An Evening with the Girls!!!

Yes, it was another evening over at Georgie's with most of the Lewiscraft girls (we missed you Mary Grace - hope you're feeling better) and thank you Georgie, Pat and Mom for the lovely Italian supper and Amy and Michelle for the dessert.

Georgie

Pat

their Mom

Me, Pat, their Mom, Georgie, Karen, Amy Jean and Michelle is taking the picture.

It sure was delicious or like my Mom used to say "it must have been good or you were really hungry!", but I can say it was really tasty!!! And well the company was great too!!!

And last night I gave a demo on postcard making and I think I've a few more hooked on them too. I gave them alternatives: like using interfacing for the fronts and backs and two sided bonding or glue to adhere the two together, 1/4 inch from edge straight stitching all around and then trimming with pinking shears all around.

Georgie having a ball

Georgie's card

her fish


Amy's favourite critter and a couple of my postcards.

craft table now!

Michelle

Pat snapping pics

My heart for their Mom, Pat's dancer with help from me, Michelle's own creation, Amy's creativeness not yet finished, Karen wanting more embellishing yet, and Georgie's lanterns!

Two wanted to do more embellishing at home but they got the drift so I also gave them all the "FlexiFirm" and plastic sleeve to make up another one on their own. They are to bring them to our next meeting in May but pictures were taken of those finished and also the two fronts.

FFT #5 - Diane's block

Well I'm finally getting to work on it and I've completed my patch and it turned out fabulous!!! At least I'm pleased.



I used DMC metallic for the web, gold beads for the spider body, Japanese Buttonhole Twist for the Bullion Knot legs, Needle Necessities cotton floss for the stem stitched circles and Dye Weeks silk floss for the vines and leaves. Yep I think it turned out just lovely.

Now tomorrow onto the two seam treatments and see if I should do more or send it onto Ritva early next week.

House Sitting

Well it's going good except for the beeping last night!!! It only took an hour for me to finally locate where this was coming from and needless to say I was getting concerned and especially after the dogs staying nearby me and looking at the front doorway!!! It was only after coming out of the computer room that it beeped over my head and finally I knew it was the fire alarm. So now I have a new battery and I'm set once again.

AND IT'S MELTING AS THE SUN IS SHINING AND IT'S WARM OUT!!! Maybe no more shovelling??? I did have to shovel out the ridge the plow left infront of my car to get it out this evening and that was the hardest as I had to carry it over to the other side of the garage from the carport! Oh well exercise is good for me they all say!

Okay here are my newfound lap warmers!!! And it was as if they knew I was going out tonight as they cuddled all afternoon even at the PC!!! I still don't know which is which but lucky both come when I call!!! And one wants to give kisses all the time but sorry, I'll cuddle, but no kisses!

Molly n Lilla

but which is

which???

I've My Internet Back!!!

Finally after trying a couple of times I phoned MTS again and the recording said to disconnect and reconnect the modem, well I don't see one here but they have a DLink so I just one plug at a time pulled out, counted to 20 like the said and reconnected and FINALLY I'm LIVE again!!! Hmmm maybe not such a good idea, I won't get as much crocheting done!!!

MTS Internet DOWN!!!

Well so am I now!!!

See I started house/2 dogs sitting Tuesday after work for the next two weeks and wouldn't you know it our spring like conditions turned nasty on us and now I'm shovelling snow (three times yesterday and again this morning just to get out of the yard) and also MTS and Hydro are having a problem with the internet connections - Go Figure!!! And when I trudged to the bus stop a good two blocks away I was ready to go back to sleep again. And it's still snowing out there!!! Guess I'll have to shove and shove that gate to get in and then shovel the walks again! LOL!

And the poor puppies (small Malteses like Chichachaus but with tonnes of long hair) have such short legs and they are white - you can barely see them when we go for our nightly walks. I've been towelling them off once inside as they are definitely snow covered! Poor things - but they slept like logs just like I did last night!!! Heck maybe with all this fresh air and walking (more like trotting to keep up with them) I just might trim down some - I could dream right???

I sure hope the internet is back up as I feel totally lost. BUT I did get a lot of crocheted hearts in various colours made up and will take pics soon too.

Also I'm not affected by the flood, nor the thawing snow/standing water and the city tells us that the expanded floodway will protect us totally, but those outside the floodway - it is not good news at all - I totally feel for all near the waterways, many moved out already. AND the Red River is not supposed to crest until next week sometimes here!!! YIKES!

