Premonition!!!!

That is the LAST time that I will say that I will do NOTHING cause I did pretty much did NOTHING all day!!   My allergies/cold kicked in and it was so beautiful that I sat around - had a nap and read for most of the day!  Oh dear!

I did get some quilting done, but did not get the quilt finished that I hoped to. Well that is now on the agenda for today.

However that does mean that I am able to catch up with some of the stuff from previous.


Here's an update on my redwork project (OK - I lied - I did a couple hours work on this yesterday while I finished the last two CDs of my audiobook!)

Three completed blocks (the top tree is wet in case you are wondering! - had to get rid of the blue pen)

Here is the fourth block. Now here is the question - see those spikes off the border? Should I do ONE stitch or TWO???   I started with two - but that is very time consuming. So I switched to one - much faster!  And it is a small wall hanging so shouldn't make a difference - but what is the right way?????  Guess it depends on the length??

Same thing with the tree block - I started off with TWO stitches per spike on that garland - then switched to ONE and went way faster!!!!   I HATE to do satin stitch in embroidery. The edges are NEVER neat. Yesterday I saw on the internet where someone had stitched a back stitch along the edge to neaten it up and I think it looks not bad!!!!

The Mark-B-Gone pen. This is blue with a fine tip. I used to use the BIG blue one and it is too hard to work on fine detail.  This one works great. Thanks Carol!!!

Here is the one block with the crystals just sitting there. That is going to dress up this project a LOT!!!!  Now here is where the wash out pen wouldn't work. Unless I waited until the end to get rid of the marks. And honestly - it really isn't necessary to mark the position of the crystals anyway!!!   

Close up of the crystals - don't they look BLINGY!!!!!

Here is my second Halloween project.   Yes - I should be stitching the table topper instead of working on the Christmas project!!!!

Halloween lap quilt

Super Simple Squares by Possibilities

This is the quilt from the book - I made mine quite a bit bigger!

To make life easier when sewing together - half of the squares had seams pressed into the orange strip

And half were pressed away from the orange strip

Here is a block PRETRIMMED  

In order to have that orange strip match up nicely at the intersection, it is important to try and have it centered in the block. I put painter's tape on the ruler diagonally to use as a guide

Here is the painter's tape on the wrong side of the ruler!

Trim off two sides with one ruler placement

Turn the block around - line up the ruler (so nice to have a 6 1/2" ruler)

Cut off the opposite two sides and there is a nicely trimmed block. I kept the blocks separated - seams into the orange strips and seams away from the orange strip

Then when I went to put them on the wall - I pulled from alternating piles. That way the seams will be going in opposite directions to make easier sewing together. However I need to rearrange the blocks as some of the motifs are upside down and some colours need to be moved around.


I also got Christmas Heart Light on the design wall.

Christmas Heart Light - need to rearrange those blocks!!!

Blocks are redistributed, but still not in the right place

I will have to get the blocks in the right order soon because as soon as my machine is back on the weekend - I will need to get sewing!!!!!


And what is happiness???????   I think this picture tells all.......

The girls - happy to be together!!!!!

Go away!!!!! - we are trying to SLEEP!!!!!

OK - got a BUSY day planned for today. Let`s hope that allergy med kicks in soon - this leaking like a sieve nose is NOT what I need today.


Have a great day!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!

Just say NO!!!!

Yes - there is some quilting in this blog today - at the end. I am just feeling a tad philosophical this morning!!!


It is a sad day indeed. My thoughts go out to the family of Steve Jobs. Why do the visionaries die before their time? Or maybe he gave all he had?  He so changed our world!!!!!   Just listening to clips of some of his speeches - he was so polished. A great motivational speaker. I am certain his Apple family will miss him as well. And an interesting note - how many people do NOT own an Apple product???   Even I - the staunch PC owner has an iPad!!!!!

Yesterday was a bit of a melancholy day. No particular reason and so before I started to quilt, I watched some YouTube videos!   I LOVE flash mobs and there are several that I just love!!!   One of my favourites is this one in the Eaton's Center. This is a feel good one, but every time I watch it is brings a tear to my eye.

Flash Mob - Toronto Eaton's Center


Here is another favourite - The Sound of Music at Antwerp Train Station in Brussels. We were almost there on our trip!!!!

