Use it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a collector.  You all know that - I know that. One of the things I have collected over the years is STRIPED fabric. Also collected numerous ideas of what to do with the striped fabric, but alas just not enough time to do anything with it.

I have learned that the ONLY way for me to get working on something is to schedule a class. And so I am scheduled to teach a class for the Mississauga Quilt Guild next Saturday. So guess what?  I am making my striped quilts!  I did start earlier in the spring, but the crunch is on now!!!

I finished one top last night and so I don't spoil the surprise for the class - here is a corner of the quilt!

One corner of the quilt!  - just wait - all will be revealed after next weekend. 

I had leftovers and they are sitting by the sewing machine so I can do something with them this morning

The other day (OK - so I have been to Ruti's twice since I returned home a week ago) - anyway - I was at Ruti's. I was poking around looking for anything new that had arrived while I was gone.   Hmmmmmm - oh my - LOOK AT THIS fabric - it is gorgeous.  And crap - there is NOT much left on the bolt.  OK - I'll take it all.

Beautiful striped fabric.  I wonder what I could do with that?????

Got home and tossed that fabric on the cutting table with the rest of the striped stuff that needs to be cut up. I finished the top of my first quilt, cut the binding, put the scraps (except those larger pieces I am working on today) away and then off  to look for a backing. Hmmmmm - I have loads of stuff for backings, but nothing peaked my interest. Then I glanced back at the cutting table - do you see where this is going????

I figured out how much I need for the backing - 2 pieces that are 66 inches long - I will join the backing horizontally. Let's just check how much fabric is in that big strip. OH MY GOD - it is exactly the right measurement.  EXACTLY.   What are the chances of that????   OK - so it becomes the backing for this quilt.  I know - a shame to put it on the back - but it will be FUN!!!!!!    And then I don't have to worry about what to do with it!!!!!   Problem solved!   There was another colour way, but not nearly as fun as this one. I may go back and check it out tomorrow - I "might" be persuaded to buy some - only because this is such a cool fabric - but it is the colour, not necessarily the pattern that intrigued me.


What is next on the striped front???

This is what I get to play with today. A gorgeous batik that I bought four years ago.  I know that because the concept of what I am doing with it is from a magazine (that was with it) dated 2010. 

So you see this teaching thing is a good thing for me.  It just means that I am NOT working on the stuff that was on the 2014 shelf - I had to dig this piece out of the closet!   Who cares - one more quilt will be off the list!!!!


While I was sewing the top - I had enders and leaders to work with. The left overs from the Bonnie Hunter mystery.

Lots of little half square triangles sewn!!!!

I worked until late last night - happy as a clam and excited to get up this morning to get back at it.  OK - I guess it takes me a good week to unwind and get back into the groove.  The best news - DH is going away for the week, there are lots of leftovers in the fridge - I am set for an intense week of work!!!!


As I sewing yesterday - I reached the end of my pre-wound bobbins. That means - time to clean the machine and put in a new needle. Hmmmmm - I have this little mini vacuum sitting by the computer that I have never used.  You plug it into a USB port and away you go.  Well I don't have USB on my sewing machine (yep - my machine is practically an antique - at 15 years old - WOW - 15 years - hard to believe). Anyway - I plugged the vacuum into the USB on the computer which is by the sewing machine and I was vacuuming away.  Then I used it on the keyboard of the computer. While it has a tiny motor and doesn't seem to be picking up anything - have a look.............

Mini-vacuum

Look at all the lint it sucked up!!!!    That was mostly from the keyboard as I had already taken most of the lint out of the sewing machine with a Q-tip and a brush. 

I hate air conditioning.  It is already hot enough (well not today) but going in and out of air conditioned buildings just makes the hot air seem that much hotter. I know - crazy lady!  BUT - I do run my dehumidifier all summer.  Since I have gotten home - the thing has run practically non-stop.  They must have just got it running just before I came home.   I have had to empty it at least three times every day - some day I will have it hooked up to the drain in the basement.  When you first start it up - it gives a reading - humidity levels.   It has been VERY high since I got home - in the 70s which my fabric just hates and you get that smell. ICK. Well I noticed this morning when I started it up - it is in the 50s!  Yeah!!!!  Of course - the much cooler air helps a lot.

