Crafts and Stuff

Kreativ Blogger Award

2009-11-14T15:04:00.015-05:00

Scroll down if you came to see Sky Watch Friday.

Last week LV of Thoughts From Meme's Corner awarded me the Kreativ Blogger Award. At first I thought I would pass on it, but as I was looking through an old photo album, I realized that I have led a very interesting life. So I downloaded some pics and wrote a few comments and then I hit the publish button. To my horror, Blogspot was not working. I got an error message and my entire post was gone! My thoughts went back to just passing on the award.

But now I think I will post a few of the photos and maybe do a few more tomorrow and/or the next day. That way if I lose it all again it won't be so much to redo.

The rules are simple.

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2. Copy the logo and put it on your blog.

3. Link back to the nominating person's blog.

4. List seven things about yourself that people may not know.

5. Nominate other Kreativ Bloggers by posting it on your blog, linking to them and leaving them a message.

1. This was the building where I got my first job. It is the old CIBC building at 25 King St.W. in Toronto. I worked for a very large legal firm there. I was a clerk, messenger, receptionist and whatever else they wanted me to be. I didn't love the job, but I loved the old building I worked in. It is still standing even though many other old buildings have been demolished to make way for huge glass and marble office towers. This building had high ceilings, marble inlaid mosaics on the floor, elevator operators and it was the highest building in downtown Toronto at the time. (1966) I eventually left this job and became a keypunch operator. It payed more and I was able to get a job closer to home. But I eventually gave that up too, to become a stay-at-home Mom.

2. Here is a photo of my two munchkins. This was taken when they were about 3 and 1. I stayed home and totally dedicated myself to raising them. Those were the best years of my life!

3. As a family we have always loved the nature and the outdoors. Camping was one of our favourite summer activities. When the kids were young we had a small trailer, but as they grew up, our favourite summer activity was camping in Algonquin Park. Not just ordinary camping, but wilderness camping. We would go from lake to lake, setting up our campsite and taking it down the following day. We portaged our belongings over rugged terrains, sometimes for a couple of hundred meters to over a kilometer.

All our food had to be hung high off the ground so that raccoons and bears would not get it. We enjoyed lots of fantastic scenery, the odd moose, many deer, beavers and chipmunks. We could even hear the howling of a lone wolf on clear cool nights. The stars up there were fantastic. We experienced many meteor showers and also the magnificent colours of the Aurora Borealis. I hoped to pass the love and respect for nature onto my children and I can honestly say that I achieved this.

Stay tuned. I'll do some more tomorrow.

And if you are interested in seeing my entry for this week's Scenic Sunday, go to my other blog, here.

Starting Something New!

2009-11-13T10:29:00.004-05:00

If you have come to see my Sky Watch Friday post, please scroll down to yesterday's entry. This post is about quilting, but you are welcome to stay and look around.

I started a new wall hanging!

"Oh, no!" you say, "Not another new project! What happened to

finishing UFO's?"

Well.... I was waiting to get some more fabric to finish the flower quilt and just couldn't help myself. I found this cute little wall hanging on the front of the current Fons and Porter magazine and just fell in love with it. So I started experimenting with the centre star block and a few of the tree blocks. I love the way they turned out! But today I am going to finish the flower quilt - I promise! I hope to be able to show it to you tomorrow - the flimsy part at least.
I don't think I have anything to worry about. Mimi seems to approve of my 'beginning-new-projects' mania! She has inspected my blocks and thinks they are great!

"Thanks Mimi!"

"Meow!"

Sky Watch Friday - Bonaire Sunset

2009-11-12T13:44:00.008-05:00

A sunset as seen from the island of Bonaire.

If you want to see more Skywatch Friday photos please click on the icon below.

Remembrance Day

2009-11-11T01:02:00.009-05:00

Today is Remembrance Day here in Canada. A day to remember and give thanks to those who fought for our freedom. Lest we forget. We stop for two minutes to remember them at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place and in the sky,

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe.

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

- Written by Lt. Col. John McCrae in 1915 after a friend died during the first world war.

It is Veteran's Day in the States.

Party Time

2009-11-09T09:45:00.007-05:00

This week's Party block is called 'Cross in a Cross'. It's an 8-inch block. Although it had lots of bias pieces and seams, it was an easy block to construct. Mimi likes it!

"Don't you Mimi?"

"Meow! Ya sure? But, shhhhhh! Be quiet! Don't move! We are having a party of our own. A birdwatching party!"

