FINALLY - SOME MACHINE TIME!

This year, we have taken a different approach to getting organized at our southern location.  In the past, we have worked hard every day, doing our "fall cleaning", both inside and out, unpacking everything that travels with us, and restocking the refrigerator, pantry and freezer.  This year, we decided to take some time for ourselves - everything will happen eventually!

The past 2 mornings, I have been working on getting caught up with my blocks for the "52 Blocks, 52 Weeks" challenge from the Canadian Quilters Association.  I purchased 3 shades of batik fabric last February, and have been working away at the blocks in between all our other activities.  I cut the parts for a few blocks, and then work on them, using parts for the "next"  block as "leaders and enders".  This really speeds up production.

Next Wednesday is the first day to get together with my quilt group here.  I have a few small projects planned, and offered to show them how to do some machine thread painting later in the season.

DH's band, called 3 for a quarter, is back together again.  The final member arrived on Saturday, so they have a couple of practices scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, and are playing on Thursday afternoon at the pool patio, for a "happy hour" from 2-4pm.  They will soon be busy with their Christmas schedule, entertaining at nursing homes, senior residences and the local rehab center.  The try to visit each one in the area once per month. 

We Skyped with our family in Kitchener this morning.  Our grandson was happy to see us, and tell us all about his activities.  His Jr. Kindergarten report card will be sent home on Monday,  with the parent/teacher conference the following week.  Our granddaughter has had a fever that has kept her home from daycare for the past few days, but was back mid-week.  My son stayed home with her, and said that he was glad to return to work for a rest.  At 1 year old, she is a busy girl, crawling, climbing on everything, and  trying to take a few steps on her own.

FINALLY BACK HOME!

DH and I returned home on Thursday evening.  Our two weeks with our son and family were wonderful, enjoying both of our grandchildren, and taking care of the family so Mom and Dad could rest as much as possible.

The 90 year old mother of a good friend passed away, and we were home in time to attend the funeral.  We know all of her extended family members, and were honoured to spend this special time with all of them.

Friday, DH and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary!  We spent the evening enjoying a lovely meal and a bottle of wine.  We also had calls from family members, and met for lunch on Sunday with DH's sister and husband.

 We have a long list of jobs to take care of before we head south!  The garden needs to be tidied up before the really cold weather arrives, and we plan to shampoo all the carpets, and do a thorough cleaning, so it will be ready to greet us back in the spring!
I also have to decide on quilting projects for the winter.  I think I'll continue on with my plan of using my pre-cut strips and squares of leftovers to make more quilts for donation.  Love to try new patterns using my conglomeration of fabrics!  I also have to plan some projects for my quilting group in the south.

We have a few final appointments in the next 2 weeks, and hope to visit DS#1 and his wife before we go.  There are advantages and disadvantages of living 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 hours away from our sons!  We have a weekly Skype session with DS#2 and family, so we will be able to keep up with the changes in the children.  I'm missing my snuggle time with both our grandson and his new baby sister!

I'm off to work on a project to use up some leftover blocks - great to be back in my sewing room again!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 0 yards

Fabric used year to date  72.375 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  21.375 yards

 

Lots of sewing this week, but no finishes yet!  I have 2 loaves of oatmeal bread rising in pans, and 2 loaves of white bread on its first rise this morning.  We also had a nice Skype chat with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson.  They've been busy in the garden all week, and have some of their veggie garden planted.  They'll be out shopping for more plants again this afternoon, after nap-time.

They are still re-working some of the established garden beds, removing plants that they don't like, and replacing with things they do.  They love plants that provide food, so they planted an Italian prune plum tree this spring, and plan on planting some fruiting bushes in the corner that used to be taken by the large tree that nature removed.  This year, they are adding compost and nutrients to the soil in that area, so it will be ready for its new plants next spring.

We have a busy week planned, with a night at the theatre on Tuesday, and a graduation dinner for our friends' daughter on Wednesday.  She is receiving an engineering degree from Queen's University in Kingston.  DH and his friend also have 3 performances at local nursing homes this week as well, so I hope to get the alternate blocks for my quilt project completed this week.

STASH REPORT

Fabric used this week 1 yard

Fabric used year to date  72.375 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  21.375 yards

I decided to keep reporting my used fabric, even though Judy has stopped hosting the weekly stash report.  I enjoy seeing how I'm doing, and keeping track of finished projects.

