Another WISP- My Scrap Lattice Quilt as you Go

I have had this WISP in my sewing room since 2000. Yes you read correctly 2000.

I took a class from a fellow guild member Louise Robinson. Louise was particularly known for teaching this class many times, by popular request. Sadly Louise lost a battle with cancer and passed away a few years ago far too young.

This Quilt has always been a favorite but some reason I have found it tedious. Periodically I would lay it out sew a few squares together and then put it away again.  My problem is (was) that  I have no place to keep it out and in sequence while I sew it together. Now I have decided that I am going to keep it out on the dining room table until it is finished.

It is a very very easy quilt to make. However if I ever did another one, I would make the blocks much larger. The squares are 4 inches finished, which makes for a lot of sewing together later.
As the name implies it is quilt as you go and also reversible. The first side it scrappy (supposed to be lights and darks, mine do not have nearly enough contrast) and I made the back light and dark sort of Christmasy so I would have something I could just turn over at Christmas. The lattice strips are two different colours; one for the front and one for the back. The binding is a two colour binding so that each side matches. I thought I would show you some of the blocks and the progress I have made so far. I am going to commit here and now that I will have this completed by the end of June, at the latest.
    

This the right side using scraps and dark green lattice work.

This is the back using a deep rusty red for the lattice and two colours of Christmassy fabric.

This is how the squares are joined sewing the lattice down to one side side of the square, then zig zagging the two squares together and then turning over the lattice like the one on left and hand sewing the strips into place.

Wish me luck.

A Fine Spring Day - Friday Flashback

It is an absolutely gorgeous day here in Southern Ontario.

When I was very young this was my favorite song for the summer and whenever the sun is shining in the early spring or summer and I am in the car, I find myself singing it acapella.

Mom Makes the Local Paper

Sorry I have not been blogging for a bit, but I have been preoccupied. Just before Easter Mom had a teeny weeny fender bender. Not to worry she is fine and the only thing that is wounded was her pride and a small ding in the "Red Jewel", that is what Mom calls her new Buick.

The Jewel has now been repair and is home safe and sound.

Mom was a little overwhelmed by the incident and didn't want to drive up to my place for Easter. I didn't want her to be alone so I drove down to pick her up and bring her home. We had a great Easter.

Mom is quite involved in the Friends of the Library twice annually they have a book sale ( from books donated by the public) to raise fund for the Local Library. The Peterborough Examiner sent someone to take a publicity photo for there paper. This is the third time that Mom has been the centre of that photo. Here's the picture from the paper. (see the picture)

Last time I told you I would have some pictures of some great embroidery floss. I enjoy doing some stitching from time to time and I've found this beautiful, relatively new floss by DMC called variations. It is different from varigated as the colour changes within every few stitches. I ordered the entire pallette. Aren't they yummy. Then I found that I had a small clear bag given out once with by clinique with the free bonus that will do nicely so I can keep those colours seperate from my varigates and regular floss.

Here is a picture of the varigated threads. Of course I had to buy those too!

Well I am off now to one of my many doctors appointments, have a great day. Happy stitching.

Spring is Here?

Can you believe it? In the last week we must have had at least 5 inches of snow.

This was picture outside on Monday morning. it was the wet heavy kind that feels like cement.

It kept snowing all day Tuesday and I had to drive into Toronto (75Km) to a Doctors appointment. It finally stopped and Wednesday it was a beautiful Sunny day. Here is a picture this morning.

Although not gone, quite a bit melted yesterday. I have been going to YMCA just down the road were they have opened a new facility. So far it has just been some rehab stretching program in the pool, but it is great.

I am going home to Peterborough this morning to pick up Mom so she can spend Easter with us. So I best get a wiggle on.


I wish every one a Happy Easter! Keep Stitching too!

I found a couple of great Ebayers and picked up some beautiful floss so I will show you that next time.

Spring?

