Winter Trials

My My My, the Good Lord is sure testing me and my patience with this winter driving lately. Today was fine until I hit Falcon Lake and then it started gusting and twisting me this way and that and then the snow started falling and naturally when oncoming traffic passed - white out conditions. It seemed a might slick on the highway but not that bad until I entered Ontario and then it was like night and day - snow everywhere and looking like a beautiful winter Christmas card! I just wanted to stop the car and go X-C skiing but I didn't have the gear with me so maybe walking BUT there definitely was no safe place to pull over and park and be visible either. Then around Clear Water Bay I swear that's where one would find "picture perfect scenery" right now but like I said the conditions by then was heavy snow with reduced visibility so I just kept going at 80 klicks and only a few passed me but very carefully too.

So yes I've arrived safe and sound, Adeline fed me spaghetti and now we're both a stitching and gabbin! Ohhh and her cat insists she's sitting on or near me and definitely wants pets so will have to limit my contact and keep my Benedryl close by to enjoy these days.

CU!!!

Happy New Year to All

My Wish for You in 2008

May peace break into your house
and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans
become a magnet for $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline
and may laughter assault your lips!

May your clothes smell of success.
May happiness slap you across the face
and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had
forget your home address!

In simple words ......
May 2008 be the best year of your life!!!

Love and hugs, Rose Anne

(excerpt from an email received
- but very appropriate - Thank You!)

PC Catchup!!!

Well it's about time I'm catching up on some of my very tardy swaps!!!

Yep my Oct. 15th "Spiders" are finally completed (worked on here and there between family weekends, extensive Hardanger Father Christmas classes and December's OT with missing staff and somewhere a life) and in the MAIL today!!!

So as you can see they are not my usual creative images but my plans had to change slightly as others had the same idea as I and guess that is one of the advantages of being late! Even though I usually DO NOT change my mind from the images I draw or note on my swap group listing. Now those sent out may be slightly different in layout and "characterization" as my stitching is never the same along with the colour of the fly's wings depending on the sheer ribbon I had on hand (hard to find that stuff). So hope you all like your PCs and again I apologize for my tardiness.

Also I've started on the Victorian PCs and hope to get them embellished while away visiting another quilter for the New Year. If all goes as planned they should be sandwiched next week and hopefully in the mail the next week.

As I mentioned in my PC groups, I've not signed up for other swaps since these two and will probably lie low for a while so I can catch up on my Ornaments swaps (now a month late) and the new year online Quilt U class and my BDE group mystery project too. I've also many items to work on in preparation for our local quilt show "Quilt Reflections" coming up in April so like I said I'll be busy and might not be online as much.

All the best to everyone for 2008!!!

Post-Christmas

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

and other such carols

were sung at Dad's this holiday season!

No matter what gifts were exchanged or if any at all, the most memorable this year in my mind was when two sets of grandchildren alongwith their children gathered for Dad and sang! He was just smiling!

Yes Christmas Eve, one grandson and his young family arrived after supper for a visit and their toddler entertained Dad off and on with her antics and before leaving they all sang so lovely and many of us there joined in too.

Then Christmas Day there was only Dad and I when another granddaughter and her young family arrived on their way through town to my sister's and visited a spell with us. They all sing in their church choir and the oldest said I had to lead them - UMMM YEAH RIGHT! - but I did join them with the help from their Hymm book until she choice one I did not have a clue of at all and then just joined Dad and listened with smiles.

Yes he was very pleased that they do drop in - even bearing homemade cookies for him too - that too brought a smile to his face. And before Christmas another grandson and his wife stopped in to drop off some food from another sister and they got rooked into putting up Dad's decorations, well that made his day as I'm sure it was bugging him that his were still in the closet and others' had theirs up and blinking.

Yep, I did have a very nice visit this Christmas with him and the family and the weather cooperated after a slight wintery start. Now it's back to work tomorrow and no more holiday fare or spirits (hmmmm not that I had any anyways)!!!

