Work in Progress -- Finishes!

Are you getting tired of the Super Summer Snippy Challenge?  I mean, r-e-a-l-l-y, it has been going on since May!  I actually didn't think it could drag on this long, but I feel compelled to show off the work of some of my friends in my quilt guild who have finished up the tops that I made.

Today, Three more completed by Wenda McIntosh.  She took three of the tops I made and layered, and basted, and quilted and put on binding.  She used a simple meander for the quilting and it made these quilts for charity look quite Bright and Happy!

 

This one so bright and in a way, like an I spy, just picking out any of the different toys on the black background fabric.  Horns, and purses, hats and shoes...  So fun!

 

 

This one, simple ninepatches, surrounded with a narrow sashing that has musical notes.  Just right for the older child to snuggle under!

 

 

This one is definately a girly quilt, do you think?  I actually did not really care for this quilt, but after receiving a number of complements on it from some of the members of my guild, I am looking at it with new eyes.  Wenda did a great job on quilting this one too.

 

Now, this project has been so successful for me and has given me a bit of a "Glow" that one gets when one GIVES -- I am planning another series along the same lines.  A Challenge to create beautiful quilts for people in Need.  My plan is not completely formulated yet, but I am wondering if any of you out there would like to work along with me?  Your quilt or quilts should be donated to a local charity in your area...  I will write more on this project in a week or two so come back if you want to make a contribution to your community.

Sunday Snips

In Canada, today is the day we remember our soldiers.  We think about the Service that men and women have given to our country through the years and the wars we have been involved in.   I remember some of the people who were part of my life that took part in these events.  My father served in WWII, my grandfathers served in WWI - they all came home. 

One of the things that is in my mind at this time of year is remembering my Mother.  No she was not a soldier and she did not serve in the military.  She just lived through it here in Canada.  She was 11 years old at the beginning of the war and 16 when it ended.  She was a teenager in those years and I suspect that her main concern was getting back and forth to school and doing the things that a young girl in those years did.   My Mom was born on Nov 19 and she died 79 (almost 80)years later on Nov 9.

So my Sunday Snip is remembering, but mostly remembering my Mom.

Recently, I went on a little holiday to Victoria, BC to visit family who live there and just because it is part of my memory, I drove by my Mom and Dad's House in Victoria.  It now belongs to a young couple who have updated and remodeled the house since they moved in in 2009.   The house itself was built in 1912, so this year it is 100 years old.  My Mom and Dad lived in the house for 22 of those years.

 

Over the years My Dad kept the place in good condition, but did not essentially change anything that was there when they moved in in 1987.   Those two cedars at the front were half that size or less in 1987.   My Dad always insisted that the front door should always be inviting so that is why he chose that rose pink.

 

 

Today, the exterior shows a major facelift.  I think it looks great for a hundred year old house, and I wonder what improvements have been made on the inside...   Maybe next time I go to Victoria I will knock on the door and ask the people how they like their home.
It has obviously served a few families quite well and I am so happy to see it being cared for and loved.

By the way, do you know why some houses have a little tiny window?  That window is called the piano window.  On the inside, in the living room, is where you would put your upright piano - so the piano doesn't block the light, but you still get the sun streaming in... When this house was built there were not even radios to listen to so a family had to make their own entertainment!  My Mom and dad never had a piano, so that is where they kept a bookcase full of Canadian History books - they both shared an interest in the personal stories and events that lead to the making and development of Canada.

Cool Days Knits And Half Hour Chili

When the cooler days leading into Winter come along, many of us are looking for those satisfying comfort foods -- Chili in a variety of forms is what always comes to mind for me...

When I was a youngster, still living at home, my Mother discovered a recipe that she called Chili Con Carne -- now there is some argument as to exactly what that is, but to her, it was ground beef, red kidney beans and tomato with various spices...  We loved it and always gobbled it up with big chunks of home made bread.

It is only one of the many things in my life that signals Winter is coming!   The other is knitting.  I have not considered myself to be a knitter for very long, even though I first learned how from my grandmother when I was still in elementary school.  Today, my hands pick up needles and yarn irregularly and it always seems to be at this time of year!

Last year, along with my friend Doris, we explored the making of knitted winter hats or in Canada, known at toques.   Doris discovered a lovely soft chunky yarn at Michael's stores,  Loops and Threads Charisma.  Doris has moved on to experiment with other yarns and other projects, but I seem to be stuck on Charisma! 

