Quick organizing idea.

no pictures this time...

anyway, the other day I was making a fabric cover for a journal type book and somewhere in the back of my head I was thinking about what I call my Password Book...  The two ideas sort of melded.

I have a old notebook that I write down the username, web address and password to a multitude of websites.  I know they (who are they anyway?) say that you should memorize your password and not give it out to anyone.  BUT GEE, there are more websites that I visit that need some sort of password, so I have to write them down -- AND because I did have a computer crash a number of years back, I now also write down not just the web name but its "http://" address too.  It is amazing how hard it is to rebuild a Favourites list or the RSS Feeds list from memory.   So everytime I log on to a new site I put it into my little notebook.  Handy, but still has problems the main problem being finding where I wrote down which site...  So thats where the bright idea popped in.  REDO all those website addresses and passwords into a regular address book -- the kind with the A, B, C's with tabs on the sides.   I have now discovered I have more web sites that I visit than I have actual friends.... hmmmm...  Sure makes it easy to check the password for any particular site -- by the way, there are a couple of my websites that are not written down -- the bank, is the most important, it is easy to remember that password because it is different than any of the others.

Another tip to do with keeping your web pages and passwords relatively easy to get back into is that I only use about 4 different ones that I use over and over and over,  but never on financially sensitive sites -- I don't think anyone looking to steal from me will care that I have a password for Lion Brand Yarn, or for the Ravelry site....   And the last computering tip...  You know those sites that insist that you have a question and secret answer?  Well, I have the same secret answer no matter what the question is-- so, What High School did you attend?  twofoursix  or how about What is your Mothers Maiden Name? twofoursix  and maybe they might ask What is the name of your Pet?  twofoursix...   (by the way, twofoursix is not my actual answer for anything it is just an example in this case)

Hope these were a couple of useful ideas -- mind you if you have money sensitive sites or sites that can give away personal information, I would advise a more secure system, but for the web sites that really just want to know how often you visit using the same answer for everything should be fine... 

Next up -- part of the Challenge to Finish

I haven't been very attentive to the ongoing Challenge to Finish, but finally I have some progress to report on one of those old WIP's that has been around just a bit too long.  I have 80 some squares made up -- these were an exchange of blocks with a local group of friends, 5 of us exchanged completed blocks.  I think I am the only one who has not finished (this was about 2 or maybe 3 years ago we traded blocks!)  Well, I have pulled out the blocks and decided it is time to put them together -- though a bit differently than my friends.  I have decided to make 2 quilts from those blocks, so I sorted through and the first quilt is using all the red, brown, purple, yellow blocks and the second will be using all the greens, blue, and yellows...

So I can say I have finished up the red brown top...

Now just to get it layered and quilted...

Who's Quilt is That??

Do you make a label for each quilt that you finish?


And What do you put on the label? And how do you make the label?
Well, on the third question, I can offer a couple of suggestions to really SPIFF up the label.
Most Labels that I see are square and hand sewn on the back of the quilt. A few years back my friend Doris, who doesn't particularly like to hand sew -- but she does anyway... Came up with the idea of the triangle Quilt Label. The triangle Quilt Label means you only have to hand sew along one edge.
This is how we do it.Depending on how big of a label you need, cut a square between 6 inches to about 8 inches square. Fold over the square to make a triangle with a already "hemmed edge"

Next, SPIFF it UP. I (and Doris too, who does this part mostly freehand -- she is a good draw-er) like to include a motif of some sort on the label to grab your eye. Most of my motif's come from old iron on embroidery designs that I have collected over the years. The little design then is coloured -- thats my short cut anyway -- or you could actually embroider it!

I use coloured pencils, or sometimes regular wax crayons, or just as often pigma pens -- all need to be heat set with your iron.

So now you have a really nice label, I just write on it a date, and who made it or who it is for. This particular label is for the quilt that I finished up this morning and will be donated to my guild's charitable quilts program. I don't usually put my name on it, but the person in charge of the donated quilts has a numbering system so she can keep track of who made what quilt. Often the recipient of a quilt will write a thank-you letter to the guild and then it will be passed along to the quilt maker...

So, I made a little quilt, well, a nice lap size type of quilt -- 3 1/2 inch squares made into four-patch blocks and then the four patch blocks alternated with 6 1/2 squares. 

(and made an error in placement of the blocks, which I didn't notice until I started quilting down the middle of the light smaller squares!  Oh! Darn! )

Quick, Simple, Uses Up lots of SCRAPS....

Now, squint your eyes a bit - the next picture shows the backing and the label, I just described how to make -- the back is awfully bright!

Whew!  Can you believe that for a backing?!  Aw, Well it is flannelette and is warm and cosy.  And there you see how the label is attached to the quilt. 

 You simply match it to one one your corners -- on this quilt which corner doesn't matter, but on a directional quilt, you might want to think about which corner you want the label on. 

Align the label with the edge of the quilt and pin into place, after you have sewn the front side of your binding on the quilt. 

While you either hand or machine stitch your binding around the back, sew the binding onto the label but also make sure that you catch the backing underneath.  Once you have finished sewing your binding on, just go back to the label and tack down either with a hand stitch or a machine along that angle edge.  There.

You Are Done.

Remember, do the drawing and writing and heat setting on the label BEFORE you attach it to the quilt, because if you use a poly batting the heat will flatten the batting...  If you forget to heat set, it will not affect a cotton or wool batting like it will a poly...

Vanity Plates

These friendly announcements of a lifestyle makes me almost want to go and proclaim my connection to quilts and quilting, even though our procedure for putting this on BC plates is definately a high cost for vanity.



VCQ Plates 2010

***  PS.  I did pick up this little video from another blog,  but not everybody reads every blog, and hey, maybe someone in my town will be adventurous enough to announce that they too are quilters...
Do you have an idea for a 7 letter/number combination that proclaims your particular area of interest?

