More Good News!

Previous Post on the home front!

Now you've probably just read about the retreat getaway and naturally the food was GREAT and I enjoyed myself muchly so was wondering if the scale had maybe gone up instead of maintained or dropped.  Well I've just come from my Dr apt for nutritionist and podiatrist referrals and asked if he'd weigh me just because.  {grinning I was when leaving}  See even with having more food portions than I've had this past year or so, I still managed to drop 1.5 pounds - YAHOOIE!!!

The good news is he's happy with what I've been doing and wants me to continue and maybe with some diabetic nutritional information I may even do better and postpone or even stave off diabetis within my life.  That would be awesome as I definitely don't do well getting needles or donating blood!!!

Gimli Retreat Getaway

Okay my weekend started Thursday morning with my sister Sylvia's arrival and then zipping around Winnipeg picking up or checking out various items on her list finishing off with supper at my niece Pat's before heading home and finishing my packing for the quilt retreat!  Friday morning I was packed up by 8:00 am and headed to my niece's to switch to the van then we headed out to Michael's before travelling to Gimli (maybe 1.5 hours from Winnipeg). 

Then we stopped into my sister's SIL and BIL for a cup of tea and a brief stop at the unique Dollar Store in Selkirk.  Then onto Winnipeg Beach to check out Keepers Quilts where I picked up some awesome northern lights fabric by Timless Treasure Fabrics Inc. (now I don't have to make my own up paperpiecing!!!).  Now we're off to the retreat and check in!!!

Well when we got there it was packed and space was very limited but Pat's friend had already garnered our sewing stations together after some rejuggling.  See some 80 quilters had arrived Thursday and had a table to themselves and some did not want to double up and share (as required) to make room for the 138 in total that were booked for the weekend.  Tracy did an awesome job and I think all were finally settled into sewing.

Anyways, I had taken my Faces DYB blocks all basted together so none got lost or dropped and the faces broken (Heaven forbid) along with Rita's blue blocks too.  WELL I was just inside the doorway in our room and talk about a show stopper they were.  Most of the quilters are amazing with their talents but they were all FLOORED with the Faces DYBs and especially with Gerry's Star Goddess and Leslie's Goddess of Light blocks.  Then they wondered why the 6th block was blank so I had to explain the process (they were appalled that we actually sent these in the mail sometimes around the world) and then they all looked at my idea for it and were shocked that I would try it.

I had to laugh as they kept coming back to see if I had finished Mother Earth yet and would have it for show n tell Sunday!!!  YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Guess I'll have to bring it back next year finished for them to all see what can be done when creativity is unleashed - eh girls!!!

They also just LOVED the blue blocks and the delicate embroidery on the two finished blocks and also my embroidery emerging but most said it seems to slow a process for them to attempt.  See some stitched up whole quilt tops and onto another project within the three days and me - well I worked on 7 of my 9X12 inch blocks for my quilt (moondance which is like from 2004) and also worked on two seams on Rita's block.  I felt that I was not really producing and actually that was the busiest quilting weekend I've ever had - most times I've spent cutting out or hand work which takes forever. LOL!

Well Saturday evening we had some table and door prizes awarded.  The table Party Dress pattern by Heather Lair was won by Sylvia's friend Dale who now resides in Winnipeg and she was thrilled.  AND I won the second door prize and included is a one-night stay at the Lakeview Resort along with two totes and a book Cookies n Quilts by Judy Martin.  I think I'll be using that certificate to celebrate my birthday this year - great idea me thinks!!!

There will be another post including some quilt pictures but that'll take some time and I thought I'll just post this one separately.

A Stitching Weekend

Yep even Friday evening with some OT put in and then a late supper I did some hand stitching on Leslie's Sugar Plum Fairy block (this one is late but coming along nicely).  Then Saturday I picked up my sewing machine and back home to work on the piling up postcard swaps with the evening back to hand stitching again. 

And today Michelle picked me up and off we went to our Lace Group gathering and I tatted the afternoon making a snowflake - yep only one but I had two false attempts until Maija sorted me out!!!  I love these working and chatting meetings along with tea time!  Once home I tackled emails, made supper and then right into "finishing off" the postcards and yes I took pics of both sets even though I used the same fabric but embellished some differently.

