Ten days!

You'd think I had gone on holiday, but no...

Maybe I was Ill, not me.

How about busy -- yeah, thats it, I was busy -- a crappy excuse actually...  so how about, I just didn't get around to posting on the blog, and I am feeling somewhat guilty because the Medallion Quilt Along seems to be bogged down too...   And really, it is bogged down because of COLOUR.  I know what it needs and I don't have it in the stash and I can't seem to find the right colour in local shops...  This could be indefinate.  I hope not.  I could compromise and use half of this and a bit of that and some of those, but it would not feel right to me and sometimes, even though I can be a bit lackadasical I need to have the right colour for this little quilt.  So, patience please?  Or if you don't want to wait around for me, you could invent the next round or two for yourself...

Yesterday, I spent all afternoon putting hanging sleeves on 4 quilts that I have registered for my guilds quilt show...

Yes, Abbotsford Quilters' Guild is having a quilt show...
It is a pretty big thing for us, well, every guild that does a show, puts alot of time and effort into showing their quilts and it seems like there is always more that could be done.

I totally enjoy our guild show everytime but as with any large show, it takes at least two visits to aborb and see all the quilts that have been hung.   If you only have a couple of hours for a quilt show, it is impossible to see it all!   Isn't that the way for any sort of 'trade' show? 

The best thing about quilt shows, is there is no really pressure to spend money!  There are booths where you CAN spend money, buy fabric or books or gadgets, but you don't HAVE to!  I like that you can just walk around and look.  You can look at the colours and study how shapes fit together.  Quilts are an interesting way to learn about Math.  I certainly was a poor student of Mathematics when I was in High School, but now, I love the use of Math to puzzle out how the various pieces of fabric can fit together, and the USE of MATH to create MATH puzzles -- and our show has a special display all about how Math works to make interesting quilts...

If you have been part of a quilt guild, sooner or later you will be part of a quilt show!  The admission to the show and a few other things are what helps our guild to pay bills, hire instructors and have our meetings, so a well attended show is important.  We also have a RAFFLE QUILT along with a secondary prize and the sales of those tickets go to support our guilds Community Service.  We provide Quilts to a number of local charities, including the local hospital, women's shelter and a program to reward high school age young people who are new or very soon to be parents.   Individuals in our guild support other causes that sometimes are helped by our guilds charitable program.   So even if you don't gamble, think of buying a ticket on the raffle because that is a contribution to our We Care charitable quilts Society.

I have not been an organizer of the quilt show but I can tell you that we will have on display, more that 400 quilts!  Wow!   I am not posting photos of the quilts I have registered because I am only one of many!  Come to visit our show, I think you will enjoy the time you spend here and this year, an important 'deal' MEN ARE FREE!   Now, that doesn't mean you can get a MAN for free, it means that if you bring one with you, be he a friend, neighbour, husband or son, HE will get into the quilt show for FREE!   That is a savings of $5.00.

Our Quilt Show is on Friday June 10 and Saturday June 11 at the TRADEX building which is very near the Abbotsford Airport.  If you come from the south (USA) it is very easy access, simply come up the Guide Meridian and cross the border at ALDERGROVE, continue north to HUNTINGTON RD and turn east, you will see signs (about 20 kms or 15 miles) that point you to the AIRPORT and signs that point you to the Tradex and the Quilt SHOW.  If you come from the West there is the TransCanada Hwy, or if you are in Delta or Surrey or Tswassen, use 0 ave...  East from Chilliwack or Hope or even further, again east on the TransCanada (Number 1)...  There is very good signage, so keep an eye out and you will find us!  Oh, come early you will see more and perhaps bring a lunch for a picnic in the area, before or after you visit the QUILTS.

Mainly, Welcome!  Come and enjoy our quilts...

Echth... (means I am feeling ucky today)

But, I wanted to pass along a link that those who embroider might find somewhat amusing but also VERY useful.

Go check out this ingenious method for winding embroidery thread onto those sorta plasticy cardboard bobbins....

http://littleloveliesbyallison.blogspot.com/2011/05/embroidery-part-2.html

Then once I read through the whole process I was wondering if this trick might work for those small leftover bits of yarn?

And since I have been feeling a bit low I sent my husband out to rent me a couple of movies...  I did check the local video store online new releases and then phoned ahead to get the clerk to hold the movies til my sweetie (who could get lost in all those titles) went to pick it up and bring it home just for me...

