Hidden treasures!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing - you wonder about something and VOILA - it magically appears!!!


Remember yesterday, I was wondering if anyone knew WHEN you should drink your daily water. Well my aunt just happened to post this on Facebook. Perfect timing!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't this amazing???????????????     OK - so I will try to follow this as I find that TWO bottles of water is pretty filling and then for some reason - I was thirsty the rest of the day!!!!!!!!!  I am normally NOT thirsty!

M fillls up FOUR bottles of water (I think they are 750 ML) and drinks them throughout the day.

Someone else suggested that you don't have to drink all your liquid as water and yes I agree, but I DO NOT drink juice any longer. Too many empty calories for me - I'd rather eat fruit instead which does have water.


Just did a check on drinking tea - since I drink a lot of tea in a day. Well - a lot for me - two or sometimes three cups (and I like BIG cups). None of that dainty little china cup stuff for me. Well - there is the TOP 10 reasons why tea is GOOD for you and there is the TOP 10 reasons why tea is BAD for you. I guess you have to take it all with a grain of salt!!!!!   And the key to everything - moderation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   (oh crap - I HATE that word - moderation. Isn't there ANYTHING that we can do or eat copious amounts of and is good for us???????)


Did you like the little blurb above????   Google them and look at the images. There are SO MANY neat sayings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!      (OK - I did it for you - click the link below)  


cool sayings about health



Oh - I want to read them all - very cool site!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So yesterday I am preparing for a class that I am teaching on Saturday (hopefully if the weather is decent). Anyway - I was looking for some background fabric that will obviously set the tone of the quilt. I grabbed something off my 2014 shelf that I THOUGHT was for a specific project. WELL - well I opened it up, I got a shock.

I thought the package was just yardage (icky yardage, but it has its merits) 

WELL - look at what I found.....................

Yep - a pile of HOPSCOTCH blocks already made!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I need about a week and I could clear up quite a bit off that shelf. There must be 10 quilts on the shelf - the blocks are DONE - they just need to be laid out and sewn together.  Yes - there are at least 10!!!!!!!!!


I love gifts!!!!!   (OK - we all do!)

Look at what Jeanette got for me when she was on a trip to Road to California show

I MUST get myself organized and make some bike quilts!!!!!


On that note - I have TEN people coming today for a Pampered Sit n Sew today. Yikes!    The studio is pretty much in order and that is all that counts!!!!!!!!!!!



Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   (drink your water!!!!!!!!!!!!!)


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

Water water everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know how it is. We  SHOULD be drinking eight glasses of water each and every day.  I confess - I do NOT drink enough water. I decided that as part of my trying to get healthier kick that I need to drink more water.

I have heard so many ways to make you drink the water. Use a water bottle and carry with you - nope - that doesn't work, put elastics around the glass so you know how many glasses you have drank in the day - nope. So I have decided that I am going to get it all over with in the morning!


More confessions.  I HATE drinking water from the tap.  I think it goes back to living on the farm where the water from the tap was (and still is) awful. Tastes too much like minerals and I just can't drink it. SO - I buy bottled water. BUT before you go on an environmental tangent - read on.............


I take my 18 L water bottles to Rona where I fill them up myself using FILTERED water. It is just FILTERED CITY WATER!!!!   (I know - it is the SAME WATER that comes from my taps) but because it is in a bottle (and is cold because of being in the water cooler) - it is drinkable.  And instead of paying $10 for a bottle of spring water at the grocery store - I pay $2.99 to fill the bottle. Yes - you might say that I could save that $2.99 and use tap water, but I wouldn't drink it so the $2.99 is a good deal!!!!

My self-filled water bottles

My goal is to drink two of these a day. I find when I drink directly from this - I just SIP the water, not drink it and therefore I never end up drinking much. 

There are slightly more than three glasses in each of the green jugs - so if I can do that each day - I am OK with that. 

However there is one PROBLEM with this and that is - water in - water out!!!!!!!!!!    It is NOT a good idea to guzzle those two bottles of water at one time. YEP - I was running to the bathroom a LOT, however I think one needs to retrain the bladder to deal with the extra water!!!!


