November 29th & 30th

Nov 29th

She's at it again!  Monica, your brain does not rest, I'm pretty sure!!!!

Delayed tatting a bit more and prepped for three orders of my wildlife pillows for Christmas.  So now back to tatting my Christmas bells and hopefully mailed off this weekend then to sewing again.

Nov 30th

Merry Christmas to my Fringe Tatter exchange recipient, it'llbe mailed off today!  Finally with a few setbacks my tatted bell is complete.  Even reopened my tiny but deep cut again - this time briefly!  After days of searching I settled on Christmas Bell by Jennifer Williams but had to tat according to the pattern to figure out where I'd add my crystals into which joins.  Maybe they are a bit big, a seed bead might have been better, but I like the end result!  This pattern has loads of cuts and ties which I don't care for.  Also I tried to make it with Lizbeth 312 metallic and boy was that a mistake and a major waste of time as halfway through I busted a join and had to start over with regular Lizbeth cotton.  But with the crystals I sure can see it on the tree reflecting the lights! 🤗🎄😍

OK what's this Colorado low sending our way now!  The sky looks weird for winter!

November 27th & 28th

Nov 27th

It is with a very heavy heart that I won't be seeing another of my loveable friends.   😢😢😢  Yes Taunya and Steve said, I'm sure, tearful and heart wrenching goodbyes to Zero yesterday!  💔😢💔  He's now pain free and romping freely chasing whatever crosses his path in pet heaven!  🐾🐾💞🐾🐾  Hugs to you both and Fred too!!!

Well up and atem today early!  First post an Amazon return which I wanted to exchange but the website did not let me have that option, dang it!  Then off for a trim n style (forgot to get Adele to take the pictures), Fabricland for my poppy n wine fabric at 50% off before heading over to visit Auntie Adeline, surprising her.  She mentioned being pleased that Florence and Wayne had stopped in when in for a Jets game awhile ago.  Last stop was into Needlepoint Place to see if I could buy a tatting book or two, Ewa was very pleased to see me! Now home and back to tatting my Christmas bells!

Window light distorted the colour.

Next picture shows it better. 

Nov 28th

Hope you are celebrating this weekend with family and friends!

If you do then Aunt Monica's Attic on Regent would love to have them.  Please contact Monica for drop off info.  Probably for dog beds.  💖🐾💖

Okay, maybe I should have stayed in bed and not tried doing things today!  Thankfully the evening out with the girls was awesome!  But again I thought all Christmas items were on sale 30%, nope not the cards, dang it!  Oh well they are lovely!

Anyways I was tatting with Lizbeth metallic and crystals, well I tried too but failed miserably even stinging scratches on my fingers!  Then switched to regular size 20 Lizbeth and things were going smoothly till I noticed my first flower had 5 petals instead of the six required PLUS I was missing some long picots for the NEXT ROW to join up with crystals!  DANG IT!!!  So cut off those flowers and crystals, setting it aside for when I return.

So went to do dishes before getting dressed for the evening!  Well that too went askew too!  See I cut the outside edge near the cuticle on my ring finger and it would not stop bleeding and I was starting to get squeamish and light headed.  So I covered it, called my Dr and went straight there and he saw me right away.  Yes a might deep but I'd stop it is so he cleaned it, rebandaged me and said to keep an eye for infection.  DUH!!!!  By this time I was to be at Cindy's so just went straight there without any Christmas bling etc!

Talk about ALL KINDS of items here at the Jingle Mingle at Lacoste Nursery in their newly renovated store!

Tomorrow better be better!!!!!

Catch Up - Nov 22nd - 25th

Nov 22nd

Today I'm not doing what I should, instead I tried to tat with size 60 thread (at least I think it is) for miniature dollhouse accessories! Thank you Deana for the book, I think it's one you gave me!  Yeah I probably need my head examined, at least it wasn't the size 80 it called for, see the smallest I've gone was size 40 with major difficulty.  Not bad though, just tiny starting ring to hold onto!

Nov 23rd

I've heard of a couple men in our groups but this is awesome to see!

Nov 24th

Totally agree with this.  Also stop changing other things like our anthem by those fuss pots into making things politically correct.  Also you can't change what was done historically, that's maybe a sad fact but still fact, maybe learn to do better from it.

WOW!  Going to have to try this out from salvaged sweaters!

Nov 25th

Today was our 9-4 free motion quilting class at Cedar House Quilting with Inez Drummond!  I felt bad for everyone as my leaving at 7:50 am, and even early picking up Edna, just got us there for 9 am so it was a bit rushed getting ready!  We barely used the 14" practise piece, just jumped right in there on the 14" by WOF sandwiched piece, using Aurafill 50/2 thread.  Now if someone would have told me before this class that you can do straight line quilting with an FMQ foot I'd have said "Ahhhh no way Jose!" - but she proved me wrong!

It was a GREAT class with an AWESOME instructor and enthusiast quilters there to learn!  I couldn't believe how much I dived right in and tried all she showed us and still more I have to continue to fill in the blanks at home now!  Mine will be an inside door hanger, no way am I using it as a runner, putting stuff on it! 😯

Edna too said she learnt so much and will practise at home and who knows we just might take the followup class one day!  Thank you Inez for the great class, Helen and Geoffrey for the scrumptious soup, your help and hospitality!  Naturally the blue washable marker is the right side, so I also took a picture of the backside to show what it will look like eventually. 😊

Nov 20th - 21st

Nov 20th

Good morning!  I was out early and all was clear but on the drive back it started snowing and this is like 10 minutes ago going white again!