Holiday Greetings!

My wish to you all
a very Merry Christmas
with family and friends!
May you enjoy
the food, love and laughter
this holiday season
and if you're travelling
please drive safely!
God Bless!

Pink Comfort!

Here it is the FINISHED cuddle quilt!

Thank you Phil for holding this up for me!

Now that I see it all together I wish I had used one of the grey fabrics for the binding. Oh well they say you always learn as you go!!! Guess with this quilt it was the "quilt as you go" method that I need to study more and to watch the colour of the bindings. See with the 2.5" wide pink ribbon fabric bordering all around this staggered backing I figured I'd use up that same fabric for the binding too. My intentions were good for the back but not so great for the front.

Pink Comfort!!!

OMGG I don't believe I've finally finished it!!!

I'm too tired and aching to cry tears of joy as I've completed stitching the binding and label onto Shauna's cuddle quilt just now. All that's left to do is a few anchor stitches on the label tomorrow and vaccuum the threads, package it up and hopefully deliver it to her tomorrow and take some final pictures with her and the quilt.

Oh my, oh my, oh my, be still my racing heart!

That's another major project off my shoulders finally. I'm really sorry that Shauna has had to wait like 4 months after leaving to actually "receive" her parting gift from me. Hopefully her course is still on so she can still cuddle and study with it as I had first intended!!!



Friday, sewing on the binding.



Saturday at the Aurora Christmas potluck, I'm hand stitching the binding in place, see the label!

There'll be a final pic to be posted once I've deliver this to Shauna.

A Surprise Rec'd

WOW today in the mail was a strange package and silly me could not figure out why it came to me instead of being shipped as noted on the packing slip!!! DUH right eh! Here I was thinking of repackaging it and sending it onto my friend as noted, but emailed her first to see what gives!

"It's your Christmas gift - ENJOY" is what came back to me! WELL on come the tears and feelings of thankfulness for such friendships!!!! WOW! now to "learn" how to embellish this lovely lace on my crazy patches and also how to best show off this ribbon and all it's lovely hues.

http://tinyurl.com/2k9adn - ribbon from Joggles

I can't copy/paste the picture here but there's the link to the ribbon and it is 1" wide - any ideas on how I can use this? Thank you.

Sooooooo CLOSE!!!

Ohhh I tried very very hard but just could not finish the sack so my Father Christmas could be totally together tonight! But here are the robe and cape pieces before the French seams and gatherings sewn.



Oh well I've finally got some pictures for you (minus the sack- maybe later this week). I used a taller slimmer water bottle partially filled with sand for my base, covered with some type of sand lining I think. Here his head is attached and the robe added. You can see the cape together, sleeves with arms anchored and the vest on the table. The red cardinal I was planning as a prop on his walking stick.



And here he's semi together and looking more with it! Thank goodness the cape will be covering him as I attached his arms too low as is.



And the back view too - the pin is holding it together so I can anchor the slit closed and keep the stress point to a minimum on this looser woven fabric.



VOILA! And here he's together with his walking stick and poinsettia!



Now I must say that I got the gears for adding bling to my Father Christmas but all I could see was all the GOLD embellishments on our Priest's robes (Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church) and just could not resist adding some to MINE!!! I just LOVE him and can't wait to see the sack completed and stuffed with the goodies I found in my stash. I'm also going to find my fine wool and add cover his hair, beard, moustache and eyebrows for a more realistic look.

Now here's mine with Mrs. T's shop samples to show you - yes Carolyn's own angel that some of the gals were making (all just lovely too with lots of bling added for awesome effects) and her Father Christmas (Old World look) too. Yes, I too was thinking at first to use the green and then gave in when I saw the wine but OHHHHH talk about torture stitching that darker colour. BUT in the end it's finished and I'm very happy with the overall effect.



Can you believe it I just about have a totally FINISHED class project???

YAHOOOIE!!!!