But that got me to thinking about water - what do the experts say on drinking water?????


Lose weight with water


I have to say there is NOTHING that I could find that says when is the optimal time to drink water. Most of the habits/rules are to encourage you to drink throughout the day - so you get into the habit of drinking your 8 glasses. I say - get it over with and then you don't have to worry about it for the day - just like exercise!!!!    But I better get GLOWING skin, defined muscles and lose weight with all this water!!!!  I know - just humour me, ignore me - I'm on another obsessive tangent!!!!!!!!!!



The past two days were just filled with craziness and I didn't get a lot done and now today I am looking at what needs to be done - we are NOT talking THREE critical items - we are talking way more than THREE.  Yikes - thank goodness, there is NOTHING scheduled on the agenda so that means I can tackle that list with a somewhat clear conscious.

I did get my car fixed and in talking to my neighbour whose daughter has the same car - they have had the same issue with the tires - the seals break on the tire and then you get a flat and there is NOTHING you can do but get them resealed!

And in the process - I got the anti-theft nuts removed. Don't ask me why there are only THREE - last time I checked I had FOUR tires on the car!!!   Now I am not sure if these are called wheel locks or lockable lug nuts (and there are several other names) - the names seem to be used differently depending on who is talking. I don't really care what they are called - they are GONE!!!!!!!!!!!

Anti-theft lug nuts - GONE!!!!!!!

On Monday - I also got this last lone Thangles block done. It is a duplicate so goes into the orphan block box. Most important - it is off the shelf.

Orphan block

 We had embroidery club yesterday. I got a lot of work done on a red work block. Just so much fun to chat with the ladies about books, TV shows (OK - so I didn't participate much in that one), what it is like to have Alzheimers (that was a fascinating topic), the Olympics and so much more.  I just love these ladies!!!!!

And I love the fact that we are encouraging each other to get stuff done. This is a small project that Linda had completed except it did NOT have the border on. Now the border is on and it is ready to quilt!!!!!!!!

Linda's snowmen!!!!!!!!!!

I mean - that is what this group thing is all about - how can we help each other to get our stuff done!!!!!


I did spend the afternoon working on something that I can't share at this point. Soon - well in a couple of months. I am designing a mystery quilt for one of the guilds and I am barely keeping ahead of the clues that have to go out with the newsletter. I thought I would try and focus and get it done!!!!!


As I drove past the mall the other day - I spotted a big crane. Oh no - that means the roof and the clock tower are about to come down!!!!!!!!    Better get some pictures.

The clock tower - hard to see at this angle, but there was a guy laying on the left most slope - doing something to prep taking the glass panels down. The entire center of the mall has been boarded off inside. 

The glass roof on the left is completely gone. You can see the roof is still there on the right.    (see where the arrows are pointing)

Well - I have much more to say, but I better tackle that list or I am going to be in trouble. It is going to be a crazy crazy weekend. TWO sit n sew days which are FULL and the $10 quilt at the Hobby Horse. Yikes!!!!!!!



Oh - before I go - I thought I would share this with you.  Check out this story about the coloruful Sochi patchwork quilt designs).   I so want one of the T-shirts - I wonder if Pat was able to get an order together?????


The Sochi quilt



But should you want to make your own quilt - check out this pattern.............


Sochi quilt pattern


Isn't that just the best??????      I think I could break down and add that to my LIST of NEW things to do this year.


On that note - I have run out of time.


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



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

How NOT to publish a book

You know how it goes - you wake up in the morning. You have plans - you may not want to do them, and some you can get away with not doing, others you have no choice. And then there is that PLOT TWIST thing that happens.

I am luxuriating in bed yesterday morning (OK - I was exhausted) and trying to talk myself into going to the gym. I hadn't been in two weeks and really needed to get my butt going, but I wasn't feeling up to dealing with a full class with a tough instructor. Oh well - just get up and face the music. I dragged myself out of bed and into the car.