Sound of Music Flash Mob



And the most incredible flash mobs are those created by T-Mobile!!!!!    How can you not watch these and NOT feel good.

Here are a couple of my favourite ones..


T-Mobile Flash Mob - train station

T-Mobile Flash Mob - Airport

and don`t forget to check out the Royal Wedding one and their most recent one - with the traffic tickets.

OK - and how can you not smile at this one (last one - I promise!!!)

Piano Stairs


Now that you have watched those - you have NO TIME left to read my blog so I will keep it short!!!!  And if I ever won a BIG lottery - I would arrange a flash mob!!!!!

Many times we do not appreciate things in life. We tend to talk about the bad and never the good. Well in my little world of appreciation - my vote today goes to physiotherapists!!!!   Although I am still not pain free - I did not take any pain meds yesterday. No pain for most of the day - then I went to bed and knives drove themselves through my knee. I iced it until it was FROZEN  and VOILA - NO MORE PAIN. Had TWO round of physio this week and I really feel like there is progress being made. I just hope that by the end of this (in three more weeks) that it will be much better!!!!!


And now for the quilting part. Two things - how many times has someone asked us to do something. In light of being the "nice" guy - you say yes. Then you get home and DREAD the task at hand. That happened to me. Someone asked me to put the binding on a quilt for them. Normally - NOT a big deal. But when I looked, they had cut the binding TWO INCHES wide - NOT 2 1/2". OK - so not such a big deal, but the quilt was flannel and I normally cut the binding for a flannel quilt 2 3/4". So I am working with a teeny tiny little strip. And they wanted it stitched by machine front and back. Something I HATE to do. Well I finally finished the thing this morning.

The right side of the binding - looks OK on the top

Looks OK on the back

But not consistent - that is WHY I hate doing this!!!!!

Bottom line it is done. And PLEASE - slap me if I agree to do that again!!!!


I did notice one thing when sewing this binding on. Since my machine is still in the shop for its annual servicing, I had to use my binding sewing machine. Well that makes sense doesn't it - putting binding on with the binding machine. And for those who don't know - my binding machine is just a sewing machine that I keep the walking foot on for attaching binding. EXCEPT that M is using that machine for her sewing class. I grabbed the machine out of the carry bag and set it on the table. I sewed about three inches and put it in the cabinet. How anyone can sew without that extra space around is beyond me.

Sewing the binding on with the machine IN the cabinet. Look at all that space and see how nice and flat the quilt lies

Doing the top stitch IN the cabinet - again see how flat the quilt lies

ICK ICK ICK - look at this - the quilt is all over the place and wants to fall off the left side of the sewing machine. I just CANNOT sew like this!!!!!

Do NOT think you must run out and buy a fancy table. This machine sits in an old Singer sewing cabinet that I added a shelf for the machine to sit on. Look - the machine doesn't fit perfect, but enough to give that quilt LOTS of support and LOTS of room for matching up stuff and getting it lined up!!!!

Machine sitting in a cabinet NOT made for it, but it works and it was FREE

One more thing today. As I was rethreading the machine for M's class tonight, I thought - hmmmmm - it has been a LONG LONG LONG LONG time that this machine has NOT been cleaned. Oh dear - do I brave looking under the bobbin case??????

You know it is going to be BAD when you see lint in the actual bobbin case area.  

It is very easy to get under the bobbin case in my other machine. This one is a bit of a pain - you have to remove that screw and then lift out the case. Then very important - remember the position of the spinning thing so you can reinsert the bobbin case when you are done.



OK - HOLD YOUR HATS - SIT DOWN - THIS IS GOING TO BE BAD!!!!!!!

Holy Batman - was there any room for the bobbin case????   I'm surprised the machine still sewed!!!!!

See those grooves in the feed dogs - even they were FULL of lint!!!!!

See how nice and clean it is supposed to be!!!!!!

 Now when I clean out the bobbin case - I use a brush, I use tweezers and I use cotton swabs. ACK - this is the FIRST time I lost the tip of the cotton swab into the machine and I couldn't recover it!!!!!    Great - now I am going to have to make a confession when I take this machine in for servicing. But can't do that until M is done her class. I put in a new needle and reassembled the bobbin case and it sewed like a charm. This is an old Husqvarna - the 500. I WILL NEVER trade or sell this machine - well only when I don't want to sew any more. It is an outstanding machine - a real work horse.

