CBS News on Quilting

I found this CBS News report on quilting.. featuring Ricky Timms.  Be sure to check it out HERE. His work is just amazing! He is just like many of us, trying to get someone new interested in the allure of the quilt.

Oh, and I want to go to one of these huge quilt shows one day. Perhaps I can plan my vacation time around one.  My family's usual winter vacation spot is Fairmont Hot Springs in BC. Since I can no longer ski, I drag along my sewing machine and more projects than I will ever be able to finish.  I spend my days happily working toward finishing a UFO during that week and, of course, soak in the hot springs every night. It is truly wonderful.

Something Fun!

I went to Pat Sloans blog and found this test - What Flavor Popsicle are You? I tried it and I'm LIME... Best part is, Pat is GIVING AWAY FABRIC if you leave a comment telling her what YOUR flavor is. Did I mention that I really love lime colored fabric? 

You Are a Lime Flavored Popsicle

You are an outrageous person. For you, summer is all about going crazy - even if it means getting in trouble. You are daring and adventurous. You have a real taste for the edgier things in life. A true wild child, there's no hope of you ever slowing down. You've got too much sass and spunk to ever behave.

What Flavor Popsicle Are You?

Re-grouping

I have seen this word "toy" on a few blogs that I visited and thought it might be interesting to see what I got.  It rather surprised me.  

    My blog was supposed to be more about quilting and less about all the other stuff in my life.  It seems that it has gotten off of that track.  I know that those who are finding me are expecting more quilting content.  Perhaps it is time to re-group and get back to some quilting.

Dinner for One

Well... sometimes things have a way of working out... and sometimes they don't.  CJ has gone back to BC leaving me here to try to pick up the pieces and finish the painting etc. on the house.  I have not felt much like doing anything for the last 10 days or so.  I stayed a few days with my sister and came home again wednesday.  My other sister was here a while yesterday but, today I have been on my own.
I managed to drag myself out to the paint store to get some white paint to tone down the color that had been chosen for the walls.  That's it.  Maybe tomorrow.
A day at a time... an hour at a time... sometimes minutes...

Somethin's Stitchy

Here is an applique project I have started so that I can have some "TV" handwork to do.  It will be either a pillow top or I may frame it for on the wall. I had to go out and buy a whole lot of embroidery floss as I can't seem to locate my stash of those.  They are probably packed in a box "somewhere". I used to do counted cross-stitch so I know I have a bunch.  Oh well, gotta support the local enconomy.

After getting the main flowers arranged, I decided that it needed "something" so I added the little gold 5-petal flowers.  (I am still not used to documenting everything with pictures as I do it but, I will try to remember for future.) They are tiny.  I experimented with a few different stitches to attach them and finally decided on a teensy-weensy running stitch.  Thought it would take forever but, with the help of a set of magnifying lenses over my bi-focals, I got them done!

I have not even started on Lynette's Noah's Ark blocks yet but I did buy all the colors of floss I need in order to do them.  Then, I had to go back to the store to get the pigma pen to trace them. I found a strip of fabric that I hope will be large enough for the project and I have printed all the blocks out. I should be able to start soon....

And now,  THE RENOVATION UPDATE

Although renovations/painting are still continuing, and I fear it may be pretty boring to post pictures of another painted wall/door/baseboard, I am having second thoughts about the main color that we have chosen for the walls.  It seems quite dark to me compared to the "half-strength" primer that was on the wall first.  The room pictured here is in the basement. Seeing the color here in the picture, it does not seem quite as dark as when you are standing in the room. I wish the camera could show how I "feel" in the room with the color... 

Here is a bit of experimenting with color. The main color is the spot on the left and looks a bit more true to color than the photo above. The wall is done in primer which is half-strength of the main color. Then, we mixed equal parts of main color and primer to get a toned down color.

What do you think?? 

I am leaning more toward the "toned down" version at the moment but would love to hear your comments.

Thursday again

Something I need to remember at this moment in my life:
"When you look up at the sky and see nothing but dark, dreary gray clouds, remember that there is much more beyond what you can see.  Above those ominous layers of gloom, there are rays of sunshine streaming down gloriously.  The problem is that we don’t see the sunshine at all times.   Remember that this does not mean that it is not there.  Hang on and remember that the sun is always shining for you somewhere."