With no pattern, in combination with Doris' results I have created a kind of "rule" for a classic toque using the Charisma yarn and expanded a bit of the "rule" to make a cowl and fingerless gloves using the yarn.  I am quite pleased with how these came out.  The toque takes a ball of yarn, the cowl takes a ball of yarn, and the pair of fingerless gloves takes 1 ball of yarn...

 

I must say, it took quite a few rows of knit and unravel and knit and unravel, or even knit and undo and start over to develop a simple 'pattern' for these items.  A pattern, that nicely remains in my head, without having had to refigure it out each time.

 

I have been thinking that I should write out these rules for these classic simple winter accessories, so am working on a description in an e-book format, that should be available for download in the next week or two.

 

For now though, how about my Mom's Chili?  This is the kind of recipe that is different everytime, so don't put it on a restaurant menu!

 

Half Hour Chili

 

1 pound ground beef - or pork or even chicken if you like,

1 medium size white onion, or red if you prefer

5 stalks of celery, chopped, chunky or fine, however you like it.

 

Into a good quality pot, I use a very old cast iron dutch oven pot, fry the meat until nicely done and browned.  Drain off most of the fat, which is the saturated fats, and then add back some unsaturated fat, such as safflower or vegetable or canola oil, about 2 tablespoonfuls.   Add to the meat, the onion and celery and cook on medium to low heat until the onion is translucent.

 

While the meat and onion and celery is cooking, open a can of red kidney beans, a can of diced tomato, and a can of tomato paste.  Rinse the kidney beans well and add to the meat mixture in the pot.  Open a can of diced tomato and put that into the pot.  Open a can of tomato paste and mix it with two tomato paste cans of water stir it up til nice and smooth and add that to the pot.  Did I tell you what size of cans? no? use the middling sizes for a fairly even ratio to the meat, use the big size for more veg to the meat.  Whichever you prefer...

 

Lastly, the spices -- which are all added to taste...  salt, black pepper (but that depends on if you are adding hot sauce, later, or other hot pepper, you don't really need black pepper.) chili powder, alot - at least 3 tablespoons, but more if you like that flavour - chili powder is not spicey hot, so be generous.   Cumin, adds a nice earthy flavour and you can be fairly generous with that, too, at least a tablespoonfull.  Now you can also add a bit of garlic flavour to the pot, I prefer crushed and chopped real garlic, about 3 cloves but if it is easier for you, you can just use a garlic powder or even that jarred garlic - say about a teaspoonful...

 

 

 

Bring the whole thing to a boil and then reduce the heat to low.  Now is the time to add the SPICY HEAT if you like it.  You can get that BITE from a number of products but be careful because the longer it cooks in the pot the HOTTER IT GETS.   I use Tabasco, just a couple of drops, but I have also use Epicurian Chipolte Pepper, which sneaks up on you or in a pinch I have use a Chinese Sweet Hot Sauce.

 

So, you see why it changes everytime?  Once you have the basic RULE of it, you can create a different chili everytime by simply changing up or adding something different.  Try grated carrot, try garbonzo beans instead of kidney beans, or in a pinch use a can of baked brown beans with its sauce...

 

It is called Half Hour Chili because really it doesn't take much more time than that to put it together and cook it...  You can cook it longer, depending on what you add to it, but basically once the meat and veg is cooked through, it is ready to eat.  The longer you cook the more the spices develop the flavour, but you can dish it out within that half hour if you choose.

 

Okay, now I have talked myself into making a pot of Mom's Chili.

Let me know how your's turns out if you try my system!

 

Fall Fearless and Fly - Challenge Three

I have to say, this one was a real challenge for me! 

The Challenge prompts were:



Headline Prompt: Triumphs and Defeats: What do you see as your greatest triumphs or defeats? What have they taught you? Which have you learned more from?
Color Prompt: Black and white
Quote Prompt: Not in the clamor of the crowded street, not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng, but in ourselves, are triumph and defeat. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
 

I have incorporated in my Challenge this time only the colour prompt -- black and white.   I just could not get over that hurdle for the longest time, and it is the only thing I concentrated on for a good week before finally making some sense of it and picking up a micron pen and a sharpie marker and touching them to some lovely textured cardstock (11"x8.5") that my son gave me.

 

This started with the desire to capture a remnant of my summer garden and developed with the desire to fill the whole piece of paper.  About half way through, I realized I was creating a version of a Zentangle!  A drawing form that I had looked at and read a bit about but had not actually made any effort to create on my own...

