Feeling Bummed!

OK enough trying to tat a smaller than 1 inch heart!  The larger one is with size 30 is W 1.5 x H 1.25 inches and then the red I thought was size 50 but now I think it must be 80 as it came out of that bag is W 1 and 1/8th x H 1 inches.  Then the pink is size 75 and just a smidgen bigger than the red one.  I'll probably go with the red one but not anchor to the edges then I can still embroider the grid when the year of stitching is over!

Feeling Motivated!

At the Canadian Mennonite University Library.   OK I'm just about ready to go home as it's fairly cool inside but awesome to enjoy the day here.  Next time I'll park at the zoo and walk over so I don't have to be concerned about the two hr parking regulation.

So today I planned out this week's Annual Panel patches, satin stitched 5 more leaves on the fern branch and tatted the red Li'l Heart by Birgit Phelps in size 80 tatting cotton - a first for me and broke the thread only once just before the last chain - but enough to tie together and finish off.  I still don't know if it's small enough to fit the 1 inch square though.

Lovely Day!

Had an awesome morning and part of the afternoon with Edna, Linda and Colleen walking the trails of Birds Hill Park and then a very leisurely lunch at Pineridge Hollow.  A beautiful day for a walk in the park even if one trail was very uneven and tricky to traverse!!!

Then when I got home my package from trinityrocks.etsy.com had arrived and I'm very very happy with the items and their workmanship!  I'm definitely not using this mug rug!!!

2017 Year of Stitches - Week #6

That I'm still keeping up with this project!  It was too late yesterday or early this morning to try and upload and then was out till late afternoon.   My friend Angela commented it would be neat to know how much time it took for each step - so this week I made note of the time in my booklet next to each entry.  Now I'm not sure I really want to know this.  LOL!!!  Obviously I'm just as slow a stitcher as a reader I am!!!  This week the two projects took a total of 13 hr 30 min - YOWSERS!!!!

The Annual Panel has a Chicadee bird, French Lavender - Lavandula dentata, Hollyhock - Alcea rosea  (previously Althaea rosea ), Chinese Forget-Me-Not - Cynoglossum amabile, Cyclamen - Cyclamen hederifolium, English Primrose - Primula vulgaris, Lily of the Valley - Convallaria majolis.   This stitching stretched out to 7 hrs and 50 minutes on the panel.  On the Rose Table Topper I traced one fern like stem on one side, satin stitched the centre vein and outlined it.  Then I satin stitched 8 lower branched out leaves and outlined them.   The topper stitching stretched out to 5 hrs 45 minutes.  This is sure going to be interesting as its taking a while for nice smooth filling in.  The rose will be surrounded on all sides with these fern like stems.  This week's total stitching amounted to 13 hrs 35 minutes.

Feeling Motivated!

I'm sewing up a few more blocks but spending more time shifting through those stitched to try and do something different.  I see I've my favourite fabrics already in these blocks too much!  Oh well 7 more to go and then I can plan out the quilt top and borders then it'll be ready to hand in to be sent to Quilt Canada in  Toronto and then onto another one for the Winnipeg fundraiser.

Heart for Feb 14th

I need a 3/4 inch heart for next week's embroidery patch - this won't do as it's about 1.5 inches.  Guess I'll have to pull out the size 60 thread and see what size that tats up to be.  But sheesh that's like sewing thread - can't make any mistakes as I won't be able to undo it.  Pretty though!

Feeling Good!!!

Now that the apartment is back to winter normal and I can think without a headache I'm more productive and even have supper in the oven!  So today I searched out some tatting patterns I need soon and then went into the sewing room - BRRRRR now I now it's back to normal as this is the coolest room!  Darn I should have sewn the last two weeks - oh well that's par the course.  At least I sewed up four more Canada slab blocks (top photo) so that's 16 now and just 8 more then I can plan the layout and sew up this top.  I'm hoping to have one sent to Quilt Canada for the June Conference and then hopefully stitch up another set of 24 blocks for Winnipeg all through our local quilt guild Manitoba Prairie Quilters.  See these quilts when all finished will be distributed to Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada.  So I need another retreat or two for the drive to produce (next two photos from January's retreat)!!!

It's Cool Finally!!!

Well I've had my windows open since Jan 22nd when I came home from the quilt retreat and it was in the 30s in my apartment.   I overheard the caretaker talking to another renter about the boiler on the fritz and it's been called in.  This week I even emailed the owners asking when this would be fixed as I was having headaches again.  Well today I've not had the fan on and been closing windows gradually and it's getting downright cool in here.  Betty just called to say the compressor has been fixed and heat should be normal.  Well in the last two hours I'd agree as it feels like the  normal drafty windows and floor is cooler.  Guess I better turn the thermostat to normal again so it's comfortable.   Hopefully I'll have a good sleep tonight!!!  That was my Mexico vacation at home!!!

Feeling Sad!

Because the 2017 TIAS tatting mystery is now complete.  Thank you very very much Jane Eborall for your tatting expertise, time and patience in providing this fun exercise for all of us.  I totally enjoy it even if it's a bit of a challenge for me at times but I persevere and eventually complete the projects.  I'm going to have to find a way to display them together for our annual Northern Lights Lace Days event.