Too Much of a Good Thing

I am one lucky, lucky girl...

Late Monday afternoon a huge -- I mean HUGE box arrived for me.  It came from my aunt who lives in Manitoba.  I am not even going to question how much it must have cost for her to send this huge box  to me.   I am sure glad she did, though.  Now the whole box is not full of lace, some really interesting lengths of it, but sort of dawnting or since I am not sure how to spell that -- lets just call it overwhelming!  I am not one for frilly things or girly girl things so the lace was quite the dilemna.  But, being the creative and enquiring mind that I am, I just progressed an idea that I have been playing around with using the selvedges from fabrics and instead of selvedges I translated it into laces...

So, I sewed a selection of laces onto some of the fabric that also happened to be in the box - some solid colour poly cottons.  In fact the laces are easier to sew onto the fabric than the selvedges because the lace is wider and doesn't take quite so many -- the work goes faster.

And the next step was to make something with the newly created fabric.

Easy Peasy as Jamie Oliver is known to say.  I covered a dollar store address book and doesn't it look like just the prettiest address book you can want??  A perfect place to keep all your best girlfriends names and cell phone numbers and of course email addresses...

This one, though I am mailing off to-day to my aunt in winnipeg as a bit of a thank you for her thoughtfulness when it comes to clearing out her 'stash'...

Sewing and Craft Fair

A Sewing and Craft Fair is not the place for someone like me, who is overly frugal...  But then again, maybe it is.

I went to this "fair" that has been coming to my town for a few years now -- admittedly the entrance price is high, at least to me, it seems high, til you think about it.  The admittance charge is $10 for two days and since it is fairly close to where I live, this year I took advantage of attending both days. 

Day One, Saturday, I did a bit of wandering in mid afternoon before I went to a one hour seminar that I signed up for called Serger 911.  I have attended these little demo's or talks or even sometimes they teach a hands on techniqe and to be honest these classes usually leave me wanting.  This class, Serger 911 though was very excellent. Now, even though I have been sewing for 30+ years, I bought my first serger just this year and have barely touched it -- fear?  well a bit, cause I had wanted to sew a rolled edge and changed the tension, then not having written down the 'starting' settings, I could not find my way back to those nice even stitches.  And really, What the Hell is Differential Feed??   Well, I am happy to report within a few minutes Kathy Ruddy had pretty much clearly explained what I came to the class for -- everything else was a bonus.   There was alot packed into that little seminar and even though I wrote things down, MADLY, I tell you, MADLY, I know I didn't get everything.   Now, since I am still a very basic serger user, the info that I got is an excellent start for me.  Kathy had a booth in the Vendors Mall and so today, I went back to purchase some of the "guides" she had created to help us serger learners.  Now I can sit and fiddle and try to be patient and learn about my new machine.   If you are interested check out Unique Patterns-Live Guides Inc. she is based in Mukilteo, WA

Day Two - I also saw (you'd think I was a completely new sewer) a embroidery machine, that has like ten spools of yarn all going at the same time.  I stood and talked to the lady demoing the machine -- it was facinating, but I knew that it was not a machine for me, though I did enjoy her talk and now I know how they put those cool logos and mottos and such on baseball caps!

So many great shops and products, far too many for me to absorb -- I did go to the show specifically to find some thread that my Janome particularly likes, for piecing and even for quilting.  Aurafil threads.  And I found it and bought 3 - 5000 meter spools.  Two of White and one a Dark Grey, those three should last me close to a year!

It was a fun show, got to meet up with a few other quilting buddies from my area and got to catch up of their doings.  This years 'show' included a Scrapbookers section and it is amazing what that ART has grown into!  Years ago I had a beginning interest but with teenagers and work and other things in my life, I did not add that to my crafty stuff, now I sort of wish I had, it is facinating to see the embellishments and the artistry that goes into creating a photo album.   I just looked.

The few things that I bought totalled less than $40, but I am very happy with them...

Oh and one shop, Sew Sisters Quilt Shop came all the way from Toronto, ON, (I am a fan on theirs on Facebook)  I bought the panel you see in the photo above, it is about a half meter and has 8 different dolls with their changeable clothing.  I am not sure what I will be doing with it, making a quilt? or maybe just keep it in my collection -- I have always been partial to paper dolls...

Oh, by the way, one of the things about going to these type of shows, I most like going alone... I know it seems that most of us go in pairs or trios, but the way I shop, I just greatly dislike following someone else around to the things that they like.  So going alone, at least for me, is the most satisfying...

PS.  I re read my blog and I realized that DAY ONE was actually Friday and Day TWO was Saturday -- I blame it on being a non- working person -- one day is just about the same as the next except I get to do what I want, when I want... I am thinking that, maybe it is time to find something to do to earn a few bucks...  It's just a thought though -- really "I'd rather be poor than work!"  Yes, I would make a great bum, hobo, lay-about, or whatever other interesting words there are for someone like me.... hahaha

I Do Like Free Stuff!

When I used to write the Miss Snips Notebook column for the Canadian Quilter Magazine, I also wrote a column called Check this Out! for a few years.  I aquired quite a list of interesting and most useful web pages that I wrote about in that column.  I came across a list of free patterns while searching through some of my computer files that I had luckily saved onto a USB thingy when I realized my old computer was developing little glitches.  Anyway, I thought I would pass along those links along with a few more recent ones that fit the "category".  I checked everyone this morning to make sure they were still functional and useful so, check them yourself with confidence that you are not going to end up with error pages...

Enjoy.

Free Quilt And Craft Patterns on the Internet.


You will be amazed at the number of free patterns that you can find by surfing around the different fabric manufacturing sites…

Someday You might not even have to buy a magazine or book to find the next quilt you want to make.