And an hour later!

Well it took me 1 1/2 hours to drive through the city to have supper with Dianne and Linda - usualy no more than half hour.  Supper at Montana's was very nice and thankful travel was better going home!

Nov 21st

Trying to recoup after my not so good dentist check up.  After years of clear check ups and somehow missed my 6 month visit, now a year later I've a cavity in dire need of repair plus possible bone sugery to follow.  Guess now I'm very glad I didn't drop dental plan benefits, smart advice Angela!  Ordered Bruchetta and Chardonnay!  It's snowing again!

I also stopped at the library on the third floor and picked up this awesome reference book for $3.05 and already have ideas floating around!

WOW I LOVE this hippie idea!  Reminds me of the painted Volkswagen bus I saw in New Zealand!  Funny how certain things bring back long forgotten memories!

Now I've started my MPQ Mystery Applique BMO first block.  It's going very well!  Too bad the Jets lost!

Sunday, Nov 17th

Good morning!  Okay I've visited and fed Jake. Gone to Chamois and now have a clean car inside and out!  She was quite dirty and it's warm so good time to do this.  Now killing time before brunch with Colleen and checking out this craft sale.  Then supper with Angela and Bruce!  What a perfect end to this day!

Had a lovely time with Colleen, lunch at Fionn MacCools on Regent before checking out the craft sale and taking her back home!  Now off to Angela's for supper!  Ohhhhh I'm stuffed!!!! It was like Thanksgiving again even the spaghetti squash she made down to the homemade blueberry crumble and yogurt! Thank you Angela!  Ohhhh and my snowflakes are stiff but still fragile!  I'm happy with them so off they'll go tomorrow!

Back Basted Applique

OMGG I totally would not have believed this until I had actually stitched it myself.  Thank you Marion O. for your workshop on Back Basted Applique method at the MPQ Applique Workshops held on Saturday!  This is so very precise as long as one's tracing is accurate.  I totally enjoy hand applique so I think I've found my method to be used and using a hoop hopefully will control my tension.  Now to prep my BOM Mystery Applique blocks and find a travelling case for all supplies.

Catch Up - Nov. 11th-16th

Nov. 11th

Sheesh this world is truly going to pots with all this pussy footing on political correctness! Politicians have a lot of the blame for this on their shoulders for how our Canada is evolving into chaos! 

Just look at all those NOT punished as they are CHILDREN but allowed to trash others personal property, innocent individuals out and about getting beat up and lastly those free for alls robbing liquor marts recently.  If you're GROWN enough to do the crime then you're GROWN enough to have your face posted everywhere and accepting the penalty - not protected so they can continue unimpeded!!!!

Disgusted with Don's firing for speaking the truth!  The network should be ashamed of their decision! 😖

And then there was another post from Kirsten Gjerde also standing with Don Cherry.

Nov. 12th

YEAH!!!!! Finally at BP with Barb!!!

Hmmmmmm wonder if I still have mine!

Nov. 13th

My friend Mary, also an ex-coworker, donates her time, talent and yarns to make mitts and hats for those in need!  I thought that was a lovely idea so donated some of my yarns and Pat, my niece, gave me some of her's too to pass along!

The above ones are from Pat, the brown tweed from me. 

Others she's made recently. 

Today I handed in my three men's shirts quilt tops to the ABC program at MPQ Guild meeting!  It was a very good feeling to have completed them and now onto someone else to to finish them into quilts.

Nov. 14th

Finally I've completed my orders for tatted snowflakes, washed them and tomorrow I'll starch them and hopefully Monday into the mail and packaged for gift giving!  Center one has an angel (Large Crystal Snowflake by Vida Sunderman) with crystals and another has blue glass beads while the rest have clear glass beads (all Tatted Ice Snowflake - Be-Stitched.com).  AND one somehow got soiled and no matter what I used the stain would not come out so guess that one is mine!!!  I started these in August and still couldn't get them completed for October as I'd hoped to do!

Nov. 15th

Okay my snowflakes are all starched and blocked!  Let's hope that once is enough this time around, if not I'll have to brush more stiffener on like last time.  I would LOVE to do this process only once.  These are the two I've used and Stiffy today!

Nov. 16th

Well today was the Mystery Applique Block of the Month companion Applique Workshop at MPQ!   Boy was I ever glad to sign up for this! There were six different types of applique shown but I only focused on two that I've not done at all or very poorly.  Sorry no pictures as yet as I was busy stitching. 

I concentrated on Back Basted Applique which I've not tried before and will set aside my love of needle turn applique for this method - it's so accurate and an easy take with you project. 

The second was Invisible Machine Applique - this one was all prepped in class even if I didn't have all the "tools" and I'm hoping to finish the machine work as easily as the prepping went! 

Yes I'm very happy Marion, Tracy and Inez were our amazing very knowledgeable teachers!  NOW I can start my blocks once I decide on my fabric background!  Maybe a good cream muslin?  I know I'm going to work with my box of batik pieces for the appliques.

Hmmmm I've been noticing myself doing this lately and now am going to see if these exercises will help!