The backyard was infiltrated with Slate-coloured Juncos. There were hundreds of them, eating the seeds of the 'Black-eyed Susans' and 'Echinacea'. So I joined in the party and watched the fun along with my fur babies.

Sky Watch Friday - Sunrise

2009-11-05T13:36:00.007-05:00

After a glorious seven days of cruising around in the Caribbean, we docked in Fort Lauderdale and awoke to this beautiful sunset over the Atlantic Ocean. A nice ending to a wonderful trip!

If you want to see more Sky Watch photos, just click on the icon.

May the Force Be With You.......

2009-11-03T11:28:00.003-05:00

First of all, a great big thank you to all those who offered me advice with the star quilt yesterday. I really appreciated it! I still have two more blocks to finish and then I am going to sew it together. When that is done I will probably take it to the quilt shop to see what I can put around for a border. I don't have much flowery fabric left, so I will probably have to buy some. I think I will go with a narrow first border in a dark blue - I have some of that.

On Sunday I went over to visit Nynke at The Life of a Dutch Purple Rabbit. She showed some Star Wars related things that she saw at a show in Essen, Germany on the weekend. I think I still have family who live there. I have even gone there when I was a child, so I found it interesting. And the Star Wars stuff - well, let me just say we have a love of Star Wars at our house. Not me so much, but my DS has his whole apartment decorated in Star Wars posters and figurines.

He was the one who dragged me to see a Sci-Fi show here in Toronto a few years ago. There were Darth Vaders and Storm Troopers everywhere! Here is a photo of me and a Storm Trooper. Can you tell which one is the Storm Trooper? Okay, good. This photo was taken just before the symptoms of my neurological disorder became apparent. You can already see how tired I looked. Anyway, that's my excuse for the wrinkles and age spots!

On My Design Floor........

2009-11-02T12:22:00.003-05:00

I know! I know! Blogtoberfest is over and I don't have to post something every day. But I just want you to see what I have done with the star lap quilt so far. They are not laid out in any particular order. I just placed them on the floor as I made them. The blocks measure about 10inches square, so if I have 4 across and 5 down, that will be about 40" by 50". Maybe a small border to make the quilt 48" by 58". Does that sound like a lap quilt size? Are those flowery fabrics too much? What do you think? I want your opinion!

Scenic Sunday #68

2009-11-01T09:58:00.010-05:00

November

The stripped and shapely

Maple grieves

The ghosts of her
Departed leaves.

The ground is hard

As hard as stone.

The year is old

The birds are flown.

And yet the world,

In its distress,

Displays a certain

Loveliness.

- John Updike from "A Child's Calendar"

Pioneer Village in November. For more Scenic Sunday views, click the icon below.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T17:33:00.004-04:00

Our power went out just after lunch time today. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to post anything and since this is the last day of Blogtoberfest, I didn't want to miss it! I sat in silence and darkness all afternoon, but now the power is back on! Just in time for all the little ghosts and goblins to come out for Trick or Treat.

Have a Ghoulish Halloween everyone!

Today is day 31 of Blogtoberfest!

I'm done!

Is This Winter Rain?

2009-10-30T14:42:00.007-04:00

Rain

This rain is winter rain.

It spits and sprays like an angry cat,

As it lands lightly on the empty playground.

This rain is winter rain.

Cold and clinging to the thin fabrics,

Each droplet shining dully and roughly.

This rain is winter rain.

It drifts almost gracefully down through its own fog,

Taunting the shivering trees below, and above.

This rain is winter rain.

Even the birds flinch fearfully and cringe.

As they fly through this endless grey curtain.

This rain is winter rain.

Dripping from everywhere, clouding everything,

A cruel, stinging scream in every drop.

This rain is winter rain......

- Abby Wall

Today is a dark, dreary day, full of wetness and boredom. I couldn't work on any of my projects. They just weren't calling to me. So I slept late and spent the rest of the morning reading. I did make this week's Party block though. It's a 10inch block called 'Game Cocks'. Sorry! That was not my idea! Of course I have no other iideas so I guress that's what it will be called. I was even too ~~uninspired~~ lazy to pick out fabrics and just used the ones that were near my machine. It turned out not too bad, I guess, but the weather has left me cold.

Oscar and Felix are watching the rain too.

And Mimi, well, you know Mimi. She doesn't care what it is doing outside as long as she has some quilt block to sit on.