 

 

So, this challenge really only speaks to the colour prompt, because whether or not it is a triumph or a defeat is not really pertinent to a first attempt at any art form I think.   I don't think it is great but neither do I consider it a failure.  It is a first time effort...

 

I am linking up with the Artists in Blogland Fall, Fearless and Fly series of challenges at http://artistsinblogland.blogspot.ca/2012/10/fall-fearless-and-fly-third-challenge.html  where you can check out how others have 'answered' the challenge prompts, just clik on a thumbnail there that intriques you!

 

I am also linking up with the Needle and Thread Network  Wednesday, work in Progress, even tho this has nothing to do with sewing on crochet or knit, but because I am actually considering redoing the floral part as a embroidery for a small wall hanging I am very slowly designing, and because this whole challenge is a work in Progress!

Things to See and Do

November is gearing up to be reasonably busy in the world of blogs and websites!  Here at Susan Being Snippy, we (thats me and my younger son went on a little holiday over to Victoria BC).

I stayed at my elder son's apartment.  He is such a stranger and yet so familiar!  I only get to see him a couple times a year, but he is so like me but in a completely different direction. I don't think that makes sense to most people though.  His apartment is jam packed with his 'hobby'.  He is creative and an explorer and always to looking to learn new things.  He is an expert but yet is very modest about it...

 

This is one corner of his dining room...  Which is not really a dining room - like the upstairs bedroom in my house is not a bedroom but a sewing studio.   He not only makes music, but he makes things that make music!

 

 

this is Hari, my son's very talkative cat.  She just goes on and on and on.  I suspect because he has no wife to nag him, Hari feels she needs to fulfil that duty in their little world!

 

So that was a fine and very leisurely little jaunt.  Our BC Ferries ride, both going to Vancouver Island and coming back to the Mainland was amazingly peaceful.  I guess because we did our little trip on Sunday - Monday the Ferry at best was only 60% full, at least that is what the sign said as we approached the toll booth.  Makes one wonder how "the powers that be" can justify raising the price, when they get fewer and fewer riders because it costs too much...

 

I suspect it will be another year or two before I am over to the island...

Sunday Snips

Just a quick post this morning as I am off to 'the" Island (Vancouver Island) for a few days to visit family...

A couple of links to check out...

Amy's Creative Side is having the fall online quilt show so you can go to her blog and scroll down to the over 500 links of other blogs who have entered their various quilted items.  You can even vote for your favourites.   Go to http://amyscreativeside.com/2012/10/26/bloggers-quilt-festival-fall-2012/

I do believe that voting starts on monday so if you want to vote check back to the blog at http://amyscreativeside.com/

And a bit of a reminder, are you looking for a idea for your next quilt?  Try one of the fabric manufacturers web pages...

Check out this online store that provides links to all the free patterns from manufactures...  For sure something will strike your fancy...

Just click on the manufacturers name and a new window should open with their list of freebies.

http://www.fatquartershop.com/freequiltpattern.asp

Hope you enjoyed your extra hour of sleep with the time change -- or did you, like me, get up at what felt right and go and sew for that extra hour??

SSSC and Walter in a Beauty Contest!

If you have been reading for awhile you will know that I gave myself a challenge over the summer, Super Summer Snippy Challenge, where I made 10 quilt tops.  Well, as of yesterday, one of the quilts has been completely finished!  My friend Lin at my quilt guild, took the top home and layered and quilted it and brought it back to me to put on a label and to bind it.  Click on the tab along the top of this page that says Quilts of the Super Summer Snippy Challenge  you can see a couple of photos of this latest finish!

But before you do that, I must tell you that Walter -- you know Walter, right? -- is in a beauty contest!  I am not sure why I put him in the contest cause he is one guy that should be first judged on brains not just beauty!  Did you know that recently he has figured out how to open the door to the sewing room?  Yes, he does!  He has an overwhelming urge to follow me about the house, but I prefer to keep him out of the sewing room when I am working...  He has his system of opening the door -- it is a regular door knob type door and since he figured this out it is impossible for me to go and sew in peace!   Walter is at the Quilt Pattern Magazine website, but you have to be a subscriber to vote for him (here is the subscription page, if you are interested http://www.quiltpatternmagazine.com/subscribe.html )

This is the photo that shows how pretty he is!  and a couple more -- he is of course helping me to iron some completed star blocks, holding them nicely while I try not to plop the iron down on his paws!

 

being quite pensive, I think he is getting a bit bored with holding blocks...

 

and, telling me, that is enough ironing for one day, testing out a block to see how well it might fit him...

