My Follow-up

Well needless to say this was not the weekend for reading emails for me! Definitely not! With all the commercials on TV about "stopping bullying" in the school system I find it totally disgusting that a handful of adults think they have the right to bully others in this day and age! And these happen to be quilters, which I've usually found to be very nice and quite hospitable, even total strangers that I've met. Oh well all I can do is look after myself.

Even a couple of family members tried that this weekend and I just up and walked out and waited awhile before returning and hoping they would have smartened up. Thankfully they did, otherwise I'd have been driving back to Winnipeg that same evening whether Dad was upset or not - I'm not putting up with this anymore! My health and sanity is more important than appeasing these individuals' inflated important egos!

As for my weekend with my Dad, it was wonderful and he was in good spirits and ate whatever I cooked and even asked for help with some chores. It sure is hard to watch your loved ones diminishing before your eyes, especially when they are still fairly coherent and not liking the circumstances. Then one of my sisters from Saskatoon arrived which made his day as he's been wondering when she was going to visit. We had a day together then I left so she could have some time with him and I could relax some before going back to work.

Then my other sister Sylvia and Len were in the city, so I met up with them and chauffeured them around for the afternoon. Lovely visit and we've some changes to my vacation in August - now I hope I can change my work schedule to correspond to their calendar. If not will have to rethink them for later in the fall.

My update

Over the past few months I've been battling some inner demons and high anxiety levels which have played major havoc on my work and personal life to the level of searching for some outside help. One can only "dump" on one's family and friends for minor incidents but something ongoing is not fair. At least I don't think so. But as I've found out shutting them out and trying to deal with this on my own is not acceptable either - where's that happy medium???

Okay, this past week or two I've noticed an easing of the tension etc within me and thought YEAH maybe just maybe things might be getting better? Even my niece mentioned my voice was more like me this week! Well it didn't last long!!! That was early Tuesday and by the time I finished reading some emails that evening I was a mess all over again and it had nothing to do with me! I've been told many a time to leave the groups that do this to me, but I do have many friends in them from all over and it's a shame that a small handful mess it up!

So there I was trying to regroup before driving to Dauphin Canada Day for a short vacation with Dad etc but not successfully. Then I naturally picked the wrong weekend as traffic to the Dauphin Country Fest was outrageous and the highway was covered in campers and trailers and speeders - YIKES!!! I'm hoping to leave before they start their exodus back home, will have to check to see when it's over.

As for my Dad, he's doing as good as he can, being weak and 95 too. He's enjoying having me here to cook for him and run errands etc. My sister is redoing her house siding so they are busy but I'm enjoying their BBQd evening meals that is for sure.

Finally Getting Somewhere!

Okay, I've finally finished off the two Patch RRs from another group received back in mid-May!!! Yep I've done my part on these two blocks and will have them in the mail tomorrow to Dorothy. Phew, it's been a long haul trying to get things done when you're not your old self - sometimes the creativity just was not there, nor the get up and go to get to it!!!


Anyways, first is Katie's Patch RR which she's requested primitive embroidery. Well she had me stumped but I finally came up with my King of the Pond patch after my CQd frog for Tami popped out on my screen saver - YAH!!!!!!! Hope I got the "primitive embroidery" Katie?



Then I fell in love with the patch that Dorothy put onto my block and knew I was doing a beaded dragonfly on it - like flying over the grass or fields or forests!!! Hmmm now that it is done I maybe should have placed it onto my green velvet or a lighter patch. Oh well it's too late now but I'm danged happy with my result!!! I think that is the first time I'm truly happy with my dragonfly and I've attempted a few in the past.

A Lovely Day - Despite!

Yep, many things kinda put a damper on today's gathering of the Aurora gals at their summer "picnic" held at Norma's lovely home, due to my own stupidity, the weather and other commitments.