Today is day 30 of Blogtoberfest! Only one more day to go!

Sky Watch Friday - October Sky

2009-10-29T14:12:00.005-04:00

This is an October sky over the Kawartha Lakes area of Ontario. It looks quite benign, but this weather system brought cold rain, sleet, wet snow and ice and created havoc on the roadways of Central Ontario. If you want to see more Sky Watch Friday photos from around the world go to

A New Project

2009-10-28T12:12:00.006-04:00

Today is day 28 in Blogtoberfest. I am still going strong! Can you believe that?

A teacher friend has asked me to make her mother a lap quilt to keep her warm this winter. Her Mom is in a nursing home and she wants something nice for her. I was looking through some of my magazines (I have a room full of them!) and I found this one. Sorry the photo is so blurry. It is from the April 1998 issue of McCall's Quilting. I know that sounds ancient, but I just love this pattern.

So I looked through my stash, found some fabrics that might work and got started. I have made 4 blocks so far. It won't look exactly like the photo in the magazine, but I think it will be okay. My quilt is going to have a lot more blues and greens because those are the colours she asked for.

These blocks will be placed on point and have some flowered triangles around them to make them into squares. Kind of like this. I just hope I have enough flowered fabrics. But if not, I guess I will have to go to the LQS! Poor me! LOL

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

A Meeting, a Block and a Favour

2009-10-27T13:55:00.003-04:00

Our Guild meeting was delicious! We had a Harvest Potluck! Those quilting ladies don't just sew up a storm, they also bake fantastic goodies! I showed my Happy Tropical Basket wall hanging for Show and Tell and everyone loved it! I also delivered 4 quilts to Quilts from the Heart and picked up two more to do this coming month. I turned in my September block to the Block of the Month and picked up the instructions for this month's block. I couldn't wait to start it and finished it only a few minutes ago! Here it is. It is called 'Crystals Block'. Pretty isn't it? I will donate it to the Guild so that they can use it in one of their charity quilts.

I also have a huge favour to ask of you. One of my dearest quilting friends (no blog) is dealing with a difficult family medical situation. Her husband has been diagnosed with cancer. He was operated on a couple of months ago, but they were not able to get all of the cancer. He therefore must now undergo chemotherapy every other week. Please pray for him and send out positive thoughts for his recuperation and return to health. His name is Holt. I know that when we all pray and think positively so much can be done. I just know this can work! Thanks so much.

A List and a Bear Block

2009-10-26T14:18:00.005-04:00

Our Guild meeting is tonight. I have a lot of things to get ready! I made myself a list in order not to leave anything undone.

Finish the charity quilts and sew on labels - check
Finish postcard from last week's Bee Night - check
Gather up library books for return - I want to renew one of them. Still have to find them all.
Bring the 'Happy Tropical Basket' wall hanging for Show and Tell - I still have to sew on one button.
Make deviled eggs - check (We are having a bit of a potluck tonight. We usually have one at Christmas time, but we have a very hard-to-get speaker for our end of November meeting, so our potluck will be tonight - a harvest potluck.)
Gather up mug, plate, cutlery and napkin for the potluck - check
Gather up things to bring for a project in Africa - check
Bring the finished Block-of-the-Month block - check

I feel as if I still have a lot to do, but I guess I'm nearly done. I should have started early this morning, but because I love to procrastinate, I worked on this block instead. I got the idea from the block that gave me so much trouble on this week's Block Party. The pattern for the bear came from the library book that I want to renew. I still have to stitch around the bear, but my machine is not cooperating today and I am in no mood to argue with it. I might make a few more of these blocks - a deer, a moose - a squirrel etc. Maybe next week!

But now I am going to take a quick nap. If I don't I won't be able to make it through the entire evening tonight.

Today is day 26 of Blogtoberfest.

Scenic Sunday #67

2009-10-25T10:14:00.010-04:00

Fall Photo

Autumn Storehouse

I'd like to take October days

And store them in my mind,
To warm me during Winter's reign

When nature proves unkind.

Then I remember sunshine,

The autumn rich with gold,

And tawny fields a-flower

With wonders quite untold.

My thoughts will ease the moments

When in reverie I dwell,

And linger for the present

In some bright majestic dell.

- Virginia Borman Grimmer

Well Fancy That!