So here is a list of Fabric Company sites that have dozens of free patterns -- should keep you busy all summer!

http://www.andoverfabrics.com/QuiltDesigns/QuiltDesigns.asp

http://www.avlyn.com/collections/project/

http://www.blankquilting.com/freepatterns.aspx

http://www.clover-usa.com/Make+It/Project+Sheets/
Patterns for knitting and crochet, also some tote bags and other little projects

http://www.henryglassfabrics.com/
Click on Project Library at the top of the page for quilts and check out New Patterns also at the top of the page for NEW stuff for free…

http://hollyholderman.typepad.com/teatimefloral/
Click on the patterns along the side to get the instructions for the various quilts.

http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/community/freepattern.php
This company is well known for excellent variety of patterns -- the Sew Sweet Satchel was taught as a class by Therese Schwab a few years back and I have made it dozens of times now for my friends and relatives…

http://www.eeschenck.com/default.asp?SuperStore=348&s=348
Not only quilts but Christmas stocking patterns, too.

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/Block_Reference.html
A very long list of traditional blocks -- don’t have to worry about copyright here…

http://www.unitednotions.com/un_main.nsf/free_patterns!OpenPage
Lots of great patterns here, quilts, baby stuff, toys, and totes, click on the categories at the top of the page…

http://www.quiltinaday.com/eleanorandcompany/freepattern/
We all know Quilt in a Day, here are a whole stack of blocks and quilts -- all are in PDF format so you need to have acrobat reader on your computer -- if you don’t know what it is, just click on the pattern and your computer will tell you if you do or do not have it, if not, it is free to download onto your computer, just follow the prompts as they come up on your machine…

http://www.quiltingtreasures.com/quilting/projects.php %20literally    
literally dozens of patterns, just keep scrolling down…

http://www.redroosterfabrics.com/quilt/
some really nice ones here (Bread and Butter is on my to do list) from the intro page go to Current Patterns which will take you to the (obviously) current patterns. You can go also to the Retired Patterns, which simply means that the fabrics used in these are no longer available, but the pattern is, so you have to be creative and substitute your own colour combinations… and who doesn’t do that anyway?

http://www.rjrfabrics.com/patterns/patterns_search.cfm
Wonderful, Wonderful free patterns here, even organized into interesting sections, Cosmopolitan, Fat Quarters and Charms, Designers, and Collections -- click on each to discover exactly what they are…

http://www.southseaimports.com/projects.aspx
All the patterns are in PDF format, click on the link where it says “click here to download PDF” it does say, login at the top of the page, but I did not need to when I clicked on a few of the patterns…

http://www.ttfabrics.com/patterns/index.shtml
Some really nice patterns here, but read the small print as they are only free for a year and then become copyright the designers, so if you see something you are likely to make download it now, or make note of the designers name so that you can find it sometime in the future.

http://www.northcott.net/?sid=3&layout=2col&content=patterns some really nice patterns on this site, though not all are free and they all are pretty much under copyright so remember to contact the designer for permissions to display or sell…

http://www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/MMF/DownLoad.cfm?Gid=1160 This is a great fabric company with a lot of designs and quilt patterns for free. Like a couple of others on this list, they download in the PDF format…

http://www.benartex.com/page/quilt-projects-85.htm
Not so many free projects, in fact I only found one, these are changed monthly, so you need to check back regularly -- it is a relatively new site so is still growing.

http://www.hoffmanfabrics.com/content/content-folder.asp?FolderID=7
 again, Lots and Lots of designs especially created for this companys product lines, click on the title to download the pattern instructions, and again, all in PDF format.

P.S.  Let me know if you have any difficulty with these links so I can correct them.

Odd Bits

My Wall of Fabric -- it is actually a bedroom closet, now the sewing room...

When I bring new or even thrifted fabric into the STASH, I usually wash it and then tear off the selveges from both sides.  I used to leave the selveges on, but now I have a use for them (saw a skirt made of sewn together selvedges on a web page)

The stack of torn off selvedges has grown, sometimes if I have no immediate use for the long strips, I will roll them into a ball -- but the problem with a ball is that then you have to unroll it to sew them together and you don't necessarily want all the same selvedge together, and long strips with no writing on it I usually elminate and that part of the selvedge is saved to tie young plants to a stake in the garden, or other things where you need soft but strong string -- even use it as a tie for gift wrap...

So, all those strips of selvedge gets sewn together with scraps of quilt batting (warm and natural seems to work the best for me) as the backing.  Then, in this case, just as we used to do with school books that we covered with brown paper to protect them, I have made fabric covers for empty, lined or unlined small journals.  You can get the journals at the Dollar Store or as I often do, get them at the thrift shops for even less than at the dollar store.

Not only are the selvedges useful for this kind of scrappy art, but all those odd bits that are left when you are cutting squares and triangles or rectangles and trapazoids from your larger pieces of yardage.  There always seems to be a couple of inches or even less than an inch when you trim... Bits that probably should go into the bin, recycle or garbage...  But no, when I get a stack of little bits I often will iron them on to light, non-woven fusible interfacing -- leaving the raw edges exposed -- sometimes the random bits just work out to be the perfect journal cover, and sometimes I will make a small cosmetic bag or tote or whatever strikes my fancy -- the more small scrappy bits, the more fun it is to try to fit them together to make larger fabric pieces and the more interesting.

Now, I must add that these little exercises in saving tiny bits is not an everyday thing (but the savings of the bits is). I have a couple of baskets under my cutting table that collects all those bits for a someday session of sorting. When I want to sew but have nothing particular in mind except that I just want to sew I can play around with those bits.  The sewn together selvedges may sit on a shelf for months until the inclination to actually use it up strikes my fancy,  or to get out the "fused" together tiny squares, triangles and rectangles and create something just a bit off beat...  Now, to find a way to make use of these PRODUCTS -- perhaps a online outlet to sell them?  Well, I will think on it...