Ohhhh I've had a good day today and finished cutting most of my pieces for Father Christmas out and washed and hung to dry. I also used my hair blowdryer and heated up the screw top of the water bottle and bent it to fit into the porcelain head, now will see if it opens up once cooled or stays. I also search through some of my craft stuff and found a star, a drum, a gift wrapped, pointsettia and holly with berries along with a cinnamon stick for his walking stick and I just found a Cardinal with wings outstretched also.

WOW I'm so close to being finished, it feels so good after seven weeks of steady stitching in between "life" trying to keep up with this project. I've completed the stitching on one half of the sack so tonight I'll see if can finish off the other side - I know only do one side - but what if when stuffed and topped with goodies it does not sit that way and both sides show up???? Nah I'll feel better if both sides are embellished. That I can finish off myself if it's not quite completed in time.

Then I made supper and thoroughly enjoyed feasting too! Now I'll go read a bit and relax before getting back to my stitching. Then I'll have to stop to press my dried pieces and do some preliminary sewing needed and then the evening to either relax or stitch some more. PHEW so close and such satisfaction that I'm caught up.

Hardanger Update

Well Friday evening I felt too worn out to do anything that needed heavy concentration as it was a busy day at work - seemed like everyone knew I needed to be left alone to do some catch up and it worked some! It was also a tough day as Suki was preparing for vacation and was also trying to ensure I knew what was changed in the Markets since I have to step in to carry that load too. Needless to say it will be a rough December for me.

Anyways, I just did some brainless crocheting of kitchen towels as co-workers are asking for them for gift giving and then read the evening away. That felt good. Then I woke this morning kinda refreshed, had breakfast and 9:30 was stitching on the hardanger class project.

And after a couple of reading email breaks I can proudly announce that I've completed the stitching on all the necessary pieces for Tuesdays last class, that is his robe, vest, sleeves, and cape. I've got to cut all these pieces out and wash/press them along with some presewing so I'm more free to assemble than stitch up during class. Yes I still have to embellish the Sack and hopefully I can do that today too then tomorrow I'll do all the cutting in the morning when more with it and with the window lighting too. I don't need mistakes at this point of the project. (chuckling)

I'm kinda getting excited again with this Father Christmas like when I signed up for the class. I've even a neato porcelain head with arms that looks like a Father Christmas and my teacher added some wool and made her's more realistic - gonna have to find mine too and see if I want to try that or not.

Yes, it definitely is close to picture taking time so who knows maybe next week he'll be blogged!!! Stay tuned!

So then onto the long overdue postcards and then the Christmas ornaments. It's coming together slowly but surely.

More Like It!!!

Well today I came home a might more stressed but decided to read for a while and that helped me unwind some. Then I decided not to do any counted embroidery tonight, but to finish off the extra CQd pin cushions and then clean up that mess so I could get back to the Hardanger and postcard making in a more workable area - LOL!!!

So here's the pics - another few items set aside for my stash. I enjoy making these up as I embellish as per the fabric and whatever is in my goodie bags. Loads of fun - if I watch the order deadlines that is.

Front view.

Top view.

Finally something finished and good!

Wellllllll finally I've completed something on my list of Need To Do's - never mind the UFOs!!!

Yep one item checked off in between doing my Hardanger homework - now to do the last leg of Father Christmas and hopefully I will be all caught up and can assemble him on the last class Dec. 4th - PHEW I really thought I'd not get here at all. It's still nip and tuck but even if I don't get his Sack finished I have the instructions drawn out and it's simple, I can do that on my own. Soooo it's closer and closer to picture taking time for Father Christmas!!! Carolyn (teacher) sort of did a run through last night and showed me what the cape will look like and I'm really anxious to finish it. Let's hope nothing more interferes with my life to delay things anymore!

Okay onto some good news! Yes I have pictures of the completed pin cushions that were ordered some time ago and they've been mailed off, so totally off my list and hopefully received by Friday as it was XPed. These are my newest additions to my crazy patched, machine embroidered seams and button embellished pin cushions made with wide mouth sealer jar lids (both parts used). Ain't they just cute????