Yesterday it rained all day and just after supper the wind started. It roared all night long rattling windows and unsettling the dog. She sleep in our room on the floor in her own bed. However she was wandering around our room all night long. So how is this for Spring........................

Giveaway

Good Morning folks, hop on over to Green Fairy Quilts

and see what Judy is giving away.

March Project of the Month Completed

 I was visiting the Quilt shop in Newmarket and found this pretty fleece panel. It is a Thomas Kindkade panel called "Autumn Splendor". I have never made up one of these panels before, but I thought it would fast, fun and cozy. Next I went looking for the piece for the back and lo and behold, Fabricland had there solid fleece on sale for $5 a metre which was just enough for the back. You can see back down in the bottom left corner the soft grey-green which is the back.  Next I went to You Tube and found and instruction video on how to assemble.  My electric scissors came in handy. In no time, it was put together. I like to be covered up for my afternoon nap and this blanket will be just the ticket. 

While at Fabricland I bought a couple more metres of red and red and green plaid. I thought they might make a nice car blanket.
When I was a kid we always had a plaid, fringed blanket in the car. We used it for unplanned picnics or to cover up cold children on the drives home from whereever Mom and Dad took us.

Shadow and Friend or Foe

It has been a damp and rainy Spring day here at home. None the less Shadow likes to be outside. She is on the look out for backyard intruders. As I went to the stove to check on my BBQ Spare Ribs, here was the scene out the window. I grabbed a couple of quick pics.

Here is what she had up the tree, I can assure you the Chippy outsmarted her and got away.

Oh and the Ribs, baked potatoes, veggies and fresh Strawberries we had for supper were really good.

Mark Lipinski- Better than Prescription Drugs

Tuesday night my friends, Kelly, Margaret and I went to see a trunk show by Mark Lipinski . Mark is the editor and main writer for the Magazine, "Quilters Home". We had a ball, Mark told so many stories. He is a natural stand up comedian. We laughed so hard we had pains in our sides. I swear to you we could not have laughed more at Yuk Yuks.

The next day we took his class. It was great, a mystery quilt in which we learned how to: design a quilt, plan out where the blocks will go, and learned how to piece curves. Then make more blocks to complete your chosen design.

Mark likes to collect odd and shall we say irreverent quilt fabric. One lady in class had found some while shopping and brought him a piece. It was the hit of the day.

Here is a photo with the shop owner, Darlene from Country Concessions, in Cookstown. It is a great quilt shop with a huge selection of fabric, I am sure they are the largest in our area.

These are picture of quilts from others in the class.









This is my friend Kelly's. I love it, the batik is a fish print.







Finally here is mine, I absolutely hate it, however I am going to persevere and see what else I can add to the colour scheme (yellow) to soften it up.







As Mark was leaving we caught a glimpse of his license plate. Note the red flames around it that light up when he brakes.

Ready Set - Mark!

My friend Kelly and I are going to Mark Lipinski's Trunk Show and Workshop, Tuesday night and Wednesday. We are so excited. I intend to take my premiere issue of his magazine and have him autograph it for me if possible. Country Concessions intends to be open early and has a sale on his new line of Frabric "Krakow",and that is always dangerous for us. Kelly and I got together on Saturday to cut our fabric and put it into the required labeled baggies. Kelly brought a lovely ham and cheese Strata made with spinach that we put the oven as soon as she arrived and if filled the kitchen with the most amazing aroma. After we had lunch and finished out cutting we sat in the liviing room having fresh strawberries and tea while we watched Kelly;s DVD copy of  , a "Night in Rodanthe", a real chick flick. It was a really great day.