As soon as I saw the parking lot, I KNEW the class was cancelled. And why? Because it was a STAT holiday which I had forgotten. Oh crap - well I am here - I might as well work out anyway. Verified at the desk - NO CLASS. Now I only have bike shorts and bike shoes so that eliminate a number of things - I hop on a bike and casually pedal for a half hour. The music videos on the TV were BORING and the TV with the Olympics was further down so I couldn't see it that well. And I had left my iPod in the car or I could have at least listened to the Olympics.

The best part of the gym - the locker room was so empty - heck at times I was the ONLY ONE there. I had a nice long sit in the steam room. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


Then out to the car to face the day (and YES I was glad that I got to the gym).  As I walk to the car - OH CRAP - a flat tire. Seriously?????    Oh yes - That little sensor in my car keeps going off so I just ignore it now and then somehow the darn tire is FLAT.  I have had LOADS of trouble with the tires on this car.

WAIT - it gets better!!!!!     I decide that I can get to the gas station that is just around the corner. I get there and there is NO WAY that air is going in that tire. Seriously?????   I have no idea whether I was brain dead, but I could hear the air going in, but nothing happened. I know that sounds weird.   Now what????

I live four KM away from the gym, so I drove home slowly praying that the tire wouldn't roll off the rim - it was flat, but NOT riding on the rim. Hmmmmmm - well I will just take DH's car since he is away this week.  When I announced that plan to M - she freaked out because she had plans for DH's car (as hers is in the body shop - won't go into details - but everyone was OK). Oh CRAP - now what are we going to do????

OK - let's call CAA - we can get them to change the tire and I will get the other one fixed after Monday Motivators. I call CAA and they say NO PROBLEM, then I remember that my car has one of those anti-theft lugs on the wheel and I do not know where the wrench is for it.

(The kids had a flat tire with my car in the summer and for some reason, they took the wrench out of the car. They handed it to me when I was in the house a couple of months later and I don't know where I put it!!!!!!!)    NOPE - CAA does NOT have access to that anti-theft LUG wrench.    OH CRAP.

Well - I'll just call the dealer and get a new wrench - then CAA can fix the tire. Call the dealer and GUESS WHAT????????    It's a STAT HOLIDAY and they are closed!!!!!!!!    Oh CRAP!!!!!!

So M drove me to Monday Motivators in DH's car. Did she bring her house key?  Did she bring her purse with driver's license???   Nope!!!!!!!!!!!


BUT the best part of that whole thing - when we went to Tim's - it is ROLL UP THE RIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And there are bonus rolls on every cup!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to deal with the tire issue today - I figure the easiest way - get CAA to tow the car to the dealer. They can fix the tire, and I'll buy a new wrench and they can come and pick me up with the car is ready.  Good grief - nothing is easy!!!!!



I like BOOKS. I like to read books - both fiction and non-fiction. I like to buy books, but I also borrow books from the library. Sometimes people loan me their books and sometimes people just give me books that they no longer want.

It usually happens that during the year I read books from the library, but when I go away I read books from my shelf - then I can get rid of them while I am away.   I had taken SIX books with me when I went back to the farm. I did read FOUR of them. When I got home, I was putting the other two back on the shelf and thought I would organize that shelf and see what was there.

This is my FICTION reading shelf.   The bottom two rows are DOUBLE

Did a bit of math and there are approximately 125 books on those shelves.   So if I read ONE book a week - that means it will take more than TWO YEARS to read all those books. Let's not forget that some of those books are part of a series and I don't have all the series so would need to borrow the missing ones.    Hmmmmm - and I am reading other books?????   Can you tell me why?????   There were TWO books that two different people had lent me - I have them ready to give back. Both are part of a series and when I get to that book - I will just get it from the library.


I should be thinking twice about getting any new books from the library. I mean - really!!!!!!!!!!


Under normal circumstances, I can have upwards of thirty or forty books out from the library. Yes - it takes time to manage them all!!!!     Before I went away, I returned all but a couple. And the other day I finally located the MISSING book. It has been missing since before Christmas - so now I am all squared away with the library.

The missing book - now it is found and back in the library!!!!