A Week Away. . .

Really, I wasn't too far -- definately not to far to get to my computer fairly easily -- more like, I was pretty busy...

So, since I was so busy, I should explain my week long absence from blogland, or should I?

Cats and Hats and Unicorns

One of the things that took up my time was polishing my Brass Unicorn...  Mostly I don't get attached to THINGS.  Mostly Things are just THINGS and when they have no useful function, they don't stay in my house for long.  But my Brass Unicorn was a wanted THING long before I had him.  Large Brass ornaments were a "wanted" type of thing, way back in the early 1980s...  I used to go to a department store (Eatons that no longer exists) and wish to be an owner of a large brass floor ornament.  They cost way too much!  Then about 10 years ago or so -- I found mine...  Yes, FOUND it, not bought it, though I do believe it was meant to go to a local Salvation Army store...  Early in the day, in the days when I actually went to work, I was on my way to work and glanced out my driver side window and a bright reflection caught my eye -- no traffic, so I stopped and being the garbage picker that I am, there in the ditch lay my brass unicorn...  Mine, all mine!

I guess someone was taking a pile of things to the second hand store and perhaps got lazy...  There was a bag of clothing and a box of other little do dads -- all those I picked up too and did take them over to the Salvation Army drop box, but I kept the brass unicorn!  So this past week I spent a good couple of hours, shining him up with a newly purchased bottle of brass cleaner and now he happily gleams while standing in front of the stack of cd's cabinate...

  This definately was a week of shopping.  Just for the exercise, mind you, my hubby and I decided to go over to the local flea market and bought a few things that just happened to be there just waiting for us, cause we needed them...

My hubby has been trying to keep things in a falling apart wallet for a few months now, and mentioning now and then that he needs a new wallet.   Well, at one of the first tables in the flea market the vendor had dozens and dozens of wallets, leather ones, all for $10 or $15 each.  Hubby found just the right one for him and paid the man his $10...

Next we wandered along the aisles and when my husband gets behind I know he has stopped to look at stacks of cds...  There were ALOT of cds at this weeks flea market.  I even picked up one.  I am somewhat partial to blues and folk music, and there staring at me on one rack was a Robert Johnson cd -- I had never actually heard Robert Johnson but often heard of him -- take a chance and spent $5 -- so I carried home some new to me music -- my hubby also found a Eric Clapton that he at one time had on cassette tape, and a Huey Lewis that he had been hunting for for quite some time...  We thought we found all the treasures we needed...

For the longest time, the cat - ARCHIE has been needing a new post to scratch on -- he and his companion Fossie have been tearing apart the carpet (it is old) on the basement stairs... Now a new post made by a local fellow that makes and sells these stands at a much more reasonable price than the pet supply chain stores -- and not made in China or somewhere else...  $40 bucks and my ARCHIE is totally happy as you can see...

So those couple of things don't take a whole day or even everyday of the week, but truly there were things to keep me busy...

I did some sewing...

 I went to Bellingham, WA to pick up a few things -- particularly fabric and batting...

I had the usual Dr.  appointments, that always take longer than they should...

I absolutely had to go for a walk in the rain, at the park...

I bought topsoil and soil for my dozen or so containers for flowers and herbs on my back deck...

And I nagged my husband to sort out stuff in the basement attic... (most people call it the basement rafters)

So, yep, I was busy...

I'm a Sucker for Old Things of No Value

Yesterday, I had to go pick up a few groceries that I was not able to get a my regular store, so Me, being Me I also made a stop at my Local Value Village. Well, actually I made my husband stop the car there so I could go in... It is the only second hand store open on Sunday in this town...

I told my husband that I wasn't going to spend any money but if I did I would make sure to spend it on something I had no use for!

So, thats what I did. I spent 64 cents on two knitting books!

64 cents!

 They may seem valueless to most people, but at a glance I knew I had no need for them, but I surely was happy to have found them. I don't knit much, except I am trying to learn how to knit two socks on one circular needle (thats another story or another day). I am not very likely to make the more complicated items from these booklets, but you know that cardigan on the front cover will look as good today as it probably did in 1941 -- the year that top book was published... I'm gonna have to think on it. These two books are Canadian Publications, the first "Lux Knitting Book" was specifically aimed at knitting for Our Troops -- the men and women and children who were either fighting the war or who were displaced because of bombing or other distasters -- the ladies here at home were encouraged to knit these items for the benefit of others -- women here had a pretty cushy life compared to what what happening in England and France and the rest of Europe. The socks and vest that our ladies knitted for our soldiers were always welcomed -- a clean and warm pair of socks was probably something real special for a young man, tramping through the muddy fields of France in winter...

The second book, The New Lux Knitting book was published in 1952 and is a whole world of difference when you read the text and compare it to the 1941 version. In this version, style and quality are emphasized -- dressing your children so they look good at school or in public is a MUST according to this second booklet. The world was a completely different place in 1952!

What I really like is the photos, the people who model the items to knit are the average person - the lady down the block, the young dad who works in an office, and the kidlets on their way to school. They are not rail-thin like todays clothing models, their faces are clean and bright, not packed over with extra long eye lashes and unnaturally coloured cheeks. The flaws are not hidden. The lady above, just a bit over weight by todays standard, but trim and neat -- and no perkey implants to emphasize a too big breast, she is a 40ish woman with a shape that is not quite and perfect as her 20 year old counter part and yet she makes that knitted suit look very comfortable and stylish. If you had the talent and opportunity, wouldn't you like to have a suit as fine today?

