Do as I say, NOT as I do............................

Yes - I am always trying to toot my horn - telling you "good" I am - how neat I am - how "perfect" I am - how rational - how sane - well you get the picture. And I have to say that I do follow my advice MOST of the time.

And if you don't believe - have a look at this.........................

The sewing area - NEAT as a pin

The ironing surface - EMPTY

The cutting table - pretty empty (I have to deal with those few items TODAY)

The layout area - notice one clean table waiting for Marian and I to work on a cool project today. The table  back left has a quilt laid out that I am putting the borders on and the table in the back right - those are ON DECK projects. Things that need to be done in the next two weeks.

And I have been busy - getting PROJECTS done or at least up to date.........................

Border Creek Mystery - LAP QUILT - everything UP TO DATE (including those HST)

Got the borders on this quilt from A Little Bit Crazy (Buggy Barn)

Got the backing and the binding DONE!

Got the blocks (finally) assembled in Buy the Yard Mystery - Debbie Caffrey. I had to purchase a fabric for one of the borders yesterday. It is currently laid out as I wait advice from my personal colour consultant (Marian). However as I was looking at the picture I took this AM (the one of the three tables) - I think I solved my problem!!!!!

Got the top row of this black and white together. Not sure whose pattern this is. I got the idea from Linda - so I just call this Linda's quilt!!!!

GIANT customer quilt is quilted and trimmed and already picked up!!!

So yes - I have been busy and so far - I sound like the sane, rational, energetic person that you thought I was. However - look behind the scenes and see what happens......................

I happened upon this fabric which I thought would be perfect for  that Buggy Barn quilt. I GUESSED how much I would need for the backing and LOOK WHAT I HAD LEFT OVER. Did I get LUCKY or was it TALENT????  Don't do this at home folks - measure BEFORE buying just in case!!!!

Cutting some scraps (UGLY scraps) to make a braid quilt. 

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS or at least think about what you are doing!!!!    (I don't have instructions for this). But  I just spent a lot of time cutting muslin for the LIGHT side of the braid. Then I cut the dark side and NOT THINKING - I laid the fabrics right sides together - of course - I got a left and a right - when I need one or the other but not both!!!!!!    The muslin - doesn't matter as both sides are the same!!!!!  I'm guessing about 1/4 of the strips are cut wrong. I am going to use the wrong side as much as possible - maybe for all that I miscut!!!!!    DUH!!!!!!

So far so good. Those are minor things that can be dealt with. Let's go back a couple of days ago - the missed geocaching day. The fact that I did not get that one has been niggling at the back of my mind. I managed to contact someone who was going and wanted company. We made arrangements to meet up at NIGHT in the DARK. And as the time got closer to meet, my daughter is asking "are you sure you want to meet a STRANGER in the dark, in the forest where no one is around??????"   Yep - I'm OK with that.  OK - so I tell her not to do it, but I was meeting someone specific. 

I arrive at the spot where the cache is and I scramble back down the steel hill. I take stock of the situation - yep - hasn't changed and that thing is still OUT OF REACH. I settle down to wait. Oh - are those flashlights coming???  Yes - but taking FOREVER. It was absolutely gorgeous there. The river was just below and rushing by making beautiful noise, the moon was almost full. It was very peaceful. 

Wait - I see lights. Hey - how many people are coming???   Well with a couple of head lamps and flashlights - turns out there were three people. 

And they brought specialized equipment because they knew what they were up against as one of them had scouted the area the day before. A screwdriver to connect everything and we were in business and quickly found the cache. All in the dark, well - we had flashlights. And NO ONE had to climb the tree!!!!

Very clever. While I was waiting I got bored and took some pictures. 

See that LOG - I shinnied out that stupid log and ALMOST got the V in the tree, but chickened out!!!!!   It is quite high  above the ground (see the river reflected just under the log)

See - I got as far as that sloping tree on the right and that was it for me. But I managed to get out on the bottom log (you can't really see it in the picture) only because I was holding onto the log on top. See that bottom log is three or four feet off the ground. 

See how steep the terrain is - this is the right orientation!!!!!

The log - do I walk it or not???????

Here is the cache - pretty clever!!!!!!

So while we were out - there were a couple more in the same area. When we came to the next one (also in a tree - I didn't have to worry about getting it!!!!!  Thanks Chris-mouse. I could have gotten this one. The angle wasn't nearly as bad as the other one.

Getting the cache.