So for a change, both movies were entertaining and I would actually recommend one if you like a bit of a mystery and a bit of a life story along with a "period piece"--  Tennesee in the 1930's. The movie is described as a true tall tale.  Very excellent acting by Robert Duvall (one of my favourite cowboys -- think Lonesome Dove)  Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray as a serious funeral director and a grown up child actor Lucas Black (remember the tv series Eerie, Indiana?)   Well, excellent, very excellent...  Oh yeah, the movie title is GET LOW.

This is a somewhat eclectic blog post so take a look at my recent thrifty find -- actually a church parking lot sale.  I paid $2 and it sits nailed to my back fence...

and it now sits just down the fence from my other 'birdhouse' lighthouse that I got late last fall in a garage sale just down the street from our house...

Hoping tomorrow I have the energy to continue with the Medallion Quilt Along...

Update on Medallion Quilt Progress and What else I've been up to...

Part One of Two parts of Round Three is posted...  Whew, sounds complicated.  Well, not really.  Click on the Medallion Quilt Along Tab at the top of the page and check it out if you like.

Now other than that...

This morning, I made a bunch of pot holders!

My Friend Helen gave me some fabrics that she could not find a use for.  Neither could I!  For the longest time!  The only reason I know Helen gave me the piece of fabric is cause I wrote on a piece of masking tape and stuck it on a corner...  Well, that bit of fabric fell out of the drawer the other day and I had just been thinking of making placemats but these were way to small for placemats and then I realized I have been hoarding about a 1/2 meter of thermal batting -- the fabric and the batting together were just about right.  So with just doing a turn over or pillow style I put front, back and batting together and had eight nice size (7" x 10") pot holders -- oh and a light bulb moment told me to use a cut up unused blue boot lace as the loop for the potholders!  Worked great.   So these 8 potholders will go into my guilds quilt show boutique -- I'll tell you about the quilt show in a day or two -- YOU ARE INVITED!

The other CREATION is one of those weird things that I make now and then and I wonder if I just wasted time, supplies and money.   Well, since I haven't decided even if I like it.  Take a Look.

Don't look at my wrinkledy neck -- well, I know you can't help it.  But anyway,  I made a summer scarf.  Who wears a scarf in summer?  It is really really long and goes around me (and thats a long way around) at least three times.  It is nice summery, sort of ice cream colours tho and it is crocheted with a rather nice cotton yarn...  It is a bit frilly for me, I am not a frilly person.   It isn't for warmth, just for pretty.  I am trying to decide what to do with it tho...

And.  Last year I got a few strawberry plants and put them in a pot.   They will give me afew berries I think!  I can hardly wait!  There are about a dozen blooms on it.... num-num-num...

Guild Day!

My Quilt Guild -- well, the quilt guild that I have been part of for twenty years now -- I joined in the Fall of 1991-- had their regular meeting yesterday.  I do believe the meeting has always been on a Tuesday, tho' some years back our group went from an evening only meeting to evening and day meetings.  I have looked forward to the second Tuesday of each month (except July and August when there is no meeting) for all the years I have been a member.

Yesterday was elections for Executive Positions -- jobs that keep our guild (an every other guild) running and a happy and interesting place to go to and share a passion!  We elected a President and Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.  Then we found people who stood up to do the Newsletter Editor position and a new Library organizer person.   Our guild has alot of 'jobs' to do and every year someone jumps up with their hand in the air and says "Yes! Me, I'll try that job."  Sometimes a person is new to our group but like a fearless wolverine she says okay, I will try it out and I will do the best that I am able.  I am so proud of the members of our guild.  We keep rolling along and there is almost always someone to do a needed job.

Now, that is not to say that sometimes a job is not difficult to fill, but someone does come along and even a bit reluctantly may take on a job.  I have spent many years serving on our executive committe,  I was Newsletter editor before we were able to compile all the news on the computer -- I think that was '92 - 94, I was Vice President, twice!  I was Workshop organizer for a year and I shared the Program Organizing Job with my friend Cindy for two years.  I helped organize our Guilds 20th Anniversary (but I became ill and did not do as good of a job as I had hoped) but thankfully I had people to support me and help with the things that needed to be done.  I have been Publicity person both for the guild and for the Quilt Show and have organized the Quilt Show Challenge twice.  Whew!  Lots of jobs, eh?  And this year, I was not quite quick enough in putting my hand up for a job, so maybe next year something again will come up for me to do...

At every guild meeting we get up and show the quilts that members have created and finished up in the previous weeks or months or even years!