Some patterns for the men of the family... again, wouldn't these patterns work for todays head of household? And those pipes! Have you seen a man with a pipe in recent years out in public? Well, it is not so acceptable any more is it -- today we know the possible consequences of those masculine pipes -- but you know, I always thought my Dad looked very handsome when he sat in his chair and lit up his pipe -- I remember an ash-tray my brother made for our Dad in his 'shops' class at school!

Just look at those Young Ones! Did your mom put those kind of clothes on you when you were in elementary school? Or maybe you were the Mom who took the extra time to make sure your kids were clean and neat with a ribbon or barrett in your hair. I don't remember my brothers wearing short pants like that, but my grandmother regularly knitted socks for us and I know I had a sweater or two from one gramma or the other, most of my growing up years.

When did the world change so much that now quite often, when you knit, crochet, or quilt for your children or grandchildren the item is looked upon as junk - what teen would be caught "dead" (as they say) with something home made! It takes so much time to create these items and the value of them have been down graded to the point where they are not even wanted anymore... What could show more love than your gramma making you socks for christmas, but now, even manufactured socks are not even to be considered a gift unless they have a movie logo or a tv characters face printed on them...

Some of the wonderfully interesting patterns in these books include socks with a double heel, "so that they provide extra comfort" tp the soldier on the field of battle, mitts for children on the "coldest days and the walk to school" even specially designed scarfs for the "brave airmen" and "seamen" who serve this country.

This was a great find and not a waste of that 64 cents (6 cents tax), in fact I am getting more value from these books than buying a new magazine off the grocery store shelf for 5.99 or 7.99 or even the outrageous price of 13.95! Maybe I will even try to knit one of those seaman scarfs!

Oh PS, the LUX is the name of the sponsor of the books, Lux was a brand of soap--both as a hand soap and a powdered soap for hand dishwashing -- their catch line "New Quick Lux saves you from housework hands . . . is fast -- thrifty "

Talking to Myself and Talking when the Wrong Person is Listening

I'm not talking about quilting or knitting or crochet here.  I'm talking to myself, or so I have come to strongly suspect.  Its like talking to my husband.  Even though I know he has heard me, he ignores me -- is that cause I talk to much? or is it because there are more important things occupying his mind -- but then what could be more important than me?

 Thats not the point of this blog either.

  I just wonder about things, mostly about truth and next about politeness and consideration...  It often keeps me awake at night.  How do you go about being a good friend, first is trust I would think--but it is a terrible sick feeling when a friend betrays that trust when you allowed her to hear a conversation with another friend, as a result it has caused repercussions between my young friend and her husband.  What went on?  A young woman I have known for a fairly short time came to me wanting to talk -- she recently had a baby and was feeling down, she has two other young children and her partner has two children, so my young friend is now the mother of 5 children between 2 months old and 6 years old.  I am well past my child rearing years and find it difficult to remember the energy and mental apptitude it  takes to be a mother, especially since I only had two children, not 5 To be attentive to every child every day along with the extra demands of a new baby is a herculean feat, I suspect.  So she wanted to talk -- I just listen and mostly make small suggestions, but I never make a judgement or tell her how to do things or what she should do -- I just LISTEN.  Well, another friend happened to drop in and though she mostly sat quietly and listened to my conversation with my young friend, I thought all was well.  Unfortunately not.  The second lady, who is an aunt to my young friend went home and phoned my young friend's husband and told him that his wife was whining about looking after the new baby, along with the four other children and how difficult she was finding it and was asking me for advice.  Oh, he was mad!  Not a me, but at my young friend...  I shall not go into detail as I was not there to hear or see. 

Now, I need to explain myself somewhat before I say what I did.  I have opinions, but I try very hard not to make judgements on the way others live their lives.  I believe things in my own way, but I don't try to make others believe what I do or do things the way I do.  I believe that I am not a vindictive or violent person -- violence makes me feel really bad.  So my way to deal with this is to close my mind to this other lady who betrayed my trust.  I have closed my mind to her and closed my home to her.   I have not actually told her that, but she will not be welcome in my home again, there will always be a polite excuse why I cannot spend time with her.  I suspect it may take time for her to get the message that I don't want her around anymore.  She may never get it, but I don't care.  I cannot leave myself open to this untrustworthy person ever again.  She did too much damage.   But I did learn a lesson.   When in a private conversation, keep that conversation private, you just never know who is wanting to cause trouble...

And talk about learning a lesson -- I talk to myself when I write this blog, so I am considering closing it down because it doesn't make sense to talk to myself publicly.  Perhaps just write a private blog in my own handwriting in my own paper journals with an old fashioned pen.  People seem to be disinclined to read personal journals, even if you leave them laying out on your front step on a summer afternoon...  Writing a public blog is disappointing.  Now how do I know I am talking to myself?  I wanted to try out a couple of things that have been questions in my mind.  The first question:  Does anyone read the quilting tips or ideas that I write here?  and secondly, Should I bother to consider giving information or should I just write my own quilting journal and not concern myself with who or how many read this.  I write a blog because I hope that those bits of info make it easier on someone who is working on a quilt, crochet or knit project.  I have come to suspect that no one is reading because no one leaves comments -- I know it takes an extra effort to leave a comment on a blog, but to me, it is a form of saying Thanks for writing this...  But very few do that so either no one reads or no one can be bothered to say thanks.  Either way, it seems like I am talking to the nail in the wall and the only thing that nail does is hope that someone will hang a picture on it so that it is not able to hear me cause it is covered up... Ho Hum...

Now having said that, I am totally amazed at the number of comments I got in response to my offer of a prize (by drawing names) of those who leave comments on my post last week about Earth Hour.  So, quietly I shall state that EVERYONE who left a comment on that posting, up to this moment will receive a little treat in the mail.  It is just too hard to choose just one, so everyone gets something.  Watch your mail because if you send me your postal address I will have your treat out to you the very next day.... My email -- jswb4com at yahoo dot ca -- you know where the @ and . go, right?