My "used fabric" this week was making bindings for 3 of the 4 quilts I've been machine quilting for my guild's community quilts group.  The quilts will be donated to various places in our community.

I just received news that our Godson's eldest sister will be married on September 2.  She is a lovely young woman who we've watched grow up.  Now I have to get myself in gear and decide what type of quilt to make, and get busy!

DH and I went to the garden centre yesterday, and picked up some red and white geraniums for our front planters, especially to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday this year!  We also picked up two cherry tomato plants and a  variety of herbs to grow on our patio.  We've given up planting in our small garden, as the bunnies and babies, along with the chipmunk and squirrel families eat the seedlings as fast as they break through the soil, and even dig up and eat the seeds.  We live in a garden home community, and people insist on feeding all the wildlife, so we are becoming overrun!

We skyped with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson this morning.  Our little one has become reluctant to go to bed lately, and hides.  They've been using the Paw Patrol pajamas that I made, to lure him out, and get him ready for sleep!  Now I'm going to have to look for more PJ fabric.....

 

 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  191.5 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  44.25 yards

Net used 2016  147.25 yards

I ordered some fabric this week, but I'll add it when it arrives.  One of the pieces is backing for my autumn leaf quilt project.  I've been busy stitching the top together.  I decided on the placement of the blocks in the quilt top, and took a picture for reference when piecing the top.

We were able to skype with our grandson and his parents.  Two of the three have a cold, but they were heading outside this afternoon to finish clearing up their veggie garden.

We're still getting settled - it seems to take longer each year, but I guess that is because we're getting a bit older every year!

Check out all the progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.        

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

No Change!

 

No sewing going on in my world.  Once I finished the quilts for my community quilts group, I decided it was time to tackle my sewing space.  It has become very disorganized over the past few years, and there is lots of craft stuff, and miniature supplies from hobbies that are on the back burner for now.

Lots of sorting, cleaning, re-organizing, seeming to make more mess that I started with.  DH joined me yesterday and we pulled everything out of the old kitchen cabinets that fill one end of my room.  Sorting, tossing, donating, cleaning and labeling kept us busy.  DH sorted all the paints and tossed those that had become solid, and also checked out his collection of glues (I had already done mine).

Today, I'm finishing the laundry, and doing some kitchen chores.  My basil was calling, so I made pesto from my favourite recipe and it is stored in the freezer.  I just pulled some cookie bars from the oven.  I'm trying to stock up in preparation for my visit from DS2 and extended family.  His wife's sister and nephew will be visiting from Russia, and her middle sister is joining them from California.  They will only be with us for a few days, but they are planning on an Ottawa visit, and our grandson will be staying with us for 2 days.  My little townhouse will be packed with 7 adults and our little guy, but we always make room for family.

Next weekend we head back to Kitchener, to help them get their house ready for visitors.  Some furniture needs to be relocated, and a few organization chores that we'll assist with as well.  Hopefully I can get some stitching done soon.  I have placemats to complete for "Meals on Wheels".  Our guild donates some every year, and I made the pieced tops over a year ago.  They just need to be backed and quilted.   Sounds like a simple task to do when we have company, in between cooking, visiting, etc.

Check out others' progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL (MONDAY) - WEDNESDAY

Sometimes I wonder where the time goes..... 
 It was Victoria Day weekend in Canada, and we spent a couple of days with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson.  I was busy doing this.....  He is a bit too small to reach the pedals, but he loves to walk and steer.

I have this completed top on my new design wall.  My sewing room is in the basement of our townhouse, and there is a long, narrow hall leading to the room.  I needed a larger design wall, so DH and I put this up.  My other "wall" is an old pin board that we rescued from a garbage pile.
The pinwheels were made from the bonus pieces while making the pieced border for my guild BOM quilt.  The setting triangle were all cut from my 2 1/2 inch strip bin.  The light and dark blues were leftover from the BOM quilt.  I pulled a funky strip for sashing and thought that the black cornerstones helped to pull it all together.  My only difficulty with the design wall, is taking pictures from an extreme angle, but I'll take a full picture once the quilt is completed.
I'll be teaching a workshop on making clothesline coiled baskets all day tomorrow - looking forward to a fun day!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  13.125 yards

Fabric used year to date  122.5 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  33.75 yards

Net used 2016  88.75

 

My quilting seems to go in "fits and starts" this year.  I am suffering through cold number 2 for this year - a personal record.