Thread Sketching Workshop

Well I can tell you that it was rough getting up this morning after the heavy concentration happening in yesterday's workshop, but boy am I glad I went to both. This one especially as I was impressed with some machine embroidered trees I had see in some magazines and I did take another workshop BUT this one was much easier to grasp and actually do for me!!!

So first off we worked on a 4 x 6" sketched pine tree image and I took a single tree as I remembered my disasterous attempts in the past and put my mind to doing the steps and seeing where it took me. WELL, I LOVE IT!!!

with Norma's matt

Yes, it is totally finished except for the matt and frame I have to pick up but it is stitched, sandwiched, and even "signed". I still have to make up the paper label to attach to the back.

see it's a tree!





finished n signed

Even my sister who mastered the water solvable Sulky technique found these steps easier to produce a finished image in much less time. She was impressed and very happy with this weekends sessions.





her's n mine



I think most finished their sketches in the morning.

Then the afternoon we worked on a larger 8 x 10" dragon or dansel fly sketch and this one I found lots trickier. But then it may have had something to do with the fact that I THOUGHT I had lowered my feeddogs but actually hadn't but I still got all my stitching done and even couched yarn around the wings and painted them too. Yep I'm happy with it even if it might have been lots better with them feeddogs down - who knows???


stitching on paper sketch from back - bobbin on front is right side


brushing fabric paint onto wings

For some reason Sylvia did not get much of her second image done, but then she had 5 trees on her island so that could be the reason!!! But she'll probably have these two totally finished before I get around to thinking about working on them again!!!

Photo Landscape Workshop

Gosh I'm dead tired but yet wired and have been this way since supper time!!! This day was awesome and I just have to shake my head as to think I just about missed out on it. See I've just been feeling BLAH lately and have to force myself to stitch and that is not good for me!!! Then I remembered that I've already paid for this workshop and Sylvia too and since I was the driver I bit the bullet and just went - enjoyed myself too.

It started out just awesome with Michelle Dobrin's awesome display of photo landscapes and a slide presentation of all the steps for her techniques. And I must say she provided very detailed handouts so those of us not quite finished should have no problem doing so. It was a very laid back workshop (yes I was anxious in the morning) and many had their pieces just about to the binding stage and Christine very very very close to finished!!! It was amazing seeing all the various photos that were chosen and how they were interpreted and manipulated into fabric landscapes.

Now here are the steps to my landscape - I'm tickled pink with it - yep I am!!!

photo used
step #1
step #2
step #3
photo framing
step #4
photo corded

And here is Sylvia's project before and just about finished:

Sylvia's photo
step #1
step #2
step #3
step #4


Yes, Sylvia, like most I think enjoyed Michelle's techniques and well run workshop. Thank you MPQ!!!

I've a New Blog!!!

I've been tossing this idea up for a while and then also a Website and just don't seem to have the time to sit down and "create" whichever properly. So I've chosen this as a fast solution and who knows maybe it just might work well for me too!

So within My Creative Extras you'll only find items that I've made and are "extras" for swapping, sale, etc. Right now it's empty as I'll have to transfer my "extras" from this blog to the new one tonight. Please stay tuned.

CQd Coffee Sleeve

Yep that was my next project that I've just finished!!! It's for a swap in my CQ-CA group and I'm only late by three days for mailing! Not bad eh, considering I had that comfort quilt to stitch up too and head out to visit my ailing Dad!!!

So basically I took a cardboard coffee sleeve apart and traced it out for my pattern then I planned out my CQ patches and stitched them together. Then layered the front with batting and embellished away.



Now I should have trimmed the quarter inch seam allowance off but I forgot and after sandwiching with a fusible backing I satin stitched the edges. Then hand stitched the two sides together and did some feather stitching to anchor securely together. I LOVE IT and I sure hope Sandy does too!!!





Now onto my CQd 6" block and embellishing too for the CQ-CA month end swap along with my regular CQI and SewBuds RR CQd blocks that are slowly trickling in for my turn of embellishing. I just love this!!!

Update on my Dad!

I had a lovely weekend driving wise - the weather was awesome - a bit of fog today but even that was not really bad and my visit with Dad was lovely!