And how much lint was in the machine - OK - I'm embarrassed to show you this - but look........

Can you believe that?????   Who would have known that just sewing on bindings could create so much lint??????   OK - so I need to clean that machine more often. I guess I put on more bindings than I realized!!!!

And speaking of putting on bindings - here is another quilt of mine that I quilted the other day.

My quilt (this was one I made with really scrappy - no not crappy - I said SCRAPPY squares). It is a real hodgepodge to say the least. Pattern is disappearing nine patch. This might be a good one to give the girls for the car!!!!!

Binding on the crappy - I mean SCRAPPY quilt!!!!!

I will try to do NOTHING today so that tomorrow - I can catch up on all the other stuff that I have to show and tell you!!!!!!  I mean - there will be nothing new - well hopefully you get what I mean!!!!!


Have fun with those YouTube videos. Honestly - good pick me ups when you are feeling down. Try to find ONE thing that you are grateful for!!!  Shouldn't be hard.

Have a great day!!!!!  

Ciao!!!!

The Big Black Dog is HOME!!!!!!

Picked up the big black dog yesterday!!!   Gosh - once I got to the animal hospital, I had to wait FOREVER before they could verify that all the expenses were on the bill. WAIT A MINUTE - I don't have to mortgage the house - they must have forgotten something!  Let's just say that the big black dog will NOT be allowed to roam free in the forest for a long long long long time - if ever!!!!

She is pretty groggy still - she is still on pain meds and something else for diarrhea  (is that how you spell that word????). Anyway - although she does seem much more like her old self, she does want to sleep a lot which is what they said she would do. And when we had corn on the cob last night - she didn't even come close to the table - she wasn't even in the kitchen. Could she be cured of her scavenging habits - I doubt it!!!!!

And now she is on a low fat diet - a very skimpy low fat diet and we have to go to our vet for more blood work today. Outwardly she seems to be fine - clinically the pancreatitis doesn't seem to be getting better. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

And me - well - yes - I could have bought a pretty nice sewing machine for what we paid on that bill!!!!

She loves the back of the new car. Here she is - half in-half out of the dog bed in the back!!!

And resting nicely at home!!!   With her shaved leg and tummy!!!!

Got to run to physio this morning.

Have a great day (get out and enjoy that beautiful weather!!!)


Ciao!!!!!

Halloween is coming!

Yes - it is now October. How did that happen? Well I am going to try and have a project completed for Halloween. And yes - I have several started.

First - Big Black Dog update - she is STILL at the animal hospital!!!!!    Poor Sparky. She is very happy to see me when I go visit, but upset and sad when I leave. So am I!!!!   Almost brings me to tears to leave her there. She did have food yesterday so that is a good thing, and is going to have a second ultrasound this morning to see how the pancreas is. If no better - well - not going there. Hopefully she comes home TODAY!!!!!!

Here is the first one......

OH - this is my Halloween cup - have to get in the spirit here!!!!   And yes - that is a hot chocolate, not tea!  I have the occasional hot chocolate at home, but never at TIm's. 

Halloween Table Mat by Primitive Gatherings!
I bought this as a kit - notice the size - 24" in diameter!

Now I try NOT to read instructions if I can help it!  Essentially you applique the pieces onto the background - stitch them, then fuse a piece of backing on and finish off that scalloped edge. But how to get the steam a seam on the outside scallop only??  Well - here is the method I devised (and Marian told me to read the directions, but I am NOT a follower of instructions!!)

Made a template of 1/8 of the circle (as per the pattern - template was included)

Then using that same template - prepared a piece of Steam a Seam so that is generously covered that white line I had previously marked

Steam a seam all around the scallops

Using chalk-o-liner and ruler  - marked off the sections

Use the template again and a sharpie to draw the actual shape onto the Steam a Seam. Then cut out with scissors.

Table topper - waiting for the spider webs to be drawn in and all the stitching!!!

I am really happy with this table runner. I think it is turning out gorgeous. I forgot to make the cat's eyes - so have to do those and then mark the spider web and stitch them.

