Works In Progress - Post Clean-up...

As you may have read here, I have been doing a major sort, organization and clear out of my sewing room!  Many items in my sewing collection have been hanging around way too long!

Now, that is done, I can actually SEE MY WAY CLEAR to a few projects!

I am slowly working on a Postage Stamp Quilt -- My Aunt Vera made one of these, by hand, many years back and every now and then the memory of it returns in my mind.  I decided, I should actually make one for myself!  A postage stamp quilt is made up of well, postage stamp sized fabric bits.  In the case of the one I am doing, the bits are 2" square and when sewn are 1 1/2 inch... So when I make a block of 25 squares it is not very big...

 

 

And so far I have 12 of these made - it is a long way to go, yet tho...

 

 

There will be narrow sashings between each block, at least that is the plan so far...

 

My other in progress is the blocks and fabric that I got from a quilting friend that I have been working on...

 

 

I made a stack of leaves and petals so that I could add an applique border, tho it is only on two sides of the project...  I guess you might say it is my ARTISTIC interpretation! Hahahaha!

 

 

I had started to applique the pieces with my machine, but the curves of the leaves and petals are a bit too tight to do them neatly, so now it goes down to lay beside my TV watching chair and I can applique by hand before the layering and quilting...

 

 

Last year just about this time, I won a Jelly Roll of black and white fabrics and I have been searching since then for just the right project for them...  And I do believe I have found it!  Good thing I thumbed through all those old magazines before giving them away!  This S-Block Quilt in Quilt Magazine from January 2009, seems to feel right.   Now, the decision that needs to be made, what colour should the 'in between' S be???   RED? hmmmm....

 

My last Work in Progress for now, is this poor little AVOCADO plant...

I do think there is something wrong with it.   I started the seed from a store bought avocado just around Christmas time.  It took til March before it had a good root and a couple of leaves, so I planted it in soil on March 9.   It has added about an inch in height since then, but the leaves are not opening out and why are they so white?

 

 

I doesn't look like pictures of avocado plants I see on the internet google images... hmmmm...

Linking up as usual with The Needle and Thread Network...

Every Night Travel Pillow

How about a tutorial for a change?

Quite a few years ago, I purchased (for way too many $$$$'s) a travel pillow.  You know the big fluffed up 'C' type of pillow.  I found it unuseable.  I really disliked it.  It just seemed to push my chin down onto my chest -- it was not a good pillow -- at least for me.

So I invented one for myself - but I have seen very similar versions since then, so there is not just one person who thinks those expensive 'C' shape travel pillows are not so good...

I actually use my 'travel' pillow every single night!  I don't use a regular pillow at all.  I lay flat on my back and I like my head to rest at the same level as the rest of me...  One problem, which seemed to develop as I got older, my neck was often sore after a night like that.

I had to think of something to support my neck.  After some experimenting with rolled up towels and scrunched up regular pillows, I thought I just need a small roll behind my neck.  But that didn't work very well even tho it supported my neck, it tended to 'slip away' during sleep, or if I moved my head...

And now, because I have been making this pillow for myself now for well over 5 years, probably closer to 10, I cannot remember how I came to think that a "dog bone" shape would work...

And it does!  So here follows my version of a very useful little pillow for every night, or for travel, or even to keep on the back of a recliner type chair to let you lean back and have an afternoon nap without waking up with a stiff neck!

I made myself a pattern.   The sewing is very basic so I am not going into major details of how to sew this together but there are alot of photos so you can see the step by step...

Every Night and Every Day Neck Pillow

 

supplies:  a piece of polar fleece or other 'comfy fabric'  enough to be able to cut out 2 rectangles that are about 18" x 14"

 

thread, pillow stuffing, or left over bits of quilt batting, sewing machine, or even just a hand sewing needle and thread. 

 

The pattern you make yourself - a large piece of paper, use a newspaper page if you need to and mark the lines with a crayola marker that doesn't bleed thro, or put layers of paper underneath so you don't leave marks on your table.

 

Step 1.  Make the pattern.  refer to the photo below.  1st mark a rectangle that measures 16" long x 12" wide

 

 

Step 2: mark a seam allowance of 1/2 inch all around your rectangle. (my pattern doesn't show the end seam allowance on this one so you just have to take my word)

 

Step 3: I fold the paper in half long ways and short ways, so you can use the crease to measure from.  Use your ruler and draw a line 2 inches from each side of the folds, so that now it looks like a 'dog bone'.  Check the shape you have made so that it looks like my drawn pattern.