See I was reading a book last week and because of the pouring rain Friday I decided I was just going to finish it - WELLLLL it took till 2:30 am to do so so naturally I woke feeling groggy and then proceeded to broil chicken pieces and then transferred them to a foil lined roaster and into the oven for baking before returning to bed for another hour. Then I picked up Jeanette & Martin and off we went to Norma's for the Aurora "picnic/pool gathering" which actually had to stay inside as it was a downright MISERABLE day with pouring rain and storm-like howling winds. Out of the 18 members (some out of towners to be honest) there were Norma (naturally), Gail, Val, Dianne, Virginia, Tami, Jeanette, Martin and myself - small but awesome cause we had this "holiday like spread" to ourselves. I said it was like a Christmas feast and shortly after that the conversation turned to specialty dishes for the holidays - HMMMM???





Afterwards we returned to their family room (pics by Norma) for more stitching and even borrowed from MPQ their scissor holder project and surprisingly I finished mine this time. Don't worry I have some extra sets and will bring my finished one to the next few meetings and those who weren't here can still make one for themselves.




Yes it was a lovely gathering and THANK YOU Norma & Ted for graciously letting us move inside for this day! BUT I truly did bring my newly bought swimsuit just in case the weatherman was wrong and it cleared up enough for me to enjoy the pool. DANG IT, I truly did want to go swimming!!!

Now I'm home and left over chicken pieces put away for my lunches/suppers next week or so and checking my emails before getting back to some RR blocks or a nap!

Plans for CQd Heart Block Etc

Okay, I've decided to wait for one more RR heart block to be embellished and instead of the original wall hanging idea, my co-worker Darlene, who is always applauding or buying my creative works, thought it would be lovely to get a long rectangle shadow box type frame and a matte with three squares evenly spaced across and applique the hearts on individual appropriate backgrounds (it could sit over my couch). Now I think that is just lovely and I could make up a specific gummed label for each block and stick it onto the backing and maybe even inside too on fabric. See I'm first in line to say I can do the JOB, but lots of times I just don't see the FINISHED picture and that's when my family and friends come to my rescue - I thank you all for that too!

Then today Dale Anne suggested "Why not a matte cut with 3 hearts? Then you can frame them without a backing fabric." WELL that's a GREAT idea for the matte - it's going to cost me to have it cut anyways so why not a heart shaped one and have the magnificent CQd hearts pop right out???

Thank you both my dear friend and co-worker!!!

THEN Carolynn dropped by and mentioned that I should have it listed somewhere of what will happen with my treasures and funny as I myself was thinking of that last night after receiving this awesome heart. So I had decided that some will be donated to various family, friends and organizations when I'm gone and felt better with that decision. Well we had a chuckle as it was perfect timing! See she mentioned that one can contact certain charities about pieces you are going to leave to them for fundraisers etc in your will and some will even come photograph and appraise it and some will even give you a tax receipt now to use on your tax return - WOW!!! Also once this decision is made it's a good idea to put a label stating such on the back and also make a list in your will, keeping it up to date too. One never knows what will happen to these treasures once you're gone. Better to have it labeled etc. for posterity is better than tossed in the garbage bin or lost in a second hand store! Hey, don't go getting worried, I'm not sick, just wondering about my babies!!!

Fabulous First Timer RR#5 - IS HOME!!!

Yeppers, my FFTRR#5 CQd heart block is HOME - (pardon me Debbie but I just must) and it is "just a Go-a-jus block!!!" Now excuse me for stealing a CQI member's special saying (better in her American accent I'm told) but I'm just at a loss at describing this block. It has surpassed all I'd every thought how it would come home - especially for my first CQd RR! AND there's even "TWO" patches not touched at all!!! WHAT gives girls??? Thought you gals said it was filled??? Guess I've learnt ONE main lesson and that is "never never never" put your favourite fabric in a block unless you put a note with it to "add some spice" to it! chuckling See I inserted a treasured piece from my sister's fancy stash which JUST fit in for the centre patch of the heart and then some precious hand dyed Venice Lace from Sandy W (Aust) but no one touched either! That's okay maybe it's as how it should be too - both are so lovely by themselves!

Okay, here is what I sent with my block and you tell me if they didn't follow it to a "T"!!!