On a less exciting note. I have not been feeling up to snuff lately. I think I mentioned a while ago that this blog was a kind of therapy for me. Among other things, I won't bore you with now, I have what is call Peripheral Neuropathy. It is a tingling of the feet and hands (primarily feet), a kind of nerve damage and is accompanied by numbness and pain. I was at the neurologist last fall and prescribed a drug called Lyrica which I have been taking but I am overcome with such an array of side effects, not the least of which is a profound need to sleep alot and deeply, unfortunately it is only during the day. I sleep poorly at night because of the feet pain but I do sleep in the day and so much so that at least once a week. I can sleep about 7:00 am until noon hour. It is that horrible kind of sleep where you feel almost catatonic when you wake up and have to keep shaking your self awake.  If anyone has had any experience on this drug I would love to hear from you.

I am seeing the doctor soon and intend to ask him to take me of this drug.


I am really enjoying a book I am reading now,    Sisters Coice by Emilie Richards. It is a nice story with some references to quilting. Try one if you get a chance this series starts The Wedding  Ring.

Throw me a Curve - Mystery Quilt

My Kindred group met a couple of nights ago for a pot luck. It is always nice to get together for a gab as we sit around stitching after dinner.

I brought a Spinach Salad, so simple to make:

A large amount of baby Spinach leaves
Red Onion, slivered in half rounds- as much or as little as you like
A can of Mandarin Orange Slices, drained OR a cup of thinly sliced strawberries
1/4 cup of slivered Almonds
Kraft or Renees Poppy Seed Dressing, or a simple vinagrette.

Everyone Loves it.

Mark Lipinski is coming to town and my friend Kelly and I are going to attend his trunk show and the workshop. Here is the fabric that I have chosen for the Mystery Quilt Workshop. I hate Mystery Quilts. 
I much prefer knowing what it is going to look like. But I so enjoy Mark that I am willing to give it a go.

We were to choose three fabrics a Dark, a Medium and a Light. I am going to use the Large Blue Print as my Dark, the Orange as Medium, the yellow and green as light and the stripe will be an extra likely for the border. Stay Tuned.   

A Purse - February's Project

I finally completed this purse. The pin Yo-Yo pin is removeable. I think I like it, but I will make the next one a little larger.

Happy Quilting!

Me and my Shadow

Not much new and Quilty this week so I thought I would share some photos of my daugther, Shadow.
Hubby and I adopted Shadow from the Orillia OSPCA shelter when she was a little over a year old. She is almost 6 now.  Apparently she was born at the shelter, adopted out and eventually returned. We never understood why because she is the most wonderful pet. She has been a fabulous loving girl who is the most affectionate girl we've ever loved. Her name was Shadow when we got her so we left it.

I am sure for most pet parents and humans ones too, each child has some things that they do that are special, only onto themselves and although you know you love them all equally, there is just that little one thing.
We have had several dogs but this is only one that likes to rest her head on everything. The other night she even has her head reading on the open dishwasher door.  Here are a few of the moments  I've captured....................

We love her so much..............

Sniffles and Progress on Eaton Embroidery Blocks

I have been down with a wicked cold this week. Which has left me lolling around the T.V room in my PJ's and stitching only when I have not been sleeping or blowing my nose.  You might remember that a little while back I told you about a quilt my kindred group is going to make to donate to a Charity Auction. We are using Old preprinted linens put out by Eaton's , likely in the 40's.

I have completed my two large blocks, except for the edging, and I am working on one small one that we will use for the label on the back of the quilt.

The small one (that will be the label)  I am edging in black stitch. However the large blocks will be laid on top of another plain piece of fabric and a satin stitch used to complete the edging. Then the remainder of the top linen block will be cut away. It is necessary because some of the blocks don't have enough for a seam allowance. 

Sunbonnet Lady

I was thrilled to pick up my mail today because it contained a package. I ordered some "Red" Sunbonnet Sues from a lady who sell on Ebay. She makes them using fusible interfacing (Eleanor Burns method) so you can iron them on and then stitch them down either by hand or machine. I had  never ordered anything like this on line before however she had good feedback and the price was right. I am not sure what I was expecting but I must tell you they are fabulous. I can't imagine how I could possibly make them as well and in such a beautiful array of colours.
She also sells 30's repro tea pots, butterflies, Sue's, Sam's lots of other things to help you in your Quilting.