This month, I did not actually get up to show off quilts, but my friend Doris did.  We are collaborating on doing some quilts to give to various charitable needs.  Doris brought along three of the quilts that we have worked on.
The quilt you see in the above photo was quilted and finished up by Doris.  I created the top.  I used those bali prints -- popular a few years back.  It is a Medallion style Quilt.  The centre is a "Bow Tie" block -- that I first learned how to do from another quilt guild friend - Carol Ann.  Then a dark "stopper' border.  The next border is a fabric that I hand-dyed and then stencil painted the leaves on.  Next a single row of  squares sewn in a row and finally a printed bali print (batik) all around the outside.  AND it was about time this quilt, which is about 54 inches square finally got done, it has surely laid in a closet for less than 8 but more than 3 years!  Doris does such wonderful work on her B-Line Quilter you would think she was a paid professional!  But, she makes quilt (and knitted toques) for what she calls community service.  This Medallion Quilt will be going to a Senior Centre.

Now, here is another Quilt that Doris and I got finished up.  Again I did the top and Doris added the outside border, quilted and put on the binding.  This quilt came to life because I had way too many floral fabrics in my stash.  So as an experiment in Luminosity, I wanted it to appear as if there was a bright light shining through from behind the quilt.  I used a very simple block -- a floral 6 1/2 in square with opposite corners of half square triangles -- I like the effect and think it was a success in learning for myself how light and dark values can be used in a quilt.

And this double four patch you have seen before on my blog as a mystery project - a few months back.  Again beautifully quilted by Doris plus she added the outside border and put on the binding.  Along with this quilt Doris also made a pillow case to match.  This quilt has been donated to the Quilts of Valour here in Canada (just click on the blue print and it will open a page that tells you all about it)

Now, my closets are empty of half done quilts and my heart feels quite self satisfied.  I can now start over and see what I can make next.  It is great to have and own such pretty things but for myself I feel so much more useful when my quilting knowledge can be used to make someone else smile too...

This was such a fun guild day!  I love showing off my stuff (and Doris') and love going to visit with all the ladies whose faces have become familiar over the years -- and I am always happy to see new younger faces join our guild.  Two new young ladies became part of our guild this month and I sure do hope they feel welcomed and encouraged to come again...

The Dog's Job

It seems Pearl has taken it upon herself to be the designated bottle and can picker upper in our public parks.

It has long been my practice and I have managed to get my hubby doing it too -- picking up those bottles and cans and admittedly, it is for the monetary reward they offer, not just because I am trying to be more conscience of my environment.  Tho, that is a nice side effect.

Pearl has learned to SNIFF out those bottles and cans and tends to find more than she can carry and often more than my husband can help her carry.  When they came home with 6 cans ( 30 cents!)  we decided it was time to figure out a carry system. 

Here she is with her own saddlebags, they are fairly small, but can fit two cans or bottles on each side and the straps fit snuggley across her chest and under her belly.   She is not yet used to the contraption, but with a few walks I am sure she will enjoy her "Job" even more.

I do have some alterations to make, perhaps a wider, but no deeper bag for each side and then she will easily carry a half dozen empties -- and perhaps her own bottle with water for those extra long summer walks...

Medallion Quilt A Long Update

Just wanted to say, Round 2 is ready, just clik on the tab above and scroll down the page til you find Round 2.

a little bit behind

On the Medallion Quilt that is...

A few EVENTS conspired to interfere with my 'schedule'  and I have not yet posted the update on Round Two of the Medallion Quilt.  I have asked the advice of my satelite group of quilters and got some great ideas -- for Round Two I plan to go with the simplest idea, but will revisit that Round again as we go along.

In the meantime, I have been playing around with photos and things you can do to make them interesting...

Dogs, Cats and Flowers always make interesting subjects...  Pearl, drawn?

Being a "Snob"

There is a "conversation" in blogland about being a snob about quilting...

I left a comment at Naptime Quilter on this subject and thought I was done with what I had to say...

But, I guess not.

I said that no one likes to be called names, unless of course it is something like Your Royal Highness, or Sir or even Doctor.

I have been seriously making quilts for about 30 years, my first quilt was to help my mother cut hexagon shapes for a quilt she never did finish; I was about 8.  My next few quilts were as admirers -- I figure if a person says they are involved in SPORTS and say "as a spectator" --- I can say I was a quilt appreciator.   My grandmothers each made me a quilt between my toddler and teens, one a beautiful applique -- that I know today was not so finely made -- but I totally loved it! And a quilt from my other grandmother with embroidered blocks surrounded by scrappy squares -- it was used so long and so often that it got to the point where the embroidery threads and design had all worn away and the blocks were plain grubby white...  Even my sons as toddlers had the benefit of use of that quilt for a few years.