Carol and I were chatting about quilting books the other day.  She was telling me about some interesting new books that she has recently purchased.  I said it would be nice if we actually had time to read those quilting books (so - STOP borrowing fiction books from the library - I hear you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Anyway - she said she was going to carry one or two of the books in her travel bag and she would read while traveling.  That is a super idea!!!!!!!!!!  

So I thought - I really should get to reading the books I have borrowed from the guild. Last night I pulled out one and started to read.

Now here is the thing with quilt books. I am an experienced quilter - yet I am ALWAYS OPEN to learning something new. So when you get a book that talks about the basics - should the experienced quilter read them?????   I think it is a good idea because you never know whether you will learn some little trick, but at some point - you question whether the time spent reading is really worth the time you will save from the new trick.

I normally do not criticize books but I just cannot help myself.

The book in question is called Denyse Schmidt Quilts!   First off the title kind of puts me off!!!!!   That is also the name of her company.   She lists among her credits as having her quilts appearing in a number of very well known magazines - some VERY well known ones.

Denyse Schmidt quilts

The book is broken down into FOUR main sections - basic information in the first one, small projects in section two, quilts in section three and patterns in section four.

Since I am curious how others teach (and writing a non-fiction book is a form of teaching), I started to read and almost died.

This is how she recommends you rotary cut. The patterns are laid out like this (keep in mind - this is a modified log cabin block).  You have to ENLARGE the pattern pieces by 400%, then glue the paper patterns to card stock, then carefully cut out with a craft knife.

Patterns in the book that need to be enlarged by 400%

Next you lay out those pattern pieces on your fabric and using a pencil, mark the cut lines. THEN using rotary cutter and ruler to cut out the pieces.

Cutting out the pieces!!

I'm sorry - but WHAT is the purpose of the rotary cutter and rulers??????   To AVOID this whole paper pattern business.   SERIOUSLY??????     Some publisher published this????????      (now in fairness to the author and the patterns - there is a SLIGHT angle to some pieces so you need to do the above, but really - I don't think that angle adds anything except complexity!!!! - AND there are many other ways to get that slight angle than cutting this way!!!!!)


I won't go into details, but the pressing is horrible and I haven't gotten farther than that in the instructions.   I mean seriously - if you were a NEW quilter and you picked up this book - you would be doing yourself a HUGE disservice.


Now I did pick the book up because there were a couple of ideas for quilts that I really like. And look at the first project - it is the same card that I saw at the guild last week. Amazing how things show up everywhere. My guess is that someone got the idea from this book and passed it onto the guild.

Card project from the book. 

I am just going to take the idea of the blocks and quilts from the book and make up my own sizes.


Yesterday was Monday Motivators and we had a great day!   I am really really trying to get things done. I got the border on this small Underground Railroad quilt.    And I got the binding and the backing done as well.

It isn't mine, but I offered to complete it for someone else. (Long story) but this is the year to get those things done.


Then I spent last night trying to get myself ready for next Monday. I scanned the 2014 shelf which was SO EASY now that everything is labelled.  What could I get ready so that all I have to do is sew at Monday. That is my preferred way of working and I haven't been doing that so don't feel as productive as I could be.


Well - I have loads to get done today (including SHOVELING snow). Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!


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


Ciao!!!!!!!!

Labeling

Ah - how nice to get back to normal!  Well - we all know there is technically NO normal, but at least back into somewhat of a routine!   Remember me - I don't like change!  Actually I don't mind change at all at long as it is positive, necessary or for the better. Don't ask me to change for stupid reasons!!!!    And "just because" is the stupidest of them all!!!!!    ;)


I was off to teach a class yesterday morning. This was our FIRST class for NORTHERN LIGHTS. We have a super group of ladies signed up and going to have loads of fun.  The class is FULL, but Judy (the store owner) decided we could allow a few more people in so if you are interested, call Sew Sisters and get yourself signed up!!

Northern Lights - Saturday Morning Club at Sew Sisters

My other colour way of the same quilt   (and the smaller version)

The ladies were busy choosing colour schemes yesterday and OH MY - there are going to be some awesome quilts.  I can't wait to start the show n tell.    And the good news - the yellow that I was missing to finish my second colour way was IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!    So I got the fabric and the quilt and hope to get it done very quickly.