 

Step 4: On the part of the pattern that forms the " |_| " draw your seam allowance so that the log or centre 'bone' part stays at 4 inches wide and 8 inches long.

 

Your lines don't have to be perfect, I find that this size works very well for me.  If you are a bigger person you might want to make the length a bit longer, you might make the centre "bone" so that it finishes at 9 inches, but my suggestion is to start out with the standard then experiment on later tries.

 

Now the rest is super easy...

 

Step 5: Pin your pattern to your fabric.  I like polar fleece because it is easy to sew and is soft and not scratchy at all...

 

 

Step 6: Cut your fabric in the pattern shape. Unpin from your pattern and make sure that the right sides of the fabric are facing each other.

 

Step 7: Now, I like to make a marking dot at each corner so I know when to turn the corner and still keep the 1/2 inch seam allowance.

 

 



Step 8:  Start at the centre of one end of the 'dog bone' use one or two back stitches and sew all the way around making sure to maintain a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  End so that you leave about a 4 or 5 inch opening

 

 

Step 9:  Snip the outside corners so they don't bulk up, and snip the inside corners so that they turn smoothly, don't snip into your stitched line!

 

 

Step 10: Turn right side out

 

 

Step 11:  Find your prefered stuffing or batting

 



 

Step 12: A bit at a time, and being patient, push stuffing into the furthest corners of the pillow, but don't make it really firm, just squishy...

 

Step 13: Last bit, hand sew the opening closed.

 



 

Step 14: Lay down and test it out....

 

Hope you find this to be a useful accessory.

 

Oh, one other thing this little pillow is great for...

laying on the ground (with or without a blanket beneath you)

and watching the clouds float by on a warm summer afternoon!

PS, this little pillow doesn't need a pillow cover and I rarely wash it, it is so simple to make that I just do a new one as needed -- about every 3 or 4 months...

Vegetablized!

Not often that I write about cooking here on Susan Being Snippy, but every now and then I come across a recipe on the internet or on the Food Network (especially on Chef Micheal Smith's shows) that looks like a recipe that would suit my worker guys...

They like meat.

I try as I might to get as many vegetables into their diet as is possible without causing the words "I ain't eatin' that" to be said...

I was exploring a 'link-up" to see if I could find any new crochet or quilting blogs to put on my reading list and came upon a blog that was actually hugely crowded with a variety of ads, all down the side and between practically every paragraph -- I generally skip over those kinds of blogs, not that the blog owner doesn't have interesting things to say, but that everything they do say, is an attempt at selling you something and in this case she presented a recipe promoting Bush's Baked Beans (we don't get that brand where I am) The recipe she shared included adding 1/2 cup of brown sugar and a 1/2 cup of maple syrup, plus salt, garlic powder and onion powder, ketchup, yellow mustard and no veggies...  But it did sound and look interesting with a few tweeks that I made to it...

Now, since this household has a diabetic in it -- me,-- another concern in most cooking is SUGAR...

The recipe on the other blog has extra sugar and really no veg other than the beans.  So since I cook, much like my grandmother and mother - you know, a bit of this and a bit of that -- I often take the idea of a recipe and recreate my own version...  My version takes a bit more chopping to prepare, but i think is more 'garden fresh' healthy!  And even so I would say that the prep time did not exceed 15 minutes...

Sorry, I did not think to take a photo of the finished dish -- it was scooped up onto plates very quickly!

So here is my recipe, that I am calling ....

Vegetablized Brown Beans and Beef

Preheat oven to 375 F.

 

1 regular sized can baked brown beans -- whatever brand or store brand you prefer (I used Maple flavour store brand brown beans)

open and pour the can of beans into a middling size cassarole dish.

Add

2 tblsp ketchup and 2 tblsp grainy mustard

stir together really well

Then

Saute about 1 pound ground beef in a fry pan til nicely brown -- drain off the extra fat -- add a 1/2 onion and about 2 crushed garlic cloves and saute til the onion is translucent. (don't burn the garlic!)

Add

2 or 3 stalks of celery chopped including the leaves.  Saute for a couple minutes til the celery softens a bit more. 

