A few wedding pictures

I've added in a few wedding pictures, but I have yet to figure out how to add comments beside each picture, so I'll have to list what each picture is here. The top left pic is myself and Susan. It was so wonderful to have her here to share the wedding and all the before and after with. Top right is my son, Noel, and his wife, Laurie. Second row, left is my son Noel, and my new son, Matt.  Second right is my daughter (in-law), Laurie. So, now I have 4 children. What an easy way to have kids, no labour pains, no terrible 2's, no teenage angst. Fully grown, wonderful people. Under the picture of Laurie is a picture of the table, showing the napkins that Becca and I made from the fabric left over from the bridesmaids dresses. The bottom picture on the right shows the bridesmaids during the ceremony. And the rest of the pics are of the glowing couple. It was a beautiful day, and worth every second of all the work that went into it.

Done, done, done

The dresses are done, 100% complete. See me doing a happy dance around the room. WOOHOO!!!!! The napkins are done, 80 of them. Becca helped, which is a really good thing. And I must confess to getting awfully tired of that particular shade of blue. But, they are so pretty. They look much better on, than hanging up, of course. The chair flowers are almost done. I would have gotten them finished yesterday, but I ran out of ribbon, and discovered that the new stuff I bought was the wrong size, so back to Michael's craft store I go today.  The alterations on my dress are done. And, other than packaging the fudge up for the favours, everything is done, with 2 weeks to spare. WOW. So, the only major thing we have left to do for this wedding, is figuring out timelines, and who is doing what and when. Oh, and I forgot the programs have yet to be done, printed and assembled,but Becca is doing those, so they don't really count on my to do list. Other than, I'll end up helping with the assembly. After this weekend, I'm officially on holidays for around 3 weeks, maybe more. And best of all, Susan arrives from the Edmonton area in 12 days. See me doing another happy dance around the room. A wedding and seeing my best friend all at the same time, ah, bliss. Becca has her last fitting this afternoon, at 2, so, I think I'm going to use the time before leaving to sew some more of OBW together. 4 rows done,  17 to go.

Pattern draft done

Well, the pattern is drafted. And, since I don't have enough muslin to use to give it a dry run, I can go back to work on my quilt. Woohoo! Tomorrow, though, I have to get out and get the muslin. How is it possible, though, for a quilter not to have any muslin? My daughter's wedding is exactly 2 months from today, and there are 3 dresses to finish. One is almost done, just needs final fitting. One is at the first fitting stage, and the last is the one I just finished the pattern for. I hadn't wanted to cut it this close, but 2 out of the 3 girls are in their last weeks of school, with exams and projects and other assorted craziness, so, the dresses have to wait. School is the first priority for them, as it should be. So, off to quilt, I go.

Design wall Monday April 12

I've been working on one of Judy Laquidara's quilt for an hour projects, "Freeze Frame", for the past week. It's all pieced, and just needs the plain borders sewn on. I'm happy with, both her instructions, and the way it looks. I liked the colours she used in her version, so I've sort of kept to the same, especially the yellow. And it is all stash fabric. I'd love to sit down and finish it, right now, but, I HAVE to get the last bridesmaid dress at least to the final pattern stage today. After that, I'l probably reward myself with some quilting. I really do have to figure out how to put links in these posts too. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Warm and cozy

It's another cold and snowy day in Southern Ontario, but all is warm and cozy inside. We had a wood burning insert put into our fireplace back in September, and it has been wonderful. It's a good day for a fire, an olympic hockey game, (this from someone who ordinarily hates watching hockey), and making progress on one of the BOM's I'm doing. There are 4 of these basket blocks needed, and they are a bit of a challenge. The finished size of the block is 12 inches, and, since it is a five patch, which doesn't easily divide into 12, the measurements and sewing are tricky.
(Don't worry, Susan, we'll do this one when you are here this summer). So, I'm hoping to get the other 3 done today, and maybe sneak ahead into the next month. Nicole, Rebecca's Maid of Honour, is coming on Monday to get measured, so I have until then to play, before I have to get back into doing the dresses. Samantha hasn't been able to get over for a fitting yet, so I can't do anything more on the one that is almost done. I have cinnamon pastry coffee in my large thermos cup, Hillsong playing music, and my sewing machine calling my name, asking me to come back and play some more. I think I'l go play.