I discovered a 'how to quilt' show on PBS sometime in the late 70's or early 80's and progressed to making a Delectable Mountains Quilt that I gave to my Mother and she kept and used it for about 25 years.  It was made with fabrics that no one would even think of using today.  A sort of loose woven woollen plaid, that shrunk but held together very well over the years, a brushed nylon? from old pj's, some cottons from a tablecloth and sheets.  It was blue and grey with the occasional red bit, some yellow and even a touch of green.  No thought to what colour goes where or even if the triangle points were perfect or cut off.   It did not have a true binding.  The backing came around to the front and was stitched down.  

My Mom did not love the quilt because it was well made, she did not love it because it was her favourite colour, and she did not love it because I made it for her.  She just loved it and would not give it up even when I made her a new warm and cozy flannel quilt.  She loved the quilt because it was HERS and it was soft and warm and snuggly.  She used it everyday when she laid down on her couch to watch her afternoon TV with one or two cats snuggled up beside or ontop of her.  She fit perfectly under that quilt and didn't care that it was not perfect because it FELT perfectly good to her.

Through the years I took some quilting lessons from very inspiring teachers.  I joined a quilt guild and learned about quilting from fellow members.  I learned that you could (if you could afford it) buy fabrics to co-ordinate, all of the same good quality cotton, or you could get away with the way I did things for the longest time (in secret!), I bought cotton skirts at the 2nd hand stores -- long before it was "popular" to recycle!  Some skirts were probably poly cottons, some may even have been rayon, but they all together made useful quilts for my family.  I did not make a quilt a month or even a quilt every three months--I worked full time and my quilting time was regulated to evenings and weekends and cutting the pieces with scissors, sewing and then hand quilting the layers together.  I think I learned more about the process of piecing and accuracy by hand quilting a quilt than actually sewing the blocks.  If the blocks were not sewn accurately, it made the hand quilting difficult and uneven, so next time I learned to piece accurately and to press the seams in the proper direction!

At Quilt Guild Meetings I don't think I took a quilt to show for the first three years -- then I made a quilt.  A quilt for the guild's quilt show challenge.  The challenge was a result of a "name" teacher coming to the guild and suggesting that people use YELLOW.   Well, I made a yellow lap size quilt, it was simply a Broken Dishes allover design -- I used yellow in every single piece...  and all that yellow came from skirts that I found at the second hand store.   When I went to enter that little quilt, the "registrar" told me it did not comform and I could not enter it!  She explained that YELLOW was to be used to enhance a design, not to just use YELLOW everywhere... 

Now, when I think about that, what turned out to be her "rule" and not a written one for the challenge, I was somewhat dissappointed!  I just accepted her interpretation and took my quilt home.  It really was the first quilt I wanted to show off, but it never did get shown, anywhere -- it got remade into something else and from 1988 to today is still in use!  It didn't need the approval that at first I thought it did.  It was a quilt I loved making.   And I sure did not give up making quilts because of someone else's rule.  In fact, I made a rule for myself -- I enter every challenge that the guild I now belong to offers -- well, almost everyone.  A challenge always makes me think -- How can I follow a rule and still make the quilt something special to me?  Colour, Shape, Size, Technique... (PS, I should say that the first guild was not the same guild I belong to now)

Now, after many years of learning about quilting and actually making quilts and experimenting with techniques and ideas and fabrics, I sometimes think I must have learned it all -- but (HA!) not nearly!  Someone is always thinking of something new.  It is almost like trying to keep up with trends in MUSIC, from an early favourite by Rosemary Clooney, through Herman's Hermits, Led Zeppelin, Winton Marsalis, Kris Kristofferson right up to todays David Gray and John Mayer, everything changes and grows and then turns back on itself and makes old things new again.

So yes, I just keep learning about quilting and I do know alot about it and sometimes I am picky about it, but I am happy to show you or learn from you  so I think perhaps I am a quilt snob -- just because I love making quilts almost more that anything else I do in my life.   Don't call me a SNOB but it is okay if you think I am...

Maintenance

I started out this morning, early with a plan to sew.  I want to make some nine patch blocks to donate to our Guild's Quilts of Valour program.  But I didn't get to doing any blocks -- hopefully I can find a bit of time this afternoon to make them -- I have a nice red and white cotton with musical notes that I want to pair up with some of the fabrics in my scrap box.  I am aiming for a dozen blocks.

First though I had to take the time to fill up my bobbins.  I have a couple dozen bobbins.

