Sunday, November 30, 2014

Feeling blue

Today, I spent the day in bed.  That means, between doing laundry, cooking meals, letting the dog out, reminding (several times of course) my son to do his delegated chore of the day (cleaning out the van) and other things.
To survive, I used a timer.  Put the laundry in, set the timer, go back to bed.  When the timer rings, get up and put in another load. Set the timer and go back to bed etc.
Why am I in bed?
Feeling yucky.
I've been burning the candle at both ends for the last few weeks and I think my body is just telling me to "stop!"
It's a good thing my son is a teen now.  He can be independent- at least when he wants to.  I remember these days when he was a toddler - I would just lay on the floor in the middle of the family room and let him just crawl all over me.  That way he was safe, and I could rest.  That was back when I spent half my life on night shift.  I don't miss those days at all.
So, I've not accomplished a thing today.  Yesterday I finished a customer quilt and started pinning the next one.  It's just going to have to wait for a couple of days now.

So, sniff, cough, that's it for today.
Back to bed.
T

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Why Black Friday isn't such a big thing in Canada even though the retailers are trying.....

Canadians just aren't "into" Black Friday.  Ok, maybe a few who live within a reasonable driving distance to a border crossing, but for most of us, it just isn't an event.  My opinion is ....

First of all, our Thanksgiving is in October, not November
We don't do mob scenes
We started our Christmas shopping in July
We don't do mob scenes
We aren't as impressed with "sale" signs until we actually calculate the cost , in Canadian dollars.
We don't do mob scenes
We have to take into account the exchange rate - which right now, well, sucks.
We don't do mob scenes
We have to pay tax and duty at the border, which seriously cuts into the savings.
and, since we don't do mob scenes, we look for off-peak hours to shop - like suppertime at Costco.

Like I said, that's my opinion.

The retailers are trying to make Black Friday a thing here.  They are trying.  The whole thing lacks credibility though, when the sales start the week before Black Friday - duh.
It's the same with Boxing Day.  Now that used to be a sale.  You could stock up on anything "Christmassy" and save it for next year.  Now the Boxing Day sales start the week before Christmas and last a week, or two, depending on the store.

We've seen it coming.  Swimsuits on sale in March.  Back to school sales the second week of July, and Snow suits available before August.  I don't know how parents with growing kids shop this way - my guy grew in spurts, so I never knew from one month to the next what size he would be.  He still does.  He's grown 2 inches in his trouser waist size since school started.  And the medium sized shirts are starting to look quite short, so, he's on to size large.  They hang on him since he's so slim, but he needs the length in the body and sleeves.  I don't think he's done yet either.  He's taller than me already, and the doctor figured he'd be about 6'4" based on his childhood growth charts.  That isn't unusual for our family though, we are all tall - my nephews are all well over 6'.  Let's not even talk about shoe size !

On the quilting scene, our church group finished the Advent banners last night.  YAY!!   It was a much larger project than anyone thought.  If we do a banner again, it will be 1 piece, and with a lot more notice.  Finishing a 5 panel banner in less than a month was hard.

It's also a good thing it's done because my customers are starting to hand in their projects for quilting.  In the last week, I've received 5.  That's great in my book, that part of quilting is fun for me.  Add to that the bonus of being paid, and it's all good.

By the way, is anyone out there looking for a used Handiquilter?  Our local rep is moving with her family to PEI, and has her rig for sale.
FOR SALE!!!! HQ Fusion with a Pro Stitcher! We are moving out of the province and I am needing to sell my machine. SHARE this post because I have to sell it. Please message me for serious inquiries.
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That's it for today.  I'll check in with you soon.  Happy Quilting !
Teresa

Monday, November 24, 2014

Happy Monday

Well, they say Canadians talk about the weather more than anyone in the world.  I'll bet the folks in Buffalo are way past that this week.  On behalf of all Canadians, I wish you well.  Hang in there.

I spent the afternoon with my sewing buddies in Dorchester today.  This is a fun group.  We get together to sew, quilt, knit, gab, laugh and basically enjoy each other's company every week.  I managed to get the top done for my nephew's "going to college" quilt.   Three more nieces and nephews to go before I start on the great nieces and nephew.  By then there should be another one as my niece Kristen and her hubby are expecting their first child soon.  They just moved into their new to them house on the weekend, so let the nesting begin !!   Really, I wish them well.  They've already endured some heavy duty stuff in their lives together, so they deserve to have a wonderful time with parenthood.   As I say to all new parents - enjoy every minute - even the crazy ones.