 

Oh, and I am linking up with Friday Felicities at http://www.felicityquilts.com/2012/11/friday-felicities.html

Sunday Snips

Sunday's seem to be family day amoungst the people that i know.  Many of my relatives and friends attend church, which I do not, and concentrate their Sundays with children and grandchildren, sisters and brothers.   So, I don't get email, or phone calls or really any contact other than my own son, who may say, "See you later", or What's for Dinner?" as he heads out the door before 7am on his way to work.  Or, my husband may say something on his way in or out, as it is usually a work day for him too.  My Sunday's are usually very quiet...

So, on Sunday's, I am often introspective and thoughtful.  

I generally read, or explore variations of my favourite crafts or arts and enjoy myself with little or no interruption, except if the dog wants to make a little trip out in the back yard.

 

I found, at a thrift shop, a little book of Friendly Wisdoms published by Carlton Cards in 1968 that I find myself looking at quite often.  This little booklet sits at my computer desk and I find myself picking it up and leafing through the pages (there are only 18) while waiting for slow internet sites to load. 

 

The art work has such a wonderful style about it and glows with innocent whimsy.

 

This bit of wisdom is such a gentle way of telling our children, NO, you are still to little to do that, but someday when you grow more you can certainly try it...

 

Little Boats must keep near to shore, bigger Ships may venture more.

Oh! You didn't HAVE to do all that!

I had in my head an idea to streamline some organizing of yarn and crochet stuff by rearranging some furniture, so I told my hubby, what I was thinking and then I went up to the sewing room.   I stayed there long enough to make this postcard, which will be mailed out today as I take part in the exchange that Darcey organizes for our guild...

Then I came out of the sewing room and all the organizing and furniture moving was pretty much done!  I love it when a plan comes together!  (and I don't actually have to do the work)

Store Maintenance and UpKeep

As I think most of my readers know, I operate an Etsy Shop.  Mostly my shop is so that I can create things without feeling too guilty that I am just filling up my closets! 

I so enjoy sewing and making things that I would be overflowing if I kept it all!   A few months back, I saw a tutorial for making dinner napkins -- I made dozens!  Then I found christmas fabric on sale and I made some more!  

Suffice to say, I have listed christmas dinner napkins in my etsy store, and you can find them here  or here or here !

Now, after my marathon of sewing quilts to donate to my quilt guilds charitable program, I have not really slowed down so I have been making quilt blocks to sell.   Making quilt blocks that have half square or quarter square triangles seem to be the most popular choices so the Ohio Star, Friendship Star and Variable Star are the ones that I keep producing. 

I am not sure of the reasons that someone would buy pre-made blocks, but I am thinking they really would be a quick project for a long arm quilter to put together to show off their skill on their quilting set up, do you think?   Aw well, I just like sewing and I am quite happy that someone will purchase the blocks I make, so then I can buy more fabric and make more blocks! or napkins or totebags or pin cushions... it never ends!

 

I also created what they call a Treasury on Etsy.  This is a grouping of items from different shops that I have found that appeal to me in some way -- in this treasury I came up with the theme of Umbrellas and if you go take a look, you will see that there are so many different products that use Umbrellas!  Check out my first ever Treasury at http://www.etsy.com/treasury/OTY0MTkyNXwyNzIzNDY5NzA2/rainy-days-and-mondays?index=0

It looks that today's weather here on the West Coast of Canada, is continuing cool and cloudy and rainy, but no snow!  Snow is not one of my favourite things!

Down for the Count!

 

Pearl and Walter, like kids, have fun wrestling on the bed...

Fall, Fearless and Fly - Challenge TWO

I am participating in a twice monthly challenge, over on the Artists in Blogland webpage (just click on the name or check my sidebar for the link).

This Second Challenge is all about taking chances, which most of the time I have no problem tackling!  You know when your mother would say she hoped that you had children just like you?  Well, I did! And I am so glad they are so full of adventure!!  In the last few years I have encountered a few stumbling blocks that have eroded my sense of adventure and I am working on finding my way back to my old self...

The prompts for this October Mid-Month challenge are:

Headline Prompt: Taking a Chance: When did you take a chance or a leap of faith? How did it turn out? What did you learn?
Color Prompt: What color do you like least? Use it!
Quote Prompt: "Don't refuse to go on an occasional wild goose chase -- that's what wild geese are for." Anonymous

This time I am concentrating on the Headline Prompt: Taking a Chance, but it is almost impossible for a quilter who loves colour to ignore the colour prompt so using my least favourite colour is also part of this challenge...

