Veterans' Quilts

well, the call went out for blocks...I was overwhelmed by the generosity shown by everyone who rec'd the call.  These are 7 of the quilts I made and gifted just before Christmas.  There were quite a few tearful phone calls I rec'd thanking me/us for our generosity....one vet even said that he'd never been honoured in this way and it meant more than the medals he had rec'd.

this is Margaret, when I'm 90, I want to be just like her, feisty, independent and in good health.

Shhh, no peeking

Well, Grace's Christmas package went into the mail on 6 November, still has not arrived at its destination....soon, I hope...some of the goodies I made for her:

 this Santa sac is actually a nice red with candy canes on it.  I filled it with all sorts of goodies.

label for Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar

place mat, who doesn't like to eat with the snow men?

 the 'r' in merry

a table runner for mum and dad














UPDATE:  the package arrived on Christmas Eve...!  Wow that's cutting it close, next year it will be mailed by 15 October.....sheesh, I was thinking it was going by canoe....

Meet Marsh....1 year later

I am actually almost 2 weeks late with this post.  One year ago, on November 30, Marsh came to live at her forever home.  We've learned a lot since that day.  Some of her milestones:

-3 unauthorized field trips
-numerous (too many to mention) trips to the dog parks
-doggy training classes (most of which she failed)  She marches to the beat of her own drummer
-4 new gentle leaders (she chewed through the first 3)
-5 new leashes (yes, she chewed through the first 3 as well).  I now have a spare, because you know I will need it
-learning to walk alongside the mobility scooter
-making friends with his forever friend and house mate, Qtip after chewing a hole in his ear....hmm....he looks pretty cool with one ear pierced...not
-getting acquainted with Joe Bylaw (too acquainted if you ask me).  They both know that he carries treats in the back of his truck....
-she can now sit for extended periods of time, instead of pacing, pacing, pacing
-she gained 30 pounds...ooops doc says she is a little on the heavy side, he is no longer Marsh's friend
-a birthday party with all the trimmings was shared with Qtip, they both had birthdays on the same day....don't know who liked the party hats more.
-fabric may look pretty, but it is not edible, nor are socks, table legs, doors, spools of thread or Qtip's ear....

And mum....

Well, her milestones include...numerous bottles of wine. And, a lot of patience...(one of those sentences is correct, you decide which one)

Not a night for man nor beast!

This is a 4 foot chain link fence that separates my house from the neighbour.....the drift is 5 feet tall and getting bigger...higher...
Speaking of beast, my poor 2 dogs had a hard time even getting out of the back door till I shovelled a bit of a walkway for them....and the little one next door whose house this is...well, they had to take him out front....
And, it is only the beginning of December....not yet officially winter.

What I've been up to

lately , there has been a whole lot of baby quilts coming out of my sewing room, there is one more which will be posted in the next day or two. Aren't these fun?  And the prairie points were my first attempt, easy, easy...I have a feeling there will be a whole lot more in future projects

Donkey Pillow Case

My oldest daughter loves donkeys.  While browsing through a local quilt shop, I came across this cute fabric.  What to do with it? With a few pieces from my stash...a pillow case was made!

 yes, it is sideways, still haven't mastered the clockwise thing!

Call of the Loon

Look what came home!! After 2 years of hanging around the quilt shop (and one quilt show), this
this quilt from the 2012 Shop Hop is finally home.  The quilting was done by Nuala who works at 'Country Concessions' quilt shop in Cookstown.  Simply beautiful.

close up

another close up

and one more

Jamestown Landing

In pink!  Complete with one of my quilt inspectors.
Pattern by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.  All from my stash.

Tee Shirt Memory Quilt

A colleague asked me to create her a quilt using her tee shirts from her childhood to her university days.  There was a bit of a problem with the overall quilting, due to the fabrics being different weights and stretch, but overall I'm pleased with how it turned out.  And she is too!

 

 

Wasn't that a Party?!

