Suspicious!

Oh yes - I am still very suspicious of all this internet stuff. I did move my laptop back down stairs and so far so good.  Thanks to my Facebook friends - one for alerting me about the number of devices as a potential fix to the problem and another for telling me how to fix it. That will come later today but for now - I am able to work. Big thanks to Margaret and Alan.

However I went to photocopy something this morning and NOTHING - the printer was dead.  I know - can this really be happening????   Well - I unplugged the printer because I couldn't get it to turn on or off. OK - I didn't know its' ON/OFF status.  I got two photocopies made and then the printer reset the size of paper (my printer thinks it lives in Europe with their odd paper sizes). But I managed to reset that setting and next thing I know - it is trying to print ONE HUNDRED copies of my document.  I put a quick stop to that. So - things are good - I got my copies - printer is working and now I am just waiting for the next thing to go wacko!

Oh and when I went to load pictures this morning, I couldn't find the most recent pictures. ACK - what happened????   Then I realized that I had reached the maximum number of pictures in that FOLDER on the camera (9999) and then the camera opens a new folder. Oh thank goodness!!!!


Overall, yesterday was an AWESOME day. Why????   Have a look........

First let me explain something. I got kicked out of my studio on Sunday afternoon (I'll show you why tomorrow) and as a result, I was forced to work in the kitchen. Perfect as I prepped everything for Monday which I don't always do and then I am not productive.

I had to cut binding strips for a quilt - I needed eight strips. This is the situation on the eighth strip - there was JUST enough fabric - I barely cut anything off that last piece. BUT I got eight strips.

Last binding strip cut

And now the backing and the binding are DONE on another quilt which will go into the TO BE QUILTED pile

Someone gave me this old top a while back and I wasn't sure what to do with it. Then I saw an article on quilting older tops with modern designs and that is what I am going to do with it.


When I managed to get back into my studio on Sunday night, I was determined to get that Professional Bag done.

These are the pieces I had left

I pulled out the big guns - my industrial machine for the sewing. You don't need it, but my regular sewing machine just cannot handle those thick seams. My older machine skips stitches terribly on thick stuff. 

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE those WONDER clips. 

 I know some people use them for binding, but since I only use TWO clips for binding - I am OK to use my regular binding clips, but for THICK things - these WONDER clips are a WONDER!!!!

This reminds me of sewing that Weekender bag - trying to sew the corner of a cardboard box!!!!

And this is the outer portion of the bag and this is where I finished on Sunday evening. 

 Hauled the big machine to Monday Mania and I worked and I worked - well not that hard since we had loads of laughs and chatting.

LAST SEAM!!!!!!!!!!!

Back of the Professional Bag

Front of the Professional Bag

Inside of the Professional Bag

 This is a very detailed bag. LOTS and LOTS of details - pockets, business card holder, zippers, cording, buttonholes, etc.  BUT the finished product is well worth all the effort.

That is a class I will be teaching at The Hobby Horse - two parts - February 1 and March 1.  Check it out - you will LOVE this bag when it is done. There is even a zipper to close the entire bag at the top.  Well designed! I am impressed.

And things don't stop there. I told you - I am determined to get a handle on things this year. I just have to. Each year gets better so after three years - I am hoping that in 2015 we will see some significant changes.

I finished the applique stitching on this quilt that I had dug out to work on in Applique Club.  I am happy to report that it is now sitting in the TO BE QUILTED pile. This was a $10 quilt at The Hobby Horse in 2007.

Simple County Sampler by The Rabbit Factory

Made the binding this morning and the backing is done as well

Then I took some time to tidy up a bit. Each pile on these work tables represents a project that is currently in the works. Most of them have a deadline or are just current that I want to finish.

Current projects

 But the best news of all..............

YES - there is SOME open space on that 2015 shelf. 

Why? Because some of the projects are on the work table. So when I need to clear the work tables - the projects can be put onto the shelf. That was the plan all along - it just took three years to figure it out!!!!!!