The missing yellow - boy the picture does NOT do justice to this as this yellow is BRILLIANT

But if you want to join up - don't worry - there was only ONE block assigned this month so you can catch up quite nicely.

(If you are in the class and reading this - I will be working on a posting later today with more specific information about our homework)



You know when you find something that suits someone perfectly - well you just have to buy it?  Don't worry - I do find stuff and can't help myself buying it for them. Well people reciprocate. So if you collect something or like something and want people to buy you stuff - you have to let us know what you like. Look at what Mary brought me yesterday.............

Notecards with bicycles on them. Not just note cards, but ORANGE notecards with bicycles - now who sat down and designed those?????   I LOVE them Mary - thank you so much!!!!!!!

We ran over our time frame so no official time for show n tell, but I did get a couple of pictures of some gorgeous work.

A while back, I showed these blocks that Marlene made - now she has them sewn together. Looks awesome. Those grey alternate blocks pull it all together!!!!

I think I posted this already, but this is Marlene's finished top for the tinners projects that we did several years back. Her theme was blue and white. 

And you remember when I was showing you the Love Entwined project that a couple of the ladies were working on?????

This is a picture of the original quilt from a book

I think this is an image designed in EQ7

And here is the link to Esther's blog so you can read all about it............




Well TWO people from our Saturday Morning club (AKA known as Christmas Club from a previous life)  are working on this quilt. This is Marlene's so far..............

Marlene's Love Entwined   (this is JUST THE CENTER of the quilt)

Detail of her PERFECTLY appliqued flower!!!!

She is using several different applique techniques and her workmanship is EXCELLENT.   Choice of colours is superb. Great job Marlene.


One day - I would love to say that I have worked on a quilt like that, but not enough to actually make me start it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Now here is some show n tell from ME.....................

I got another postcard from our exchange in the mail 

 I had better get working on mine - I am in TWO groups so that equates to 12 postcards. I had been looking for some nice burlap and couldn't find any. Well - I found some in the Prairie Chicks store in Warman. 

Burlap - only $5.99 a meter (45 wide)  - I haven't seen it by the meter anywhere around Toronto.

Had to pop out for errands yesterday and zipped into Michael's to get a couple of things and LOOK WHAT I FOUND.....................

An ORANGE E - yep - had to buy that for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then I was home and after going out for dinner to Good Fellas - a great fairly new restaurant close by - I was home and wondering what I would do with the rest of my evening.   I decided I would watch the Olympics while I cleaned up the studio and put stuff away.


I thought I would us the iPad to download the Olympics. HOWEVER after getting booted out of the APP STORE SEVERAL times - I decided to bypass the iPad and download to the tablet.

OK - so let's just say that watching curling is boring. Well very quiet!!!!   At first I am thinking - what has happened to the volume. I turn it way UP and then they start talking and scared me to death!!!!!!!!!

Watching the Olympics on the tablet

I am watching hockey this morning and sometimes the sound dies????   Perhaps that is just my issue. Anyway - something in the background to keep my mind occupied while my hands are busy!!!!!


Got most of the stuff put away from my trip and while I was doing that - I snapped a picture of all three of my completed knit log cabin blocks.  

Three blocks done - the fourth is started

I was complaining about how tight I bind off and Carol suggested I use a bigger needle to cast off. Just happened to have the next size up in bamboo (not that it would make a huge different in type of needle), but I am going to try that and see if it works.  I just wonder why I cast off so tight?????    Tension???  Thanks Carol for the suggestion!!!!!



Then I got really ambitious.  I am always bragging about my 2014 shelf, but someone mentioned a couple of weeks back that NOTHING is labelled and yes sometimes that is a problem because I can't find something. So.................   I got out some index cards that I had hanging around and VOILA!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL the projects/boxes are LABELLED  (I know - the index cards are orange - I am not sure why that happened!!)