CQI - Valentines Swap

FunFriendly - Hearts Swap

Mine

One-on-One Swap

You might not see this but I used my machine for nice and even blanket stitching around the boxes, then some hand chain and running stitching around the hearts and finishing off with some musical instruments outlined by machine too.  A finishing touch for some of the hearts is a satin bow stitched in place.  Yes they are all ready to be mailed off tomorrow.

Now I'll relax a bit and then back into hand embellishments for the Winter/Christmas DYB tomorrow along with some more work on Leslie's block.  Obviously I'm running behind and got to get caught up very soon!!!

My Baby's BACK!!!

I think there is a song with those words from way back when???  Anyways, I got back from errands before the hockey game started, so I'll now settle into some hand stitching until my hair apt for 3:00 pm then I'll be back for the rest of Hockey Canada!!!

Anyways I meant that I've just picked up my sewing machine "Rita" (picture is from her previous home - not mine) from servicing and except for some minor feed adjustments she's been given a clean bill of health so to speak for the next leg of her sewing life!  Yep made me smile to see there were no major problems (or extra costs) as I have a quilting retreat coming up soon and definitely will need her for that!  LOL!

Rose Anne's FACES DYB

Okay, I've not worked much on this project except to decide what I'm thinking of doing for my own block to complete this 6-block wall hanging. I'm kinda intimidated by the creativity and expertise the gals did on my blocks on this round robin - I don't know why but I am!!!

Anyways I've decided on "Mother Earth" so I can use this lovely painted face that Leslie included in with my order of a number of her polymer faces of various shapes and sizes.

Yep, I just fell in love with this one and then Leslie even sent me some ideas and I think I'll go with this one as I sort of love feathers and colours too.  This image is from "The Times on Mother Earth" by Shadow Cloud & Helen Red Wing Vinson.

So here are all the blocks basted together but this is not how they'll look in the end - just safety for carting around for now.

I think I'll go with this idea and just below each I'm going to embroider the Name - Title for each block, that way I won't have to keep flipping it over to the label when it's being viewed.

 

Yep I think that's what I'm going to do! But then who knows I might change my mind when actually finishing it off!!!

Katie's Green Block

Okay, this has been another of my WISPs (works in slow progress) but I've finally attacked the block (lower right corner) and it's packaged up and on it's way to the next on the list.  I think somehow this block kinda got twisted around as the "TOP" noted on the back is kinda faded and I just about missed seeing it.

Yes, this is the before and after Rose Anne's embellishing and Katie had asked "no dimensional" works so I stuck to embroidery and did my tatted dragonfly to go with the butterfly!

Here's a close up of the flower spray up the right side (the heart and green tatted edging is not mine) and then the multi-coloured tatted dragonfly on the space to the left is also my work.

Yes here is my most popular and now getting easier to tat pattern by Riet with SRs instead of the wrapped chains.  I just love this and it's barely 2" made I think with size 20 cotton.

Tatted Beaded Dragonfly

This isn't new except in the fact that it was made early in December for a Christmas card but I forgot to take the picture. I wanted something special for a quilter friend and this is made that it can be removed and either sewn onto something, attached to a lapel pin or added into a quilt block project. I just loved it and for some reason got talking and forgot to pull out my camera during our Christmas potluck and also the gift exchange. DUH!

Lovely, isn't it!  And I know she just LOVES it too!

GRRRRR BLOGGER!!!

Yep, I knew I would FORGET something till AFTER I had redone the original entry THREE times!!!  What a waste of my precious time and energy!!!

Anyways, I had made my Hearty Mushroom soup on day after about 2 hours plus of prep time and Sylvia got her breadmaker out and we had homemade bread to go with this everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-soup!!!  It was much better than my last attempt but still was lacking so Sylvia came to the rescue and just added more beef bullion soup mix for flavour and YUMMY!!!  It must have been good as Len asked to have it again the next day and then the leftovers (made a huge dutch over pot) were dished up and into the freezer for another meal with maybe some beef broth or water added.  Yes very yummy and for those who want here is the recipe.  Enjoy.