Broccoli stalks 3 or 4 -- not the floret part, chop the stalks into pieces about the same size as the celery and mix into the bean mixture, no need to precook these. (use the florets another day)

Stir the meat mixture into the beans in the casserole dish and stir together well.

Put the lid on the casserole dish and pop it into the oven for about an hour.  (You might get away with less time, but thats how long it took me make a few crochet granny squares and watch an episode of Elementary on TV).

I don't think you should leave it in longer than a hour tho.

 

Remove from the oven, take the lid off and let the family serve themselves.

This recipe is enough for Three of us, so if you have more to feed just double up the ingredients and follow the same procedure...  You could double up everything except the meat and still have enough beef flavour in it to be quite satisfying to a Meat Lover...

 

I served this with a home made coleslaw -- the coleslaw mix you buy in a bag and coleslaw dressing with a sprinkling of sesame seeds...

 

My DH said he thought it was the best beans he had eaten in a long time -- even better than the chili that I make.

 

I told my son that I did not put any hot pepper or hot sauce (as the internet recipe had called for) into it and he said "good thing"

 

And as for me, I liked it too and after checking my blood sugar level later in the evening, I found that I was as normal as could be expected...  definately a good thing...

 

I'd like to know if you try out this idea and how your family might like it.   If you have one of those big BBQ's you might try it as a BBQ side dish baking it on the BBQ in a non-flame corner...

Someone Else's Sewing...

It's been awhile since I wandered up into my sewing room...

Partly because it was in a real shambles after 'culling' quite a few of the books and magazines I had collected through the years along with notions that I probably would never get around to using and even some lengths of fabric that I just could not see a way to use...

I did finally get things back in order to where it became a room that I could walk into and see where the things were on shelves or in their baskets along the wall so I sat down and pulled a plastic bag of stuff out of a drawer...

Every now and then everyone needs an injection of inspiration.

Even if that inspiration comes in the form of someone elses part done project that they had lost interest in a year or two or three ago... (people tend to give me stuff, cause I always smile when they do so! and I always promise to make good use of whatever it is!)

Some blocks, a few cut squares, triangles and long strips pre-cut, were organized into this piece...

 

This is, either a table runner or a door quilt -- not quite sure which, or perhaps it is a bed runner... It measures about 60 inches long and about 25 inches wide.

 

Most of the star blocks were already made and the alternating plain blocks were cut, the narrow border strips were already cut too.  There is some of that lovely mauve about 1/2 meter and I am hoping that I can add a final border with it.  Then with some of the bali print scraps I am thinking to add a leaf vine applique border...

 

I think I will put another couple hours into it today and see how much further it progresses...

 

 

Oh, and today, even tho he looks a bit grumpy, I know Walter is celebrating...

It was two years ago today, that Walter came to live with us and we are happy and thankful that he did!

 

Infatuation

Well, Hello!  I have been somewhat otherwise occupied of late and have been away from the blog... 

Now, onto my latest "Summer Love"...

My dear heart (DH) or depending on the day, damn husband, has been taking opportunities to suggest to me that he needs some new music -- he had a 'music player' thingy for a long time, but it wore out and now he is back to listening to music in a regular cd player, so he wanted a couple of new cd's. (we do discuss these kind of WANTS as opposed to Needs)  

So I ordered from Amazon.ca two of the three items he wanted -- old man rock and roll -- John Fogerty, Wrote a Song for Everyone and something new from a group from Colorado called the Luminares -- I like the Luminares,they have a very interesting sound -- I could almost hear Grunge, but also some basic Country-- very refreshing!

 I'm disappointed in John Fogerty, but I won't be the one with that in my "collection' so my opinion on it doesn't really matter... (I just think voices get old and tired and it is just no fun listening to a version of "Bad Moon Rising" that isn't quite as vibrant and bright as it was in 1970...)--and that opinion goes for any of the old men of Rock and Roll...

Anyway.  Along with those two cd's I ordered a book - for me, but also to make the order so that it has free shipping -- good excuse, hey?!

 

Oh boy, Oh boy, Oh boy!  I thought I was ordering this book just to add to the order, but what a great book!   As soon as it came in the door and was unpackaged - and the cd's thrown aside - I quickly became infatuated!  There are dozens of crochet snowflakes to be found on the internet, but this book is so clear with both written and diagramed instructions it is a joy to go through each page!