Why so many bobbins?  Well mainly because of all the things about sewing that I love, there are a couple things that I really dislike.  One of those is to have to stop in the middle of a session to fill a bobbin.  I don't mind having to stop to put a full bobbin in the machine, but I really dislike having to wind the bobbin and then put it in the machine....

So  I fill them all in one go.

Mostly white thread, but a couple or three black and a half dozen grey.  If I do need a specific thread colour for a certain project then I will fill a couple bobbins for that, but mostly, it is black, white and grey.   This bunch took me about an hour to load up, but it sure saves me frustration when I am flying along with a project and don't have to wonder at what seam I will need to stop and fill a bobbin.  Bobbins are cheap -- keep a supply on hand...

The Medallion Quilt - Along
I am going to do the medallion quilt on a seperate page, so that each step will be easy to find and review and you won't have to go digging back through other posts to find the progression of it...

So take a look up at the top of this blog and you will notice 'tabs'.  Just click on the one that says Medallion Quilt Along... and each post or round will be there... 

If the tab isn't there check back in a couple of hours because I am working on a bit of a tutorial for the centre blocks.

Happy Easter

Earth Day is Tomorrow

I grew up in a time when and where it was Earth Day everyday.  My Parents had a small farm where they grew strawberries and vegetables and chickens -- many many chickens.  My father went to a regular job in the city while my mother basically ran the farm.  She knew all the tricks.  (and if she didn't there was always a neighbour to ask for advice, especially Mrs. K. ) Very little went to waste and our Mom was always willing to learn about ways to use things that otherwise were thrown out.

I remember when she learned that even chicken feet had a use!  My Dad being an open minded sort, especially when it came to food never said a word and tried everything she created.  I can hear his voice explaining to we three children "If your Mother goes to the trouble to make something for dinner, you can be sure that it is good to eat"  So we always tried it, without question and afterwards tried to find ways to avoid it again if necessary - but most things turned out fine...  Well, except Head Cheese, that is....  But my Dad loved Head Cheese and was glad that he did not have to share it with unappreciative children!

Dozens of chicken feet in a big soup pot is quite the sight!  Well, she never actually served chicken feet as a meal, but from my mother I learned that the chicken feet were the basis of chicken stock.  Who'da thought?  Apparently they have alot of the stuff that makes chicken stock like jelly when it cools -- she said it was good for us.  It wasn't bad, cause I am still here to write this and the stock she made from chicken feet 'disappeared' into soups and stews and gravies.

Anyway, back to my thoughts on Earth Day -- tomorrow...

A couple of years back, someone started the idea of using cloth bags and or reuseable vinyl bags to carry groceries home in.   That has taken hold in my area, tho you can still get plastic bags if you forget your cloth ones, or if you carry boxes in the trunk of your car (which is what we do).

Now lately I have been wondering why I have a whole drawer in my kitchen dedicated to plastic wrap?!  A box of zip lock or no name sandwich bags now costs about $4 for a box of 100, and the thicker "freezer bags" cost about the same for just 25 bags!   Now the whole idea with them is for one time use.  If you take a sandwich to work or school, you throw out the bag along with the banana peel and whatever else is left over.  Hmmm???

It is so easy to throw out those bits of plastic and as I keep nagging my husband, once a thing is paid for you forget what it cost you to get...  But every week or two there is some sort of plastic wrap in your shopping cart.  I have been wondering why we have not translated the idea of ending the use of plastic grocery bags to the same idea in our own kitchens?

Why are we buying and throwing away all those smaller plastic bags?

Plastic is everywhere, even reuseable plastic.  I know that the plastic bag makers have seen the writing on the wall and sort of listened to consumers who don't want to use quite so many plastic bags, so they have created plastic containers -- not top quality that will last for years and years, but will last you longer than a bag.  The problem is, most of the lids split or crack after a couple of times use either from being frozen then microwaved, or just from the pounding they get when the kids or hubby throw them in the dishwasher.  And these "reuseable" plastic containers cost about $4 for 3 or 4 in a pack!  I haven't counted but do those 3 containers get reused 35 times to equal the same number of plastic sandwich bags?   I haven't actually tested that, so I cannot say.

There are of course the more durable plastic containers, any number of shapes and sizes that will last for YEARS and many many uses.  These containers do cost more than the short term so called "reusable containers", but their price is not unreasonable for how long they will last you.  In the photo above, the one with the green lid is a fairly recent addition to my kitchen -- it replaces that green "lettuce keeper" I bought at a Tupperware party about 20 years ago!  I expect this new one to last at least 10 years, and the price was just under $4.   A much better deal than the so called "reuseable" zip lock or no name containers.  

