Ponderings

What is it about disasters that glues us to our TV sets? What is it about us that causes us to sit and watch the same photos, the same film footage over and over? September 11th, the boxing day Tsunami, and now the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, all have created the same phenomenon. There even used to be a television show on the history channel called "Disasters of the Century", which told of all different disasters that happened all over the world. And then there is the whole genre of disaster movies that always seem to draw huge audiences. I find myself sitting here, watching the footage of cars floating off, and houses being removed from their foundations, hoping and praying that there was nobody in them. It certainly puts my complaints about a few inches of snow to shame.

On a happier note, we had dinner over at Matt and Becca's last evening. Becca cooked up a beef pot roast in her slow cooker, and it was absolutely wonderful. She's come a long way in the last 6 or 7 months, since she got married. It used to be impossible to get that girl into the kitchen to cook anything, let alone a full dinner. Marriage and Matt have been so good for her. While we were there, I put the last stitches into the binding of the Chocolate Swirls quilt. It has been washed, and is now waiting its turn in the dryer. I just might leave the final reveal until after the baby shower in April. Laurie reads my blog, so I have to have some secrets. (Sorry Laurie).  I have to work this weekend, so I'm going to go see if I can get a couple of borders done on the baby hexagon stars, and get it to the ready for quilting stage.

Design Wall Monday Week 3

It's Monday morning, again. I love Mondays, for the opportunity to look at all these lovely walls at Judy's Patchwork Times but I'm not so fussy about the morning part. We don't get along too well, mornings and I. I've worked
3-11 for so many years, that, even though I would like too, my body simply won't sleep much before 1 am, and that only accomplished with medications. So waking up the next morning is always a long process. However, I have my second cup of coffee in hand, and can now think clearly enough to put down a thought or 2. My Card Trick quilt, which was my UFO challenge #6, is now a finished top. The picture is a little too much on the grey side, but I don't know how to compensate for that. I am really happy with how this turned out. I had somehow goofed, and ended up with too many 1/4 square triangle units, so I put them on opposite corners of the border, to use them up. I was going to add another dark border to it, but when I hung it up to look at it, it told me that it was done. So, I'll use the dark blue for the binding instead, which actually will add the finishing dark border that I originally wanted, just very narrow. So, my goal for today, provided work doesn't call and offer me a shift, is to get the backing fabric out and ironed (groan), pieced, and hopefully this quilt loaded onto the machine. I think it is going to get an overall type feathery thing on it, in blue variegated thread.

100 block challenge squares

Is it ever a lazy day around our house today. One of those pretty winter days that are best spent indoors. The snow is falling, but there isn't much wind, so the flakes are just kind of softly drifting down. If I were the active, outdoorsy type person, this would be a perfect day for a walk. But, I'm not, or at least not in the winter. However, It isn't supposed to be a lazy day. We have errands to run, and groceries to pick up, but I have no motivation to do anything, except stay put indoors. (sigh) But, the cupboards are close to being bare, and the refrigerator is near empty, after it's annual New Year's purging of out dated stuff. This is the first day since Christmas vacation that Scott and I have actually had a day off, so we have to get some stuff done. Oh well. I managed to get this weeks blocks for the 100 block challenge done. They are both fused to the fabric, but haven't been stitches down yet. I tend to save that step until I have a lot of it to do, since it involves messing with the tension of my machine to get the invisible thread to work properly. So, when I get enough of them, I put a movie in, usually one that I know, so that I can listen to it, and still know what is happening. I should try talking books, sometime. That would work, too. But, I've procrastinated long enough, and the grocery store is beckoning.

Happy New Year!!

Wow, January 1st, 2011. That is a total freak out kind of thing. I just got used to signing 2001! LOL. Do you remember all the fuss about that year, and the comparisons to the movie 2001? Do you remember the fuss over the year 2000, and how everything was going to come to a stop? so, how did it suddenly go from that, to 2011?  The saying goes "time flies when you are having fun". Well, I must be having loads and loads of fun. (giggle). This past year was fun, starting with our daughter's wedding in June, and all the preparations that went into it. And it ended with finding out that we're going to be grandparents to a little boy, somewhere around May 22nd of this year. That's a picture of him, Done by 3D ultrasound on Dec 29. The technology absolutely blows me away!