 

And I have been busy...

 

 

So far I have done 4 of the beginner patterns -- and yes each pattern clearly says, beginner, intermediate, and advanced -- with many snowflakes that can be made up in much less than an hour, which makes them very satisfying to do!

 

 

I have not blocked or stiffened up any of the ones I have made yet tho.  I was going to ask my aunt how to do that, but the book does have quite nicely written instructions for doing that and what product to use...

 

A few years back I gave my self a challenge to make 100 crochet snowflakes, but at the time, I got bogged down and I think I got about 20 done, which I gave away with christmas cards that year...

Mind you, I started that challenge in November....

 

 

This is June.  I have lots of time to get a 100 snowflakes made before Christmas! and like the subtitle of the book says "Make your own snowdrift - to give or to keep"

 

PS - were you waiting for my other summer challenge? the one with a tutorial for a traditional quilt block each week?  that doesn't seem to be working out right now...  You don't want a big long story about it either, do you?  Good.  Cause I don't have one...

 

The current infatuation with snowflakes could last all summer!

Wishing you all a summer love...

Works in Progress -- Time keeps on Marching, marching, marching into the future....

Wow! the days go by quickly! Don't they?  Sometimes they disappear so quickly and even tho we know we must have gone through them, we can't really account for everything that kept us busy...

By my standards, I was busy...  but then of course my standards of busy-ness includes lots of reading, crocheting, and watching tv time!  So to me, taking on an unusual project, or attending to "out of town" guests, and giving a bit of help to a senior relative, means I have been busy!

My "out of town" niece brought to mind some family heirlooms that I had rescued about 5 years ago, from a DIRE situation (another family member was intending to take piles of collected goods to the landfill in the back of his truck!)  So, since my niece was here for a few days, I gave her the option of taking possession of some of these items from her grandmother and great grandmother and deciding their fate...

My reason for passing along these things is because I do not have my own direct decendants (my children have no children) to give them to, so better the decision made now than to have the same kind of fate befall these heirlooms that I already saved them from...

There was a gathering and organizing and packing up job that occupied a couple of days and that job led to my next idea...

 

 

Family Photos...

 

It seems that I have become the keeper of the history...  but like I said, alot of this has no where to go after me...

 

There were many photos left in my Mother's house after she died and again, it was me who rescued quite a number of photos, especially photos of my fathers family (my Mother had a extreme dislike of my father's mother and therefore did not care how or where those photos were kept)  But I found them and have organized and identified those that I could...

 

 

Many of the oldest photos remain in piled stacks, or in 'books' as they were recieved by the photo shop way back in the 30's, 40's and 50's...

 

 

Even photos taken in the 60's, 70's, 80's and up into the 90's, remain in stacks in boxes or envelopes...

 

So, I decided it was time.  Time to get them in order, time to decide what is worth the space, and time to cull pictures of roads and trees, mountains and lakesides, pictures of someone standing beside a tree or a building so far away, their identity is in question...

 

Pictures of other people, taken a time ago and their names forgotten or become unimportant through the years.

 

And still there are stacks to organize...

 

Now, my order of business is that I decided there is no point in trying to figure out years that pictures were taken, so I am working on general categories...

 

My first category...

 

 

then

 

The Baby Years

 

Working and Growing

 

Life after the Children...

 

and maybe a few sub categories, but for now, this is my method...

quick little...

I discovered a link up this morning that I wanted to tell you about...

What is a link up you say? It is a web page were bloggers can list their current post on their blog and when someone cliks on a little icon they are brought to a blog where they can read MORE about what interests them...

Check out Live a Colourful Life, Really Random Link up

And just as a little reminder, if you look up at the tab bar at the top of my page, not the very top, silly! just below the title and the header pictures...  You will see a tab that says, Link Parties...
If you clik on that it will go to a page where I have posted the icons for other link up pages for various days of the week...

Using these link-ups are a great way to discover new blogs that may suit your reading style and interests...

Whats in the Bag, Dad?

 



 

Strawberry Plants in Bloom on my front 'porch'...

 

Work in Progress -- Modern Classics Challenge

I am inspired!

The other day a friend was looking for the name and instructions to make a 'classic' quilt block.  Classic but not very well known.  Over time the design and its instruction have become "little known".