It is rainy and rather gloomy out this morning and I have had a headache all night so after writing this gloomy post, I think I need to go cheer myself up with some sewing...  I am quilting a quilt, just a lap size one to donate to my local guild who will then pass it along to one of three organizations who look after women and their families when in need...

Maybe a picture later today...

Pork and Beans -- Plan 52

Yes, I am still working at and learning about this Plan 52 idea -- for those who have not been by here before -- Plan 52 is the name I have given this plan for loosing a few pounds...  Is it working?  What is .2 of a pound?  Sounds like I have alot to learn, yet!

Some of the foods that I am trying to restrict is the big carbs -- at least for awhile --- POTATOES, PASTA, RICE...  which ultimately means more, much more veggies. 

I don't follow plans very well, which means I don't follow recipes, but I do like ideas or suggestions.  So quite often I will, somewhat invent a stew, or soup, even rustic type pies and I love to add odd things into breads and quick breads.  

So the other day, after spending an hour or so reading through Kay Spicer's book Full of Beans (I've had it for years)  I came up with an improvised combination of a couple of her recipes...

I don't know what to call it except  Pork and Beans...   Now keeping in Mind that I am avoiding those big three carbs...  Oh and If you are like me and don't particularly like to follow a recipe, well go ahead and create your own variation...

Plan 52 Pork and Beans

1 can garbonza beans (chick peas to some)
1 medium large onion
2-3 stalks of celery
Pork -- I used a Pork Butt Steak, about  the size of both your hands together.
3-4 bay leaf
2 teaspoons dried thyme
3 cloves garlic
salt and pepper to taste.
chicken stock --- home made prefered or the second choice is canned but if you use the powdered stuff, like OXO or BOVRIL leave out the salt until the pot is finished and let each person add salt to taste...
A glug or two of vegetable oil or canola oil.
A large can of canned tomatoes, I use diced, but if you like crushed or whole or any other variation, use it.  I am not giving can sizes cause here in Canada we use metric and in the US you use Ounces -- use the can that is way to big to get one hand around but if you use two hands it is easy to grab all the way around -- how's that for measuring size???  Good thing I don't quilt like this or my "points would never match up!


In a fairly large pot, put in veg or canola oil, turn heat on medium low.  Add diced onions and chopped celery -- they should be chopped up about the same size.  Cook on low until the onions just start to carmelize, this does take awhile, don't turn the heat up as you want the onions to carmelize not burn.  Be Patient, stir regulary -- if you get tired of waiting for the onions, get a cloth and wipe the top of the fridge and the window sills and maybe even take some stuff out of a cupboard and wipe the shelf and the dusty cans... (hahaha) but don't get too involved in the wiping stuff, cause you still have got the onions to keep your eye on.

Chop the Pork BUTT into about 1/2 cubes and add to the onions - you don't have to brown the meat.  Add the can of beans (chick peas) into the pot -- make sure you drain them well and rinse them before.  If you happen to be starting with dried beans, it is about a 1/2 cup dried beans soaked at least 6 hours, so overnight or close to.  Add the canned tomatoes, and about 4 cups of chicken stock (or 4 cups of water and you "flavouring powder" of choice.  Peel and chop the garlic -- not too fine...  Add the Bay Leaf and Thyme.  Put a lid on the pot and turn the heat to LOW.  Every 15 - 20 minutes go check the pot to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom or that the liquid has evaporated (if it has your heat is on too high) add liquid if needed -- plain water is fine.  Give the pot at least an hour but two is better.  When you are hungry, find the Bay Leafs and take them out of the pot and chuck in the garbage.  Eat all the rest of the Plan 52 Pork and Beans --- I find that about a cup and a half makes a nice warming and filling meal size.   If you are not following a weight loss system, a couple of pieces of buttered toast go beautifully with this soup/stew -- so my husband says...

Oh, PS -- a nice crunchy Gala or Fuji apple goes great with this as dessert!

REMINDER: check back to the Earth Day Entry and enter a comment for a chance at a small giveaway goodie...

Earth Hour 2010 - March 27, 8:30pm

Turn out your lights for one half hour on March 27. 

"Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour."

"In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative."

"Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time) and is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet" quoted from the About Earth Hour Page at earthhour.org

Learn more about this movement to save our world by going to http://www.earthhour.org/ 

Check out the web page, and put your location on the supporters map -- http://www.earthhour.org/SupportersMap.aspx  put your town and home on the map...

While the lights are out, light a candle or two, or perhaps use a battery light and experience what it may have been like a hundred years ago, doing hand-sewing after all the other work of the day is complete...  slower - harder to see - quieter...

AND -- the best part -- leave me a promise in the comments that you will be turning out your lights for earth hour and I will draw a name on March 29 for a giveaway that you can use should your lights go out and you really really really need to do some hand- sewing....  (then check back on Monday to see if it was/is you!

Tuesday Tip

Well, here's one that seems to be just a natural action when you go to look for a specific fabric for a quilt -- TAKE A SWATCH --  take a swatch of the fabrics that you already have or the fabrics that are already planned for a quilt.  Especially take a swatch of fabric or fabrics if you are part way in building a quilt and want to add sashing or perhaps borders or even to put on binding.  It really is amazing how many variations of GREEN there are!   I was in the LQS today looking to put a "looks like a solid" into a scrappy block quilt and I am so thankful that I brought along a few of the green swatches that were in the blocks -- it turned out it was not such a common green -- sort of green with a bit of blue but also sort of greyish...  I did find what I want.