2009-10-24T12:52:00.004-04:00

This is my block for this week's Friday Block Party. I told you about it yesterday. This one was driving me crazy! Why they call it 'Blindman's Fancy' I'll never know! Perhaps it would have gone together better if I had done it with my eyes closed. I ended up drawing the block on graph paper and turning it into a paper pieced one. It took me a long time to finish and I think it is probably my first and last.

Still, I really like the way it turned out.

Here are the answers to the first quiz.

1. A German Dish - Dresdan Plate

2. Pioneer House - Log Cabin

3. Ape's Plumbing Tool - Monkey Wrench

4. "Scat you bug!" - Shoofly

5. Judicial Stairway - Courthouse Steps

6. Sailor's Navigational Device - Mariner's Compass

7. A Global Journey - Trip Around the World

8. Trail of an Inebriate - Drunkard's Path

9. Cracked Crockery - Broken Dishes

19. And Educational Meeting Place - Schoolhouse

11. Butter-makers Race - Churndash

12. Smokey's Foot - Bear Paw

And here are the answers to the scrambled word quiz.

1. Crazy Quilts

2. Patchwork

3. Calico

4. Flying Geese

5. Sewing

6. Strip Piecing

7. Cathedral Windows

8. Quilting Bee

9. Indonesian Batik

10. Broadcloth

Today is day 24 of Blogtoberfest. See you tomorrow!

A Gray, Cloudy, Rainy Day

2009-10-23T12:52:00.011-04:00

I'm feeling kind of down today. Guess I can blame it on the weather! That's always a good excuse. I am glad that many of you liked my little quiz from yesterday. I'm a sucker for things like that. I always have to do the crossword puzzles, word searches and Sodukos when I buy a newspaper. I get very upset if someone has already done them or has taken them out.

I have spent the last couple of hours cleaning up my workshop and working on this week's Friday Block Party block. It is called, 'Blindman's Fancy'. I just can't seem to make it work. Most of the pieces are cut to 1/8in. measurements. The centre is supposed to be 3 11/16in. What kind of a crazy size is that? Am I supposed to put this thing together? Actually the answer is 'no', I don't have to do any of the Friday Block Party blocks if I don't want to. But I just can't help myself. I will get this one right even if it drives me totally nuts.

I thought I'd give you a few scrambled words today. They are all quilt-related, so give them a try, while I go back to my sewing room and see if I can make myself go blind! Or crazy, whatever comes first.

1. RYCZA LQTUSI

2. KATWORPHC

3. LCAOIC

4. GLFYIN SEGEE

5. GEWSIN

6. TSRPI CIIGEPN

7. LACDETHAR SOIWWND

8. GUINIQTL EBE

9. NOINENDAIS SBTAIK

10. DOLCABHTRO

I really should be working on this little quilt. I found it in my UFO bin. I started it several years ago and put it away just like this, almost done! It's based on a pattern I bought at a LQS. The designer is a member of our Guild. It's called 'Goodnight Moon' and is based on the book by the same name.

Can you see those safety pins in the border? That area is about all I still have to quilt. I have even put the binding on already. As you can see by the tail in the upper left-hand corner, Felix has given his approval, so I think I will finish it up today. That is if I haven't gone totally blind from doing the quilter's cache block! Here is a close-up of little bear. How cute is that?

Quilting Quiz

2009-10-22T11:53:00.008-04:00

Today is day 22 or Blogtoberfest.

I have a little quiz for you. Are you ready? Here goes......

Identify the following quilting patterns by their correct names.

1. A German Dish

2. Pioneer Home

3. Ape's Plumbing Tool

4. "Scat you Bug!"

5. Judicial Stairway

6. Sailor's Navigational Device

7. A Global Journey

8. Trail of an Inebriate

9. Cracked Crockery

10. An Educational Meeting Place

11. Butter-maker's Race

12. Smokey's Foot

And just because I can't post anything without a picture. Here is a gratuitous shot of the baby quilts I made for a cousin's twins. I don't think I have posted it before.
Edit: I have been taking part in a Sky Watch Friday post on my other blog. If you want to see it go here.

'Scraps' - Another Charity Quilt Finish!

2009-10-21T12:35:00.006-04:00

Today is day 21 of Blogtoberfestl. I'm still here, but my internet provider is making things very difficult for me. I have been trying all morning to get on the internet, but it just wouldn't let me. I finally gave up and just as I was going to turn my computer off and go back to bed, it worked!!