Dehumidifier running non-stop

Someone asked me yesterday if I got my dining room cleaned up. Oh dear - not even close. I haven't even touched it since those two big days. It looks even worse now than before as I moved a few things - paper stuff back upstairs.

More boxes of paper work to go through.  I must schedule one hour a day or something to try and get it all done. 

And to those of us who don't rush out and immediately purchase stuff - I got a new label maker yesterday and it was FIFTY percent off. So it wasn't very expensive at all.  I found that out from reading some of the flyers that come in the newspaper and all because of my cleaning kick - I read the paper when it came in and the flyers were current!!!  Got two extra tapes so I am set to make labels for a long time!!!!!  

And I have to confess - I was waiting on the label maker so I could get the rest of the files labelled and put in the cabinet.   OK - no more excuses!!!!!


On that note - another exciting day - OK - in my life every day is exciting - except maybe when I have a dentist appointment and even then - I am getting better.

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


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

The mystery package.....

Back in April, I was working on a sample for a class.  I had gone to Fabricland and found a gorgeous (I know - don't shoot me) floral fabric.  I bought all they had which was about 1 meter.  I loved my colour combination so much that I wanted to make an entire quilt from it - but no such luck. Despite having called and visited MANY Fabriclands - this fabric was gone!!!!

The fabric that I ran out of

People were sending me pictures of fabrics from various stores and links on the internet, but NOTHING was the same.

This was probably the closest that we found. 

Alas - it was not close enough. And so I thought I would never ever find this fabric and I might as well come up with plan B to get the quilt finished.

BUT I was not to be stopped by a simple matter of running out of fabric so I took to the internet with a vengeance. I had the information from the selvedge and I used that to search and I searched and I searched and I FOUND IT!!!!!   I know - who would have thought. Guess where I found it????   In Germany!!!!!!   I know - well then I had to get real - international shipping is crazy and to purchase this fabric was already MUCH more expensive than what I had paid for it in Fabricland.

One day chatting to Ruthi - I remembered that her daughter lived in Switzerland and was coming to Canada within a couple of months.  OH - will she be a fabric mule for me?????   Yep - so I managed to get the fabric ordered with my total lack of German and the store owner's smidgen of English - I ordered and paid for the fabric, had it shipped to Switzerland. Then Becca  brought it over in July.  Since I had a crazy summer - I am only getting the package now.

My blocks

THE package

My blocks AND the new fabric - I can now finish the quilt!!!!!

I'm pretty excited to have found it, although I was a little apprehensive to open the package in the fear that it was the wrong one!   I love searching for stuff like that and now all of a sudden - this quilt has a cool story than if I had just purchased enough at the onset! (which there wasn't enough - so SOMEONE in Mississauga has some of this fabric - probably just languishing in their stash!!!!!!



It has been hot and humid here and we knew that we going to get a storm. It hit us last night - not that violent or so it didn't seem, but then it is hard to judge the storm when you are trapped in suburbia.  You don't really get a chance to see the sky - but here are a couple of pictures I took of the clouds last night.

Roiling clouds

The front of that storm cloud looks very angry

And there is my kid and the dogs outside dancing in the rain which just started!!!!!

I learned something yesterday.  OK - so it really wasn't learning - I was being reminded.  I was reading that magazine on Storage ideas.  And guess what one of them said - "Force yourself to limit the size of a collection by designating a finite amount of space in which to keep it. Once you've outgrown the space, you know it's time to cut back."     Well - WHAT IS THE FUN IN THAT???????    YES - it is a great idea and really something that I should apply to my books and magazines. If you only keep the good ones - then it is better to have 10 good ones that you use all the time, than 100 that you never touch.   I know all that!!!!!   Let me get the rest of the house organized and then I'll get to work.