One of my Quilting "things" is to collect old quilt patterns and booklets and magazines....  I have thumbed through these books over and over and over and, well, if I must say so, I knew what she was looking for, and I knew where to look for it!

Then another friend sent me an email to tell me that she really enjoyed the way I was able to share my knowledge of quilting...

So those two 'events' have inspired me to make for myself and new SUMMER CHALLENGE for 2013. 

I would very much like if you could follow along!

THIS IS THE MODERN CLASSICS SUMMER CHALLENGE

I will post a unusual quilt block each week, along with a tutorial of how to put it together.   Each block, I hope will introduce you to what was once before called MODERN QUILTING!  

I will be starting the challenge on May 21, 2013 and the last post will be on Sept 03 2013,  by my count that is 18 weeks so 18 blocks. And I have a feeling that will not be nearly enough to cover all the interesting early MODERN quilt blocks!

 

There will be blocks that are fairly simple with straight line sewing, there will be blocks with triangles of various sizes, there will be blocks that are appliqued and there will be blocks with curves, and there will even be blocks to embellish with embroidery stitches!

 

 

Unlike last summer's self challenge to make 10 quilts and donate each of the quilts, my challenge is to awaken an interest in some of these patterns and designs.   I hope that somewhere along the weeks of the summer YOU will find a quilt block that you LOVE and will make your very own MODERN CLASSIC.

 

I am posting these all on my blog and I do ask that you use the designs only for yourself, if you know someone who likes the pattern, please ask them to come visit my blog to get the instructions.  

 

 

None of the patterns are original designs by me, but I am doing the research and posting the information about them.

 

I will give you as much history on the blocks that I am able to discover.

 

So if you would like to follow along with this series your best bet is to sign up on my email list so that each time I update the blog you will not miss and 'episode'...

 

Also if you are so inclined, I would so much appreciate knowing how you are doing with each block posted and if you have a question that I did not address in a particular post, leave a comment, or use my email contact which is on my blogger profile.

 

I hope to set up a group flickr account so that you can post photos of the blocks that you accomplish!

 

Ready?

 

Works in Progress - It Could Be Anything....

I have not written a blog post for almost two weeks, that is quite unusual for me because I always have something to say...

 In fact I talk so much that my husband has got into the habit of saying "umhumm", whenever he vaguely hears my voice....

He has no idea what I have said and I suspect that it really doesn't much matter to him... Someday I hope to say to him " DUCK! "   and he will say "umm" and then not have time to utter the "humm" part of the word....

I have been spring cleaning again -- I keep getting this urge or need to declutter.   The things I went through 6 months ago and decided to keep are again on the chopping block...  Space is not at a premium in my house, I still have some empty shelves, empty drawers and empty rods in the closets, but I keep thinking back to when I was a child and had my bed, and a dresser and a few books and about three china horses on top of my dresser.  My room was not piled with things or toys or dolls.   When I wanted to take up a crafty project, there always seemed an old shirt or skirt to take apart to make barbie clothes with, or my gramma would give me yarn to knit a scarf, or my dad would buy me a paint by number kit .

I keep yearning to make things simple...

But it is not so simple to live simply...  Sorting scrappy squares, in anticipation of a summer marathon of quilt top making...  want to sew along with me, this summer?  I have not set myself a plan or a goal yet, tho...

 

A box of chocolates, that have already been eaten and then filled with scrappy triangle pieces....   I have been sewing them, light to dark for a day or so now, with no real plan for them as yet -- other than a someday quilt top -- maybe part of my summer project...

 

 

These blocks were from a few years back, a pattern from Quiltmaker Magazine that a group of 5 exchanged blocks from...  I used half the blocks and made a really nice lap size quilt, but still have about 30 blocks -- I think it might be a bed runner....  and more half squares sewn together, not sure where or what their purpose is.  And under the "heritage squares" are a stack of blue and white bowtie blocks...

 

 

 

and this developing "postage stamp" project, each block is 25 squares and measures 6.5 inches --- the postage stamp squares are 1.5 inch each...  a long way to go....

 

 

And while I watch my favourite shows in the evenings or sometimes when I wake up at 1am, instead of laying in bed, I get up and crochet...

 

This granny square project is well on its way, all the 'rounds' are made --- 80 of them and now I am adding the last white round to make each granny square, square and at the same time joining them...

