Catchup - Oct 1st-8th

Oct 1st

YEAH YEAH YEAH!!! I finally figured out Marlene Lewis's Square Bookmark with Buttons diagram afternoon with brief directions! Now it looks like it's supposed to be, onto finishing it. Sorry Marlene for butchering that first attempt!

Talk about clever!!!

Oct 2nd

Ohhhh I'm so very happy that I've finished off the tinsie winsie paper pieced Chickadee's postcards and they are out in the mail as RAKs except for mine (top one). The pattern is Chickadee by Brenda Groelz in Miniature Quilts Issue 50, I did the 4.5x3.5" size and added on both sides for 4x6" size. There are 37 pieces and lots of tiny ones in and around the birds. This was an introduction to a simpler PPd technique that Sylvia showed Edna and I this August - and I'm so very very glad she did. See it's turning back the pattern piece on the seam line and trimming the 1/4" seam allowance before adding the next fabric even with this edge. So much easier than what I was doing trying to make things fit.

Oct 3rd

Aaahhhhh I sure have messed up our lunch out these past year's! When Jeanette and Dianne are back I'll definitely make the time for a lunch out somewhere!!!

Well what a change a few hours make! Early morning thunderstorms, then heavy morning rains that had water on the windowsills, needless they were closed fast, to a beautiful evening! FALL, definitely a changeling!!!

About 8:30am.

Nothing this afternoon but it looked threatening. 

To this 6:45pm.

Great idea!

Oct 4th

Ohhh forgot to post Wednesday, guess I was tired!!! I again picked up Edna and dropped her off at Sylvia's. Then went to my appointment, then picked up Wok Box lunches for the three of us and back to Sylvia's to eat together. After that we headed out Hwy 75 (biggo mistake on my part) out to Winkler. So at Morris I headed west thinking I'd escape the construction, DANG, another major mistake on my part!!! Well we finally got to Road 17N to shop and visit some. Then checked out Winkler Fabrics Plus (didn't know about them) which is something like Fabricland but lower prices. After that headed out of town to Buttercup Greenhouse & Cafe for an afternoon snack. OMGG I'll be back here that is for sure, not only for the scrumptious desserts n coffee but for the interesting local artists' decor within!!! Yes definitely worth it!!! Thank you Road 17 N for suggesting this place!

Oct 5th

OKAY after a few stressing issues I've booked our hotel in Grand Forks for the Quilts on the Red Quilt Show. After that, all better be good with us to enjoy that two day trip! 🙄🤗🥰

Oct 6th

Oooohhhhh what a tiring but very productive day! Started out way tooooo early for a 9:30 am gathering at Assiniboine Circle Quilters for Meals on Wheels placemats and visiting. I also showed them why I ask for small scraps, my 4x6" postcards of the flying geese and chickadee. 

My selvedge placemats and backing.

Kit I bought from Jackie's stash, front and back.

Sylvia's two placemats, front and back.

Kit Sylvia bought from Jackie's stash, front and back.

My mini paper pieced postcards. 

My show n tell.

Afterwards took Sylvia home, did some grocery shopping and home to relax! NADA!!! See Berhane, my caretaker, suggested coming over to assemble my sewing tables extensions, I was not going to say no! He had a bit of issues but it's done and I have a good 12" backing on my tables and no more quilts etc falling behind onto the floor. Then I had curtain issues, decided not to cut anymore off as I can't find pleated curtains anymore and might need length in future? Good enough for me!!!

12" extension on attached brackets to the table, against the wall.   Curtains hemmed up. 

The leftover piece on brackets attached to the serger table. 

Enough for today, but soon need non-slip stuff added to brackets just in case.

I'm wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving to family and friends!!!  

Oct 7th

Here's a gourd, sitting on my doll chair, that I found at Freshco and couldn't leave it there!!!

Oct 8th

WOW!!!!!!!!! Today my hip is not looking forward to winter and for once hope it's delayed and shortened!!! 🤪

Catchup - Sept 21st-30th

Sept 21st

Ohhhh my how true!

All I can say is I know I'll not be around to fully comprehend how some of this young generation handles life ahead. I just shudder at the madness ahead!

Sept 22nd

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!!! I've finally finished my first NICU quilt top. Now to figure out how to finish it off - see there are a few variations I've heard.  

1. Top, batting and cotton back

2. Top, batting and flannel back

3. Top and flannel back only

AND I'd rather get it right, right off the start!!! When completed it'll fit in as my completed UFO this month too! HSTs are from cutoffs over the past few years.

Sept 23rd

Finally NHL hockey 🏒 has started!!! I'm watching LA Kings vs AR Coyotes playing in Melbourne Australia, first time there and in the southern hemisphere! WOW!!!!

I know I said I love AUTUMN 🍂 🍁 but here's the proof! See I called Edna and suggested a walk to Tall Grass Prairie Bakery on Westminster even in this unpredictable weather! It was nice except for the 20 minutes of rain but thankfully we were under the Bakery's overhang and stayed mostly dry. The walk home was a bit damp but I still enjoyed it and Edna was happy I suggested it.

This was yesterday out my window.

Just beautiful!!!

That couple in their bright slickers cooperated wonderfully!   Sorry Edna for the not so gracious picture of you!  😘  You're a sweetheart!

Sept 24th

Okay two days I've been working in tandem on three of these paper pieced chickadees. Today I finished piecing the various 6 sections for each bird and then decided to sew one together making it into a 4 x 6" postcard size. This pattern is for a 4.5 x 3.5" size designed by Brenda Groelz found in Miniature Quilts Issue 50. I totally LOVE this one even if there are 37 pieces to this 4 x 6" project with MANY ITTY BITTY pieces in the bird! Now I can't wait to sew together the other two birds and then complete the postcards and get two sent out, one is mine!!!  