I must have led a very uncultured childhood.   The book our book club is reading for the chat next week is "To Kill a Mockingbird".  Ronda was SHOCKED that I had never read it.  Ronda read it, her daughter has read it, my daughter has read it - but I never did!!!!!   It is a interesting read and so funny in light of how those kids entertained themselves and how kids entertain themselves today!!!! NO comparison!  No problem to get it read before next Thursday - I read over a third of it yesterday. I know - I should be quilting!!!!!


I am working on a sample for the striped fabric class and I had a dilemma - only one meter of striped fabric, but I figured it out.  Had two options and took the second one but both would have been nice.

Today - I really must get MUCH more productive or I will never get anything accomplished and I MUST stop reading!!!!!!


Here is the link to QUILTSocial from yesterday - the top ten reasons why I love the Opal 690Q.  Now I know you are thinking - why should I read that - I am not in the market to buy that machine or any machine.  But in the event you are searching for a sewing machine - these are super features and are very nice to have on a machine. Check it out - you are bound to learn something. It is always nice to know what is available even if you can't get it today.


Plus there is a free giveaway every week - make sure you get your name into the draw.


If you have NOTHING to do today - there is a new quilt store opening.   Village Square Quilt Shop in Burlington.   check it out.   I might just pop down - just to say HI!!!!!   If you do go - I strongly advise you to check out the parking and exact location of the store in the CONTACT info on their web site.  They are in a small village square and you can't just drive up to the front door. You have to walk a little bit.



On that note - I am out of here to get something done before my class this morning.

Have 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!!!!!!!!!!!

Mad about HEXAGONS...........................

What a day!  It seems that I am having a bit of an issue with reintegrating into the real world.  It seems that I am supposed to be actually be doing stuff!  I'm tired and in particular, my back is tired. I think I need a massage.  OK - I have a gift certificate for one - I better book an appointment this morning.  Or maybe I just get on my bike and I can lean on those darn handlebars!

However I have to say that I did read a bit (OK - a LOT) yesterday.  The book I am reading is called Wild by Cheryl Strayed.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

I find it very interesting that I started to read the book on the day that the movie was released. I had no idea they were making a movie. Mary B  had given me the book a couple of months ago.  It is an excellent book and I read most of it yesterday!  Coming from a fairly normal family life, it is mind boggling to understand what happened to Cheryl.  But I so understand her trials and tribulations of walking that trail.  OK - so my bike ride was nothing compared to her hike, but there are many similarities. And I seriously believe that events like that are life changing!  And for the better!  Moving out of our comfort zone is something we all should do!


Anyway - if you get a chance to read the book or watch the movie - I would recommend it!  I've already got  a waiting list for the book!




It was so much fun to reconnect with friends yesterday!    We had embroidery club which I just love. There was only one problem - I could not find my embroidery.  Later after everyone left, I dug a bit deeper and OH - there it is - it wasn't sitting on top, but was buried a couple of boxes down!!!!   No worries - I had something else to do - HEXAGONS!  And I wasn't the only one.

Diane started us off by producing this article on how Hexagons are the IN shape at the moment!!!!!   Of course - Diane was going to work on her hexagon project but seems she brought the circle project with her!!!!!!

Tish was busy making more hexagons and sewing them together.  Look at her neat pile of flowers!!!!   Notice how nice and evenly they are stacked!!!   I think she is going to need a bigger box!!!!

And I "cheated" and got this many hexagons prepared.  They said I was cheating because I was using the glue stick, NOT sewing them!!!!!

So yes - while we call it the embroidery club - we do anything that is hand work!   So nice to just chat up a storm about anything and everything!!!!   Yep - there is no complaining in this group and I just love that!!!!   First person to complain is out!


And look at the cool present that I got.  

Yep - a beer with a bike on it.  Red Racer!!!!   Who knew!  And just in time because I have already consumed the Iceberg beer that I managed to bring home with me!!!!    Love the quote on the coaster - yes - a coaster for my beer. 

Well - I think today is the day that I actually get my butt in gear and get some work done!  Well - I have to finish that book first!  

Check out the QUILTSocial link this morning to get some new ideas for the zippered pouches.  And seriously - I want to see what you have done!!!!!!

On that note - everyone is already gone their separate ways this morning. I have the house to myself and I intend to make good use of that quiet time!