I had enough blocks left over from Connor's quilt to make the top for a kid's quilt for our charity.  Since the guild provides the batting and backing, I should have it done for next week.  I really need to get a new camera- the computer won't recognize my cell phone, and even though it has a pretty good camera, I miss the ability to get creative behind the lens.

On another note, I'm getting together with the Bethel quilters tomorrow afternoon to hopefully FINISH the banners for Advent.  I think we all know now to stick to less ambitious projects when time is limited !!  It   falls under the "live and learn "  category.

On a personal note, I spent Sunday afternoon with my Mom.  The gravestone for my Dad was installed last week, so we went together to visit.  It looked really nice.  We all got to see the blueprint for it, but it looks much different - in a good way - in stone.  I'm glad they were able to put it in before winter.  It has given us all a bit of closure.  So far Mom is doing really well.  |W|e'll be spending extra time as a family over Christmas this year - it could be a tough time.

So that's it for today.  Will check in with you later this week.

Luv
Teresa

Monday, November 17, 2014

Have you watched Quilty lately?

I like watching Quilty.  Mary Fons, yes the daughter of Marianne Fons of Fons and Porter has been making episodes of Quilty again.
I love her "querky" "quilty" persona.  She's funny, smart, and easy to follow.  Her videos cover everything from the very basics for beginners to how to put difficult blocks together.  Along the way, she drops hints and tips and ideas from viewers.
You can find her videos on youTube ---- search Quilty.

There's only one problem, once I start watching, hours go by.  Seriously, I don't know where they go.
Teresa

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Hello again

Wow.  I just checked in and can't believe it's been so long since my last post.  I guess life got away from me again
My darling son is now in high school.  It seems like yesterday I held him in my arms for the first time.  That wouldn't be easy now - he's taller than me and has a bigger shoe size!
My family has had a few ups and downs over the last 2 years.  My sister fought a battle with breast cancer and won !!
This summer my father passed away after a long battle with heart disease.  I miss him, but I know he is in a better place and no longer suffering.
Other events have kept us hopping, but somehow, I have made time for some sewing and quilting.

This quilt that is my banner now, is finally finished.  It took me over 2 years to complete.  I worked on it off and on, since the piecework was tedious.  Each 5" square has 25 pieces.  That's over 4,750 pieces just in the blocks!    I changed the border from the pattern as I wanted a simpler view.  So now that it's finished, I've renamed it "Stars over Ireland."

I've already completed a couple more quilts since that, the most recent being a queen sized falling charms from the Missouri Star Quilt Company video on youTube.   I love their videos, and Jenny, the hostess is a hoot!

My next major quilt I want to make is the most recent block of the month by Eleanor Burns.  I'm not sure of the name, but you can check it out here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1YVkVZ4tPM
She has the video tutorials all posted.  Look for the "case of the missing quilt" series.  It's lots of fun and there are some really special guests on the videos.

I'm also teaching again.  We've started up a quilting group in our church.  There are about 10 ladies who come out twice a month.  There is a real spectrum of talent, from the raw beginner, to accomplished garment sewers, to experienced quilters.   It makes for a challenging group.
Right now we've put our block of the month on hold to make new banners for the church for the season of Advent.  We're making a series of 5 panels, each 18"x60" depicting one of the advent candles.   We're using raw edge applique.  They're starting to look good !   I'll try to post some pictures once they're completed.

The block of the month we're working on is a sampler wall quilt/table topper.   The center is a pieced wreath about 18" square made of squares and half square triangles  The border of that has appliqued flower boughs.   That is framed with a 1" border.   The next border is made of 6" squares of all different blocks.  We started with a snowball block, then a 9 patch, then did a disappearing 9 patch, friendship star, dutchmans puzzle, jacobs ladder, ohio star, , square in a square etc.  Each block building on the skills of the previous one.

It became clear along the way, that we as quilters are too hard on ourselves.  When I see someone obsessing over one clipped point out of 26 or so, I really feel the need to say "relax ! "  or as Eleanor Burns says - hang it high and keep it moving!   The only one who will see it is you, so go easier on yourself.  Do you think Rembrandt redid a painting because a brushstroke was off?

Anyway, I am going to revive this blog.  So if you're still out there, sent me a line.d

Teresa