a huge variety of tasks and well - I like that.  Just wish I could get more sewing in, but that will have to be  my night job. 

Yesterday after work, I got in the car and drove to Lindsay to speak at their evening guild. They have a day guild of about 200 members and the evening guild of less than 100 - I didn't ask the number. Those numbers are awesome considering the size of Lindsay compared to Toronto. I knew it was going to take about 1 1/2 hours from work so I was trying to get out a tad early. That didn't happen as we had a meeting that ran late, then when I went to shut my computer down, it needed to do an update!  Plugged the address into the GPS and I was off. Smooth sailing until I got to the end of the 407 where I think it normally slows down a bit as the highway ends, but a significant accident happened just ahead of me - the police, ambulance and fire trucks passed us as we were waiting. I cannot believe the mentality of drivers.  You've already been waiting in the line to pass the accident and you have to look at the accident. To see what?  A busted up car?  It drives me crazy that people need to gawk!

So that also slowed me down, but I was able to make up some of the time and I arrived about 10 minutes before the meeting started.  They let me go first so I could leave to get back home. Can I say how much I love speaking to guilds?  It's fun and I love relating the stories of my quilts and try to throw in a couple of tips along the way. I think that it's a good exercise for all of us to look at what we've made and then explain those quilts to someone else - someone who will appreciate them.  You would be surprised at everything that you have made!  But even a good story can make an ordinary quilt extraordinary  - like my tractor quilts.  It was loads of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed myself and from the comments I received, I think the guild members did as well.  If I can inspire and leave the group excited - then my job is done!   I have to mention the name of the group - the Borderline Crazy Quilters - I LOVE IT!!!

Back in the car for the 2-hour drive home. I left Lindsay at 9 so it was close to 11 when I got home. I hit three different construction zones through the city.  Crazy as they went from three lanes to one lane. The cones were just being set up - I hope they got a lot of work done!  It never ceases to amaze me as how large Toronto is.  It is HUGE and of course - I live at the opposite end of where I had been.  

It's actually pretty funny because last night I was east of the city, tonight, I'm west of the city. On the weekend, I go north and on Monday, I head south!  Never a dull moment!  At least all my homework is already completed for tonight's guild meeting. I'm not if I will be able to show you. I'll get all the details tonight - you see, against my better judgement, I signed up for a GROUP project!

 The girls tolerate Doug the dog walker and they did just fine yesterday but, were very happy to see me when I got home. 

As promised, I thought I would share these pictures of the iron caddy and the sewing machine skirt that I promised from when we were at the retreat. 

This is my sewing machine skirt.  Made by Carol as part of a crazy situation with this Debbie Mumm sewing theme fabric.  It originally had two layers of pockets, but it was too long and brushed the top of my legs when I sat down, so I took the bottom off and rebound it. It is completely done, but now that I have cabinets for all my machines, I don't use it.  Guess I'll have to go back to Monday Mania sewing in order to use it!

My sewing machine skirt

And then there is the iron caddy.  Gosh - I made mine years ago. But it's not quite finished.

The inside with the heat resistant fabric

The outside with the wild colors

The elastic for the closure

 Gosh - I even very neatly sewed that into the binding.

The handle fabric - just got to make them and sew them on

Potential buttons???

Then I found these buttons

And when I was at Fabricland the other day, I found these buttons.

More buttons

The issue is - which buttons to use - the little flowers or the round ones???  This is my problem - I can make major decisions in a heartbeat, yet some little detail like this - the project will sit for years.  My biggest thing was - would the buttons interfere with the ironing process. Given the fact that one will probably only use the center - it's really a none issue.  So what you're saying is - get those handles done and sew on the darn buttons and MOVE ON!   OK - I hear you!   I think an hour would probably have this project done!

On that note - I see the sun is out this morning, the temperature is on the rise and it is looking like an awesome day!!!   Loads of stuff to get caught up on!

Have a great day!!!!

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