Anyway - it was GREAT FUN. The guys were very nice and I am inviting myself along on their regular Friday night caching. But not this Friday - going away to the retreat!!!!!


Now dogs are weird creatures. You can buy them all the cozy dog beds in the world, but look where they prefer to sleep.........................

Oh Mom - thanks for the batting - this is VERY cozy!!!!!

Aw - I can stretch out and STILL be on the batting

My bed is MUCH TOO SMALL!!!!!!

And no wonder those dogs seem to sleep a LOT when I am home. Why you ask????   Because they are into everything when I am away!!!!!

There was a few food morsels in this garbage which I had left on the stairs to bring up. Yep - they emptied it to find those few morsels. Honestly - you would think we never fed these dogs.

I love to feed the birds in the backyard. My yard is NOT big and it is hard to find a place to place the bird feeder where the squirrels cannot get to it. So I purchased a new bird feeder - a long metal one so hopefully the squirrels will be challenged to get to it. Don't worry about the squirrels - they have their own feeder with peanuts in it. 

But I had a guest yesterday...................

The backyard visitor - wonder where his mate was??

My personal shopper (Marian) had a mission. Find a brilliant blue fabric with gave the illusion of motion/energy. I think she did an AMAZING job!!!!!

Brilliant blue - the personal shopped did GOOD!!!!!

And it looks awesome with the orange background!!   PERFECT!!!!

The BRILLIANT blue with the orange - that has some WOW factor to it!!!!!

Also up to my eyeballs with Scrabble. I don't even know how many games I have on the go, but do you think it is my turn?????

I get notifications when it is my turn - yep - I think it is MY turn to play!!!!   Have to love playing on the iPad. So much better than the computer because I can play in bed, in the car, while waiting for dinner to cook. ANYWHERE!!!!!   Matter of fact - one of the girls I play with bought an iPad - just so she could play Scrabble!!!!!

Well - got a busy day planned and must get started!!!



Have a great day!!


Ciao!!!!

Monday Motivators

My favourite day of the week - Monday!!!!!    I keep a container near my cutting table and as I get a project ready to cut or whatever else needs to be done, I throw it in the container. Then come Monday, I pick through the container - see what is critical to cut and take that.

I love the company - I love the girls, the laughter, the shenanigans - it is a very good day.


Here are some pictures I snapped of the Monday girls. My editor is SO FULL of pictures to post that my computer is going to crash and I have to get caught up!!!!

Judy (who when she first came to Monday Motivator was a NEWBIE) - well no more. Judy is cranking out the quilts like there is no tomorrow.  This one is ready for quilting. 

 

Judy again!  This one is completely done. 

Eleanora working a mystery quilt. See - I am NOT the only one who has mysteries undone!!!

More of the mystery

Joyce with one of her dog quilts

And we even have babies!!!!   Robbie is so cute and quite happy (so far) to sit in his chair and listen to his tunes

We have loads of other stuff happening - but too hard to capture it all on film. However look at some of the goings on that happen.


Joyce went to a function at her church and they were supposed to wear a vintage hat. Joyce chose this......

A gorgeous black FASTENATOR (I want one!!!!)

Hats look like crap on me - but this one is not bad. I think it is a tad too close to the front of my head!!!!

And Flo took a turn with it as well. Not sure where those white gloves came from!!!!!!

Speaking of hats - there is a picture (hopefully NOT in circulation) of me out at night geocaching with my red hat (trimmed with black furry stuff) tipped back on my head because I was hot!!!!!    I haven`t seen the picture - but I`m thinking that is one that has to stay SECRET!!!!!!

Anyway - Monday Motivators is just the best group of ladies I know. Thanks to all of you for making Monday the BEST day of the week for me!!!!!



Have a great day!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!

Things that go BUMP in the night!!!!

Let me share with you the entries from the This & That Monday Mystery #1.


Results of This & that Monday Mystery #1


Aren't they all awesome. Mine is NUMBER TWO on the list. And I thought I saw a name or two on the list I recognized ......   could be a coincidence.

You should give it a whirl. No need to sign up - you just check out her blog each Monday.


Haven't picked out my fabric for the Monday Mystery #2 yet, but maybe later today I can do that.


It was a cute little project even though I got all befuddled with the pattern.


Here are a couple of pictures of my Halloween decorations - yeah - a bit late, but better late than never.

Lights in the front window

I purchased a LOT of these "paper bag" pumpkin tea light holders. They are made from ceramic and just the cutest. So I get them out at Halloween. Unfortunately they are hard to keep lit during the evening (I put them on the front steps) depending on the amount of wind. If they won't stay lit - then I bring them in the house and put them in the window.

