2014 TIAS

Yes Jane Eborall has once again used her talents and provided us curious adventurous tatters with another "Tat It And See" session - basically a tatting mystery project.  This will be my fourth event I'll be participating in but I'm a little behind - like only completed Day 4 and she's well into Day 7 already.  Guess it's catch up time for me.  So here are the pics of Days 1 through 4 grouped together.

Hopefully I'll get caught up soon and follow the pattern correctly in future!

Stitching Only 2013 - RR Update

OK guess I've not written up on my previous RR block belonging to Molly and now I have just finished Susie's block.  So here's the pictures.  It's going to lack description as I'm pressed for time tonight.

I received in November Molly's naked block and embellished two seams.

 

I tried a new tatting pattern (left side pic) andit did not turn out quite like I thought but still lovely.  I just love marrying my shuttle tatting with my CQing on these fancy blocks.

The next set of pictures are of Susie's block with Molly's work and then my own work added on.

Left is Molly's work | Right side is Rose Anne's work

Left side is only my shuttle tatting | right side is the bottom left CQing

Left side is the centre and the right side is the top right CQing

I'm totally enjoying this RR which is supposed to be seams only - including hand work not bought laces and trims except silk ribbon used in embroidery.  Now I'm wondering what the next mail bag will bring me?  I've also not updated the work done on my own block - one of these days I'll do that too.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas to all my Blog followers, and here's to ringing in the New Year safe and sound and 365 days of joyous family times and quilting days in 2014!!!

Oh my this year has sure gotten away on me!  I think all the energy I needed to get myself ready for my June 2013 Ireland trip and then coming home and work upsetting me to the point that I developed shingles and then just being in the BLAHS sure kept me quiet.  

One really great thing was helping my sister and brother-in-law move into the city in November for the winter months.  This is a huge relief for their three daughters and also myself and for them too - just the timing was kind of rough on Sylvia as Len could not help much with his back problems.  But now that Christmas is here and before we know it over, they'll hopefully be able to settle in and adjust to city living and want to stay!!!  I's praying so!

Afterwards I found out that my check up tests revealed kidney stones so that probably was the root of the pain and all around blah in October - even though I traveled to Toronto to visit my Irish girlfriend for a week.  Just was not myself this fall and at least I now know why.  I can say that I'm feeling more myself and enjoying life more - EXCEPT those -30 plus C days especially with high winds which naturally lowers the temps more so!  Oh well I live in Manitoba - what do I expect for WINTER!!!

Now with much regret but necessary too, I've resigned myself to delaying my retirement plans until I've reached the big 60 and hopefully then with my work and CP pensions together I will not have to work part time - just hopefully cruise into a more relaxed mode of living and naturally more quilting during the daytime hours.  Well that's only just over a year away so hopefully work does not frustrate me more so and I can hang in there.  It's kind of scarey as this past year has seen lots of my co-workers retiring - many sooner than their original plans - also more this coming 2014 - just fed up and ready for a change!  All the best to them.

OK back to my tatting and listening to more Christmas music on the TV in front of the fireplace with the dog and cat!  Happy stitching my quilting friends.

PHEW!!!

WOW I slept in and was an hour late for the Alzheimer's Touch Quilt kit making rally today.   It's all the fault of some woman I didn't understand who buzzed my intercom for about 15 minutes around 3:00 am Saturday which really messed me up that whole day and then slept like a log that night.  I promised to take my machine and help sew up some of the 15 finished tops and I did manage to assemble and quilt three (now they are only 36 inch squares but still time consuming as they are of all types of six inch square fabrics sewn together).  I took the other 12 home with batting and backings for whenever I've some time to spare and hand in as I finish them.  Yeah I know I'm crazy!!!

Then when I got home I just relaxed a bit then got my Stitching Only RR block etc together for mailing tomorrow along with a OOOPSIE forgotten birthday card for my younger sister (birthday tomorrow) and then finished off the white Sashiko stitching for the workshop I was in yesterday.  I chatted with my girlfriend in Toronto for a long while then realized I had her granddaughter's gift to finish off so back into the sewing room to serge the square hooded bath towel and face clothes from the left over strip.  That was fast and easy.

So I settled back and watch the end of Battle of the Blades (I taped it so will catch up maybe in November when I'm back home for a lengthy stay again!  LOL!  While watching TV I couldn't sit still - NAH - so I picked up the variegated thread and stitched in the Sashiko dragonfly.  NOW that top is finished - just have to find time to assemble it into a wall hanging before the Nov. 22nd MPQ quilt meeting for show n tell.

NOW I'm going to put my feet up for a bit before calling it a day!

OH MY Where Time Goes!

I just don't know where the time goes!  I've been busy at work with our Department-wise reorganization learning website uploads and trying to continue my work until new job description/duties are decided upon.  Naturally headaches are back and then last week was office cleaning to make room for two staff moving in so add to that lots of muscle aches.  Needless to say my stitching and quilting has fallen by the wayside and in dire state for catch up!