As for my Dad, he's had a rough time this past three weeks, but he looks LOTS better than the picture Florence took of him in ICU mid February. He's not happy with the meals provided or his choice of workers - well we've all told him to just quit complaining cause this is the BEST he can have unless he pays for daily maid service as the girls work and can not drop everything to be there when HE wants!!! He did tell me despondently that "it looks like this is how it's got to be - oh well!" Well I just about cried, but held it together so he would not get upset and tried to keep it upbeat!

It was also awesome to hear the care workers and neighbours seeing him in the hallway or dropping in and saying that he looked lots better and not as grey - even had colour in his cheeks this weekend and he was smiling lots!!! That cheered me and I think also him too cause he repeated such to those that called too.

BUT, he definitely can not look after himself at all, but yet they say he's too good for the personal care home!!! I just pray he does not try to do things for himself and then falls and breaks something yet. He's very frail and I was afraid to hug him - I've never seen him this thin or having difficulty in breathing. Day by day I guess.

Comfort Quilt Top Finished!

YAHOOIE, I'm finished!!!

It may not be perfect by "quilt making" standards but after receiving the various sized blocks from some Aurora members I proceeded to stitch them together with sashings and VOILA I made a top 50" X 69.5" (which may be trimmed by finishers if they so desire). Now hopefully tomorrow it will be passed onto for the quilting and then the binding. I still have to do up the label this week and send it to them ASAP. Again thank you to Faye, Beryl, Maureen, Val, Ricky, Christine, Florence, Tami, Jeanette & Martin, Mary Ann, Norma and Judith for your blocks and the Coven group for the finishing! Much appreciated all!!! Then to deliver it to Ruth.

Mail Jackpot!!!

Yahooie, I got mail today!!! Well I always get emails but this time I mean the good old Canada Post mailman delivered stuff!!! FINALLY!!!

See I've been awaiting two or three packages of CQd RR blocks and today one finally arrived (took two weeks from Colorada - ridiculous I say)! Now maybe the others will arrive soon too? Okay this is Diane's block with Shari's work - I think it's such a soft block and if I can manage to keep my embellishing quiet too this may become one awesome elegant block. I told you it was easier to follow someone's start on an RR and now I have the proof cause after 5 minutes of examining it two ideas popped into my head, so now to carry it off!!!



Then another package arrived from Susan who sent me some black satin fabric embossed with roses on stems with leaves and buds - nice feel to it too! See I was given a bunch of 3 inch squares of similar black with embossed roses but sometimes one needs something larger than 3 inches - NOW I'll have it. Thank you again Susan for recycling my way!!!

AND last but not least I had ordered some hand dyed Venetian laces from Nicki and they arrived today too. They are awesome and of all sizes and types and I just can't wait to start to use some of them in my CQing along with some bead embellishing to anchor in place!!! Ohhhh YEAH CQI and CQF you both can take credit for expanding my CQing ways and along with all your various "combination" seam treatments I'm seeing - well I just might learn more yet! LOL! THANK YOU ALL!!!

Update on FF#5 Heart RR

OHHHHH BOY, my precious heart (well it's starting to look very precious to me) has been embellished by Margreet in the Netherlands and on it's way to Diane in Louisiana, USA. Thank you so much Margreet, the stitching is just lovely and also much appreciated that you anchored my cotton lace in place too!!! I am so pleased with the CQing and it's now halfway through the round robin and soon on it's way back to me!!! So what do you think - precious right???

Comfort Quilt Next Update

Well I took a bit of a break and enjoyed an awesome pork roast with potatoes and onions - yummy!!! Then I relaxed an hour and read my book then back to stitching up the middle row of blocks.

My sister then phoned and chatted about the fishing derby their family was at yesterday and then they just went ice fishing today and she got the large 4-wheel deisel truck stuck and the guys had to dig it out then finally tow it back to land. She said she didn't want to drive it out there, was happy with a skidoo ride, but no she was told to!!! Well I can say I doubt she'll do that ever again! LOL! She did make it home to go visit Dad too but he again was totally muddled and could not figure out how he got to the hospital - who brought him!!! Florence said she was just itching to put the blame on any of us to avoid him getting mad at her again, but then didn't and this time he was okay. BUT upset because they were releasing him and where was he to go, he had no home - YIKES!!!!!!! So homecare is once again planned for and if it's not enough then we'll move him into the assisted living block closer to Florence's.

Then I stitched that completed row onto the top two and that's it for me tonight!!!

