Sneezing And Quilting DO NOT Mix

 What a gorgeous day we had up here in the North. Don't get me wrong! It was very cold up here....in the earliest hours it felt like -27C. But, by the time we headed out with Her Ladyship, it was already warmer....feels like -22C. The sun was shining...which it typically does when it's cold out...and the sky was a really pretty azure blue. I could feel the cold through my layers, but I could also feel the warmth of the sun on my back. I suggested to SW that it might be time to get a couple of camp chairs out so that we could sit out on the deck on a future day like today. 

When we got back, I did the usual Monday banking/bills/records, and then I headed downstairs to continue working on the Churn Dash blocks I had begun yesterday. Steve had already started the wood stove downstairs to help keep me warm in the sewing room. I did my best to remember to check it regularly, and add wood as needed. Well...we all know what happens if you get a schnoz full of smoke. Typically, you sneeze. I discovered that quilting and sneezing are NOT good bedmates.

My hands were busy, so I neglected to sneeze into my elbow...as I usually do. The end result...I had to resort my piles, and readjust the pieces I was about to sew. But when I readjusted the pieces I was about to sew, I discovered that one of the pieces was missing. I checked all over the desk,...I checked the floor,...I even lifted my sewing machine to see if it had somehow slipped under the machine. Where the heck did it go????

Hahahaha!

It had blown up against my thread basket. Piece found, I continued to work on completing each Churn Dash. And...I twirled the seams :)

Once I trimmed all 9 blocks to 3-1/2", I assembled the quilt block. And, true to "Twirling Dervish" form, I continued to twirl the remainder of the seams :) I do believe Elaine would be proud to know that she's an "influencer" :)

I forgot to take a picture of the front of the block...I will do that once I complete the rest of the homework...but I am quite pleased with the end result.

I would, however, like to digress a bit...or perhaps it's expound upon the process. This 9-1/2" block (made up of nine 3-1/2" Churn Dashes) took a fair bit of time to complete. From the cutting of the fabric, to the stitching and ironing, to the trimming and twirling, this block took almost 7-1/2 hours to complete. Now, that might not seem like an awful lot for what was created, but in the grand scheme of things... this is but one block of many in the quilt. Let me give you a visual.

This is a picture of the designer's completed quilt. That black box with the arrow is where my Churn Dash block will go in the quilt. Crazy right? And people wonder why handmade quilts cost so much. Even at minimum wage, that ONE block is worth $112.50 in labour. That doesn't include the fabric, the thread, the batting, the quilting. Okay...I'm getting off the soapbox now.

This afternoon, we headed out for Jade's second walk of the day, and as we usually do, we stopped to check the mail on the way home. I am always VERY happy when I see a parcel with this handwriting on it.

This month's Sweet Reads from my very close friend is here :D I opened it to discover lots of lovely goodies.

Although I am catching back up, I am somewhat behind in my Sweet Reads reading as I inserted a rather large book (Diana Gabaldon's Go Tell The Bees....) into my reading mix. I guess I better get some more reading done tonight before I'm too tired to see straight :P

And on that note, I wish you all a very good night!

TTFN

Snowy Sunday

It was a VERY snowy morning. It was snowing so hard that we couldn't even see across the lake...which is not generally a problem. SW had to drive to work in this snow. I must say, I was very relieved when he texted to say he'd arrived.

 I had one class this morning...Out Of The Box

This class REALLY inspires me. There are no boundaries for your creativity...pretty much anything goes. This month's challenge...to create a block (or series of blocks) in black and white with the addition of ONE other colour. It also has to have a circle element. My mind is ALL over the place with possibilities. 

The rest of the day was spent on a Zoom quilting retreat. I love these opportunities. It's like being able to sew with a group of like-minded friends from the comfort (and safety) of your own home. People (myself included) popped in and out as they wanted or needed. I used the time to work on the homework for Long Time Gone, and while I did not get everything done, I did get a good start on it. It was such a lovely and relaxing day :)

I know I am quite late in posting this tonight. My only excuse is that SW and I have been sucked in to the documentary on Janet Jackson. I remember watching her as a cast member on FAME. There's much about her life that I had not idea about.

And on that note, I wish you all a very good night!

TTFN

Quilting...So Much More Than Putting Blocks Together

On our way South to my mother's place, I stopped at Thimbles & Things to pick up an order I had waiting. As well as more of the green fabric I needed to complete the binding on the placemats I was making, I was picking up a book I had ordered. It was one that was recommended by Elaine in our Free Motion quilting class.

