More Selvedge Fabric

OK I'm pooped sewing most of the day, between Lexi's attention seeking and Simba's yowling and tearing around!  LOL!!!  Stopped 11:30 and relaxing with last glass of wine before bed.  That’s enough selvedge fabrics for now.  Next weekend at retreat is making projects time out of these! 

My Pet Friends

Ahhh some quiet time for me!  If it's not Lexi trying to intimidate me to cough up more treats it's Simba at the front door yowling to be let outside and not at the same time.  Lexi gets outdoor walks 4X a day with a treat upon return IF she does her business and usually does as she's old and arthritic and the body does not work as long anymore - like humans!  Simba has a LOVELY caged outdoor play structure accessible through a cat door in the laundry room that he's usually in.  I guess it's not so obvious when there are four adults around but only me the house is quiet even with music playing - unless I'm sewing selvedges!  I sent the pics to the family too. 

Selvedge Fabrics

Ongoing sewing project 3 more to do - getting ready for multi sewing projects from these stitched foundations at the quilting retreat next week.  I'm using up the 3/4 inch selvedge edges from my fabrics along with many given to me from other quilters.  Recycling!  Some ideas are pin cushions, hot mats, oven mitts, notebook covers, etc. 

Monday's Walk

Today Edna and I joined Prairie Pathfinders (44 of us) this morning to walk the Wolesley Wellington 6.88 km route in 1 hr 19 min or 5.1 km/hr in 3.3°C temps with very cool breezes.  Needless to say many of us have rosie cheeks.  So far today I've done 13,868 steps and basically done for the day.  Here's some pictures of our group and the fast changing sky today. 

Ikaruga Town Manhole Cover

OMGG I was very intrigued by Helen Fujiki's artistically beautifully quilted projects at the banquet and then ecstatic when my sister Sylvia won her choice for a door prize drawing.  Then I got an email from MPQ Executive informing us we can purchase any piece from the show at a reduced priceTuesday at her hotel.  I quickly emailed Helen to see if my favourite manhole cover was still available, yes it was, so off I went to get it.  You can check out all Helen's works from her website http://www.fujiwaquilting.com/Fuji_Wa_Quilting/Welcome.html  And you can check out my actual Ikaruga Town manhole cover at this link http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/about-japan-from-manhole-covers-ikaruga-nara and compare the two.

Quilting Travels

This weekend was our Quilt Reflections Show and naturally I shopped along with my volunteering a shift each day and visited with family.  After hearing of a fellow quilter's passing this weekend - way too soon - I threw myself into sewing.  Monday I planned out a fun wall hanging of a couple of fabric license plates from the 2015 Row by Row Experience that many were madly participating in.  No I didn't, but I did pick up Oma's Quilt Shop fabric license plate and this weekend I bought Tiger Lily Quilts Fabrics one too.  Today I finished the top and must say that not having a pattern to follow is quite exhausting.  I love it and once quilted will be my sewing room door hanger.  Reminds me of my travels seeking out quilt shops, quilting reteats and/or quilt shows!!! 

Quilt Reflections Show - Banquet

Tonight was the banquet for our Manitoba Prairie Quilters Guild - Quilt Reflections Show and we even had The Honorable Janice C. Filmon, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba as an honored guest along with Helen Fujiki our guest speaker.  It was a lovely evening with beautiful quilted pieces by Helen on display.  Various door prizes were drawn and ended off with my sister Sylvia being drawn and choosing one of many of the manhole cover quilts as her prize.  WOW!!!

Flowery Strips and Curves

Today I've completed the last item I'd planned for the two upcoming quilt shows.  This last one is for the Dryden quilt show boutique for fundraising.  With the curved upper and lower edges a normal binding was not possible so I've attempted my first facing method of finishing.   Considering the demo instructions I did manage this technique. 

Cooking this Snowy Spring Day!

Relaxing after sorting paperwork for tax filing and ENJOYED an awesome supper.  See I visited Dale and Ted on Monday and she was preparing supper before I left.  Well I just had to pick up the ingredients and since it was coolish for once in my apartment I did not mind having the oven on.  So this is what I call Russian Dressing Chicken.  Ingredients are simple:  1 bottle Russian dressing (I'd say smaller size unless doing a family size chicken pieces tray), 1 cup apricot jam (next time I'llget the no sugar one), 1 pkg of onion soup mix and naturally your chicken (another friend said this could be pork chops).  Mix together the dressing, jam and onion soup mix and pour into zip lock baggie or covered dish - layer in chicken and marinate in fridge till supper time.  Bake at 350° for 1.5 hours.  I had it with mixed long grain/wild rice and salad.  I've also three servings to go into the freezer for quick meals. 

I did enjoy one of her dishes while there.  Thick cut pork chops seared on both sides and placed in a single layer in baking dish at 325° for 1/2 to 3/4 hour.  Remove meat and make gravy from drippings or prepared gravy or cream of mushroom soup.  Add chopped green and red peppers and fresh mushrooms to gravy, add meat back and bake another 1/2 to 3/4 hour and serve with roasted small potatoes and corn on the cob!  YUMMY!!!