Yes - there are TWO laundry baskets and TWO big IKEA bags that are also sitting with projects that need to be addressed soon, but I am ignoring them for the moment. If too much appears on that table - I will lose focus and that would be a bad thing!!!!

I hope that I can get ahead of the game soon because I am tired of working to deadlines. I was OK with it before, but not enjoying it so much now. Getting old!!!!   Don't get me wrong - I still want to sew all day and do crazy stuff, but I don't want the pressure of a deadline.


Yesterday I talked about that book - Simplify by Camille Roskelley.  OK - so I read a bit more and now I know why I HATE (OK - that is a strong word) but why these books for the modern quilter or new quilter don't agree with me.

First off - MOST of the authors of these kind of books have fabric lines - and in particular many are with MODA which means charm squares, jelly rolls, etc. The patterns are based on using those pre-cuts which I think is a cop-out. Where is our creativity if we can ONLY use what the fabric manufacturer is telling us to use. Don't get me wrong - I like the pre-cuts - well - no I don't like them. There is NOT enough variety within the fabric line. Many of them look the same. While I am happy with the few quilts I have made with pre-cuts, NONE of them are WOW quilts.  I am trying to NOT purchase those pre-cuts any longer, but they sure do look cute!!!!

Anyway at one point in the book I came across this. It was mentioned that if your scrap bag was over flowing that you could cut it up into 5 inch squares to make this particular pattern. Well THIS pattern had you cut up the charm squares, then resew them together and trim them DOWN to 4 inches. Seriously?????   You are asking me to intentionally throw out 1/5 of my fabric???????    And that is why I HATE these kinds of books. Make it easy so anyone can understand them - NO - we should be teaching people to think for themselves!!!!!!    And that is why I love more complex quilts with tiny pieces - NOTHING goes to waste!!!!

On that note - I had better get dressed. I am back to the gym this morning - I am trying Pilates and then I have a couple of classes to teach.


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


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

Plan A and B and C and D????

It has been a busy couple of days and I haven't really had a chance to respond to e-mails or get a lot of sewing done. And my TO DO list is getting longer and out of control!!!   I think my priority today though will be to call Roger's about the new modem/router which is NOT good. The service is much worse than what we had before so of course when the family wasn't happy before - they certainly are NOT in good humour about the situation. And I have to agree with them - the internet is S L O W.


So you remember this quilt from yesterday - just needed the machine stitching done on the applique shapes in the top right and bottom left corners.

Simple Country Sampler

I am happy to report that the bottom left corner is COMPLETE!!!!!

Stitching complete on this applique

But not before I had to deal with a bent needle

The backing is done. 

See why I like busy prints for quilt backs???   There are TWO horizontal seams along the right side of that backing.  You really don't see them. And once that vertical seam is pressed you will barely see that as well.

The only thing left is to finish that stitching on the applique in the top right and of course the binding. More on that in a moment.

At Monday this past week - I worked on this project.  This one started out as a table runner. It was a kit that I purchased from Barb. There was a LOT of excess fabric in the kit so I kept making blocks. Then Susan said she had the same kit, had made the table runner and had lots of fabric left over and she gave the scraps to me. I was able to make the area outlined in black on the quilt below.

Outlined section made from one table runner kit and leftovers from another

I still had a few small pieces left and the quilt wasn't quite as big as I wanted so I took the leftovers from the Simple Country Sampler and used them to make the rest of the blocks. As you can see - the two quilts are somewhat similar in colour.

Similar colour scheme

I got all the blocks pieced at Monday and most of them stitched together, but I was so fired up that I continued when I got home. But not without some difficulty. See - I sewed that piece on the wrong side of the quilt!!!!

Ooops...............

Then I sewed the second (brown) border on the quilt. Oh my - how organized I am - the border strips were already cut and joined together. I just had to measure the length of each border, cut it and sew it on.