Thursday Supper & other stuff

What's for supper tonight?? 

Chilli Parlour Chilli with cheese and Multi-grain toast!  mmmmmmm :)

Under the dishes is my first try at a tessellating design from the book called Square Dance - Fancy Quilts from Plain Squares - by Martha Thompson.  This method takes the hard work out of making one of these designs.  This tester is a place mat that is fun and easy to do too!

I have to show you what CJ brought home for me the other day....

It was so sweet of him to bring me flowers "just because". 

Things are progressing slowly on our Home Reno project. We both seem to be getting tired and easily distracted. We did go to Jysk yesterday and purchased the curtain rods and drapes for in the livingroom and diningroom. We also picked up blinds for behind the livingroom drapes as the sun can really heat up that side of the house. Now I am anxious to get the trim around the windows painted and the final coat of paint on the walls so I can hang drapes again. I would REALLY like everything to get back to normal around here...

Update

Just a quick update...  I took a tumble in the garage last thursday and sprained my left wrist, scraped my shin and bruised a knee quite badly.  Spent half a day in emergency getting checked out and thankfully, nothing was broken!  I was told to rest with my leg up and a tensor on my wrist.   

I still have bedding plants to get into the ground although I did manage to get some of them planted.  Today, I worked on painting the interior of all but two of the upper cupboards.  The wrist is a bit sore again tonight.  

CJ's mom wanted to know how I managed to paint with my wrist immobile and my leg higher than my heart... she asked for pictures...  LOL  Sorry mom, no pics of that available. :-D

Meanwhile, we have the carpet installed in most of the downstairs, just 2 rooms to be done yet as soon as we get everything cleared out of them.  Almost all of what is down there needs to be driven out to the storage unit we rented so it will take a few days of making trips with our little truck.

I was planning to work on quilting the charity quilt that I have pin basted, but it seems that my walking foot has gone into hiding somewhere...  hopefully, I will find it out in the trailer which is also at the storage lot.  *sigh*

I sure hope that I can soon get back to doing some quilting and have some more interesting stuff to show and tell!

Setting Goals

I have been spending a bit of time lately Blog-Hopping.  I have seen SO many interesting blogs as I am attempting to visit every blog listed by Just Us Quilters.   The thing is... there are MORE every day, which is actually quite wonderful!  I love seeing what everyone else is doing and I am envious of those who seem to be able to accomplish so much.  It seems that I am spending more and more time on the computer looking at quilting stuff than I spend actually doing any quilting! I think I need to set some goals (rules) for myself.  Peg at Happy In Quilting has issued a challage for finishing quilts.. her challenge is to turn 5 flimsies into quilted quilts by the end of July!  Yikes...  I think I would be doing well to get one done.   Hmmm... perhaps I could try the "Quilt for an Hour" a day idea.  You would think I could manage that as I have no kids to watch (unless the dog counts).  I KNOW>>> I will give myself the same amount of times to sew as I spend on the computer!!  Uh-oh... I don't think my partner CJ will agree to that one!  Maybe, I will take only as much computer time as I spend quilting... but then, it may take months between blog updates!  lol  No matter what, it seems to be a situation that I am going to have to spend a bit of time figuring out how to resolve it.  Besides, there are still renovations on the house to finish... Happy stitchin' until next time...

Stolen Quilting Moments

Believe it or not... I have actually managed to steal away from the renovations for a wee bit of quilting therapy!!  I found a few free minutes to get the final borders on this little quilt for charity... then, I took advantage of the new laminate flooring in the empty dining room to tape down the backing and pin-baste the quilt together.  Angel thought for sure that it was play-time...  Did I mention that I love my new laminate floor???  

CJ also got the OTR (over the range) microwave installed.  As I cooked supper last night, I really feltlike I was in a totally different kitchen!  With the change in the layout, it now seems SO much more open and spacious than it ever has before.  Now, if I can just get all those extra tools and stuff out of there and get the painting done...

Today, I bit the bullet and went to arrange for some off-site storage.  We will be cleaning out the trailer to move it out as well as moving some of the boxes that are already packed into a storage unit.  Then, there are the bins of yarn that were left from when I closed my business.  Those will be getting transferred to the storage unit as well until I can find a buyer for all of it.  **sigh**  Anyone out there need yarn??