Here they are - on my kitchen table and I have a couple of ghost ones as well

See - aren't they cute!!!!!

That's all I took of Halloween, but there was a man outside my front door taking picture after picture of my spider webs, ghosts, and pumpkins. I guess he was experimenting with the flash. I should have taken more pictures, but I was busy or something.


Last weekend a bunch of us adults did something VERY STUPID. We went geocaching in the dark!!!  It was a planned event and there were almost 200 people attending, but after we went our ways to find the caches - we hardly saw anyone. Let's just say that it was DARK (we started around 10 PM) and it was COOL, but the worst was after midnight when the frost hit. We happened to pick a LONG one to do - well they were all long - each taking at least 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours.

Vicki, Mark and Jim figuring out the electronic clue

Jim making sure we are doing everything right

We happened to pick one with some of the worst????? terrain. A very rough path through the forest complete with bridges (that is Vicki just getting off this one).   Hmmmmmm - and that white on the right - a spot on the lens or a ghost or just mist????

See Vicki's reflective boots - I could never lose her!!!!

Fallen trees - this stump was HUGE

That is Jim walking through a cut in the fallen tree. 

Anyway - all of those obstacles became a hazard after the frost hit. Anyway - we found 6 of the seven caches on this part. We had to ask for assistance on the missing one. Across the path - across the path!!  Stupid - why didn't we look there.

I have to say that I am competitive and I try not to be. But I HATE HATE HATE asking for help. But then I don't want to be wondering around the forest all night either. Just bugs me is all.

So last night, Ronda, her family and I decide to go and get another one of the night ones. Bundle up again as it is cold. It is also a multi-part cache. We find the first one after we BUSHWHACKED through some pretty thick brush only to find a path! GRRRRRRRRRR. We get the electronic clue (that can only be seen at night!!!), a bit of difficulty finding the second box and then DISASTER hits. There is a memory game that you have to solve in order to get the second clue revealed. Like Merlin game if you remember that. Anyway - we try and try and make up thousands of excuses - too much noise, not enough flashlights, too many flashlights, a few swear words thrown out (sorry Celeste and Mason) and then FRUSTRATION. We contact the owner of the cache and he finally gives us the clue. CRAP CRAP CRAP!!!!!!!!   We are NOT doing well on these night caches.


And it just isn't the night caches. While I was just finishing up a class at my house (Introduction to the Long Arm), a message came in - a new cache was revealed just 2 miles from my house. Ronda looks at me and says - should we try it?????   After a lengthy delay in getting rid of the rest of the students and then someone came to the door, we head out. TOTALLY UNPREPARED. I didn't have a jacket (STUPID STUPID STUPID) and no camera. Anyway it is a difficulty of 5 and a terrain of 5 - which is the hardest. We arrive and see a VERY STEEP gully down to the river. Hmmmm - let's hope my knee survives. Ronda stays on top of the hill. I get down to the river and scout around - it has to be here. I find a couple of likely spots - lots of trees - am I going to have to climb one?????   Oooops - here comes someone else. I am walking along fallen logs holding another log over head for support as the log I am on is several feet in the air. No luck. Hmmmmm - maybe I need to be on the log up top which is MANY feet in the air. I start to shinny out on the log and three feet from my destination - I chicken out!!!!!!   Shortly after - more geocachers arrive. For some reason - Ronda and I decided to leave. And TWENTY minutes later - the group finds it, but we aren't there.

And if they find it where I thought it was - I am going to KILL MYSELF!!!!!   Just kidding - but very frustrating. I HATE HATE HATE making bad decisions. Let's see if the one fellow will at least tell me if I was going in the right direction. And after the fact - I am thinking I didn't have to shinny out on the branch - I could have hoisted myself up - it wasn't that far and my upper body is strong???????


Oh well - I'm having a sit n sew today. Something very calm and peaceful. Hopefully the ladies will get me out of my funk!!!!!!!    I am going to have to go and geocache by myself for some easy ones around here to build up my geocaching esteem!!!!!!




On that note - got to finish getting ready for the ladies to arrive today!!!!



Have a great day!!!!!



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

How could a good day go so wrong?????

Yesterday started off amazing!  Although I woke up at 4 AM with the sensation of knives being forced into my knee, I got up and was feeling awesome. (Happy to report that my knee only hurts when I am lying down now - it is less stiff in the day time and doesn't hurt but at night - oh boy - not fun. I guess the icing and the Advil and the mild exercise are finally helping??????)

