Saturday, March 31, 2012

Movie manners Rant

Ok, I'm airing some opinions here.  I hope those of you who read it understand.
This afternoon, I took my son to see the movie "The Hunger Games."  It's a really good movie.
We had the misfortune of sitting beside a group of 5 teenage girls.  Now, ordinarily, I would not consider this a problem.
It became a problem when each one of them took a minimum of 3 trips out of the theatre causing each one of the rest of us in the row to pick up drinks and popcorn, move purse, stand up to let them out, and in a few minutes, repeat for the return visit.
I get pissed when that happens!  I don't mean the one person who has to go out to take care of business.  I mean when one person, or a group of people take it for granted that their needs supercede another's need for a nice time at an event.
So, after a few coughs, and a few "are you finished" comments failed to stop the ebb and flow of these girls, I went to see the manager and complain.  I don't know about you, but when it costs me over $40 to go to the movies with my son, I expect a good time.
Thankfully, the manager agreed.  And he apologized with a pair of tickets for a future movie.
Thank you manager.  Well played.

Ready, Set, GO !

The spirit got willing again yesterday and I fired up the sewing machine.  Thank goodness.  I thought the fog I was in wasn't going to lift, but a few mornings of sunshine helped move those blues away.
Yesterday I laid out the blocks for the second Dresden Plate quilt.  I managed to get them all appliqued onto the background fabric.  Today I roughly sketched in the spines for the feathers and got the thing sandwiched.  I ran out of 505 basting spray, so the back is spray basted, and the top is pin basted.  I guess that is the best of both worlds eh?
Today was a cold, rainy day.  We even had snow pellets.  I spent the afternoon doing my volunteer hours in my son's school library and missed the snow!  The library is one of the few rooms in the inner corridor where there are no windows. 
My son also got a dose of independence today.  Usually on my library day, he comes home with me rather than on the bus.  Today, he had forgotten to tell the bus driver that he would not be on this afternoon (a requirement at his school) so, instead of going out to tell her, he asked if he could just take the bus and go home alone.  I did a big maternal 'gulp' and handed him the house keys.  "Ok, honey, just be sure to let the dog out when you get there ok?  I'll do some grocery shopping on the way home so you'll be alone about 45 minutes."
My son's first day as a latch key kid. Sigh.  He's growing up too fast.
All was fine when I returned, except for unloading groceries in the pouring rain :(
The dog even got her turn outside!  For a kid that can't remember to put his socks on in the morning, he did well!
Maybe this little dose of independence will foster more?   Who am I kidding.......

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Blog hopping

I haven't been sewing much for the last week or so, I think I needed a break from the quilting and garment sewing.  But, it won't last for long - I'm getting the urge again - have no fear!  In the meantime, I've been blog hopping and thoroughly enjoying everyone's beautiful quilts.
I was in my local sewing shop today checking out a few things, and came home with some tearaway stabilizer and some quilters template material. 
I guess  the mojo is on its way back :)

Friday, March 23, 2012

Do Not Fear the Frixion Marking Pens :)

I'm sure everyone has heard the good and the bad about the new Frixion marking pens.  The ink flows on like a ballpoint pen and disappears with heat - either the friction of the eraser, or a touch of the iron or even the heat of a hairdryer.
The downside that quilters found, was that although the marks disappeared with heat, they CAME BACK when exposed to cold.
Of course, I didn't take this as seriously as I should have before marking green lines all over the white on white quilt I've been working on.  Oh *#*(&#  CRAP!  
Or so I thought.
I got reading around in blogland, and found one post from sorry, I don't remember where, but the writer had said that once washed, the marks came out for good.  She used Tide with stain release detergent.
So, I usually use Tide detergent, so I thought, what the heck.  I have to know if this is going to come out permanently or not.
Throwing caution to the wind, I ironed the marks away, then tossed the quilt into the washing machine filled with warm water and liquid Tide.  I let it agitate for about 1 minute and let it sit for about 2 hours.  Then spun it out, let it go through the entire rinse cycle, and then
shook it out, folded it and put it in my deep freezer!
Yup,  the freezer.
Set my alarm for an hour,  watched some free QNN quilt shows online and after the hour went downstairs to learn my fate.
When I took my WHITE quilt out of the FREEZER, it was frozen alright.  I had to unbend it to shake it out.  (Kind of reminded me of when Mom would hang Dad's overalls on the line in the winter :)  )
NOT A MARK TO BE FOUND!
Yay!!
I feel like I've beat the evil marking pen monster.
So, right now, that baby is in the dryer for a little pampering, and thawing out, before I hang it over the banister to dry completely.

I for one, will not fear the Frixion pen again.  Since I wash all my quilts before giving them to their recipient, I don't even have to change my practise.

So, if you're afraid of the marking monster - give yourself a test drive.  Make a little quilt sandwich, mark all over it, and iron it.  Then throw it in the wash with detergent.   Freeze it, and see what you get.
I hope you get the same results I got.