I know myself well enough that if I don't have "homework" I am a lot less likely to persevere with something....even free-motion quilting. This book has given me an idea. I can set my own homework in relation to developing my skills in free-motion quilting (FMQ). Being as FMQ takes me outside of my comfort zone, I will need to WORK at becoming better at it. With that in mind, I'm thinking that I might add FMQ to my monthly calendar, completing tasks each week...How about Free-Motion Fridays???...to improve upon the skills I began to learn in the course over the  two sessions. This book will be a great help as it is set up at lessons to be completed. However, rather than limiting to 25 lessons, I think I will repeat the skills in each lesson until I feel confident I have approached mastery :) But first...I will complete the FMQ on this project that was begun in the class Elaine led.

In an effort to continue to improve upon quilting skills...be it FMQ or other....I also signed up for this course, offered by The Hobby Horse, on making table runners. It's not because I am overly keen on making "holiday" table runners, but rather because it was advertised as a means of working on various quilting skills. 

This session's runner is in preparation for Easter.

I am not sure I am ready to go totally FMQ on this one, but I am hopeful that by the end of the 6 bi-monthly sessions, I will be confident enough to try :)

And I just had to share this. I know it's another dog picture, but Her Ladyship is such a huge part of our life...and our happiness...that I cannot feel guilty about sharing her in my stories. After all, they are the "ramblings of a busy quilter"...and I'm busy with so much more than just quilting. As often happens after our walks, Jade is let off-leash once we get back to our driveway (which is quite long btw). And, as is her habit, once we get closer to the house, she speeds up and heads around to the lake-side of the house. Why? Because she needs to do a perimeter check for "chitterbugs" (aka squirrels and chipmunks) of course :D

I really DO need this girl to live forever...or at least as long as I do!!!

And on that note, I wish you all a very good evening!

TTFN

What A Blur!!!

 When you have company for the better part of a week, life...or perhaps it's time...takes on a very different perspective. Then, add to that 2 days on the road for "elder care", and things just kinda fall apart. I've often said "Life has a way of getting in the way." I did take pictures pretty much each day, but didn't have the wherewithal....and in the case of when providing "elder care", didn't have internet....to get the blogging done. I do beat myself up a bit for this, but really....sometimes it just happens :(

So, I did get the binding done on the sampler quilt. The colours go well with the colours in the living room. And, it's already seen a fair bit of use in the last few days. Especially in the morning before the fire warms things up.

I do think, however, that next time I work on binding a larger project, I will clip my thumb nail a bit shorter. By Tuesday morning, it was quite sore.

On Tuesday morning, we all headed into town to run some errands. Our friend, Mr. Leslie, would have been proud of us. We had 6 stops on our list, which apparently "makes the drive into town worthwhile". With the current price of gas, I'd have to agree. By the time we were done all our stops, the rain had begun and, true to predictions, it was freezing on surfaces. We did, however, manage to get home safely. The rest of the day, everyone seemed to be engaged in their own form of relaxing. I spent a good deal of time reading The Paris Library in front of the fire. Good book, btw...and based in fact.

It was also the perfect kind of day for a nap on the couch, which I followed up with some work on EQ8.

On Wednesday, I was to head out on the 5-hour drive to my parents' home in order to be there Thursday morning to take my mother for a procedure at KWs Grand River Hospital by 6:30 in the morning :O I called my mother before heading out, and she informed me that my father was "having a bad day" so she wanted him to come along with us to KW (she's afraid to leave him alone...especially when he's having a more difficult time). The problem with that is, if he's having a hard time, expecting him to sit for 2 hours driving there and back, and also waiting for 3+ hours for the procedure and the effects of the anesthetic to be done, is asking too much of him. So, we spoke to our guests, who really were very sensitive to the difficulties of elder care having older parents themselves, and they agreed SW needed to come with me so that he could stay with my father (in the comfort of his own home...where he could lie down if and when needed). It really was fortunate that they were there as they also agreed to look after Her Ladyship while we were gone. 

We were a little concerned about what to expect heading out since our driveway was totally a sheet of ice. We'd also heard on the radio that there were road closures on Highway 11 due to accidents. As it turned out, our driveway and the road leading out to the main highway were the only real challenges. Highway 11 was basically clear, and for the most part dry. I'm not sure when the accidents happened, but the police rerouted traffic around them. The drive was quite good. And with the sun poking through here and there, the trees looked so pretty sporting a thin sheathing of ice.

All went well with my mother's procedure, and we headed back home Thursday afternoon after delivering her back home to Brantford. It was definitely a long day on the road!!!

Today, our guests departed shortly after lunch. I always find the exodus a little disconcerting...the house seems too quiet, maybe even a little depressed itself...so I find it's always best for me to either get out of the house for a while, or get bust with something. Today, I chose the latter. I decided to get some sewing projects off my plate. First, I finished the placemats I'd been working on for friends of ours.