So now I can show you my latest finish. It's another charity quilt. I think this may be the last one for this year. I have to get on with my Christmas stuff and also I found a couple of UFOs that are fall related and I think I should finish them first. This little quilt measures 35in. X 45in. It is made up of scraps from my children's-fabrics scrap bin. The blue was a piece of 100% cotton that I had bought many, many years ago and wanted to use up. The pattern is the Disappearing Nine-Patch. I absolutely love that pattern!

Now for the quilting - I don't love it so much. I decided to do a bit of experimenting. I did circles freehand with my machine. I went around each circle twice and then started a new circle. I just kept going until I ran out of bottom thread - which I did very often. This technique uses a lot of thread. I think I used about 1.5km in this quilt - maybe more! And I am really not that crazy about the way this quilting looks. I have to admit, it was kind of fun to do and it is just a charity quilt so I was able to experiment, but I'm just not loving it. Do you know what I mean? Mimi came over to look at it, but she did not like it either. At least she didn't want to sit on this quilt. I wonder if it is that little scrap of dog fabric in the bottom row. Mimi is kind of finicky!

A Postcard Bee Night

2009-10-20T11:48:00.005-04:00

Today is day 20 of Blogtoberfest.

OMG! I had 'sew' much fun last night! We learned how to make postcards at Bee Night. I know I have already made some on my own, but it was great getting together with 25 other women who love to quilt! And it never hurts to learn some more techniques and get some new ideas for postcards! I still have to do the sewing on my cards, but I can show you what I have done so far. Cute, eh?

Baton Rouge Square

2009-10-19T08:01:00.004-04:00

My block for this week's Block Party is called 'Baton Rouge Square'. It is a 10in. block. I don't know whether it was the colour in the original block or my current mood, but my block had a sort of Halloween feeling about it. Easy and quick!

Today is day 19 of Blogtoberfest. I am off to Bee Night this evening. We are going to work on postcards. Hopefully I'll have something to show you tomorrow.

Scenic Sunday #66

2009-10-18T18:29:00.007-04:00

This Scenic Sunday #66, but for me it is the first time I have posted a photo. Click on the icon above to see more. It is definitely fall around here. We have had frost in the past several nights. All my plants are looking rather sad. But the trees are still beautiful! It's a good time to stay inside and sew!

Today is day 18 of Blogtoberfest!

My Happy Tropical Basket

2009-10-17T10:37:00.006-04:00

I have finished my Tropical Basket wallhanging! Hurray! This one has a long story! (Just look at the pictures if you don't want to hear it.) I started this project over two years ago, when our Guild suggested a Challenge quilt. I think they called it 'Stash Bash' or something like that. We were to use scraps from our stash and the quilt was to be no larger than 40in. square. They encouraged us to use as many fabrics as possible. In fact, I think there was a prize for the most fabrics used.

I thought about this project for a long time and finally settled on a pattern I had found in a magazine from many years ago. The original pattern was done in redwork. I changed it so that I could do my quilt in hand applique combined with a bit of machine piecing. I worked on it throughout the summer of 2007, since the applique part was such a nice take-along project. But by the fall of that year I realized that I would not be able to finish it in time - for the end of October meeting. At that time I became physically unable to do a lot of things. I no longer had the use of my legs and that made it impossible to use my sewing machine. I also couldn't walk or drive a car. And I never did go back to our Guild meetings that year. My challenge quilt never got done.

A few weeks ago I found this UFO and decided to finish it. I only had a bit more to applique and a few more of those HST units to do. Since my physical condition is much improved and I am once again able to use my sewing machine, now seemed like the right time to get it out of my UFO pile. I sewed it together and stipple quilted it by machine. Then I added a colourful batik binding. I love how it turned out and I think it is my favourite quilt at the moment. Mimi seems to approve of it too.

My wallhanging measures 36in. square. I used over 45 different fabrics, mostly batiks, hand dyes and fossil ferns. I put a 'sleeve' on the back so that I can hang it up and display it. And display it I will! This quilt marks my return to my old self. I feel as if my life has been on hold for the past couple of years, very much like this quilt, but now it is time to get on with living and quilting and walking and petting my Mimi. Right Mimi?

"Purrrr"

Lucky Me!

2009-10-16T17:24:00.003-04:00

My sister dropped by unexpectedly this afternoon. She brought me this little crochet book called "Cute Little Animals". Isn't she the greatest? There are eight little critters in this book! And I plan to make them all!