BUT then I have been collecting some greys and without a swatch of the greys that I already have I bought a meter of grey batik on 'spec' -- now that it is home, it is not so grey, it is sort of purply -- I don't think it really fits the greys I have, so again TAKE A SWATCH and you will avoid those little errors (but I am sure that this purpley grey will eventually find its own use...

Victoria, Things to Do While there...

Aw, Well, I just can't help it -- the shopping experience in Victoria for me means to stop in at my favourite second hand stores....
And of course, I drag along my husband as chauffeur and "all around lift and carry guy" So, I bought him a present, first thing. He is a New York Yankees fan and his ball cap with the NY logo wore out a year or two back -- I spotted this one and knew it was just right -- and the price was in my budget for presents too. $2.99 -- don't want to spend too much on other people you know!

My other fun find was this BLOOM LOOM -- I have been watching out for one of these for a couple of months now. Something that popped into my head while reminicing... Complete with instruction sheet, this is another use for scrap yarn -- at least in my memory anyway. I will have to find some time to experiment and post results at a later date. Right now I seem to be on a RETRO kick and have a few projects on the burner so it may take a while til I get to actually making a start on making a bloom with the bloom loom -- I am hoping to accomplish a small afghan at least -- well, maybe just a retro cushion cover... Will get back to you on that.

Now this little sketch book and cover is not a Victoria find but is a little project I made up in order to journal my days and draw a few sketches as I go along, I used the selvedge of some imported african batik fabrics (pippa moore's website) I is as simple fabric cover with slots in the back page for carrying the pens and pencils, but it has one major drawback, when you want to write on the pages that are "on top" of the back cover the slots with pens etc, make it a too rough surface to write on. I will have to think a bit more about the design for this kind of thing. Again another one of those, WHEN I GET TO IT PROJECTS... not a UFO or a WIP though...

And Last, while in Victoria, there is always "downtime" evenings in the hotel where the activities of the day are complete and all the visiting is done til tomorrow -- so to fill my hours in the hotel room, I worked to put on the binding of one of those UFO CHALLENGE Projects that are on my list to get done.... Here is my Bento Box Variation. This started out as an experiment of how to put a half-log cabin block together, then I actually saw a picture online of a quilt called a Bento Box -- well, I can't say as I made this from a copy of the purchaseable pattern or from a design other than my thoughts on the half log cabin block -- but it is very much like the "official" Bento Box Pattern, so I shall concede that it could be a variation of Bento Box, though also, I do not know what the measurements of the officaal blocks are nor do I know the construction method used in the commercial pattern. I used 3 1/2" wide strips, so the beginning square or corner of the block is 3 1/2 inch square with two strips to build the block, in light dark or dark light combinations.  They do look awfully alike and in my version it just worked out the best to make two blocks with each width of fabric so that each block was a mirror image of the other -- it is the mose economical way to use the scrappy strips.  Now of course this method, has lead me to another variation which I am working on and may someday complete...I have not given this quilt a name, but it is a nice size for a youth or kid size bed or maybe just a couch throw...

Victoria

This is just off Store Street near Fisgard, looking out into the harbour -- the touristy areas are somewhat south of this area -- it used to be heavy industrial because the harbour is fairly deep and it allowed for easy access to the ships and shipping... Now it is turning into 'parking' for smaller boats and yachts, some of the old buildings have been converted to upscale retail, though to the left of this picture, just out of frame is one of my favourite shops -- Value Village!

Another view of water, Victoria is practically surrounded by it!

Somebody's home, looks like anyway, imagine the waves rocking you to sleep every evening...

Presents

Used to be, birthdays and other present days were all crowded together between the end of September and Christmas -- but now as new babies have been born into new generations, all the present days are bunched up between Christmas and the end of March! So we are off on a weekend adventure to Victoria, BC to deliver a selection of presents to the great nieces! I think one of the wonderfulest ideas to come along in recent times is the gift bag. I have four great nieces so instead of wrapping lots of little presents in individual gifts with lots of ribbon and wrapping --- a bit of loose tissue in the bag covers all those little gifts and saves me, time and moola! Besides, I went to one of the second hand stores and over in the crafty section they have dozens of gift bags for every occasion and for every size! At 40 cents a bag, it is a win-win situation...

One of my favourite things about Victoria, is the second hand store shops -- they just seem to have better stuff, than over here...  the WIN (women in need) shops are really my favourite ones -- alot of stylish clothing and accessories, alot of interesting fiction, nice selections of costume jewellery, too -- though I don't wear jewellery, it is always pretty to look at -- though it does lack in the craft department, I wonder why?  Value Village is the place for fabrics and yarns and I am on the look out for some light cottons to make some summer tops, lots to do over there to fill three days of visiting and shopping... Perhaps I will find something extra special in the second hand stores there -- I almost always do...

So I will be back by Tuesday with another couple of tips... and some pictures from Victoria!

Tipping on Tuesday - slight adjustments

Yes, well there is copyright and I will gladly give credit where credit is  due but sometimes, a slight adjustment makes the original idea more interesting -- and then there is the thing that when you see an idea that you have seen the general idea even before and the latest idea is a variation on the idea that you saw quite some time ago, so is the most recent one a copyright?

Anyway, here are a couple of ideas that were passed along to me from Martha Stewarts craft pages and I remade them in my own way.

This is a super easy and quick little treat to make for friends or work collegues on a special occasion, instead of a bag of herbal tea and mug how about trying this.

On Martha's site she suggested cutting the corner from a flat type paper bag-- Wow, that is easy and very throw away without guilt.  I thought I would make my corner bookmarks a bit more substantial and use scrap fabrics.  So this little corner bookmark is made by taking  two  2 1/2 inch squares and folding each to make a triangle. Then just sew the straight right angle sides together -- in this case I put a bit of rick rack between the two folded triangles, but you can leave it plain.  You can sew it so that the seam allowance is on the outside and is a bit frayed, it gives a bit of edge that is easy to find when you go back to re-open your book, or you can sew the seam and turn the triangles so that the seam is on the inside and you have a finished edge -- you can make dozens by using "chain" sewing.   A fun little treat to give if you keep them on hand or carry with you as spontaneous gifts.