Next up was the last border.  Hmmm - I should make them 4 1/2". OH NO - when I pulled out the fabric from the project box - the borders were already cut into strips. 6 1/2" wide.

Border strips already cut

 I had to cut TWO more 6 1/2" strips to get enough for the border.

Hmmm - I had better check how much binding I have. You see - I had already made the binding. When I measured it - I was short THIRTY inches.  Really?????     I NEVER do something stupid like this but obviously I did!!!!

There is a lesson to be learned here - NEVER cut the borders until you are ready to put them on. Make sure you have enough fabric for the binding and borders before you cut!!!!!

This is all the fabric I have left. I am good, but not that good that I can squeeze thirty inches of binding from this. 

We have a problem and let's see what we can do to fix it.

Plan A - shop Chez Elaine

Whipped out the purple fabrics and NOPE - nothing that comes close

Plan B - get the information from the selvedges and shop on-line

Buggy Barn Basics Pattern #7098   Colour?????

Hmmmm - that looks too purple for me

Again - too purple

Hmmm - this one is not purple, they call it plum. Hmmmm - is my fabric plum????

Plan C - call a couple of stores that I know that carry this fabric and see what they have. Store A  - no Buggy Barn left. Store B - yes they have that colourway, but in a different pattern than the stars.

See the fabric isn't really purple

Plan D - I have enough of the star fabric binding to bind the smaller quilt with the applique or I could make that binding (it will also be purple) with fabric left over from making the project. Then I could purchase the same colourway, different pattern to finish off this quilt.  Hmmmmmmmm - I am going to think about that today to see what I will end up doing.

The binding challenged quilt

 I love having options and I love trying to solve this kind of mess which is no one's fault but my own. Oh - there is a Plan E -  I suppose and that is to remember where I bought that purple fabric - I bought it recently (within last 6 months) and get more.  That is why I need to mull this over in my head for a day or two before I take action.

On that note - I am off to get stuff done today.


Have a great day!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!

How to post a blog in 15 minutes or less!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank goodness that I edited my pictures first thing when I got up.  Went to the gym - had a super spin class with Joseph.  He is a very popular instructor - there were 39 in the class this morning!  I know - I counted them!  But I find those classes not only good for the body, but AWESOME for the mind.  I have solved many problems during his classes including another one this morning.  I will be able to action out that problem tomorrow now that I know what I am going to do.  I will be sharing that with you later this week.

Then I had breakfast with the gym friends and I stayed way too late which is why I now have 15 minutes - well less to get this post out!!!!!


One day - I should just post pictures and see if you can  make up a story to go with the pictures!!!

Anyway - Sunday was applique club and there were 15 of us all busy like bees.  I was going to start something new and then I gave my head a big shake and said NO.  This would be a great opportunity to finish up some stuff.

So I pulled out this project box.................

Project box - yes - there is a lot of fabric in there, the pattern was there and so was the quilt top. 

Simple Country Sampler by The Rabbit Factory

This was the $10 quilt at The Hobby Horse in 2007.   Somewhere along the line, I had most of it complete, but the applique in two corners was NOT done.


So this is what I did during applique club.

Top right corner

Bottom left corner

I managed to get the applique pieces prepped and glued on - just need to be stitched down by machine.  I have the threads out, needle changed to a smaller size - the machine is threaded - I just need an hour or so and it will be done!!!!!!!!!!

I even made the back the other day and the binding - well that is a story I will share with you another day!!!!  And while I was working and finishing this up  - I remembered another project that used similar colouring of fabric so I dug that out - that is the box on the right below.

Two projects - more on what happened to both tomorrow when hopefully the story will be complete!!!

 The others were all busy working on their respective projects. Many brought something that was in the works - no new stuff. Well maybe one or two new projects. I didn't get pictures of most.

Dede got one Dear Jane block appliqued

Wait - she managed to get TWO Dear Jane blocks appliqued and I think she did some prep work on another project!!!