And then I worked on finishing the extra "Out Of The Box" blocks I'd decided to make. Now all 3 of them are sitting in the window well in my sewing room :)

While I was working, I was watching the birds out my window....as I often do now. As well as the original niger feeder that was there, I purchase and placed 2 more feeders on the stand. I think they really like this new one. Not only can they sit on the bars that are at the feeding ports, they can also grip the mesh going around the feeder. It looks like they can still get the niger seed out there too. Awesome!

This evening, I had my Tula Pink Butterfly class on Zoom.

I really love the classes with Elaine as she makes an effort to take our photos that we've submitted of our completed homework from the previous month, and showcases it before talking about the next month's homework. It is so inspiring to see the fabric choices other people are using. It often gives me ideas for future projects.

I do think I am now going to curl up with my next read, Rick Mercer Talking To Canadians. I do believe, however, that it will not last very long as I am feeling very tired.

And on that note, I wish you all a very good night!

TTFN

Time Well Spent

 Not too much happening today. Pretty much "time well spent" with company. I did, however, get a bit of sewing done today. I managed to get the blocks done for the two other window mats.

I then worked on prepping the binding for the sampler...

...and getting it on the sampler.

Aside from some reading and a short nap, I spent the better part of the rest of the day hand-stitching the binding to the back of the quilt and chatting with my friend :) I will post a picture of the finished product tomorrow.

We are hoping tomorrow to head in to town to do a bit of shopping, but that will depend on the weather. TWN has posted a statement for the potential of significant freezing rain and ice pellets for our area. If that happens, we'll just sit tight at home!

And on that note, I wish you all a very good night!

TTFN

Too Much Tech Time Is Not A Good Thing

 Let me begin with an apology for not posting yesterday evening. Six-ish hours of quilt classes by Zoom plus another hour with friends from Guelph did me in in the technology department.

Yes...I did say 6-ish hours of quilt classes. My day began with Breakfast On The Barn Trail at 8:30. I'm not sure I like the homework for this month. It has nothing to do with the content...other than I've never really done appliqué. What I'm really not crazy about are the colours for this month's block. So much so that I might have to change it up.

I confess that, much like when I was a child in school, I got rather distracted. At one point, there must have been about 30 finches fighting to get to the feeder outside my window. I'm thinking I need to get a couple more feeders to hang on the stand.

The little guys were not especially impressed when "Harry" showed up. I may have to remove the suet feeder from this stand.

Immediately following the Barn Trail class, I hopped onto my class for the Wanderer's Wife.

There was just enough time after that class to "skip to the loo" and make myself a special coffee before signing onto Long Time Gone.

After this class, it was time to scarf down a quick lunch and then hop on for a Tips and Techniques class about batting. By the time I was done all that, I was exhausted. I am not used to sitting and doing virtually (no pun intended) nothing for such a long time. Take me out of my normal routines and I seem to tire more quickly. A nap was definitely needed :)

Just before supper, SW and I brought the newly painted pantry door back upstairs and reinstalled it. It looks great! Thanks my mister!

This morning was about getting a few things done before some company arrived for a short "vacation". These folks LOVE their coffee and often bring special items with which to make their coffee. Our kitchen is quite small and very limited in counter space, so they asked it it might be possible to set up a space where they could set up their coffee supplies without taking up real estate in the kitchen. Ask and you shall receive. We did set up an appropriate space, and SW even suggested it be named after our guests.

We also folded up the treadmill and tucked it into the corner.

This allowed us to take the "too tight" furniture....

...and move it over to make the living room look more normal again.

Knowing that a thaw was coming, I suggested that we stop ignoring the build-up of snow on the deck outside the back door. It was up to my "whoowhoo". That amount of snow would become VERY heavy once things warmed up. Also, this is an emergency egress...should we not be able to get out the bottom door.

What a job that turned out to be!!!! The snow shovel couldn't break up some of the snow...my guess is because it had compacted over time...so I needed to actually use a spade to break it up before shovelling it away with the snow shovel. It took a while, but the job was accomplished :)

I am definitely tired this evening :P

And on that note, I wish you all a very good night!

TTFN

Ask And You Shall Receive

When we lived in Guelph, I always had bird feeders in the backyard....even in the summer. My love of watching the birds definitely came from my father. When he and Mom lived in the country, he had numerous bird feeders. He even planted Evergreen trees near the feeders so the birds would have somewhere to fly to and from.

When we moved here, we set up some shepherd hooks (the kind used for hanging baskets) and put up bird feeders. The problem was that the only time I could see them was if I was at the kitchen window....doing dishes. SW then rigged a way for those hooks to be attached to the railing of the upper deck (just off of our living room). And WOW! With far less competition than in the city, we get A LOT more birds :D. I love that I can be sitting in my armchair and see them out the window. 