The more durable "tupperware" or "rubbermaid" or no name containers will last you more than 10 times but more likely a 100 times longer simply because they are better made.  I am going back to using these in place of putting a few leftovers in a "ziplock" that is throw out after only one use.  

But that is not the place to stop at.   In a more mature household -- meaning where small children are not dropping things, what about GLASS?  (but then again, we never had plastic when we were children) Strangely, Glass is cheaper than plastic, if you look in the right places...   For all of my leftover soups and stews along with a few other things, I am converting to glass jars.   Glass canning jars, hold and freeze leftovers as well as plastic so that is my return to what my Mother did everyday on the farm -- there was no such thing as plastic sandwich or freezer bags!

With canning jars as storage containers there is usually available new lids for purchase at the grocery store -- you only need new lids if you are actually using the jars to CAN goods, but for freezer or fridge storage, the same lid well washed like the jar is useable multiple times...

And, check out your local THRIFT store for the jars.  At one local thrift shop the jars are priced at $2 a dozen!!  Now try to beat that for economy and sustainability.

Another thought about reuseable -- I remember the days when we would fill a quart size canning jar with Kool-Aid and screw on the lid and wander off for a children's picnic somewhere between the tall corn rows in late summer, hoping to hide for a time from a farm chore or our Mother's voice calling us to do some "work"...

So, Thanks Mom!  for making old fashioned new again...

Medallion

I thought that I would start a new quilt...

Would you be interested in working along with me?

It is not a mystery, per se -- but I cannot show you the finished project, because it is going to be a medallion quilt.

Medallion quilts were fairly popular about 15 to 20 years ago.  The name, Medallion basically describes the quilt quite well.  If you have not come across one before a Medallion Quilt is described as a quilt made with a central block or blocks with a variety of pieced or applique borders in varying widths and design...

There were a few books out in the 1980's that described and suggested designs and how to progress with each border.  One of the books is Medallion Quilts by Jinny Beyer, if you have it, it may be interesting to review it.

Medallion Quilts were also popular with groups where each member would create a centre medallion and then pass that to another member, who would add a border according to agreed upon specifications, this would usually go through 4, 5, or 6 members until everyone in the group had an border added by each of the other members.  Every one of the quilts would be different, even though the 'rules' were the same for each border.

So, I am going to start a Medallion Quilt-Along.   In the case of this particular quilt along, I am going to include some techniques and tips for making different parts or "rounds" of this quilt.

Now to start off, it is helpful if you choose one or two fabrics that will be consistent through each border.  The consistency can be a particular print that you want to use or maybe a particular colour that is in a series of fabrics.   I would suggest that you ensure a good supply of this main fabric or fabrics, at least 2 meters, and 3  would be better.

Next you can think of contrasts or even scraps that you can include that will work with your main fabric or fabrics.

Almost all Medallion quilts are square, so this one will be too.  It should end up being about 60 inches square -- but don't hold me to that, cause things could change as we progress through at least 4 borders...

The central Medallion of this particular quilt will be a set of nine tradition quilt blocks and a special technique for piecing these blocks.  There is also an alternative way to to piece one of the blocks. 

So, this Quilt Along will be about 6 to 8 blog posts with each about 1 week apart, so the top will take about 2 months if you work along with me.  Or if you prefer to wait and see and then follow the instructions when it is all done,  I should have downloadable PDF files at that time.

A Mystery, well, yes, I guess so, but it has to be cause I am working on it as we go along...

Already though, I know I don't have enough of what I just told you that you needed 2 or 3 meters of -- well, my Main fabric will be multiple prints in a sort of cloudy grey blue...

Watch for the first part later this week...

Spring?

Its an IFFY thing...

Seems we are back to Spring, though...

even looks like the lawn needs a trim...

BUT

then it started to snow - and snow - and snow...

 I cannot figure out what is so wonderful about Snow...  Pearl loves snow just as much as she loves an egg for breakfast...

She moves so fast it is hard to get a clear, unblurred picture of her -- paw prints everywhere -- and within about 2 minutes of being out in it!

And then....

We are back to Spring...



Random

Today, a few little things to post...

Did you know you could knit (if you can knit that is!) The Royal Wedding ?
Check out this article!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8374292/All-you-need-to-recreate-the-Royal-wedding-in-wool.html


Imagine that!  I would think it is getting a bit late to knit the whole 'party' but if you were so inclined you surely might be able to accomplish the bride and groom??
(Thanks to my cousin Judi for that link, we have been having an interesting conversation via email about it!)
 