Front view.

Top view.

NOW yesterday was a lousy day in my thinking anyways. It wasn't enough I had a major pounding headache that Advil migraine tablets didn't lift, but the mailman brought me some lousy news from Revenue Canada which I have to straighten out ASAP and hopefully to the better. Then I remembered to check online my two lottery tickets and finally some good news, not much so don't go getting excited, but it was on Super 7 (a quick pick) and 4 numbers, which netted me $64 and change. So on my way to class I cashed it in, bought some groceries and picked up a treat for myself from Mrs. Twitchett's Eye and the meagre remains will go into the bank today! So guess life is not so bad just a might troubled and I have my family and health!!!

Where in the World am I???

Gosh that about explains my life right now and I've no partner nor children - thank goodness or who knows where they or I would be!!! LOL!

Seriously, I've been using every spare opening in stitching trying to get caught up with my Hardanger lessons which are way behind and also postcards and other craft commitments. Definitely do not like this and especially no time to really keep blogging up to date either. Work is as usual busy and a zillion things at the same time too so I don't seem to have down time at all. That's life it seems with everyone not just me!!!

Anyways, I finally did a very UN-Rose Anne like thing last night and enjoyed it. See as usual I go out once in a blue moon and I've two things booked. So I had to give up with much dismay my spot for Mrs. Twitchett's Eye Christmas PJ party (missed out on the turkey smorg etc) and I heard from Linda it was great too!!! But I had our twice annual gathering of the Lewiscraft girls I worked with and it too was a potluck - DELICIOUS too!!! This was the first time I arrived without my stitching in hand and just "relaxed" with the girls - and all commented on that - one was worried about me as that was not Rose Anne! And I only brought one show n tell and it was not even finished - they were amazed. Well we chatted nonstop even when playing the game TABOO (awesome) some of us even helped out the playing teams - LOL! - and not just me either!!! Poor Mary Grace had a social to go to so left us before we started the game and the rest of us played till 1:00 am and had a ball! Needless to say I did not get home till 1:45 and crashed immediately - did not even think about opening the PC to check emails! LOL!

Then naturally we decided when, where and what about our next get together and as usual they were pressuring me to have it at my place. Well I caved in and you should have seen the shocked faces and everyone was jotting down the info fast - LOL! - so I've three months now to really get this place cleaned up for them and my sister's stay over for the Quilt Show in April! Heaven help me!!!!!!!!!

So I've had a late start today and gotta get back into sewing NOW! The TV is on for the Grey Cup game but basically background noise as I'm going to keep my nose to the grindstone today - stuffy head and all!

94 Years Young!!!

Okay, six of his daughters gathered Saturday evening at Dad's in Dauphin to help celebrate his 94th birthday - he said that day that he didn't feel old at all. Hmmmm!!! Just Erlene (who was there earlier) and his only son Jim were missing from this picture.

Marlene's DH Henry came too and Marg brought her daughter Roxanne and DH Derek and daughter Kallie from Saskatoon and Sylvia from NW Ontario picked me up on her way through Winnipeg. Dad was in a good mood and enjoyed his visit with all present and even continued Sunday asking to go for a ride around town for a bit! Yep, lots of excitement and yummy food!

Florence baked is favourite Angel Food Cake with strawberries sauce topping along with a special Happy Birthday musical candle.



Dad and Florence, youngest child, both goofing around. Looks pretty with it for 94 years young eh?

Busy / Relaxed???

Well I had a Mad Hatter type of week at work and at home last week. Then Saturday was our MPQ Guild meeting and vendor sales where I had sold several items and did okay. Then I assisted Pat F along with Linda and Jackie with a postcard workshop and I know I had a great time assisting a number of ladies on their "first" kick at the cat (so to speak) and even tried to loosen up and not pass on my "fussiness" for this task. Think I did okay and the ladies all did great from what I saw before skipping off at 2:30 for the long drive to my sister's for the weekend.