Notes from Marsh

Well, yesterday (August 31) mummy had a party for us....Qtip is 5 and mummy is unsure of my age, so today I officially became 2....Qtip is complaining, cuz he has to share his special day.....mummy took lots of pictures





 Mummy made both of us bandannas, aren't they fun?  Qtip's is blue and mine is a lavender colour.


Aren't we good looking?  I think I look the best.


Silly Qtip is hiding in the sunflowers.   He sneezes a lot when he hides there.  Mummy says it is the pollen?  Don't know about that, I think he just wants attention.

Look at our hats, Qtip doesn't like his, but I think ,mine makes me look like a princess....(mummy calls me that a lot)

yes, some serious partying happening, our hats are falling off.....mummy says they are askew??

No pictures of the cake, cuz we ate it before mummy could focus in....

 but it sure was good, there was even a candle that I wanted to eat, but Auntie Lou said I couldn't.  I'm tired from all that fun, think I'll have a nap right here,,,yawn....thanks for visiting!

 

The month in review

Kick me when I’m down

This is really hard for me, I’m struggling and embarrassed to admit it....the ‘f’ bomb has become my new favourite word.  If my boys could talk, I’m sure they would be saying ‘tsk, ‘tsk’......

Ok so I knew it was coming (was hoping for a different outcome), but it was not to be.  My 6 month contract lasted 2 years and ended on 30 June, yep...the government lifted its hiring freeze and those who were waiting moved into their new positions...and me, well, I was a temp and let go, no seniority, no hope.

I seem to have a problem getting jobs, they are posted (or not), I apply, follow up, ask questions...still nothing...I thought when I graduated from University 6 years ago (GULP....has it really been that long??), I’d get a decent paying job and be able to move on with my life....clearly I was and continue to be delusional.

Whatever.  

If there were rugs in the house, I’d say they had been pulled out from under me...again...and I’m lying there waiting for the next kick....

I've have taken jobs with crappy pay (read just above minimum wage) for so long, I can’t relate to friends who make a decent wage, have seniority, benefits, paid vacations, paid stat holidays, some protection...

Whatever.

It is difficult to make long range plans when you know things are not going to be the same from month to month....

My granddaughter just turned one, I’ve never met her...hard to make plans for a mini vacation, when you are not sure of the job situation.

My grandson will be turning 3, I saw him when he was six weeks old. Again, hard to make plans for a mini vacation, when you are not sure of the job situation.

Yep, the proverbial rug has been pulled out from under me and I’m lying there waiting for the next kick.

I am not handling this well.  Yes, I know there are others in similar situations or worse, but for a change I’m going to be selfish and think about me.  I spent the first week wallowing in grief and self pity, all the while sending out resumes and following up.   

I spoke to an employment counsellor last week and she wanted to know how many resumes I have sent out in the past 2 months...75......I could see her eyebrows raising through the phone line.

Did I piss someone off in my other life?  If so, enough already...

I am getting better, if you call panicking better...I’ve pulled up my big girl panties and stopped sharing chips and ice cream with the boys...we now get our own bowls....and spoons...and stopped throwing things.....but the ‘f’ bomb is still my favourite word.

At some point, (probably during a sleepless night), I decided that there's no way up or over or around this situation and the only thing to do is just to keep walking straight ahead with my head held high and go through it until I come out on the other side of it somehow.  Because I will get through this.  I will come out on the other side of it.  Somehow.  Just don't ask me for details because I will lose my shi..* again and cry.

Churchill once said "if you're going through hell, keep going." 

I guess I don/t have a choice.

Quintessentially Canadian

On a highway just outside of town...happy Canada Day everyone!