See those two smiling faces?  Yes Annadel and Nancy - I think they look guilty if you ask me!!!!   It was all about having fun on Sunday and we had loads of fun!!!!!

Someone (I can't remember who) had these wonderful boxes of WonderFil thread.  I want them!!!!!    This is 100 weight thread and PERFECT for hand applique!!!!!

Helen Anne had been experimenting (I love people who experiment) and she had tried her new applique tools - the APPLIQUICK tools.  She tried different weights of stabilizer - I think she did an awesome job. 

This is one of the stabilizers that she tried and we thought it worked very nicely. 

Wow - and there you have it - a fabulous day with friends - we all got tons of work done. I made huge progress on an old old project. I think everyone went home happy and that is what it is all about!!!!

On that note - I am getting ready for embroidery club this morning. I know - the only way I get things done is to share my time with others!!!!   Otherwise - I would fritter the time away - well I wouldn't, but I would get other things done. This is for fun!!!!!


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


Ciao!!!!!!!!!

The OLD and the NEW - TAKE TWO.......................

Amazing how life gets in the way. There are SO MANY distractions!!!!!   Just looking at my desk - there are so many things to do. Phone calls to make, e-mails to answer, stuff to read and process - well it goes on and on!!!!!  

I am trying to find some way of recording my 2014 goals that is practical especially since some of mine are weekly or monthly. Checking options out online and some people suggest putting a DAILY reminder in your Google Calendar. So you would get a reminder EVERY DAY about your goals. I think that is a bit much as it will become an annoyance and I will shut it off or disregard it.

I think I might try setting a weekly reminder (on Sunday AM). These are the goals for the week. I would prefer to NOT have a separate app for the goals!   It would mean one more thing to keep track of. And as much as I like Google Calendar, there are some limitations to it. I find the TASK function is a bit weak.

Well back to the Old and the New.

Just a refresher - here is the old (well it is older than me - it was made in 1955!!!!   OK - so not MUCH OLDER, but OLDER).

Signature quilt from St. Agnes Church - made in 1955 (making it OLD)

Here are a couple more blocks from the quilt.................

Interesting how many just used first initials!!!!    NOT a good idea when documenting something like this, but who knew that anyone would be looking at it all these years later and commenting on it!!!!

One more block

Remember what I said last week - some old things are treasured (like this signature quilt) and should be kept. Other things are old and treasured, but SHOULD NOT be kept. Now what could that be???????


How about this.....................

ACK - I know! This is MY fleece jacket. I don't even remember when I bought it. It has been years!!!!!!!!!!!!!   That jacket has been everywhere - on all my bikes trips, to Europe. It is COZY, it is COMFY, and.............

while it is NOT falling apart (a testament to the good quality????), it is discoloured, it is just getting ugly, BUT I can't get rid of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You see the problem is I can't find a replacement for it. I did buy a new one in St. John's this summer. Do you know how hard it is to find a fleece jacket with just a zip - no hood and NOT a sweat shirt. Well while I like the new one, it is red, not black (OK - so I HATE change), it is longer, there is a strap thing on the new one and every time I sit down, I sit on this stupid buckle and it drives me nuts!!!!!     ACK!!!!!!!   Now if I were the creative person that I say I am - I could just MAKE a NEW one. I even have the fleece. Years ago, I purchased some very high quality outer wear fleece and it is still sitting in a bucket waiting for someone to do something with it. Hmmmm - I could get my mother in law to make it. She is good with clothing.

Yes - I have loads of other jackets (well not loads, but I have a few others), BUT they are not fleece. I told you I HATE CHANGE. And I like this jacket because it has pockets for my phone or whatever. I can't stand to wear a sweater without pockets!!!!!!    Plus this jacket brings back good memories of Salt Spring Island. Can you tell, I don't like change!!!!    It is not that I don't like change, I just hate shopping for clothes and will go with comfortable. Imagine what this jacket will look like in TEN years. OK - even I am getting disgusted by it, not so much for the look, but the colour is getting very bizarre. Plus it is WARM - and even though I am of "that" age, I find that I am still cold and will wear this darn jacket year round!!!!