On another note, it has been a year since I started this blog. I really had no idea of what I was doing, just thought that I wanted to chronicle some of life's moments, and keep track of the various projects I was working on. I've done that, and discovered, not very surprisingly, that I start an awful lot of things, but sure don't finish very many, if finishing counts as being quilted and bound. I've finished at least 6 quilt tops this past year, but they are still waiting to be quilted. But, one of the totally unexpected things that has happened is the people that I have met through this medium. So many kind, caring, thoughtful and talented people. I have one of those "feedjit" things on my blog, that tracks who is visiting, and from where. A lot of people come from the design wall monday posts, but there are a few that show up regularly, sometimes several times a week, just for visits, I guess because they like what they read, and are curious what is going on around here. I'm not sure if this is good "blog etiquette", but one of them is someone from Engadine, New South Wales. I would love it if you would introduce yourself, and tell me a little about yourself, my curiosity is killing me! There is something intriguing about a country on the far side of the world, whose summer is during our winter, where our today is already their tomorrow. And, anyone else, who visits regularly, please introduce yourselves. I would love to "meet" you.

I'm participating in the UFO Challenge sponsored by Judy over at Patchwork Times, and this morning she drew the first number of the project we are to work on, with the aim of getting it completed this month. I don't know if mine will get completed, but it will get to a stage further than it is now, which is all I'm aiming for, since there are customer quilts piling up, and grandson sewing to do as well, which should be so much fun. My number 6 project is my Card Trick swap that I did with the Canadian Quilt swappers which is a yahoo group for Canadian quilters, which helps keep it in the country, and therefore keeps postage costs down.

 This is the layout that I am planning on using, which I designed in The program "Quilt Pro" I am not fond of that program, but, since I have a Macbook, I can't run the Electric quilt software, which I love. This is a 2 block quilt, set on point. I really like this setting, because it makes it look like there is fancy sashing in between each block. All the card trick blocks are done, so I need to get the alternate blocks cut, and sewn. And, the bonus is, that it is a very simple block to make. Can you find it? So, that is my goal for today, before I go to work at 3. Pull the white and blue fabrics for the alternate squares and, if I can clear off the mess from my cutting board, get started on cutting the units for this quilt.

Today I will.....

Today I will make a list of all the things I want to get accomplished today. It's cold and wet outside, the kind of cold and wet that is almost cold enough to snow, but doesn't, so it is just damp and dreary instead. But, we are warm and snug in here. Sometime before I got up this morning, Scott was up and built a lovely fire. So, I'm sitting here on the couch, with my laptop on my lap, all warm and toasty, not particularly wanting to get up and do anything. It's days like today I wish I could move all my sewing stuff down here to the living room. But, I think that would cause major revolution in the house, from my wonderfully patient, and understanding, husband. There is already a quilt on the floor, waiting to have it's ends tied in, another quilt on the rocking chair that I just finished tieing the ends in. The table beside the couch is covered with applique and knitting stuff, and books, and papers, and thread, and needles, and.......... I could give in, and enjoy the fire and work on some applique, but there is other stuff I want/need to get done. So, I will exercise some self discipline, (have I mentioned before that is not one of my strong points?) and make a list and work towards getting it done, so, here goes.

1. Make the binding, and sew it onto the 3 completed quilt tops.
2. Make the 4th square for Teaquilt's sew along
3. Take pictures, and write a post about the 4 finished blocks.
4. Decide whether I'm going to hand or machine finish the bindings.
5. Do some more work on some Christmas presents.

That should pretty much take care of the day. If there is time left, I will do some more on the Pineapple Nine Patch quilt, and see if I can get it to the finished stage.

Quilting Tuesday

Judy posted clue #3  on her website today, so I'm going to play with that today. I've managed to get Evelyn's cross stitch baby quilt done today, except for sewing in the ends. That's #1 off the November goal list. I'll get a pic of it, as soon as the ends are sewn it. Right now, it's looking a bit shaggy. Charlene's quilt is waiting to have the ends sewn in, as well. Maybe later tonight I'll put on a movie, and blitz finishing off all those loose ends. My least favourite part of doing a custom quilt job, and the job I can easily procrastinate. So, I don't have a picture of that one yet, either. Supper is done, except for clean up, so I'm going to go do that, and then go play with Judy's quilt block instructions.