 

My guild's block of the month program is going back to normal, after offering 2 complete quilts starting in the fall.  This month's block had a floral centre, with definite colours in the other pieces.  They will be handed in at the June meeting, and the participants names go into a draw for all the blocks.  One block, one entry.  I decided to make 3 blocks this week.  I needed to have a small project to work on during my few good spells. 

The other yardage was used in the Oriental Strip Quilt I completed on Tuesday.  It will be heading to my Community Quilts group for donation.

 

Happy Mother's Day to everyone.  I had along conversation with my older son this afternoon, and this morning we Skyped with our younger son and his family.  Our grandson loves to "talk" to us via the computer.  It will be great when he uses real words, but we have fun chatting with him and watching him play with his toys.

 

Check out all the progress shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

My next project is a labour of love - a king size quilt for my younger son and his wife.  They recently moved up to a king bed, and I knew that they'd need a new quilt.  When I asked, my daughter-in-law for her input, she said that she wanted something "oceany".  I made a couple of suggestions, but then sent her to search the internet for quilts that she liked.  After a long search, she found a "storm at sea" quilt that seemed perfect.  Then when visiting a local fabric store, she found some interesting fabric.

After playing with my EQ7 software, I designed a storm at sea quilt,  that is the perfect size to include these focal squares in the centre of each block!

 These are the fabrics I chose, in dark, medium and light.  The stack on the left will be used for borders, and are also some that I picked up for the project, but will probably not use.  I only picked up 2 lights, as the focal squares take the place of the light pieces in the main blocks.
Saturday I fussy cut 81 focal squares, and then the dark and medium triangles needed for the blocks.

By Sunday afternoon, I had stitched the dark triangles to all 81 blocks, and completed 9 blocks.

Only 72 to go, then I have to work on the pieced cornerstones and sashings.  One of the extra fabrics looks like footprints on sand, and will be used, along with the remaining focal squares, in one of the borders.   This quilt should start my stash report off with a bang in the new year, although I'm not sure how long it will take to complete.....  I want to enjoy the process!!!!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

WE'RE GRANDPARENTS!

After waiting, anxiously all day, we finally received a call from our younger son around 10:30 last night......

 

Welcome David Alexander

born January 19, 2015 at 10:08 p.m.

 weighing 5 lb. 12 oz.

We are two happy grandparents!

FABRIC REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  0 yards

Fabric added this week 37 yards

Fabric added year to date 37 yards

Net used 2015   -37 yards

We left our southern home on December 28, and returned on January 10th.  We headed to the cold and snowy north to help our son and daughter-in-law, (8 1/2 months pregnant),  move into their new home.  We had a great time, lots of hard work, lots of helpers, lots of laughter.  I love spending time with family!

That is my excuse for not sewing.  Of course, we stopped at a couple of quilt shops along the way.  At one, I hit the motherlode of older quilt panels, so I stocked up for my guild's community quilts program.  I also ordered the backing for a quilt, so that will get used soon.  I've spent this morning catching up on mail, bills, and filing, and will follow with laundry this afternoon.  That way, I can get back to sewing ASAP!

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times for more fabric reports!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  5.875 yards

Fabric used year to date  214.625 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  54.875 yards

Net used 2014  159.75 yards

Thanks to a baby quilt panel and finishing a paper pieced star miniature, I was able to add to my used numbers this week.  I have another baby panel pin basted and plan to quilt it today.

I finished step 4 of Grand Illusion yesterday - my fastest finish yet!  

We are heading north after Christmas.  DS2 and DDIL get the keys to their first house on December 31st.  Since our first grandchild is due in mid-January, we are going to help them get settled quickly.  We plan to clean bathrooms, kitchen and mop and clean the floors, vacuum the rugs on day one.  Then small boxes etc., will be loaded on day two.  I'm hoping that most of the kitchen items will be relocated, just leaving a few for breakfast on moving day.  Day three the truck, along with some volunteer helpers will move all the large items.   After 34 years of military moves, we're well practiced, and usually had our home organized in just a few days.  DDIL says that the most stressful part of this move, will be not helping too much!  She's been told that her job is to direct traffic, and order her helpers around!  We're taking a lounge chair on day one, so she can put her feet up and even take a short nap when necessary.

Check out all the stash reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I love doing applique, and I often wonder why I don't do more - until I look around my sewing room and see the piles of fabrics, chosen, discarded, rejected, etc.  It does reacquaint me with my stash, which is always a good thing!  I just have a few more small flowers, some buds and leaves to complete this block, and then I have to decide whether to make a small wall hanging, or continue on....