Yes, throughout the weekend I finished off attaching the batting to the quilt as you go assembled Cuddle Quilt (yes Shauna's August gift is still not completed but closer now) and finally the borders after a number of "rippit" sessions! Then I stitched the binding pieces together but did not get it stitched on as planned.



Adding the last two borders to the quilt.



Adding on the binding.



Used left over pieces for the "Breast Cancer Awareness" postcard swap recently.

Yep, I had a lovely visit with my sister and BIL even if I did get "kicked" out earlier than I had planned on, never ever have I been asked to leave so they can go out and I'm not gonna let him live it down either. See his nephew and wife were down for the first time and Len wanted to take them around the area and I totally understood and I'd already assisted my sister with her PC problems so just packed up and left. No I did not get all the sewing done I thought I would nor my homework for my Hardanger class but it was a relaxing weekend.

Even with the weird noise coming from the other room and I just HAD to go check out - DUH me!!! What do you expect with two outdoorsmen getting together and various hunting "toys" around - mainly some calling horn and yep they had a great time teasing me for answering the CALL!!! MEN!!!

So I went to visit Sylvia's quilter friend Fran down the road for a couple of hours and then drove to Kenora and spent the afternoon, overnight and this morning with Adeline stitching, eating and gabbing. I love the crazy patch block she's working on and considering she's not "embellished" with doo dads before, just embroidery, it's coming along just lovely!!! We even drove over to "Country Quilts", the new shop her friend is opening across from the Greehouse on the main drag exactly 6 KMs from the bypass (coming from Winnipeg that is) - hopefully soon to be open. I LOVE the fabrics at the sneak preview along with one piece I was able to buy!

Nope, I'd not done my Hardanger homework and my class was this evening and I had just got home in time to turn around and head to class (returning with more homework). UGH, gonna be a rough day and I seem to be coming down with a head cold too. Oh well it was worth it this weekend.

OHHHH - My BABY is HOME!!!

He He He gotcha with that title did I?

Well probably not those that know me! See I've no children nor pets just my crazy hobbies!!! And one of these hobbies I participated in a crazy patch swap where you sent your fabrics and various embellishments to the Swap Hostess and she sends it out to someone to stitch up and embellish and that person sends it back to the owner.

WELLLLLLL mine came HOME today!!!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Judy R for the lovely adorned block.

I keep looking and seeing other little trims and doodads that I hadn't seen when I first looked at it and even after photographing it too. I LOVE that butterfly and all the ways you've embellished the trims etc. WOW this is exactly why I love being in a one-on-one or group swap to see other people's interpretation of one's fabrics and embellishments.

Okay, Okay, here's the pictures!!!



I love it all!!!



Top right corner.



Centre patch butterfly and poofy heart!



And the bottom left with some coloured stitching and trims.

AND she spoiled me too. See Judy does some awesome crochet and from some stitching instructions from Mom and maybe Grandmothers of crocheting trims for your bedding (I sorta remember that but nope not carrying that forward). Well she sent me two blue trims for my pillow slips so I guess I'm gonna have to find a nice set and stitch them on - BUT heaven help anyone who uses those pillows!!!! LOL! Thank you Judy, they are lovely.

Check This OUT!!!

OFF TO ANOTHER EXHIBITION!



"Coloured Trash" is no sooner home and its off again to

Urban Shaman Gallery
203-290 McDermot Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3B 0T2
Tel: 204.942.2674
Hours: Tues - Fri 11 am - 5 pm
Sat: 12 pm - 5 pm
for their
50 to 500 (Exhibition & Sale)
November 23 - December 15, 2007

Check out Dale Anne's other creations by visiting her Blog or Website too! I'm so proud to be her friend and one of "her" sometimes students. (I goofed on my original post - SORRY Dale Anne)

Another PC Set Finished!