Had a super workout at the gym, did a few errands and then the day went down hill from there. I do not understand why after a workout my body just crashes. The workout isn't that intense - well I never think it is, but  the total amount of weight lifted is significant  - just the first exercise alone is the equivalent of lifting 2,500 LBS. That is a 25 lb dumb bell in each hand - doing bench presses - 5 sets of 10 reps each. OK - so that makes me tired just thinking about that. The next exercise is easy - only 500 lbs, the third is 1,400 lbs and the last one is 1,500 lbs for a grand total of 5,900 LBS. OK - so that makes be feel better. I go for a high protein shake when I am finished, but I think I need to get some real protein in me after the workout.

And can you tell me why people are so disrespectful. This is the second week I have seen this particular person in the change room. Last week, she had paper towel that she used to wipe her feet or something (what's wrong with a towel?) - anyway, when she left the change room last week  - she leaves her paper towel on the FLOOR. I mean - the garbage can was a mere FIVE FEET away. This week she takes the locker right beside me. When I get out of the shower, I discover that she has hung her DRIPPING WET bathing suit on the door of the locker so it is dripping on my gym bag. GRRRRRRRR!!!!!!    And oh - there is the paper towel again. This time she crumbled it up and shoved it in the locker. When I left - I said "if that is garbage - perhaps you should throw it in the garbage". She gives me a deer in the heads light stare!!!!!   COME ON - this was a grown woman. Who the heck cleans her house???????

I started quilting a quilt when I got home and then I needed my "after workout nap". Woke up and got the quilt done, but by this time I was DONE for the day. I spent the rest of the day/evening lolling on the couch reading, playing Scrabble on the iPad and sleeping.

Customer quilt

I have to make a pledge to NOT buy anything new (except to finish a project) and a pledge to NOT start anything new. I think I have mentioned that I have many projects that are close to being finished - well every once in a while I go through the projects to see what I can find. After my big day the day before, I decided that I needed something to work on!  As if there isn't enough lying around here to find something. Anyway - look at what I found.................

EIGHTY blocks of split nine patch - DONE

Bits and pieces (including trimmed half square triangles) for MANY more blocks. I found a  layout I had made in EQ6 which calls for 143 blocks. Going to have to cut a few more darks, but I think everything else is here!!!!

A bag of TRIMMED half square triangles - The fabric was cast off by Mary - I am not sure if she started to make the half square triangles - anyway - she didn't want this so I took it and finished them off. And what will I do with them?????

Found this pattern that I think will look awesome. This one needs the design wall - take a NUMBER!!!!!!!

Then I opened up another box marked mystery. Hmmmm - oh yes - the purple and green mystery.
This was done with one of the guilds a number of years ago.

Look at the condition - the cut border just crumpled up. Disgraceful!!!!!!

There is the backing, borders and thread - a LOT of fabric tied up here!!!!!!  

And here is the quilt - I have to stop making purple and green quilts!!!!!!

While tidying up (it is a constant in my house - but things are very orderly), I came across this backing that I had purchased a couple of weeks ago. M and I went to Fabricland and most of what we purchased was for her!!!!

Fabric purchases - of course - the TWO brighter ones are mine - the rest are Ms for clothes!!!!

BRIGHT fabric - perfect for a backing - of what you ask?????

How about this???   Got to get it together first, but here is the pattern.....

Radiant Star by Eleanor Burns

And I did manage to get the border on Carol's Round Robin quilt. NOPE - can't show you a picture, but the reveal is ONE WEEK AWAY. I am so excited - I can hardly wait.

Let's see - oh yes - I also got the half square triangles sewn for the Border Creek mystery - they just need to be trimmed. A perfect job for Monday.

Half Square triangles for Border Creek Mystery

These two dogs of mine are such babies. I have two principle work areas in the studio - the long arm area and the sewing area. I have TWO dog beds downstairs and one quilt for them - when the beds are in the area where I am not - Sparky, in particular, comes down - looks at where the beds usually are, then looks at me "where is MY BED?" then I have to go and get the beds from the other side and bring them over. Such spoiled babies!!!!!   And here is cute Sammy with her teddy bear!!!!

Little Sammy with her teddy bear!!!!

Well there is a stack of paperwork to go through this morning. Amazing how organizing things requires paperwork or follow up. I've got to stop that!!!!!   or get a secretary to do it for me. And I have a GIANT quilt to quilt today.


Have a great day!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!