Unfortunately, I have some high priority items to work on, including arm protectors for my new chairs, and some baby things for my first grandchild, due in January!!!!!!!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 0 yards

Used year to date  157 yards

Added this week 0 yards

Added year to date 36 yards

Net used 2014    121 yards

 

No change again this week.....  I've been working on my applique project, and knitting, along with a trip to visit our 2 sons and their wives, for our August birthday lunch!  Driving sure takes up lots of time, but the good thing was that we were driving away from the big city on Sunday late afternoon, and all the bumper to bumper traffic was driving the other way!!!!

 

Check out others' stash reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

ON THE NEEDLES

It seems odd to me that I'm doing more knitting than quilting lately!

Today we went to Tweed to visit the cousins who own the alpacas.  At our family reunion in late June, they had given me 9 skeins of lovely hand-spun alpaca yarn to make items for them to sell.  I delivered a whole bag-full of items, from scarfs and mitts to hats and mini-shawls.  They were surprised that they were completed so quickly.  They had been paying a local person to knit some items for the, but she took 20 months to return the few items.  DH is happy that I like knitting, especially with someone else's yarn - less money for us to spend!  When I do knit, it is usually to donate, so I'm happy to help the cousins with their business!

In fact they were so pleased that they asked if I'd like some more yarn to play with.  This is today's haul.  This time, most of the yarn has been blended with some merino wool.  It is hard to tell but the 3 skeins on the left end and the two on the right end of the bottom row are tweed, with 2 shades of tan and beige.  As you can see, the skeins vary in the number of yards, so I guess I'm heading back to Ravelry to look for some different patterns!

They were telling us that last fall they had people knocking on their front door looking for alpaca mitts, in any size!  I just finished winding the first skein into a ball, and the ribbing for the first mitten is started!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 6.875 yards

Used year to date  157 yards

Added this week 0 yards

Added year to date 36 yards

Net used 2014    121 yards

I finished the second disappearing hourglass quilt, and finally started a new project - applique this time.

I found a lovely heart shaped flower wreath in a book many years ago.  I made a line drawing of the design, and even made one in reverse, but then I placed the whole thing in a binder.  The last few times that I looked at the design I was in the south, while my stash was in the north.  I finally decided it was time to pull fabrics from my stash to begin work on the project.  I have prepared one flower for stitching, but still have to work on the leaves.....

We had a busy week with eye exams, and DH had a procedure on his eye on Thursday.  He had a cataract removed a couple of years ago, but his vision has worsened again.  He finally saw the specialist on Thursday, who used a laser to remove some cells that had grown on the back of the tissue that holds the lens in place.  Happily, he is back to 20/20 vision in that eye!

We also visited both sets of "kids" over the weekend - lots of driving, but well worth it!

Check out the stash progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  0 yards

Used year to date  143.25 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date  36 yards

Net used 2014  107.25 yards

Didn't accomplish much this week.  DH has a virus, with wracking coughs, fever, etc.  Our two sons and one daughter-in-law came for a visit for 3 days, so our time was spent catching up on all the news, chatting, eating, playing games, cooking, doing dishes, watching movies etc.  We had a good visit.

I received a call from the conveners of the community quilts program at my guild, and then have some more quilts for me to machine quilt - they should be delivered in a day or two!

After our "kids" left today, DH and I drove to Wellington to attend the Prince Edward County Guild's annual quilt show.  I didn't buy any fabric, but stocked up on some Superior Thread from a vendor.  I saw some cute panels, but the one I wanted was all sold - they only had the sample......

Check out the stash reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

 

SOME KNITTING FINISHES

I don't usually knit very often, but when we attended DH's family reunion in June, I volunteered to knit a few items for our cousins who raise alpacas.  I came home with 9 skeins of alpaca yarn, from 3 different alpacas.
I headed to Ravelry to look for some different patterns and started with "Pearl-barred Scallop Scarf"

I love the texture in this one, and I love that I can knit with alpaca yarn, as I am allergic to wool.

Next I worked with the medium colour yarn and made the "Off-Set Diamonds Scarf".  

I still had yarn left from the skein, so I made a pair of ladies mitts, using a basic pattern, and stitching them in a basketweave pattern - I love texture in mitts.

 Using the first skein of the darkest yarn, I decided to knit a hat.