To explain my process and a bit of my thinking, I have to say that although I did not stray far from my familar world of quilting, I did take what I had and use it in a somewhat unexpected way.

While making some quilt blocks using brown and beige, which definately are in the category of least favourite colours, because they really aren't colours are they.  Beige is muddied up white and brown is not quite black, both are sort of wishy-washy when it comes to the world of colour!

So, when I was trueing up each block (cause they need to be perfect) there developed a pile of slivers of fabric in that beige and brown.  I set that scrambled pile aside simpley because it shouldn't be wasted!

A few weeks back, I decided I wanted to learn how to do coptic binding, especially when I realized it is a way to SEW PAPER! How cool is that?

I got a coptic bound book made using black cardstock for the front and back cover, and there is sat... Waiting...

Waiting for the Take a Chance Prompt and this Challenge to come along.

So I proceed to 'muddy' up the front cover of my handmade book.
I layered it with white tissue paper, liberally glued on with plain old white glue - I really like white glue, cause when it sticks to your fingertips and dries, it is kinda like pulling off layers of skin without the pain of a sunburn!  Yeah, weird!

Continuing with the theme of white glue, I dumped those slivers of fabric on top of the tissue paper and pounced with a big paintbrush getting the fabric soaked in glue and well SCRIBBLED around the page...

And as a bit of an homage to those flying geese -- in quiltmaking, there is a quilt block called flying geese which is made up of triangles, so on the bottom of the cover I added some tiny bits of fabric to illustrate the flying geese... in red and green, just for the contrast from the neutral beige, greys and browns...

Fabric and white glue, created a very textured surface, but yet leaves the fabric and its woven threads quite clear.

So, now I have a journal to explore some of the ideas of creating my own patterns and images, using pen, pencil, paints, fabrics and whatever else enters my mind in the coming weeks of this challenge...

Time Keeps On Turning

This morning I posted my status on Facebook as -- Don't Panic! There are still 72 sleeps til Christmas morning...

I am the kind of person who is always looking ahead, sometimes way to far ahead, but being late or last minute has always felt too stressful to me and I really dislike being stressed!

My family doesn't do much at Christmas anymore, most everyone is over 21 so the child-like enthusiasum for christmas doesn't invade my home much, well, hardly at all actually.

Christmas and all of its build up is mostly memories.  And a major portion of those memories are piles of snow.   Winter on our small farm in Manitoba, about 20 miles outside of Winnipeg...

 

 

Memories of Family gathering for Christmas or New Years Dinner...

But one of the things I realized, I don't remember the gifts I got!  I remember gifts I gave, because even as a child I was encouraged to use my creativity.  One year, I gave my grandma and grandpa, painted and framed paint-by-number paintings, one a collie and the other a german shepard...  I remember making for my other grandmother a hanging rack for keys or other little things -- and that she put it on her wall in her tiny kitchen and it was there until she had to move from her home due to age and infirmity... So even at a young age I was thinking ahead of gift giving time, in order to have special things to give.  Oh yeah, my favourite gift I ever gave was to my Dad -- it was in the years when Pet Rocks were the "in" thing.  I made for my father an Automatic Cigarette Lighter.  I got a piece of drift wood and glued to it a fist sized rock, and also onto the piece of wood, I attached a small metal tin box. I filled the box with wooden matches -- it sat on the table by my Dad's chair for a very long time... 

I am thinking of taking a short trip over to visit my son in Victoria, BC in a few weeks and I am now waiting for some fabric I ordered - cars printed on a baby blue background - to make him some pillowcases...

So, No Panic.   I suspect all the things I plan to make for my friends or relatives will be done well in advance of Christmas Day!

Oh, and in case you think pillowcases might be just the thing for someone you may know for christmas -- here is the link and tutorial that I use... http://youtu.be/7moryq_ZRFY  which is an excellent video that shows each step and wonderfully explained by Robin Gallager...  Try it even if you don't give away the pillowcases!

Today is a great day to start thinking of what you can make or do for those around you, so you are ready well before Christmas and then you can sit and relax with everyone else instead of rushing around at the last minute...

Work in Progress Wednesday - Pondering

"Telling people how to be creative is easy - being creative is difficult." - John Cleese

The other day I came upon a half hour talk by John Cleese about Creativity it is on You Tube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VShmtsLhkQg - this is the link if you want to take a listen, too.) but first finish reading here, then go listen to big John...