Well these took longer than I anticipated but then "life" happens in amongst my postcard makin! These are a couple of samples of the "Breast Cancer Awareness" postcards for the FAPC group I've made from left over fabric pieces of Shauna's cuddle quilt (which in fact I've still not finished - two borders and the binding to go yet - Sorry Kiddo - I promise I will get back to it)! Some I've beaded resembling a broach I saw on the Pink Ribbon website some time ago and then some I embellished with variegated metallice embroidery. I LOVE them - hope they do too.





And these stinkers needed more postage as I tried something different and naturally it was a might thicker so the beads got hung up in the slot!!! I wanted to see some definition in the quilted to the nonquilted ribbons so added some thin batting but guess not thin enough! Oh well that's why I LOVE going to the PO and have my girls check them individually before mailing.

Now onto the Spiders and Victorian postcards of the PC Cottage group. Hopefully these last two sets won't take as long as these pink ones did! Hey did I tell you that I do not like PINK!!! I swear this colour is starting to weave it's way into my life - but probably never to the clothing side.

Byran's Halloween Party

Pat did an awesome put together job with the cake and the scary feast!!! Yep those are bloody Witche's finger sugar cookies and even had pumpkin muffins too, not just candies.

WOW it's been ages since I've been around the young ones and the noise level that can be attained. Now Pat did say I didn't have to stay but heck it was kinda neat to see what 12 yr olds thought "party-wise" - LOL!

Anyways, Byran did wear his snake costume even if it somehow got twisted up before Pat stitched it together so it was kinda askewed!!! Some of the classmates came dressed some just a little but hopefully all had fun!

The Halloween fogger was the hit attraction and the screeching Pirate basically competing with the screeching to match the turned up music. Randy had moved out the vehicles from the newly errected garage and decorated along with a camp heater, it was a great room for a party.









Remember the Hot Potato game, well they played the Hot Witches' Broom version and they had fun along with the Blindfold find the plastic body parts and/or worms in the cooked and greased spaghetti - YUCK!!! The best one was the girls against the boys carting the tricorn candies on tablespoons across the garage to the bowls - girls beat the boys twice!!!

But it sure is nice to be home in the quiet once again - chuckling! And I got some Halloween cake and jelly beans to take home with me.

Busy Saturday

Well I'm taking turns working on cutting out my folded needlecases in preparation for a vendor sale at the guild Nov. 10th and also on my FAPC Breast Cancer Awareness postcards which hopefully will be in the mail on Monday. It's so nice and sunny but crisp out, so had to close my windows, but it's nice to work in the daylight at the kitchen table instead of under lights in the evening!!! Just took a break to see what with the emails but guess everyone is busy outside with fall cleanup if it's as lovely out for you as it looks here in Winnipeg MB for us.

Okay, back to work!

Phew - It's good to be home!

Phew, now I'm home after another evening of helping Pat with the cake and costume for tomorrow's party. That's tiring after a busy day in the office!!!

When I arrived there, they had just left (like 10 minutes) and I wondered why Belle was not howling at the door. Well I found out lickety split after putting her out on the leash! Yep, she was ticked that they went out in the evening and just showed them that's a no no by reaching till she grabbed the smallest cake, ripping the plastic to shreds AND eating all the chocolate chip chocolate cake that was to be the SPIDER, with barely a crumb left for evidence. Just lucky the other big cake was too far back and she couldn't snag it OR I arrived before she could!!! No I didn't punish her, and she knew she was bad, I just left her outside which she hates when you're inside - very spoiled dog!!! So now tomorrow Pat has to bake another cake and at least the decorating looks easy enough for her to handle it herself.

So when she got back home, we tackled the base cake with purple and orange icing and I freehanded a web on top and she'll attach ALL SORTS candy around for smaller spiders and hopefully the larger spider tomorrow. It's in the fridge and we've warned Amanda not to throw anything into the fridge when she comes home late too!!!