 I have a special project in mind which is why I wanted mine all in red. Stay Tuned. I can heardly wait to get started. She made mine special order all in red prints.

Anyway the Sunbonnet Lady can be found on Ebay.http://cgi.ebay.com/SUNBONNET-SUE-Kit-in-30s-Repro-Set-12_W0QQitemZ120380025534QQihZ002QQcategoryZ19162QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Pass the Dessert Please

Last week my Mom and I went to a restaurant "FulFords" at Fleming College, a special treat to celebrate Valentines Day.

http://www.flemingculinary.ca/index.php?page=fulfords

It is run entirely by the students in there Culinary Program. It is open for lunch a couple of days a week and  and one evening for dinner. It is truly a a fine dining experience at  very reasonable prices. you need to make a reservation, but I assure you it is out of this world. We had 

Carmelized Onion Soup,

Mango Ginger Salad

 Veal Saltimbocca

 (veal pounded thin with a lay of sage leaves and procuitto, served with Potatoes Dauphinoise, and snap pea, red pepper saute.

Roasted Fruit and Toasted Almonds

Raisin Cinnamon Apple Crisp served with Student made Vanilla Ice Cream

   

Almost, Looked too good to eat. I can tell you, they were both fabulous. 

More Pictures of my Memory Quilt

As promised, I was home this weekend to visit Mom and took some more pictures with my new digital camera. I made this for my parents 50th.

The Perfect Handbag

Dear Quilters,

I really do need your help!!!

I have never make a handbag.

For more than the last five years now I have been collecting handbag patterns. I have saved them from magazines, purchased them from quilt and fabric shops, looked at them on blog tutorials, and admired those of my friends and fellow Quilters.

Alas I have not made one for myself (nor do I have any Quilted garments to wear but that is another Blog)
I have purchased much fabric appropriate for a handbag, even imported from foreign countries. I have purchased several different sets of lovely handles and no less than 2 sets of magnetic closers.

But nary a bag insight. I fear my problem, yes phobia, may lay in finding the perfect hand bag pattern. I don't want to spend several hours making a bag only to find that is not perfect.


I know, I know how can one be sure unless one caries and experiences a bag personally, before making that determination. It is so much easier to buy one from a shop use it for a week or two and then declare it , good and useful, pockets in the right places, right number of pockets. Right amount of large space, length of handle appropriate, right size and location of cell phone pocket. Is the bag to large to small and on and on and on. There are so many factors to consider.

Therefore my dear Quilting friends, I must confess I am locked in procrastination and indesion about which would be the best handbag to make.

I couple of year ago I went to a Quilt show. A a lady had exhibited two purses she had made, unfornately she did not indicate what pattern she used if any. There were many features I liked about the bag but mainly that fact there was a removable fabric compartment that could be washed. The compartment came complete with some pockets, and some large open space. I have attached a picture.

Please, Please, Dear Quilting Friends, help me get over my phobia so that I can make a bag. Please leave messages about your successful experiences in bag making, patterns and what you like about you bag.
I would sincerely appreciate your input.

And yet another WISP............

About 7 years ago I was in a group at our guild called Tinners. We each past around a large cookie tin containing one fabric and a theme. (Mine was red fabric and a floral theme)

Each person made a block of there size and choosing representing your theme. I got the blocks back and resized them make them all the same and put it away again. Hopefully, Thanks to the challenge this will get finished this year.

I was thinking that this might make a nice quilt to donate to our new Simcoe County Hospice. 

I Need some Help, Please....................

A few years ago I won a set of blocks at a quilting retreat. On the way home I stopped and bought some fabric I thought might go with it. Not all of the Blocks are the same size and some are lighter and some are darker.

Anyway, no matter how many times I look at these blocks and I can not figure out what to do them. Any Suggestions would be really helpful. Thanks.... I'll await some suggests and barring that some devine inspiration.