HEARTY MUSHROOM BARLEY SOUP

Makes 10 servings

2 tsp oil
3/4 lb ground beef (I use a pound usually)
2 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms (I used leftover fresh ones)
2 large carrots, diced/sliced
1 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 cups beef stock (use OXO cubes etc)
5 cups water
1 19 oz can tomatoes (undrained or add frozen tomatoes chopped)
3 potatoes, diced
3/4 cup barley (I used POT barley)
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried marjoram (I don’t use this)
1 bay leaf (do not crush)
1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
1/2 cup chopped parsley (fresh or dried or frozen)
a few hot chili peppers (Pat uses these - like on Pizza)

- In large pot heat oil and cook beef for 5 minutes stirring to break up meat; drain off fat (I added in the onions, garlic and mushrooms before adding veggies)
- Add mushrooms, carrots, onion and garlic, cook for 3 minutes
- Stir in stock, water, tomatoes, potatoes, barley, Worchester sauce, marjoram, bay leaf, salt and pepper, chili peppers (optional) and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover and simmer until potatoes and barley are tender, about 30 minutes.
- Discard bay leaf, stir in parsley

Can be refrigerated for up to 3 days - or put into containers to freeze.


ENJOY!

Vacation Recap - Second Attempt at Posting

This entry had much more to it and at least a dozen pictures and for some GRRRRRRR reason only this was published! Yep I'm not a happy camper!!!

Yes I've had five days out in NW Ontario visiting with Sylvia and Len this past week. The weather cooperated from start to finish except for one day of freezing rain in the morning that disrupted our plans to go into town, but that was minor. Better safe than sorry! On the way out I stopped in with Adeline and had a lovely catch up time before continuing to my sister's. Then again dropped in on the way back for a brief visit and break from driving.

This trip I had planned on concentrating on my colourwash quilt blocks but as usual Rose Anne deviated from the plan and accomplished planning out and even stitching up the background and vine into place on my MPQ challenge wall hanging for the donation program. So maybe once again I'll have a challenge piece completed before deadline??? BUT I did accomplish two full blocks on my colourwash project and probably would have had a third block stitched too if I had not wasted a whole evening's work when it fell apart while attempting changing the flannel midway!!! Oh well things happen. Sylvia worked on her appliques for her colourwash quilt - yes she has ALL her blocks stitched and is working diligently trying to finish it - maybe in time for Quilt Reflections showing! Time and efforts will tell if she'll achieve her expectations. She also attempted to show me how she hand quilts - now I know I can't do that as yet - but like everything else practice perfects the technique.

OK here's my SECOND attempt at the complete blog entry!!! Can I remember it all???

Yes a good time by all was enjoyed during this visit. On Friday Fran (Sylvia's friend) came over with her quilting project and spent the day sewing with us. I kinda felt bad as many a time she was doing the "rippit" stitch in between her chatting (and more than me if you can believe that) as Sylvia was figuring out her pattern for her colourwash quilt and I was concentrating really hard in putting together my colourwash blocks. Then when that was done I gathered up the rows and stitched them together and chatted more so then.

 

Even my brother-in-law I think enjoyed the visit as he was more free to enjoy his many books, TV sports and even fishing/visiting with his friends. We even worked together in the evenings working on a gifted puzzle which is really tough and also read a bit too.

Now I even attempted to collect some "winter landscape" pictures on this trip, some from a pullover at Percy Lake while awaiting traffic movement again during a horrible accident clearing around the bend. And then on my way back I took some pics while driving (had just washed my yucky windows earlier) but many were deleted along with others from another pullover between Kenora and Keewatin. I was trying to record the depth of field of the trees on the islands and then also the changes in the snow from closeup and far away. See I'm hoping with time and my abilities to add to my landscape postcards some "winter" scenes. Time and efforts will tell I guess.

NOW I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed my days away and barely thought of the PC and emails but I can tell you I paid the price with over 500 emails to skim through when I got back. AND I did not want to come back to work this time and probably shouldn't have as it was a thinking type of meeting all day so needless to say headache major. Oh well that's life until I can retire!