Got to make this short this morning - I'll finish the Halloween stuff tomorrow. I mean - I will finish showing them!!!!

Have a great day!!!!


Ciao!!!!!

What I did on my FREE day!!

I don't think I was super productive, but that is just fine by me!

For those of you wondering - yes I did get out of my jammies at one point. Had to go visit Sparky who is going to stay at the animal hospital until at least Tuesday!  OK - where is the employment line???   Yes - she is doing fine, but doesn't seem to be improving. The ultrasound (at ultra $$$$$$) has shown no cancer so that is a good thing. She was happy to see us though.


Well here are a few things that I did BEFORE my free day.

Customer quilt - which I am sure is already bound and hanging on the wall!!!

Finished the card trick quilt top

Got the backing and binding complete for card trick - that is a LOT of that one colour. No worry - it will be fine. 

A while back we were working on a challenge - the initial challenge. We were supposed to pick three colours that started with the initials of our name. We could add two colours to that. The three colours on the bottom of this pictures are the ones I chose and I added black and the muslin type background.

My colours for the initial challenge. I used paint chips to get the colours and notice how close my fabric is!!!

I chose this pattern which I have had forever. 

And this is the piece so far. The stems need to be added, but need my machine to do that. 

By the way - the challenge was due in June so yes I missed the deadline, but I had started cutting out the pieces so I figured I would finish it. And then I can use it to practice quilting.

Somewhere in my travels I picked up this block which is part of a block of the month. OK - so I must have got it for a steal. It is weird and the fabrics are kind of icky!!!   Going to use it to practice different edge finishing and then practice quilting.

Block for practicing!!!

So you see - even those icky blocks have a purpose!!!!  


I was checking out what M did in her sewing class last week. They were making the handles for the bag. I saw one of her handles had been turned inside out - the other was half way. Hmmmmm - I bet that teacher did NOT have a tube turner. When I asked M - she said NO - turning the handles was a pain. I got out the tube turner and VOILA - in two seconds that handle was turned inside out. I'm excited that my kid would think that I might have a better solution to the handle issue!!!!!!   Yep - there is hope after all!!!!

That's all for today - got physio this morning. Yeah!!!   I just wish I could say that I feel a lot of difference - I don't!

Have a great day!!!!

Ciao!!!!!

The Patient!!!

A FREE day!!!!!    I was going to ride my bike, but given the fact that it is COLD out (about 4 degrees), the forecast is rain, and both the physiotherapist and Alwin did not think it was a good idea given the fact that my knee is still recovering - so I am NOT cycling today.

I was supposed to teach a class on free motion, but it was too closely scheduled to the machine quilting class and the class wanted some practice time in between the two so that is not happening today!

As a result - I have a FREE day. HOORAY!!!!!!


Not that I will be sitting around eating bonbons and reading a book - OH NO - I am going to make the best of the day. Got my comfy WARM jammies on and I'm going to stay that way!!!!


And not that my studio doesn't need tidying up. Gosh - amazing how things can go downhill FAST!!!!

Looks like a tornado went through this place!!!!  And that is the start of a t-shirt quilt on the floor in the background.

We got a chance to visit Sparky yesterday. I am glad we did because they got to see how perky she can be. I get the impression she is NOT happy there and is very despondent. Hey - wouldn't you be????

M and Caroline with a very excited Sparky. We had a hard time to calm her down!!!!

Look how cute she is!!!!   I was just happy to see that she was ALERT!!!!

See nice bright eyes!!!!

Sparky and her IV!!!!

Hmmmm - time to relax. Look at her leg - all bandaged up with her IV in there. 

All too soon we had to leave. Poor Sparky - she was NOT happy when we left. But Sammy who had to wait in the car was very interested in sniffing us.


I started a NEW project. I couldn't help myself! Well - it was NOT my fault. One of my sewing groups - Sew Buddies  - decided when I was away that we should all work on the same project. At the end - we will each have our own quilt. Hmmm - the pattern is cute - and handwork - yep - I can do that.

Holiday Redwork by The Stitch Connection

My wreath block

Marked with red lines

Pen I used to do the marking

NEW (well to me) thread for stitching!!!