ISN'T HE A BEAUTY!!! I LOVE chickadees!!!

Sylvia stitched this for me, one of her UFO's completed, gifted and very proudly on display at my place!

At Birds Hill Park with friends. 

Love this shot!

At Birds Hill Park again.

It took patience to stay so still for a few feedings!!!

Sept 25th

I'm excited as I get to visit the Crew in their new home out Birds Hill Park way and check out their new routines etc!

What a lovely day for a ride out Garven Road/Birds Hill Park area. I now know how to get to the Crew and boy do they ever seem relaxed here compared to their previous home. Obviously the country vibes and air is more soothing, especially for Griff. They still were excited to see me, even the foster dog who's there only a few days. Yep lots more room to romp in and outdoors, even when Sam is leashed they can go for a long stroll to the back of the yard and into the neighbour's property onto the groomed trail he made for her and the dogs. Won't be me, but they sure enjoy that spontaneous go for a walk instead of driving to the floodway for such. I'm jealous!!! That's lits of yard to look after!  

And then the view out my window!!!

Here's the whole Crew!

Back is Lexi the newest addition, brown one is King the foster, next to him his Wheels with Griff just behind and Sam in front!!!

Out my window!

Sept 26th

What a lovely day out with Sylvia and Edna today! We started off with advance voting at the Forks, then shared a three piece pickeral fish n chips at Fergies! YUMMY!!! Then walked some of it off checking out the limited shops there now but I picked up two mugs on sale. 

Then over to Tall Grass Prairie for sweet treats before heading out to OMA's for some more shopping and chuckles at our matching tops! 

Guess we sometimes have the same tastes! Afterwards drove into Niverville MCC picked up the vase and met up with Audrey before heading down through St Adolphe onto St Mary's and back into Winnipeg. Definitely a lovely road trip!!!

Sept 27th

Ohhhh my, I've been kinda mopey this plastic week and not keeping on top of things! Gotta shape up!

Anyways Sylvia helped me cut my selvedge foundations so I could get two placemats out. Then I found this lovely Hawaiian fabric that was given to me and now I know where to use it up! So my first two placemats for the Assiniboine Circle Quilters group project will soon be complete.

Ohhhhhh it was so very lovely to see the Northern Lights Lace group ladies again and missed those not able to attend. Awesome too that Michelle was able to come join us AND then the two of us went to Boston Pizza for a yummy lunch and more conversation!!! 🥰💞 I needed this!!!!!

Sept 29th

Ohhhh boy, another pattern which I know why I like written out instructions better than diagrams! This is the first try of Marlene Lewis's Square Bookmark with Buttons pattern and I've had many rippits and I'm only on the first square!!! I think I've figured it out now but it's slow going. 🐌 I know I've an error in the two corners - it shows elongated rings but now I see I did it totally wrong!!! I think I'm going to just finish this square as I began and restart hopefully correctly on the new one?

Sept 30th

What a lovely day! With Sylvia and Edna I headed out on another road trip, first Boston Pizza lunch in Portage la Prairie then onwards to Brandon. We stopped into Fabriculous and Mama Bears quilt shops then a coffee break at McDs before supper at Applebee's. We were joined by Edna's girlfriend Vivian from Brandon and our sisters Elsie and Florence from Dauphin - nice surprise! Lovely food and company!!! Then headed back to Winnipeg and somewhere east of Carberry this HUGE orange harvest moon serranated us for at least an hour. Edna and I had a guessing game on what it looked like with each of it's changing phases! Well we saw a burger, bum, Man in the Moon, head with top hat, head with wispy bangs, and various renditions of clouds shading the moon some like veils and others like curtains! Very entertaining and I truly wanted to stop and take some pictures - but traffic in the dark was a bit intimidating for me. So have to settle with this shot from my apartment. It was very bright if no clouds nearby!

Catchup - Sept 18th-20th

Sept 18th

Well I even finished off the blues bookmark this week along with her snowflakes a couple weeks ago plus cut out various swapping juvenile 6.5 inch squares and 1930s FQ. She wanted them before October and they are ALL going into the mail today! YAHOOIEEE!!!

I didn't get her bookmark finished cause decided I didn't like it so scrapoed that idea and that'll be shipped in a card when done.

Closeup of special snowflake.

Sept 19th

Yeah!!! I've finally sewed up my cut off HSTs discards into 6.5" squares from a couple years of projects. Usually I give them to Adeline in Kenora but then decided to try using them in NICU 36-40" square quilts. I'll see after this one if I want to try anymore! Now I think I picked up a lighter pink for the inner sashing for a nifty effect. Maybe tomorrow I'll proceed to that step.

Sept 20th

What a lovely day for a stroll through Royalwood, seeing some older carvings and a few newer ones along with a couple works in progress! Even tried last minute to call Cindy to maybe join us!

I TOTALLY ❤️❤️❤️❤️ AUTUMN, COLOURS AND DECENT WEATHER TOO!!!! 🍂🍁🍂

We finished off with Oakwood Cafe borscht and cheese toast with shared apple pie and ice cream with drizzled carmel sauce.

Sept 20th

This evening I've sewed in the between the blocks sashing in the three rows. Then began the sashing rows between block rows. Might have the top finished Friday as I'm busy tomorrow. The HSTs blocks are cutoffs from previous year's projects. So an UFO soon finished for a NICU cover quilt (36-40" square)!