December 26, on the Police Blotter

BOLO for a goofy looking St. Bernard cross, white in colour with black and brown splotches.  Wearing a pink collar and dragging a pink leash.  No tags.  2 years old, 60 pounds, answers to the name of Marsh.  Last seen heading toward Highway 91.
Yep, you guessed it, she dashed out the door while I was trying to get them both out for a walk.  She lunged, I felt myself slipping and grabbed the door, dropped the leash and away she went.
Seven hours later she was returned none the worse for the wear, having been found wandering just west of the town.  New friends were made and tags were promptly ordered.
Stayed tuned for more of "Houdini's" adventures.

James' Advent Calendar

 I added a small clear pocked on the front to hold the ornaments. 

This is a really nice panel that made up into a lovely Advent Calendar wall hanging.  The colour is quite yellow in this picture, but it is really a nice creamy colour.  You can see some of the ornaments hanging.  I couldn't get a closer up pic as it went blurry, but there are animals standing on top of each other trying to reach the top of the tree.  The writing says:
"24 days we prepare for his birth
inviting Baby Jesus to come to this earth...."

Here you can see some of the ornaments.  There were 25 in all attached to the tree by small buttons.  They are backed with black felt and the red hanging loop is tucked in between the backing and the actual ornament.

Meet Marsh

She was found along a country road near the Holland Marsh about 3 months ago.   We (Qtip and I)picked her up from the shelter yesterday.  She is a 2 year old Great Pyrenees/ beagle cross (I don't think she will get any bigger.  At least I hope not).  With me she has found a forever home.  She is quite anxious and has spent the morning pacing and wandering in and out. This is the only time she has sat still all morning.  I have finally turned off the heat and left the back door open.  It is raining and quite mild.  Both Qtip and her are finding what each can tolerate (note to Marsh-do not go into Qtips' kennel).  That was quite the drama when that happened.  As regular readers of this blog know, I had to put my beloved Hershey down about 7 months ago.  It was time to get some company for Qtip as he has become bored and naughty.  And, there are a lot of dogs (and cats) waiting for forever homes.  I am so glad that I am allergic to cats, cuz there was a litter at the shelter yesterday.  I could fit of them 3 in one of my hands, they were that tiny....

 

The Grim Ripper

While on the subject of Hallowe'en, here is my version of "The Grim Ripper" a free pattern from Fons and Porter.  I made 2 of them, one for me and one for my BFF.  Easy, easy, took about 4 days in all.  The blade is there, just hard to see in the photo.

Sorry it's sideways, and I can't figure out how to change it.  Standing my computer on it\s side helped.  :)

Happy Hallowe'en!!

Well, my studio has been up and running for about 8 weeks now.  The carpet is dry and cupboards, cutting table and fabric are back to where they were before the flood, sort of.  There is till some mould that shows up in random places (like the baseboards), but elbow grease mixed with bleach and a dehumidifier are helping to get rid of it.  If nothing else, the smell will certainly cure what ails me.
I made 2 place mats as gifts for 2 special boys this year, my grandson James (who turned 2 the day after Hallowe'en) and Kaden, the son of former neighbours.
The next time I make one, I want to make the spider legs with wider ric rac.  I think it will look not so anorexic.  :)  The napkin (in the photo below) tucks into the spider body along with the cutlery.

And, the curtains?  Still not up...sigh.

 

After the Flood

Well, it took almost 4 months to get my sewing room organized-carpets laid, wall knocked down, walls painted, boxes emptied, shelves stocked, pictures up.  I went downstairs last Sunday to finish painting the trim around the windows and hang curtains....

It took 4 hours of monsoonal rains to undo it all...SIGH...
The smell of bleach is prevalent.....thankfully, no fabric was lost.  And that table you see on the far right?  It is 12 feet long and still not big enough to hold all the fabric...
Of course, this was the week the not so local quilt shop asked me to make some samples for them....so for now I'm in the kitchen sewing, with a borrowed iron and a 10 foot extension cord.....SIGH...maybe next weekend I'll get the curtains up....

Grace Olivia

June 26 2013
1450 UK time
9 pounds
All well

ARGH!! We Be Pirates

What a beautiful ending to a great evening
Thanks VCARS