Marian and I were off on an adventure the other day which I will tell you about another day. Anyway - she is a faithful reader of a large number of blogs. She (as my researcher) is supposed to be passing information onto me in a timely manner. BUT it seems that she only shares when we actually see the products in the stores!!!!   Thank god I am NOT paying her to do the work.

Well there is a new thread/floss out there called COSMOS. At one of the stores we visited, a teacher there was using a variegated floss to stitch a Crabapple Hill pattern. The variegated thread was perfect for this project and this person's stitching was UNBELIEVABLE. I should have taken a picture - the most incredible back stitch I have ever seen and a back stitch is a pretty basic back stitch!!!!  Going to try to get a hand ful of people together so we can get her to teach us!!!!!   My back stitch is OK, but this was - well I think you get the picture!!!!

Then we started discussing various methods of transferring and what to use for that second layer under the stitching. This teacher used a fine woven fusible interfacing so bought some of that. It is called Shape-Flex by Pellon.

Label for Shape-Flex

Anyway - I fused that to the wrong side of my cut square. Then using a light box - traced the design onto the fabric. That is always the tricky part - trace first - then fuse????   Depends on the marking pen I suppose.

I have always used water soluble pens in the past, but I was using the THICK one and while I like it because you can see your lines - the thick one is chunky for small designs. We decided to try a fine line pen. I got the pigma pen in red - then any little blotches wouldn't show. I have discovered that red for doing red work is NOT a good idea. It is harder to see where your last stitch was!!!   SO no more red pens for redwork.

I am afraid of black but that is the only one in the fine fine nib .005. I was hoping to find a brown in that size, but only black.

I have a couple of other pens I am going to try - not like I don't have something to try it on. And I am contemplating instead of french knots - I am going to pull a LINDA. Bling it up with crystals. That will help to differentiate it from the others.

I got two CDs done last night. Really liking this book and it took me a while to fall into a rhythm with the back stitch. OK - so I don't embroider a lot!!!!

This morning - I have started getting the strips for the bright exchange organized!!!

Bright exchange

I have a list of NON sewing things to get done today. I may have to decommission my sewing machine for a couple of days every month!!!!


If you have any suggestions for marking embroidery - let me know and I will try them. I do have several others here, but thought I would start with this one.

Have a great day!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!

KA-CHING!!!!!!!! (or Separation anxiety!!)

No - I did NOT buy a new sewing machine (although I was TEMPTED when I dropped my sewing machine off for service!!)

Not one, but TWO machines left my house at the same time!!!!

One was going for servicing - the other, M was taking to class. Yikes - NO SEWING MACHINE!!!!!!


Yes - I can live without my machine for a week. So far - I haven't even had time to touch a sewing machine!!!

No - my big KA-CHING and big SEPARATION ANXIETY comes from the fact that the BIG BLACK DOG is SICK!!!!!!    She wasn't feeling well on Wednesday evening and by Thursday night - I was very concerned. Vomiting, lethargic, temperature - so much so that we had to carry her to the car. Yes - my Sparky needed to be carried - this is NOT good. I took her to the Animal Hospital Thursday night and well - the $ haven't stopped piling up!!!   Blood work, neurological tests, X-rays, (I said NO to the ultrasound - $500 during hours - $800 after hours!!!!). It is Saturday morning and she is still there!!!!

Poor thing. apparently she is feeling better, but has had no food yet. I think they are going to try today to offer her food and hopefully she will come home today. Sammy is beside herself. She doesn't know the routine (and how long has she lived here???)  She doesn't follow any schedule! And she doesn't know what to do!!!!   Poor thing!

Sparky may have a bout of pancreatitis. Most likely caused by eating GARBAGE!!!!!!!    How I hate my neighbours who throw garbage over the fence into the forest. OK - so Sparky is supposed to be on a leash in the forest, but at 6 AM - who else is in the forest. But the vet said that Sparky was in very good shape - I mean weight wise - she is right on for her age and size!!!!!   Little Sammy - well it wouldn't be the same story - she is a little fatty - oooops - unhealthy weight!!!!!

Let's keep our fingers crossed that the big black dog comes home today!!!!   I need money to pay for the quilt show and shop hop we went on yesterday!!!!   More on that tomorrow.

Got to run - have to teach a class this AM.


Have a great day!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!