Then we tackled that snake costume and I must say it's turned out pretty good. I was too tired to finish it all but it's just to tack the straps to hold the coils in place around and to hang over Byran's shoulders, so Pat said she'll finish it tomorrow. I told her if it's too much to call me - will see. So here's a picture Byran took of me sewing the fangs onto the head and also one I took after he'd gone to bed and I had finished attaching the head to the coiled body. I think it looks pretty good.






Ohhh and I got seranaded again tonight when Byran practiced his piano for me, which he thought he'd get away with - Ha Ha Ha!!!

More CQd Blocks

And just to show you that Adeline's block was not the first one, here is a personal swap with "Dragonfly" and my plan and her finished block. Notice in top left the change of "plan"???





But this next baby was part of a group CQ'd round robin on a block that I prepared and sent off - a different approach.





Gotta retake this picture some day!!!

And then there's this last sample with no plan as I winged it's embellishments for a 5" ticket pocket for our 2004 Manitoba Quilt Retreat (I made up I think 45 of these for retreaters but left the embellishments for them to do - just provided some buttons/charms).

CQ blocks?

"When you ladies embellish your blocks, do you have a pattern to go by, or do you just wing it and say this would look good here and that there, what????????" This is one of many questions from a newbie CQer in one of my groups - she is not only picking up tidbits etc but also "making" use revisit our whys and hows. Thank you! Well, I have some input to this latest query!

I've tried many a time to "just wing it" as one says, but heck that is totally foreign and a long painful experience for me at least. I do that only with smaller pieces, but I still do a scim through books for ideas - the seam finishes are pick and choose mostly and I see repetitive of the ones I like doing - gotta change that soon. Maybe it will come to me with more experience, I don't know.

So what I've found to work for me is to make a copy of the exact size of block (basically the 8" size and larger), have the stitched block beside me too and flip through my books and even some Blogs for ideas and make a note on the paper block of various items I like and where to find them for future reference. Then I do a write up alongside or on another page of each pieced number, the design and where I reference it, the colours of SR and floss and various embellishments. I continue till all pieces are accounted for and then I cover the drawing with plastic just to keep my hands clean from charcoal and ink and start to embellish.

Here is a picture of the "plan" I made up for Adeline's CQd block, it's not exact but close. Now I'm not saying I don't change things as I go, but at least I have a "plan" and things go a lot faster and smoother for me this way.



I find it not so scary to start the embellishing when I have a paper plan or blueprint like the builders to follow. And Ohhhh the joy when it is perused over and over by friends (quilting and none) and each time they see something they missed the first go over! Yep, very rewarding along with finding the stitching very relaxing (if not under a deadline that is).

Now for my HIGHS!!!

All I can say is usually things don't fall into place for me like this so at lunch time I went out and bought a lottery ticket - hey you can't win without one!!!

Well workwise, all I can say is I made lots of headway finally and was pleased to have my very late Yearbook on it's final stage and hopefully next week on it's way to the printer - PHEW!!! And today I started another major project and it's progressing well too. So YES a good day workwise!!!

Then I met Pat (my niece) and went over there to assist her with Byran's Halloween Party preparations and enjoy a lovely supper with them too. Yummie, thank you very very much - BBQ chicken breasts, oven roasted potatoes and corn!!! Well we started a scratch cake that on Friday we'll decorate as a purple and orange base and a big sprinkle covered spider with All Sorts candy spiders around the base - looks easy and appropriate. So they are now in the freezer.

We then attempted the "snake" costume (now I had major reservations on this one) and all I can say is she's got guts as I'd have just gone and bought him one!!! She'd picked up a dryer hose (stretches out 10 feet) and we cut up her old brown trench coat (I said he should just go as Sherlock Holmes but no such luck) and sewed a tube to cover that hose and stapled the ends securely. Then I cut one sleeve and she stitched it to a point for the tail, stuffed it and pinned it in place to the end - looks good. Then I cut off the back overflap and she stitched it closed for the head with the red felt split tongue sticking out. We've yet to make two white fangs and stitch them on. Then Pat cut out a Sunlight soap bottle yellow eyes and glued on red dots for the centre eye and VOILA head's ready for stuffing on Friday. So our next step is to get the kid to stand still while we wrap and pin in place the coils and then position the head and tail appropriately. I figured out to make like straps from the belt etc at the top so it sits over his shoulders to keep it up and on and now she's sooooo excited as it's the first one she's pulled off so well. Yes, Auntie will have pics of it on Friday and also from the party Saturday evening and another BBQ me thinks!!!!