ACK - maybe I better dig out that new piece of fleece and get working on something!!!!

But how about these NEW things................

New fingerless mitts. I love these (thanks Donna). In the winter, my hands often get cold and I love wearing these - they keep your hands warm, yet you can still work. This is my second pair (of course I still have the other pair, but these are in my favourite colour!!!)

And how about NEW SOCKS!!!   I normally wear WHITE athletic type socks. But I loved the Hudson Bay colours so I had to have a pair. 

Technically the socks are meant to be worn LONG - well long for me. 

There is NO WAY I can wear socks above my ankles. I hate the look and the FEEL????   ICK ICK ICK!!!!!    Give me ankle socks any day!!!!!!!!!!!!!    So I just folded them down and they are WAY more comfortable!!!!

Even though I say I am NOT particular in how I dress, I guess I am!!!!   I just HATE shopping!!!!   (My friend Elaine bought the socks - well I did go to The Hudson's Bay near me and they did NOT have them in stock)



I snagged a NEW ELECTRONIC toy the other day. I wonder how long it will take before I KILL this.

It is called a FITBIT. Mary has one and she has been raving about it for months. I started asking at the gym and Maria and Alwin (who I NEVER thought would have one) both of them were raving about the darn thing. Well if you can't beat them - join them. So after MUCH research, I got this one. It helped that the gym was having a Black Friday sale on them.   I raved to my friends about it and LOOK....................

A bunch of us got FITBITS. 

Mine is currently charging as I type and it should be ready in another hour. Then I can see how active I am in a day. How many steps and how many stairs. That should be interesting. And you can log on and connect to your friends and see how active they are. It is crazy, but seems to be quite the motivator to getting people to move more!!!!!!!!

Speaking of which, I could have used the thing yesterday. I came home at lunch time and was a SLUG the entire day. For some reason, I just wanted to be warm and snuggly, so I bundled myself up in a quilt and grabbed a book and read the rest of the day!!!!!   My FIT BIT would have been sounding alarms all day!!!!!!!!!

This is part of a block of the NEW quilt that I am working on. I managed to get more fabric yesterday. The colours are leaning heavily towards TAUPE and I don't really have any. I think I am good to go now. 

I found some pictures of show n tell as well.                

Claudette worked on this at one of my Sit n Sews. She finished it at home and is getting it FRAMED. I can't wait to see it completed. 

At our last Marti Michelle class this past week, we had these items for show n tell............

This is the SECOND Dresden Plate table runner that Cathy made. I have shown this before and said she made TWO, but in fact she had only made one and this is now the second one!!!   It is so CUTE!!!!!!!

Carol is making  a bag with her NEW YORK fabric. The pieced block (which she did an amazing job on) is going to be the pocket!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great job on the projects!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Yesterday, we had our show n tell for the $10 quilts. It has been eleven years since we started the first quilt. 2003!!!!   And since then, we have worked on 23 projects!!!!!!!!!!!    We had a GREAT representation from all the years and with our helpers (Celeste, Catherine, Madeline and Berke), we (the quilters) got to enjoy them while they did all the work. Mark took pictures which I hope to share in a couple of weeks.

It was so exciting to see all the projects!!!!!!!!!!!!      I know that I worked on several to get them done for yesterday and I will continue to work on them. I will make finishing a couple of them as goals for 2014. There is NO WAY, I can finish them all in one year, so will pick a couple that are close to completion. My shelf for those projects is getting way crowded and I need to get some of them done to make room for the next round of projects!!!!!!!!!!!


On that note - I am out of here. Got to hit the quilting machine again today. And I have some paperwork that JUST has to be done today.


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



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