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


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

The craziness begins..................

I don't have time to write the blog this morning. I am still in my PJs and I have embroidery club in 20 minutes. BUT here is the promised picture from yesterday.................

To refresh your memory - here is my baby on her first day of Kindergarten..............

Oh look at those chubby little cheeks - so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And here is my baby on her first day of Year Two of College......................

All grown up!!!!!!    (so proud of my kid!!!!!! - even though sometimes I don't always show it - especially to her!!!)

And if you are looking for something to sew - check out QUILTSocial this morning. There is the most amazing (because I wrote it!) tutorial on zippered pouches. They are super easy to make, can be customized with size and fabric.  Well - I want to see LOTS and LOTS of samples from YOU. Send me pictures!!!!!

On that note - we are going to have to live with dog hair all over the floor, but I insist on changing.

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


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

Slow and steady!

OK - so no one said this purging business was going to be fun!  I sorted and shredded, I pitched and filed, I labeled and rested. And I made progress.

However I ran out of label tape. Yes - I know it would be cheaper, faster and easier to hand write those labels BUT I don't want to and therefore I am allowed to make labels with my label maker. I have had the label maker for a while and when I was at Staples the other day I bought a tape refill, but I had a sneaky feeling that it wasn't going to fit. And it does NOT.  So back to Staples today to buy a new label maker. That is pretty stupid, but might as well get the new one - they are not that expensive. The point is that I now have a label maker that works, but is totally useless because I can't buy refills.

I was hoping to get the filing cabinet done in one day and the desk top in another day, BUT it is going to take at least one more day to get those two areas up to par.

At least the desk top is clear enough that I can use the surface to work on. I love that desk - I've had it for years. 

No need to organize the drawers as they got a make over a number of years ago. I used some wood glue and a hammer to fix the broken drawer.  Yeah - one thing off the list. 

I had to get some sewing done yesterday which I did, but not ready to share it with you yet.  However you can always go to QUILTSocial to learn some more about sewing machines (in particular the Husqvarna Viking Opal 690Q).   There is some amazing information there.  Hope you learn something!!!!!


Well guess what today is???????   Yep - it is the FIRST day of school.   I remember those early years when it was a big deal, but now that M is at college - crap - she wasn't even home last night.  But I won't go there. When is the next bike trip?????   You know - it was so peaceful to not hear the excuses and all the stuff that comes from living with a teenager.

Anyway - late last night - she wanted a picture of her first day of kindergarten.  Seriously??????   Now if I was an organized mom - that would have been easy to find. However we did manage to find this picture - I don't think it was first day of school, but close enough.  She is supposed to send me one today - so far - I haven't received it. Oh yes - because she is driving herself to school!!!!!

M - first day of kindergarten or thereabouts.  Love that tunic that her thoughtful mother purchased in a size too big so she could grow into. Beautifully accessorized by those CLUNKY looking shoes and lets not forget the BLANKIE!!!!!!   She looks like a chipmunk with her teeth sticking out - she never had buck teeth - just a goofy grin. 

Happy first day of Year Two of College kiddo!!!!!



On that note - I have so much to do today - I have no idea even where to start.  It is definitely time to get back into the DAILY CRITICAL THREE things. If not - I will wander aimlessly around the house trying to decide what to do!!!!!!

Have an awesome day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!

The URGE to PURGE!!!!

There is nothing like jumping in with both feet.  I will confess that I am "mostly" an organized person, however I have several areas in my house where things are a bit out of control.  For me the worst area (and the studio does NOT even come into the mix here - that is a creative space and so is mostly off limits) - anyway - the worst area is the dining room.

In the eleven years that we have lived here - I don't think we have eaten in there once!!!!   Nope - not our thing. I used to use it as an office until I moved that all down stairs. And there was one point where you could barely get into that dining room. Improvements have been made, but it still becomes a dumping ground (by me). While I was away - I kept having visions of how much nicer this room could look if all the crap were gone.

And so - here are the before pictures...............