Design Wall Monday Oct. 25

I'm up early this morning, at least early for me. Our internet has been acting up for months, and we've been using a wireless stick instead, but, it is getting a tad expensive, since I spend a lot of time online. Our regular internet is provided by a company that shall remain nameless, but it has grown so big, that it has outsourced all it's phone assist business and technical assistance to India, of all places. They do, of course, speak english, but a lot of them a heavily accented and quite difficult to understand. A highly frustrating exercise, which is why we put it off for so long. However, we finally did it, and called them and worked it through to discover that it is a problem with our modem, so they have to send out a technician, which they have to arrange from there. So, they put us on hold, call from India to Canada, to arrange for a technician to come to our house here in Canada. So, there is a technician coming, sometime today between 9am and 5pm. So, here I sit, bleary eyed, grumbling into my computer. But enough grumbling, and on to the important stuff. On my design wall is pretty much the same thing as the last few weeks. My Pineapple quilt along. I have six of the blocks sewn together, and I'll be working on this today, while I wait for the technician. Also on my wall are my finished Floribunda medallion basket, and the partially glue basted and sewn, block one of that same series. And now, I'm off to Judy's Patchwork Times to look at other design walls while I finish my coffee, and maybe even have another. Why don't you join me? There is always something fun, and inspiring to be seen on all those walls.

Very pleasant surprise

I was all ready for work, had made my supper, and coffee to take with me. I was all dresses in my uniform, and ready to go out the door with Scott, to go to work. I don't know why, but something gave me a nudge, and told me to check the calendar. Turns out, I wasn't booked to work today, after all. Scott's shifts, and mine are marked on the came calendar. I must have looked at his, and mistaking it for one of mine. I feel like I've been given the present of a free afternoon. Woohoo! However, I have had to pick up a shift tomorrow to make up for the one I thought I had today, but that's OK. I have one last row of Charlene's row robin quilt to finish, and then the bottom part of the 2 borders, and it is done, 2 days ahead of schedule. Another woohoo! Once that is done, I can get back to work on the Pineapple quiltalong. I have 59 of the second units finished, 61 left to go. I want to have them finished before we go on vacation next week, so I won't hold the others back. I think that's enough of a goal for the rest of the day.

Experimenting

I'm trying something new. I'm trying to wean myself off the TV habit. Used to be, I'd get up in the morning, make my coffee, turn on the TV and sit. There was nothing worthwhile to see. Nothing intelligent, or edifying, or, for that matter, even entertaining. And, most of the time, it was a rerun of something that I'd sat through before. So, my experiment is to not turn on the TV, but turn on the computer instead. So, now, as I drink my morning coffee, I scroll through blogs. I check the ones that I follow, and then branch off into ones that they follow. There are things that I read that are intelligent, and edifying and entertaining. They are inspirational, and make me want to get up from the couch, and go to work in my studio. Sometimes, I find a new technique to make something easier or more efficient. Sometimes it's a new project that I just have to try. But, it is never the same old rerun of something that means absolutely nothing. So now, I'm off to get an hour's work put into Charlene's quilt before I have to go to work this afternoon.

Play time

Yesterday was my birthday. I don't normally pay attention to it, and didn't get to do much about it, since I had to work. I try, on the whole, not to think about them much, 'cause the big 60 is coming up in 3 years. I've been saying, for quite awhile now, that I have 4 years to go before I can retire. But , Scott pointed out to me yesterday, that it's only 3 years to go. Woohoo. That made me feel a lot better. But, it's a good excuse, as if I need one, to sit and play with fabric. I've set aside "Double Duty" for awhile, to work on the Nine Patch Pineapple quilt-a-long, posted about here I think I'm liking it a lot. Becca and Matt might be coming over later this evening, but until then, I think I'll sew pineapple pieces.

Only a Quilter's husband.....