Having observed so many finches fighting to get at the feeders, and knowing that they also like to ground-feed below, I suggested to himself that I would like to have some feeders outside my sewing room window. Ask and you shall receive :) We had a stand feeder that was set up outside the gazebo....for enjoying the birds while sitting out in the summer. It wasn't being used for the winter, so SW set it up outside my window. Set it up and they will come! (I know...another cheesy cliche).

The birds have already gotten so ("sew") accustomed to me being on the other side of the window, they hardly ever fly away....even when I get up to cut or iron. I love it!

A few weeks ago (has it really been that long already???), I made a block for my Out Of The Box class. I really liked how it turned out, but had no idea what I was going to do with it. Then, I got an idea. The block is purple...which really works in my sewing room as the walls there are purple. I decided I would put it in the window well.

Of course, then I thought "I need to make two more to go across the space."

So...That's what I worked on today :) 

I also really enjoyed a video chat with some friends (Vicki, Hanna, and Lyn my neighbour). What's so wonderful is that we can be far-flung and still come together...albeit digitally. I do have to say though that with 10 quilting classes (I know! I know! What was I thinking?!?!), I will be very happy when we can get unlimited data up here in the north. Still....I wouldn't trade the potential of a little extra cost for what I gain through these classes and video chats. They have been a huge factor in dealing well with these COVID years!

Anyway, I must skedaddle as we (both SW and I) have a Zoom with some other friend's of ours from Guelph.

And on that note, I wish you all a very good night!

TTFN

Down Another Rabbit Hole!

 SW has been toying with the idea of getting the treadmill out from behind Her Ladyship's chair. 

At this time of year, the roads are pretty precarious for walking. Getting Jade out for a "stroll" is a must twice a day, but getting all of our 10,000 steps outside is not. We can't set the treadmill up downstairs because we need a minimum of 6.5' clearance....more if you're running. We ONLY just have 6.5' of clearance, so there's still a risk of whacking your head off a joist, sadly. We do eventually need to build a small gym building on the  property, but that's just not in the budget at the moment. The upstairs bedrooms have the necessary ceiling height, but we'd have to give up the spare bedroom and we need that when the kids come up (when all of them are here, we need sleeping for 10 adults + Baby Finn and anywhere from 2-4 dogs). The only other room that came accommodate it height-wise is the living room. Hmmm! Now, where too put it...everything being on the tight side. We're not worried about being in front of the slider as we don't tend to BBQ in the winter. And...we have another slider at the other end of the room. If we're desperate to BBQ, we can go out that way.

At first, we had thought that if we tucked our chairs further into the right corner, and moved Jade's chair further into the corner where the treadmill had been sitting, we could fit it in between. When we cleared out the corner, it was VERY obvious that the firewood makes a BIG mess!

It became quickly apparent that it wouldn't work putting it between the chairs. Not only would Jade not be able to get up in her chair, there was not way to place that chair that didn't look totally ridiculous! And, to set the treadmill up at the proper angle IN the corner would have meant getting rid of Jade's chair. That wasn't going to happen as there was nowhere else to put it. And...again...we need it when all the kids are up.

So, we decided to move our chairs "cheek-by-jowl" with Jade's chair. It allowed us to put the treadmill in the opposite corner.

The nice thing about it being there (for now) is that when company comes....as it someday will....we can fold the treadmill up, push it back, and move our "scrunched" chairs over. In moving our chairs, we decided it was time to effect some much needed repairs to the back of SW's chair.

Not an especially pretty solution, but it does the job. It's on the back of the chair anyway, so I didn't really care about appearance.

Of course, as with any moving project, one thing leads to another. I was no longer going to be able to store my hand-stitching on the end table that was within my reach before the treadmill got moved...

I also felt I needed to deal with all of the stuff that I was storing behind the small table between our chairs....all of which got put on the coffee table while we were working.

I decided that whatever I would keep close at hand HAD to fit into the white basket and could not be stacked on top. That meant doing a lot of sorting, weeding, and pitching....but I'm happy to say I was successful :)

The only thing left on the coffee table is my laptop that I use each night to blog, and a couple of mixed media books (weeded from my craft stuff when I rearranged my room downstairs) set aside for a friend who is interested in them.

After that, it was time to get busy on some quilting work. I did not manage to do any free-motion quilting, but I did spend a good amount of time completing lessons on EQ8.

I also got the binding done on 5 of the 6 placemats. Thank goodness Thimbles & Things has more of the olive green fabric I need...even though I don't need much. This project will now have to "rest" until I pick that fabric late next week.

It is VERY hard to believe that it is already almost 7:30! Where has this day gone???

And on that note, I wish you all a very good night!

TTFN