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Buttons.
 
Buttons on a blog are somewhat different than buttons on a shirt...
Not to sure if I need one but my artistic son has created one for me, for my blog...
 
Here is the graphic that he put together for me...
 
 

The button is not yet functional -- I need to learn how to put a message 'underneath' it so that if you see this somewhere else and you clik on it, it will bring you right here to my blog.   That's what a button does -- it is sort of an advertising feature...

Tho, even as it is, it sure is pretty, eh?

******************

And here is a bit of a project that I have been working on in the last few days.  My friend Doris came upon a stash of upholstry fabrics and passed them along to me.  These are all scrap cuttings from a shop, it seems, some pieces are like 2 yardsin length but only 6 inches wide, then others may be as much as 15 inches wide and 18 inches long.  They are fairly heavy weight fabric but not to heavy for my machine, if not too many layers are sewn together.  This is a simple zippered bag and each is lined with poly cotton retro sheeting.   They are quick to make and I think would be very versatile and yet secure enough to keep things from spilling out. 

So, these are the first few - 6 actually of, I am hoping at least a dozen more and are my "community" project for the next little while.  I am hoping that they will go to my guild's charitable resource and be distributed to the local Woman's shelter.

So, Today is Guild Day and it is time to put all my things together to take along with me...  Last Day to register quilts for our Quilt Show in June...

Thank-you, EVERYONE!

Today, I am not doing that Check this Out Link thing.  Seems there is not alot of interest and to be honest, it costs money to use that service, sooooo...  I ain't spending money for nuthin'...

But.

This may not be Thanksgiving -- in fact we are at the opposite end of the year for thanksgiving, we are here at the beginning, not the end.  Regardlesss, I want to thank all the people who come to visit my blog.

In the background of most blogs there is a visitor counter and the blog owner can either have a separate site keep track of how many people come to visit and read a blog, or the blog host provider -- in my case Blogger, has a Stats page to keep a count of visits and visitors.  Some Statistics Counters will tell you just the number of visits.  Some will count how often the same visitor comes back.  Some counters can tell you where your visitors come from.  Some counters can get really complicate and tell you if a visitor has copied or printed anything from the blog.  Some professional blog owners want this information because they don't want someone to steal their ideas.

So I recently signed onto a Statistics Counter that tells me how often a particular ip address visits my page and where that ip address comes from sort of...  First if you are not sure what an ip address is, it is the address of your "internet provider"  and that ip address usually tells an approximate locality.  But Don't Worry!  I can't tell your home address and I cannot come knock on your door to say "Hey! Glad to meet you, wanna go for coffee?"  No I can't do that with your ip address, I can only read the Statistics collected and with my particular counter, I can see if you come to visit me one time or many times over weeks or months; I can see approximately where you originate, mainly your city, but sometimes it may only show me that you come from a area, say like the north of Sweden...

So I thought I would give you a bit of insight into who and how many and from where...

So, Today my first visitor was from Sao Paulo Brazil!  Hey! Thanks for Stopping In!!

Yesterday visitors came from

Aukland, New Zealand
Sylva, North Carolina, US
West Layfayette, Indiana, US
Seattle, Washington, US
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Abbotsford, BC Canada -- 18 of you!!  So extra thank-you from my home town neighbours!
Surrey, Vernon, Victoria, and Naniamo, BC Canada
Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia  Whew! thats along way to come!!
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Athens, Attiki, Greece
Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia


I get many visitors from other interesting places, with a concentration of visits from Canadian Cities and Towns and Rural Areas...  it looks like Ontarians from Ottawa, Thunder Bay, St. Catherines were visiting on Wednesday.

New York, Texas, Washington, Maine, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Minnesota have multiple towns and cities over multiple days.

I love to see my European Visitors come by - there is regular visits from a variety of areas in Germany, Greece, Spain, the United Kingdom, Dominica, Barbados, Turkey!

I am amazed at how far my words can reach!  And I am so very thankful that you come to read what I say...  Certainly not earth shattering words and probably somewhat boring.  

Most of all, though -- Just Plain Thank-you for coming!  You may not leave a comment, but I know you came by and I am happy to know that you have...

So I am wishing everyone a Happy Friday! Take it easy, stay outta trouble, and enjoy your day!

Why Grannys make Grannie Squares...

I took a bit of a slip late last week, not a fall and nothing that hurt at the time, but there was an injury and it progressed as the day wore on.