Comfort Quilt Update

Okay, I've mentioned that I was collecting various sized blocks from our Aurora members for a comfort quilt for one our quilters. Well I played a few nights with the blocks in hand and settled on a layout. Then finally Thursday I did a to scale miniature of paper to see if it would work in real life - I think so but then I'm not that great at figuring out exact sizes etc.

Well I started sewing up a few blocks on Saturday and today I finished up the top third section and I'm very very very pleased so far. If the rest sew up like these did (only one rippit and fixit) I should have the top finished by Friday - I hope at least!!!



So now I'm taking a breather with a nice mello cuppa of Chai tea and my pocket book and watch/listen to some curling for an hour and then I'll be back at it again. Ohhh and I put a pork roast into the oven with some garlic, onions and some left over potatoes for supper - it's already aromatic and it's only been half an hour in the oven!!! YIKES I think I might need some toast to tide me over till it is done!!! ROFLOL!!!

This n That!

Well mostly I've been trying to stay out of trouble and with no credit cards or overdraft needless to say my spending has dropped. Today I had another visit with the "parents" of the two dogs and their home that I'll be house sitting for very soon. It'll be slightly different but hopefully all will be okay and they'll enjoy their vacation and me sort of a vacation I guess. Then I got another surprise as they've asked if I would do this again in August for their other vacation - WOW, they've not even come back from the first trip and asking me for another!!!

And tonight I was at our LNS spring PJ stitching party and a slightly different group of ladies and PIZZA tonight!!! WOW! There was also some veggies n dip, chips n dip and fruit and dainties - lots of yummy stuff. I also accomplished more stitching than usual along with the "teen slang" word game we played - I was lousy at that though!

As for my 95 yr old Dad, well we all thought this may be the end all be all of his living on his own, but guess what??? Yep Florence and Elsie, the two caregivers so to speak, were called into a meeting today and apparently they have assessed Dad and he's "too good to go into a care home" so he was to be released from the hospital today but postponed till next week when arrangements can be made for homecare/meals on wheels etc. BUT heck he can barely walk never mind live and care for himself and his mind does wonder more so now than before - YIKES!!! Needless to say the girls are at their wits end trying to figure out how Dad will manage and deal with things out of his control now. I'm going home next weekend so will see how he's doing first hand. It sure is hard to see Dad become so frail and weak so fast and yet we've been very fortunate he's been so well so long.

Now I'm mostly working on some crazy patch blocks and postcards along with working on items for another quilt sale and show at my sister's again this summer. But this week I'm trying to stitch up some Aurora members' blocks for a comfort quilt for our member Ruth. I've also some Red Hat brooches to stitch up this next month or so for an order. I was at a nearby retreat last fall that some of the ladies made I Spy quilts an easy way and now I've ideas to use up my various "novelty" fabrics, just need the time.

All I can say is my hand stitching no matter what type is what I thoroughly enjoy to relax after my office day. I've just under two years to go to retirement and I'd really like to prepare my home and life so I can "relax" when it's time!!!

In the Mail!!!

WOW WOW WOW talk about perfect timing to receive some goodies in the mail. See I'm not feeling that great - downright achy in joints and feels like a chest cold on the way too and that is not good as I am wanting to go to Dauphin to visit my Dad (95) who's in the hospital this past week. He's still holding his own against the pneumonia but is still very weak. There are signs on the entrance doors that if you're sick to please stay away!!! Yep Vit C and water down the hatch!!!

Anyways, I received a fairly thick envelope from a CQer in Australia along with a larger envelope from a USA CQer too!!! Hmmmm! Well naturally I opened the larger envelope as I figured it was another CQ block to work on and yes it's a "special request" and I'm honoured and hope to do it justice and hopefully fit in with the others of the group it belongs to.



Then the intriquing envelope I opened and was I ever WOWED!!! Yes I had asked to swap something for some precious little hearts with Sharon B but there was more inside too. I've used Pin Tangle and her stitch dictionary lots for inspiration and help with my CQing I can tell you! So was just blown right over to find some skiens of thread inside and apparently she's hand dyed them herself - WOW!!! Thank you Sharon, I'll be using a couple of these very soon on some CQ block above that is for sure.

Something Different

Okay, I'm in a swap for a CQd coffee sleeve but wanted to experiment first so I made a Kokopelli line drawn ottlight traced one for my co-worker. I was very pleased with it and so was she!!!







Now I think it turned out pretty good and I'm curious to see how it fits her coffee cups tomorrow. And now back to my CQd one and hopefully the embellishments won't interfere with the use of the sleeve.