One of the points in his speech was about PONDERING.  Do you use this exercise when you are working on a project?  I have done this type of thought process for years without realizing that I was doing it.  I use PONDERING not only to be creative with my quilting, but for most everything in my life!  I ponder about juggling finances to include paying for brakes on the car.  I ponder about how to rearrange my living room to fit in my treadmill - it is currently on the balcony but the cooler winter air means it needs to be brought inside.  I ponder about what combination of meat, starch and veggies to put together for our supper each and every day!

For sometime now -- getting into the triple months of pondering - is a project for a machine applique class I will be teaching in February.  I have thought this would be a fairly small project but I added to the criteria of its creation, that it should also be useful and maybe even displayable at a future quilt show... so it has taken quite a lot of pondering.   It went from "going to be" a Door Quilt that was blocks with sashing, to being a Bed Runner with neutrals background, to back to being a Door Quilt with that neutrals background...

 

Currently thown on top of a pile of stuff while it waits (already quilted) for the new, brighter dresden plate pieces to be sewn

 

As you see, the cuts for the dresdens are still quite floral but the colours of each piece is quite a bit brighter or more strongly coloured. The first dresdens to the left and the new on the right in the above photo.

Another project that I am working on and pondering about is Christmas themed Quilt blocks -- these blocks when done will go into my Etsy shop for sale so that someone else can more easily create something for christmas.

 

A different sort of project that I have been pondering is "what is the next step" for this coptic bound book.   I have mentioned before that my hubby gets brown paper wrap by the carful every week because of his delivery job and I want to use that brown paper to make something. 

 

 

 So I listened to a couple of videos on You Tube and learned to do coptic binding.  Now I want to add some fabric and texture to make that black cardstock 'arty'...  Soon, I will get to it soon as the pondering of an arty cover has almost reached a complete idea!

 

 

 

One of the other things that John Cleese says in the video about pondering is that some people are quite lazy about it.  He means that they will latch on to the first solution and go with that, but other people keep on pondering until they reach that even better idea.  I think I am mostly a lazy ponderer, but I am going to make an effort to struggle through and ponder about it until I hit on an even better idea!

 

Now, go take a look at John Cleese's talk about creativity.

 

I am linking up with the Needle and Thread Network today.

Fall, Fearless and Fly - October Challenge

I enjoy an interesting challenge.  Therefore, I am taking part in the Fall Fearless and Fly (don't ask me what that means, tho) on the Artists in Blogland web page - you can pop over to the link provided and see the links to the others who are taking part.

The challenge for October began on the 1st and closes on the 15th - not alot of time to make a whole quilt to represent what I do!

There are three choices that ONE has in order to fulfil the challenge.  They are:

Headline Prompt: Inventing the Future: Where do you want to be 5, 10, 15 years from now. What's holding you back? What's propelling you forward? What do you need to do or stop doing to create your future?
Color Prompt: Warm colors (reds, oranges, pinks, yellows)
Quote Prompt: "The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time." Abraham Lincoln
 

Well, I knew that I needed to create a sewn/quilt project so with just a bit of rummaging through my scrap fabrics I came up with a few somethings that I think fulfill every one of those 'prompts'.  I started out thinking only of using the color (notice I am using the American spelling of that word?) prompt, but once I thought about it, I think I covered all three... 

I have made three Mug Rugs, or perhaps you might call them hot mats for the dining room table. They each measure about 6.5 inches square.  Random pieced, or crazy quilting, which ever description you prefer.

Inventing the future:

Now, in my life, there is actually less future to come than there has been past.  So I represented a very early 1970's print fabric that has been in my stash for awhile, and is a fabric that I used way back then in one of the first quilts I made.  Combined with that 1970's fabric are very recent 'Modern' style fabrics.  Since I have been a quiltmaker and sewist, I have so enjoyed seeing the trends as they change and evolve over the years -- my future?  To see more colour style and design!

The colour prompt:  To use yellow, orange, red, or pink.  I was not able to find a pink but then it says OR, so pink is not needed -- the orange and yellow, is of course that 1970's print, and the reds are quite new scraps.

And the Quote Prompt:  Now as I said, I have more of the past than there will be future and those one at at time days have been full of learning and living, growing and making a home and a relatively calm, enjoyable life.   So Yes, I have experienced those days and am so glad and thankful that many of them have made good memories.  Perhaps the future will hold things as facinating as the past days have...

There, my Fall Fearless and Fly Challenge, done -- Looking forward to November's Challenge!

Do Small Things with Love

My blog post title today is quite fitting, I think.  It is the title of a blog that I am linking up with today and that I have been following for a couple of months now.  It is quite inspiring to read the things that this young mother writes about.

