Catchup - April 9th-14th

April 9th

A short trip with Sylvia and Edna shopping.

April 10th

Hmmmmm, seems I've either forgot to post this or I just could not find it for my MPQ Show n Tell submission.

"Lakeside Beauty" my Colourways workshop with Brandy Maslowski, Quilter on Fire, through Cedar House Quilting, November 6, 2018.  We all raided her class stash to supplement our fabrics that were raw edge layered and embellished with trims and yarns then fancy stitches to anchor in place.  This was then trimmed and glued onto a canvas with edges painted  -  ready for hanging!  

This was an awesome workshop with a very talented fabric artist, thank you Brandy.  I had every intention to make this in every season but time has just escaped me.

WOW!!! It's been awhile from my last window pictures! But this caught my eye tonight!

Dang it, neither I nor my ticket buyers were lucky this year!

April 11th

Honestly I just don't see a spring blizzard coming tomorrow night etc! But then it was so calm when I met Nancy and with my walking sticks totally enjoyed our walking visit. Even had time for a Latte and cinnamon knot outside in this lovely morning. But noonish the winds sure picked up!!!

Nancy's view towards the Forks.

Well I just got home from a busy morning and finished off grocery shopping too. Lots of bare spots on shelves - I just got a few things.

Dang if this spring blizzard does happen we may have by Friday 30-50 cm or 12-20" of snow again with chances of 80 cm or 31" and high wind gusts too - YIKES!!!!! DAMN, I'd rather have had winter longer than the teasing of early spring, then winter returning again!!!

April 12th

Well I had a nice pre-storm visit with Sylvia. First off I took most of my electronic odds n ends to Equal Opportunities West for dismantling and proper recycling.

http://www.equalopportunitieswest.com/en/recycling

Then headed off to Marshall's to find backing for my ABCs quilts and Sylvia three fabrics for her new bed quilt. Afterwards I asked her if she'd like to go the Olive Garden for lunch as we were close and her reply was - "Oh yes I'd love to!" 😘 We both had one of our favorite choices!  

After dropping Sylvia off I rushed straight home to put my insert into my sewing table and start quilting my mystery quilt! ALAS it does not fit! 😒 Well I'll try and do my quilting this week and hopefully return it for correcting. But to disappointed to tackle my quilting so onto a fun project - batiks postcard! Stay tuned for updates!

April 13th

OH BOY, was up 8ish, cancelled my outing, back to bed, up 10ish and YOWSERS spring blizzard is landing!!!!!

Even my new windows are crying, not liking the abrupt change in the weather! At least the overly warm inside temperatures have decreased!!!

Guess it'll be a stay put sewing day till it lifts!

OMGG I don't believe this! A FIRST in all the years since this stupid bike lane (since a good third of the cyclists either are on the road most times the wrong way or on the sidewalk being a menace to pedestrians) was installed taking away part of the actual street! See after a major snowfall the actual pedestrian walkway and the roadway is being cleared! Honest I am totally amazed! The last two heavier snowfalls the bike lane was cleared 2-3 days BEFORE the sidewalk or the roadway! WOW!!!!

April 14th

Hmmmm still warnings of a spring storm but so far nothing like what they forecasted!

Anyways yesterday I needed a sun for one of my projects and found a tatting pattern by Jane Eborall using size 20 thread measuring 3.5 inches - way too big. But hey I've some of the finer tatting cotton J&P Coats 70, I've not tried so that's what I used, a first time that thin. It turned out 2.25 inches - still too big! 🤔 So I got an idea of reducing the pattern in size and that produced a 1.5 inch sun, a bit bigger than I wanted but usable! I've not buried the ends as they will be sewn onto items! Thank you Jane for your patterns you so generously share with tatters!

Jane's Sun pattern.

My reduced version!

The two together and to dazzle!

WOW!!!!

Well today I finished off the PFA swap postcard top for Batiks theme, just waiting to know who to send to so I can finish off and print off the backs to send out. 🤔

Also I finished off two tops for Monika Kinner's blue, yellow and sunflowers postcard donations for Ukraine refugees support. I'm thinking I might make some more, maybe same, maybe different, will see how my time goes! I just read Monika's post and the 20 she'd delivered have all been sold and $400 raised so far! 💞💞💞

Pictures will follow soon, unless swap recipient is my FB friend, then will be posted once received. 😉

International Quilters' Day

March 19th

Global Quilt Connection is on.  This is for our MPQ membership and other quilting guilds world wide and viewed only 24 hours after uploaded.  Check their website for future events.