That side board is mostly full of odds and ends

The desk  - the surface of which is completely jammed with stuff

The table - again - the surface is jammed with stuff

The bookcases - jammed with stuff and a few boxes on the floor

The supply cupboard - mostly organized but full of (OK - so there are a lot of journals in there)

The filing cabinet

A filing cabinet - that is supposed to hold nicely organized files. Well - the cabinet is mostly empty as I am a piler, not a filer and so I figured I had better start with the filing cabinet (I know - the most organized looking spot) so that when I came across stuff that needed to be filed - I would have room to put it.

Got a stool to sit on, the label maker, the shredder, the recycling bin and I was ready to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I shredded a lot of stuff.  I am one of those people and I get this from my mom - "Oh this paper could be useful.  Yes - but for what?????? "  I had VISA statements from 1995.  Well - there is a small stack left to shred this morning - I didn't dare keep going - I thought the shredder was going to over heat so I did it in batches.

I sorted through files, I dumped a lot of stuff, I organized, I labelled and well - there is not a lot of stuff in that filing cabinet this morning.

Let's see - I have one drawer for all my quilting business stuff, one drawer is for manuals of appliances or other stuff around the house (I even had the manual for our weed trimmer!!!!!    But it is gone now - hey - the manual did say - DO NOT THROW OUT). One drawer is for personal stuff - not much in there and one is for financial stuff - but since most stuff is on-line - I imagine that drawer is going to be very empty as well.

You definitely need to be in the mood to do that. I just pitched and shredded. I was exhausted as I didn't sleep well the night before so I needed the occasional nap to keep me going. Came across a couple of things that went in the throw away bag, came across a couple of prints that I wanted to get framed (the order has already been processed and they will be ready in two weeks).  Oh yes - I was a busy girl yesterday.

This is how it looks this morning - I have a few folders to label before I put that stuff back into the cabinet. 

Also made a TO DO list - like we need new wills and other stuff.

Of course - my eyes did wander a bit and I looked several times at the book cases.  I did move a few things around there and well - LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!!!

An ENTIRE stack of magazines and books on defeating clutter.   I think it is hilarious that it is in this room.   But note - that everything was TOGETHER.   I just don't think I need ALL that stuff since I pretty much know what to do - just need the motivation to get it done.  I grabbed one of the magazines (from 2006) and started to go through it - some neat ideas - I am sure there will be a couple that will be useful. 

This is what was removed from the room so far. Two bags of shredded paper which will go in the green bin, some stuff to give away, stuff for the dump and the recycling. 

This is today's task.  That drawer needs to be glued back together, the chair cover needs to be recovered and all the crap on the desk needs to be dealt with. ACK!!!!!!!!!    

I need to find the motivation to keep going.  I keep imagining what it would be like to walk into the room and just plop a piece of paper into the appropriate file folder and walk out and NO MESS.   Now wouldn't that be awesome??????   And it will happen.  I have attempted this room on several occasions and each time - the amount of clutter gets less, but it would be so nice if I could actually get it completely done.   Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I had a fabulous surprise when I got home.  Our backyard has gotten to that stage where it desperately needs to be ripped apart and new stuff put in.  At the very least - it needs a severe pruning.  Well - look at my backyard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just off the deck

The pond (and where is my sumac?????)  (it got cut back, but it ain't dead!)

Beside the gazebo

The secret garden

Yep - DH hired someone to come in and they whacked EVERYTHING off.    I really should be out there while it is whacked off and actually remove some of the stuff.  But I have to say - whoever did it - did a great job and it looks so much better.  Now I feel compelled that I have to get the dining room done since I don't have to be outside whacking stuff out!!!!!    What a fabulous surprise!!!!!



HOWEVER - look at my dog.....................

Do you think they could have brushed her at least???????

Ah - all in an interesting day at my house.

On that note - I have to get to that desk because then I need to get some sewing done today or I am going to get fired (by myself!!!!)

And if you want to learn some interesting things about Free Motion quilting and spools of thread - check out QUILTSocial this morning.   OH MY GOD - I learned so much from this episode.  I am going to be so smart - I won't be able to live with myself.

Got to run - got a date with the shredder!!!!


Have an awesome day!


Ciao!!!