My ULTIMATE goal would be to have EVERYTHING on that shelf, but there are a couple of baskets and boxes that need to be dealt with this year and right now they are on the floor.

The shelf WITH the baskets (the one in the middle is stuff that has to be delivered to customers), the blue one is the scrap basket to be sorted and the white one is stuff that has to be repaired or completed.

 And then there are THREE other laundry baskets.................

More projects that will get added to the shelf when there is room

More projects, but these are slated to go to the retreat with me NEXT MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And this is my CURRENT CURRENT basket that I am taking to Monday Motivators

And this is what is left on the cutting table.  (Most of it is gone by now). 

So yes - there are a few things left on the work tables, but NOT much in the way of quilting. The snowmen decorations that my daughter was tired of seeing upstairs and they need to be put away. Some mail to go through, some knitting stuff to put away.  And let's not forget the paperwork that has to be dealt with!!!   But I am in good shape!!!!!!!!!!  


Got FOUR novels read over the two weeks I was away. It was a nice sunny day yesterday so I sat in the living room and finished the fourth book. A very nice way to spend the afternoon.

On that note - I am PUMPED to get something done today - already have ONE of my three critical things done. Got to get the rest of the week scheduled and I am ready to roll.   Can you believe - I keep looking for that weekly calendar by the computer so YES - I am already hooked on it and that means it is working!!!!!!!!



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


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

Travel day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
Travel days - MY FAVORITE!  - well not exactly.  I hate carrying all that luggage and stuff, but there is nothing more freeing than checking your luggage and then knowing that you have NOTHING to do until you arrive at the other end!!!!!     I was going to knit, but started my book and well - I couldn't stop reading it!!!


FIRST  though - we went to my Uncle Sammys (who is 84) to try and get him straightened out with sending e-mail. He is doing pretty good, but can't remember!!!!!!!!   I wonder if I will get an e-mail from him today???

While the temperature was definitely getting warmer, it was still frosty. This is frost on the trees!!!

Then it was time to leave.  As much as I was excited to come home, it was bittersweet to leave my parents. I know they are going to be just fine, but  - well you can't help but worrying about them!   They are not getting any younger!

While I was out there, I heard from TWO different sources about a quilt store that I MUST visit.  Since it wasn't really too far out of my way back to the airport, I decided to check it out.    They are called Prairie Chicks

Prairie Chicks

Inside the store

This quilt store is in Warman, Saskatchewan  which is just north of Saskatoon. And all I can say - is THANK GOD my suitcases were crammed and had no room.  WOW - they are a quilt store and a scrapbook store.   I could have spent a lot longer in the store - beautiful display of books, lots of new (to me) patterns and designers, the modernish style of fabrics, yet the basics as well.   I could have stayed for hours browsing, but I didn't have that luxury.

High ceilings, LOADS of samples - it is a quilter's DREAM. If you are EVER in that neighbourhood - you MUST go to this store. They have been in this location since the beginning of January. The staff was young (well younger) and helpful. I wonder how long they have been around and I knew NOTHING about them?????

Thanks to the ladies at Prairie Chicks - I will be back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Then off to the airport where I checked my luggage and then yep - I was free.  Had lunch (yes - visiting a quilt store takes priority over having lunch), and then onto the gate which was far from the security.

Once we landed in Winnipeg - yes I took the milk run home - well just one stop)  and yes - my new gate was at the far end of the airport. Why is that????   Who gets on and off at the gates that are close to security?????

Winnipeg

And of course when I landed in Toronto, we were at the complete far end of the terminal (where Starbucks is!). I like to walk fast and I find that whenever I get off the plane and "attempt" to walk fast down that LONG HALL, I feel like an awkward adolescent. It must be from sitting in those seats although I don't find them cramped.


Got to get ready for my class this morning.


While it is fun to be away - there is no place like HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Have a GREAT DAY (it is AWESOME outside already)


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

The deer are roaming...............

Forgot to mention that we saw HUNDREDS of deer on the way home yesterday. No buffalo, but HUNDREDS of deer.

MANY MANY deer - all the way home

Have a nice day - don't forget to check the next post as well.


Ciao!!!!!!!!