So in the end my friends who mentioned a fancy dressed lady were right!!!  I didn't guess that till Day 9 or 10 and VOILA it was revealed on Day 11.  I LOVE my finely dressed crinoline Southern Belle!  Maybe one day I'll tat a parasol and she'll be complete.  Thank you Jane.  ❤🌹👍

I'm missing a step but can't seem to find the place or even the photo.  Each photo was an installment since beginning of January.

2017 TIAS - Days 9 & 10

OK I think someone replied to my posts with a suggestion of a fancy dressed lady and it just might be true! I'm not sure if it's the colour of my thread but I'm going one step further and guessing "Aunt Jemima" from the bottle of pancake syrup! Anyways here's Days 9 and 10 together!

2017 Year of Stitches - Week #5

OK a bit behind but finally finding the buried link in today's posts, I uploaded my collage to the 1 Year of Stitches: 2017 page into Week #5 album.

So last week on my Annual Panel I embroidered the Wisteria - Wisteria sinensis, Kumquat - Fortunella margarita, Penstemon - Penstemon davisonii, Sunflower - Helianthus annuus, Snowflake - Leucojum vernum, Dutch Hyacinth - Hyacinthus orientalis, Coneflower - Echinacea purpurea.   I also finished filling in the rose petals on the Rose Table Topper in satin stitch with DMC 725.

Feeling Impressed!

After a visit to my friend's home I had to check out her sister in law's Etsy site - trinityrocks.etsy.com - and found I'm in LOVE with the Puffin one and just have to have it.  Well my large coaster is finished and soon on its way to me.  I JUST LOVE IT!!!!

BP Check

OK my BP is checked out.  I'm off the water pill totally and am to monitor how my BP is doing for two weeks.  If still low then I switch HBP meds to the lower dosage and have a follow-up in four weeks.  Also my thyroid is under producing (hypo) and my TSH was too high so I'm on meds for that now with a follow-up in 6 weeks for that after more blood work.  Hope it straightens out.  😉

Trinity Rocks - Newfoundland

When I stopped in to visit Eileen this afternoon I was impressed with the large and lovely rug hooked coasters she had.  Well they are from Newfoundland from her sister in law's cottage business.  Well I had to check out her Etsy site - trinityrocks.etsy.com - and found I'm in LOVE with the Puffin one and just have to have one.  So once it is finished and I receive it I'll post again.  But I thought you'd like to check it out too.  Honest we aren't getting any benefits if you order anything.

'I Love Newfoundland'
White heart on province's shape

Booby Bird is Done!

OK Linda I've completed the embroidery on the Booby Bird just now.  I'll spray it to try remove my tracing lines, check to see they are all gone tomorrow afternoon and if yes will press to reattach the interfacing.  Then I'll drop it off for your magic finishing!

A Good Day!

Had a lovely day even in the frigid temperatures once again.  It started off relaxing then out to get my hair done (chocolate lo and blonde hi-lites this time) and some shopping for a FlexBrew one-cup coffee system for K-cups or ground coffee and then relaxing the evening stitching on my first Booby Bird picture for a cancer individual for my friend to sew into a wall hanging.  I just need to embroider the words and remove my markings and it's ready for the next stage.  Hopefully I'll get a picture from Linda and post the finished joint effort.

2017 TIAS - Day 8

I'm feeling perplexed and  just don't know what this 2017 TIAS is gonna be?  Today Day 8 - I was thinking a Volkswagen Bug but we have ONE bead to add in sometimes.  HMMM!

Feeling Restless!

I don't know why as I've enough WISPs on my plate but I'm anxious to see this new one on the go for my friend Linda Lefebvre Mullen who knows someone who is being tested for breast cancer.   I'll do up the embroidery (pattern found at http://www.craftsy.com/user/1146564/pattern-store  - FREE to download) on the centerpiece and Linda will add borders and quilt it before sending it on.

Feeling Concerned!

Lately I've been very light headed to the point that upon waking I sit on the side of the bed to let my head adjust before slowly walking.  The past month I've had occasional relapses midafternoons then it goes away.  Well since the fall and being diagnosed prediabetic, I've been checking my blood pressure and it's dropped to normal levels from constant highs so my Dr reduced my water pill and said probably at my mid-February appointment he'll probably remove that and also adjust my BP meds too.

We'll this past month my BP readings are lower yet with mornings around mid90s/mid60s and friends are so concerned that I called Health Links yesterday - after gathering info the nurse said it was not emergency need but to contact my Dr ASAP for a sooner appointment than the 16th scheduled. So the soonest I can get is the 6th and on the list for a cancellation call in.  I'm sure my meds need adjusting with my continued walking and diet changes and slowly reducing weight.  It's all good overall!!!  ❤

2017 TIAS - Day 7

I've also caught up on Day 7 of the 2017 TIAS tatting mystery.  Again I'm still at a loss what this will be!   Some guesses are hot air balloon, turtle, fancy crinoline dress, teapot to name a few from my friends.