Then to add insult to injury (so to speak) I have another co-worker retiring and a gift I'd like to make, I also signed up for a Sashiko Japanese embroidery class (something I've tried on my own and now need to drop bad habits learned), a trip off to Toronto to visit friends, a house/pet sitting stint and quilt retreat all back to back so to speak!  I must be crazy!!!  And in this mess I'm still trying to fix Tom's retirement gift with much worry and also another crazy patched round robin starting up at the same time.  

BUT I've corrected the quilting on Tom's wall hanging just having a problem reattaching the mitred borders so waiting for the quilt retreat and my sister's much needed assistance to finish this baby off.  I've just about finished the second retirement gift, finished off my "naked block" for the round robin and some tatted/beaded thank you gifts too - just need to serge the baby gift before Wednesday to take with me to Toronto and I think I'll pack my Sashiko as my handwork while out east to work on evenings etc.  

Then mid-November I'm going out to my sister's in NW Ontario and assist them to move into Winnipeg for the winter months.  That'll be a challenge for them but also a relief for them and their families that they'll be closer to all if help is needed.  OK I think I'll make it one step at a time!

A New Hobby? - Definitely Not!!!

This weekend definitely was not a fun one!!!  At least I had a decent Friday evening!

Saturday morning was spent at a Walk In Clinic where I found out the supposed mosquito bites on my shoulder blade are instead shingles - so off to get some meds and start treatment immediately.  It's too bad I didn't go when I noticed them Aug 1st as the sooner treatment starts the sooner this nerve virus can be stopped.  Let's hope it'll still work for me.  I did hear that if you've had chickenpox then this shingles virus is not as severe or as lengthy - let's hope this is true as I had chickenpox.

Then on Saturday I went shopping to Canadian Tire and picked up all the various supplies need to get rid of my van's rust patches.  YEPPERs I played "autobody technician" - not that I know what I was doing, but I sure do not have the money for a professional paint job.  I did "Google It" and printed off the "do it yourself rust repair" and read it a few times and felt confident to give it a go - at least hope to delay further spreading until I can get it done properly.  I hope!!!

So Sunday morning I drove over to Angela's and checked the house and plants - only a few pots needed watering - picked some tomatoes to have for lunch and then got busy.  First off I cleaned the areas with brake clean, let dry, treated with rust converter, let dry, tried to patch areas with fast drying auto putty (not very good stuff and was trouble), tried sandy but the hatch was too much work for me, then treated with Rust Check (no primer required with this), and followed up with the matching spray paint for my vehicle.  Now I did allow the stated time in between coats and since I have three areas to treat it was longer yet plus the temps were I'd say 25-27C today with a light breeze - I'd say ideal.  Well it didn't take long to realize the putty was crappy - drying out and a pain to get even on the hatch part and it's a mess - but the rust has been treated and I hope that the paint sticks.  If not next weekend is REDO but I'll stretch it over the two days!!!

OHHHH my hands/nails!!!  I didn't break any but what a state!!!

Now you're probably thinking what a lousy job - yes I agree too but heck that was my first time and like I said at least the rust has been tackled and hopefully will be OK for this winter at least.  I have gotten instructions to remedy the masking lines and hopefully look after that this next weekend.  Unless there are problems that arise this week then I guess I'll have to strip it and do it all over again!!!  I pray not!!!

Quilting - Not Quilting!

Honest, I did try!  See after finishing off the Bali Strip Challenge I moved back to my quilted gift that needed to be redone - yesterday I got similar fabrics together and adjusted my machine until I thought my tension was good and then practiced some.  Soon I found out that I definitely need my "machingers" but oh my where are they - I have two pairs too.  They weren't in my sewing machine which I'd think was the logical place for them.  I was so frustrated after trying to free-motion quilt without that I gave up.

Instead I found my box of pictures, oil paintings and quilted hangers and proceeded to hang them up - like hit and miss with these old crumbling walls when hammering nails into them.  Oh well I did my best and I can tell you it's lovely to see some of my favourites up on display.  Then I read the evening away!

Then today I tackled my "studio" and managed to unload two large bags and two boxes.  I even found some lovely Christmas placemat fabrics that I'll have to do up - who knows maybe if I get this place cleared of most of the boxes I just might have my ex-Lewiscraft gals over around Christmas for a LONGGGGGGGG overdue supper!!!  Will see, no promises from me!

Anyways I came across a load of blue jeans and proceeded to cut them up!  GOSH I remember the last batch I did and how sore my back was from leaning over the table!  HA HA HA - not this time!!!  I just LOVE my new cutting table (thank you Margo and Harold) - it's just the right height and I had to stop because my scissors were bruising my thumb!  OH and it's time I left for a BBQ.  Bye!