Happy dance!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

FNSI results for March 16

Yay!  I did get some quilting done yesterday, but not in the evening.  My DS had a friend over for a sleepover Thursday night and the plan was to bring him home around noon.  So, I quilted "my brains" out during the morning.
Then my son came in at 11:30 looking very pale.  "Mom, I got a stick in my eye and it went in so bad that I had to pull it out."  
"What?"
Well that got my attention.  So, I called the friend's mom and she came to pick him up so off to the ER we went.  By then of course, he was "fine."  But this mom isn't taking any chances when eyes are concerned. 
He did try.  He really did.  But getting drops into his eye was quite a battle.  He's a squinter, and a squirmer, and has 'jumpy' reflexes, so it took about 40 tries, but finally a drop went in.  The doc had a look and declared he had done no damage. (It had gone in between the eye and the socket - not right into the eye.  So homeward bound we were.
I got some more quilting done in the afternoon until supper time.
Then we had a bittersweet event in the evening.  We had a "date" with his Big Brother mentor to say goodbye.  The gentleman is going to medical school and probably moving to Michigan, unless he gets a last minute admission to our University.  Regardless of whether he stays or moves, he's not going to have the time to commit to being a BB next year.  So we had our "close the match" event, at a  bowling alley.  We did have a good time, but when it came time to part, there were a few tears choked back.  We both will really miss C.V. , but we are happy for him that he's about to start the next chapter of his life.
:(
So basically, when we got home, we cuddled up and watched tv and talked.  It just wasn't the time to be off in my own world quilting.

So, here are my results for yesterday.  I got a good start on quilting the Dresden plate quilt.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

FNSI is coming, it's coming....

This Friday is the March edition of Friday Night Sew In with Heidi, of Handmade by Heidi, and her cousin of Crafty Vegas Mom.  We gather in the virtual world and have a good old sewing bee.  Then we all post pics of what we accomplished that night on our blogs or on Flickr.  One lucky person wins.  But we all do really.  The best part is cruising the blogs over the next week seeing what everyone created and basking in that creative sunshine!  Plan to join us.  It's fun!

Monday, March 12, 2012

"Dresdens by Granny" flimsy, first of 2

 Pardon the wrinkles.  It's draped over the back of my sofa and a few chairs.
By the way, several of the blocks were quite yellowed - they cleaned up perfectly washing with Oxy and regular detergent.
 Today, at my quilting club with the seniors, I had some help and got it spray basted and a few pins into it for insurance.  I can't wait to start quilting.  I predict there will be some feathers happening here!  I'm going to try for a traditional, romantic look for these quilts.  This friday is Friday Night Sew In too.  I know what I'll be doing:)

Friday, March 2, 2012

Getting to the bottom of things - literally!!

I don't know about you, but after I've been quilting for a long period of time, my butt hurts.  My back hurts.  I know I should get up and stretch more often, but when I'm on a roll, I just don't want to stop!
I've tried putting a foam pillow on my chair, but it doesn't take long before it's squished down and lumpy.  Uncomfortable too.
Enter, the "Gypsy Sit Upon."
I've looked at these online before, but hesitated to buy because I couldn't imagine if they were comfortable or not.
Monday, I was stash shopping at The Marsh Store (Coldstream, Ontario) (bestest fabric store EVER!) and what was that on the rocker in the corner?  The "Gypsy Sit Upon."  So I sat upon it. 

At first it takes you by surprise because you have to get your balance.  It's like sitting on an exercise ball.  But wow.  I was in love and had to have it.  Not only does my butt not get numb, but it forces me to sit up straight, therefore the backache doesn't happen!
So, shameless plug here, if you have "sit upon issues," get one of these!  Ask for it at your LQS, or visit their website here.  http://thegypsyquilter.com/thegypsyquilter.htm
(I am not associated with this co. or receive any compensation for this plug.)

Time to start dressing like a girl - for spring of course.

I'm the first to admit that I am not a fashionista.  I'm a jeans and tshirt girl through and through - especially short sleeved tshirts now that I'm enjoying (?) menopause.
But there is one thing in my wardrobe that is overdue for retirement.  I have a fleece jacket that I've used for about 3 years as a "in between seasons" jacket.  It's a dark denimy kind of colour, baggy, and basically looks like I just came in from the barn.  So, since I'm doing the weight loss thing (28 lbs and counting) I figured it's time to show it off.  Even if it's just a little bit.
So, today I came home with some lovely, soft yellow fleece.  I guess I'm not ready to give up the softness and comfort of fleece, but going for a brighter colour will do wonders.
I'm going to enlarge the hoodie pattern that my sewing club girls are using for their projects right now, and adapt it for me.  I've got a quilt on the go right now, so it should be done in the next day or so, then I'll make up the jacket before starting on the next quilt.
My big decision now, is hood or no hood?  I'm thinking no, but a warm cuddly pull up collar sounds nice :)