And even though LOVE is such a huge word and very often so difficult to say; for some almost impossible to say and sometimes it is a word that some will say at any opportunity - does overuse make it less meaningful?

Last night, 2:44 am in fact, my dog Pearl began to make little whimper noises and to walk back and forth in the room.  She would go to the patio door that goes out onto our deck and scratch a bit.  So after trying to doze back to sleep, I finally had to get up out of my warm cozy bed and open the door to let her out into the back yard.

I turned on the yard light and stood and watched as she did a sort of circling thing in the farest corner of the yard from the door -- she was being sick...  How patient to wait 15 minutes while the human finally acknowledges that you need something!   So I stood at the door waiting for her to come back inside...

I took the opportunity for a bathroom break myself and when I came back into the room, this is the sight that greeted me...

 

Someone you know may need a lick, take the time to notice...

 

I am linking up today at Small Things with Love  and to

Felicity Quilts

WIP Wednesday - a bit of a dilemna...

I am making an effort to find my "voice".  I do believe it is somewhere between Traditional and Modern, and between using patterns and self expression...

Sometimes it is an odd place to be.  I find that I don't like frilly but I do like feminine -- soft floral shades and enhancements like embroidery.  I like a good geometric repetitive block design -- my favourite? Churn Dash/ Hole in the Barn Door.  I love the strong geometric contrasts of Modern Quilts and I totally enjoy the idea of threadpainting...

How to settle myself?  

This week (and last week too!) I have been wanting to create what places that sell high end stuff are calling a BED RUNNER.  Fancy hotels now seem to have them on the big fluffy down filled coverlets - probably to add a splash of colour to an otherwise neutral room...

Anyway.

I started out this project with pink and green -- they didn't go together even though I did get favourable comments -- were you just being nice?  Thats okay, it is good for the ego but it wasn't what I was aiming for, even though I thought it was, then.

I am still stuck on the Dresden Plate applique pattern and have cut and pieced about 20 of them!  I do get carried away sometimes!

So.  With the Dresdens, and this new background for them, along with a random placement of the dresdens, this is where I am...  The dresdens are temporarily placed and I am thinking of putting them a bit closer together...

Does it need more dresdens?  Should the dresdens be brighter, or perhaps darker neutrals?   Still a ways to go with this, but at least I think this is closer to what i want...  Hmmm???

By the way, please excuse the shadows and odd lighting, the sun was streaming in the window and it made for rather uneven light on my "design' wall...

Linking up with the Needle and Thread Network (clik the link on my sidebar)

Actual Work?

For some reason that is beyond my thought process, my Etsy store has been really slow this summer.  Last year I could have gone on a Cruise to Alaska with what I earned.  This year, a drive to White Rock Beach would have busted my 'work' account... (just to explain, White Rock Beach is about 1 hour away and much less than a tank of gas!)

So.  I am going back to my basics, which I have not had listed in my shop since early July.

 

Traditional Quilt Blocks.  Especially Quilt Blocks with triangles!

I expect to have two sets of 12 blocks listed in my shop by the end of the day and plan for a few more sets by the end of next week.

 

Sometimes making blocks that I won't get to use is a bit frustrating, but then I think the more blocks I make and earn some dollars from, then the more fabric I can buy to make more blocks to sell to buy more fabric to make blocks....

 

And since I am linking up today with Friday Felicities, I want to show some fabric that came to me over the summer.  It too will be listed in my shop (click on the link on the sidebar to get to my shop) is some 1970's vintage preprinted christmas fabric for making ornaments or appliques...  There are three different 'sets'. 

 

And today, I think a drive to the beach at White Rock is just what my soul is in need of -- after a bit of 'work' (who could call home sewing, work?)

Pearl "Cute" Barker

Sometimes I question why we take on the responsibility of owning pets.  The work, the cost, and in someways a curtailing of freedom.

Dogs need baths, whether they like them or not.  Dogs get fleas, so the flea stuff you put on them costs a fortune and then the Dog brings the fleas into the house and goes onto the cats which means more flea stuff for the cats...

They all occasionally puke, and most often it is where it is hardest to clean up, like on a sweater that was left on the corner of the bed.   Oh and speaking of sweaters, you can't have a real wool sweater, unless you keep it hidden from the wool eating cat!

 Food.  Always something, more cans more bags, more treats

Since I was married in 1972, I have not been without a cat, usually two cats in my house and in all those years, we have lived with a dog (three in a row) for the last 18 years.

But, what would you call this? 