 

 

And who but Walter finds a way to lighten up any serious thoughts!  If he could talk he would be saying, " Take a Break, Already!"  Walter thinks everything except laying around is work...  I think I do agree.

 

 

 

and if I have the GAUL to ignore his suggestion to take a break, he just lays on top of my work or my instruction sheet and forces me to consider his suggestions...

 

 

Even if you don't have a 'Walter' sit back and find that ZEN moment.

 

 

Best Laid Plans...

The sun is shining...  The birds are tweeting...

And I decided first thing this morning to put a binding on a quilt that has been finished for about 3 months except for the binding.

I had my breakfast -- an omlette with slices of avocado on top and a nice fresh cup of coffee (sometimes I use yesterdays coffee left in the pot cause I am too impatient to wait for an fresh pot), checked my email and was headed to the sewing room before 7am...

I pulled out the quilt that needed the binding and plopped it down on the floor beside my sewing chair while I sewed the long strips of binding together

 

Then I turned to pick up the quilt and guess who? had made himself comfortable within the folds.

 

 

For a change he wasn't knocking things off the cutting table or taking up all the space by stretching out in the sun on my ironing surface, SO...

 

I shifted my focus and decided to work on another project.

 

 

Another small "chocolate box" of already cut 2 inch squares was passed along to me a week or so ago at guild meeting, so I thought instead of loosing them in the piles of stuff, I would do a bit of stitching them into a few blocks.  25 patch blocks, that maybe will become a doll quilt or? who knows, but I was in a mood to sew and since Walter had disrupted one plan, there is always an alternative in my sewing room...

 

 

Well, I did not get very far along when my DH asked if I wanted to go get some groceries, so I only got a few blocks done...

 

 

These are rather fiddly little blocks, but now they are started and I am back from the grocery store interruptions so I shall head back to the sewing room, open my window and listen to the birds twittering and fluttering outside my window, and get some more sewing accomplished...  And thats the plan for today.  It is not yet 10:30am!  Lotsa time!

 

Pink Kick...

Say that three times in a row! Pink Kick, Pink Kick, Pink Kick!

I saw a shawlette on one of my favourite crochet blogs, a few weeks ago and decided to go ahead and create a really large drapey shawl for myself using this 'shawlette' pattern stitch..  You can find the instruction for the pattern, free on Ravelry - it is called the South Bay Shawlette. (you need to log in or create an account if you have not already done so). 

But.  I first saw this pattern in progress on Le Monde Sucrette - you will have scroll back a few posts -- I did that on purpose cause I want you see her lovely projects as you scroll back!

 

Is this what you call ombre?  Cream, light pink, hot pink, and finally burgundy...

 

 

See that bit of yarn hanging?  I was in a bit of a rush to take these pictures as it is just after 5pm and the daytime light will have soon been gone for the day, so I finished up that last stitch and hung the shawl on the back of a chair on my balcony to get a quick pic...
 

 

Isn't that a great stitch?  Such a nice lacy effect and yet it is only a two row repeat.  Such a simple pattern stitch and it looks quite intricate. I may just create another in this pattern with a natural or organic quality yarn -- this one is done with 4 skeins of Red Heart Super Saver yarn.  I'm thinking this might look and feel really nice in a lighter weight yarn, but still as large shawl.  This version hangs down well past my bum and will keep me very cosy I think.  I definately prefer the longer coverage.

 

I have been wanting a shawl for a very long time to wrap around my shoulders while I work at my computer on those very early mornings when I tend to be doing my best work...

 

I just want to put a bit of trim at the top edge -- no fringe tho because it will just be chased by Walter, who if you read this blog regularly, you know is an imp in black and white cat fur...

 

 

trying on a pink hat to see if it will match the shawl?...

The Iron Challenge!

It is a huge job to organize and find ideas for your fellow quilters when you belong to a local quilt guild or a quilting group!  A few months back Diana announced the idea of a Iron Challenge and she did credit the idea back to the Fraser Valley Quilters Guild.   So this month members of our guild -- Abbotsford Quilters Guild -- picked up the idea and held our own EVENT...

This has turned out to be a wonderfully co-operative and creative enterprise and I know I thoroughly enjoyed the two hours my group spent working on our Iron Challenge Quilt.

Let me explain the details and rules that our groups used. 

First Diana supplied sign up lists and then she arranged those who signed up into 5 or 6 "man" groups.