THEN I come home and my sister Sylvia calls and asks why I haven't checked my emails!!! SHEESH I wasn't home my dear! LOL! Anyways, it's been a few days that she's been without her PC as she hit the ALT key while in an email and POOF it went bye bye and she then could not read anything at all, frustrated she shut down. I tried to help but was lost without the screen viewing but gave her some suggestions along with leaving it for a day or two which her neighbour suggested also. That she did and today logged on again and had to wait patiently for the download of emails and VOILA all was okay again! GOSH I'm so glad as it's hard to get help out when you're not in a major centre etc. So she's a happy camper again and I'm totally relieved too as when I visit her we can play instead of fight to get her back up again.

THEN I read another email and my friend Dale Anne has lucked into some freebie threads and it's like Christmas or winning a lottery for her as she's an artsy quilter that goes through lots of thread! I'm so happy for her!!!

SHEESH I can't believe today! I'm still a whirling in my brain and my heart a racing - hope I don't crash tomorrow!!!

CQ Block is DONE!!!!

OH MY, OH MY, OH MY, I'm all a twither here today - what a busy night and so full of so many HIGHS for me!!! I'm so close to tears and don't know what to write on first!!!! Well first off here is Adeline's email upon receiving her CQd block today and I only mailed it yesterday at NOON!!!! Talk about service! And OHHHH I so wanted to be a fly on the wall when it arrived with camera in hand!

"OH my I just picked up my mail and what a surprise, I can't believe it.

It's wonderful, I have it pinned on the wall right here by my computer, my sister was just here and saw it, OOOHHH did she like it, Julie doesn't do any fancy work just plain quilting as she calls it.

Marg is coming over later and what a surprise I have to show her.

Now I REALLY have to finish this one I have.

SSSOOO many thanks, Adeline"

Okay, so here are the pictures of the block swap I participated in the CrazyQuilters-CA group - the block I stitched from fabrics Adeline provided along with a few of my plainer silks and embellished with trims provided along with ones from my stash.

Now I have to say that I'd been working on this baby since the end of August/beginning of September and I just finished it Oct. 21st. Needless to say that various friends, family and naturally co-workers have watched this block bloom and all had the same question "How the heck can you send this away - KEEP IT FOR YOURSELF!" Yep I chuckled, thanked them for the compliment and said well I can because I know I'll be getting a block back one of these days and hopefully I'll be as pleased (probably goofier more so) when I open it.

Okay you want to see the pictures, enough gabbing!!! Sorry that some of these are slightly blurry but I tried a few times! Here is the "nakkid" crazy patch pieced block.



Starting of embellishments with Q-snaps frame.



Halfway embellished - Oct. 4th




My spider siggie usually on all CQ blocks I make.

My first attempt at a stitched scene and I'm pleased. Oh and that pink peony (silk ciggie from Judy R) is trapunto stitched but hard also to photograph.

And here is another filler flower design along with my SRE butterfly.

I love making these Abalone shell angels too and see the mother of pearl birdie button top left corner!

And here's another free-hand stitched filler flower of goldenrod stems with a treasure find butterfly (sort of mother of pearl like finish).


This shows how I attached the antique like cotton lace and also more filler flowers.

And I gave up on trying to photograph the centre dark design - basically all SRE embellished on the fabric print. And the white fabric is supposed to be embroidered seaweed and one of my embroidery books shows repeating the same stitch but with beading - so I tried it out and kinda like it!

OKAY and here is the completed block - Oct. 21st - mailed out noon Oct. 23rd and Adeline received it early today - the 24th - WOW!