JOY!

is there anything more joyful that having your dog run back to you with the stick you have thrown for the 38th time?

I can't imagine living a life without such a wonderful creature to share my home, my time, my love...

Miss Snips Returns!

Beginning in 1998 up until the end of 2009, I wrote a column called Miss Snips Notebook which appeared in the Canadian Quilter Magazine.

I needed to take a breakin 2009 partly because of illness and because of a few life events that took a toll on me that I was having a hard time working my way through and because I was feeling that I did not have the content that was needed to write a good column.

Now, Miss Snips is returning.  Miss Snips will have the quilting tips revised and updated once each month -- usually about the middle of the month -- on the Canadian Quilt Association website.  My column will now appear on the Members Only page, so you will need to sign into the page with your member number.  

I'm sorry that if you are not a member this page will not be available to you, BUT if you are considering becoming a member, which has some very nice perks, including getting the Canadian Quilter Magazine you can subscribe/become a member at the same website as above.  PS. If you do sign up (and pay your membership fee, yes there is a fee) please fill in the part of the form and say who referred you -- ME, Susan Barker!

I would very much appreciate it if you can go read my new column and I would also ask that if you have an idea or a good tip that all quiltmakers would find useful, please send me an email or leave a comment and as long as your comment is not "no reply" I will contact you via email and will include your tip or suggestion in the next column. (I will give you credit in the article and if you have your own blog, I will provide a link to you as part of the monthly column)

Thanks so much!  I am so glad to be doing this project as I believe that the things we know should be passed along to those around us who are interested.

So the newest and first installment has been posted on the Members Page.  And thank-you so much for Reading!!

Crochet edge for a T-shirt neckline (instructions)

So, I have been wanting to make those plain t-shirts in my closet into something a bit less plain...

I did some researching through some of the pamphlets, and books and magazines that I have, to see if I could find something to add to the neckline of one t-shirt.  A bit as practice and a test to see how it would go.

This is what I came up with...

 

I adapted this design from a Coats and Clark booklet first published in 1971.   This design is somewhat different than what is in the booklet as it leaves off some of the last rows -- so not quite so wide or quite as frilly as the original.

I have re-written the stitch instructions because they did not actually give a starting chain length or count of stitches.   Perhaps because depending upon what use you planned for the lacy edge your length might vary.

This design is based on multiples of 10 stitches plus 3.  In my case I wanted the lacy edge to be about 37 inches and I used a sport weight or baby acrylic yarn.   You can use any yarn or thread that you prefer, of course.  Finer threads make it more delicate. Heavier yarns give it a chunky or even a 'scarf' type of look.  This edging is done in only two rows after the foundation chain.

I call this a Picot Fan Edging So here is how to create this lacy edging.

Chain multiples of 10 until you reach close to the length you want (if you use yarn and not thread you can stretch the lace slightly when you are done, to fit the piece.  It does not look as nice tho if you have to ease a slightly longer section to fit.)

You will be using chain stitches, single crochet, double crochet and triple crochet stitches.

** cluster stitch **  holding back on the hook the last loop of each dc make 2 dc in the same chain stitch, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook.

Row 1 (after the foundation chain is made)

In the 4th chain from the hook make dc (beginning 3 chain and dc acts as the first cluster) chain 2, make cluster (as described above) * chain 2 skip next 5 chains, dc in next chain, chain 3, dc in same chain (makes V-stitch) chain 2, skip next 5 chains and make cluster chain 2 make second cluster in same chain space, repeat from * for the length of your lace.  Try to end with the second cluster stitch. chain 1, turn.

Row 2

sc in chain 2 space between the first two clusters * chain 3, sc in third chain from the hook, (picot made); in ch 3 space of next V-stitch, 1 tc, chain 3, sc in 3rd chain from hook (picot) repeat the 1 tc and picot stitch 4 times in the same ch 3 space ; sc in space between next 2 clusters, repeat from * to end.  fasten off.

 

I am thinking a off white would have been a better choice for this edging around this t-shirt neckline and as you can probably see I simply basted the crochet edging with regular sewing thread, so it is easy to remove and replace.

 

I am not sure how this sort of thing would hold up in the laundry either.  It might come out a tangled twisted mess after going through the regular laundry as one would do with a regular t-shirt.

 

So, is it worth the effort?  I guess it depends how often the t-shirt would be worn...   I don't know if I would want to be removing and replacing the lace everytime the shirt needs laundering.   Now that would be an argument for using a different yarn or thread.   Always something to think about, hey?