Awesome Global Quilt Connection presentations at this time.  Can't wait for the others!  💖💖💖  Thank you Kathy for the PDF cheat sheets for MPQ guild members.

Liz Martin said, "Thanks MPQ for these great intro to teachers and techniques through Global Connections. The added benefit of sheets to be printed for patterns and info is great. A good resource and a good reason for guild membership."

March 20th

OMGG I'd decided to stitch my hexies together while listening to the Quilt Sampler sessions. AND what comes up is Michelle Crawford EPP and her "flat back stitch" and medical tape to hold pieces together for her method. So I'm using her technique on my 1.5" paper hexies.

WOW!!! This is so very much nicer than the whip stitch with right sides together that I used to do!

Okay that's enough hand stitching on these hexies! I think I've got the technique down pat and just LOVE the overall effect!

Now I have to try masking tape next as I'm using this Nexcare paper tape up (it's years old).

Busy Day - March 18th

Well this week I changed the cornerstones on the first alphabet quilt top to blue and will have a blue tone on tone binding.  I like it much better.  

Also this week I finished the second quilt top this time in red cornerstones throughout and will have a binding of red with tiny coloured triangles(?).  This too I like lots.  

Now this last picture I folded both together to see what a mixed bag of colours for cornerstones would be like.  Might do that on the next one that I have to applique blocks for the missing letters!  Will be fun times!

A busy day! Took pictures of my two finished alphabet quilt tops. Next packed up my stuff. Then finally decided to drop my Janome for it's first maintenance/servicing at KTR since bought a few years ago from them. I've been sewing up a storm and have even clean it various times this past year or so but sounds different. And dropped all off at home before returning to my napping friend, Noel. Now relaxing watching NCIS and then the Jets!!!

Tomorrow will be another busy day, picking up Sylvia for MPQ ZOOM meeting at my place, maybe Edna for supper. Plus a mixed bag of virtual tips and techniques for MPQ members to ZOOM into.

Well I've tatted my first paw, about 1.5", from Pattern: 1001 Nós Frivolité 🐾🥰  Thank You!!!

I've I think done my tatting roughly and needs some tweaking! Now to try some in other threads!

Back Basted Applique

OMGG I totally would not have believed this until I had actually stitched it myself.  Thank you Marion O. for your workshop on Back Basted Applique method at the MPQ Applique Workshops held on Saturday!  This is so very precise as long as one's tracing is accurate.  I totally enjoy hand applique so I think I've found my method to be used and using a hoop hopefully will control my tension.  Now to prep my BOM Mystery Applique blocks and find a travelling case for all supplies.

Catch Up - Nov. 11th-16th

Nov. 11th

Sheesh this world is truly going to pots with all this pussy footing on political correctness! Politicians have a lot of the blame for this on their shoulders for how our Canada is evolving into chaos! 

Just look at all those NOT punished as they are CHILDREN but allowed to trash others personal property, innocent individuals out and about getting beat up and lastly those free for alls robbing liquor marts recently.  If you're GROWN enough to do the crime then you're GROWN enough to have your face posted everywhere and accepting the penalty - not protected so they can continue unimpeded!!!!

Disgusted with Don's firing for speaking the truth!  The network should be ashamed of their decision! 😖

And then there was another post from Kirsten Gjerde also standing with Don Cherry.

Nov. 12th

YEAH!!!!! Finally at BP with Barb!!!

Hmmmmmm wonder if I still have mine!

Nov. 13th

My friend Mary, also an ex-coworker, donates her time, talent and yarns to make mitts and hats for those in need!  I thought that was a lovely idea so donated some of my yarns and Pat, my niece, gave me some of her's too to pass along!

The above ones are from Pat, the brown tweed from me. 

Others she's made recently. 

Today I handed in my three men's shirts quilt tops to the ABC program at MPQ Guild meeting!  It was a very good feeling to have completed them and now onto someone else to to finish them into quilts.