And another Martha suggestion from her craft pages is a bia tape tote bag (you can go to her site and get greater detail if you need) (http://www.marthastewart.com/).

My version of this tote is still to use the bias tape, except in this case, I made it myself by cutting 2 1/2 inch wide strips -- I made about 240 inches worth but had about 24 inches left, so 6 strips cut the width of you fabric makes enough and left over.   I also used my own measurements because I based this project on a pre quilted panel that I had picked up at the second hand store quite some time ago.  The main bag is about 12" wide by 15" deep, with two pockets, the one with the kitty is about 9 x 15 and the bottom one about 5 x 15.   I used the 'tape' for all the edges including the handles -- the handles are about 24 inches long with a bit of a fold over with an "x" to hold them to the bag.   It did take a bit longer than the book marks but not by much -- maybe about 45 minutes, mainly because it is pre printed and pre quilted so there was no need for lining or quilting the fabric.   I have no babies, but this will go into my stash of future gifts, I know that there will be some new mom and baby that can make use of this sometime soon...

So, the actual tip here is to look at things with the idea of making slight adjustments to something you might see elsewhere and make it your own -- oh and when it comes to copyright, it is probably a good idea to at least give credit to where you saw the original idea or where you picked up the idea, even if that is not the original.  It is polite to at least say where your idea was derived from...

 

Away for the Weekend and a visit to a Quilt Shop

Just a short post today.

I am off to a retreat for the weekend.  Not too far away.  Far enough that no one but fellow sewists will interrupt me.  I am going to sew and sew and sew all day and into the night.  Maybe I will take a nap, now and then and try out a new book about knitting 2 socks at at time.   I don't knit much -- actually, I don't think I have ever finished a knitted item, perhaps I may manage to knit two socks, though.  The book cost $22, so hopefully it was worth spending the money, cause wouldn't it be nice to have home knitted socks?  Not that I would knit them for anybody but me -- I think with knitted socks I would be greedy about keeping them to myself, unless I got really really good at knitting socks.

One little concern about this retreat, is will I be able to stick with Plan 52?  Well, I guess I'll know a bit more about my motivation for that new hobby, by Sunday evening, won't I?

Oh, and I wanted to mention...  Suzy Q's Quilt Shop in Ft McMurray  one of my quilty online friends lives up that way, and the shop she frequents has asked to use my previous idea of the SEW-DA Pop Bottles -- I am so glad that some of those weird ideas I find are interesting enough to use.  Drop by the web page link to visit online -- just clik on the link or perhaps next time you drive up that way, you will find a reason to drop in...

Okay, I must go make sure I have put together too much stuff to take along to the retreat -- you never know what you might need and if it is still back home in the sewing room, it would mean FRUSTRATION, and we sure don't want that on what should be rest and relaxation!

My Newest Hobby

Well, I guess it is time to admit it, I have a new hobby.  I am calling a hobby cause it is becoming obsessive which is a good thing, I hope.   I signed up with one of those weight-loss plans.  It costs as much as quilting as a hobby and more than crochet, so since the initial outlay is a bit of a hump to get over -- one needs the proper supplies to get started in any hobby, so I am justifying the expense, not only that it will be good for me, but also that I probably would have spent that money on things for my hobby anyway.

I was reading a blog the other day about a man working at loosing weight and he called his endeavour, Plan 52, because he had 52 pounds to loose.  So, I decided to call my new hobby, Plan 52, also.  Not that I have 52 pounds to loose, but because it just sounds like a good goal to work to, then if (and there is) a further need to add to that PLAN 52, I can continue on, feeling good that I accomplished PLAN 52 - THIS YEAR... 

Now my Plan 52 is on its way, I am one and a half weeks in and officially have managed to loose 3.2 pounds...  I am quite satisfied with that, even though I have somewhat of a saboteur in my home...  Now how to thwart his system and make mine a success.  I know he doesn't do it purposely but he thinks by offering treats, he is giving me a gift, sort of like the cat bringing you a half eaten mouse or bird that he caught out in the field!!  Nice Kitty, nice Kitty...

And further reading on weight loss has brought me to another article about motivation and how to keep it.  One article said that most of the need to eat is not in our bellies, but in our heads -- and yes, I probably knew that years ago because I can never seem to satisfy my brain with "eating" the same old thing -- I am always looking for new ideas!  Therefore, I suspect that my brain is telling my belly, that since I have not had a piece of date cake or a bag of chips in quite some time, that it is okay to take a little (ha!) taste and then the whole thing is gone.  Where?  To the Belly of course....   So the new hobby is ultimately going to concentrate on weighing what I put into the BELLY, thinking about what interesting ways I can prepare foods -- no more easy pasta suppers!   So research and reading and looking at recipes for low fat, low sugar things is my new goal...

My cousin suggested a mantra, but I don't know as I am ready for it, because to me, it seems a bit derogatory and in a way a put down, but it does cross my mind now and then "Thin feels better than any food tastes".   Is that encouraging or discouraging?  I want my food to taste good but I want to be thinner too...  I have to find a nicer mantra that encourages both the weight-loss and the search for the right menu!

I will try to update now and then on this hobby, but if you never hear me speak of it again you will be able to surmise that I have failed the challenge!  I know, that the idea of failing is not really something to think about but in my case, well, with weight-loss it is a common occurance, to be perfectly honest...  Unfortunately, failure at weight-loss is not uncommon, but I am trying...