Dressmaking, vs. quilting

My daughter and I finally got out earlier this week and picked out the contrast fabric for the bridesmaids' dresses, so I can now get seriously to work on them. I have the first one to the point of needing a fitting. I really hope that it fits, and doesn't need any ripping. Quilts are so much easier. they don't have to fit exactly to curves, don't have to have zippers, (I remembered today why I hate putting in zippers), don't have to have boning............. sigh. But, I volunteered for this, and they will be really nice when they are done. It's just getting there. Why is it, that I will sit for hours and hand applique, but dislike sitting for hours hemming a dress by hand? It's the same activity, same stitches, same needle and thread. Hmmmm... doesn't make sense to me. But, now that I can't go any further on the dress, I can go play with a quilt, and reward myself for being such a good girl. Oh yeah, I have to get those swap blocks packaged up and sent off, so I'd better go and do that. I'll post a pic of the dress as soon as I find the cables that I need.

 Found the cables. When all else fails, check the daughter's room, and there it was. She and I share the internet access on this computer, since our router quit working, and this one has a rogers stick. Most of the time it is OK to share with her, but there are times when things mysteriously vanish, and turn up in the black hole of her room. I can't complain too much, though, since my sewing room has a black hole of its own.

Pattern redesign finished

I spent yesterday, once I finally stopped stalling, redesigning the patterns for the bridesmaids dresses, and managed to get it done. So, then was the cutting and sewing part, for the lining, just to see if it worked the way I hoped it would. And it did. I'm doing another happy dance. Considering it's only the lining for the dress, I think it looks pretty good. Samantha comes over tomorrow for a fitting, and if it works, I can cut out and start on the dress portion. I'm hoping to get all three dresses done by May. Should be doable, if all goes as well as it has so far. I've also been working on the centre applique for my BOM and have gotten all the bias stems on, as well as the leaves. I'm using steam a seam 2, which is so light weight, that it is barely there. It doesn't have the stiffness of other fusible products I've used. I'm going to work on the flowers for the rest of the evening now, as a reward for work done, and procrastination conquered. Woohoo!!!

Procrastination

I can't put it off any longer. I've managed to procrastinate today by, so far, shopping for fabric, sipping on lovely flavoured coffee, and taking a long, cold, foggy walk. And now, I'm putting it off by sitting here at the computer, flipping through blogs, and writing in my own. But, the time has come. I have to get out the patterns for the bridesmaids dresses for my daughters wedding. They are going to be lovely, but, of course, she doesn't want them as shown on the pattern. She wants all one piece instead of a shirt and top, and wants them knee length, rather than floor length. So, my task today is to alter the pattern, never my favourite task. (sigh) But, the good news is, that I have her wedding quilt finished, binding on and all stray thread ends knotted and sewn in. I'm doing a happy, happy dance. Best yet, there are still 5 1/2 months until the wedding on June 12, so I am way ahead of schedule. I've also been working, off and on, on the centre of my BOM. I have all the bias stems done and lightly fused to the background. However, I'm still stalling, so I'd better post and get at it.

To do, or not to do, making lists, that is

I have never been one to consistently make "to do" lists and then follow them. It somehow seems to block the free flow of creativity. Gee, that sounded good. Truth be told, I haven't got the self discipline to follow them. However, life is starting to get really nuts. Rebecca's wedding is in 6 months. During that time, I have 3 bridesmaids dresses to sew, after I significantly alter the pattern. Then there is my own dress to finish. Add to that working 6 to 7 shifts every 2 weeks at the hospital. Add to that doing clients quilts, not to mention finding time to have fun doing my own. I think I am going to have to find the will to make, and follow, some lists, or I'm going to end up in a huge panic. So, the question is, where to start? Daily lists, or weekly? How does it work? Maybe I'll start small, and try a list for today, and see what happens.
TO DO:
Sew buttons on Becca's coat
Best Buy store for phone
1/2 hour walk (that's what the phone is for. I'm scared of a slip and fall on the ice, and having no way to get help. Two friends of mine have done that, and broken bones in the past year)
Load Charlene's Postage Stamp Quilt
Finish Nov. Star block, and take picture, and post picture

Hmmmmmm, maybe that's enough for now. It will be interesting to see what is left at the end of the day