Nov. 14th

Finally I've completed my orders for tatted snowflakes, washed them and tomorrow I'll starch them and hopefully Monday into the mail and packaged for gift giving!  Center one has an angel (Large Crystal Snowflake by Vida Sunderman) with crystals and another has blue glass beads while the rest have clear glass beads (all Tatted Ice Snowflake - Be-Stitched.com).  AND one somehow got soiled and no matter what I used the stain would not come out so guess that one is mine!!!  I started these in August and still couldn't get them completed for October as I'd hoped to do!

Nov. 15th

Okay my snowflakes are all starched and blocked!  Let's hope that once is enough this time around, if not I'll have to brush more stiffener on like last time.  I would LOVE to do this process only once.  These are the two I've used and Stiffy today!

Nov. 16th

Well today was the Mystery Applique Block of the Month companion Applique Workshop at MPQ!   Boy was I ever glad to sign up for this! There were six different types of applique shown but I only focused on two that I've not done at all or very poorly.  Sorry no pictures as yet as I was busy stitching. 

I concentrated on Back Basted Applique which I've not tried before and will set aside my love of needle turn applique for this method - it's so accurate and an easy take with you project. 

The second was Invisible Machine Applique - this one was all prepped in class even if I didn't have all the "tools" and I'm hoping to finish the machine work as easily as the prepping went! 

Yes I'm very happy Marion, Tracy and Inez were our amazing very knowledgeable teachers!  NOW I can start my blocks once I decide on my fabric background!  Maybe a good cream muslin?  I know I'm going to work with my box of batik pieces for the appliques.

Hmmmm I've been noticing myself doing this lately and now am going to see if these exercises will help!

Last Night at the Fringe!

Last night fun at the Fringe 2019 Tat Days!  Deana being silly and pinking me out!

Photo of Tri Colour Star class.

Diana's class working hard.

A look at the main room. 

A Longgggg Day!

Here at Cafe 22 relaxing waiting for Pat to join me for lunch!   I need it after yesterday and this morning's goings on.  See the bathroom patching will happen today along with painting of my hallway ceiling.  So last night I tackled my hallway and this morning moved all from the bathroom once again into the bedroom and the hallway stuff with my trusty wagon into my kitchen.  Then I did drop offs at Safeway of extra grocery bags, my hairdresser in S. St. Vital of toys and toiletries going to Mexico orphanage, coupons to Barb at UofM, plant stand and monitor to Angela in St. Norbert with a coffee chat, working type clothes to the Clothes Closet 800 Point Rd before heading back home to pick up my book - nothing done inside here so far - all before lunch.  We had a lovely visit and small pizza with ceasars.  Now to relax with my 2nd ceasar and read to pass some time before heading back!  Awesome day!

Happy this afternoon that we have this wonderful Autumn weather.  Hope it continues tomorrow for our Rae Trail Walk and Lavenham Fall Supper!

Ok Day 2 if my B&W challenge is of one of my trips to Ontario and a walk around town and the river.

Between Dryden and Kenora drive back to Wpg  - two eagles in the sky.

Dryden ON 

Dryden ON 

Behind Tim's Dryden ON 

Hwy to Sioux Lookout 

Needless to say I was frustrated upon my return home as there was no painter in sight nor any work done in my place.  So had to move things back again so I could use my bathroom and kitchen this weekend.  So who knows when it'll happen now.

This evening I'm tired, worn out but happy Lace Retreat started with an evening session as I'm beat!  Tomorrow I'm out with Prairie Pathfinders for a nature walk out Holland area and then back for another evening session at Lace Retreat along with Sunday afternoon.   So tonight I learnt how to load my bobbins properly, transferred my pattern onto the sturdy pricking sheet ready for my pillow to start lacing tomorrow evening!  Thank you Michele for being my official photographer to record my lacing progress.  Well here goes - I'm finally learning from the beginning with my book "The Bobbin Lace Manual" by Geraldine Stott.  Thank you fellow lacers for all your encouragement, pointers and hands on assistance - I'm praying I pull this off and enjoy it.  Special thanks to Beverley Dean for helping me garner more supplies - just sorry that you're moving back to England!

My first lesson and bobbins all wound.

This pricking is hard work on the hand.