Each team had to follow set rules which included: making a quilt from start to finish in two hours, the quilt must have a measurement of at least 140 inches all around or what we call premie size about 30 inch x 36 inches.  It must be a quilt, three layers, with binding and a label.  It can be any design.  Only one sewing machine, one iron and one ironing board per team.

On my team there were 6 people and Diana emailed us to let us know who was on our team about a week ahead.   This week allowed time to pick our leader -- Me, actually.  Then I made a plan, that included a listing of the supplies, tools, etc we would need and each of us declaring what job we might be best suited for.  I also created a plan for the quilt we would do and the whole instructions step by step.

Our group included Me, Lin, Karen, Bev, Carol and Jane --and part way through we aquired a helper, that I am sorry but I did not learn her name, but she did sew on the quilt label!  (names not necessarily is order, and not everyone was available for the photo)

 

A couple of other things to note, Our guilds charity quilts program, supplied all the fabric, batting and backing.  Harriet who takes care of our 'We Care' program brought piles of donated fabrics and each team chose what they wanted to work with.   Then just before each team started, every team  was given a fat quarter of fabric that Had to be included -- in our quilt it was that little strippy green that we put at an angle in the corner of each rail fence block....  then we called the quilt OLD RAILS.

 

We had a great time!

 

We learned from each other and our charity quilts program had six baby quilts all finished up to donate to the next children who are in need of a quilty hug!

Politics, Religion and Money...

You thought this was a craft blog, right?   Well, it still is, but there have been so many things in the news that is upsetting, whether it be war, or fraud by big business, or ideas that fall into the "I can't quite believe it" section...

So I am going to post a few links on Mondays, that inform or infuriate.   Things that as a whole population we CAN fix if we choose to take our support away from business that cheat, or sneaky little scams that don't seem to hurt anyone but DO, and to pose the age old question, Where did I come from and where am I going....(religion)

If you haven't seen these bits of news before, I am just posting the links and you can take the time to go check them out and be informed or just skim over them and continue on your way... The journalist who write these news stories tell them much better than I could cause I might start using a few NASTY words that need astericks and percentage symbols to illustrate them!

This week:  Facebook -- geez this is a sneaky one!  Best read this article in the Calgary Herald by Dave Budge....
Facing up to Facebook Scams

MONEY...   The first place that wants to slide your dollars out from under you is the government.  Second is the big banks...  Royal Bank of Canada (that does say CANADA!) not only wants our money but they don't want to pay Canadian employees....

Check out this article about sending work to another country, and bringing workers from another country to replace close to retirement, long term workers... 
RBC replaces Canadian Staff with foreign workers
and todays response...
RBC Scrambles to explain

As to Religion -- nothing new discovered... but then I don't know much on the subject, but am attempting to learn I even spent a short bit of time listening to LDS General Conference (no i do not belong to the church or any other, tho) -- I am always wanting to learn so thats not so new and find multiple sources that I think might help me learn more about my world......

Oh and an Animal story...  Everybody likes animal stories, but are you biased against BLACK???  read this one about black dogs...
Black dogs sent to BC for better chance at adoption

And to end on an UP-NOTE...

 

Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford BC... Spring has Sprung!!

The Peace Proposal

Said General Clay to General Gore
"Really must we fight this silly war
To kill and die is such a bore"
"I quite agree," said General Gore

Said General Gore to General Clay,
"We could go to the beach today
And have some ice cream on the way".
"A grand idea", said General Clay

Said General Clay to General Gore,
"We'll build sand castles on the shore".
Said General Gore, "We'll splash and play".
"Let's leave right now", said General Clay

Said General Gore to General Clay,
"But what if the sea is closed today
And what if the sand's been blown away?"
"A dreadful thought", said General Clay.

Said General Gore to General Clay,
I've always feared the ocean's spray.
And we may drown." "It's true we may.
It chills my blood", said General Clay.

Said General Clay to General Gore,
"My bathing suit is slightly tore.
We better go on with our war."
"I quite agree", said General Gore
Then General Clay charged General Gore
As bullets flew and cannons roared.
And now, alas, there is no more
Of General Clay or General Gore.

- Shel Silverstein

I almost never comment on political, religious, or criminal types of news on my blog, but THE PEACE PROPOSAL has long been a favourite piece of poetry of mine and unfortunately it seems to be becoming relevant to current events...