I used the "Mimosa Slouchy Beanie" pattern that is free from the Caron yarn website.  I really like the texture in this hat, with its alternating cable and lacy stitch pattern.

I have a small "shawl" type scarf finished, but it is still drying after its quick wash and blocking.  I'm knitting another pair of mitts in the lightest yarn colour.  Then I'll see what other items I feel like making.

DH has been a great help, holding the skeins of yarn while I wind it into a ball.  I remember doing this with my Mother - she knit many sweaters over the years.  I love to knit, although I'm not as efficient a knitter as my Mother, but I don't often wear a sweater.  Since we head south for the winter, I don't need hats, scarves, mitts etc., so I take advantage of every excuse to knit.

We are planning to visit our DS2 and DDIL in a couple of weeks, so we plan on dropping off all the finished items to the cousins on our way.  They sell both the yarn and finished projects at local markets.  The final picture is "Casino", when he was a baby.

BACK TO QUILTING....

I finished quilting the fourth community quilt on Tuesday morning, and then tidied up before my brother and his sweet wife arrived.  My brother has lived in China for a while, and we enjoy his short visits when he comes to Canada.

I had dinner ready - one of his favourites - meatloaf, made with one of our Mom's recipes.  Then our friends' church was celebrating their annual strawberry social, so we headed out for strawberries, ice cream and plates full of home baked goodies, along with coffee or tea!  A great addition to our day.  My sister-in-law had never been inside a church, so after we ate, our friend took us upstairs to see the interior of the church.  She asked lots of questions, and took some pictures.  She was very impressed by the simplicity of the building, with its modern stained glass windows.  Another new experience in Canada.

This visit, my sister-in-law wanted to learn how to bake bread!  Wednesday morning, as soon as the breakfast dishes were tidied up, I set out all the ingredients and began the bread making process.  I had given her a printed recipe, with the steps listed, but she also took some additional notes, and took some photos of the various steps along the way.  She even took a short video of me kneading the dough.  She got her hands in the dough, too, and finished the last several minutes of kneading.  While the dough was rising, DH took them out to a local museum, and when they returned, it was time to punch down the dough.  After the next rise, she punched the dough again, and then we turned it out and I shaped the first loaf, and she shaped the second.  By that time, it was time for lunch - some homemade Pasta Fagioli Soup that I had made over the weekend.  Dessert was another of my brother's favourites - butter tarts, again made with my mother's recipe.
She took a pic of the bread before it headed into the oven, then another when it was baked.  We waited for it to cool a bit, then enjoyed slices of fresh warm bread with butter - yum!

I headed to my computer, and made copies of all my Dad's slides - I had spent 2 summers, scanning the slides into my computer, doing some almost every day.  Since I keep my computer in my sewing room, my sister-in-law came for a visit.  Last year when she visited, we made some simple coasters for her to take home.  She asked if she could make 2 more sets, to give to special friends in China.  She spent quite a while, choosing just the right fabrics from  my stash, then I put her to work pressing the fabric before we began cutting.  I cut the squares, along with squares of batting, and she pressed some of them in half.  I place a background layer of fabric on both sides of each square of batting, and she place the folded pieces on top, and pinned them in place.  I stitched around the edges, then showed her how to clip the bulk in the corners, and turn them to the right side.  Then I showed her how to use my sewing machine, and she stitched the final two herself!  Many things are new experiences to her - many things that we take for granted.  She is always so interested in everything, and asks lots of questions.  I love her visits, as she makes me appreciate all the normal things of our life in north America, and I look at everything through her eyes!

They packed up and headed out to visit friends who live near Ottawa, and the house seems very quiet.  DH is heading out to entertain at a nursing home this afternoon, so I'll have a chance to start the quilting on my friend's quilt.  Eventually, I'll get back to my own work, but that's the joy of being retired - lots of time to do things I love to do every day!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

This is community quilt number 3 of 4.  There was a 
"stack n whack" workshop over the winter, and this is one of the quilts that was completed.

The purple backing is flannel, so this should be a cuddly quilt when completed.

My brother and his wife are visiting from China, and are coming to stay for a couple of days this week.  She wants to learn how to make bread, so that will be Wednesday's project.  We love to have them visit, and wish we could see them more often.  They are busy when they come to Canada, visiting lots of friends and relatives.  They arrived just in time for the family reunion a couple of weeks ago, too!  They have a 2-year old granddaughter that they also love to spend time with during their visit.  She was one of the few "little" girls at the reunion, trying to play with all the rowdy boys!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times