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!

MPQ ABC Bali Strip Quilt Challenge

YEAH my "Strip Twist" 58.5 X 73.5 inch quilt top challenge is complete, now it's ready to be sent off to the quilter and then back to me to finish off the binding!!!  YEAH YEAH YEAH this is the first time I'm ready WELL AHEAD of the deadline date!!!  It was a might of a challenge but I succeeded and am very pleased with it.

NOW I'm wondering if there'll be another such ABC charity quilt challenge this fall for next year and if I'll join in again???  Yep that's the million $$$ question!

Quilts for Southern Alberta - Update

I've had some problems with donations for this project.  I know some don't feel they can do the blocks justice or have the time for more projects, so they some donate finished quilt tops and/or fabrics.  Now that is OK if whomever is organizing the "call for specific blocks" is also sewing up blocks - but not the case here.  She's just sewing the donated blocks together into tops and going from there with volunteer longarm quilters standing by to assemble the quilts.  I feel bad but, I do understand where this person "calling for blocks only" is coming from also.  You can't please everyone!

Anyways, thank you to Dianne U for your lovely block.

Also thank you to a fellow MPQ member who has donated three various quilt tops to this cause and because the tops were basically finished they have been accepted.  Thank you Wendy W.

1600 inch quilt

Cheater Star

Stack n Slash

Bali Strip Quilt Challenge Update

WOW another step done tonight!!!  Yep I sewed the 12 blocks together (very little trimming required) and then added the inner border too.  Now alls that left is to see how many of the 4 inch wide strips I have left for a piano keys like outer border.  If not enough then I'll have to make up more from my charms!!!