A knee injury.  Not one of the big sports type injuries - I am no where near being a sports person!  Just a pull of the muscles that runs along the outside of the leg past the knee.  Very painful to turn the leg, but it is starting to ease a bit after 3 days... 

My bedroom, tv room and general relaxin' room is right where we have our main backyard deck!  So lucky me, got to watch the birds flit between the two different bird feeders we have out there.  It allowed me to watch the clouds chase the sun and the sun burn through the clouds -- the weather has been very changeable the last few days...

Last summer, I spent alot of my spare moments sitting out on the deck using up scrappy bits of yarn.  I made dozens of granny squares, two grocery bags full of the scrappy ones and then another bag full of one colour blocks.  So while my knee and leg and by extention the whole body has been trying to keep still to let the muscles heal, I have been crocheting those grannies all together.

So I haven't been doing a hellofalot but there is something coming along while I spend time healing...
And the thought that occured to me was that if I was a granny, making grannie squares would be a good occupation...  Just so long as my fingers and wrists keep mobile, I will keep on creating these useful home created masterpieces.  Now really who doesn't love a granny square afghan? or shawl? or Pillow? or hey, maybe a skirt??

PS.  I have decided not to continue with the Friday Check This Out, because there doesn't seem to be alot of interests on the part of other blogs to link up... 

Okay, back to connecting those squares -- I'm sure it will be a finished project by week end...

Check This Out #3 and s'posedto...

I went galavanting yesterday and didn't do what I was supposed to do -- suffice to say, there was no progress in the spring cleaning department.

There was no progress in the "what's for dinner?" department.
There was no progress in the get some exercise department -- well maybe there was -- those stores have an awful lot of aisles and an awful lot of departments to look at!

But I did ask my talented elder son about creating a "button" for my blog!  And he did -- it is absolutely perfect!  Simple with strong colour and yet quite elegant...  That's just a teaser.  I now have to go hunting up instructions on how to make it clickable...  hopefully by tomorrow (saturday, or monday)  Notice how I don't make definate promises?

It seems when you make a definate promise it is so much harder to follow through, but if it is a hopeful suggestion, then it somehow becomes a goal rather than "oh, I guessssss so..."

Anyway,  Please add your link to Check This out #3 and we shall see how it goes...

Braids

I have been spring cleaning.  My sewing room is in a JUMBLE - almost, i say ALMOST unuseable because everything is moved or boxed or sitting on the floor waiting for sorting.

 So.

 Instead of sewing I have turned to my yarn stash...  That too is destined for a spring cleaning and sorting,  but not quite yet.

I have a book called Crochet Embellishments - in fact I had it as a Recommended Reading on my side bar for quite some time, but I never did say why I recommended it...

Anyway the book is one of those 'go to' books that you can use for techniques and, as it says Crochet Embellishments for all kinds of other projects.

I opened the page to Braids, last night and picked up a few of those yarn scraps I was just telling you that needed sorting...

Aren't they pretty?  Just looking at those photos they look rather intricate and a bit daunting, but then I started reading the patterns.  Almost everyone is a Row 1 to start then a Row 2 repeated for as long as you want to make the braid...
And who says you have to do it in crochet cotton!  I was thinking some of these would really add a special touch to the plain round (or even V-neck) of a t-shirt!  Maybe a hair band?  Maybe a bracelet?  Maybe a bit of edging on a cloth tote bag?  Ah, the ideas are endless....

And QUICK to MAKE!

These four in the photo above I put together last evening while watching tv from about 6pm to 9:30pm or there abouts -- plus I did 4 more in different colours of each different braid.   The yellow/orange was actually the more difficult but only because I didn't clearly read the pattern, so it took about 10 'rows' before I got it right.

Just in case you want to try out one...

This is the light coloured one on the left of the photo -- Crocheted Rick Rack
 Chain 4
Row 1: Work 3 dc in 4th ch from hook; ch 3 turn
Row 2: Work 3 dc in first dc; ch 3 turn, leaving rem dc unworked.

Repeat Row 2 for desired length, Finish off; weave in yarn ends

Try that out and let me know how you fare with the idea of embellishing your things with a decorative braid...

Oh and I should say, that the Book, Crochet Embellishments is a Leisure Arts Publication and written by Jean Leinhauser...  just in case you go looking for it.

Tomorrow -- the third CHECKTHISOUT link up --- I am needing at least 20 links to continue this idea ...

Pearl is ONE YEAR OLD today...

Happy Birthday Pearl! -- and no Chocolate Cake for you!

Saturday...

First

an early morning walk

What's this?  A new toy.

Always seem to be wantin' to try something different...