- My first block within CQI – well a heart actually
- I love nature’s colour palette – bold and rich – mossy greens etc
- I love tatted motifs and edgings – still befuddles me but will keep trying
- I also love Venetian lace motifs and edgings – trying to build a stash to use
- I love all types of stitching, SRE and other embroidered embellishments
- Chunky buttons/charms are fine as long as they “enhance” and not detract
- Will probably somehow incorporate this heart into a wall hanging as I love minis
- I’ve included a piece of fabric that I would LOVE you all to sign as it will be part of my label for the back, Thank You!

my "naked" block

And here's some of the excerpts from their writeups in my booklet:

#1 - Ritva of Finland: "At first I was quite afraid of starting to work with your beautiful block ... soon the green folded green patch shout me to sew some vines on it ... a mossy stone in the forrest which was ready to get some wild vine cover ... added tatting on a seam on the left and embellished it with beads and some detached chains ... made Bullion roses on the brown patch."

#2 - Margreet of The Netherlands: "put some stitches along the lace on the right top ... embroidery along the brown fabric and pale brown beside"
Thank you Margreet for your cut paper butterfly in my booklet!!!

#3 - Diane of LA, USA: "I had to stop myself from working on your beautiful heart block ... started bottom and ran a leafy vine with bead buds up and around the beaded heart motif I made ... worked on top of the stitches on the top cream patch putting little green leaves with single charm stitches and pretty yellow flowers ... added the little butterfly charm and a bee on the green patch at the bottom"
Yes Diane I love your heart - you picked all the colours from in the heart!

#4 - Shari of CO, USA: "wasn't a lot of room left to get real creative - trying to bring balance to the block ... did the SRE and bead flower cluster on the upper left adding twisted silk stem work in straight & fly stitches with pink butterflies with Bullion body and pistel stitch stamens ... dark seam on the gold velvet with long detached chains with fly stitch filling with puka shells from Hawaii and added the black butterfly ... added the ecru lace flower motif and yellow butterfly next to gold heart button already there ... had a lot of fun creating the dragonfly from beads with wings of organza ribbon but looked lonely so added one more small butterfly"

NOW GIRLS (BTW, I'm not shouting, just exclaiming) HOW CAN YOU NOT THINK I WOULD "LOVE" MY FINISHED BLOCK!!!

Okay Okay Okay I hear you, you want the pictures now - enough yakking about it, alright here they are!!!

after Ritva
after Margreet
after Diane
after Shari

And here are four closeups if you want to check it out more so!

lower half
top left
close up
top right
and the centre

SOOOOOO, I think you can gather that I just LOVE my first CQd RR block and am anxious to see my other heart RR when finished it's rounds in another group!!! Yes, thank you very much Ritva, Margreet, Diane and Shari for all your precious hand work, embellishing or whatever you want to call it! It's just beautiful! THANK YOU! And whenever I get this idea of an appliqued CQd heart blocks wall hanging finished I'll for sure be posting it with more heart warming thanks I'm sure!!!

Another CQd Block Completed!!!

Okay this was very unusual and quite the honour for me and it's finally finished and it's still JUNE (suggested deadline) and I'll be mailing it back to it's owner tomorrow!!! See Lyn G emailed me back in February asking if I would work on her one remaining block for her "Mini Seanes" series embellished by her cyber friends. How could I refuse? WELL I can tell you I was "scared" as this was the first time I'd be working on someone's whole block by myself. I thought it was hard doing patches and seam treatments with others together on one block - HUH!!! Oh well maybe I'm finally taming some of those anxious feelings of working on others' blocks??? I sure hope so!

Anyways here is the naked block I received and my various embellishment steps to the "finish"!!!

"Lyn's naked block"

my scrunched chiffon sandbar with various beads and charms

with embroidered seaweed etc

closeup

with sea creatures: chiffon and SRE jelly fish, fish button and beaded/embroidered crab

SRE fish - upper half

- lower half

see angled clam shell and hidden pearl?

"finished" block!

Now I sure hope that Lyn is pleased with her block and this too was a learning curve for me and hopefully future blocks. And I can't wait to see this series completed - I've seen some blocks and just can't figure out how these are going to be put together!