Only the husband of a quilter could come up with this idea. To cover the ceiling of the basement in fabric. Now, for the background to this statement. The night before our daughter's wedding, the bridesmaids and our daughter are going to be spending the night in her room, which is the basement "rec" room, and it is/was a wreck. Scott has cleaned it up, and painted, and Becca has, mostly, gone through all her stuff and either packed it, or thrown it away. But, the one problem was the ceiling. It has holes in it from where we had to fix some plumbing. It has really cheap popcorn texture stuff on the ceiling, which is really gross and dirty. You know the stuff that falls on your head if you blow on it? He tried painting it, and all he got for his trouble was a globby mess, that just drank up all the paint. So, he got this ?brilliant? idea to cover the ceiling with fabric. Yep, fabric, painter's drop cloths, to be specific. So far, maybe not so good. The problem with this idea? It's not a one person job, so guess who got recruited? yep, me, for the last 2 days, with everything else I have yet to do. So, there we are, he's holding up the fabric to the ceiling, and I'm using furniture tacks to hold it in place, while standing on the kitchen chairs, with my neck in a position it was never meant to assume. Of course, the fabric is heavy, so as soon as he lets go of the fabric, the weight of it pulls the tacks out of the ceiling. So, the next idea was to try screws into the fabric at the edge of the ceiling to help support the weight, which worked not too bad. So, the end of the story, there are now 2 10 foot by 11 foot painter's drop cloths attached to the basement ceiling. I have informed him that he owes me, big time. I think the payment is going to be a trip to Stratford later this summer, to see the play "Kiss Me Kate", along with a really nice dinner out. Good thing he's such a lovable soul.......

Pic

It's, as usual, taking me longer to get around to writing, and posting the pics. I have this terrible habit of overestimating exactly how much I can get done in the course of a day. But, I do have the lace sewn onto the veil, and all the beading done. I took it to work with me over the weekend, and worked on it over my supper, and coffee breaks. Two more hours this afternoon, while hubby had a nap, finished it off. It is hard to see in the picture, but there are beads all around the edge of the lace, as well as in the centre of the scalloped edges. The fabric is also a lot more sheer than the picture shows, but the light of the flash kind of bounced of the fabric, making it look opaque. Then, it was time to go through my cookbooks, and figure out what we needed for groceries, and then to go out and get the groceries. Next to doing laundry, I think grocery shopping has to be my least favourite thing to do. By the time the stuff gets put away into the cupboards, or wherever, it has been handled how many times? My wonderful husband, Scott, is usually the one who does the grocery shopping, but I had specific things I wanted this time around. I'm hoping to lose 5 more pounds before June 12, so it's back onto the weight watchers menus. I have a really good cookbook of theirs that I have used a lot in the past, with success, so I'll try for more.

I've got "The Crud"

Some kind soul, in the last week, or so, has shared a questionable gift with me. My throat is sore, my chest is tight, and my head is stuffed full. Yuck! This kind of gift I could well do without. (sigh & groan). However, I am determined to try and ignore it. I have a quilt on the machine that I want to finish, and then I want to get our and enjoy the glorious day. Even if it is doing nothing more than sitting and doing some hand work on "Cactus Rose". I'll post a pic of this quilt, that I am trying to finish, once it is done, and off the frame.

Messed up address again

So, I tried linking up to Judy's Design wall Monday, only to mess up the address again. Then, I tried to fix the address, once I found the mistake, only to have it post to her list a second time. So, the question is, can I remove the original post so that people aren't directed to my site twice, which could be rather annoying, I would think.

Working Weekend

I'm not going to be able to get much quilting done this weekend, (sigh). Have to work at the hospital all weekend. But, the good news is, I can take the cactus units I have done with me, and use my breaks to de-paper. So I won't have to use sewing time at home to take out the paper. It will make the task a little less unpleasant to imagine that I'm getting paid to take it all out. Good thing the girls at work already know that I'm crazy, or they might doubt my sanity. I'm a good way towards having the swap blocks done, just have to piece geese units for 6 more blocks, and then I can put them together. So, I'm going to go play with fabric and thread before I have to go to work.

What am I doing wrong?

OK, so I'm doing something wrong. This is the second week I've tried to link up to Judy L.'s site, and both times, the link I post, which I took directly from the top of the page of my post, says that the page is not found. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Any suggestions?

Fun before work

I have to work at the hospital this afternoon. On days when I go in for a shift, I usually try to do something fun, just for me. It gives me a lift, and sets my mind  so that I can then go and, hopefully, give some sort of lift to the aging veterans that I work with. I love the third block that Pieceful Kwilter has posted, so I've decided that it is my "fun" before work. Now, to go rifle through my stash for just  the right fabrics. :D